Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

3 ways church attendance nurtures spiritual growth in children

  • April 10, 2023
  • Carolyn Tomlin
  • Featured, Latest News, Tennessee
(Unsplash photo)

3 ways church attendance nurtures spiritual growth in children

One Sunday morning, when moving from our Sunday school class to the worship service in the auditorium, I overheard this conversation between a mother and her three children. “Do you want to stay for church — or go home and play and have ice cream?” The children replied while jumping up and down, “We want to go home! Yes, let’s go home and have ice cream!”

Before asking, the mother knew the answer.

According to a recent report from relevantchildrensministry.com, 85% of the people who come to know Jesus as their personal Savior do so before the age of 18. 

Well-known evangelist and publisher Dwight L. Moody once said, “If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God.”

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” But one of the concerns in both large and small churches is how to encourage parents to bring their children to church and participate as a family in the various programs the church offers. 

Reinforces values

“The church can reinforce Christian values which the child learns at home and … the parents are trying to teach,” said Greg Gilbreath, pastor of Madison Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee.

Gilbreath is the author of a series of books, “Daddy Is My Favorite Word,” which help children learn to read while also reinforcing family values.

The church offers a balance from worldly pursuits. Contact with church leaders shows how mature Christians live their lives. Sunday School provides lessons that help us make choices that reflect God in our lives. 

Here are three additional ways church attendance helps nurture spiritual growth in children:

1. Participation in church reinforces the value of prayer. We teach our children to have a relationship with Jesus — to make Him our personal friend and the One we can talk to about anything. 

2. Children who are in church have a support system when negative concerns arise in their life. Children have big problems, just like adults, but often they do not voice these feelings. Church leaders help provide encouragement that Jesus is concerned about both big and small problems.    

3. A church focused on Scripture helps children develop a biblical worldview. Studies show memorization is an important aspect for mental growth. Memorizing Scripture adds a spiritual component to this development. Throughout the year, the Word is taught in age-appropriate ways during Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, Bible Drill, GAs, RAs, Acteens and other activities. 

Victor Love, a deacon of Greater St. Luke Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee, believes there is no substitute for children attending church.

“Children and youth need God,” Love said. “The future of our children depends on making sure our family attends church.”

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: 12 easy ways to reach out to your neighbors
    First person: 12 easy ways to reach out to your neighbors
    May 11, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • ‘It’s hard to wrap my head around’: Men’s retreat leads to life-changing decisions for Christ
    ‘It’s hard to wrap my head around’: Men’s retreat leads to life-changing decisions for Christ
    May 10, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Alaska’s Covington rescinds resignation, affirmed to continue
    Alaska’s Covington rescinds resignation, affirmed to continue
    May 9, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

First person: 12 easy ways to reach out to your neighbors

Most believers will never share the gospel with anyone, and many will never even invite anyone to church.

‘It’s hard to wrap my head around’: Men’s retreat leads to life-changing decisions for Christ

“These men got away for a weekend and experienced the peace from other men who knew Jesus and had that life change,” said North Monroe Baptist Church Director of Facilities and Men’s Ministry Jeff McPherson.

Alaska’s Covington rescinds resignation, affirmed to continue

Randy Covington will continue as exec dir of Alaska Baptists until his originally planned retirement date of Sept. 30, 2025 — despite what was announced in March following a disagreement over the extent of autonomy a church should have.

Your Voice: Things my mom taught me about church

First-person articles, comments, letters to the editor, blog excerpts, social media posts and more.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel