RBC’s series of Beacon articles this year showcases a wide variety of differing practices encountered among Rosedale Network congregations. We hope these articles promote thoughtful discussions and spark new ideas about the differing ways our churches are faithfully seeking to honor Christ as His Body.
This or That?
Part 5
North Street Community Church: Why Children’s Church is important to us
What is a child’s place in the church? Children ask themselves this question whether they realize it or not, and they will find an answer through our practices and attitudes more so than our words.
What do our practices teach our children about their role in the church family?
At North Street, we see maturing and multiplying churches locally and globally as something that begins at an early age. Children are not just potential, they have value, worth, and perspectives to offer at every age, and we want to instill that through the programs and attitudes we adopt. This is why providing Children’s Church during our weekly worship services is a key part of our discipleship.
By providing a separate Children’s Church, we give the children a place where they can hear about Jesus on their own level on a weekly basis. We have seen several children profess faith in Jesus, and Children’s Church plays a part in that. Children’s Church also gives space “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12 NJKV). If children really are a part of the church at their current ages, then we want to set them up for success in learning and using their gifts for the kingdom of God. When we do that, we show through our practice that they are valuable, and have a place in this family called the church.
But what does Children’s Church say about our attitude towards children in church?
Rather than telling children to sit and be quiet, basically asking them to be mini-adults, we provide a space for them to be kids, and to learn about Jesus and life in His family in an energetic and noisy way. Again, this further instills to the children that they have value now, and are not just potential that gets in the way until they mature.
Today, many young people are leaving the church. What if we could instill at a young age that each individual belongs in Jesus’ family, has value, and has a part to play in God’s kingdom? We could see a generation rise up to shine a light of hope, belonging, and purpose in Jesus to a world desperately searching for these things in all the wrong places. At North Street, Children’s Church plays a part in realizing that vision.
Keegan Wright serves as co-pastor at North Street Community Church in Canton, Pennsylvania, where he loves to “equip the saints for the work of ministry.” He and Charity have three children.
Naumburg Mennonite Church: Why including children in our worship services is important to us
Our typical Sunday morning service has always included children of all ages. Over the years, we’ve taken a look at possibly changing that, but our practice continues including children in our services.
We see children as a vital part of today’s church, as opposed to seeing them as “the future church.” To us this means that our typical Sunday morning service must acknowledge and involve children, and share Jesus in ways that children can understand and connect.
We have vibrant Sunday School, AWANA, VBS, Junior Youth, and Youth programs. All of these programs are essential components of our overall teaching ministry to children. But in each of these age-segregated groups, families are not worshipping together. Our Sunday morning service is the only worship/teaching that happens weekly in which entire families sit and worship together. We want children of all ages to feel they are just as welcome and important in our intergenerational worship services as any of the adults. Our parents strongly desire this for their children as well.
We purposely involve children in several ways in our Sunday morning worship service. Occasionally, the worship team will include one or two children as part of the team. Each month we have times of “special singing” with a group or family sharing a song or two as part of the worship service. Children are usually part of these “special singing” groups. Every Sunday, as part of the morning service, we have Bible Trivia questions for the children. The children who guess the correct answers get to come up to the platform and receive their prize of a $2 bill to the applause of the entire congregation. Also, once each month, the Sunday School children (preschool through Grade 8) have a special time of singing in front of the congregation. On these Sundays, any children who have memorized Scripture passages as part of our memory program are recognized as well.
We as pastors also keep in mind when we prepare and share the Sunday morning message that children are present. I have found this to be a blessing. All three of us on the pastoral team at Naumburg can share stories of children as young as 5- and 6-years-old making comments to us after a Sunday morning message about something they heard us say, or that God said to them. Parents value this aspect of having their children with them during the service—the questions that arise and the opportunities they have as parents to answer them.
We think having children as part of our Sunday morning service is beneficial for them, their parents, and families as a whole. We see healthy children and strong families as a result of this practice.
Myron Roggie serves on the pastoral team at Naumburg Mennonite Church in Castorland, New York. He and Julie have two young adult children and one grandchild.
