Akangjungla
With over three decades of working and acquiring knowledge on children ministry, Dale Hudson observes that ‘Children are like wet cement. But remember, we only have a short window of time until the wet cement turns to concrete.’ The author, speaker and ministry leader underlines on the need to ‘impress God’s word, wisdom and ways into their lives while we have the opportunity.’ When it comes to children development, Hudson draws attention on the aspects of ‘time’ and ‘opportunity’ or in other words, ‘being intentional.’
As the curtains came down on the celebration of the 150 years of Christianity in Nagaland (Sesquicentennial) on Sunday, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council appreciably adopted a 10-point commitment resolution. The thousands who had converged to join the Sesquicentennial celebration under the theme ‘His Story’ at the NBCC Convention Centre in the State’s capital, Kohima on November 19 and 20, 2022, agreed to the 10-point commitment by way of raising hands.
The 10-point Commitment is designed for ‘envisioning a future that honours God and serves towards extending His kingdom, we solemnly resolve’ and it ranges from standing true to the apostolic faith, strengthening the family unit, to reinforce Great Commission, uphold gender equality, inclusivity of people with disabilities, to work for greater unity.
Among others, the resolution ‘to implement intentional Children and Youth ministries in and through the church, taking serious note of the alarming signs and dangers of the pervasive culture that does not promote biblical principles’ implies the target of the church body to be upfront and target oriented about what it wants to achieve. The realisation for the church to be more present and ‘intentional’ about the Children and Youth ministries is perhaps, the ray of hope that families and the communities have been yearning for. And the hope continues that the goal to ‘implement intentional Children and Youth ministries’ is guided by a clear purpose, structure, and mindset so that the process is not just activity oriented but transformative and meaningful.
While both the Children and Youth ministries can progress in parallel tracks, it would also necessitate the consideration of the fact that the first level of interaction, intervention and development happens at the child stage. Hence, an important precondition would be for the local churches to be ‘intentional’ about children ministry, recognizing the genuineness that children ministry is not only important but beneficial. In the words of George Muller, ‘The power for good or evil that resides in a little child is great beyond all human calculation. A child rightly trained may be a world-wide blessing, with an influence reaching onward to eternal years. But a neglected or misdirected child may live to blight and blast mankind, and leave influences of evil which shall roll on in increasing volume till they plunge into the gulf of eternal perdition.’
Unless the leaders of the church are driven by the unshakeable determination to be action-oriented to bring a shift in the way the children ministry is understood, the ‘alarming signs and dangers of the pervasive culture’ will continue to grind many more generations. If the church is committing to be ‘intentional,’ it has to start by learning to consciously choose the most strategic ministry within its frame.
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