Cleary Baptist Church

Children

The Vision for Children's Ministry at Cleary

He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach their children; that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. (Psalm 78:5-8)

Children's Ministry Photo

These verses are ones which drives our passion for ministry to children and parents at Cleary. We strongly desire for children at Cleary to surpass us in faith, in knowledge, in righteousness, fruitfulness, in evangelistic zeal and in commitment to world evangelization. Like the Psalmist, we hope that the next generation will learn from the mistakes and the rebellion of our generation and firmly set their hope in God. What a blessing that would be for us! As John says, No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth (3 John 1:4).

Low standards and expectations for ministry to children abound in the church today. A popular conviction expressed by many contemporary children and youth ministry leaders is that "kids should have fun in church . . . they should have positive experiences in church so that when they grow older they will continue to enjoy coming to church." We think kids should have fun in church too; but this is not the banner that we want to hang over the childrens ministry at Cleary.

Others will say that we want kids to grow up to be faithful churchmen. We want kids to be faithful contributors to church life too; but again, this is not the vision we want to put before our parents and teachers. Our churches are full of good churchmen who know how to have fun with all their friends but who never learn what it means to pick up their crosses and follow Christ . . . We want our church to aim with aggressive, God-dependent, Christ-exalting determination to raise our children with a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for their joy and the joy of all people. We want to see them raised in the faith knowing how to live by faith in future grace. We believe that this task can be accomplished in such a way that the kids will also have fun, make friends and become good churchmen.

Imagine us saying that our vision for the people who come to Cleary is that they have fun. Imagine us saying that we want people to feel comfortable here so that they will participate and continue coming when they are older. It would be absurd for us to say this, and yet in evangelical churches across America this is an implied, if not an expressed, vision for children and youth ministries. The high standards for preaching and teaching and worship at Cleary and the vision of God Sunday after Sunday is what is making Cleary so wonderfully refreshing and life-giving to hundreds of people. This is what will sustain the church and her people. The fun times, friendships and good churchmanship are significant, yet must remain secondary values.

Our aim is to raise the standard as high in children's ministry as we do in most other arenas of ministry. We will be as intentional and passionate and serious about building a vision of God in the younger generations as we are in the older ones. We will pursue that vision for our children not only with our words, but also with the curriculum we use, the way we recruit and train our teachers and the way we design our programs for children.

Ministry to parents and children at Cleary will be radically God-centered, biblical and consistent with what we teach adults. Teachers will take their calling seriously and be inspired by a vision of what our children can be. They will labor with joy and with a sense of calling on their life more than from feelings of obligation and duty.

Our Curriculum

Preschool

He Established a Testimony
He Has Spoken by His Son

Jesus, What a Savior!

1st and 2nd Grade

Faithful to All His Promises

3rd and 4th Grade

To Be Like Jesus

5th Grade

How Majestic is Your Name

Parenting Resource Page






Children The Vision for Children's Ministry at Cleary He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach their children; that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. (Psalm 78:5-8) These verses are ones which drives our passion for ministry to children and parents at Cleary. We strongly desire for children at Cleary to surpass us in faith, in knowledge, in righteousness, fruitfulness, in evangelistic zeal and in commitment to world evangelization. Like the Psalmist, we hope that the next generation will learn from the mistakes and the rebellion of our generation and firmly set their hope in God. What a blessing that would be for us! As John says, No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth (3 John 1:4). Low standards and expectations for ministry to children abound in the church today. A popular conviction expressed by many contemporary children and youth ministry leaders is that "kids should have fun in church . . . they should have positive experiences in church so that when they grow older they will continue to enjoy coming to church." We think kids should have fun in church too; but this is not the banner that we want to hang over the childrens ministry at Cleary. Others will say that we want kids to grow up to be faithful churchmen. We want kids to be faithful contributors to church life too; but again, this is not the vision we want to put before our parents and teachers. Our churches are full of good churchmen who know how to have fun with all their friends but who never learn what it means to pick up their crosses and follow Christ . . . We want our church to aim with aggressive, God-dependent, Christ-exalting determination to raise our children with a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for their joy and the joy of all people. We want to see them raised in the faith knowing how to live by faith in future grace. We believe that this task can be accomplished in such a way that the kids will also have fun, make friends and become good churchmen. Imagine us saying that our vision for the people who come to Cleary is that they have fun. Imagine us saying that we want people to feel comfortable here so that they will participate and continue coming when they are older. It would be absurd for us to say this, and yet in evangelical churches across America this is an implied, if not an expressed, vision for children and youth ministries. The high standards for preaching and teaching and worship at Cleary and the vision of God Sunday after Sunday is what is making Cleary so wonderfully refreshing and life-giving to hundreds of people. This is what will sustain the church and her people. The fun times, friendships and good churchmanship are significant, yet must remain secondary values. Our aim is to raise the standard as high in children's ministry as we do in most other arenas of ministry. We will be as intentional and passionate and serious about building a vision of God in the younger generations as we are in the older ones. We will pursue that vision for our children not only with our words, but also with the curriculum we use, the way we recruit and train our teachers and the way we design our programs for children. Ministry to parents and children at Cleary will be radically God-centered, biblical and consistent with what we teach adults. Teachers will take their calling seriously and be inspired by a vision of what our children can be. They will labor with joy and with a sense of calling on their life more than from feelings of obligation and duty. Our Curriculum Preschool He Established a Testimony He Has Spoken by His Son K5 Jesus, What a Savior! 1st and 2nd Grade Faithful to All His Promises 3rd and 4th Grade To Be Like Jesus 5th Grade How Majestic is Your Name Parenting Resource Page
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