At about the same time as the American Revolutionary War, many impoverished people from the English countryside were moving into the cities to find work. One factory in Gloucester manufactured pins. Children as young as eight worked six days a week in gruesome surroundings for a pittance. Other children who did not find work often ran into street gangs, like the urchins written about by Charles Dickens. Not infrequently, the working children would run with the others on their only day off—Sunday—getting involved in petty crimes.
During this time, God gave a special vision and burden on Robert Raikes: why not start a school on Sundays for these poor children where good Christian people could teach them to read and write, teach them the Ten Commandments, and instruct them in moral living? But though many church people opposed him, he persevered, and before long had developed the first “Sunday School curriculum.” The idea spread across the Atlantic to America where the New York Sunday School Union was established.
When Jesus’ disciples tried to quiet the children and “keep them in line” as the crowds thronged about Him, the Bible says the Lord became indignant and instead drew the children to Himself. How are you with the children where you worship? Take every opportunity to encourage young parents to bring their children to Jesus.
Calvary Chapel of the High Desert has an awesome children's ministry. We teach the children, not babysit.
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