The primary vision of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Midland is to teach the Word of God. We believe that the accurate and faithful teaching of the Word of God is the single most important function of a church fellowship. We believe this because it is the Word of God that informs every other aspect of a believer’s life. It is the Word of God that instructs us on how to pray, how to treat others, how to interact with the Spirit and how to worship the Lord. It is the Word of God that teaches us how things began and how they will end. It is the Word of God that teaches us what is true and what is a lie.
Now, dovetailing with this vision regarding the Word of God is the Calvary distinctive of teaching individuals on a level that they can understand. Just as students learn different material at different ages in school, we believe that it is best to tailor the teaching of Biblical material to the intended audience. We believe that this accomplishes at least five objectives. First of all, children are able to comprehend the Biblical material that they are taught because it is presented in accordance with their academic/maturity level. Secondly, because a children’s church class involves activities, games and snacks, children are able to view church as an enjoyable place. Thirdly, children receive personal discipleship from their teachers on a weekly basis. Fourthly, parents and other adults in the main service are free to focus on the worship and the teaching of the Word because they are not being distracted by children fidgeting, talking, needing to go to the bathroom, etc. Finally, the pastor is able to craft and deliver a message in the main service that is spiritually and intellectually challenging to an audience that is able tocomprehend it. This is of great consequence to me personally, as I find it very difficult to focus on the different facets of delivering a message when children are in the main service. It is not dissimilar to trying to teach an algebra class to people ranging from kindergarten to seniors.
Sunday morning classes are currently divided as follows…
- Nursery – infant through 3 years old
- Preschool – age 3 through Kindergarten
- Elementary – 1st through 5th grade
Traditionally, once students have reached fifth or sixth grade, we have brought them into the main service. The reason we have chosen this age is due to the fact that students can go to the youth retreat after their fifth grade year. We believe that attending the main service is a rite of passage that prepares students for the increased responsibility that comes along with attending the youth retreat. We have remained faithful to this distinctive of teaching individuals on their own level throughout our history as a fellowship. I believe it has served both of my older children well, and I have no doubt that my two younger children will benefit from it as well.
In His love,
Pastor Steve