ON OUR KNEES AGAIN . AND AGAIN - November 2007
Special days of prayer happen all the time. Many, sadly, pass by with little mention but I was thrilled to see the way in which the ON OUR KNEES challenge was taken up last year. Thousands of people shared in that day of prayer for our ministry amongst children. Together we were declaring that our children are important to us and that we recognize our need to be inspired and empowered afresh by God for this vital ministry. The first Sunday in November saw another special focus on our ministry to children and I was delighted about this. We need to make sure that we keep children to the forefront of our thinking and our praying.
There is no doubt that these are challenging days for ministry to children. When I went to Sunday school there were very few other competing attractions. But these days Sundays are incredibly busy days and church activities have to compete with innumerable other attractive opportunities. Over the past few years I often get to a morning service to be told that there will be a children's talk if there happen to be any children present. And there are an increasing number of churches where the presence of children in Sunday services is a very distant memory.
This is by no means the only story to be told. There are many churches where work amongst children is thriving. I am delighted to see the imaginative ways in which churches have developed their ministry to local schools, and to hear about a wide range of midweek clubs. There is no doubt that for many families Sunday is the most inconvenient day for children's activities. This is sad, but if children can't be reached on a Sunday then it's vital that we should be as flexible as possible to ensure that they have the opportunity of hearing the Good News of Jesus.
I am concerned that every church should be involved in a ministry to children. Even if your church has no children, you can pray. You can pray for your own children and grandchildren. You can pray for the children in your locality and for the local schools. And you can set aside money to support ministry amongst children. If you can't spend that money within your own church then why not bless a neighbouring church by sending them a gift to help their ministry amongst children? I'm sure they would be absolutely thrilled!
Ministry to children has to live at the heart of all that we do. How else can we be faithful to a Saviour who told us that unless we become like little children we cannot enter his kingdom? So let's get on our knees again and again and again!
Previous articles...
Living With Danger (October 2007)
Summer Reflections (September 2007)
Moving On (August 2007)
Looking at old age with new eyes! (July 2007)
To assemble or not to assemble?! (June 2007)
Freedom - The Search Goes On! (May 2007)