Discipleship of Kids, Youth and New Believers

Discipleship is at the heart of God’s redemptive plan. Jesus calls, “Follow me,” and the Church responds by helping one another grow into maturity in Christ. As Paul writes, we proclaim Christ “so that we may present everyone fully mature in Him” (Colossians 1:28).

One aspect is the formal learning and passing of the faith across the church. We seek to be faithful, relational, and centred in Christ and grow in love, character, and fruitfulness together in a life shaped by the Triune God. Formal teaching grounds the church in the faith passed down through witness of Tradition and Scripture in how we know God, how we cultivate our love for God, and how live lives in light of this.

Form

Discernment Overview

1. Join in communal life and worship:

Are you rooted in relationships with others in the community?
Are you rooted in the worship life of the church?
Participation in gathered worship forms the foundation of all service. Before we serve, we receive.
For children: their participation begins simply by being present—singing, praying, and watching alongside the congregation. When they serve (e.g., reading Scripture), it is an extension of the worship they are already learning to inhabit. Parents and mentors help guide this rootedness.

2. Prayerful Reflection:

Have you prayed and reflected about this invitation to serve? Is there peace, joy, or a persistent sense of call? Take time to seek the Spirit’s leading before committing.
Consider your season of Life What is your current capacity and season? Consider rest, family, work, and health. Our “yes” should be faithful, not forced.
Consider your Gifts and Strengths Where do others see you flourish? Serving should draw on how God has made you, your personality, passions, and patterns of grace.
For children: discernment is shared. Parents pray with their children, noticing both eagerness and hesitation, and discerning together whether a child is ready to step into a role of service for a season.

3. Walking and Listening Together:

Are you aligned with what we confess as God’s vision and way of life? In particular ff you are considering a season to serve as a ministry team lead, have you been received the broader body of Christ in baptism and are you committed to this particular community in love?
Speak with a deacon or elder. We discern together. Conversation and community help us know when and how to step in.
Observe, shadow, or serve in a support role first? Humble beginnings help us grow into sustainable ministry with joy and maturity.
For children: walking together includes both family and church. Parents, elders, and deacons accompany children in discernment, helping them take first steps in ways that are simple and joyful. A child might begin by reading Scripture, lighting candles, or joining a parent in serving.

4. Rhythms of Serving:

Are you open to a seasonal commitment (e.g., 4 months)? Serving in seasons allows space for rest, renewal, and responsiveness to life’s changes.
For children: seasonal rhythms matter too. A child might serve once every two months for a school year, then rest in summer. These short seasons help them learn that service is part of the worshipping life, but never a burden.

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