8 Ways to Celebrate Every Kind of Family

We know that not all kids come to church with their parents. Some kids get to go to church with grandparents, neighbours, friends, or maybe a foster family. We really believe the language we use around kids is a big part of how they’ll feel welcomed and included. For that reason, we want to help you help all kids celebrate the grown-ups in their lives who share Jesus’ love with them. When we take the time to realize, acknowledge, and simply pay attention to the various definitions of family within our communities, we make space for all kids to feel welcome and included.

Here’s some things to consider when you’re talking about family with the kids you love and serve, plus some practical tips on how to celebrate the grown-ups:

1. Context makes a difference.

Because of how diverse families are, we need to find new and different ways to talk about Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, and we can start by looking at how scripture talks about family. How does God define family? Here’s the good news: being part of God’s family has nothing to do with your biology; being a child of God has nothing to do with anything more than your birthright as a human being invited into relationship with God by his spirit and through the love of Jesus Christ; all humans are image bearers, stamped with God’s own DNA with an invitation to participate not only in his kingdom, but in his family.

2. The Bible reveals both paternal and maternal attributes in God's character and nature.

God’s big idea for family is kind of weird and wild, inviting all people to belong, simply because he loves them and longs for each of us to join Jesus on mission of making more disciples. So, talking about family outside of biology is already handed to us, explained, and normalized in the Bible. That is a gift we get to share with all kids and their grown-ups, inviting them to see one another as part of something bigger than their personal story of family.

3. We're all brothers and sisters in Christ.

Spark the imagination of the kids you serve by asking 'Did you know that we are brothers and sisters?! We are family because of Jesus!' All the kids and grown-ups belong to one another. We are called to belong to, and care for, one another, with God as our Heavenly Father. And the way Jesus did life with his disciples was very familial. We can learn from his life not only what discipleship looks like, but also what it looks like when a community chooses to be family. When we look at Jesus’ own family, it is nothing like a biological family! His mother was a virgin, his father was God, and Mary’s husband, Joseph, would be a stepdad by today’s vernacular, as Jesus’ earthly father.

4. Engage multiple generations in the celebration of family!

Consider inviting both seniors and youth to serve; kids look up to those older than them. Intergenerational ministry is at the heart of Jesus’ ministry. Invite the staff at your church to help you prepare for intergenerational opportunities, too!

5. Partnering with families in the spiritual formation of children is the way forward.

It’s not the parents’ job or the pastors’ job; it is our job as God’s family to raise up the next generation of disciples. This means that the kids in your church need to be known and loved by the broader church community, and families need opportunities to connect with the community.

6. Finding occasions to celebrate the grown-ups in our kids' lives teaches them a spirit of generosity and gratitude.

Such occasions may require some adjustment in our language: using words like grown-ups, helpers, or adults, broadens our kids’ imagination for who they can celebrate and include in their prayers as they thank God for the people in their lives that point them to Jesus.

7. Call out the spiritual gifts in the kids you serve.

If we believe that children are part of the family of God, that they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, and that these children are coming to faith and being formed in our midst, then what are the gifts we need to be calling out in children so that they feel welcome to contribute to the body of Christ as equal members? How do we include and embrace the gifts of all of God’s children without creating unnecessary barriers based on age or ability? Whether it’s inviting a child to pray or giving some leadership away to a child who has exhibited maturity in such gifts, kids can not only participate but also contribute to the work of the body of Christ.

8. Leverage opportunities to include kids in the bigger picture of the church and ministry.

Invite them to try on days that naturally lend themselves to inclusion—like family day, or intergenerational worship. Perhaps they could join your hospitality team or your prayer team. Could they be part of group assembling care packages for missionaries or displaced people? Create a sense of belonging within the church family. Stretch the imagination of your team, whether the leadership or the volunteers, for the sake of unity.

Regardless of how you connect kids back to the grown-ups who are introducing them and leading them to Jesus, whether they’re biological family or God’s family, we have a beautiful opportunity in kids ministry to widen the circle beyond parents and walk with those who have influence and presence in kids’ lives. We get to empower, equip, and engage intergenerational relationships for the sake of the church today, and its leadership tomorrow.

Celebrate the ways that grown-ups can speak into the faith of this generation. Remind them that they matter, and kids will not come to know and delight in Jesus the same way without them. Their faith matters. Their investment matters. And the transfer of the stories of God’s magnificent plan from generation to generation is our treasure to steward. Let’s resource adults well to celebrate Jesus with the kids they love.