Several years ago, a mom called and wanted the names of her child’s Bible school teachers. Oh, oh. What happened on Sunday? Turns out, on the way home from church that morning, her child asked what it meant to be a Christian, and how he could become one. This mom was sure that both College Church and her son’s Kids’ Harbor teachers were instrumental in preparing her child’s heart for God’s truth and for planting the seed of the gospel.

I’ve often thought that children’s ministry is similar to gardening. And as every good gardener knows, preparing the soil is crucial if you want to produce anything from roses to tomatoes to pumpkins. Just ask my daughter-in-law, one of the best gardeners I know.

I like to think that soil preparation begins in, appropriately enough, the nursery, where these young children have their first experience of church. There they are cared for and ministered to, and what is communicated to these sweet babies is that they are loved and accepted and valued by God and his people. (And if you stop by the church during the week with your sweet babies the same thing will be communicated.)

From the nursery, these now walking, talking young children with their distinct little personalities enter the preschool department, and soil prep digs a little deeper. In preschool the children learn that Jesus loves them, and that the Bible is God’s special book. Our goal is to encourage attitudes of love and reverence for God, his book and his house (and not to race down the ramp or climb on the railing).

Next is seed-planting time. In the elementary Bible school classes children are exposed to biblical truths such as the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. They learn that we are all sinners, separated from God, under his wrath, deserving punishment. But then the glorious truth of the gospel breaks in, as they begin to comprehend that Jesus came to die to take our punishment and our sin upon himself.

In God’s timing, the seed sprouts new life. The Holy Spirit takes the love, nurture and teaching that children receive both in the home and at church and uses it to bring children to the point of committing their lives to Jesus as Savior and Lord.

And the plants begin to blossom and grow. The children continue to be nurtured and taught in the home by their parents and at church by loving, godly leaders. They are challenged to grow in their faith, in the love and knowledge of the Lord, and in their obedience to him. They learn what it means to serve him with their lives.

Kids' Harbor exists to partner with parents to nurture, teach, and equip children to know, love and serve Jesus. We long for this ministry to produce a church that is deeply rooted and grounded in Christ and his Word. Our dream is that someday there will be a waiting list of volunteers wanting to serve in children’s ministries because the importance of this work is recognized.

The soil of many hearts is awaiting a gardener’s touch and care. And we still have classes waiting for adults to help grow our garden of young lives. You are welcome to join us in the field of children’s ministry alongside the Master Gardener and sow for the future. Pray as a new season is beginning.