children in the worship service
“Children are a heritage from the Lord. – Psalm 127:3”
Our Ministry to the Body – Calvary Chapel of Corvallis exists to worship God in spirit and in truth, to edify and build up the body of believers, and to spread the gospel to a lost and dying world. We want this to be true of every age level that God brings to Calvary Chapel. We firmly believe that children can best be ministered to at their own level amongst their peers. As a result distractions in the adult service are minimized and those present can be more attentive to the work the Holy Spirit desires to accomplish in their hearts and minds. For this reason, we have earnestly tried to provide settings that will minister to and bless your entire family, as well as the entire body of Christ.
Our Ministry to Young Children and Parents – Here at Calvary Chapel of Corvallis, we believe that children are a heritage from the Lord not just in the context of the family, but also in the context of the church itself. That is why we have more than 100 individuals dedicated to the ministry to children from birth to 12 years of age. We also have a full time Children’s and Family Pastor who oversees Sunday School, Wednesday evening classes, vacation Bible school, the Harvest Carnival outreach in October, the Christmas Program, and various other ministries to children and families. We do not consider the children’s classes to be simply “child care”, but believe that children can, and do understand spiritual truths from a very young age. From the time the children learn to walk we teach them scriptural truths and worship songs. They are taught to pray and to memorize scripture, and are challenged to apply what they are learning in their lives. Our teachers are men and women who love children and genuinely desire to reveal and model the person of Jesus. They know that if they can do that, the children will naturally be drawn to Him.
We recognize that there will be circumstances in which parents choose not to take advantage of the Children’s Ministry. There may be times when a child needs the security of staying with their parent, or some other circumstance where, in the judgment of the parents, it is best to keep the child with them. For children over the age of three, we ask only that parents be sensitive and ensure that their children do not become a distraction to others around them. As an alternative, parents can take advantage of the Family Room where the teaching can be viewed on closed circuit TV.
Our Ministry to Infants and Parents – Small children under the age of 3 present particular challenges due to the style and length of our worship service. For over nine years now we have not allowed infants in the sanctuary during the teaching. While this has been a difficult issue for some families, we have prayerfully considered the impact of this policy on both families, and the congregation in general, and firmly believe that this policy is the best for the body. Children vary widely in their temperaments and parents vary widely in their parenting style. Since it can be very distracting to have infants in the sanctuary during the teaching, it is our policy to ask parents to take advantage of our Nursery, or if they would prefer, the Family Room. In the Nursery, the child can be left with caring, sensitive “moms”. As an alternative, a parent or parents can sit with their young children in the rear of the Sanctuary during worship and then go into the Family Room where the teaching can be viewed on closed circuit TV. Although still part of the service, there is more freedom here to accommodate the needs of young children.
One other important thing; we also ask that in consideration of all the children and parents, sick children should be kept at home. Please do not bring sick children into either the Children’s Ministry classes or the Family Room.
If you have questions about our policy, or want to know more about your child’s specific teacher or class, please call the church office at 752-2851 and talk with Pastor Sean Buckout, our Children’s and Family Pastor. It is our strong desire to bless you and your children while providing an environment in which the Holy Spirit has free reign to accomplish His work in each child or adult that comes through these doors.
