Club House Chaos!
"It’s ‘Deal or no deal this week!’", the kids yell to Tom Knox. It’s Friday afternoon and primary aged children from our church and the local area head off to KUCA (Kids of the Uniting Church in Australia). Regular features at KUCA include 'side show alley', 'Spy vs Spy' and of course ‘Deal or No Deal’ where one lucky kid gets the chance to win a huge amount of lollies! There’s also time for games, craft, a story or devotion by Clive Coombes, or a song by Steve Everist. It’s a time where kids can get together to have fun, build relationships, learn more about Jesus and have a nutritious dinner (that’s cheese and tomato on pizza isn’t it?).
Steve plays a key role in children’s ministry and is clearly passionate about it ; “ Children’s ministry is a lot like raising children generally; it’s made up of lots of little things that when gathered together are amazing. Little smiles and moments of laughter, a dazzling answer to a question of faith, cheek and charm, halting prayers, creativity that engages, the ebb and flow from engagement to chaos and back again, singing a song quietly under their breath as they leave”.
Similarly on Sunday mornings, children stampede out of church to 'Lighthouse Kids’ Ministry'. Every age group from nought to three years old (Cubby House), three to five years (Tree House), and Kindergarten to year six (Club House) are catered for by an enthusiastic group of men and women. Natalie Oldenburg has been teaching in kids’ church for eight years and loves working with children and watching them grow; “It is so satisfying to see a child grow and develop in Christ over the years. I really enjoy creating something that’s fun for the kids to do and teaches them an important truth about God.”
For Natalie (pictured), a real highlight of the Club House calendar is the Celebration Service where the kids are involved in leading the worship in the ten am service; ”They really enjoy making banners and joining in dances, dramas, songs & prayers. It is wonderful to see them grow in their confidence and faith. Steve continues; ‘‘ The kids are bringing something to God, and to their parents and to their extended church family. Their eyes are bright and animated. No nodding off in church today. They visibly swell with the sense of purpose and no one misses a thing. I love the way they come alive at this moment and I feel privileged to be sitting with them, being one with them, getting off on the excitement of the moment, feeling inordinately proud of them and knowing that God feels just the same, except all the time.
Then occasionally something really big and golden bursts out of the mist of little things like the rising of the sun. Like the time a six year old girl, without being asked, showed us a song she had felt inspired to write. It was amazing and profound and I had to run home and try to put it to music. ‘’
God is Great
Our God is the one we worship
He is the greatest of us all
He is the richest in soul
He reaches down to earth
He touches the mountain tops
Our God is the King
You can contact him through prayer
He sends back your answer with love
He loves you
No matter how old you are
No matter how you look
God still loves you
Words by Zoe Bakker 2008
Children’s ministry matters. It is sewing vital seeds into the lives of our children and our church. So to Natalie and Steve and all those involved in the seemingly small things of children’s ministry we say thank you for the larger thing we trust it will become.
