Kids… Is Church for Them?
Kids Program… Involvement
* Much is being said about the aging and graying of American church-goers. The percentage of young adults & couples with children attending church is much lower than in previous generations. The median age of those who attend church is approximately 50. The national median age is 36.8. That tells me that more than ever our younger people & our children do not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Yes… I understand that some people say they do not need the church to believe in God, or to have a relationship with Jesus, but a case can also be made that those who do not actively participate in a church with their children usually are not close to Jesus.
* One of the greatest joys is to have children in church. They bring new life, they have such a genuine faith, they lighten up the wrinkled faces of the older generation…
* But the participation of the children is much more important than that. Their participation is not a statistical issue… It has to do with their eternal life, with their salvation. What will happen to them? Where will they spend eternity? That needs to be our concern!
* The lack of church participation by children also creates a moral vacuum in society. We are becoming an “amoral” society with no moral absolutes, especially in this internet age with all kinds of communication… But again, this is only a secondary problem. So what will we do about it? We need to create the best conditions for parents with young children to be in church. That does not mean that we will cater to every whim of children and their parents, but we need do our best to bring them close to the REAL JESUS… the One proclaimed in the Bible.
* Children need to be in church because: A. They need Jesus - He is the only one who can save them & all of us; B. Most parents teach them very little or nothing about Jesus; C. Children need to be trained in Biblical principles. Let me say as clearly as possible: As a church we are willing to teach them about the love of the Savior!
* The age of electronic communication is well upon us… A child was heard saying the Lord's Prayer solo for the first time… "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us some email." Actually… deliver us from some of the damage the internet and the modern age has done to our younger generations and bring the children to Yourself, Lord!
* Jesus Himself said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children." Matthew 19:14.
* We do have a Sunday School program, we have children’s messages in every service, we encourage parents to bring their children to church… but can we do more? Yes, we can! We want to help them get involved in productive activities in which they will get to know Jesus personally. So, is church for children? The answer is YES… but above all JESUS IS FOR THEM!
* As we start a new evangelistic worship service on January 8, 2016, we will have a “children’s church.” During the 11:15am worship service the children will have the opportunity to be with their parents for the praise time and then they will have their very own short kid’s church. They will rejoin their parents just before the worship concludes. We want to give them Jesus on their level!
* This will be a wonderful opportunity for the children to be close to the Savior who loves them. We are reminded to “Remember our creator in the days of our youth…” Ecclesiastes 12:1. Together as a church, Sunday School, Board of Christian Education & parents we can do what we were called to do: BRING THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO JESUS! No hindrance… Just Jesus… JUST JESUS!
* Have a blessed day! Rev. Don Sonntag
Kids Program… Involvement
* Much is being said about the aging and graying of American church-goers. The percentage of young adults & couples with children attending church is much lower than in previous generations. The median age of those who attend church is approximately 50. The national median age is 36.8. That tells me that more than ever our younger people & our children do not have a connection with Jesus Christ. Yes… I understand that some people say they do not need the church to believe in God, or to have a relationship with Jesus, but a case can also be made that those who do not actively participate in a church with their children usually are not close to Jesus.
* One of the greatest joys is to have children in church. They bring new life, they have such a genuine faith, they lighten up the wrinkled faces of the older generation…
* But the participation of the children is much more important than that. Their participation is not a statistical issue… It has to do with their eternal life, with their salvation. What will happen to them? Where will they spend eternity? That needs to be our concern!
* The lack of church participation by children also creates a moral vacuum in society. We are becoming an “amoral” society with no moral absolutes, especially in this internet age with all kinds of communication… But again, this is only a secondary problem. So what will we do about it? We need to create the best conditions for parents with young children to be in church. That does not mean that we will cater to every whim of children and their parents, but we need do our best to bring them close to the REAL JESUS… the One proclaimed in the Bible.
* Children need to be in church because: A. They need Jesus - He is the only one who can save them & all of us; B. Most parents teach them very little or nothing about Jesus; C. Children need to be trained in Biblical principles. Let me say as clearly as possible: As a church we are willing to teach them about the love of the Savior!
* The age of electronic communication is well upon us… A child was heard saying the Lord's Prayer solo for the first time… "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us some email." Actually… deliver us from some of the damage the internet and the modern age has done to our younger generations and bring the children to Yourself, Lord!
* Jesus Himself said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children." Matthew 19:14.
* We do have a Sunday School program, we have children’s messages in every service, we encourage parents to bring their children to church… but can we do more? Yes, we can! We want to help them get involved in productive activities in which they will get to know Jesus personally. So, is church for children? The answer is YES… but above all JESUS IS FOR THEM!
* As we start a new evangelistic worship service on January 8, 2016, we will have a “children’s church.” During the 11:15am worship service the children will have the opportunity to be with their parents for the praise time and then they will have their very own short kid’s church. They will rejoin their parents just before the worship concludes. We want to give them Jesus on their level!
* This will be a wonderful opportunity for the children to be close to the Savior who loves them. We are reminded to “Remember our creator in the days of our youth…” Ecclesiastes 12:1. Together as a church, Sunday School, Board of Christian Education & parents we can do what we were called to do: BRING THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO JESUS! No hindrance… Just Jesus… JUST JESUS!
* Have a blessed day! Rev. Don Sonntag