Calvary Chapel Children’s Ministry Vision Statement

Here at Calvary Chapel Eastside we teach our children to understand the whole counsel of God.  Children need a God they can believe in.  David facing down the giant with a raggedy slingshot, Daniel sitting in the corner petting a cuddly lion and Noah leading cutesy animals two by two up the plank all make great bulletin board décor, but left without explanation, they become religious images void of power. Children need to understand the substance of a Bible story.  Noah trusted God when the whole world laughed at God.  David believed the promises of God covered even big, loud giants.  Daniel prayed openly to God in front of lots of mean people.  In each case, God proved to be reliable.

The Bible is full of stories about real people who overcame real problems by making right choices.  Making good choices will defeat bad circumstances.  We want to help our kids understand that lots of bad things will happen in this world, but their response will determine what quality of life they experience.  Their choices of right and wrong will make the difference, even when circumstances rise up against them.  We want to let kids know they don’t have to live under the dictatorship of circumstances.  There is power in making right choices.

Many kids in the Bible accomplished feats for God before they grew up.  Samuel served God in the temple.  A Jewish servant girl sent a military commander to a prophet to get healed of leprosy.  David dropped Goliath.  Josiah turned a nation back to God.  A boy donated fish and bread so Jesus could feed a crowd.  The only thing we know about Jesus between His birth and His baptism is that He had to be “about His Father’s business.”  All were kids.  Here at CCE we want to encourage kids to pray for others, share their faith, lead praise and worship and serve in the church.  We want them to be about their Father’s business, to be disciples of Jesus.

It is our objective to not only teach good values but to lead kids to an authentic relationship with God.   Life skills are vital and should be taught, but knowing God is better than having values.  When a storm hits, a solid relationship with the living Lord is stabilizing while values get shaken.  It is our knowledge of God that provides what we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:2-4).  We want to help kids to know God.  They will be drawn to whatever we focus on, so at CCE we choose to focus on God.  It is the knowledge of God that will impact their lives, by teaching them about God, His character, His promises, His plans.