Guest Blog: Tiffany Poston

Childcare vs. Children’s Ministry by Tiffany Poston

George Barna did a study and found that a person’s moral foundation and spiritual moorings are in place by the age of 9.  That is the age of an average 4th grader.  This means by 9, a child will have their perceptions of church and God set in place, and the older they get, the more difficult it is for him or her to replace these ideas. Starting as young as possible, Lifepoint’s KidZone wants children to grow up knowing that church is exciting and that God loves them, and He is real and relevant to their life. This is why at Lifepoint we don’t have childcare; we do Children’s Ministry.  What is the difference between the two? Glad you asked…

Childcare says, “Let’s just make sure they don’t kill each other or themselves while they’re here.”
Children’s Ministry says, “Let’s give them a loving and safe environment where we teach them about going to Heaven and saving themselves for eternity.”
Childcare puts on a video because its easy.
Children’s Ministry engages
kids in an interactive story from the Bible that they get to be a part of, no matter how much effort it takes on our part.
Childcare gives them a coloring sheet to do.
Children’s Ministry puts them in small groups with other children their age so they can discuss the story and the bottom line for the day and figure out how it applies to their life.
Childcare is, for the most part, impersonal.
Children’s Ministry small group leaders get to know their group on a personal level and discusses issues the children are going through; and together, they discover how they can handle them in a biblical and Godly way.
Childcare is a child getting in trouble for having too much energy.
Children’s Ministry knows that kids need to get extra energy out, so we dance and have interactive games that teach them about values and how to be a person of character.
Childcare has adults who are obligated to be there.
Children’s Ministry has volunteers who are so involved and excited to get to pour into a child’s life, they are willing to take time out of their own to be there every week.
Childcare is letting the parents know their child survived.
Children’s Ministry is continually partnering with the parents to help them be the spiritual leaders in their child’s life.
Childcare doesn’t teach anything.
Children’s Ministry teaches every week that God loves them, that they can trust God no matter what, Jesus wants to be their friend, and more.
Childcare is the last resort when there is nothing else for the children to do.
Children’s Ministry is the best hour of a child’s week; an environment so engaging, fun, and spiritually educational that kids can’t wait to come to church on Sundays.

Children’s Ministry is something we take very seriously, because these kids need to know who God is! The older they get and the more time that goes by, chances are, they won’t be listening.  Why not now? I am so passionate about pointing these kids to life in Jesus, and I am so blessed and excited to be able to work with a group of staff and volunteers who feel the same. Lifepoint KidZone doesn’t provide childcare on Sunday mornings, we do Children’s Ministry  to the extreme to reach these kids for Jesus!