Changing Church Culture

We have only been back in West Africa for a few months and we have already seen how God is placing us strategically where we can have a powerful impact on church culture in the area of children’s ministries. Consider the following opportunities to affect change:

Leadership Development: Children’s ministry leaders across West Africa have recognized the need to help each other. We can help set the stage for a fruitful partnership at the inaugural meeting of the West Africa Children's Ministries Leaders on March 2-5^th in Cote d’Ivoire. One national church influencing another will elevate children’s ministries across the entire region.

Classroom Space: The Sunday School Shelter Project has already had an impact on church culture in Togo. We started the project in 2007. When we left, the Children's Ministry department continued the project on their own and now they are seeing pastors building Sunday schools on their own without any outside assistance.

This year the Assemblies of God of Cote d’Ivoire has an initiative to start 1,000 new churches by 2020. We have an opportunity to jump-start a movement to build Sunday school classrooms for each one of them. Our role will be to show them the need, get them started, and encourage their own efforts. If successful, this effort could mean that the next generation of church planters will begin to include children’s ministry as a standard part of any new church plant.

One of the churches we work with has a very large Sunday school program that meets in a neighboring school. Even so, this church still struggles with having enough space for children’s ministries.

Children's Worker Training: The Assemblies of God in both Burkina Faso and Togo have asked for help implementing nation-wide training programs for children’s ministry workers. The Assemblies of God of Liberia has asked for help establishing a ministry to children after years of war decimated most of the church’s ministries. We are in the process of responding to each one of these requests, and each one has long-term potential for reaching and discipling more children.

Pastoral Training: We are in the final stages of editing our book on children’s ministry. The book will be going to print in June or July. Written to train Bible school students about why children’s ministry is important and practical ways to implement children’s ministry in the local church, the book has the capacity to shape the next generation of pastors, and by extension, to change church culture.

Curriculum Development: We are writing, editing, and translating several curriculum projects to provide resources for children’s ministries all across Africa. Children’s ministry workers who are well-trained and well-equipped have the power to change children’s lives today and entire nations tomorrow.

This painting hangs on the wall in one of the children’s ministry offices at Temple du Calvaire, Lome, Togo.

Please pray with us for the following needs:

The Regional Children’s Ministry meeting in Cote d’Ivoire on March 2-5. Pray that God would give these leaders wisdom in organizing effectively, building relationships with one another, and influencing each other’s ministries. Pray that the Lord would direct us how to best help them. Pray for us as we teach and share with these key leaders.
The 1,000 church initiative in Cote d’Ivoire, and our part in it. Pray that the Lord would give national pastors big vision to include children’s ministry as a foundation of every new church plant.
The planned visit to Liberia in April. Pray that God would bring the right people to the right positions to have influence for the children of Liberia, and pray that God would provide us with the discernment to know the best way to help.

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Phil & Robin Malcolm are appointed Assemblies of God missionaries to the children of Africa. Contact them via email at philip.malcolm@agmd.org or by phone at (417) 861-5145.