Although I have suggested a model of ministry among children that is based on Christian nurture, this does not imply that it is inappropriate to offer programmes aimed specifically at different ministry purposes. The following example programmes are suggested for different commitment levels:
1. An Evangelistic Programme
The Zoo Children’s Ministry has the following mission statement: to go out in to the community and present the Gospel of Christ in such a way that children and their families will learn biblical morals and have the opportunity to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
The Structure of the Program:
Opening: The weekly program begins with a short skit or activity to introduce the topic. It is usually very brief so that it holds the attention of the children.
Rules: The rules are explained to the children before beginning the body of the program, to establish the discipline for the remainder of the hour. The following rules will be applicable in any environment and should be repeated each week: (a) raise your hand before you speak; and (b) treat your neighbour with kindness and respect. These and other rules that are developed should be shared positively.
Prayer: A brief prayer is offered at this point to dedicate your program to God and His purpose.
Singing: At this point the children stand and sing a few songs. The best songs have been high energy songs with lots of actions. Any upbeat music is appropriate for this part of the program. If possible it may be helpful to include songs that are appropriate for your theme or lesson.
Games: A few children are selected to participate and the rest cheer on their team. The games are usually very traditional relays or activities that have been adapted to suit the theme. After the games are over the focus changes as they move on to learn about God.
Memory Verse: The memory verse section of the program is an opportunity for children to learn some scripture. To maker it interesting, puppets are used to hold their attention and make learning easier.
Object Lesson: The object lesson uses concrete objects to help illustrate abstract ideas. Magic tricks are an excellent way to entertain the children while they learn.
Story: The story, sometimes Bible stories, about people or animals, is used to apply the concepts being taught to real life situations in the children’s lives. Different methods, ie. puppets, pictures, drama and video, can be used to tell the story.
2. An Educational Programme
CITY KIDZ is a Christian organization that has been ministering to inner-city children and families since 1990. It is based in Hamilton, Ontario. The purpose of the ministry is to establishing relationships and providing practical dynamic teaching. This is accomplished by: (a) teaching biblical principals in order to build Christ-like values in the lives of the children; (b) providing a fun-filled atmosphere of teaching which is both practical and exciting; and (c) providing a safe and secure environment for all the children that attend. The group meets on a Saturday, with over 300 children bussed in. City Kidz Sunday School bases it's Sunday School concept on The Roller Coaster Theory. We believe our Sunday School must be an explosive, energetic, exciting, and fun time for all of the children that attend; much like a ride on a roller coaster.
Opening Prayer: This is vital as it acknowledges reverence for God; and commits the children and the Sunday School into God's hands.
Pump-Up: The pump-up time is used to build excitement and anticipation in the children. It takes the children to a level of expectancy for the day and prepares them to have fun. Visual aids are used to encourage participation and healthy competition is generated between the children.
Song Service: The songs are dynamic, exciting and upbeat to build anticipation within the children and allow them to experience the power of praise and worship as they participate.
Game Time: This provides the children with an opportunity to leave behind the worries and cares of inner city life and have a clean and healthy good time; and to burn off some energy which prepares them to slow down for quiet seat time. The time consists of a few fast paced games with at least one mass group game to ensure that all the children have the opportunity to participate.
Offering Time: Offering time teaches the children the spiritual principle of giving; and makes a transition from the games to the Quiet seat time, giving children a brief moment to adjust. Brief notices are given during this time.
Quiet Seat Time: This is the teaching time, where children are taught life-building principles, life skills and given tools to help them apply what they are taught. Incorporated during quiet seat time is a wide range of dynamics, some of which include puppets, skits, songs, object lessons, interactive skits, videos etc. Incorporated into each is the following outline: Hook (an exciting attention grabber); Look (draw their attention and interest in and focus them on what you are doing); Book (present to them the message of truth) and Took (dramatic climax and wrap up, leaving them with something to think about). This time should be made up of two to three minute segments (with skits, object lessons, etc.) and be no more than thirty to forty minutes in total. Segments are fast paced and flow smoothly from section to section.
