World Impact is committed to empowering urban leaders. When leaders are empowered, they in turn empower those around them and the Church in the city flourishes and grows. A prime example of this empowerment cycle played out after the last Evangel School of Urban Church Planting in California when a local church decided to make a small change that made a big impact.
The leadership team of EPIC LA chose to invest more heavily in its children’s ministry. Previously, children at EPIC spent Sundays in a room separate from their parents, where they heard a story from the Bible but mostly kept busy watching Bible movies or playing together. After attending Evangel, one family sensed the call to become more involved in the children’s ministry.
Brian and Jennifer Farrell explored curriculum and were eager to see what could happen if children were equipped with a strong gospel foundation at an early age. Together they created a more structured program that includes Bible lessons, crafts, memory verses, awards, and a themed Vacation Bible School.
Families are being strengthened and encouraged through the intentional focus of growing godly kids. Church attendance has increased, there are more parent volunteers in the children’s ministry, and parents are more active in teaching their own children the ways of the Lord at home. One young mother, inspired by her children’s interest in God’s Word, now leads Bible studies at home for her three young children.
The church service itself has transformed as well. EPIC Kids are now more involved with “big church” so they can witness their parents modeling worship through music. They even sang a special number on Christmas Eve and waved palm branches on Palm Sunday. Children’s sermons are incorporated into the main church service on a regular basis, and children have the opportunity to recite their memory verses.
EPIC LA is a family church where everyone—including children—can learn about God. The church body learned from their Evangel training and decided to pour more into the hearts of children and prepare them to be Christ followers. As they continue, God is revitalizing the hearts of the grown-ups, too.
Have you read our August 2017 Bulletin? Check it out now!
