Benefits of this change

• Compelling church history and sociological research pointing to the tremendous importance of children in worship, the importance of intergenerational integration, and the alarming consequences of this not happening.
• Clarity of purpose and priorities for worship and discipleship classes: corporate worship first, classes second, then go forth to live it out in your context; 
• Practiced in order of importance:
  • Heart stirred in worship
  • Mind formed in learning the faith
  • Life directed by the heart and mind
• the heart cannot love what the mind does not know; a heart cannot fully live out what it does not love
• children are worshiping with their families and congregation during Worship Hour
• All church members, not just children, are receiving age-specific / interest-specific discipleship classes during Discipleship Hour.
• Helps streamline our entrance and exits of the building, providing better spaces for conversational connections and safety.

Benefits for children worshiping in the service / Intergenerational Integration 

• Christian values will be taught, as well as “caught” in attending worship service
• Intergenerational integration: direct correlation to the earlier in life that kids participate in the worship service, the more likelihood they will attend and engage in the church in their adulthood
• We will be able to treat teenagers like adults in church context; give them substantive, diverse roles serving the Body on Sunday morning.