Kids Need Anchors Like You
My parents bought us one of these backyard trampolines when we moved to our home in 2020. It’s part of an array of gifts that make our backyard one of the most fun in the neighborhood.
But as I cut our grass yesterday, I was reminded that these things are kind of a pain—every time you mow the grass, you have to pull up the stakes, move the trampoline, and then drive them back into the ground when you’re done. But I do it because I’ve seen the videos of what happens to a trampoline that’s not properly staked down when the Iowa wind comes blustering in.
And it takes more than one stake. With just one or two in the ground, a storm can put so much strain on those stakes that the connecting straps break or the stakes themselves just wrench out of the ground.
Kids need multiple relationships with adults in their church community. Studies show that having at least one adult friend at church who is not a family member makes kids twice as likely to hold onto their faith when they finish high school.
Orbit is where this intergenerational discipleship happens. We have beautiful, generous, caring volunteers who meet with elementary kids on Sunday mornings to hear them, know them, and help them understand God’s Word. In the past, these leaders have made the profound sacrifice of showing up basically every Sunday from August through May. But in this pattern, these key leaders become disconnected from the church body because they’re not in Sunday services regularly.
This fall, God has given us a vision to grow the Elementary Orbit volunteer team so that nobody has to serve every week. If you’ve been on the verge of joining in regular ministry to children, this is a great time to take that step. Small group leaders in 2024-25 will serve two out of every three weeks, which means every leader will have at least one Sunday off each month to attend their regular service and participate in normal rhythms. We need more people on the team to make this happen.
Parents, grandparents, students, adults, lovers of kids, followers of Jesus, will you consider putting your hand to the task of discipling kids on a regular basis—being that faith-filled friend who proves to a young person that Jesus is real and alive, and makes a difference?
There’s room for everybody. Small-group volunteers are partners and guides, not teachers, so you don’t have to prepare or teach a lesson. We participate in training together each week and our returning volunteers bring a wealth of experience to empower newcomers. Anybody with a heart to do this, can do this.
If the Holy Spirit prompts your heart to be part of this movement, I want to answer your questions. Send me a message here, fill out the “I Want to Help” form on the website, email kids@ccames.org, call the office at 515-232-2765, or just show up at the church and talk to me.
Christ Community Church is an anchor of faith and truth for families God loves! Join the team and experience it first-hand.