Sow While We Can, Instilling From A Young Age
Once, someone came to me and asked, “Pastor, what did pastor open the baby and toddler class for at IFGF Kids? Don’t they still not understand and will only riot because they can only cry, get bored quickly, and can’t even speak yet? Why not just leave them with their parents in Sunday service or at home?”
The baby and toddler class, also known as Little A class, is always the most exciting class every week. Not infrequently full of children’s screams, cries, and tantrums, coupled with the chattering voices of parents or babysitters who are also in the classroom to wait for or accompany the children. Naturally, the teacher in charge of this class will usually feel exhausted and frustrated because it seems as if no one is listening to them.
But is it true that these children can’t understand and can’t learn things at a very young age? If so, why are many schools and playgroups open to children their age, where parents are also happy to send children in there even at a fraction of the cost?
Perhaps we as parents and leaders in the church should begin to think about and answer this question, “Do we believe that these children need to hear the truth of God’s words as early as possible and do we feel that they can have a personal experience with God at a very young age?”
And if the answer to that question is YES, then let’s work together to sow while we can, instilling from a young age.
Parents
There will come a time when you can again enjoy the time to worship freely without being disturbed by the busy little hands wanting to hold everything near them or the tiny feet constantly moving around. If, at the moment, they are still there together with you, enjoy the season. Take the time to accompany them to worship, even if it makes you unable to worship. Alternate with your partner if you do not have someone to accompany your children. And it will be perfect when you also sow as much as possible at home, invite them to pray, read Bible stories, sing hymns with them, and so on.
Church leaders
If you want to build a strong future church, start with these small seeds. Do all you can to ensure children’s ministry in your church becomes a wonderful ministry.
- Provide the best facilities for this class of children. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but adequate, comfortable, safe, and pleasant for them.
- Provide the best training for the child ministers. Equip them and support any new ideas they come up with.
- Make room for the development of this ministry. Have regular meetings with your church’s child ministers and walk with them. Make sure they know that this ministry is not service number two, but a vital ministry in the church.
Little A class teachers
Nothing is in vain. Whatever you do will have an impact that may not have been seen in the lives of the children you serve. Stay faithful and do your best. One day you will see the fruits of your ministry. Some tips that can help you:
- Bring as many props as possible to help you, remember that children at this age are eager to know things. With the props you bring, their five senses will also be trained and they will be more interested.
- Do many activities that involve children. Invite them to sing, jump, laugh, touch, hear, and so on. Don’t expect these children to be quiet while they are in class, it is precisely us who have to move together with them.
- Ask for help from parents and babysitters in your class. Instead of them chatting and ruining your concentration, it is better to involve them in serving together with you. Wouldn’t that also be of great help to you?
Only by joining hands and working together between parents and the church, ministry for children, especially infant and toddler classes, be a ministry that genuinely brings children to know and experience God from the time they are young.
The question now is, will you do it? The answer is in the hands of each of you.
Source : Ps. Ancella Gunawan (Global Kids Coordinator)
