Childproofing Your Church

How do you childproof your church so that children feel safe and want to come to church? What are the areas to investigate? Rev Flora Chew drew up God’s blueprint for the church, parents and children, for us to examine.

Here are two concerns that parents think about when looking for a suitable church.

Concerned Parents who are “Church Hunting”

Parents looking for a “right” church usually want one that is best suited for the needs of their children. They will think about things like safety, loving and caring teachers, and discipleship of the child. 

Is the church empowered and ready to begin a relationship with the child/children so that the child/children can begin and, hopefully continue, their relationship with God? Are the teachers ready to show love and care, to show and guide, and to church and disciple the child/children towards a loving and strong relationship with God? Or is the children’s ministry just a baby-sitting service for parents attending the adult service?

Concerned Parents with Special Needs’ Children

There is a rising need for churches who are inclusive. Parents with child/children with special needs are looking for churches who understand and can support them. It is no secret that these children are God’s children too.

Is the church equipped with the necessary teachers or equipment to support children with special needs? Are the lessons catered to all children? Or are these children left in a corner with a box of toys at the back of the adults’ service hall?

In order to become a church that can support all children and parents, we first need to know and to understand what God’s blueprint for a child-proof church is.

Firstly, God’s Blueprint for the Church 

It is not enough for pastors to stand by the church entrance to simply greet and welcome the congregation, both adults and children, warmly Sunday after Sunday. I was once a children’s pastor myself and while at that door, I have had children saying to me, “Church is boring,” instead of returning my morning greeting.

This stopped me in my tracks. It got me thinking about why church is deemed boring by the children. It is supposed to be a place where the children learn about God and experience God! Then I realized that if the teaching is not fun, then of course in the eyes of the child/children, learning is not fun!

When teaching and learning is fun, the children will definitely look forward to coming back to church Sunday after Sunday.

Carl Rogers (Psychologist) said, “Play is a child’s language and toys are their words.”  Therefore, teaching must be fun for the teachers and learning must be age-appropriate for children. When teaching and learning is fun, the children will definitely look forward to coming back to church Sunday after Sunday. They will feel a sense of belonging to the church. When they grow up, it might become their “home” church with all their Christian friends and mentors.  

The role of the church is not to hinder but to assist and support the spiritual needs of the children and to disciple them as the next generation of Christians.

What then does the Bible says in how we ought to welcome and accept children, including children with special needs? I like to quote Jesus’ famous words which can be found in all three Gospels. The one I like most is from Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (ESV).

The role of the church is not to hinder but to assist and support the spiritual needs of the children and to disciple them as the next generation of Christians.

Here are three key roles to take note of:

Receive (Mark 10:13-16) the children just as Jesus welcomed them.

Disciple (Matthew 28:18-20)the children according to the great commission – that they will know Jesus as their Savior and Lord and that they will continue to spread the Word to the next generation.

Build (1 Corinthians 12:26-27) the children to be part of the church. They will know and understand the biblical values/principles of being an individual in church and being part of the bigger body in church, also known as the body of Christ.

 This blueprint must first be understood by the senior pastor in order for the children’s minister/pastor to put plans to include all children into actions. This is a job for a full-time children’s minister worker/pastor/minister as it will entail a lot of coordination with parents, children and teachers. I’m not saying a lay leader cannot handle it, but it really needs a lot of time and effort of the person overseeing the entire children’s ministry.

Secondly, God’s blueprint for the Parents

I am sure we are all familiar with the quote, “It takes a whole “kampong” to bring up a child!”  How true that is! I believe that this quote can be found in Deuteronomy 6.

The “kampong” has an obligation to teach, train and raise our children to be God-fearing and to have a personal relationship with God

Teach the children (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Psalms 78:18)

It addressed the whole nation of Israel. This would be the “kampong” in our context – the parents/guardians, the church leaders/pastors, the children’s ministry teachers, and the church members. The “kampong” has an obligation to teach, train and raise our children to be God-fearing and to have a personal relationship with God (Proverbs 22:6; 23:13; Ephesians 6:4; and Colossians 3:21).

Thirdly, God’s blueprint for the Children

In “The Law of the Learner”, Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1859-1865),Professor John M. Gregory states “Student interest and attention must be generated by the teacher. A teacher’s enthusiasm is contagious with students.”

Therefore, as Sunday school teachers, we need to TEACH our children in order that they may LEARN and GROW to spiritual maturity with learning that is FUN and RELATIONAL.

We can look into the Bible to see how God describes His children and from there we can decipher how we can teach them.

Biblical references on how God sees His children:

• 2 Chronicles 13:7- Children are inexperienced and weak to resist.
• Psalms 8:2 – Children can praise God and engage in warfare.
• Psalms 34:11 – Children can learn to fear the Lord.
• Proverbs 20:11 – Children’s actions reveal character
• Proverbs 22:15 – Children are foolish at first.
• Luke 2:52 – Children need mental, social, physical & spiritual development.
• 1 Corinthians 13:11 – Children can grow in speech, thoughts, and reasoning.
• 1 Corinthians 14:20 – Children are innocent.
• Ephesians 4:14 – Children have limited perspective of life and are gullible.
• Titus 1:6 – Children can be believers of Christ.

Biblical references of God’s instructions for Children:

• Exodus 20:1-17 – Children need to know the 10 Commandments.
• Deuteronomy 5:16 – Children need to honour one’s father and mother.
• Proverbs 23:22, Colossians 3:20 – Children need to listen/obey to one’s parents.
• Matthew 22:37-39 – Children learn to love God and love one another.
• Romans 8:29 – Children learn to conform to the likeness of Jesus’ character.
• Galatians 5:22-23 – Children learn to bear Fruit of the Spirit.
• Ephesians 6:10-18 – Children can engage in spiritual warfare.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Children learn to be joyful, praying, giving thanks always.
• Titus 3:1-2 – Children learn to be subordinate to authorities/government, be ready for good works.

As you pray and plan for a “child-proof” church, God has promised a Helper in Zechariah 4:6.

It is a daunting task to build a “child-proof” church, especially with the various ministries and events happening every week and every month. As you pray and plan for a “child-proof” church, God has promised a Helper in Zechariah 4:6. I believe God will answer your prayers regarding His church and His little arrows.

Psalms 127:3-5 (ESV), “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.  Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!  He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”