By Karen Wilk
(First appeared in the CRC Source – Spring 2004)
Do you ever feel uneasy when the Lord’s Supper is celebrated without a child in sight? Ever reflect on Jesus’ calling children to come to him, receive His blessing and remain in the centre of His teaching?
Ten pastors in northern Alberta who call themselves “Joel’s Dream Team” get together every three weeks to address questions such as these, both theologically and practically, with the aid of a one-year Sustaining Pastoral Excellence grant.
The team’s name comes from Joel, the Old Testament prophet who proclaimed that our sons and daughters would prophecy, dream dreams, and see visions. This challenges even preaching pastors to ponder what the pouring out of God’s Spirit on both young and old might mean in light of our current segregated approach to children and youth ministries. If God speaks through young, as well as older voices, than how might all these voices be heard and addressed on a Sunday morning or a Friday night?
Although none of these questions have been answered conclusively, the team is raising awareness of the need for a more integrated approach to worship and ministry in their congregations and is beginning to experiment with what that might look like.
For example, Pastor John Luth at St. Albert CRC kept the children in the sanctuary for the first half of his sermon in order to include everyone in the proclamation of the Word.
At Ottewell CRC in Edmonton, Pastor Martin Mobach did a fully integrated service, with children and youth remaining for the whole time, at Christmas and played the part of a shepherd presenting the message as a first person narrative.
Both Covenant CRC and River Community Church in Edmonton included children in the Lord’s Supper celebration. They joined the circle of communion and received a personal blessing from the leaders when the elements were passed.
Pastor John Ooms of Inglewood CRC in Edmonton has been guiding his congregation to think carefully about the role a new youth pastor might take. Perhaps the need for someone to equip all ages for the work of ministry and to involve children and youth in the whole life of the church is more important than providing programs that place the care of youth beside rather then with the rest of the body.
Veteran youth pastors John Taekema and Rick Abma agree. They are excited about the opportunity to explore and discuss these issues with the lead pastors on the team. They have been building bridges in their churches by conducting intergenerational catechism classes, creating worship teams with children, youth and adults and offering learning and serving opportunities for the whole family of God. They said the high turnover and burnout rate among youth pastors is partly a result of children and youth ministries being treated as somehow outside the church’s life and ministry.
Making the transition to a more integrated approach to children and youth ministry is hard work. It starts by raising awareness.
Pastor Cecil Van Niejenhuis introduced his Council at First CRC, Edmonton to this perspective at a retreat where leaders looked at the age of their membership and were challenged to acknowledge and address the needs and views of all generations. Ottewell CRC has struck a Discipleship Task Force to look more closely at how to disciple from cradle to grave.
To help others also learn more, the team will be hosting a preacher’s conference, “That All May Hear,” in conjunction with the “Together: All God’s People” conference in their area in February.
Although the discussions and efforts of Joel’s Dream Team often seem to raise more questions than answers, participants are doing what they can, one step at a time, to make the prophet’s dream and the Pentecost promise a reality.
