“It’s been on my heart for a few years to start a children’s ministry for the kids in our church,” said Leticia Cruz, children’s ministries director at Lancaster Spanish church, “because I see that it’s very important, especially with the times that we are in now, to teach our kids more about God.”
Before launching the ministry at the church in March, Cruz, who previously served as Adventurer director, attended a training hosted by the Southern California Conference Children’s Ministries department last year. She was particularly inspired by a session on children’s Sabbath, and she brought all that she learned to her local church.
Since launching the ministry this year, Cruz has organized several children’s Sabbaths, taking a hands-on, interactive approach to help them remember the lessons from Jesus’ resurrection, Noah’s ark, Jericho, and more. She’s also led vespers and Bible studies. In April, Cruz presented a nightly Zoom class teaching the 28 fundamentals of the Adventist Church, and 15 kids faithfully joined each night. To ensure that her teaching of the beliefs would be appropriate for younger minds, she researched and found video resources featuring kids teaching kids about the beliefs, which included an activity and a science experiment to further explain each belief.
“I’ve been an Adventist all my life, and I would learn about the 28 fundamentals here and there,” Cruz said, “but I don’t remember having someone teach them to me. I think it’s important for kids to know about the fundamentals, too.”
The kids were so engaged that on the last day, they didn’t want to disconnect from Zoom. “They wanted to keep going, and one of the kids even said, ‘Can’t you add a 29th fundamental belief?’” Cruz said. “That made me happy because I knew they were excited to keep learning.”
In fact, after the classes finished, Lancaster Spanish church pastor Emil Cabrera made an appeal for baptism one Sabbath, and several kids from the 28 fundamentals class stood up, declaring their desire.
Families have been so appreciative of the ministry. “I’ve had a lot of parents come up to me and tell me, ‘Thank you so much for what you’re doing. We’ve seen the difference with our kids,’” Cruz said. A grandparent shared with Cruz that her grandson previously hadn’t shown interest in God or church. He was baptized in July after Vacation Bible School.
“I just hope their love for God grows,” Cruz said, reflecting on the ministry so far, “and that they know they’re important to our church—because they are.”
