How to start a simple church from scratch. Discover proven steps, practical tools, and biblical methods to build thriving faith communities in any setting.
Thanks for sharing your insights here! A question: what have you found to work well for kids and teens in these settings? How do you get them connected to other believers to form community and grow together?
Oh, and I forgot! Ice cream and birthday parties make them LOVE their faith family. One of my kids said, “I love simple church because EVERYBODY knows my birthday!”
We have found that children and teens have VERY little expectation for how they are integrated into these small settings! It’s usually the parents who are super-picky and concerned.
For children, we find that they do well with a portion of our gathering time, such as worship and testimony. Then we generally send them with a young girl disciple-maker (they are out there and excited, you just have to ask God to send them!)
Teens totally love being part of the adult meeting as long as they are included and expected to contribute. They don’t want to sit and listen to a 45-minute sermon, but our teaching time is interactive and the kids love it!
All of my kiddos have LOVED being integrated into adult faith family engagement; you just have to include them and treat them like part of the family. And then if they want to go to a larger youth group for more social engagement - there’s nothing wrong with that!
Is there an in between where you are still investing in large group but also getting that rich experience of simple church? We call that the gathered and scattered church. It is so amazing when you get the advantages of both. But unfortunate when we lose the richness for the gathering. Love that you shared this! I followed you!!
Thanks for sharing your insights here! A question: what have you found to work well for kids and teens in these settings? How do you get them connected to other believers to form community and grow together?
Oh, and I forgot! Ice cream and birthday parties make them LOVE their faith family. One of my kids said, “I love simple church because EVERYBODY knows my birthday!”
That’s another great question, Ethan.
We have found that children and teens have VERY little expectation for how they are integrated into these small settings! It’s usually the parents who are super-picky and concerned.
For children, we find that they do well with a portion of our gathering time, such as worship and testimony. Then we generally send them with a young girl disciple-maker (they are out there and excited, you just have to ask God to send them!)
Teens totally love being part of the adult meeting as long as they are included and expected to contribute. They don’t want to sit and listen to a 45-minute sermon, but our teaching time is interactive and the kids love it!
All of my kiddos have LOVED being integrated into adult faith family engagement; you just have to include them and treat them like part of the family. And then if they want to go to a larger youth group for more social engagement - there’s nothing wrong with that!
Holler if you want to get on a zoom!
I see home churches on the rise
That’s one of the things I spend a lot of time thinking about. Sustainable change.
That’s amazing, Food!
Did you continue after COVID? I’d love to know the longer term outcome of that group!
Is there an in between where you are still investing in large group but also getting that rich experience of simple church? We call that the gathered and scattered church. It is so amazing when you get the advantages of both. But unfortunate when we lose the richness for the gathering. Love that you shared this! I followed you!!