Helping Our Kids to Serve

Way back in history, in a time of socks & sandals and baby-pink-coloured boy’s shirts, in a time before PowerPoint or even overhead projectors, people at church knew which song to sing because someone had placed together the correct combination of black and white cardboard numbers at the front of church. These numbers let the congregation know which hymn to look up in the Hymn Book which was tucked in the pocket of the pew in front of them.

In the church I grew up in, that someone just happened to be my dad.

One of my first memories of church was helping put these hymn numbers together in the wood and metal frame that hung on the pillar at the front of Sylvania Anglican Church. I also remember when my dad had the job of counting the offertory money after the service and he would get my brother and I to collect all the silver coins into the right denomination piles.

In other words, my first memories of church are memories of ministry. Not ministry that was done for me (although I'm sure the Sunday School classes were excellent) but ministry that I was doing. Ministry that I was invited into. I was asked to participate and encouraged to use my time and my attention on a Sunday to help the saints engage in church.

Now, some thirty years later, the dads at church are my peers. We no longer dress our kids in socks and sandals (well.. most don’t…) but we are still committed to raising our kids to know and love Jesus. Helping our children to serve in ministry is an important part of that discipleship.

I recently interviewed my friend Ross, who is another dad at my church for our weekly Newsletter. Ross told me that for his children,

“Ministry is something we want them to see as a normal part of life”.

For this family there are two practical out-workings of this desire. The first is that their children serve in ministry when they welcome other children into their homes and invite these visitors to play with their toys.

“Even if it means that their room gets messy or toys get broken, it’s a cost of ministry and it’s ok.”

These sacrifices for ministry help Ross’ children to learn that these gospel-centred relationships are more important than the kid’s physical possessions.

The second way in which the family serves in ministry together is through the dinner roster at our church. Once a term the whole family is involved in preparing the dinner which follows each Saturday night gathering. While Ross and his wife are doing the majority of the “work”, each of the children can help within their capacity, ministering alongside their parents. Even for the littlest ones, the priority of ministry on a Saturday, the fact that they are choosing to joyfully serve the church with their precious family weekend time, models to the children that participating in the household of God is the highpoint of their weekend.

“We want them to see that ministry is important and that living out a Christian life is important.”

As children engage in ministry in the church, not only are they able to serve the church with the gifts that God has given them, but we know from research studies that it also builds in our kids a deep sense of belonging which is one factor in children sticking with Jesus long term.

What I learned while pulling out tattered hymn cards and collecting 10 cent pieces in piles was that being “at church” means participating in the household of God. Being involved in ministry is not something that a special select few get chosen to do. It’s just simply a regular part of being a Christian. Being a Christian implies serving the body. Participating in ministry is what Christians do.

This is my prayer for my own kids, for Ross’ kids and for each of the children at my church. I want them to genuinely participate in the body of Christ in whatever way they can, given their age and stage. I also want them to learn that serving is part and parcel of being a disciple, and that everyone, no matter how small, can contribute to the household of God.

As you think about your own family, and the children and families in your church, how are they engaged in ministry together? Celebrate those who are serving and contributing to the household of God, whether as part of the weekend service, or during the week in their homes. Think creatively about those who are not yet serving can use their own gifts and energies to be a blessing the church.