CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
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The Mission Field Under Our Noses
ne of the things that first attracted me to Ealing Christian Centre at the young age of 14 was our passion to be a mission-minded church. Over the 24 years I’ve been here, I have seen our church reach out to people both home and abroad, and make a difference in people’s lives, regardless of background or circumstances. From the committed teams who run street evangelism, all the way through to the individuals who tirelessly serve the homeless - not to mention our dedicated mission teams abroad all of this wonderful work is for the Kingdom of Heaven…
So where does the ministry of children fit in? I wholehardheartedly believe the vision God has given ECC for this season stretches not only far and wide across the globe, but is also a vision that encompasses the precious little children who are right under our noses daily. We don’t have to look too far to know there is a war taking place in the spiritual realm over the lives of our children. Each time we come into contact with a child, is another moment God has provided for us to reach out with the love of Jesus to that young soul. In a recent survey, the National Association of Evangelicals found that 63% of Christian adults accepted Christ between the ages of four and 14. This is a relatively small window of opportunity for the Church and for parents to come together and impact the lives of our children, whilst “...the harvest is plentiful” (Matthew 9:37).
The stage between childhood and pre-teens is when children are most impressionable. These are a child’s formative years, when they are most likely to embrace faith and retain the emotional connection they’ve had within the church family through friendships, as well as times of prayer and learning. Whilst the goal is always to reach every child for Jesus here and now, we are also planting seeds in their hearts forever so that, like the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32), they will always feel a yearning in their spirit to return home to the love they were shown as children. During the 18+ years I’ve taught in Children’s Ministry, I would often keep in mind the parable of the Prodigal Son as a source of encouragement to myself. The wayward son eventually gets to a point where he is desperate, and calls to mind the love and kindness of his father, causing him to willingly return home. I believe the work of bringing children to Christ, and the ongoing development of young Christians, is a fundamental call to be ‘missional’ within our church walls. This is an unique mission field, but one that will reap eternally.
by Sheri de Mel
GRAPEVINE magazine • Issue 102 • February/March 2020
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