Everybody Knows Me Here

A child visits her grandmother’s church a few times each year.  Her grandmother’s church is a small church at which the child is loved and cherished.

“I like this church better than my other one,” she tells her Sunday School teacher.

“Really, Lara? Why?” asks the teacher.

“Because everybody knows me here,” the child answers. “At my other church, nobody knows my name.”

At her grandmother’s church, she understands what it is to be a beloved child of God. At her other church, she is just one of many and does not feel that love of the Almighty.

I had started teaching at a new preschool and was getting to know Patti, one of my new colleagues. She mentioned that she taught Sunday School at High Tower Church nearby.  I had previously taught Drew who attended High Tower and would be the right age to be in her class.  I asked Patti if Drew was in her Sunday School class.  She looked at me in surprise. “Oh, I don’t know their names!” she exclaimed. I have to confess, I was somewhat taken aback.  I could not even imagine not knowing the names of the children you are teaching.

Often, someone’s first and strongest memories of church is someone who demonstrated God’s love to them – someone with whom a strong bond had been formed. Think about your ministry.  Are there real relationships between the leaders and the children in their classes? Is your church the one in which “everybody knows me here”?  Or is it the church in which a child can say “nobody knows my name”?

A Child Shall Lead....

After singing the song, "Jesus Loves Me" a child asked the pastor.  "How do we know the Bible is true?" In his wisdom, the pastor realized that there is not a simple answer to that question and that it is a question that we all wonder about.  So, the pastor decided to lead a class for the whole church on the subject.

That's what I love about smaller membership churches.  First, that this child is comfortable enough to ask the question. To this child, the church is his family, and the pastor is a part of this big loving family of God. He trusts the pastor and knows his question will be taken seriously.  Second, the agility of a smaller church allows the pastor to take the question and run with it.

What do you see happening in your smaller membership church that might not happen in a larger setting?

Family

A few days ago, we welcomed our first grandchild. He fought his way into the world one month early and has been stubbornly fighting his way to good health ever since. As we wonder at this little wonder, I am reminded, once again, of the importance of extended family.  He is surrounded by not only his blood family, but also his family of God. They have been praying for him and for his mom. Words of encouragement and support have helped them during this emotional time. This extended family will continue to provide prayer, encouragement and help in the days, weeks and years ahead. Mom and Dad are not alone in raising their son, but have grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and many surrogate parents and grandparents to lend support.

This, I believe, is one of the greatest advantages of smaller membership churches. The church becomes family, supporting one another in their faith journey and in their day-to-day lives. They know one another by name. They know each other's strengths and weaknesses and love one another because and in spite of who they are. A child or teen walks into the church building and feels right at home. The adults call them by name and are an integral part of their lives. Teachers and church friends become role models and mentors. Through the love of the other adults in the church, they have proof of God's love. The church family truly becomes the village that it takes to raise a child.

Prepare the way....

As the Postlude was playing, the children waited in line out in the Narthex, a blue or purple scarf in each hand.  They listened as Ms. Eloise sang "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord."  As the congregation joined in, the children stepped out, one at time, and processed toward the altar table, waving their scarves high, reaching up toward God.  After they laid their scarves on the table, they arranged themselves in the pulpit area, ready to lead the Call to Worship.

What a blessed way to begin worship each Sunday in Advent. The children were excited to be able to contribute in such an active way, and the adults loved being lead by these enthusiastic children.  Most weeks we had about 6 children involved.  The week they joined the adult choir in providing the anthem, there were 9 children participating.  Then there was the last Sunday of Advent -- a cold rainy day 3 days before Christmas; two children faithfully led.  

The church family equally welcomed the larger group of 9 children and the smaller group of 2.  It really didn't matter how many children were there to help lead worship.  What mattered was the enthusiastic willingness to be an active leader in worship.  The children learned a lot more than the words to "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord."  They learned that they were an integral part of the family of God.

One Size Does NOT Fit All

Being short of stature (under 5 feet) I cringe every time I see an article of clothing labeled "One Size Fits All."  Lately, some manufacturers have become aware of the limitations and changed their label to read "One Size Fits Most."  I can tell for sure, though, that it will not fit me!  

Being in ministry in a small church feels the same way.  We look at the successful programs in larger churches with a little bit of envy, wishing we could pull off the same events.  We purchase curriculum and sigh when the lessons call for activities requiring more children than we have in attendance. We long for the budget and volunteer base available in churches with larger than ours.  

