By Frank King

He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood
by the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him,
and struck the water and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” – 2 Kings 2:13,14

When Pastors Harold and Mona Warner inherited the tiny storefront Foursquare Gospel church on Veteran’s Blvd. in Tucson, Arizona, a mother and her child were the only attendees.

As God began to move, they were soon followed by several single young men and women who were eager to take up the task of discipleship, and to celebrate and proclaim the Good News.

Many of those first converts, seeking the Lord God of their pastor, took up the mantle of their teacher and struck the waters, finding God’s will for their own lives and ministries. For many of them, this meant pioneering and/or pastoring for the next three or four decades.

Within a few years, whole families began to come in to Door Church and get saved. Parents and children filled the little building. It was a common sight to observe parents listening attentively to a sermon, while children played at their feet. Occasionally, a little head would pop up and stare at the pastor, absorbed in something of interest he had said.

As the adults hit the altar, children would often follow along – sometimes praying along with them, but most of the time, observing intently as their parents prayed, wept, and worshiped, thanking God for His mercy.

Several women in the congregation soon arose to begin a Sunday school for the children.

The classroom instruction taught the children Bible stories and foundational truths upon which to build their lives. Unfortunately, during church services, some of those children still just sat playing on the floor – needing targeted ministry, but receiving little.

One such child wept at the altar for several minutes before an adult finally came to pray with him. He told of his confusion over God’s will for his life.

In church he heard one story, at home another, and at school, still another. Which was the correct answer for the trials and burdens in his life? His adult prayer partner felt his burden keenly.

After much prayer and counseling with headship, it was decided that our little church needed special services tailor made for children. The young people needed a ministry that was aimed at their needs and formatted to their maturity level.

In 1979, the first Children’s Church service was held for twelve kids ages 3-12.

We met in a duplex apartment south of the original church building. The four adults in leadership soon recruited more, and after a few years of trial and error, they were able to organize the ministry.

“Children’s Church” became “Next Generation Ministries” and expanded its impact on the young people. The simple song service evolved into an authentic worship service. Children went to the altar – not because their parents did, but because they saw their own needs.

Many of them had their own genuine salvation experience. As the ministry grew, so did the children. We are thankful to see that many of them continue to faithfully serve God today.

The children were challenged to give to the work of God; sometimes they had to sacrifice for special outreach offerings, and they learned to support local ministry.

Nearly every Thursday “International Night” offering at our annual Bible Conference included a check from the children. Several overseas needs were recognized in Children’s Church, and then met through the generosity and hard work of the kids.

To facilitate the worship service pattern, NGM leaders began to look for and identify the gifts God had placed in the children. Those demonstrations were present: a young man playing an “air guitar.” A girl mimicking a worship singer’s gestures. Kids that “played the drums” on their chairs. NGM talent shows and song services facilitated the development of these young ones’ skills in a safe place until they, too, eventually took up the mantles of the adult ministers.

Adult worship teams that were originally made up of ’70s Jesus People were soon supplemented by their children, and today the majority of those leading adult worship services are kids who have grown up in church.

In later years, some parents came to us with concerns that their children might be spending too much time on computers. We encouraged parents to install filters and steer that activity toward productive tasks. The children’s interests soon moved from games and videos to wondering how those apps worked.

Today, Door Church has some of the best tech available – most of it facilitated by adults who grew up in church.

As Door Church enters its 50th year of Celebrating and Proclaiming the Good News, it is a joy to see that many positions of ministry are filled with those Next Generation saints. The talent show participants are now singers and musicians with the Worship Team and actors in the Drama Ministry. Many of the Tech, Sound and Lighting Team grew up practicing and honing their skills on the sound board at the back of the Children’s Church.

There have been multiple services over the years where the entire Altar Team ministering on stage was made up of those who grew up in church. The Mantle of worship has passed to the New Generation. The younger members of God’s family are stepping up.

Sitting in the chairs of the adult congregation in our new building now are adults, parents, and even a couple of grandparents who grew up sitting in the chairs of the Children’s Church.

The giving spirit that was instilled in them over the years of NGM offering challenges has matured into a desire to support God’s work via tithes, outreach pledges, and building fund donations.

The Mantle has been passed to a new generation. But the youth need to remember that there are future generations awaiting their turn.

Sitting in today’s Children’s Church are many children who possess the Elisha spirit; watching and waiting for the Mantle; eager to strike the waters and ask, “Where is the Lord God of my parents?”

Will you continue to pass the Mantle?