Kids Ministry: A Secondary Cause?
By Lonny Adams
Mark 10:13-16 (KJV)
And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and
forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Children's Ministry, as a term, invokes many different images for different people. From children's church to super saturdays, kids ministry was given a place in scripture, and has a place in the church. I have listened to multiple sermons taken from this passage that simply made it sound like children are nothing more than an annoyance that must be kept around if you don't want to be drowned with a heavy weight tied to your legs! I believe the heart of Jesus message should change the way that churches and believers view the children in their circles of incfluence.
1) First, turn your eyes to what I feel is the key statement of this passage, and the rest will fall into a different light. "...of such is the kingdom of God." We must realize, first of all, that when we look into a child's eye, or receive their unique perspective on the stories of scripture, we are dealing face to face with the purity, innocence, and dependence that qualifies them to be the picture of kingdom believers. As adults, we need to realize that we must come to a place of child-like faith and dependence in God to gain access into His great kingdom. If we are simply tolerating the children in our classes or on our busses, we are falling far short of Jesus' command. We must actively engage their minds in the truth of the Gospel in their lives. They MUST feel the love that we have for them as we work with them.
2) Secondly, if this child-like state is key to kingdom entrance, why do we approach kids ministry as though it is an afterthought? Preacher's mournfully declare the end of the "family pew." Evangelism efforts to reach adults fall vastly short of the desired effect. True, the need for revival seems greater now than at any moment in our history, but I propose that kids ministry is a viable route to winning many families to the Lord. Children have not developed a hardness toward the church. Children do not know the cliche answers to a church invitation yet. They do not see a preacher as a man who begs for money. Teaching gospel truths to a child who may not have heard a Bible story is truly putting forth light into a heart that will likely be fully receptive to that light. Involoving a child in the church, and letting his parents see that involvment often has a powerful effect on his parents/guardians.
3) Finally, I believe the solution to many of our frustrations is to give children's ministry a more prominent role in our ministry approach. Every church should dedicate a portion of their facility to a place where children realize they are important, and wanted. Our efforts in outreach to children should be well organized, and carried by prayer. Children's workers should receive training to be the best they can be. Sunday School teachers, children's church workers, bus captains, pastors, and anyone who attends the church should carry a burden to love children and show them who Jesus is. They might just be the key to salvation for entire families.
Are we forbidding children to come to Jesus simply because there is no place for them
in our churches? God forbid.
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