Children and teenagers are the church of today, not just the church of tomorrow. Therefore, our ministry to young people matters for today. We’re not just looking for future fruit.

How do you help the rest of the church who are not used to kids being in the main service? How would you encourage or nudge people to persevere and love having kids in the main meeting?

Of all the people you know, who do you think knows God the best? What is it about that person that makes you think the person knows God?
As both a parent and a ministry leader, I hope that the children in my spheres of influence would have me somewhere towards the top of their lists. But it is the second question that gives me pause, convicts me of my faith practices and challenges me in my relationship with these young people to align my professed beliefs with concrete action.

Because of the values of our culture, it is no surprise that when we say, “Discipleship”, they hear, “Programs”. This is what our parents have been enculturated to expect, and it is what we have been enculturated to provide.