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Why. The world is not the same!. Where are we at?. Children are not the same!.
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The world is not the same! Where are we at?
Children are not the same! Our kids are undoubtedly younger and less experienced than us, but they are also less in danger of becoming obsolete. They are the latest model of human being, and come equipped with many new features. Looking at the world of children is not looking backwards at our own past – it’s looking ahead. They are our evolutionary future. Douglas Rushkoff, American futurist Where are we at?
Where are we at? The church is not the same!
We are seeing rapid decline in numbers of children and young people in parts of the church today Church attendance statistics highlight a massive shift in Sunday school attendance… 55% in 1900, 4% in 2000 In 2003, 47% of C of E churches had some provision for children The Baptist Union (GB) charted a drop in contact with children from 105k to 65k over six years (2004) …There would seem to be a (spiritual?) blindnessto the need to make children a priority Where are we at? Trend spotting
“Very few adults without a Sunday school background become worshippers in later life. Most people who begin churchgoing as adults are returning to the Church of their childhood. The massive missionary challenge posed by generations growing up without childhood involvement has so far not been met. The age structure of congregations today, and in particular the absence of children, therefore appears to have future decline already built in to it unless this missionary challenge can be met.” Jackson, B, Hope for the Church (London: Church House Publishing, 2002) p.11 Where are we at?
How is it with you? • In reality, how high a priority is placed on children? • in your personal ministry? • in your church? • - in your organisation? • - in your denomination? • Pause for a moment. Mark these on a scale of 1–10 (where 1 is top priority and 10 is bottom). (Whichever fits…) Where are we at?
What do we know? What does the Bible suggest? • A responsibility to teach… • “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit… walk… lie down… get up…” Deut 6:7 • “Teach… children, so that the next generation would know, even the children yet to be born…” Ps 78:5–6 • “Teach a child the way he should live and he will remember it all his life.” Prov 22:6
What do we know? What does the Bible suggest? • A responsibility to accept… • “Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” Mt 18:5 • “Let the little children come to me… for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Mt 19:14
What do we know? What does the Bible suggest? • …and a call to humility! • “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Mt 18:3
“76% of those who became Christians as adults had a reasonably prolonged contact with a church during childhood.” What do we know? Finding Faith TodayReportJohn Finney ‘92
What do we know? Church & childhood- impact on adults Barna Report, 2001 • “Adults who attended church regularly as a child are three times as likely to be attending a church today as their peers who avoided the church during childhood.” • “There is a significant generational decline taking place in church involvement, but the decline is especially evident among those who were unchurched as children.”
Where might we go? All God’s Childrenrecommends that:CHP ‘91 • “Every Christian should seek ways of witnessing to his or her faith among families and children.” • “Everyone concerned with children should ask what sort of church and society they would like to see in 30 years’ time – and what needs to be done now in order to enable that vision to be realised.”
Where might we go? How long-term is our vision? “If you plan for a decade, plant trees; if you plan for a century, nurture children.” Unknown “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Prov 22:6
Where might we go? Fulfilling the Great Commission • Think differently about our children • Don’t stop at the ones we have already
What can we do? Forward Planni-ng!
What can we do? Thinking differently… …be imaginative and creative in our thinking …be visual, unpredictable and relevant in our communication …be adventurous in our use of modern technology …be familiar with the world of children
What can we do? Steps to make effective disciples • PLAN AHEAD to develop thought-through strategies • REACH OUT to those who would not normally attend or be involved with church activities • COMMIT to give the time and resources needed • TRAIN all leaders and volunteers • PROVIDE a safe and secure environment where children feel valued and loved • PARTNER with others to work together and share resources.
What can we do? What do we need in our churches? • Prayer • Vision • Godly leaders • Clear roles • Commitment • Training • Valuing people
What can we do? A checklistfor churches Priorities for developing committed children, young people and families • Faith-focused Christian education • Strong life-shaping families • Congregational sense of family • Christian children/youth subculture Strommen and Hardel, Passing On the Faith, 2000
What can we do? A checklist of habits for parents • Be a history teacher • Be a parable teller • Be an example • Be a mentor • Be a spiritual guide • Be a traditionalist • Seek to be an available parent Dave Roberts, God’s Plan for Children, 2003
What can we do? A checklistfor churches …continued • Aim lower • Think smaller • Give up • Go have a cup of coffee!
