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India: Child-Friendly Churches
India: Child-Friendly Churches
Children need to feel accepted and understood in order to grow in their faith. "Child-friendly church" is a religious education concept that has precisely this aim in mind.
Working with children and young adults is important work for the Church of South India (CSI). For the largest member church of the EMS, children are an essential part of church life – in the spirit of Jesus' words, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” (Mark 10:14)
How do children in India experience church today? What is important to them and where do they wish for change? How can they have their say, be heard and get involved? When adults deal with children, they should accept the children's perspectives, ways of thinking and patterns of behaviour and not expect them to conform with adult patterns.
Training for adults
The EMS sponsors the Church of South India to organise several days of training on the topic of "child-friendly church". Indeed, children need to feel accepted and understood in order to grow in their faith. "Child-friendly church" is a religious education concept that has precisely this aim in mind. Its purpose is to train pastors, staff and volunteers to specifically address the emotional and psychological needs of children. Playing, having fun and being creative are just as important as the children's concerns, hopes and questions. Training in children's rights, family counselling and parental work are other important elements of this concept.
Indien
India is home to about 30 million Christians.
The church – a place for children
A "child-friendly church" is aware of the interests and needs of even the youngest children. In addition to events, children's services and festivals, it is also a question of making this visible in very practical ways by producing worship service materials or equipping a church appropriately. Children should be able to discover the church for themselves and experience it in a child-friendly way. Child-friendly illustrations of sermons also arouse children's interest in adult services. Stories from the Bible, prayers and songs are prepared in the local language and are accompanied by many colourful pictures.
The "child-friendly church" project of the Church of South India gives children the space and chance to develop their religious faith. For the CSI, children are not only the future, they are above all the here and now of church and society.
Project goals
The "child-friendly church" project of the Church of South India gives children the chance to develop their religious faith. Playing, having fun and being creative are just as important as the children's concerns, hopes and questions. In this way, girls and boys should be able to discover the church for themselves and experience it in a child-friendly way. They can have their say, be heard and get involved. Child-friendly services are structured based on the needs and understanding of the children.
Project work
Child-friendly church is a religious education concept. It trains pastors, staff and volunteers to specifically address the emotional and psychological needs of children. Experts devise materials for training adults and produce guidelines and strategies for a child-friendly church. Annual planning and evaluation workshops form the basis for the continuous development of the programme.
Project partner
The Church of South India (CSI) is today the largest Protestant church in India with almost four million members in 24 dioceses and 15,000 parishes. This makes it one of the largest Protestant churches in Asia. The CSI runs kindergartens, schools, colleges, technical institutions and hospitals. The church is based in the large region covering the five southern states in India: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The CSI is a united church integrating Reformed, Lutheran, Methodist and Anglican traditions.
Help girls and boys in India to discover the richness of the Christian faith – with your donation to the "child-friendly church” project.
Donation Account
We are pleased to hear that you are interested in this project. If you have any general questions, please use the contact form below. We are also happy to help you personally if you have any questions or require further information – by phone or by E-mail.
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