With many Sunday schools in decline, a number of denominations, including The Salvation Army, have taken a new approach to attracting and nurturing children. Some have moved Sunday school to a week night, while others are using new programs such as Pioneer Clubs or sports ministry.
“Our children's ministries should be an open door to the community,” says Major Denise Walker, territorial children and family ministries secretary. “In the heart of a child, God sees the potential heart of the adult to come.
“Whether it's sports, music or an after-school program, our purpose should primarily be to build relationships with the children and their families,” continues Major Walker. “Then, at some point, we share our faith, with the expected result of children (and parents) committing their lives to Christ and moving into a discipleship program.”
Major Walker envisions a discipleship program that features weekly classroom instruction (including a media component), one-on-one mentoring, group and individual mission projects and daily web-based home instruction (with the opportunity for parents to be involved).
“We cannot abandon children to the world,” says General Shaw Clifton, international leader of the Army. “We are called to win them for Christ.” Here are some of the innovative programs operating in the Canada and Bermuda Territory.
Baby Song is a community outreach program that teaches parents songs to facilitate language development and interaction with their babies (click here for more info). It enhances bonding between parents and children through voice and touch, offers parents the opportunity to network with other families, provides a supportive atmosphere and enables the corps to build bridges into the community.
At Toronto's Etobicoke Temple, the program averages eight to 12 participants and runs in the fall and spring. Each meeting begins with songs and rhymes, followed by a snack and socializing. The second half features community speakers presenting relevant topics such as basic infant first aid, travelling with children, feeding and nutrition, home fire safety, pre- and post-delivery back care, and baby faith.
A favourite workshop is the salsa babies' demonstration, where new moms learn basic steps to popular Latin dances, while babies shake maracas and bounce along to the salsa beat.
“Several families have begun attending our church as a result of their involvement in our program,” says Jennifer Khan, program co-ordinator. “Through e-mail, phone contact and get-togethers outside of program times, we have built meaningful relationships with those who attend our program. This has also allowed us to support the mothers through various difficult life events.”
Every children's program at Cascade Community Church, Abbotsford, B.C., has a special purpose and different impact. With 35-40 children, the Sunday school seeks to build a core group of children with a stronger faith in God.
“The Sunday school helps to retain families and builds relationships among the children, teachers and adults of the congregation,” says Corrie Franson, Cascade's children and family ministry co-ordinator. “Its success is measured by the growth of the children's faith—bringing their Bibles, their tithe and their friends. Discipleship is implemented annually when junior soldier classes are offered.”
The Pioneer Clubs program is Cascade's outreach to the community, a mid-week alternative to Sunday school. Pioneer Clubs provides Bible-based, relationship-focused and fun-oriented learning activities for children and volunteer leaders. With its life-skills development and evangelistic focus, the program brings in new families and is an opportunity for the congregation to invite their friends.
Vacation Bible school is another activity that strives to promote Cascade as a vibrant church in the community. As an outreach-based program for building a faith foundation in children, VBS has a huge impact with a number of decisions made for Christ each year. It also develops connections with families in the community.
“Through re-evaluating these programs,” says Franson, “we realized we can improve their effectiveness by focusing more on the involvement of the whole family.”
What do you do when fewer and fewer children attend Sunday morning Sunday school? At the Community Church of Lethbridge, Alta., they decided to inject some pizzazz into their children's programming. KidzOwn was adopted in the fall of 2007 for children six to 12.
In addition to worship, Scripture memorization and Bible lessons, games, sports, snacks and prizes are offered kids'-church style on Tuesday nights. Participation has tripled from 10 to 30 children. Van pickups have encouraged parents on limited incomes or who have no transportation to allow their children to come. Children who passed the 12-year-old age limit but wanted to keep coming were given leadership roles: planning games, supervising the younger children and taking part in skits during the Bible lesson.
“We are excited about KidzOwn and call it our second congregation,” says Major Edith Beveridge, corps officer. “Every few months we hold family events where the parents and other siblings, many who have no church experience, are attending in a non-threatening atmosphere—either in a public park for a barbecue or in the church gym. This has helped in a crucial way—building rapport with the whole family, some of whom now attend special youth services on Sunday mornings with their children taking part. Although it takes time for trust to develop, we look forward to what God is going to do in these families and particularly in the children who have accepted Christ.”
