For the past 2 days, I have posted reasons we have chosen not to offer a nursery or children’s church at Providence.  This is simply an attempt to answer the “strange looks” that I get when I am asked if we have these programs.  If you have not read the first 2 reasons, please do so before reading below.

Reason 3:

            The third reason we do not have a nursery or children’s church at Providence may seem less spiritual, but it is a reason nonetheless.  I have never been a part of a church that had more volunteers for nursery and children’s church than we needed.  It was always like pulling teeth to try to find someone to work in these areas.  That usually meant that the same 2 or 3 people always did the work which meant that those 2 or 3 people seldom if ever experienced corporate worship and the preaching of the word.  It was their “ministry” and their “sacrifice” and it is really unfair and unnecessary in my view.  What is even scarier is that it often seemed that those 2 or 3 people who made it their full time ministry to be in the nursery and children’s church were perfectly content to seldom if ever worship corporately or sit under the preaching of the Word. 

            So, at Providence, we have speakers in the side rooms out of the two exits.  If the little ones can’t sit still for the hour and a half long service they can be taken into a side room by their mother or father and be taught to sit still...by their mother or father.  And because of modern technology, they can hear the sermon through the speakers and not miss much at all while taking opportunity to train their little ones to sit still.  

           I know what you are thinking.  Sit still?  My 2 year old would never sit still.  You would be surprised how quickly most little ones learn to sit through the service.  If they are practicing at home by sitting still while mom or dad reads or teaches etc. and are brought into the service week after week, they learn really fast.  Now, I am not saying that there are not times when 2 or 3 little ones become a challenge all at the same time during a service.  It happens periodically.  We deal with it.  We survive.  And it doesn’t happen often.  We have found that it is easier and more beneficial to leave the responsibility of the children during the service to their parents.  

           Again, I know what you are thinking.  What about the single mom who shows up with 2 or 3 kids.  How does she juggle the kids alone.  Well, that is where we are thankful for older teenage girls in our congregation who aren't separated into a youth service!  These young ladies have a great opportunity to minister to those who come into our congregation by simply sitting with the older children and helping during the service if necessary.  That is a ministry, it is organic, and get this…we don’t need a nominating committee!  It is just simpler this way.  But that is not all.  The most important and significant reason is still to come!  Tune back in tomorrow.