What Is a Family Integrated Church?
We are one!! Victory has been from the very beginning in most ways so let me explain what's going to change.
When we look at the 1st century Christian Church, we see it's beginnings in homes. They worshiped together, studied together, and ate together in their homes. The entire family was involved: adults teaching each other and their children. I'm sure they didn't send the kids off to have their own worship service, their own study or their own meal. They were together!
Later on we see the church meeting corporately in larger buildings. They all worshiped together, studied together, and ate together. Again, there is no mention of the children doing their thing separately. It hasn't been until the latter part of 20th century that we've moved kids out to do their own thing. Prior to that there wasn't a nursery; infants, toddlers and school age children stayed with their parents.
Why the change? In America we became use to someone else taking care of our children; daycare, preschool, after school programs, TV and many other "babysitters." Leadership in the American Church decided that if the Church was to compete with the world we needed to adopt some things of the world . . . so we did. In my opinion it wasn't inherently bad just not helpful. So, here at Victory we're going to be rolling things back.
Beginning Sunday October 4th we will be bringing our kids back into the worship service! No longer will they be separated from the adults. We will no longer be having children's church or nursery care during the worship service. I know you're thinking "What about disruptive children?" I think you'll find there will be very little of that. But if one does get out of hand there is a room set up with a speaker for the parent(s) to take the child to and still listen to the service until the child quiets down. Or the parent can take the child to the rear of the worship room and quietly entertain them and still be part of the service. But I think you will find that our kids are well behaved. We will continue to have "worship bags" with coloring pages, stories, etc. that will help. I realize this is a bold step but I think it's a step in the right direction . . . time will tell.
Again, I look forward to seeing those young bright smiling faces in service, I hope you do too!
In Christ always,
Pastor John
