Nazarene Theological Seminary

At the end of our time here in January, we have the privilege of participating in the District Children´s and Youth Camps for the Central District of Paraguay.  It is interesting how some things are the same no matter where you are, and how some aspects of Children´s Camp were similar to things you would see in the States.  There were fun games, silly leaders, singing, a bonfire, teams, crafts, friendships made, and great food… things that children enjoy in every country and in every language. 

During the camp the children also participated in times of worship; pastors from the District preached, along with my husband (who preached in Spanish for the first time!), and did an excellent job portraying the life of David and the way that he strove to walk with God throughout his life.  The pastors did their best to involve the children by asking questions, getting their help to figure out how tall Goliath was and how much his armor weighed, and using images and props; however, I noticed that the children had difficulty paying attention, participating, and staying awake.  While some may attribute this to lack of sleep, being surrounded by friends, and perhaps even boredom, I think it is much deeper than that.  I am not saying that those things to have an effect on a child, or any person for that matter, but is it not more than that? 

What do we expect out of our children? (I use “our” in the sense of the children in the Church who we all commit to raise and bring up.)  Once a year, during Children´s Camps and perhaps more often during Family Worship times, we purposely think about children in our times of corporate worship.  But, what about all those other Sundays and times when the Church comes together?  Are the children of our churches the last ones we think about, since they are not high on our “need to please” list?  Or do we simply relegate that role to someone else, thinking that “Children´s Ministry” is the role of only a select few.  Perhaps I am being a bit harsh, because I know that children are important to the Church and to pastors… but often this seems more like words than action to me.  In the time that I have spent in ministry with children, both here and in the States, I have been surprised time and again at the gifts that children are able to bring to the people of God.  So often we assume that children can only do certain things, and we limit not only their current abilities but their ability for growth and development with the Church.  And, instead of teaching them what it means to be a part of the Church and giving them an opportunity to participate with the whole church, we allow and even encourage them to leave, and go to a place where they can play and not distract others. 

The Church of the Nazarene has been here in Paraguay for a little over 50 years and is currently struggling with a lack of leadership, both pastorally and within the local churches.  Could this be, in part, due to a lack of emphasis on the raising up of children within the Church over the years?  I have heard pastors say both here and in the US, when asked if children are important in their church, that of course children are important, they are the future of the Church!  Do they subconsciously mean that in the future these children will be important?  Do children have any value and importance in the Church, the body of Christ, now?  How do we, as those who are committing to pastor and be a shepherd to the people of God in our local communities, see children, not in words but in practice?