Local Church Ministry for Children

This week our family took care of my friend’s two year old while she was in the hospital having baby #2.

Since we don’t have babies at our house full time, helping young mamas has the benefit of exposing our children to normal child development. It’s a life skill that has great value as they get older. They learn how to entertain children, learn just how long they can sit still for a story, and so on. Our children are at a disadvantage if the first babies they have held and taken care of are their own.

It’s also important to me that our children understand that they are valued members of our local church. They aren’t teaching a class or singing in the music ministry, but they are serving God. Helping our young mamas is one way that they can be involved in a valuable ministry.

Our kids still managed to finish their schoolwork each day. I took care of the little guy during the morning time. Kids helped with entertaining, redirecting, and feeding him.

What’s significant to me is that the local church benefits from families interacting and helping each other during the week. (That means people willing to be transparent enough to say they need help, and other people willing to open up their imperfect homes for someone else.) Sure, my friend could have put her baby in daycare for a few weeks. My kids would have lost the opportunity to be a blessing to a tired mama, and so would I.

I’m thinking of more ways that our children contribute to our local church community. Maybe that would make a good list!

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. Matthew 25:37-40