Let the Children come
Holy Spirit Creates a Church
Sometimes you can feel something changing before you can explain it.
A sailor feels the wind shift and adjusts the sails before the storm clouds ever appear. And sometimes, in the life of faith, we sense the Spirit moving that way too.
Jesus told Nicodemus,
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
(John 3:8)
Over the past several weeks at First Baptist Church, many of us have sensed that wind stirring among us.
Something deeper than sentiment and nostalgia was present on Children’s Sunday, as children led in worship and we sang together: “Let the children come, be welcome…”
On Ascension Sunday, as we recognized our high school graduates, we were reminded that it is never too soon — or too late — to respond to God in faith and become the people God created us to be.
Then on Pentecost, we celebrated the baptism of a child and were reminded that the church is always receiving and forming faith forward.
Pentecost tells the story of the Spirit rushing into a fearful and uncertain community and creating something new. The Spirit was poured out not only upon religious leaders or spiritual experts, but upon ordinary people — sons and daughters, young and old alike.
The church was born when the Spirit gathered generations together into one living body.
A question now presses itself upon us:
What kind of church must we become
if children and young families are truly to flourish among us?
But ultimately, that is not just a question about children.
It is a question about who we are becoming together.
Will we become a congregation where generations genuinely belong to one another?
Where faith is shared naturally and joyfully?
Where children are not interruptions to ministry, but part of the very life of Christ among us?
The future of the church will not be secured merely by better programs, staffing, or strategy.
The future of the church rests in the Spirit of God —
the Spirit who still creates,
still renews,
still gathers ordinary people into the body of Christ.
The invitation before us now is not simply to have more children in church.
It is to become a church where all of us — young and old alike — are continually being formed into the people of God together.
Reflection: What helps create a church where children and young families truly flourish?
We would love to hear from you. Please use our contact page to share your thoughts or reflections.