Children Learning in Christ's Kingdom (CLICK) is a new ministry at the corps in Glace Bay, N.S., that averages 65-70 children on Tuesday evenings. Many of these young people are new to the corps.
“God gave us this vision through prayer,” says Captain Kristian Simms, corps officer. The format is a modification of the traditional Sunday school. The 14 leaders gather the children into the sanctuary and then divide them into two age groups. “After a worship time when the kids can pray, sing and dance to the Lord, they learn a weekly Bible verse,” says Captain Simms. Meanwhile, the other age group is downstairs either playing interactive games or doing a craft, and then the groups switch places. There is also a fun theme such as wacky-hair night and crazy-hat night. Each evening ends with a snack.
“The main objective of this group is to teach the truths of God's Word in an exciting way,” says Captain Simms. “For children who do not already have a church home, this can be a bridge to connect them and their families to The Salvation Army.”
The competition for children's time is a huge challenge for most corps. “With sometimes only five children at Sunday school, we realized that it was no longer appealing for our children,” says Major Don Feltham, corps officer, Bishop's Falls, N.L. “Community activities such as figure skating and hockey were taking priority.”
The leadership team at Bishop's Falls found it difficult to drop Sunday school, but eventually realized that the Pioneer Clubs program had the potential to revive the corps' ministry to children and their families (click here for more info on Pioneer Clubs. After several parent information sessions about Pioneers Clubs and then soliciting the prayers of members of the congregation, there was a tremendous response to the request for parent volunteers. “We previously struggled to maintain a leadership team of four for Sunday school, but we now have 25 leaders and an enrolment of 67 children,” says Major Feltham. “Our program starts at age four and concludes at age 13. Those over 13 are trained as junior leaders.”
With the curriculum of learning wilderness skills, sewing, baking, acting and videography, games and sports, the Pioneer Club is a hit in Bishop's Falls. In addition, the children are awarded badges for their 20-minute Bible lessons once a month in Sunday morning worship.
“As most of the families do not normally come to church,” says Major Feltham, “we have a potluck lunch following the service so that we have the opportunity to get to know them better and to encourage them to feel more comfortable as part of our corps family.”
“Our children's ministries should be an open door to the community,” says Major Denise Walker, territorial children and family ministries secretary. “In the heart of a child, God sees the potential heart of the adult to come.
“Whether it's sports, music or an after-school program, our purpose should primarily be to build relationships with the children and their families,” continues Major Walker. “Then, at some point, we share our faith, with the expected result of children (and parents) committing their lives to Christ and moving into a discipleship program.”
Major Walker envisions a discipleship program that features weekly classroom instruction (including a media component), one-on-one mentoring, group and individual mission projects and daily web-based home instruction (with the opportunity for parents to be involved).
“We cannot abandon children to the world,” says General Shaw Clifton, international leader of the Army. “We are called to win them for Christ.” Here are some of the innovative programs operating in the Canada and Bermuda Territory.
Sing and Make Music at Baby Song
Baby Song is a community outreach program that teaches parents songs to facilitate language development and interaction with their babies (click here for more info). It enhances bonding between parents and children through voice and touch, offers parents the opportunity to network with other families, provides a supportive atmosphere and enables the corps to build bridges into the community.
At Toronto's Etobicoke Temple, the program averages eight to 12 participants and runs in the fall and spring. Each meeting begins with songs and rhymes, followed by a snack and socializing. The second half features community speakers presenting relevant topics such as basic infant first aid, travelling with children, feeding and nutrition, home fire safety, pre- and post-delivery back care, and baby faith.
A favourite workshop is the salsa babies' demonstration, where new moms learn basic steps to popular Latin dances, while babies shake maracas and bounce along to the salsa beat.
“Several families have begun attending our church as a result of their involvement in our program,” says Jennifer Khan, program co-ordinator. “Through e-mail, phone contact and get-togethers outside of program times, we have built meaningful relationships with those who attend our program. This has also allowed us to support the mothers through various difficult life events.”
Community Impact at Cascade
Every children's program at Cascade Community Church, Abbotsford, B.C., has a special purpose and different impact. With 35-40 children, the Sunday school seeks to build a core group of children with a stronger faith in God.
