Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, where David Michael serves as family pastor, recently updated their youth baptism information brochure and process. As part of that revision, they have provided a link to an explanation paper written by Scott Holman, a friend and fellow Sojourner, and myself. Bethlehem is a model church and a mentor to Sojourn in many ways. It is humbling that something we have been part of writing has been used and highlighted by a mentor church body that we respect very much. May the Lord be glorified in our efforts, and in the lives of the children and families who are part of this process at both Bethlehem and Sojourn.
Ask Class: For Kids & Parents with Questions about Salvation & Baptism
Sojourn’s Student and Family Ministry is offering class for children and their parents called “Ask Class: For Kids & Parents with Questions about Salvation & Baptism.” The goal is to answer the questions of kids and their parents who are seeking to understand the gospel, salvation, baptism, and assurance. We want to partner with parents, who have been commanded to teach their kids about God. The class will be led by Pastors Jared Kennedy and Gary Almon. Our hope is that this class will be a catalyst for more gospel conversations between parents and their children. The two-week class is on March 21st & 28th during the 11:00 AM service at the Midtown Campus, The 930 Art Center, on the third floor. The first session will cover issues related to Jesus and salvation. The second session will cover issues related to baptism and assurance. Continue Reading…
“First Step” Children’s Discipleship Classes
Doug Wolter and the guys at LaGrange Baptist offer a discipleship class for children and their parents yearly called “First Step.” The goal is to partner with parents in their God-given role as faith nurturers in the home. To that end this class aims to be a catalyst for more gospel conversations between the parent and child outside of class. We’ll be doing something similar here at Sojourn on March 21st & 28th during the 11:00 AM service. We’re calling our version the “Ask Class: For Parents & Kids with Questions about Salvation & Baptism.” I’m finding Doug’s class to be really helpful as Pastor Gary and I prepare for our own.
The LaGrange Baptist First Step classes can be streamed or downloaded here:
Part 1: Salvation
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Part 2: Assurance and Baptism
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- You can also check out this document Doug wrote entitled: Preparing Your Child for Baptism
- You can also see Sojourn’s policy and process for Childhood Baptism and Conversion.
HT: Doug Wolter
Kenny Conley: A Children’s Pastor Wrestles with Theology and Practice
Kenny Conley’s website Children’s Ministry Online is fast becoming one of my favorite websites. Kenny has posted several really interesting series recently. He’s been exploring his own church’s policies on childhood baptism . He has offered thoughts on leading children to Christ, and he is now exploring the larger topic of childhood spiritual development I’ve listed some links below to what he has been posting.
Here is what I love about Kenny’s approach. As I read his blog, I have a kindred spirit. He is a passionate children’s minister who is wrestling with some of the most important questions that pastors in our field will face. Kenny is passionate about every child who wants to be baptized actually hearing the gospel and believing it before he or she is baptized. He wants to guard against children believing that baptism saves them. He takes seriously the warnings against causing little ones to stumble, and he is willing to re-think his church’s current practices in order to lead it to be more biblically faithful. Kenny wants to let his parents drive. He believes that the Scriptures show them to be a child’s primary faith trainers. Continue Reading…