In Kenya, children come to church, but are considered unable to be saved. Certainly, they do not have the mental capacity to understand something as deep as communion, some say. Only when they reach the youth group can they be expected to really take a meaningful role in the church and her ministries.
These are the prejudices that the Africa East Field Children's Ministries coordinators face regularly. So when they heard the following story, they were thrilled. This church is recognizing the potential in their children and they are investing in that potential.
On April 11, 2010, children at Woodley Sunday school took holy communion for the very first time in their young lives. The message was first passed on to the children in their Sunday school classes using the Word Action Young Believer's Discipleship Series, produced by Nazarene Publishing House. As usual, the children were ready to take into action every teaching that they were being taught. During their class discussion, some were wondering if they would be allowed to take communion this time, since they had never been invited to do this before.
Four months later, after the children’s communion classes, the teachers were asked to prepare their children for the communion. With excitement, one by one the children were led through prayer by Pastor Samuel Munyua as they took the elements.
The experience led to a number of reactions:
"I felt a change in me, a new desire to commit my life totally to God." -- Vivian
"Since we were taught that this is a serious time -- a time to talk with God asking Him to forgive us our sins -- I asked Him to forgive me any wrongs that I have done to my friends and family. He renewed my fellowship with Him; I was assured that He answered my prayer." -- Elizabeth
"Throughout the week after holy communion, any time I was about to do any harm to my friends, God reminded me of the fellowship I had in the church during holy communion." -- Daizy
"I felt bad that I did not take holy communion. Vivian told me about the Sunday fellowship. I repented privately... and wished I would have not missed coming to church." -- Sylvia
--Janet Achieng loves children. She is a local Sunday school teacher and the district Discipleship Ministries coordinator. She also is the assistant Children's Ministries coordinator for the Africa East Field. Janet started working with children when she was 14 years old.