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Children and Adolescent Ministries at San Jose Hispanic Church
San Jose Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church puts children and adolescents first. That priority is one of the main reasons the church is vibrant and full of young families, children, and youth. Gerson Raul Perla, Director of Children and Adolescent Ministries for the San Jose Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church, says, “From the time a mother is pregnant, we anxiously await the birth of the child. Once the baby is born, not only does our department welcome the infant and its parents, but the entire congregation celebrates and helps support this precious gift from Christ and its family.”
The church’s children’s ministry program focuses on introducing young people to God, demonstrating through the “Alive in Jeus” curriculum how much God loves them. Once God’s love is established in the child’s life, the teachers help develop a grateful heart and spirit in each child, making it easier for them to develop the many talents the children share in church and their community as an expression of their gratitude for God’s love.
From a young age, children develop skills in public speaking, singing, arts and crafts, witnessing, playing instruments, acting, service, preaching, and evangelism. These talents stem from believing that God loves them and that there are so many ways to return that love and to express “I love God” – from the children’s choir and children’s sermons, to sharing used clothes, art, and food with their community.
Ruby Perla leads the baptismal class for the entire department, and she works throughout the week with various children and adolescents who wish to prepare for baptism. As a result, twice a year the church is blessed with a large group of young people who give their lives to Christ.
“We are very flexible and meet the child and their parents on their schedule,” Ruby shares, “I make myself available in person or via Zoom, during the day or the evening, and during the week or the weekend. Sometimes we have a parent who is a non-Adventist and asks to attend the Baptismal Class with their child and to the glory of God, we have many examples of not just the child deciding to give their life to Christ, but we have the joy of baptizing the child with their parent!”
Gerson trains each teacher and is deeply grateful to God and to them for their arduous work. Every teacher prepares during the week so that each Sabbath School class is rich with activities, music, Bible plays, arts and crafts, beautiful settings, and the study of the Word of God.
Something that is unique to San Jose Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church is that they include more than just a Children’s Story in the divine worship service. The church’s leadership allows the Children and Adolescent Ministries to lead the divine worship service in a very special program twice a year!
“This is where we show that we mean what we say,” Gerson explains, “It tells each child and young person that the sanctuary and the main service is theirs too and that they are equally important to our congregation and to God. When a child learns that God loves them, when we develop their talents so they can express their love to God and their community, and when we consistently make space for children and youth in all our Church services, then that child begins to identify that church as their own. Their experience and love for God become deeply rooted, and it becomes less likely that they will leave the church.”
Gerson shares, “We praise God for His blessings on this ministry, the teachers and the families and young people who continue to grow in Jesus and share His love with others. My hope is that our story can inspire other teachers, leaders and churches to focus on children and youth first, as they are the foundation of Christ’s Church.”
Article written by Gerson Raul Perla
Director of Children & Adolescent Ministries
San Jose Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church
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