Kids & Households of Faith

A little over a month ago my wife & I had the awesome experience of the birth of our daughter. As many of you know, such an event makes a man think, and I feel affirmed more than ever concerning how God has led us. I am so grateful that my daughter is going to grow up in house churches.

In order to make sense of a house church network, we really need to think differently. I’ve been reading research about the value of small groups, family, and relationships between adults and children when it comes to spiritual growth and outreach. For example, Dr. Holly Allen points out that many churches in the U.S. base their children’s ministry on modern education practices. While this is okay for learning facts in school, Dr. Allen’s research shows that small groups where children & adults worship together is likely more effective when it comes to a child’s spiritual development. Doesn’t it make sense that a child would best learn about faith and courage and God from being an active part of a community where they can learn from spiritual “uncles” and ‘aunts?” Besides, think about it: What do children remember more? A lecture or a story that inspires them? Of course, the best place to begin the process of rethinking anything is the Bible — God’s message of love to humanity.

In the Old Testament many of the national celebrations were feasts, and one of the most important times of worship was at a meal. That is, the Passover. Both young and old joined together. Similar to modern-day Thanksgiving in North America, it was a time of remembrance, but it was also so much more. It was a worship service around a table in a home.

In the New Testament, Jesus shared similar experiences with his earliest followers, and after His resurrection, the church continued to meet together — both young and old — in homes as extended spiritual families. It would have been possible to gather around a table for Communion because they met in homes. Biblical scholars have consensus that the church continued meeting in homes for the first three centuries until the Roman emperor began having an influence on the church in the 4th century. I’m not saying that buildings are bad for churches; however, I do think that Jesus’ followers today have a lot to gain from this emphasis on home, relationship, and family.

So many of the little moments over the last couple of years have truly impacted me. I remember a Friday night meeting. A father had brought his two year old daughter to a meeting in my home and at one point during the evening, she laughed and rushed into his arms and exclaimed, “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!” I walked away from that meeting touched by what this child taught me about my relationship to God. Recently, another father told me about a time when he was sitting in his living room feeling --and probably appearing -- angry. One of the women in his house church had taught the kids the night before in their home, and his four year old son came up to his father, looked into his face, and said, “Daddy, do you know Jesus? And what about Moses, Daddy?” Needless to say, the mood began to change. I loved recently seeing two adults in another house church both dancing back & forth during worship to the sound of the song “Clap Your Hands” with a one & a half year old and two year old smiling and swaying with them. I enjoy seeing an eleven year old pick out our next song and sing with the group.

I’m excited to raise my daughter in these households of faith. They're not perfect, and I know that there are no guarantees. Someday she will choose who or what she will serve, but I know that we’re giving my little girl the best opportunity to explore who God wants her to be.