The Intergenerational Church

At Church Alive NWA we believe in an intergenerational church model that is Kingdom focused. Children’s ministry is just that, it is a ministry. Once we created Children’s Church, we have started a whole other church that the kids are a part of, now separated from their families and the church body.

Children should be included in the main church service because they are part of the church family. This allows them to learn how to worship alongside adults, witness the full expression of worship, and feel integrated into the congregation, rather than being separated in a children's ministry. Even if a child is playing or reading during service, they are watching the adults. They are seeing, hearing, and learning. 

Children feel disconnected from the rest of the body. What is church to them? The children’s ministry and its volunteers? Who is the pastor, and what does he do? What is baptism and the Lord’s Supper? What does it sound like for the church to sing? In most churches, a child could easily be eight, ten, or, in some cases, even older before they ever see or hear the church gathered. I have seen countless times the negative effects of separating, even teens, from the rest of the church has on their long term relationship with churches and God. The statistics show 70% of 18 year olds leave the church, and only about ⅓ of them return later in life once they’ve had kids or gotten married. 

At the new building, we have a self-serve nursery available for 10 month old babies to 3 years old during the sermon, but the intention is for everyone to be together. Before service, at 10am we will have a 45 minute children’s class during the adult classes. We will have a volunteer run nursery available during the adult classes too. This gives them an opportunity to learn and play, before the service starts. We are currently using the curriculum, The Biggest Story Ever. During service, we will have quiet bags and sermons notes for the kids. As well as a dedicated space for kids in the sanctuary, that they are welcome to use with their parents close by. 

In a single week the average person has around 112 waking hours. At church, we have about an hour or less to teach your kids. That's less than 1% of their week. They spend more time with school teachers, daycare workers, etc, than church volunteers on Sunday. The time they have with their parents to teach them the Word of God is GOLD. There is also the importance of other congregation members getting to know their families, spending time with them, and teaching them about God outside of a church building. These relationships will have a lasting impact, whereas we are seeing the trend of entertaining, instead of equipping, failing our young people. The Holy Spirit has been putting this on my heart for years. There is no junior Holy Spirit. Our kids could be seeing people healed, ministering to one another, and being delivered; just like children got to see Jesus do. When we send them off to bible class, they miss out on the opportunity to see the Kingdom of God at work. I am looking forward to this transition and I am excited to see the fruit it brings.  

"Jesus called the children to him and said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these'" Luke 18:16-17

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6.

“Parents, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” Ephesians 6:4.

“My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old – things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done” Psalm 78:1-4.

“Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children'” Matthew 11:25.