Today’s post was written by the children’s minister at Adrian Christian Church, Jaime Isaac. She has been with the Church for over three years and is the mother of two kids.

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I was asked to write a blog post about anything children’s related. I felt like I should start at the beginning with you and explain why children and it’s ministry matters at all in our church.

*Half of the people that believe in Christ do so by the age of 12.

*By the time a child is 9 years old, their basic moral foundation has been formed.

Reread those statements. I could stop writing this post right now and you would see why children’s ministry is so important. Ok, that was easy – Actually, I have lots of other important reasons as to why children’s ministry matters, 4 to be exact. So, I’ll keep going, if that’s ok.

1. Children’s ministry helps the biggest harvest.
   Childhood is the most critical and formative time in a person’s life. It makes sense for a church to make children’s ministry a priority. Childhood is when a person is most open to the Gospel. We have the opportunity to set a child’s foundation of faith starting as early as when they are in the nursery. We are able to share God with some for the very first time and help form their first thoughts about God (even as an infant). We need to expose them early to God so He quickly becomes a part of their lives. I had a friend whose child’s first word was “amen” because he heard it so much. How awesome is that!
2. Children’s ministry makes for first encounters.
   The church could be the first time a child has an encounter with God. What a fantastic opportunity! Parents are the most critical faith influencers in a child’s life, but the church is there to come alongside. In children’s ministry, children are allowed to meet God on their level and in a way that is relevant and developmentally for them. We help that continue at home by working with parents and providing them resources and opportunities to be a faith influencer.
   Other children may not have faith influencers in their homes, so the church will be where their faith starts and grows. Many believers have their first encounter with God in children’s church, church camp, or VBS.
3. Children’s ministry allows for other godly adults in their lives.
   The church enables other adults to be an influence and create meaningful relationships with children. Children are able to see the Gospel lived out in their teacher’s lives. If you look back at your childhood, you can probably think of one adult who invested in your life and took an interest. Developing relationships with kids allows adults to speak into their lives-which is done in children’s ministry. This allows these adults to make such an impact on children’s lives and walk alongside the parents. I became a believer through my Sunday school teacher.
4. Children’s ministry benefits kids.
   The church is a safe place that allows children to ask questions at an early age. As they grow older, they are given a safe place to wrestle with the questions they encounter. In children’s church, they are taught at their level about God and given answers in a way they understand. At an early age, they are taught about God through adults caring for them, then through play, music, lessons, small group discussions, and activities all geared towards them.
   It gives them friendships and helps them learn to love others. It will make them love the church and want to come every week. Children’s ministry will also give them opportunities to discover their spiritual gifts and how to serve others. This is all done in an environment that is set up just for them to help them become the best follower of Christ surrounded by godly adults rooting and praying for them every step of the way.

Jesus loves and values children. “A person is a child only for a short time. And in this short time, the entire course of a life can be altered.” Damon DeLillo.

Don’t you think we should make children’s ministry matter?

Today’s post is from Mackenzie Ferguson. She is a member of the Church I serve and she is also a small group leader for the past several years. She is a married mother of two daughters and has a heart to see people grow in Jesus.

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I hear it time and time again. “I need to get involved with a small group study” or “I need this type of accountability in my life.” So, we choose a study with interesting material, relatable content, set dates, and launch. In my experience, small group studies always start strong, with lots of eager, hopeful participants thirsty for something that has been laid on their hearts. But sooner or later, participation starts to wane. What happened to “I NEED this”? Was it not interesting or entertaining? Was it too personal or too convicting? Or did the day-to-day activities creep into the schedule again, consuming any spare time initially committed to this endeavor? Afterall, …life happens.
Please don’t misunderstand me; I’m not pointing the finger at you. I have a 10-year history of leaving small group studies preterm. If I could attach a picture to this post, it would be of my living room bookshelf, where I have an entire section dedicated to all the study workbooks I began but left unfinished.
So, if the studies were so fruitful and powerful, why leave? That, I cannot answer for you. I have a long list of ridiculous excuses that don’t hold up. Every time I look at that bookshelf, I think of all the knowledge and wisdom I turned away from in search of something else, something worldly. Instead of talking about WHY people leave a small group study, I would like to encourage you to STAY and see it through to completion. If you are currently attending a group Bible study, here are a few thoughts that might reverse the urge to say “uncle”:

1. Accountability. Wait. What? This is one of the main reasons people JOIN a study, so what does it have to do with NOT LEAVING one? One of the most effective ways to stay focused when the world starts pulling your attention away is to form a relationship with someone in your group. Find that one person you feel comfortable reaching out to “after hours” and discuss the material on a personal level. Connecting with someone you look forward to seeing will motivate you to resist skipping on those days where it would be way more convenient to stay home with your family. And remember, they’re probably counting on you too.
2. Read scripture. This sounds like a no-brainer, but we often overlook or dismiss common-knowledge options in search of something more profound. Scripture is p.o.w.e.r.f.u.l. It is alive and active, which means it’s going to speak to you. Assuming your study has some Bible verses stuffed somewhere between 25 personal-reflection questions, carve out some time to look those verses up. Give the Lord a chance to talk to you. Use your Bible phone app on your lunch break, or set it to audible while cooking supper. There may be some incredibly valuable lessons from the author you don’t want to miss, so rely on the Word of God to pierce you and motivate you to keep advancing through the study.
3. It’s not all about you. Choosing a study that is relative and interesting to you is important, but there’s more… We can’t overlook the plausibility that God positioned you in that specific room with those specific people to carry out His will. Whether it’s recounting personal experiences, carrying out mission work together, or simply forming a friendship with another believer, you can be an asset to someone else’s faith when you’re obedient to Him. You have endured specific events in your life that left an impression on you, and sharing learned-lessons with others for God’s glory may be the reason you’re still pondering the option to stay.

If you are currently enrolled in a study, or about to sign up for one, I hope you found some encouragement to press on, and finish to completion. I fully understand what it’s like for interest and attention to start slipping in week 4 of an 8-week study. So, if you’re thinking of parting-ways early, grab a friend, read through scripture, and execute some discernment and prayer to seek out what He’s trying to tell you. These points might not get you in a seat every week, but know that others (like me) are experiencing this dilemma too, and we can finish this together.

Today is a new year, even more, a new decade. Before I go boldly into the future, here is a quick review of last year. Here are the top five posts by views over the past 365 days. The year included 240 posts and almost 4,000 views, but these are the best.

5. Exceptions to the Rule

4. What I Tell My Kids After a Game as a Christian Parent

3. Put Grandma’s Bible on the Shelf

2. That Hurt You Feel

1. My Letter of Resignation

I hope you enjoy these as I look forward to another year of posting.

Happy New Year.