The Importance of Children

I have been thinking a lot about children lately. During Vacation Bible School we had over 40 kids, from infants to elementary school, join us to be part of this year’s Kingdom Rock, where we taught them to “stand strong” for God.

I have also had several conversations with people about how to build up our Sunday school program. I have talked with applicants who are interested in our Director of Children’s Ministry position. Even the Session has discussed how important it is to minister to our congregation’s children.

One of the comments I often hear is that we must do this because, “children are the future of our church.” I sometimes wonder if that is true.

Obviously, children are the future of the church in the sense that in 15 or 20 years they will be the ones supporting the church financially, and they will be the ones serving in positions of leadership. But, if we think we have to wait that long before children can make a significant contribution, I think we are mistaken. I think there is plenty that children can do in and for the church right now—before they grow up and become full-fledged adults.

Consider, for example, the energy and enthusiasm children bring to everything they do. It sometimes wears me out just watching them. During Bible school, there were two boys who would chase one another around and around the Fellowship Hall. While we had to encourage them, for their own safety, to find a more constructive activity, there was a part of me that longed for that kind of energy and exuberance. If I could put it in a bottle, I would soon be a very rich man! I think we need to have a fresh appreciation for the energy young children bring to church—Lord knows we can use it!

Children also bring a sense of wonder to worship as they listen to Bible stories. As adults, sometimes we act as though we have heard it all before—nothing surprises us. But if our God is anything, he is most certainly a God of surprises! Ask Abraham, Moses, Joshua, or David. You never know what God might be up to.

I love telling Bible stories to children because, for a few moments, I see them anew through the eyes of a child. I remember in a fresh, new way how wonderful these stories really are. Maybe that’s why Jesus said that if we want to see the Kingdom of God, we have to have faith like a little child—a faith laced with wonder and trust.

I remember when my kids were little and we would go swimming. They would stand on the side of the pool and jump into my arms. It didn’t matter that the water was way over their heads, or that they couldn’t swim very well. They trusted that I would keep them safe, and so they jumped.

What a great image that is of our relationship to God. We are often in over our heads in this life, but God doesn’t call us to sit on the side of the pool, he calls us to jump in—in faith and ministry, and in worship. We must trust that God will hold us up, like a child trusts her parent to catch her in the swimming pool.

Our church is significantly depleted without its children, so I want to make two pleas to you today: 1) these children need you to teach them, and to tell them the great stories of Jesus and the people of God. If you are asked to serve in this way, it is a great opportunity to see God in new ways. Take the plunge. 2) Children can’t get to church by themselves. So I am asking parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors that as you are figuring out your schedule for the fall, remember that your kids need God, and they need the church, and we need them. Plan to bring them to church and to Sunday school. We will all be the richer for it.