by Brenda Hom
Dictionary.com has two definitions of the word “nursery”.
- A room or place set apart for young children.
- Any place in which something is bred, nourished, or fostered.
Here at Lighthouse Bible Church, the Fireflies Nursery Ministry seeks to apply our mission, vision, and passion statement by fusing these two definitions of the word “nursery” together. We recognize the nursery ministry as a beginning foundation where we as God’s workers can help build and foster a foundational knowledge of God’s character and Jesus Christ. This is the reason why every Sunday, the Fireflies nursery ministry focuses on teaching a five-minute truth lesson to the toddlers and babies. Each truth lesson focuses on different aspects of God’s character, such as “God is everywhere” and “God knows everything”. Although toddlers and babies cannot understand deep truths, they are able understand these simple truths about God. By teaching them simple truths about God, we seek to pass on the greatness of God to young children who may not be able to verbalize what they are thinking.
Through words, prayers, songs, and stories about God and Jesus Christ, we as nursery workers pray with our lips and hearts that one day these little children will be saved. The nursery ministry here at Lighthouse Bible Church is not just “glorified babysitting”. Our chief function is not only changing diapers but also as prayer warriors and ministers to the babies and toddlers. We take seriously our ministry of planting and building a solid foundation of God and Jesus Christ. I would like to encourage the parents of babies and toddlers to continue to be faithful in nurturing your child at home, and realize the spiritual influence you can have even before your child begins to walk or talk.
“In constructing a building, the labor of digging holes and pouring footings may look unimportant to the untrained eye, but without a sure foundation, the building will not stand the test of time and the stress of adverse conditions.” (Sally Michael, A Sure Foundation Curriculum for Infant Nursery Ministry, 2005)
We as nursery workers and parents are ministering to the souls of these little ones. However, we must remember that ultimately it is God who works in their hearts and souls, and that He is the one who saves. God is the only sure foundation for salvation.
“…therefore thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’” (Isaiah 28:16)