A Vision for Children's Ministry (by Luis Espino)

Deut 6:5-7: 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Deut 4:9: 9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children—

Acts 20:28: 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

As you can see, scripture is very clear in the role parents must have in raising up children in the Truth of the Lord. It is equally shown that the church must care for the flock the Lord has entrusted to it. Deuteronomy stresses the covenant responsibility of parents for their children and Acts 20:28 is asking the church to “Pay Careful Attention” to the flock and the church of God.

It is God’s desire for parents and the church to partner in raising a Holy and God-fearing generation.

As I was asked to come on staff here at Copperhill Community Church the above scripture filled my mind and my heart for the direction in which to pastor this ministry. It is clear while reading the above verses that it is God’s desire to see parents trained in how to parent, disciple, and lead their children in the Truth of scripture; that parents would use every moment as an opportunity to teach their children in the ways of the Lord.

God has also made it clear that the Church is to partner with parents in accomplishing this very task. Therefore, where there are parents, we are to teach, assist, encourage, and partner in order to equip you to do the work of the ministry. Where a parent may not be present, we are to minister accordingly.

Over the next couple of months, my main focus is to completely restructure our family ministries. Alongside of me, you will see the elders at Copperhill taking a more central role in Family Ministry. We are anticipating that these changes will lead to more effective ministry here at Copperhill.

That being clear, WE the core of Copperhill Community Church both parent and non-parent have a job to do. We need to be devoted to teaching and leading the children/youth of this church in all the ways of the Lord.

It is my prayer that as you read the word of God above that our minds would be renewed (Rom 12:2). It is also my prayer that it would pierce our souls to understand that the way we shepherd the flock the Lord has entrusted us with will have eternal consequences. What a great gift the Lord has given us to serve and Love Him in our obedience to His word as we raise a Holy and God-Fearing generation!

One of the ways we can partner together is for you to participate in our Children’s Ministry on Sunday Mornings. We are currently in need of 60+ additional volunteers in order to have an appropriate adult to child ratio for each class. If would like to volunteer in our Children’s Ministry, please click here and select “Children’s Ministry.” Please call me at 661.775.9598 or email me at lespino@copperhillchurch.org if you have any questions.

Thank you for partnering with us!