I was sharing with a group of emerging children’s ministry
leaders from Baptist churches the other day.
One leader shared a heartwarming story of outreach in her
community. Grandmothers in her church
offer to open their homes once a week for a group called “Mums and Babies”. “Our husbands call it “Bums and Maybe’s” she said.
I know I have a wicked sense of humour. Is that why I love that name!
Young church members mums and their children (“bums” on
pews/ seat people) invite non-church mums and children (“maybe’s”) to a weekly
morning tea at a Grandma’s house. “We
start with morning tea, then one of the “bums”, oops mums shares a bible story
with everyone. Then the babies, toddler
and children go off with the host grandma and a couple of others who come to
support, often bringing their own grandchildren too, to respond to the story through crafts and
play. The mums have a discussion based
on the story. At the end there is a time
for prayer and lots of the “non-Christian” mums ask for prayer and report on
how their prayers have been answered!”
What a wonderful way to “be church” in a non-threatening way
and introducing non-Christians to the amazing life changing stories of Jesus’
ministry on earth then and now.
