China Evangelical Seminary North America
Welcome Children Program
~Intergenerational Ministry~
(WCP)
Ministry Introduction
Director: Dr. Jennifer C. Lowe
Welcome children into corporate worship and prayer
“Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.””（Deuteronomy 31:12-13）
CESNA has received a five-year grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of the “Welcome Children Program (WCP),” which seeks to help North American churches integrate children into the corporate worship and prayer practices of the church and to embody the biblical vision of the church as a covenantal household.
In recent decades, many who have grown up in the church have left the church and even their faith. Research shows that the disconnect between faith and life experiences is a significant factor that prevents faith from taking root in the hearts of children. The Lilly Endowment Inc. launched this initiative in recognition that corporate worship and prayer practices are core to the spiritual life of a Christian. Today, most churches use age-segregated ministry models, which separate children from the spiritual life of the rest of the church. WCP hopes to encourage churches to embody the biblical vision of the church as a family and intentionally integrate children into the corporate worship and prayer practices of the church. This is key to helping children weave their faith into their life. This involves helping church leaders and adults cultivate an attentive and accepting heart towards children, viewing them as vital members of God's family, so they do not feel excluded from the family of God. WCP is not introducing a new ministry but seeks to give churches a biblical vision for children.
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Equip pastors and ministry leaders with frameworks and practical tools to implement intergenerational ministry in their churches.
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Connect intergenerational pastors and ministry leaders with each other.
Core Values
Household of God
Personal identity is established in a household (Gen 19:12；Josh 24:15）
Covenantal Relationship
Child-like Spirituality
God’s covenant grace and faithfulness is passed down through households
（Gen 6:18；22:17-18）
Jesus wants us to learn to be like children and rely on him (Matt 18:2-5; Lk 10:21)
Welcoming Attitude
Jesus wants us to show hospitality and care towards the least（Mk 9:37；Lk 9:50）
Spiritual Formation in the Intergenerational Community
Personal spiritual formation happens as part of the intergenerational spiritual formation of the faith community. （Eph 4:15-16）
WCP Intergenerational (IG)
Ministry Training Courses
The characteristic of this series of training courses is that in addition to theory, it will pay special attention to "experiential learning". The purpose is to enable students to put what they have learned into practice in the church and family through the cycle of “implementation-exploration-reflection”. This series of courses is designed to help students design plans specifically for their churches and deliberately cultivate a mindset of integrating children into the overall worship and prayer of the church. At the same time, WCP teachers and pastors will also accompany students along the way, discuss with each other, and think about and solve possible difficulties together.
There are three levels
of training courses:：
(Application procedures are required)
1. TEE (8 courses): suitable for parents, children and youth ministry teachers, assistants, and counselors
2. Diploma (10 courses): Suitable for children and youth ministry directors. All credits can be transferred to master's degree
3. Master's Degree: (Under planning) is suitable for those who called to be intergenerational ministers
The curriculum emphasizes both lectures and internship:
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Classes (Zoom): listening to lectures, discussions, reading, and homework
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Internship: Interning to establish an IG ministry in a designated church or the local church that the student attending.
Course content:
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Understand the biblical and theological foundations of IG ministry.
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Understand children's physical and mental development, and their implication in nurturing children's spirituality.
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Establish churches for intergenerational training and children and youth ministry.
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Promote intergenerational relationships, family worship, parent-child discipleship, and cultivate children’s faith in life.
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Help accommodate children and families with special needs.
Our Team
Lilly Endowment Inc.
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WCP will select 4-8 “Experiential Churches” for each phase.
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It requires 3 years of commitment for each phase.
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Each church needs to have one person to be responsible of promoting WCP, and also willing to receive training.
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The registration fee is $1,000.
The following resources and fees will be subsidized:
Experiential Intergenerational Retreat: Families of Pastors and Ministerial Staff
Consultation: WCP pastoral team will provide customized problem solutions
Training: Tuition of the "Intergenerational Ministry" training courses (partial expense subsidy). Co-workers also participate in short-term gatherings, team mutual aid camps, regular gatherings and discussions, etc.
Teaching materials: worship, prayer, family worship, parent-child discipleship, etc.
Contact Us
Ministry Director
Dr. Jennifer Lowe
jenniferhsiao@cesna.edu
626-917-9482 ext.271
Ministry Administration
Mimi Hu
mimihu@cesca.edu
626-917-9482 ext.272
China Evangelical Seminary
North America
1520 W. Cameron Ave., Suite 275
West Covina, CA 91790
Tel: 626-917-9482