We treasure our children because “children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3). Jesus Himself cherished children and blessed them, saying, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). It is a joy to serve and pray for the next generation.
The parents of the church are primarily responsible under God to bring up their children in the training and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). The church’s role in children’s ministry is to support and encourage parents by faithfully teaching God’s Word and modelling genuine Christianity for the children in our care. We pray that, by God’s grace, over the years, all the children in our trust will “be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified” (Isaiah 61:3).
Lord’s Day Ministry
We cater for children in several ways on Sundays.
Family Bible Hour: Family Bible Hour is our all-age Sunday school ministry, during which different classes meet in different locations to study and discuss God’s Word. Family Bible Hour includes classes for children from two all the way through Grade 7. The time begins with a corporate gathering in the main auditorium at 8:30 AM. Announcements are made, songs are sung, birthdays and anniversaries are celebrated, and memory verses are recited. Children (and adults) are then dismissed to their classes for teaching time, which continues until 9:15 AM.
Crèche (Childcare): A childcare ministry is provided on Sundays during both corporate worship services. Children aged 0-2 are taken to the crèche in the church building, where workers care for them and keep them occupied for the duration of the service. Parents of children aged 0-2 can take their children to the crèche from the beginning of the service, but are asked to collect their children as soon as possible after the service so that workers can be freed to fellowship with other members.
Children’s Church: On Sunday mornings, a children’s church ministry is run to teach the children aged 3-5 during the worship service. (No children’s church ministry is available on Sunday nights, and parents attending are asked to keep their children with them for the duration of the service.) While children aged 0-2 can be taken to crèche immediately at the beginning of the service, children aged 3 and above remain in the auditorium for the first part of the service. The service leader will announce from the pulpit when it is time for children to be dismissed to children’s church. There are two age groups for children’s church.
Children’s Talks: Occasionally, during a Sunday service, one of the elders will call the children to the front of the church for a brief children’s talk. (As noted above, children aged 3-7 join their parents in the auditorium for the first part of the morning service.) The children simply gather at the front of the auditorium, where they are seated on the floor for a brief time of instruction, usually related to the sermon that will be preached that morning, and a time of prayer.
Friday Night Ministry
On Friday nights, from 5:45 PM to 7:30 PM, the church runs a children’s ministry called Basic for children aged 4-12. Children aged 4-5 are catered for in the church, whilst primary school aged children (grades 1-7) gather in the auditorium, where the Basic program is centred.
During Basic, primary school aged children are divided into two age groups (grades 1-3, and grades 4-7). Basic involves action-packed games, Word-based memorisation, and a time of instruction in classes.
Basic runs during regular public school terms, and breaks during public school holidays and on public holidays that fall on a Friday.
Other Children’s Ministry
Whilst the ministries described above are the regular, weekly ministries of the church geared specifically toward children, other events are held on an annual basis, or as planned by children’s workers, that cater specifically toward children.
Kids for Christ: Kids for Christ (KFC) is the holiday Bible club run annually for primary school aged children. It is usually held during the winter school holidays, and is announced in the bulletin, from the pulpit and on the website well ahead of time. KFC involves a one-week (Monday to Friday) morning-based time of games, memorisation and instruction, and is one of the highlights of the church calendar as far as children are concerned.
Children’s Camps and Outings: As the calendar permits, and as children’s workers are available, weekend camps and other outings (picnics, hikes, etc.) are planned by the children’s workers of the church. These are announced in the bulletin and from the pulpit well ahead of time, and normally by letter to parents who bring their children to Basic.