Summer is drawing to a close. The deckchairs are being folded away, the barbecue is finally cooling down, and church halls across the country are slowly recovering from the annual outbreak of foam, glitter, inflatable objects and adults behaving in ways they would normally find deeply embarrassing. Yes, it has been Holiday Bible Club season.
I can’t be the only one who is concerned by the nauseating way some children’s and young people’s ministry in churches is so cringe-worthily ‘zany’ and ‘goofy’ and ‘wacky’. It makes me want to chew my own arm off. It’s like we’ve handed the gospel over to Timmy Mallet, the colourful 1980s children’s TV presenter. To use one of his catchphrases, it’s all a bit ‘Bleugh!’
Before anyone reaches for the complaint form, let me say clearly: thank God for Holiday Bible Clubs. Thank God for beach missions, Christian camps, children’s clubs and every other faithful effort to bring the gospel to children and young people during the summer months.
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