A question that caused some anxiety when we stopped meeting together formally was: What will happen to the children? At that time we had a vibrant children's work serving several age groups. We didn't have an answer apart from the feeling that some time off wouldn't do the children any harm. We had already chosen the rhythm of the academic calendar and six weeks without formal church in the summer had caused no issues. Biblically it is the responsibility of a parent to train their child about the way of faith although culturally we have become reliant on systems of schooling for much of our children's development including the realms faith.

A different approach

Later some of our number acknowledged their passion for youth work and five friends started a youth club for the teenagers from our community and for some of their friends. This hasn't happened in the same way for other age groups of children, although some families do get together intermittently for the purpose of their younger children meeting up and they, like the rest of us, gain from being part of a community that is united by a faith in Jesus. The children are often present at larger gatherings and benefit from a community where faith is talked about and exercised amongst families and friends, day by day, rather than being solely left to be dealt with on a Sunday morning.

An open Youth Club