Q&A

A &Q WHY DO WE ASKED SOME PASTORS... VALUE YOUR CHILDREN'S MINISTRY? I love that children’s faith is uncomplicated. I love children’s energy. I love that children ask difficult questions. I love the commitment and dedication of volunteers and leaders. I love that we are helping our children develop spiritual faith practices. I love that we are equipping parents to be faith educators, rather than expecting it all to happen in one hour on Sunday. I love that we are trying to get rid of the silos and involve our children in every part of church life, by being intentionally intergenerational. (I say ‘trying’ because this is a work in progress) I love that our kids are serving our community by being involved in church wide community projects and by each term taking morning tea to the police, ambulance, fire and hospital personnel. I love seeing our children make a successful transition into youth ministry. I love that we are seeing faith transmitted from one generation to the next.

KEITH HARRINGTON

Lead Pastor, Invercargill Central Baptist

“How tall is God and do you think I would come up to God’s knees?” Two simple questions from a child pondering God’s mystery, wanting to know and experience more, unafraid to think outside of the box. I wanted to answer, ‘what makes you think God has knees?’ but decided it wasn’t the time. This child’s parent had told them to ask me, saying jokingly (kind of) that I’m a pastor so I must know these things. The trouble is, I don’t. I have many questions about God too, and I want to continually ponder God’s mystery, I want to know and experience more, I want to be unafraid to think outside the box. Our children’s ministry seeks to give space to children to explore who God is and to have the opportunity to experience something of God’s love, both through the presence and engagement of the Spirit and the wonderful leaders who pour themselves into the children. It is a space that is incredibly important in their faith formation, and for that reason (and many others) I deeply value our children’s ministry.

STEVEN GOULSTONE

Pastor, Wellington South Baptist Church

I think the answer is simple. Because they are us, the church. They are part of the body. Jesus doesn't distinguish who is part of his body/family by age. We are all valued and loved human beings that He calls his own, whether we are 5, 55, or 105! We try to place a special focus on children’s ministry as they are a part of the body and, due to their age, they need special attention and care. A highlight of lockdown this year is as we have transitioned our services to Zoom, not all, but many of the children have been able to interact in a greater way on screen in our services, contributing with their videos, pictures, and stories. As we have included a few age-appropriate activities for them in the main service I feel we have gotten to know this part of our family better.

SARAH WRIGHT

Co-Pastor, River Valley Baptist Church At GPC we are blessed to be placed by God two doors up from the local primary school and to have Christian Kindergarten run on our premises — God’s mission field to children and families is literally on our doorstep and so we see this is a significant part of God’s call upon us. Ensuring we have a structured and well-coordinated children’s ministry is vital to fulfilling this mission as well as cultivating a love for children and children’s ministry. We are blessed to have our awesome Children and Kids lead – Sarah Vigers – as part of our staff team and she is doing an amazing job of this (especially through the current lockdown!) and we have seen GPC kids average around 35 – 45 kids each Sunday. We really value Children at GPC because they continue to help us remain vibrant, engaging, and challenge us on how to remain relevant to the next generation. Our big challenge is to ensure that they feel connected and a part of the wider GPC community and transition well from pre-school, primary, high-school and onwards to ensure we cultivate a multi-generational local church.

KRIS AND BECKY HEALE

Glendowie Presbyterian Church