Church life: TRAC Highlights

Easter Programme and craft ideas shared by Faith MC during TRAC BoCM COZY Catch Up

TRAC

Board of Children Ministry

Living Waters Methodist Church

As I write this article, families have returned to Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) safe management measures. Schools and private tuition have shifted to homebased learning; children and youth ministry programmes have gone online and several school-going children had to be placed in quarantine because their close contacts tested positive for COVID-19.

Feelings of inadequacy overwhelmed me, but after taking some time to pray and reflect, the Aaronic Blessing—the blessing that Aaron and his sons were to speak over the people of Israel as recorded in Numbers 6:22–27—came to mind. As my sons were sleeping, I placed my hands on their foreheads and declared:

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen.”

This blessing recognises that it is the Lord who blesses; it is the Lord who keeps us; it is the Lord who makes His face shine on us; it is the Lord who bestows grace; it is the Lord who directs His countenance to us; and it is the Lord who grants us His peace. Our expectations for a life of comfort and ease in work, ministry and family life may not necessarily be the blessings that God desires for our greatest and highest good.

During the circuit breaker last year, members of the Board of Children Ministry, led by our previous chairperson Christina Ong, met over Zoom on 30 May last year to provide ministry updates in the areas of Welcome, Worship, Word, Wonder, Witness (including Welfare of leaders, children and families) and to unite in prayer. Even though some of us were disheartened by the lack of opportunities to minister to children in-person and onsite, there was a growing recognition that we are called to partner parents and families in the discipleship of children—this was the blessing for the season.

The family is part of God’s heart for discipleship and the primary means according to Deuteronomy 6:4–7—“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

When in-person Sunday School was finally restarted at our TRAC churches, it was rewarding for teachers, staff and volunteers to see how the children had grown, not just in stature, but also in faith. As Sunday School teachers and volunteers, we recognise that whilst we may plant and water, the Lord in His mercy and grace was the one who has brought about the increase through the faithful devotion of parents committed to family discipleship!

The opportunity to strengthen bonds between parents and children as well as to establish children in the faith cannot be delegated. Let us endeavour to begin a legacy of spiritual blessing in our personal and family life— remembering that our Children Ministry leaders, teachers and volunteers continue to cheer us all on in this journey with their encouragement and prayers—and allow the message of Christ to dwell among us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in our hearts (Col 3:16).