Age-Integration

Our meetings are age-integrated, meaning that we encourage all age groups to be present, as long as the little ones don't cause distress to their parents and distractions to those around them. We do provide childcare for little ones up to about 6-years-old or so.  Older kids usually stay with their parents in the meeting.

We encourage age-integration because:

1. This is the Biblical model. In every instance in scripture where it describes the worship and instruction of the saints, all age groups were present, including small children.
2. While children may not grasp everything being taught intellectually, they will nevertheless grasp some concepts, and what they see in terms of their parents participating in the service prepares the way for them in their own observations of worship and learning to be instructed in the Word.
3. There is an element of family-togetherness that we feel is healthy and beneficial for all involved. 
4. Age-segregation is a fairly modern influence of evolutionary philosophers. 

Once again, we do not prohibit childcare, because we know that everyone is in different places in terms of their ability to control young children in a setting where noise can be distracting.  So once again, we do provide childcare for children up to 6 years of age for those who wish to use it. 

To learn more about age-integration vs. age-segregation, check out these excellent articles.

Children in the Meeting of the Church

Children Destroy Worshipful Atmospheres