Some interesting reading...

puppetmaster · Status: Offline

Some interesting reading...

PastorTara · Status: Offline

Leanne,

I did indeed read up on your blog and I'm in agreement with you. One thing that "jumped out" at me in the article was when she said to prep the 3 or 4 yo by telling them they were going to a "grown up" function. To me that was 'nuf said. If she considers a church service a "grown up" affair, then the service is not a condusive environment for kids! Any way, just my 2 cents!

BTW- we just moved to Chicago, and if you are still in Kenosha, WI ( I think that's where you just moved).. we are only a little over an hour away from each other!

Tara

puppetmaster · Status: Offline

Yup, we're in Kenosha! We just moved here last June, so we'll be here for awhile!

I have yet to take the train into Chicago and go exploring...when I had time, I had no money (my job didn't start until September!), and now that I have some money, I am swamped!! But I love this area so far!

It'd be awesome to arrange a "get-together" sometime if we can find a day that works for both of us. Just let me know!

Deanna · Status: Offline

I'm opposed to her view. I want my kids to ENJOY church and I want them to find it interesting at every stage of their life. I want them to not be able to wait to get to the building. (mine DO act like this...they usuallly bug me, 'when are we leaving?') Only time they don't do this is Sun am because I am the first one there b/c of rehearsal. But all other times they bug me to HURRY!

What's so wrong with putting them in an environment where it's fast paced and interesting the whole time? Not to mention on their level. It's not all about discipline. You don't attend church to learn discipline - how to sit still. You attend to learn about God, to understand more about Him, to grow, to have a greater revelation of Him. How are these kids supposed to do that when they are just trying for 2 hours to be quiet and not fall asleep?

Case in point...

My daughter Savanna loves church. She learns things all the time in fact a few weeks ago her teacher was late to SS and she got up and started teaching the class until she got there. (Seriously it was quite comical.) She loves kids church, Missionettes and JBQ. Well last week we were on vacation in TN. The church we visited had no kids church. The music was contemporary...she stood up with us and sang. Then came the sermon...not on her level at all. The pastor quoted Philip Yancey quite a bit and talked about different demonimations views of baptism. Then we took communion. After the worship in the beginning Savanna fell asleep and stayed asleep the entire time until we left.

Why? She didn't understand any of it. It was beyond her current level of intelligence and maturity. And I knew that so I didn't bother to wake her up. I don't think that makes me an unspiritual mother, rather a more wise one. She needed the sleep more than she needed to hear about Philip Yancey or denominational views.

Also the church we went to was small. I got to thinking maybe this is one reason why. There is nothing for kids. Mostly everyone there was old and there were 2 kids besides mine in the sanctuary. If there is nothing applicable for kids the parents will go somewhere else.

If I had to guess that pastor's wife who wrote that article probably homeschools. She probably grows her own vegetable and makes her kids clothes.

Okay, nobody throw anything at me now, okay?

TwoAsOne · Status: Offline

I did not read the article. However, I believe in the importance of Children's church and the role of Children's pastors! They are vital to a local church.

As a child, I was like a little recruitor for my methodist church in the neighborhood. I thank God for kid's ministries and that I could hang out there! Only one problem: I never seen an altar call or knew how to be saved. My brother (who recently died of a massive heart attack) took me as a child to a Pentecostal church. It planted seeds that grew and I am now pastoring in a pentecostal church today.

However, in my teens there was not a youth group and I lost interest in church. But thank God I met Christians in my public High School who witnessed to me. Yet, there was no youth group at their church & it hurt my growth not becoming involved with teenagers serving God. Finally at 19 I got radically saved with my boyfriend (now DH) and we got involved in church together. He prayed for someone he thought was beautiful, one who "believes like him" (in his new-found faith thru the 700 club on t.v.)

I shared this testimony because children need reached and what better way than kids ministries at their level!! There's always opportunity to be in adult services but kids need to have things geared to them (especially for them) too! Children's pastors are hard to find and ones that are high energy and creative are in high demand. We value this area and wish we could make it as fun as Disney!! But the budget's not alway there! What matters most is that we have made a difference in the life of a child! Blessings!