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Posted: 08 April 2008 at 10:47am | IP Logged

I have a group that sends their kids to my friday night fellowship because their kids don't have enough friends in their small home church...it was a split off from another local church.

Personally, I question how it could work out for the kids, especially as they get older.  jr hi, high school....if there aren't enough of them.

I'm always hopeful that their church friends would be their best friends, but without any kids their age, I don't think that would happen.

Posted: 08 April 2008 at 3:53pm | IP Logged

Here's a brief thought -

If the purpose and intent of house churches is to create a more holistic community that is intimately involved in the lives of those who are part - wouldn't the aspect of ministry to children be to incorporate them into the very practices and heartbeat of that house church? 

So given that thought - I would wonder if the worship experiences that would reap the most harvest and benefit all at the same time would be to have an intergenerational service where children are a part of the worship from reading and interacting with scripture to being present during celebrations such as baptism and Lord's Supper. 

What are your takes on this?

Posted: 10 April 2008 at 8:37pm | IP Logged

Tanner,

Jim Palmer, who wrote the forward to my book Divine Intention leads a organic web of relationships in Nashville. In his book Divine Nobodies he discusses that they worked with an Institional church to get the use the facilities to once a week work their children through the Good Shepherd Curriculum.

Posted: 14 April 2008 at 5:50pm | IP Logged

 I think the philosophy of the church needs to be: equipping parents to be the primary ministers to their children, and to support and encourage them as an entire Body

I was also a product of a house church growing up. When I was a child, there was a Sunday School time provided each week for my sister and myself, but otherwise, we were expected to be with the adults all of the time. By the time we became teenagers, there were other teens in the church and a monthly fellowship time was provided, plus we were allowed to participate in another church's youth group.

The idea at the time, and I think still is because my parents are still very much involved in a house church, is that parents are responsible for the spiritual growth of their children, and that happens within the home not in a church setting.

I have always been ambivalent about my experience growing up because to me, from a child's perspective, church was never a positive experience. It was boring and for adults, and not for kids. The teaching was always deep and over our heads- our favorite time was when missionaries would come because we knew then that we would be able to enjoy and understand what was being said. 

My siblings and I all left the church (universal) when we went to college because of our negative experiences growing up, but through the grace of God we each came back to a strong walk with the Lord later on.

I think that it all comes down to what I see discussed often. Parents are responsible for the spiritual welfare of their children.  I think my role is to come alongside parents to equip, and supplement what is being taught at home, and to let the children know that our church is their church too-not just for their parents.  

Donna