Three ways to integrate young people into church
Know the importance of integrating children into God’s wider church
What do you think of when you think about children’s ministry? Perhaps craft, or games, or noise. You’re probably picturing a group of children sitting around an adult who is teaching them a story from the Bible.
Do you also picture adults and children singing together in church? Or conversations between adults and children over morning tea?
An effective children’s ministry is so much more than the teaching that happens during kids’ church. It is intentional discipleship of children. Discipleship, undoubtedly, involves teaching the Bible to children, but it is much more than that.
One of the seven core principles of effective youth and children’s ministry that have been distilled over years of thinking, practice and experience by Youthworks Advisors is this:
Integrate young people into the household of God
Effective discipleship happens when children and young people are valued as members of the church and integrated into this wider “household” of God’s people. Christians of all ages influence each other to grow in love for Christ and each other, and every Christian is affirmed as a contributing and equal member of the body. An intergenerational church is one where these values are upheld in practice where there are intentional opportunities for discipling relationships across age groups.
Here's three strategies that will help you integrate children into your church:
1. Include children in the church service
Church is the gathering of God’s people, of all ages. Age specific programs are important because they provide an opportunity for children to be taught God’s Word through relational discipleship. It is also important to express our unity as a complete household of God. Many churches do this through having all ages present for the beginning of church. Some do this through regular intergenerational services. Some have a combination of both of these things.
I’ve written previous about making the most of the first 15 minutes of church with everyone present. These are significant moments to allow children not only to participate but to serve their church family.
If you would like to explore these ideas further, check out our Training Paper on this topic.
2. Encourage intergenerational relationships
One of the unique things about church is that it brings together people of all ages. Church is meant to be like this, so that we can live out the commands in the Bible to teach and disciple younger generations. One of these commands is found in Titus 2:6-7:
“Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good.” - Titus 2:6-7
While these verses are specifically written about young men, they are a helpful guide for what intergenerational relationships should look like.
a) Encourage
Older Christians have a unique opportunity to empathise with the challenges of sin, and to encourage younger people in their faith and obedience to Jesus. This happens in meaningful and intentional relationships.
b) Set an example
Research tells us that one of the factors in young people continuing in the faith is witnessing adults live out their faith. Having adults, in addition to their parents, who are an example of lived faith in Jesus, helps young people to also live out their faith in Jesus.
For these things to happen we need to actively and intentionally work at encouraging intergenerational relationships. One way to do this is to invite adults to your children’s ministry and to share how faith in Jesus has impacted their lives. This gives adults who may otherwise not be involved in children’s ministry a chance to encourage and set an example to the next generation.
Likewise, inviting children to share their faith with adults in church is an opportunity for the whole household of God to be encouraged.
3. Encourage young people to serve
The Christian life is a life of service. Ephesians 2:10 tells us:
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” - Ephesians 2:20
God has prepared good works for all his people, including children. Active service both develops and consolidates children’s identity in Christ. Serving is about belonging. When children are able to serve, it confirms that they belong not to a children’s ministry, which will end after primary school, but to an eternal family of God.
What is one thing can you do in your ministry to integrate young people into your church family and household of God?