“The Sunday school helps to retain families and builds relationships among the children, teachers and adults of the congregation,” says Corrie Franson, Cascade's children and family ministry co-ordinator. “Its success is measured by the growth of the children's faith—bringing their Bibles, their tithe and their friends. Discipleship is implemented annually when junior soldier classes are offered.”
The Pioneer Clubs program is Cascade's outreach to the community, a mid-week alternative to Sunday school. Pioneer Clubs provides Bible-based, relationship-focused and fun-oriented learning activities for children and volunteer leaders. With its life-skills development and evangelistic focus, the program brings in new families and is an opportunity for the congregation to invite their friends.
Vacation Bible school is another activity that strives to promote Cascade as a vibrant church in the community. As an outreach-based program for building a faith foundation in children, VBS has a huge impact with a number of decisions made for Christ each year. It also develops connections with families in the community.
“Through re-evaluating these programs,” says Franson, “we realized we can improve their effectiveness by focusing more on the involvement of the whole family.”
Entering the KidzOwn in Lethbridge
What do you do when fewer and fewer children attend Sunday morning Sunday school? At the Community Church of Lethbridge, Alta., they decided to inject some pizzazz into their children's programming. KidzOwn was adopted in the fall of 2007 for children six to 12.
In addition to worship, Scripture memorization and Bible lessons, games, sports, snacks and prizes are offered kids'-church style on Tuesday nights. Participation has tripled from 10 to 30 children. Van pickups have encouraged parents on limited incomes or who have no transportation to allow their children to come. Children who passed the 12-year-old age limit but wanted to keep coming were given leadership roles: planning games, supervising the younger children and taking part in skits during the Bible lesson.
“We are excited about KidzOwn and call it our second congregation,” says Major Edith Beveridge, corps officer. “Every few months we hold family events where the parents and other siblings, many who have no church experience, are attending in a non-threatening atmosphere—either in a public park for a barbecue or in the church gym. This has helped in a crucial way—building rapport with the whole family, some of whom now attend special youth services on Sunday mornings with their children taking part. Although it takes time for trust to develop, we look forward to what God is going to do in these families and particularly in the children who have accepted Christ.”
Mid-week Program CLICKs in Glace Bay
Children Learning in Christ's Kingdom (CLICK) is a new ministry at the corps in Glace Bay, N.S., that averages 65-70 children on Tuesday evenings. Many of these young people are new to the corps.
“God gave us this vision through prayer,” says Captain Kristian Simms, corps officer. The format is a modification of the traditional Sunday school. The 14 leaders gather the children into the sanctuary and then divide them into two age groups. “After a worship time when the kids can pray, sing and dance to the Lord, they learn a weekly Bible verse,” says Captain Simms. Meanwhile, the other age group is downstairs either playing interactive games or doing a craft, and then the groups switch places. There is also a fun theme such as wacky-hair night and crazy-hat night. Each evening ends with a snack.
“The main objective of this group is to teach the truths of God's Word in an exciting way,” says Captain Simms. “For children who do not already have a church home, this can be a bridge to connect them and their families to The Salvation Army.”
Pioneering a Revival at Bishop's Falls
The competition for children's time is a huge challenge for most corps. “With sometimes only five children at Sunday school, we realized that it was no longer appealing for our children,” says Major Don Feltham, corps officer, Bishop's Falls, N.L. “Community activities such as figure skating and hockey were taking priority.”
The leadership team at Bishop's Falls found it difficult to drop Sunday school, but eventually realized that the Pioneer Clubs program had the potential to revive the corps' ministry to children and their families (click here for more info on Pioneer Clubs. After several parent information sessions about Pioneers Clubs and then soliciting the prayers of members of the congregation, there was a tremendous response to the request for parent volunteers. “We previously struggled to maintain a leadership team of four for Sunday school, but we now have 25 leaders and an enrolment of 67 children,” says Major Feltham. “Our program starts at age four and concludes at age 13. Those over 13 are trained as junior leaders.”
With the curriculum of learning wilderness skills, sewing, baking, acting and videography, games and sports, the Pioneer Club is a hit in Bishop's Falls. In addition, the children are awarded badges for their 20-minute Bible lessons once a month in Sunday morning worship.
“As most of the families do not normally come to church,” says Major Feltham, “we have a potluck lunch following the service so that we have the opportunity to get to know them better and to encourage them to feel more comfortable as part of our corps family.”
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