That doesn't mean we can't have effective ministry.  Just as shopping and seeing "One Size"
clothes doesn't mean I can't find clothes to wear.  We just don't expect all models to fit our situation.  I shop in the Petite section, not in the Big and Tall section.  And I try clothes on, either in the store or at home.  Sometimes I even have to add an extra hem. 

Consider that when planning your ministry.  Think carefully about your situation.  Try out different models, and make adjustments.  And remember that your situation is different than the church around the corner.  If your curriculum or ministry model isn't working, shop around.  Look at other models available and imagine them in your situation.  Then make the appropriate adjustments to make it fit your church.

One size does not fit all, but, with a little work, you can find a size that fits.

Children, Youth and a New Kind of Christianity

I spent most of last week in Washington D.C. at a one of a kind conference, Children, Youth and a New Kind of Christianity.  I have to admit, before I stumbled upon this conference I would never have considered myself a proponent of emergent Christianity.  I didn't know what it was, but I envisioned Christian rock bands and auditoriums; not the thing for me.  Yet, wandering around the internet one day, I happened upon a video by Brian McLaren about a different kind of conference for Children and Youth ministries.  What sold it for me were two of the presenters he mentioned.

John Westerhoff has been voicing new ways of looking at Christian Education for decades and was an influence on me even before I knew I was involved in Christian Education.  He planted the seeds and Ivy Beckwith provided the fertilizer.  For years and years I had taught Sunday school, being dissatisfied with the curriculum available.  I tried several approaches and adjusted everything to meet the needs of my students and myself.  Then I found the writings of Ivy Beckwith and realized I was not alone.

So...I found the means to go to D.C. with many others to experience for the first time a gathering of people from many walks of life, all exploring ways to reach the children and youth of today.  I wasn't sure what to expect from this week.  I joined Twitter and put the Facebook app on my phone so I could be a part of this event technologically as well as in person.  Over four hundred people from various walks of life, with many different backgrounds, from all over the globe, and with just as many different expectations gathered at Calvary Baptist Church.  Some of us were star-struck by one or more of the well-known personalities in attendance.  Some were hoping for all of the answers.  Some were just glad to be in conversation with others of like minds.

It became evident from the wide variety of presenters and from the tweets written, that this is far from an easy fix.  And that not everyone will agree on everything.  I have realized, however, that those of us who work in smaller membership churches have a distinct advantage.  We are the ones who have the flexibility to shape our ministries to meet the needs of the individuals we are serving.  We can nurture their imaginations, feed their faith, provide pan-generational experiences and find new ways to live out God's Kingdom on earth.

One tweeter likened this event (on the first day, even) to trying to drink from a fire hose, quite an apt description.  It would be impossible to tell all that I gleaned from this event in one post, but it is my hope that as time goes on I can share snippets.  As I float in the pool of information and inspiration that poured from the fire hose of this event and slowly gain strength from the nourishing water, I aspire to share the benefits with you.

"It's like we're eating with God."

It was a typical Wednesday evening at The Rainbow Club, except today we had decided to share a meal.  As we were eating, a first grade boy spoke up.  "It's like we're eating with God," he proclaimed.

So named because of the mural painted on the wall, the Rainbow Club meets Wednesday evenings. The five children, ages 4 through 9, are there because their parents are involved in Bible Study or music rehearsal.  We meet in a previously unused room,  the rainbow mural a reminder of an earlier time when this church boasted a larger membership and many Sunday School classes.  We have reclaimed the room, finding assorted furniture and supplies around the building and slowly adding our own touches to make the room our own.  Each week we explore one of the stories covered by the Disciple class meeting across the hall.  Our exploration, however, is much more active than the video and discussions taking place in their parents' class.  There is also time for homework, free play and snack.  But these children are learning scripture and experiencing the word of God.  It would be easy to think it not worth planning lessons for such a small group of such diverse ages.  I hear that attitude a lot.  But Noble's astute statement proves otherwise.  Perhaps it was the discussion of our new worship corner that provoked his proclamation.  Or maybe it was the little bit of chocolate on the worship table as a symbol of a tithe from our larger chocolate bar.  Regardless, it was obvious that he had a sense of the presence of God in this place.  Rather than simply playing with toys in a nursery while parents learn, this small group of children are learning scripture and developing lasting relationships with each other, their teachers, and the Lord.  What more can we ask?