(This post is from the FBC March newsletter)
Have you ever said it? Have you ever heard it? I often find myself laughing quietly when someone is sharing about their life and they say the phrase, “I grew up in the church.” A common phrase in our language, but the voice in my head shouts out, “Well that is odd, I grew up in a house!” I know; it is a bit childish.
I grew up in the church. As a child, I found church foreign and distant to anything that was happening in my young mind. It was as if as an elementary school student, I was thrust into high school or college academia.
As my childhood years passed, I learned how to read a hymnal, close my eyes when we prayed, and there were a few Sunday’s where I really did try to learn something from the pastor. Often I would do anything as a child to occupy my mind including drawing, playing quiet games, or thinking about the fact that I was going to Burger King after church; if I was good. I grew up in the church, but I never grew up in my faith, in the church.
Over the past few months I have slipped out of the morning worship service to join Creation Kingdom for a few minutes in the youth room. Each time I watch the children in Creation Kingdom tears well up in my eyes. I have watched them worship, pray, give offerings, memorize scripture and learn what it means to have a relationship with Jesus. I am moved by the fact that they are not only growing up in church they are growing up in their faith, in the church.
Our vision here at Family Bible Church is “Reaching as many as possible; developing fully committed followers of Christ.” In EVERY ministry we need to examine how we can best REACH and DEVELOP people, young and old.
Months ago, a door opened in the children’s ministry to intentionally dream up and design Creation Kingdom to reach and develop children. Dawn Iott and her team of faithful dedicated leaders including her husband Chris, Stacey and Bryan Meister, Bryan Kidder, Kay Bean, junior highers Kristina Craft and Alex Mansfield plus many others teachers and leaders took on this task and have done an amazing job ministering to these children.
These leaders pour their time, energy and resources into this program. They do not do this for any other reason then to create an environment of learning and expression toward Jesus Christ. This is something that I personally did not have as a child.
Last Sunday I overheard a child talking with great excitement about Creation Kingdom. He looked at his friend and said that this was a great place to invite his friends to learn and hear about God. He has been growing up in his faith at church.
Experience Creation Kingdom.
Watch as the children sing out the words to all sorts of songs; hymns, worship, and fun songs. They are growing up in their faith at church.
Listen to the excitement in the voices of children as share about what they learn. They are growing up in their faith at church.
Watch the children give a gift as an offering to the Lord. They are growing up in their faith at church.
Listen as the children memorize a verse each week. They are growing up in their faith at church.
Ask the leaders of Creation Kingdom what they have experienced in this ministry. I am sure that you will be blessed as you hear about what the Lord is doing in the lives of the children at Family Bible Church.
Jesus rebuked those in the Bible who stood in the way of the children coming to Him. In Matthew 19:14 He said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
My Sunday mornings as a child were by no means horrific, but they lacked. When I look at Creation Kingdom I see a ministry that is alive and full of excitement for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am honored to serve in a church where energy and resources are poured out into children’s ministry where kids do not only grow up in the church they grow up in their faith.
