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Despite limited resources and even less space, two Texas church plants are centering their evangelism and outreach strategies around children as a means for reaching families with the gospel. The strategy, the planters say, is crucial in building a healthy church.
Currently in its pre-launch stage, Revolution Church in McKinney averages 35 people who gather on Sundays in the home of church planter Randy Moore.
“RevKids is devoted to helping our kids establish a foundation in the Word of God,” Moore wrote on the church’s website.
“Our goal is to come alongside your family to help your children learn what it means to love God with all their hearts and love others as themselves,” he said, citing Deuteronomy 6:5-9. “RevKids is more than just a children’s ministry; we consider ourselves a family ministry. We believe that where there are healthy families, you’ll find healthy children.”
Moore told the TEXAN, “If you are reaching kids, their parents will return. We specifically target kids for all of our outreach events,” he explained. Four children have responded to the gospel since families began gathering in February.
An 8-year-old neighbor who accepted an invitation later brought her two sisters and eventually the three of them brought their father. “God has used this sweet little girl to reach the rest of her family,” Moore said.
“If the child asks their parent everyday if it is Sunday, the likelihood of a returning guest is dramatically improved.”
Stonelake Church, a nearly three-year-old church plant in Cleburne, has also seen families come to Christ through its children’s evangelism emphasis. Pastored by Chris Williams, the church averages 130 in attendance. The pastor’s wife, Amber, has directed the children’s ministry for several years.
“We just recently baptized a man who started coming because his girls came,” Amber Williams said. “The girls’ grandfather brought them, and they attended regularly for a year or so. Then their father started coming about three or four months ago. He accepted Christ and was baptized on Father’s Day. There were three men who were baptized that day. I can’t think of a better way to witness to their children than to see fathers show outwardly who they serve.”
Mostly younger families between the ages of 25-45, Williams said Stonelake ministers to about 40-50 children from birth to 5th grade each week. Like Revolution Church, many of the families have not attended a church in years if ever.
When the plant began to research their community in the pre-launch stage, they discovered that families were looking for a dynamic children’s ministry. Children’s evangelism became a vital part of Stonelake’s church planting strategy.
To that end, Stonelake provides a program called Adventure Kids during the worship hour for birth through 5th grade. Lessons are video-based and include interactive games and activities. Children’s ministry volunteers rotate on a two-week schedule, she said.
“We are reaching younger families and the parents want to know their children are well taken care of and are learning how to grow in their relationship with God,” Williams said. “At the same time children want to have fun.” The church has also hosted drive-in movies, play days at the water park, and a VBS-type program called Adventure Week.
“You want your children’s area to be inviting but when you are portable and have to tear down every week that can pose a challenge. You get creative in making classrooms. We used decorative fences and tents. The kids love the tents because it created an outdoor atmosphere and the fences helped keep the babies and toddlers in one area,” she said.
Beyond space restrictions, Williams said recruiting and training volunteers has been challenging as well.
“During our first year, we spent time building our children’s workers,” Williams said. “Several of them started by loving on the babies and toddlers. We have been blessed with amazing workers who have gone beyond the call of duty.”
Despite the challenges, Williams said Stonelake would continue to invest heavily in children.
“We are reaching out to the kids, but at the same time we are reaching the parents. We want to minister to the whole family, not just to the children or the parents,” she added.
