So we’re driving home from church one day.
I do what most parents do on the way home. I ask my daughter, “Did you have fun?” Usually, I’m okay with a simple yes or no answer. If it’s yes, I’m glad and don’t give it much additional thought. If it’s no, then I go into parent fixing mode and try to solve the problem.
Then, a few weeks ago, I reframed my question. I asked my daughter about what she had done in Sunday school that morning. All she told me was, “I don’t know.” I thought to myself, “WHAT?!?!?”
So naturally, I investigated and asked her more and more questions. If I’m honest, I asked probably more than I should, and I became an annoying parent in the process. Here’s what I couldn’t figure out: how could our child have zero recall after being surrounded by the people who love God, who shared with her the Word of God, and were supposed to teach her how to live the life that God has designed? I’m sure, MY DAUGHTER was certainly paying attention that Sunday.
Then I realized, I’ve seen this before. Having been a children’s and youth pastor for several years I’ve seen students and children who did not engage with their community, the teachers and the Word at church. I knew they were missing out on important opportunities to learn how to live the one life God has given them.
I’ve observed ministries that thought the solution was to tweak the curriculum and mechanical nature of faith. As if faith could be programmed through drilling points and study questions, reviewing slide shows, looking at pictures, filling out worksheets, coloring pages, and donating toys at Christmas.
Reflecting on my time growing up in and around the church, the most meaningful experiences I can remember were when someone sacrificed their own time to walk with me for an extended duration and build a relationship with me. The relationships that oozed with grace and forgiveness. I was safe to make mistakes, learn through my foolishness, and was not judged in the process.
So what if a program or curriculum could start with that? Not the questions, worksheets, or lesson plans. What if a curriculum was about telling stories, building relationships, asking better questions for deeper contemplation, and facilitated leaders being intentionally present for an extended period of time? What if my daughter could come to know the transformation happening in someone else’s life rather than just meeting a list of new people every week? Would it become easier for her to recognize the transformation happening in her own life? Perhaps kids ministry is less about the mechanics of an efficient ministry machine and more about development of a community growing in their faith together?
I want more than anything for my daughter to be a life-long disciple of Jesus Christ. As a parent, I’m not okay with car rides home in ambiguity. Rather, I want my child, and everyone’s child to enthusiastically share what they have heard, learned, and experienced at church as they do life with the rest of the body of Christ.
So as we continue to create and solve problems, these thoughts are on the forefront of my mind. I want kids all over the globe to become deeply connected to Christ and each other in long-term discipleship. I want churches to use resources that are highly biblical and highly relational. Resources that help foster better togetherness. Because this is The Great Life that God has designed for everyone. So that we can know, love, and serve Him together.
Check out how our ministry team is working to build opportunities for deeper discipleship in the midweek and weekend space.
