Do Churches in the Black Preaching Network have Children's Ministry?

[Ricardo Miller Ministries]

After writing a subject matter on Children's Ministry in the African American church, another thought came to mind. I wonder how many black churches within a network of 5,000 churches or more have a children's ministry or children's church that is adequately ministering to the needs of the children who attend their churches each week?

Another question. I wonder how many of the Pastors are seriously interested in getting an understanding of why reaching the next generation is so important?

And for those Pastors who do have a children's ministry or children's church, I wonder how many of them in the African American church are prepared to have a proper evaluation and assessment of what they are doing to see what can be done better to make sure they are not just copying a concept without having a vision for adequately reaching the children in their church and community?

For those of you who are parents or grandparents in this network, does your church have a vision for children's ministry and if they don't, the question should be asked of your Senior Pastor, why not?

[Scott R. Newman]

Why do we need a separate "Childrens Ministry" within the church? I will paste my previous comments from a previous post you posted concerning this subject. Can you please respond to it?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Childrens ministry? I was just discussing this with a good Christian friend of mine about having our children snatched out of our hands as parents as soon as we walk into a "cherch". I used to believe highly in a church that has a good "childrens ministry" until God had opened my eyes to that deception.

Firstly, since we are a family with two small children ages almost 7 years old and my daughter who will turn 5 years old next month. I don't want my children whom I'm charged over as their father for my son to be removed out of my presence by a stranger in a "cherch" to be sent into some back room as well as my daughter being ushered kicking and screaming into a strangers hand to another room that is broken down by age for the proverbial "childrens church". I've seen a lot of these "children churches" that for the most part have very little to do with the Gospel of Christ, but engage in I believe fairy tale like lessons with no real meat of God's Word.

I felt horrible when for the first time I was stressed to have my then 4 yr old son to go with strangers to another room outside of the sanctuary to be taught separate from what we as his parents were being taught, and taught what?

Why can't we all sit together in the sanctuary in the pews together? Why divide families even more as we are in the name of "childrens church". The same message we hear from God through the angel of the church (pastor) is the same message I want my children to hear.

I had finally put my foot down in disallowing my children, especially my son who just recently asked me, "Daddy, why don't you want me to sit with you and mommy in church?" He felt we were abandoning him in the name of God. As if he was being punished for not being allowed to listen with his father and to worship and to praise our Lord and Savior as ONE family. That will never happen again. I want to know what is being fed to my children. First of all, the pastor is not the one who is charged and commanded to teach my children, I am as their father and as the head of the household. The pastors job is to confirm what I taught throughout the week as we have daily devotions in our home. Sunday is just and should be confirmation day. I am called to teach my children the ways of the Lord so they shall not depart from it.

So when I decided to keep the family together at "cherch" as we all sat together among the other congregates, something powerful started to happen. My son who is on my right and as my daughter is next to him and my wife is at the end. And as we open God's Word, I share my Bible with my son and my wife shares her Bible with our daughter as my son see's the same word as his father that the pastor speaks from. And the most powerful example and move of God happened just a couple of months ago as we all were in church and the pastor spoke about the law of God, the ten commandments in the book of Deuteronomy. My son's eyes looked up at me and he smiled. You know why? Cause his daddy, me taught him the law just the day before on Saturday as confirmation from the Lord. He was thrilled that he already knew this and when we were driving back home afterwards he said to me, "Daddy, can we sit together again at church cause it was fun reading the bible with you and singing the hymns together as a family"....

Never again will I allow sista sapphire snatch God's inheritance and my seed out of eyes and ears reach from his parents again. Childrens church to me is for parents who don't have time or are not feeding their own children at home and just need a break from them in church. That is not how we roll.

In His Grip

Scott

[Adrian Lamar West Sr.]

You ask of how many pastors are seriously interested in getting an understanding of why reaching the next generetion is so important????

We must be able to first reach this generation........ For the MASTER truly taught that THIS GENERATION SHALL NOT PASS UNTIL ALL HAD BEEN FULFILLED........ We must understand that the glorification of SIN and FLESH which either houses RIGHTEOUSNESS or SIN, didn't just start, it has been going on since the GARDEN.

This is why MOSES told the YISRAEL too teach it too their CHILDREN,
YESHUA says too suffer the little CHILDREN and forbid them not....

What is taught to the FATHER/MOTHER must be taught to ALL, that is why we do not even need a CHILDRENS MINISTRY......

JAMES says be careful that you do not become to many teachers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only one ministry is needed.....................

[Minister Robbin Swinger Otey]

There has be a concentrated effort to reach the ENTIRE Body of Christ. Children are not the "next generation", they are the right now generation. Satan is beating them up consistently and effectively because people/the community are not investing enough Time, Talent or Treasure into their well being.

To say it is the parent's responsibilty is a reflection of an ignorance of what our family fabric looks like in this nation and an exteremely simplistic statement.

I work at a middle school and children are entering the public school system with not parents but state wardens as guardians. Those are the one's that I want at Children's Church eve if we have to go to the group homes to pick them up to do it!

I watch the babies/toddlers/school-aged children play and the teenagers bored out their minds. Those same teenagers are students where I work and they are no different in their behavior than any of the other students. Not a good thing.

The children at my temple are never ministered to on any consistent basis. I have been there for less than 2 years.
I teach my daughter at home and taught her older sisters before that. When they do convene a "children's service" she usually already knows whatever they are talking about. One time she even told me how the teacher was rude to her and got smart. Jealousy am sure. That was the last time that I had her go with them.

Our pastor does not serve baby food, so what is coming over the pulpit is not at all intended for children. I answer my daughters questions when we get home, but basicly I just let her draw and read her children's Bible during service.

Now the church I left in Los Angeles had a very viable and vibrant children's ministry for 0-18 year olds. It took us a while, but it was a priority. Their youth are knowledgeable, confident in the Word and many have gone into ministry including one of my own daughter's. They were also given opportunities to SERVE and that is because someone in authority had a heart and mind to reach them and our pastor agreed.

Stay encouraged and continue to minister to the children in your minstry and spread this Word.