What a children’s ministry program should look like?

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I don’t know how to make this a theology question but what do you all think a children’s ministry program should look like?

Susan Duckett [09/15/2015 11:03 AM]
Thank you for all of the comments. I am guessing this means that no one has an opinion.

Dianna Orea [09/15/2015 11:20 AM]
I think the children 6 and up should be in the sanctuary listening to the Word of God. Before that they should be instructed at an age appropriate level of Genesis and the Gospels at the very least. Not with cartoons and veggie tales, but with clear instruction with encouragement to have their own personal relationship with Jesus. So my opinion, is probably not going to help you develop a children’s program.

Susan Duckett [09/15/2015 11:28 AM]
I am not developing a program but I think that children up to 12 years old need a Sunday school class. I don’t have an issue with my kids being in the sanctuary but I think they need a Sunday school class on their age level where they can learn the word.

Dianna Orea [09/15/2015 11:35 AM]
My daughter has been with us in the sanctuary most of the time since age six. She knows and comprehends far more scripture than children taught what adults call age appropriate material at most churches. As missionaries we go to many churches. And Vivian would come out of the children’s program every time since age five saying “They teach preschool lessons about Daniel, Jonah, Noah and Christmas. I’m not getting fed.” Her words. So we brought her into the sanctuary and at some churches she gets fed. Sometimes even the pulpit isn’t dishing out meat and potatoes.

I hope her observation helps you plan lessons that challenge and inspire rather than just a store bought curriculum. The kids in most churches are starving Spiritually. They are having fun, but they are not getting fed.

Dianna Orea [09/15/2015 11:38 AM]
Also parents need to be admonished to teach the children at home too. Not to rely on just Sunday school to teach their children. The scriptures should be written on their doors and walls, and should be memorized, they should be reading the bible on their own and asking questions, and they should be hearing the Word spoken by their parents and watching it lived out in their lives. Otherwise, their chances at enduring to the end are slim.

Dianna Orea [09/15/2015 11:40 AM]
Deuteronomy 6:6-9King James Version (KJV)

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Susan Duckett [09/15/2015 11:40 AM]
My church has had a great curriculum for several years but now they have decided that they are no longer having Sunday school classes. Instead, they are having worship and a 5 minute devotional.

Dianna Orea [09/15/2015 11:40 AM]
Five minutes?

Dianna Orea [09/15/2015 11:42 AM]
Be careful with the worship too. Many Contemporary Christian musicians are selling out and are wicked. The children need a firm foundation. Deep roots. Or they will not stand when it gets hard to be a Christian, as we know, it will.

Dianna Orea [09/15/2015 11:43 AM]
Are you the Pastor? Or a mother of one of the children?

Susan Duckett [09/15/2015 11:43 AM]
I agree with all of your posts. I do teach my kids at home. One Sunday we had “Old Fashioned Sunday” where they did hymns and my kids were the only kids that knew every song. They know tons of scripture. We do a devotional as part of
our home schooling every day.

Dianna Orea [09/15/2015 11:43 AM]
We are homeschoolers too.

Dianna Orea [09/15/2015 11:44 AM]
But what about the rest of those children? Five minutes? And only a devotion?

Susan Duckett [09/15/2015 11:44 AM]
I am a mother but I am working on my second masters degree to be an ordained minister.

Susan Duckett [09/15/2015 11:45 AM]
I am afraid for the kids.

Susan Duckett [09/15/2015 11:46 AM]
I know that I am teaching my kids right but not every child hears the word at home.

Dianna Orea [09/15/2015 11:46 AM]
Good. Maybe you will actually train the children in your congregation. The church has really dropped the ball with all these fun programs rather than instruction in righteousness and love and fear of God.

Susan Duckett [09/15/2015 11:48 AM]
They are going to play video games, then have worship and a 5 minute devotional, and then play video games again. I don’t take my kids to church to play. We have never owned a video game.

Dianna Orea [09/15/2015 11:48 AM]
I think that the church made a horrible decision with the five minute devotional.

Susan Duckett [09/15/2015 11:49 AM]
I think so too. I think that while they have them in class they need to try to get as much word in them as possible. Some of those kids only hear at church.

Dianna Orea [09/15/2015 11:49 AM]
My child would not be going in there. We have never owned a video game either. And that is not what church is about. It sounds like you’re church is beginning to seek members and not God. Sorry to say, but I have seen it so much in the last couple decades.

Susan Duckett [09/15/2015 11:51 AM]
Well, then I talked to a friend that is a pastor of a mega church and she said that it is a new trend that churches are going through.