Any parent will tell you that getting young children to church on time on Sunday is quite the process. I have a preschooler, and every Sunday I observe other families—arms full of babies, rushing into church. And I wonder if their morning was as hectic as mine.
Once upon a time, I, too, had my arms full of babies. I had a newborn, a 15-month-old, a 4-year-old, and 5-year-old. I vividly remember my first attempt at bringing them all to church by myself after my fourth was born. My husband was deployed and hadn’t even met our youngest son yet.
Navigating the Sunday Morning Chaos of Family Life
With one baby on my hip, one heavy car seat in the crook of my elbow, I gave my daughter strict orders to hold onto my jacket and told her older brother to hold her hand. It felt like a military operation just to cross the street.
My diaper bag was as packed as that of a hiker attempting to summit Everest. But I made it all the way from the back of the parking lot into the building through the ice-cold wind.
I was struggling and desperate for an hour-and-a-half church service to hold my new baby and, quite frankly, rest while someone else tended to my children. I felt extinguished in those days—exhausted and alone. Life felt purely about survival.
I was grateful to attend church and know my babies were being loved on, having fun, and learning about Jesus.
When children discover they are known by God, loved by Jesus, and led by the Holy Spirit, their view of who they are shifts.
Lindsay Black, VP of Curriculum Publishing at David C Cook
I think that most families—no matter the circumstances—can attest that making it out the front door, children (and parents) fully intact, wearing most of the original clothing put on their bodies that morning, while holding onto some semblance of peace by the time they’ve arrived at check-in, is quite the victory.
Most of us have so much happening in our lives that sometimes simply showing up can feel like summiting a mountain. But I’m so grateful to know that my children are received into the arms of leaders who have prayed for them and plant seeds into their little hearts.
To me, it’s worth the climb.
From Resistance to Resilience
Jana Zachman, Chief Operating Officer at David C Cook and Sunday school teacher, shared a story about three siblings in her church who heartbreakingly lost their father to suicide about two years ago.
For many months, two of the kids did not want to attend church anymore. Their mother brought them, literally kicking and screaming. They would attend Children’s Church but did not participate and were clearly unhappy to be there.
Wonder Ink inspires a genuine connection with faith, fostering a sense of wonder and curiosity that extends far beyond the Sunday school classroom.
However, Jana saw their walls coming down over time, and they started participating a little more here and there. Finally, one of the children came in one Sunday and wrote on the whiteboard in their children’s church room. She wrote, “I love church!” Her younger brother followed and wrote, “God believes in me.”
The week’s lesson was on Psalm 23, and the activity was to write or draw your own Psalm. The little girl drew a picture and wrote, “He is my Shepherd. I’m thankful for food, water, and sun. God makes me happy and brings me joy. I’m sorry for sinning. I need God to help me when I’m sad.”
Jana said, “It was so special to see how she had come so far to trust God to help her when she was sad and to bring her joy.”
The mother of these beautiful children kept showing up, no matter the difficulty of simply arriving. She fought for her children and was grateful that her church’s ministry leaders fought for them too and created space for conversation and wonder.
Wonder Ink
With ready-to-go lessons, Wonder Ink is a customizable digital curriculum and toolkit for creatively engaging kids and families in God’s Word—connecting the classroom on Sunday to their homes during the week.
Choosing Curriculum: Wonder Ink
Choosing a curriculum that shapes hearts, builds foundations, and points the youngest members of our churches toward their identity in Jesus is an important, life-changing decision.
Wonder Ink, a children’s curriculum from David C Cook, succeeds where it matters most. It’s philosophy is all about guiding children to embrace their identity in Christ.
“When children discover they are known by God, loved by Jesus, and led by the Holy Spirit, their view of who they are shifts. What defines us is how God sees us.”
Lindsay Black, VP of Curriculum Publishing at David C Cook
Wonder Ink’s journey through God’s Word leaves a lasting imprint on young hearts. After facing unimaginable loss, those precious siblings found solace and joy through Wonder Ink’s lessons on Psalm 23.
The transformation from resistance to scrawling “I love church!” on the whiteboard is nothing short of miraculous. It reflects the profound impact lessons like those found in Wonder Ink can have on young minds navigating the complexities of life, faith, and identity.
Wonder Ink’s curriculum invites our children to embrace wonder, curiosity, and an unshakeable identity in Jesus, guiding them to a faith that is not just taught but lived. The impact can be profound and the stories transformative.
In a world where difficult circumstances and distractions abound and the challenges of modern life can often be overwhelming, Wonder Ink offers hope for churches and families seeking a solid foundation for their children.
This curriculum inspires a genuine connection with faith, fostering a sense of wonder and curiosity that extends far beyond the Sunday school classroom.
