Where Are The Kids?

So often, I hear people express concerns, here in Warner and in other churches too, about the apparent disappearance of families and children from our churches on Sunday morning.

The concern is more than justified as it points to a future in which no one will be around to carry on the ministries of the body of Christ in the world. More importantly, it raises the fear of a future in which no one has access to the saving faith of Jesus Christ or the tremendous joy that a life in Him brings.

When I reflect on this problem, I find myself remembering my own experience of raising my children in the church. Honestly, it was hard. The demands of my full-time teaching job combined with kids’ sporting events and social activities left little to no down time for us as a family, or for our own personal social lives and hobbies. Much of the responsibility for children’s ministries in our church fell on volunteers and so I did my part, serving as a Sunday School teacher/superintendent and as the Chair of the Diaconate. Looking back, I remember those years as an insanely stressful time. I’m not really sure how I did it. I realize now that my commitments to the church came at some personal cost to my mental health. 

Even so, as I look back, I do not regret the time we spent on church activities. As Proverbs 6:22 says, “Start children off on the way they should go,and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” My children have encountered more than their fair share of struggles throughout their lives, and I’m beyond grateful that they had their Christian faith to get them through, as well as a church family to pray for them.

The reality of our world today has made this kind of church involvement difficult, if not impossible, for busy young families today. The stresses and demands of daily life have increased exponentially since the days when my own children were small. Parents and children desperately need time for self-care and to strengthen their bonds as a family.

Does this mean that it’s time to give up on the participation of youth and children in the life of the church?

Never!

But what it does mean is that it’s time to rethink the ways in which young people might get involved. The old model, in which we expected young parents to volunteer every Sunday to keep children’s ministries going, will not work in today’s world. We now have to think beyond Sunday morning, and outside the walls of our church sanctuary, in order to find new, innovative ways of worship.

Some possibilities might include an additional worship service, perhaps on a Friday or Saturday evening, that is kid-centered and casual. Or an early-morning/evening book study on a social justice topic, seen through a spiritual lens. Or a community service project that unites all generations in working towards a common cause. Or even a Bible-themed “Escape Room” in the Fellowship Hall a few evenings during the summer. If you have any other ideas along these lines, please reach out to me. My door is always open. The only limit on these ideas is our energy to carry them out.

Stay tuned as we will be open to new ideas later in the year, when we’ve had time to regroup after summer travels and adventures. 

In the meantime, I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday mornings at 10 AM. (And perhaps invite a friend or family member to join us!)

In God’s love always,

Pastor Amy