Children's Ministry: United Kingdom

Country Profile

Children's Ministry

United Kingdom | OM International

Either in a central London park or church, OM Turning Point’s Children’s Ministry is complete with face painting, balloon animals, parachute games, story time, clowns, songs, and crafts.

On a day in the park, the team sets up camp under a tree. Children and parents alike steal glances. A group of people sitting under a tree in a park isn’t something unusual, but when they paint each other’s faces or put on clown outfits and there are boxes with colourful things spilling out, it attracts attention.

When they put up a sign advertising what time everything will start, the children and parents crowd around and excitedly wait for the programme to begin. A tall lanky clown with rainbow hair and monkey puppet on his arm jumps out from the crowd and starts skipping around, indicating it’s time to start. Kids storm to the table to get their faces painted or to receive a balloon hat or animal. Some kids hula-hoop or play duck-duck-goose around the parachute while others make crafts. After an hour or so of playing, the kids are called together for story time. The team members known as the “London Famous Storytellers” act out a story like “The Tortoise and the Hare” and connect it with a Bible verse or life lesson. Still in a circle, the children and their parents join in song around a guitar.

The atmosphere is playful and happy. Chubby blond hair, blue-eyed little boys are seen running under the giant parachute with Muslim girls wearing head coverings. A mother with both a head covering and a balloon hat on laughs with a clown as her daughter’s face is painted. A Muslim family eats under the same tree as the team members on their lunch break. As the giant Mosque looms in the background, children and grown up voices are heard singing songs about the joy of the Lord.

When the event is over, the children walk away with smiles on their faces and comic strips that point them to Jesus. The parents walk away satisfied that their children had a good afternoon, and a taste of what Christian fellowship is all about.

As you pray for the Children’s Ministry, pray specifically for the children. Pray that they remember their time with the Christians and that their hearts will be open to the Lord. Pray for the parents who are watching in the background that they see the love of Jesus through the ministry workers.