by Kari Hardre
“Each of us who has the privilege of relating to young children these days shares a special goal: to help transform those children into spiritual champions. It will not happen by accident. It may not happen even if we devote our best resources to that task, but the possibility is worth the risk. In fact, this isn’t really a risk at all since our personal success in life is completely wrapped up in our willingness to mature these young people.” George Barna, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions (Ventura, CA: Gospel Lights, 2003)
When I first began as a volunteer in Children’s ministries, I started in the nursery holding babies and playing on the floor with the toddlers. Today those infants and toddlers are pre-kindergarten and first graders. In looking back on those days and those children, it has been amazing to see them grow in life and in Christ. Watching them learn to love Jesus warms my heart. I enjoy preparing their classroom crafts each week, partly because I get to see their faces light up after Sunday school and be so proud of what they made that day to glorify Christ.
I love this ministry and all that is does—growing children and families for Christ. When walking through the halls and listening to the children shout for joy and singing songs of praise, I become a bit sad that I was not raised in the church, and I feel so blessed to be a part of this ministry today. Seeing the smiles each Sunday brings when these kids learn the unconditional love that Christ has for them, is priceless.
On occasion a child will come to class sad; they do not want to part from their parents and go to Sunday school. I find something about that child, something they are wearing or a toy they might be holding, and highlight it in such a way that it brings a smile and a feeling to that child and parent that says, “it’s okay to go to class while mom or dad are in worship service.”
I love 1st B Kids because of the relationships that it builds with the children and their parents, and I love how those relationships are taken into the community. I recently walked into a class where the children were making a craft for their moms. A young boy said he was making the card for me because I was a Rock star. What an amazing feeling that gave me. I encouraged him to continue to make the card for his mom and thanked him for his love, then left with my heart full. All of this encourages me to continue to be a part of this growing ministry.
Where else can you get excited about going potty, out-growing a booster seat, sleeping in your own bed, losing a tooth, and getting older? 1st B-Kids of course!
Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
I love kids the way Christ loves me,
I save kids the way Christ saved me,
I grow kids the way Christ grows me.