Children & Youth: So what are we going to do about it? Part 2 of 2

(Scroll down for Part 1)

In sincere efforts to bring the gospel to young people Churches will try just-about-anything to attract teenagers into the fellowship.  I had a clergy friend that served a church that was in a declining town in Texas.  One of the leaders of the church went up to Detroit to see the new cutting edge of youth activities. 

While she was there she was exposed to an incredibly vibrant ministry to youth that revolved around steel drum bands (steelpans).  When the lay leader returned to her church in Texas she proceeded to purchase steel drums to the tune of $15,000.  The only problem was that there was no one to play the drums.  The church up in Detroit had a specific ministry to an island population that already knew how to play and could readily incorporate new youth into their program.  This is just a sign that one size does not fit all.

Last week I wrote about the changing nature of youth ministry and the modern criticism that it has not been successful in forming lifelong Christians.  So rather than going out to purchase steel drum bands I’ve been looking at what we do here at All Saints as it relates to children and youth.  As we look at the ministries that are consistently supported with time (our most valuable resource) the two ministries that stand out the most are Children’s Church and Acolyte Ministry.  These two ministry do so much to form our young people as Anglican Christians.

Christian Formation is the process of instilling the “God Stories” into the lives of faithful people.  Christian Formation is the process of continuously building upon those foundational stories.  Christian Formation is already happening in Children’s Church.

I believe that from my research and from our shared struggles in children’s Sunday school the Sunday school hour before church for children is difficult to support.  So why do we pull teeth trying to keep it going when the formation we are looking for is taking place during our worship in Children’s Church?

Similarly formation for our teens and adolescents takes place in acolyte training and in worship.  As Anglicans and sacramental liturgical Christians we are shaped by our worship.  If you want to know what Anglicans apart from other Christians believe, open up the prayer book.  The Scriptures tell us what path Christians should walk.  The Book of Common Prayer shows us the unique path that Anglican Christians walk.  I think we will have more success if we merely bring our children to church and encourage them engage in our worship! 

• If your motivation is to form your children into faithful worshiping Christians we would all do better to consistently bring our children to church where the community Worships than to simply employ someone to teach them about doctrine and Christian ethics.
• If your motivation is to form your children into people who look to the church fellowship for friendship and support for ethical and just treatment then we would all do better to consistently bring our children to church-events in which Christians enjoy one-another’s company and practice the godly fruits of the Spirit.

That's leads me to next week's article.
Next week: Children and Youth Corollary-Staffing for ministry.