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Children and church
By Amanda Wells
Maybe you grew up going to Sunday school. You remember nativity plays, Bible stories, and playing hide and seek in the supplies cupboard. Or perhaps you remember a parent dragging you to the door, sermons masquerading as children’s talks and the hours of waiting for mum or dad to finally finish their cup of tea…
Things have changed. Today’s children’s programmes are dynamic, engaging and fun, and the challenges they face are totally different from those confronting yesterday’s Sunday school teachers. Taking the Christian message to children is not without its controversy. Last year’s Narnia film provoked accusations of subtle brainwashing. But The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe resonates only if you’re familiar with the foundations of the Jesus’ life story (perhaps from those youthful Sunday school sessions). Do today’s children have this knowledge?
Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand statistics show that attendance levels at children’s programmes have remained fairly static during the past 10 years, averaging about 8,500. But New Zealand ’s population has grown significantly during this time. US research suggests that if you become a Christian before you hit the teenage years, the chance of long-term commitment is much greater. According to the George Barna study Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, published in 2003, “after their first decade, most people simply ref ne their views as they age without a wholesale change in those leanings… A person’s response to the meaning and personal value of Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection is usually determined before a person reaches eighteen.”
Emily Wotton, who was recently appointed youth, children and family ministry co-ordinator for the Auckland Presbytery region, says teaching children values and nurturing in them a sense of belonging to a church community can’t start too early. “The sooner you get that engaged, the more likely they will get through the teenage years without too much rocking and rolling.”
Jill Kayser, of the Presbyterian Kids Friendly programme, which aims to resource parishes to intentionally minister to children and families, says teaching children about God’s love for them and telling them that Jesus told us to love others in this way is “entirely appropriate”. Children’s ministry has to be more than just entertainment or hospitality, she says. “Its prime focus should be about enabling children to fully experience the love and community of God.”
When asked about their experiences of church, children at St Heliers Presbyterian Church in Auckland said they enjoyed having church friends of all ages with whom they feel safe and loved. They felt special when they could contribute to worship by helping the minister or elders or reading or singing in church. Church family camps were popular because they gave opportunities to hang out with friends from church. The children also enjoyed the chance to use gifts and skills in music and drama performances.
Mrs Kayser says children want to feel like they belong. “They want to believe that they are truly nurtured and needed and if they didn’t come to church they would be sorely missed.” Kids who go to church without their families are generally not “sent” but choose to go themselves because they have a friend who goes or because they have developed positive relationships with church leaders through initiatives such as holiday programmes, she says. Parents generally don’t object to children attending church without them, believing it “can’t do any harm”.
Mrs Wotton says changes in Sunday school programmes reflect the way that education has changed during the past few decades. Children are no longer taught by rote nor expected to memorise facts. Instead they are given a variety of tools to sift through contemporary society’s information overload.
Most children no longer know Bible basics, she says, which can make children’s ministry much harder. Rather than starting with a Bible story and generalising back to life lessons, contemporary resources look for other, more familiar ways to engage their young audience before introducing the Bible. For example, one teaching series examines the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, drawing on the naughty children’s characters to illustrate different sins and on the example of Charlie to illustrate handling temptation. Applicable memory verses are introduced once each session’s message is understood.
Most churches with dynamic children’s programmes have several people in coordinating roles, along with volunteers in the classroom. Mrs Kayser says volunteers must be part of the ministry’s planning process and feel part of its vision. “Always remember to thank them and invite them to reflect on and share why they volunteer their services.” To pay staff is to recognise their commitment of time and also to attract those who would otherwise have to work elsewhere, she says. “If it is appropriate to pay a minister, then it is appropriate to pay a children’s minister.”
Perhaps this is the bottom line: churches investing in best practice children’s ministry, including community outreach, are bucking the trend and continuing to grow.