Children's Ministry
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." — Matthew 19:14
Growing Little Disciples
Nurturing Faith from the Very First Sabbath
Children's Ministry at Makeni Central exists to make sure every child, from the newest baby carried into church to the busy twelve-year-old on the edge of the teen years, has a place where the gospel is taught in a way they can understand and hold onto for life. It is here, long before a young person joins Adventurers or Pathfinders, that the seeds of faith are first planted.
Every Sabbath, our children's Sabbath School divisions run alongside the main service, led by trained, background-checked teachers who prepare lessons, songs, and activities suited to each age group. Parents are always welcome to stay, and every class is built on the same conviction: children are not the church of tomorrow — they are full members of the church today.
What Every Child Learns Here
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6
Our Sabbath School Divisions
From the cradle roll to the junior years, every child has a class built around how they learn and grow.
Stories from Our Classrooms
A few moments from our own Children's Ministry family here at Makeni Central.
Jesus Loves Me, Even in Arms
Every week, a handful of parents settle onto the mat with their babies and toddlers, clapping along to simple songs about Jesus' love. Long before these little ones can say a full sentence, they are already learning to associate church with warmth, singing, and gentle hands.
Noah's Ark, Cardboard and All
Our kindergarten teacher built a cardboard ark and let the children take turns being the animals walking in two by two. Weeks later, parents still hear their five-year-olds retelling the story unprompted at home — proof that a lesson acted out is a lesson remembered.
Coins for a Mission Field They'll Never See
When the Primary class learned about a mission project overseas, they started a jar for spare coins right there in the classroom. By the end of the quarter they had gathered enough to make a real difference — and learned that giving isn't just for grown-ups.
Asking the Hard Questions Out Loud
Our Juniors are old enough to wonder "why" — why bad things happen, why the Sabbath matters, why they should believe. Rather than brushing those questions aside, their teacher opens the floor every week, walking through Scripture together until the answers make sense to them, not just to the adults.
A Week That Filled the Whole Hall
Last school holiday, our Vacation Bible School brought in children from well beyond our own congregation — neighbours, cousins, classmates — for a week of games, crafts, and Bible stories. Several families who first walked in for VBS are still with us on Sabbath mornings.
The Sabbath Every Class Shares
Once a quarter, every division — Cradle Roll through Juniors — joins the main congregation for a Family Sabbath program, where the children themselves lead a song, a reading, or a short item. It's a small reminder that they belong to the whole church family, not a room tucked away from it.
What Children's Ministry Does
Sabbath School Classes
Weekly age-graded Bible lessons, songs, and memory verses every Sabbath morning.
Vacation Bible School
A holiday program of games, crafts, and Bible stories that welcomes the wider community.
Family Involvement
Parents and guardians are welcomed into every class — faith formation as a shared journey.
Service Projects
Age-appropriate giving and outreach that teaches children faith is lived, not just heard.