According to Barna.com three out of five children raised in the church leave by the time they are fifteen. Most never return. I don’t doubt those findings. I see it in my own church and in my own family. So I feel it’s time to ask ourselves the hard questions and give ourselves honest answers.

I came across Dr. Lawson Murrary’s blog Children’s Ministry Basics on a social media feed. I wanted to share some of his observations/questions and suggestions to begin healing the problem.

• Are our priorities in children’s ministry?
• Are we all involved? families, churches and schools?
• Are parents taking a lead role in discipling their children?
• Are children activily involved in ministry?

How do we begin to address these issues?

• Train all pastors in children’s ministry.
• Foster partnerships between families, churches, and schools
• Encourage parents in their role as the first nurturers of their children.
• Involve children in all ministry so they know their importance in being part of the church.

These are only a few of the questions and suggestions put forth by Dr. Murrary. I encourage you to visit his blog and prayerfully consider what you can begin to do in your own families, churches, and schools.

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

~Deuteronomy 6:7-9 NKJV

Gail

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