Children Need…

Jason Noble

I hope that you are having a great summer thus far.  As I prepare to begin my fourth week of Kids Camps, I wanted to share a few brief thoughts on lessons I’ve learned out on the road.  Speaking at Kids Camps always gets me thinking about what our kids are facing today, what they need and what our office can do to better equip you in your effort to reach kids! 

I wanted to share a few ideas that I have been contemplating – things that may not be a surprise to you, but things worthy of a second glance!  My challenge to you in this article would be this: to objectively evaluate your children’s ministries and ensure you are impacting the kids that God has entrusted you.

For further advice and ideas, log on to our ongoing conversations at the CMA LEAD forum.

Children Need: DEPTH

We must be willing to go deep into the Word of God as we teach our children.  Our challenge is to teach kids the intimate side of God in a simple, yet straight forward manner which they can comprehend.  When they understand these things, we need to encourage them to apply what they’ve learned to their everyday lives. 

In some cases, we only have our children for about 52 hours each year (maybe more if we’re lucky) therefore we must make the most of every opportunity we have our children in our churches!  Finding a balance between fun and experiencing God is the first part of my challenge to you!
 
Now, some of you may be wondering, how do we encourage our children to go deep?  I would argue topically we must teach stories from the Bible that will encourage them to continue to grow spiritually.  We must allow our students to explore God’s word and find the answers on their own and to guide them to the right answer.  Spoon feeding answers will no longer cut it; we’re living in a generation that wants their own experience.  The more that we can encourage this learning style the better our response to it will be.

Additionally, we need to allow our students to ask questions about what they are learning or experiencing in their own lives.  No question about God is off limits. Allowing time to answer questions provides the indicator as to what kids are thinking and how we can tailor their learning experience to meet their specific needs.  

In this process of building disciples we must remind our children how much God loves them.  Understanding God’s love is a key building block for a child to build his relationship with God on.  Another key component in this process relates to parenting.  Parents spend the most time with their children and as a result can help their children cultivate a rich relationship and deeper understanding of God. Our job as leaders is to assist parents and provide resources and training for aiding them in this process. 

If we can begin to encourage kids at a young age to deepen their relationship with God, it will serve them well throughout their lives.

Children Need: ALTAR

How do we teach our children the importance of the altar?  Going up to the altar should not just be restricted to a “camp only” experience.  Altar services need to be a regular part of our Sunday services.  Many times we try and move through our program and add the altar service as an add-on or make it a last priority.  If we have time we might get to it, but if something more pressing comes up or an activity goes too long, it is the first thing to go! 

I would say we can’t afford NOT to have an altar time during our services.  I believe that it is not only an important component to our services, but that it must be a focal point of them.  We need to teach our children the importance of the altar during our service and then encourage them to experience God at the altars. 

At the altar hearts are healed, lives are saved, things are changed and we can see God move in incredible ways.  Amazing things happen at the altar.  When you make the altar a focal point in your kid’s church you will definitely see God move in powerful ways. If you’re not in the pattern of utilizing the altar, be patient, it may take some time for it to catch on with your kids.  In due time, the altar and the time spent there will become a cherished part of your service.

During your altar times encourage your children to quietly seek the Lord. This affords them the opportunity to focus in on Him and the chance to hear his voice.  You will quickly find that the altar will become a place your kids can’t live without.

A few things to consider in regards to the altar:

• I’m a firm believer that the lifeline needs to be thrown out every Sunday. Kids should be given a chance to give their hearts to the Lord or rededicate their hearts every Sunday.
• Parents need to be educated in this process. If parents understand how important it is for their child to be at the altar it will minimize the times that they are willing to pull their child out of an altar service… even if your service runs longer than the “adult” service.
• Teaching your kids to pray for people at the altar and to be altar workers is essential.  It’s important that they understand what they can do and also what they can’t.  

Children Need: THE HOLY SPIRIT

Experiencing the Holy Spirit and understanding how the Holy Spirit works in our everyday life is essential for our children today.  Teaching and experiencing the Holy Spirit must not be relegated to a camp experience.  It’s amazing to see how many kids come to our camps without any understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and how He works.  We need to focus in on the Holy Spirit during our teaching in Kid’s Church on a regular basis.  I’m not just talking about focusing on the experience; the experience of speaking in tongues and being filled with the spirit is great, but if kids don’t understand the Holy Spirit and how He works in their lives it is much more difficult for them to experience the Holy Spirit.

As leaders we must understand how the Holy Spirit works and be able to articulate it in simple and understandable terms with our kids.  Then we need to make sure we have time set aside in our services for kids to experience the Holy Spirit.  We need to make sure our kids understand everything happens in God’s timing.  If a child prays and they are not filled with the Holy Spirit right away they should never walk away feeling like God doesn’t love them or they have done something wrong. God has perfect timing and our children need to rest in the fact that He knows exactly what they need when they need it.

Children Need: ATTENTION

It’s amazing to hear what our children are facing today.  As I have been in the altars praying for children I have a fresh awareness how great those needs are.  They are facing big choices and major issues, ones that only God can meet.  When God meets a need and provides healing for our kids, children will begin to see His faithfulness as they transition into adults.  How do we help kids experience God’s help and healing?

• We must talk with kids about what they are facing and provide solid Biblical answers on how to deal with the issues that they are facing.  We can’t be afraid or shy away from major issues.
• Relationships are the key. To get into a child’s world we first must have a relationship with them.  We should work to make sure every child is connected by relationships to us or other leaders in our children’s ministries area.  When leaders are connected to kids they can readily identify those kids who are struggling and do something to help.
• Prayer should also be focused on. Only God can miraculously heal a child and when we teach a child to pray for someone else’s needs, God will provide a peace and will even meet the needs that child may have in their own life.

Children Need: DIRECTION

Many of our missionaries and pastors were called to ministry between the ages of eight and eleven.  Around altars at camps and in services children can hear God’s call on their lives.  Our job as leaders is to provide children with opportunities to hear God’s voice.  Once a child has been called into ministry we must cultivate the call in their lives. The enemy will do all that he can to get our children off track and keep them from fulfilling the call that God has placed on their lives. How do we cultivate the call?

• We must believe in our children and what God is doing in their lives.
• We must give our children the opportunity to use the gifts entrusted to them by God.
• We must help them stay on the path that God has called them to.
• We must encourage them in their call to ministry.
• We must never discourage their call.

I am reminded time and time again of the amazing potential that our children have, and I am reminded of the task we face as leaders.  Raising a generation of children requires intentionality and pre-planning.  The level of dedication I see in leaders and children’s pastors across the country is so encouraging to me! 

Thanks to each one of you for all you do to reach kids.  We are committed to helping you reach the kids that God has placed in your ministry and I would like your feedback on how we can better serve you!  Feel free to send me an email at: jnoble@ag.org,  I can’t wait to hear from you!  I would also encourage you to go to the CMA LEAD Forum and talk about some of the issues we’ve discussed! Have a great rest of July and see you on the forum!