Children's Ministry Makes a Lifetime of Difference

The Barna Research Group, an independent marketing research company, indicated in a study that adults who attended church as children show lifelong effects.The study states that roughly six out of ten adults who regularly attended a Christian Church as a child still attend regularly today.Yet a large majority of those who were not church-goers as children are still absent from churches today (78%).The study also found that, “adults who attended church as a child are twice as likely to read the Bible during a typical week as are those who avoided churches when young; twice as likely to attend a church worship service in a typical week; and nearly 50% more likely to pray to God during a typical week.”

This study proves that church can make a difference.Bringing children to church will impact their choices and life-styles for the rest of their lives.What we teach our children now will shape who they are in the future. Grace United Methodist Church offers many programs and events that can change the lives of the children around you forever. There is nothing more important in our church than our Children’s Ministry.

As many of you heard at the Children’s Ministry Open House last month the children’s ministry area is undergoing some changes.Our Sunday School is very different than it has been in the past. The new material is in a rotation format that allows the children to rotate to different classes to study a particular topic.This allows many different people in the church to use their spiritual gifts to serve the children for short-term commitments. You can commit to help for as little as two weeks and as many as 12 weeks. new children’s area is a beautiful and wonderful space for our children to learn about God.If you would like to help please contact Pastor Chris or Gerry Smith, chairperson of the children’s ministry task force.

Our Junior Church leaders are all very loving, gentle, and dedicated people who care about each child who joins the relevant worship experience for children during the worship hour.Children’s Church would always welcome your help, please contact Renee Roberts if you are interested.

This Fall there are going to be other opportunities for the families of our community.Marriage enrichment sessions will be held at The Marketplace (on Sycamore) in downtown Kokomo each Tuesday evening in September.This study is for everyone, not just for young couples or those engaged to be married.It is never too late to improve your relationship.These sessions will be lead by Pastor Chris and Renee Roberts.Childcare will be provided at the church.

Trunk-or-Treat is back for another year.Last year we served nearly 350 children in our community.This is another event in which everyone in the church can participate.All you have to do is buy some candy and park your car in the church lot. Adriene Riggle if you are willing to pass out candy during the Trick-or-Treating hours in Kokomo.

The children will meet on Sunday evenings this Fall during Grace Night Out and for the Graceful Arts program. The children will have time for games, music, and learning.Randy Manning is organizing the Graceful Arts program and Jayna Beutler is helping the Evangelism Ministry Team with Grace Night Out for children. More information about dates and times will be printed in the bulletin.
Other events are being planned so stay tuned.

At Grace United Methodist Church we are all growing as God’s children.Let’s all do our part to welcome young families and children into our faith community.It will make a lifetime of difference!