Minicab: vision and purpose

Minicab is a bit like a housegroup for adults and children together. Our vision and purpose is summarised under four headings:

Experiencing God

Participation in worship – learning to worship God – adults and children choosing songs together, playing instruments/percussion together, dance/actions, sharing communion etc. Transferable to everyday life, with iPod playlists at home, music in the car etc. Songs the adults can identify with too.
Encountering God through worship and receiving prayer ministry. Adults and children together. Multi-sensory prayer explorations.
Faith development – belonging, believing, understanding, defending, differentiating. Godly play.
Hearing from God

Name games and icebreakers – not just for the kids
Food – sharing meals etc, great for building relationship
Family life – spending time on spiritual themes in a group with adults in their own family
Hearing testimony within your own family
Role models and additional Christian adult friends– important for making the transition from parents faith to personal faith
A place to belong – a smaller group of relationships than large church events
A network that extends beyond the organised activities, and continues in homes and through doing other things together

Choosing topics relevant to the particular children and families. (e.g. other faiths, anger, disasters, deaths, poverty – whatever comes up)
Weaving in elements from the children’s expressed faith – encouraging junior leadership. Preparation is spread around the families for this reason.
Learning – oriented round Bible stories. Perhaps memory verses. Teach the adults too – e.g. kids doing papercraft while listening.
Progressively learning to pray for each other: prayer-crafts, Aaaaa-men, Vineyard style ministry all together, but also adult-only prayer when kids have gone off to play.
Supporting children (and their parents) in sharing their faith (e.g. by running invitation events and outings)

David Wallace, 16/07/2006