Pacific Union Recorder

Pastors and lay people from six area churches came together in late April for three days of intensive instruction and small-group involvement in Kids in Discipleship training. “We do other discipleship programs,” said Alfredo Lee, SCC children’s ministry and Hispanic region director, “but we had not done discipleship programs for children. I believe this is a much needed program that involves teachers, parents, pastors and church members.”

“During the training, we learned that the crucial time for instilling our mission and leading children to Jesus is from ages 8 to 12,” said Luz Benitez, event coordinator. “Attendees learned some of the key reasons young people are not staying in the church: they face peer and media pressure at a time when both parents often need to work outside of the home. And when children cannot attend church school for any reason, and churches do not have discipling programs that help lead them to Christ, children become disengaged from the church.”

At the conclusion of the training, church groups formulated plans for implementing what they had learned, and shared brief presentations with the full group. After handing out certificates of completion, trainers and facilitators gathered attendees for a prayer of dedication.

“I can’t wait to share what I learned,” said Dennis Stirewalt, Camarillo church pastor. “My goal is to get the congregation involved in ‘transforming children into spiritual champions,’ which is the title of a book by well known author George Barna. We want to equip moms and dads to be the ones who help their children stay in relationship with Jesus. Even if children attend church school, parents are their children’s primary spiritual mentors.”

“I liked the concept of parents being the ones to lead their children into discipleship,” said Jaime Heras, pastor of the Glendale Spanish church, who planned to launch his program in August. To assist other Spanish churches in getting  involved, his church is translating the lessons into Spanish.

K.I.D. is a ministry developed by the Collegedale, Tenn., church that is dedicated to equipping parents to spiritually nurture their children to have personal relationships with Jesus Christ. For program details and information, visit www.kidsindiscipleship.org.