Looking back on 20 years of ministry in the CRCA and three years in the role of Children's ministry worker, there remains one consistent theme regarding children that continues to push itself to the fore of my thinking.  It's the need to disciple children by actively involving them in every part of the life of church. That is, by considering them as partners in the gospel, rather than passengers. To envisage a ministry of children, rather than simply a ministry to children. As gifted members of the body, Jesus himself described the blessing children bring to the church. They bring energy, faith and enthusiasm that lifts, exemplifies and enlivens a church. Our responsibility as adults is to disciple them by having them alongside us in everything we undertake for the Lord, giving them a part to play, teaching them what to do, and encouraging them in the good works the Lord has prepared for them to do. 

Its important to say that involving children is more than simply having them present and hoping something will "rub off on them." Yet, sadly, many churches take this attitude and effectively marginalise or neglect children. For example, churches continue to prize well orchestrated, adult oriented services that are undisturbed by the spontaneity of active, wriggling children, and that are organised easily without the effort it takes to involve them. On countless occasions I have sat through lengthy pastoral prayers full of adult cares and concerns but without even one mention of children or their needs. It may be that children will eventually grow up to appreciate what takes place, yet for years they are either absent, or, if present, left largely ignored, unengaged, listless and bored. How much more fruitful would it to occasionally modify the language so that they can understand God's word at their level; or to give them a role to play so that they can contribute something meaningful or to sing a song in their style so they can enthusiastically lift their voices to God in praise. Instead they are either ushered out ASAP or they sit counting down the minutes (or the bricks), repeatedly pleading, "Is it nearly finished?" To be frank, it's hard to imagine adults or the elderly suffering the same level of neglect. 

I have also given some thought to a few strategies that could improve the way we engage children. 

1. Make it a church goal to engage children fully. For example, get the topic on the agenda of the congregational meeting and have the congregation pass a resolution to incorporate children in everything the church does. 

2. Make a group or an individual responsible for broadening church ministry to children.  Most churches view children's ministry narrowly as Sunday School. Theses leaders have a limited focus while no one  is responsible to facilitate anything more. Churches would be helped if someone would be appointed for example, to collaborate with the minister on service planning, speak to the music team about children and to facilitate other creative ways to engage children throughout the church. 

3. Another idea would be to make every ministry responsible and accountable to incorporate children; from the greeters, to deacons, to evangelism. The question would constantly be raised, what part do children play in your work? What more could be done?

4. Start small. For example, slightly modify a different part of the service each week to incorporate children. Slowly, what seemed unusual becomes normal until the involvement of children is, "What we've always done!"

5. Give the congregation a practical understanding of the place of children. A perfect time to do this would be in a baptism service. Our form commands us to do everything we can to raise our children in the knowledge of the Lord. This has been narrowly interpreted as provide them with head knowledge and to set them an example. Yet the expanded version means to have them along side and engaged in all we do and to teach them 'as we go.' Teaching by mentoring is a better interpretation. The roles we give children and the way we incorporate them would look entirely different if we applied this as we should.

6. Discover ways to mix the generations and get them interacting about and around faith. All too easily we follow our culture and silo off children from youth, from young adults, from adults and from the elderly. Intergenerational interaction about faith has become so unfamiliar to us, we have to plan it. Then when we do so (for example, by having a small group discussion with children present) we have to overcome how awkward it feels and how we don't know what to say or do! We have lost the art of covenantal Biblical community.  So, while it will be hard at first we must continue to create opportunities for intergenerational community until it becomes natural and the powerful faith shaping context it was designed by God to be. 

Surely incorporating children in this way reflects Biblical teaching and wisdom. Marginalising or excluding them derives more from culture than Scripture. Also, it's long been true that the the glue of our migrant history no longer binds children to the church. Nor does head knowledge of Reformed theology. Jesus showed the way when he discipled his followers by involving them with him in his work. We need to disciple children in the same way. 

Increasing the number of children not only improves the overall vitality and spiritual health of the church, it's also vital for our very future. For, while children may only be part of the church today, they are the entirety of church tomorrow. Yet, the proportion of children in our churches continues to shrink. Even now, many churches are on cusp of dying and unless something changes, they will not survive beyond their current ageing membership. Other churches are facing the downward spiral caused by the inability of the few remaining children to attract more. We all know how hard it is to reach and keep young families, yet we have failed to appreciate that a big reason why young couples settle in a church is the way it incorporates and ministers to children. Therefore, at a time when some churches are pouring their dwindling resources into ministry to the ageing, it seems obvious to some of us that we need to redouble our efforts to maintain and grow the proportion of young families and children in our midst. Our ability to do so begins with the way we envision the place of children in the church. In my view, we must begin to incorporate and disciple them as vital, valuable, active and contributing members of the body.

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