Closing Prayer: The closing prayer is done at the conclusion of the service and is primarily used as a commitment time for the children, an opportunity for them to accept Jesus into their lives and/or to make quality decisions to carry out what they've learned that day. It is kept short, consists of easily understood words and phrases, repeated by the children and may include quiet music played in the background to help children focus.
Dismissal: Once the closing prayer has been said, the promotion handed out, and all announcements for the next week gone over, the leaders and children will prepare to be dismissed.
3. A Worship Programme
There are two ways to involve children in worship: children’s church and family worship.
A. Children’s Church
Some churches offer an event where children either have a mini-church run at their developmental level or they engage in children’s worship. This helps them to learn about worship and understand what is happening in the ‘main’ church service. Jolene Roehlkepartian suggests the following ingredients are necessary: (a) worship; (b) active participation; (c) need-orientated programming; and (d) Bible-basis. The following elements are suggested: celebration; communication and cultivation. There are two options that are used: split-service children’s church or self-contained children’s church.
B. Family Worship
The worship service is a gathering of the whole church to worship together. It is not just a children’s service, nor an adult service in which children are onlookers. Worship is for the whole congregation, old, young, single, married, adult and child. It is necessary to see all members as one group, while being conscious of a diversity of people. The aims of family worship are: (a) to lead the whole congregation into a meaningful corporate worship experience; (b) to encourage all to participate meaningfully and reverently in worship; (c) to enable the congregation to experience a corporate expression of worship; and (d) to maintain the basic integrity of worship - where there is genuineness, order and dignity.
Two types of family worship services are possible: (1) Fully-Integrated Service - all worship together and then the teaching time attempts to address all groups with dignity. This is achieved through the use of overhead, drama and other creative methods of message projection. A time of intergenerational or age-specific discussion groups follow. Take home material is used to provide deeper teaching for adults, teaching input for the family during the week or memory aids for children. Weekly peer group activity is arranged for each age group during the week. (2) Parallel Learning - here everyone participates in all aspects of the worship except for the time of formal instruction. This model acknowledges that the various groups of people are on different levels of cognitive learning, nut insists that each group, though separate for the instruction process, focuses on the same learning topic at an appropriate level. The structure is: (a) all ages meet for a carefully structure worship service for about 30 minutes; (b) for the instruction period people divide up into broad age-groups; (c) the forty minute session is devoted to the learning process: message presentation, discussion, feedback; (d) the group leaders meet regularly to design the discussion sessions they are responsible for; (e) discussion groups ensure that the message is applied to each individual on their own level; (f) report back to the large group happens when all groups join together; and (g) the leader concludes the session with a brief summary of the message that has been presented, together with any insights that have been discussed in the groups.
In order to include children in family worship, the following guidelines should be considered: (a) tell children why it is important for them to attend worship services; (b) get children to visit the bathroom before they go into the sanctuary; (c) get the ushers to make a point of welcoming children; (d) encourage adults to welcome children and adopt them if necessary; (e) get children to sit up front so they feel more a part of what is happening; (f) give children something to do to prepare for the service; (g) encourage children to listen for something in the service to discuss afterwards; (h) share a song sheet or hymnal with a child; (i) include hymns or songs that children can easily sing; (j) help children locate the Scripture reading in their Bible; (k) encourage their participation as much as possible: offering; hand out bulletins, assist in welcoming people, hold up a poster for announcements, read short passages; (l) design worksheets that relate to the theme of the service for children to complete; (m) include children’s concerns during prayer times or the sermon; (n) use responsive readings; props; a catalyst to provoke silent reflection or group discussion; (o) guide times of silent prayer, writing a prayer letter to God, prayer requests, one word prayers; (p) read scripture creatively: a play reading, mime, video.
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