Antioch is blessed with many, many children. Many visitors do not understand the reasoning behind our approach to children, and it throws them off because it is different than what they are used to. First, we are unapologetically pro-life. We are not just anti-abortion; we are pro-children. We believe that all human life is valuable from conception to natural death. Because of this, we view children as blessings; the more, the better! We view large families as amazing gifts to the church and society. We grieve with those who struggle with infertility and pray for God to bless them with children. We have many adopted children in our church. Every child is precious to us because they are precious to God.
Family Integrated Worship
We believe that children are not just the future of the church, they are the present church as well. For this reason, our children worship God with us in the services. (This is commonly referred to as Family Integrated Worship.) This is unusual for some who are used to nurseries and Children's Church. However, crying babies and restless kids is part of the Christian life! We celebrate it and welcome it. Kids with special needs making noises during worship bring a smile to our faces and joy to our hearts! Of such is the Kingdom of God according to Jesus Himself.
Intergenerational Community
Because of this, our children have great relationships with all ages within the church. It is not unusual for a 90 year old man to share a hymn book with an 8 year old boy. Adults pray with the children. Young men seek financial advice and marriage advice from the older men in the church. The young moms gather with the more seasoned moms for play dates and fellowship. Married couples help single people find godly spouses. Our teenagers play with the little kids. College students and other singles are "adopted" into families. We believe that is what Paul envisioned in Titus 2.
Parents as Primary Disciplers
We also view parents as the primary disciplers of their own children. We encourage and promote family worship. We believe that God has entrusted children to their parents, not the state. We regularly call on parents to take an active role in every aspect of their child's life, especially spiritual formation and education. We encourage fathers to baptize their own children when they profess faith in Jesus Christ. We encourage mothers to stay home and raise their children if at all possible. We want parents to be very active in the formation of their children. For this reason, the vast majority of our members homeschool.
Multi-Generational Faithfulness
All this is part of God's plan to change the world with the Gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe that God's plan for His church is multi-generational. We must pass the faith onto the next generation. We must raise them to do the same. Our focus is a thousand years from now not next year. We are doing work that by God's grace will produce fruit for generations to come. Long term, multi-generational faithfulness is the goal.