1976
The associate pastor of our church asked Joe and I to develop a children’s worship service. Our own children were seven, six and four.
The pastor, a single man from Belgium, had a great love for children. He met with Joe and me every Thursday night to lay out a plan. Week after week, he would slap his hand on our dining room table and loudly exclaim,
“Vats the meaning of this, Vat’s the meaning of this.
This is for the Lord of lords and the King of kings,
this isn’t WORTHY of the Lord of lords and the King of kings.
I will be back to make sure you have made it worthy of the King.”
This service, in a church where children had previously always worshipped with their parents, began in the church gym. It was meant only for the children. Within a month, we were told, “The parents are coming to the gym to worship with the children; we are moving the service to the sanctuary.”
I was shocked – we did some pretty crazy stuff during those services, such as having everyone get up and go to the four corners of the earth to evangelize. Every Sunday the service was packed – and not just with families; there was a section of senior citizens who were so excited to worship at the level of a child.
When the focus of ministry is to honor and glorify the Triune God there is a willingness to go the extra mile, to try things you would never try if your focus was only on success.
Vision Brick One
Vat’s the meaning of this?
Don’t do anything if it isn’t worthy
of the Lord of lords and the King of kings.
EXCELLENCE
Imagine how your children’s ministry would change if the emphasis in planning and preparing was on pleasing the Triune God?
Vision Brick 2: WHAT CHILDREN NEED
Vision Brick 3: EVERY ADULT COMMITTED
Vision Brick 4: TRAIN EACH CHILD ACCORDING TO GOD’S DESIGN
