Welcoming children into our churches

We don’t really want kids in our church, do we?

Wow what a kick off to our new parenting series, The Parent Trap on Sunday at OFC! I have been reminded how important our job is as a church to nurture children. I bet if I took a show of hands in our church almost everyone would agree with me. However, what if in that same moment I asked you to keep your hands raised if you have served in the nursery in the last 6 months, taught a children’s class, pitched in on Wed. nights, or even helped at one of our children’s events? Sadly there wouldn’t be very many hands raised. Doesn’t this bother you?

Our words say one thing and our actions say another. We are filled with good excuses. Trust me I have heard them all. Pastor John, ”I have my own kids and they wear me out. I would rather not spend more time with kids.” Pastor, “my kids are out of the house. I’ve done my “time” at church serving children.” Pastor, “our Sunday morning routine is already crazy enough, we just don’t have the time or energy.” Pastor, ”I am already serving somewhere else in the church.” Pastor, “children’s ministry seems to be in Chaos and the leadership is struggling.” Did I miss any?

Every single one of us is responsible to the children at OFC and have a part to play. Let me help you live beyond the excuses. We offer 3 worship services on Sunday mornings. Attend one and serve at another. Realize everyone is busy, tired and many have children of their own too. We have 5 kids and Erin is able to manage serving at 9:45 in Kid Mo. Just because you are serving elsewhere or are not “gifted” to work with kids doesn’t mean you can’t serve in the nursery once every eight weeks. Should there ever be a time where we become old enough that we think it is OK to not serve others? Moses was well over 100 years old and still leading the Children of Israel and I know we don’t have anyone of that age in our church.

I am well aware of the struggles of children’s ministry. There is new leadership in place and a new team to come alongside Kerry. Things are turning around. Though there will always be struggles when there aren’t enough people willing to serve. It is so easy for us to point fingers, complain about things, and criticize. Instead, let’s offer solutions. Let’s offer to help our leadership and serve rather than criticize them from a distance. It amazes me how we are critical, we want children coming to our church, but yet don’t want to be a part of a good solution. Let me ask you, what are you personally going to do about the following verse…
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." –Mathew 19:14 NIV
Jesus was a busy man with many other commitments. Yet found time to make children a priority. He names two types of people in the local church. There are those that welcome little children with their actions and those that hinder little children with their inactions. Which one are you? There is no in between. If you have been at OFC for over a year there is no good excuse. Let’s all step it up and welcome children into this place. God is doing many good things at OFC and there is so much more that He wants to do through us. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor