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Of course, Jesus made this suggestion awhile back, according to the Bible.

Following the instruction written in the Book of Matthew to “turn and become like children,” the members of Faubion United Methodist Church in Kansas City North have decided to create an entire congregation centered on the well-being and happiness of its youngest and most vulnerable members.

Starting this fall, the church started its new “Kidz First” ministry with services at 9 a.m. each Sunday.

The service is the first iteration of a much larger attempt to re-imagine and make real a house of worship that is centered on children, said Pastor Sid Robbins.

“Our church has recently set a new direction for itself,” Robbins said. “Our goal is to develop one of the best children’s ministries in the Northland.”

Participants enjoy a “lively, informal” and family-approved group time for the first half hour, Robbins explained. With help from several of the teenagers in the church, Robbins uses videos, singing, dancing, drama, puppets and other hands-on experiences to reach young people.

“Our hope is to communicate the Bible and Christian teaching in a way that is fun and relevant for children,” Robbins said.

From 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. each week, the church provides age-appropriate learning opportunities like games, crafts, music, puzzles and snacks. These post-service times are often organized around monthly themes, like the Old Testament story of Joseph or Moses and the exodus of the Hebrews out of Egypt.

“All our activities are based on Bible lessons,” Robbins said.

About 50 people are regularly attending the new, Sunday morning service, added Robbins. Including the 10:45 a.m. service, about 120 people show up on average at the church each Sunday.

The new direction for Faubion United Methodist Church began after many longtime members grew concerned about the lack of children and young people, member Kathy Griffith said. Church leaders were inspired by the success of their vacation Bible school program in the summer of 2008, which attracted an unexpectedly high number of families from the surrounding neighborhoods.

“Everyone knows that the future of every part of our lives today is in the hands of our nation’s children,” Griffith wrote in an e-mail.

A committee of church members has visited local businesses, hospitals, schools and other churches to gather ideas for the new ministry, Robbins said. In the long run, the church plans to add services that help address the socioeconomic needs of families and children.

“We believe that helping children is one of the best ways to improve a person’s life for the long term, and one of the best ways to help our community,” Robbins said. “We also believe it’s very important for children to know they are loved.”

Staff writer Ray Weikal can be reached at 389-6637 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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