MINISTRY NEWS from FINLAND
Kids ministry is a great challenge for us in our house church approach. Parents are the most important persons for the spiritual growth of their kids. But parents are waiting, at least in Finland, that some one else would do that spiritual training for their kids. Usually, church is expected to do that. Regardless of the church model, I believe that church should help parents do their job of providing spiritual nurture to their kids.
We have had a joint effort with two other churches to have a children’s camp (age 7-13) during the summer 2007. There were 7 of our kids with a total attendance of 60.
We as a church challenged our families to attend the New Wine Conference - a conference that is done for families and provides a good program for kids from age 3 to 18. Attendance from our church was around 35. Total attendance was around 800.
We have Lunch Box for Life, a ministry for the kids around 15 years old. During the past year 7 attended. The basic idea is that spiritual parents are sharing their life experience with kids. Teaching includes handling money, power, sex, God, friendships, being a disciple etc. The 7 who participated received so much from the week they spent together. Some new friendships started and it was also spiritually refreshing time for all of them. Three of the kids are now involved in leading a Youth Link (house church). At the moment there are two Youth Links.
In September we had a family camp together with two other house churches. Total attendance was 55.
At the moment I have a problem to find a person who could take over the whole Kids Ministry for the Link Church. Please, pray for that.
Tapio Satilo
Overseer, Finland
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Baptism in Finland |