This is a question many parents ask these days.   While we may occasionally have activities geared specifically for children, our focus is on multi-generational ministry in which all ages study, worship, fellowship and enjoy life together.

One of our core convictions is that the gathered church and the family are the primary places the Lord has established for discipleship.   We believe that children learn to follow Christ in their families “when they sit at home, when they walk along the way, when they lie down and when they rise up.” (Deuteronomy 6:7)  Likewise, we do not segregate our children in worship because we are convinced that our children will learn to worship the Lord by participating in the worship of the whole church.   The prayer, praise, and preaching of the Word is no less for them because they are small.

We are a family of families worshiping together.   We are teaching our children to worship as they worship with us.  If they cry or squirm, it’s OK; God has ordained “praise” from our children and infants.   At the same time, however, we encourage parents to respect the preciousness of others by teaching children how to behave during worship at home during the week in family worship.  We ask our parents to discretely take “exuberant” children out of the service in order to address any behavior issues and then to return.

We realize what a challenge this can be, especially for parents with several young children or children that are not used to being in worship.   We want to help you help your children learn to worship.   Just ask how we can help.

We also ask that our families with older children and those families without children exercise patience and grace, learning to hear the word preached, even in if there is a little distraction.   In this way we are heeding the Lord’s command to “let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14)  Scripture tells us that “one generation will commend [the Lord’s] works to another.”   This happens when everyone from “the least to the greatest” are gathered together to hear God’s Word.