Should Church Provide Childcare?
When Childcare is a BIG Problem at Church
As I work with churches across the United States, I often ask the question, “Should church offer childcare?”, the response is, again and again, “Well, yes, of course!” And, on one level, I agree. I agree when childcare means that the church provides care to and for the well-being of children. However, on another, perhaps even more important level, for a number of reasons, I say, “Absolutely not!”. I think offering childcare is a big problem when it means to provide a holding place for kids while more important things are going on with adults. What a church offers to kids, has to be more than that.
Providing exceptional care to kids is one of the most important responsibilities of the Children’s Pastor, Director or Leader. Whoever is in charge of the Children’s Ministry must assure the children God has entrusted to their ministry are safe and secure, and, without question, well cared for. However, the work does not stop there. The ministry with kids is and should be much more.
Sometimes, children’s leaders are asked or even directed to provide “childcare”, meaning just do something with the kids, keep them busy, with an attitude of, while the more important stuff is going on with an adult program. Often times, ministry leaders, who want to partner with Children’s Ministry, are not aware or really want to consider programming needs, in order to offer an exceptional ministry to kids. Can’t we simply just make sure the kids are safe and that someone is there to watch them? The expectation can be, at times, just do it; make it happen, rather than approach the task with teamwork and collaboration to provide adequate time to plan, enlist a qualified team, discuss timeframes that work well for each ministry, look at numbers and how that translates to the overall learning experience, as well as, assuring there is ample space to provide a quality program for both ministries.
When partnering with adult ministries, I think it’s of paramount importance to be on the same page with what the purpose of KIDS Ministry is about. The program itself is important, as well as, how the ministry is communicated and what terms are used to describe and promote it. Any term, like childcare, or, communication about the ministry with kids, that devalues the work of God with children and communicates something less than a high-quality, exceptional teaching ministry with kids is unacceptable. The term “childcare” can communicate come bring your kid to church for babysitting. It can mean something boring, stale, and anything but a time of relevant and meaningful teaching of the Bible. KIDS Ministry needs to be more than a place for kids to be dropped off, play games, watch videos and eat fish crackers. This is a grave disservice to the ministry, church and ultimately Christ. Church pastors and leaders must be committed to more. Parents want more (or should) and kids deserve more.
Genesis 1:26 states that all people are created in the image of God giving them inherent value and worth. Children deserve the best possible ministry we can provide. It’s up to the leader of this ministry to assure that happens. A careful reading of the New Testament demonstrates how Jesus affirmed children, showing his love and compassion for them, even taking the time to address them and bless them (Mark 10:13-14). I think it’s also important to understand that as a parent drops off their child to a classroom, the church stands in for the parent. As one clear example, Ephesians 6:4 directs parents, to “bring them (their children) up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” A well-known and oft recited verse about teaching God’s instruction with a hoped for outcome, is from Proverbs 22:6, which states, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it”. KIDS Ministry is the training ground for children in God’s truth, with the prayerful hope that as they grow up, they will remain in the faith, following the instruction they learned while young. And, since one of the church’s primary responsibilities is to teach the Bible, then, when parents bring their kids to church, children should be given the clear and life-changing instruction of God’s word and nothing less.
Children’s Ministry should be the effective and captivating teaching ministry to kids, period. Not childcare and certainly not seen as secondary or less important ministry. When this is not understood, then the purpose of Children’s Ministry can be watered down and distorted into something it should never be. And, if that exists, then that is a view that needs to be corrected. When children are seen as a subservient ministry to other ministries, than, that needs to be discussed. When people in church see kids as an annoyance, an interruption, something to be tolerated not celebrated, than that, again, is something that needs to be addressed. Children have inherent value and worth because of their Creator, and, deserving of something more than simply childcare. When children are not given the real estate, priority, budget or the staffing needed to provide an excellent ministry, then that is an opportunity to cast vision for a teaching ministry with kids and not settle for providing merely childcare. It’s the leaders job to elevate the understanding of what a vibrant and meaningful KIDS Ministry is, the purpose of it and to advocate for it.
Churches have roughly one hour a week to impact kids with the truth of God’s word. If the average family attends church twice a month for one hour of learning that means the church has one day, a 24-hour period, to teach that child for the entire year! Make the time at church count. There is not one second to waste. Use the limited time with kids to invest in them what they need most in this life. Work hard to deposit God’s word in their life so that they will come to know, love and follow him, at the earliest age possible.
As leaders in the church, we must be resolute in our commitment to assure every ministry being offered is a teaching ministry, a ministry that provides the care and nurture of God’s word, and nothing less... even, and, especially with kids. When this is done and done well, the church is vibrant, healthy and grows. The growth is not only numerical but more importantly spiritual. Children will grow up loving God and his word, as well as, loving church with a strong desire to be a vital part of it. The opportunity to impact God’s Kingdom is now. And, it starts within the Children’s Ministry.
