It has been a long standing practice in our church to allow children to be present during services, and to participate in the worship/study/fellowship services of our church. I encourage parents to train their children in proper decorum and we provide a child's room for those who are too young to sit through a whole service.
THEY ARE TUNED-IN.
The children share testimonies, request prayers and songs, sing specials, ask questions, answer questions. Even the little ones are tuned-in. Whether they are sitting with everyone else, or they are back in the children's room, I can hear them parrot key phrases from my preaching, or answer questions I pose to others, or sing along with the congregation.
THEY JOIN THEIR VOICES.
Yesterday, as I was preaching, I started a song, and the children joined in. Later on, after I sang another chorus to make a point, Julianna started to sing Jesus Loves Me, as she sat on the couch. I started singing with her and we sang the whole verse and chorus together.
TRY IT, YOU MAY LIKE IT.
If you have never been part of a service where the children are as much a part as the adults are, then you should try it. In fact, if children are being cut out of your services, I am sorry for you and for them.
IT IS RECIPROCAL.
Not only are the children getting the blessing of hearing and participating in worship/study/fellowship with the rest of their local church, they are a source of real blessing. I won't speak for others, but the fact is, the children actually encourage me in a way that the adults don't, and they don't even know that they are doing it.
THEY ARE TUNED-IN.
The children share testimonies, request prayers and songs, sing specials, ask questions, answer questions. Even the little ones are tuned-in. Whether they are sitting with everyone else, or they are back in the children's room, I can hear them parrot key phrases from my preaching, or answer questions I pose to others, or sing along with the congregation.
THEY JOIN THEIR VOICES.
Yesterday, as I was preaching, I started a song, and the children joined in. Later on, after I sang another chorus to make a point, Julianna started to sing Jesus Loves Me, as she sat on the couch. I started singing with her and we sang the whole verse and chorus together.
TRY IT, YOU MAY LIKE IT.
If you have never been part of a service where the children are as much a part as the adults are, then you should try it. In fact, if children are being cut out of your services, I am sorry for you and for them.
IT IS RECIPROCAL.
Not only are the children getting the blessing of hearing and participating in worship/study/fellowship with the rest of their local church, they are a source of real blessing. I won't speak for others, but the fact is, the children actually encourage me in a way that the adults don't, and they don't even know that they are doing it.
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