Children and church

We often say that children are our most precious or valuable assets. This is true in the nation, the church and in the home. How we relate to and teach children is vitally important to the health of all three institutions.

When it comes to teaching faith, the most logical place to start is in the home. Here parents can model as well as teach their faith. Bible stories, prayers and relaxed conversation about faith matters will influence children. But it is in our churches where much of the discipling of children happens.

In the past, our churches used their ministry to children as an inroad into the family and community. Some of the earliest outreach ministries in our provinces were directed at children. In Saskatchewan, Western Children’s Mission was formed in 1935 as an outgrowth of Bethany Bible Institute. The mission had only one aim, says Peter Penner in Reaching the Otherwise Unreached, and that was to “reach the otherwise unreached” in Western Canada, especially the children.

This philosophy was brought into British Columbia by former Bethany students, and the West Coast Children’s Mission was formed. Earlier, the Randmission or, mission on the periphery of the communities where there were established churches, had targeted Mennonites and other German-speaking people. This new mission wanted to reach out beyond this circumference to both German and English-speaking people. Another objective was to give missionary-minded young people the opportunity to minister within an agency of their own conference.

Later, although outreach ministry to children continued in vacation Bible schools, camps and Sunday schools, the approach to mission changed to a more adult focus in Bible studies and church planting. Churches began clubs to augment Sunday school teaching of their own children. Currently, many churches have children’s ministers who oversee the various facets of work with children.

Bruce Elwood, director of children’s ministry for the Canadian MB Conference, is working from yet another philosophy of nurturing children. “We train leaders to equip their people in three primary areas – character, competency and community,” he says. Leaders train other leaders to form relationships with children. “If we are going to make the most significant impact spiritually on kids it happens through relationship – meaning the shepherding, small group relationship where kids feel cared for and where teaching is applied.”

Rather than focusing on Sunday school “where the curriculum is the engine,” Elwood says, “we want to see adults and their spiritual mentoring be the engine and the curriculum is an aid to teach biblical truth.” Kids need to see a living faith relationship in their adult mentors, parents and teachers.

Although our ministry focus has changed over the years, there has always been a recognition that children need to be brought to faith. Most people in our churches today came to faith before the age of 13. According to Bruce Elwood, however, “record numbers of children cross the line of faith with near equal numbers dropping away by 18.” This means we have to do a better job of growing children into solid followers – disciples – of Jesus, grounding them in the Word. He contends this is best done in relationships they respect and want to emulate.

This issue has stories which illustrate that. Vonnie Mostat tells of her experience as a child being welcomed into a neighbour’s Christian home and how that resulted in her coming to faith and growing as a disciple. Influences such as Sunday school, clubs and a visit to MCC are highlighted in other stories in this issue.

Reaching children and nurturing them is still a high priority in our churches. As the new church year begins, let’s make use of the resources available to us to bring children to faith and to disciple them in their walk with the Lord.

A new series: the treasures of Luke

Tim Geddert

We are pleased that Tim Geddert, professor of New Testament at Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Fresno, Cal., has agreed to write a Bible study series for the MB Herald. Geddert has written extensively on the Gospel of Mark, but this series will examine various texts and themes in the Gospel of Luke. “I have recently become increasingly captivated by this beautiful and challenging Gospel,” he says, “especially after teaching Luke in Fresno and in Congo this past year.”

Geddert grew up in Saskatchewan, in a “Bible school family” (his father taught Bible school 40 years). He studied at Bethany College, University of Saskatchewan, MB Biblical Seminary and Aberdeen University. He has served in church planting, pastoral work and short-term missions, and since 1986 as professor at MBBS. The loves of his life, he says, are teaching Bible and his multicultural family (wife Gertrud, six children ages 7 to 25 and a new daughter-in-law). When not teaching, preaching, writing or translating books, he enjoys riding bike, painting houses, travelling and reading.

The first in the series, introducing the Gospel, appears in this issue. We invite your ongoing participation in reading (and even clipping) these explorations of the treasures of Luke.

—dd