WORKING WITH INFANTS AND CHILDREN
Infants and Children are such a big and important part of the church body. I can remember the very thing that brought children to my attention. I was a baby in spirit trying to fit in and learning how to witness to people when I became frustrated with adults lack of desire for God and watching people refuse to listen and instead give in to the mass confusion of world religions. When I had a brilliant thought, "why not teach them when they are children" (Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go , and when he is old he will not turn from it.) NIV.
Starting with infants/babies, because although they may not understand , they do receive. It is so important to start making the way even at this age. Constant prayer and speaking blessings to them is as essential as reading the bible to them. I have learned with my own children how easy it is for them to learn the wrong things , how many curses are spoken to them through people , tv, radio . , but most importantly how to turn those curses around into blessing by speaking it to them and using the word of God. (ex. scriptures from Psalms and the promises of God)
A few of the children I worked with.
All of the children in the ages of toddler to preteen are so easy to teach not to mention that they can be a lot of fun to be around. This large age group can soak up everything they hear, see and experience. I will tell you that they never forget a big moment and with God there are always big moments. It was not until I visited a church in Houston, Texas that I was able to see children with passion for the things of God. I learned there that these kids can do everything in church that the adults do. From praise and worship to praying, receiving the presents of the Holy Spirit, and even participating or taking responsible roles with in the church. Now there is one essential that is usually needed to get the kids to want these things, and that is motivation, a role model to be exact! This is where childrens pastors, ministers, and teachers come in. I can tell you that as a childrens leader you have similar responsibilities as the church pastor, you teach them pray with them, sing with them, share testimonies etc. Most of the time the childrens pastor is like a childs best friend, they trust in you with feelings thoughts and situations that they may be afraid to share with their parents. I recall my very first month working teaching in the class room, I had only had experience my audience being teachers and fellow college students, so the attention span that I was able to capture from the kids was zero. I was like the substitute teacher that got no respect, with talking behind my back bad behavior and no one paying attention. Until one day the church pastor saw the frustration and the lack of knowledge in me and told me to pray and ask God for better teaching Ideas. I did just that, and soon my eyes were opened and I knew in order to gain a child's trust you have to open up to them and be and think like a them. From there on my kids loved me, came to me for all kinds of support, we laughed together and even learned together. Yes, that's right I learned too as I taught them ("you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself?" Romans 2:21) I have to say that the kids I taught became so involved that they would not miss a day, they would get to the church early and before I got there, just so they could help me set up with excitement and If I was late I would even get a call from one of them making sure I was coming. From my experience I was able to see how children love to understand and be involved in what their parents are doing, with this I mean, doing and being able to relate with what their parents are doing and going through in the adult/family service.
