It was said that D.L. Moody had come back from a tent revival meeting where he reported that 2 1/2 people were saved. Whoever he was talking to replied, “You mean, two adults and one child?” D.L. Moody responded, “No, two children and one adult. When you save a child, you save a life—a whole life.”
Here at Ocean View Baptist Church, we believe that children are a blessing from the Lord and with these blessings also come responsibilities. As stewards of God’s children, parents are responsible for helping children grow physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. Churches have a responsibility toward children, too. We want to provide an environment in which children are safe, are taught at an age-appropriate level, and are encouraged to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.
While Jesus was on earth, children were a priority. The disciples didn’t think it should be, but Jesus did. Matt. 19:14. He made a point to welcome children and to affirm their value. He made time to minister to children. He even talked about punishment for anyone who would abuse a child. Matthew 18:6-10. We believe that reaching Children should be one of the top priorities of every local church. Kids need a solid spiritual foundation for their life and that is our goal. Children’s Ministry is not childcare, it is a ministry at the most critical time in a person’s life. It has been said that children are the greatest mission field. Stats show that 85% of people who come to Christ do so before the age of 18. We must invest our time and resources where we will see the biggest harvest.