Little Hearts, Lasting Faith: Growing in the Gospel at Crossroads Children's Fellowship

As the children at Metro Church run to the back of the sanctuary after worship every Sunday, bright colored t-shirts and wide smiles welcome them into Crossroads Children’s Fellowship. A chorus of singing children fills the all-purpose room, and various volunteers lead them in dancing to the beat of worship. The collective energy in the room represents the power of music and the joy of the gospel, and parents often remark on how their children bring these songs home, asking them to sing and dance throughout the week.

“Crossroads provides a warm, inviting place for our daughter to learn about Jesus in fun and interactive ways. We love how Ellie brings home the things she learns at church. She teaches us new worship songs, which are always amazing, and we end up having dance parties at home!” said Albert and Emily Pak.

Those who have a heart for music learn short songs and dances to set the rhythm each Sunday. For these volunteers, they constantly remind themselves that worship is not simply “going through the motions, but a special opportunity to share in the sheer joy of knowing Jesus.

Crossroads worship leader Daniel Chung said, “The simplicity required to make the Bible and songs understandable for kids helps to highlight for me the essence of the gospel. Behind every Bible story, every simple lyric is a reminder that I am a desperate and utterly undeserving sinner who is seen and loved by the great King. It points me back regularly to an intimate fellowship with him that redeems the reasons I serve in the first place. It is a wonderful cycle of service and personal renewal that I get to experience at Crossroads.”

Those as young as two years old start every lesson by flipping open a Bible and searching for a picture of Jesus. This group, called “First Steps,” can be one of the first times a child is exposed to God in a church setting. Bible stories across the Old and New Testaments are introduced through picture books and videos, all pointing back to Jesus’ ultimate victory through his sacrifice on the cross.

Teachers like Sarah Kim see their understanding grow and hear their vocabulary increase each week, reminding her of the childlike faith mentioned in Mark 10:14. She reflected, “I am continually humbled because although it is obvious they have a need to completely depend on their parents and God, I am reminded that I, too, am completely helpless to save myself and remain dependent on the Gospel in any age.”

For older children, their order of worship intentionally mirrors the adult service. Teachers lead them through confession of sin, offering, and a lesson based on a Bible passage. Here, the children – yes, even the three-year-olds – exercise their memorization skills every week by helping each other recite a verse. It is heartwarming to witness the children enjoy coloring scenes from the Bible and asking thought-provoking questions about faith and life.

Over the 12 years Crossroads teacher Alice Park has been serving in this ministry, there was one question an astonished child had that stood out to her: “Jesus loves me even when I do something bad?” She reflected, “Serving in Crossroads has allowed me to experience the beauty of the gospel through the children, especially through their simple faith, honest questions, prayers, and excitement to learn about Jesus. They continually remind me of Jesus’ call to have childlike faith and to come to him with humility, trust, and dependence.”

There is a definite surge in the number of children entering Metro at both East Falls and Cherry Hill. With more children to welcome, more events to plan, and more songs to learn, it is all the more important to remember that the team’s mission must remain rooted in the gospel. Crossroads director Tina Ro shared, “Crossroads’ hope is to help foster a faith that will outlast all the doubts and fears that want to stifle it.”

Jon and Crystal Paek were part of the church planting team for Metro’s Cherry Hill location in 2021. During this, they watched their oldest daughter move through the Crossroads ministry all the way up to MetroNext youth fellowship. Despite the adjustments that such a change demands, they have seen the same gospel preached from the pulpit being taught to their children.

“It has been a humbling experience seeing the fruit of consistent attendance in Crossroads bloom when they move up to MetroNext and begin to really unpack the gospel with their peers and teachers. That is when you realize all that Crossroads has done to lay the groundwork for our kids to talk about their faith out loud and in community,” explained Jon.

He continued, “What I appreciate about the Crossroads ministry is the love and care put into the curriculum and faithfulness to teach the gospel message week in and week out. Other Sunday school curricula usually focus on the stories, treating the Bible as a source of self-empowerment or a moral compass. But the love and care the staff extends goes beyond just changing our children's outward behavior; they desire to see our children grow in understanding who Christ is, why we need Christ, and how the stories ultimately point us to Jesus.”

If these stories resonate with you, Crossroads Children’s Fellowship is looking for volunteers with a heart for children and a desire to serve alongside a mission-minded team. To join, you will need to have attended Metro for at least six months, be plugged into a community group, and complete a short interview and background check to keep our kids safe and team strong.

“There are a slew of new babies being born and toddlers growing up that both excites and humbles me. There is no greater task in my mind than the responsibility of making disciples of our precious young ones. So with God's mercy and our refining commitment, I look forward to a growing team both in size and in desire for our children to grow into adulthood clinging to the cross as their security, worth, and greatest treasure. Please join us in what is undoubtedly one of the most important tasks that exists in God's kingdom,” concluded Daniel.