As we discuss the spiritual realm, and start to lead children into a deeper understanding of the things of God, we will very quickly notice that some children seem to be set apart in their ability to hear God and even to see things in the spiritual realm. When our eldest son was 2 years old he started to point at nothing and say, ‘Look Daddy, picard.’ We would look and see nothing. He pointed out ‘Picards’ in people’s cars, he said there would be a ‘Picard’ on a plane with

Our work with children is not a branch of social services, it is not purely about practical help and guidance. Our work is inherently spiritual. Jesus says we have to be born again – born of the flesh and the spirit. So how can we introduce our children to the spiritual realm? Two dangers Before we dive into some practical ideas I want to discuss two dangers, opposites of each other, but like two ditches either side of a path, they both can derail children on their walk

We must raise up a generation who are ROOTED in the word of God. This does not mean simply being familiar with Bible stories or understanding theology. It’s more than just memorising verses. It is possible to have all these things and still not be rooted in the Bible. We are not merely talking about children who love the Bible or read it regularly. While these are important, they are not the end goal. If children are to be truly rooted in the Bible, all these elements are nec

Powerful Praise In a crèche programme at our church, chaos reigned. It was one of those days when it felt like everyone was crying or misbehaving. The leaders had tried everything to calm things down, but nothing worked. They had slipped into survival mode, simply waiting for the session to end, praying that the preacher wouldn’t overrun. Amidst the cacophony, one two-year-old stood in the middle of the room and began to speak. “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus loves us ever

Go and make disciples. These were the last words of Jesus. His instructions are for the whole church and clearly include the children. Yes, those same children who witnessed Jesus perform miracles and even helped Him feed the 5,000. These children heard His parables and were called to go out and make disciples. In teaching others, we learn much about our faith. We have seen this time and again as children have led their friends to the Lord. The Thrill of Going on Mission Goin

Helping under 5s connect with God through His word. The Life Changing Word God’s word changes young lives. One Easter we taught some toddlers about how Jesus swapped everything at the cross. One person arrived with a naughty sign around their neck. When they came to the cross Jesus swapped their naughtiness for his goodness. For another person, Jesus swapped their sadness at the cross. For a third person, Jesus swapped their sickness. This simple teaching allowed children to

What is your framework for ministry? If you get it wrong you risk teaching error and believing falsehoods. We don’t base our theology on feelings or on circumstances. Our understanding of theology, and by extension of ultimate truth, comes from God’s word. For example, when it comes to children’s ministry, no one is comfortable with the idea that a child could go to hell. But people are not saved because they are cute, because they are young or because they are liked. Conve

Using the curriculum as a springboard for each week, how can we help our children to connect to God for themselves?

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How can we empower our children as evangelists.

How can we raise the next generation of intercessors? What can we do to kickstart children's prayer lives?

This article was first published in Elim Direction Magazine, May 2024 How can churches empower parents to nurture children’s faith at...