In all of our studies of children ministries, what has struck us most profoundly was the task of imparting what we hold dear, to who we hold most dear. Children are our future, the Bible makes clear the responsibility we bear, and that our inheritance is incumbent on it.
The Lord has a message for everyone in this journey we are on. He cares very deeply for the spiritual training of our children. (Deu 6:5-9 ESV) “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” This is but one commandment, there are dozens! The role of spiritual leader falls directly on the parent. That leaders in children’s ministry may come along side and bless these kids is awesome, but tertiary in usefulness to the mission. Parents in the modern church have abdicated their responsibility for spiritual nourishment hoping that youth leaders will fill the gap. This will not stand if we take the whole council of God.
The physical, ideological, and personal battles our children will win or lose start at home, and in the classroom. The spiritual skirmishes we are engaged in now will affect our children’s ultimate dispositions. The stakes are very high. The enemy is engaged. Why are we not engaged in running the good race? Schedule is part of the problem; the busy modern life makes spiritual leadership almost impossible. Apathy exists as well. The biggest problem might be fear; fear steeped in ignorance leading to inaction. Fear is overcome by exercising courage, and the judicious application of knowledge.
We need something useful, a tool (a weapon) we could give educators and parents. Our target group is fourth and fifth graders, something is missing. We see them more mature, yet less prepared. We see them more advanced, yet less resilient. We see them more afflicted and less naive. What drives the trends for the “tween” set? The post 9-11 world? Living in an age of deception, or is it bovine growth hormone? In the end it doesn’t matter. The question becomes, what are we going to do?
After searching hundreds of articles, and lengthy tomes we toyed around with many theories. Would Kohlberg’s moral development make good application to the problem? How about Fowler’s theory of faith? It all lacked substance; it was so much chasing after the wind…
We need to teach them the Bible. Who? The children! Who else? Growing up in a post-modern, technology driven society, our kids lack belonging, community, culture, pride, and meaning. Christian faith offers all these things and much more: a relationship with a loving savior. Christianity is our culture.
The Bible curriculum Jared is developing looks world class; Jill’s ability to craft dynamic learning would remind a poet of Arachne’s loom. What would I offer? At the midnight hour I stumbled upon it, dog eared, and stained with coffee. One of my more esoteric books, Newton Riddell, bore the secret. Everyone knows God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; three in one. What many people forget is that man is a reflection of Him. We are trichotomous, consisting of body, spirit, and soul. Our development is measurable. “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luk 2:52 ESV) Do you see that? He was fully man and fully God. What do we observe? He increased in wisdom, he was educated. He increased in stature, he grew tall! He increased in favor with God; He developed spiritually. Finally, He increased in favor with man; He developed psycho-socially.
At this point the light bulb clicked on. Erik Erikson had detailed human psychosocial development in eight stages of life. His theory was excellent for describing the crisis periods each individual faced in western culture. What if we applied this developmental perspective to those born again? We owe a debt of gratitude to Yvonne Bisonette from Regent University whose doctoral work made this program possible. Her research indicates that when born again an individual must navigate each life crisis again, but in the spiritual sphere. Here we have something to give small group leaders and parents; a theory of spiritual development. We are going to impress on young minds the living word of God. We will give their guardians a tool for assessing and assisting development. Bridge 45 is off to an exciting start.
Someone once said: “the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, and a lot of griping.” I have to admit I did not want to enter into a children’s ministry project. I was afraid. I thought: what could I offer? Can I really make a difference? Shouldn’t I leave this to the professionals? Worst of all; what if I mess this up? (Matt 19:4 ESV) “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’” Like Moses on the back side of the desert I argued with God a bit, I needed some prompting from Him to get me moving. I am sure glad I decided to follow His word. As this program grows, and gains a life all its own. I covet your prayers. I know Jill and Jared do as well. Thank you.
Jesse
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