Why Kids?
It seems pretty obvious to me that our church loves kids. I mean, we can’t seem to STOP having them! But really, since day one at Rise, we’ve put a huge emphasis on the importance of investing in the lives of our children, for now and for eternity.
We believe that in order to have a healthy church, we have to have healthy families, and a huge part of that health comes from how we view and invest in our kids. So here’s three reasons why serving with a Kids ministry is so vital, whether here at Rise or in any church, as told by the titles of old-school songs:
1. “Jesus Loves Me”
"Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, they are weak but he is strong.” You probably know the song and understand the sentiment, but the reality is, Jesus did not mince words when it came to the value of children.
Mark 10:14 tells us that when Jesus saw his disciples basically trying to “shoo away” the children while he was teaching, he actually became indignant with them. What does “indignant” mean: “expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust or offensive”. So yeah, not good coming from Jesus. He was displeased with the disciples' attitude toward children. So much so that he called them out right then and there, in public, saying, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."
God wants our hearts to be like Jesus’ heart. And Jesus' heart is one that says, “Kids matter to me. In fact, you could learn a thing or two from them.” Jesus isn't annoyed by kids or put off by their childishness. He welcomes them with love and invites us to share his view too.
2. “When I Rise, Give Me Jesus”
In the Old Testament, the amazing prophet of God, Moses, told his people this, “These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise (Deut. 6:5-7).” I wish that last part said “When you are at Rise.” It would illustrate my point much better. But the idea is this: We are the ones who have to tell kids about God; His wonders, His salvation, His love. If we don’t, who will?
The responsibility is ours to raise up the next generation. And by “ours” I mean “yours”. It’s not going to happen magically. You can’t outsource it. If you wait for someone else to make that investment, it may never happen. The time is now and the person is you. So hop on board with the mission and let’s give ‘em Jesus.
3. “He Walks With Me”
Being involved and active in the church as a kid doesn’t promise that life will be easier. Kids who meet Jesus at an early age aren’t protected from failure, or hardship, or pain, or struggle. In fact, it may even be the opposite. As they learn to love Jesus and have a heart like his, the lessons of life will hit them harder. As they see the world the way he does, the injustice they witness will affect them more deeply. As they begin to understand the sacrifice of Christ, the sins they commit will hurt them intensely. The only promise is this: they can walk through life with Jesus.
As a father of four, I can’t think of anything I want more for my kids than for them to know that their failure doesn’t have to mean condemnation. For them to carry the burden of injustice in the world with hope in their hearts that God will set it right in His time. I want the inevitable pain they will experience to cause them to lean into God because they’ve always known He’s there…maybe because one of you told them He was.
When you make an investment in the lives of children as a part of the Rise Kids team, you’re making an investment in the Kingdom of Heaven.
My dream is for Rise Kids to be a team that people are lining up to serve in. Not out of obligation or guilt, but because people genuinely share Jesus’ heart for kids. After all, Jesus Loves the Little Children.
If you share Jesus heart for kids and want to jump onboard with the mission to teach children about him, join us!
