Family Friendly Children’s Ministry
The focus of our Children Ministry is to raise godly children (especially between ages 4 and 12 years) and not children of Belial (1 Sam 2:12). The children are prepared and groomed for the future as they transverse the life stage phases. The children’s church remains the quarry to teach and share the word of God in a manner that can be easily assimilated without losing the message (Prov. 22:6)
That Our Children May Grow Up Where It Matters
It is always the joy of parents and guardians to see their children grow through the various stages of life. And because the children are fearfully and wonderfully made, the growth pattern is structured, systematic, gradual and progressive. At every stage, the wisdom and glory of the Creator are amply demonstrated. Truly, our God is great. It is therefore not surprising when parents become anxious whenever is a trace of slow progress in the physical development of their children.
While God desires proper physical growth of our children (Ps.139:14 &15), He is much more interested in children ‘’growing where it matters’’. The framework is contained in the declaration ‘’….and the child grew and became strong in Spirit, filled with Wisdom, and the Grace of God was upon Him’’. Just like our natural parents, our Heavenly Father is concerned when there is slow progress in this regard. Our children are expected to be strong in Spirit, essentially meaning that the inward-man of all our children are renewed to a point where the God-nature is simply in control, ensuring that each child responds positively to God at all times, demonstrating the work of the Holy Spirit in Action! We desire our children to be fervent in Spirit and always serving God (Rom.12:11, Eph.6:10) which births wisdom (Prov. 9:10). Every child is required to grow in grace which comes through proper alignment with His will.
In line with our God-given mandate, the Family Friendly Children Ministry (FFCM) has a key role to play in facilitating the growth of the children where it matters, but it must be emphasized that this process is the primary role of parents and guardians. We call on all parents and guardians to arise and take up this divine responsibility to help our children attain this stature. The Serving Overseer dedicated most part of the first quarter to teachings related to child training. The bottom line is that we must “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it”. Apostle Paul corroborated Prov. 22:6 when he admonished in Ephesians 6:4 that fathers should “bring up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”. The scripture is emphatic and gives credence to the significance of parental training in the life of growing children. The scripture cannot be faulted. If a child is trained in the way of the Lord and made to grow where it matters; he will dwell on that path and will not depart from it when he is old.
As we collectively focus on instituting and entrenching Godly values in our homes and in the lives of our children, let every hand joins and joints supplies to build, for the will of the Father for now is that our children may grow where it matters.