RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

I am finishing up VBS this week. But I am not finished with VBS for the year.  I'm just getting started. 

I believe some of the most important, strategic steps you can take are AFTER VBS. 

I'd go as far as saying the steps you take after VBS are just as important as the steps you take before VBS. 

If you want to see fruit that remains and continues after VBS, then these steps are crucial.  

Write thank you notes.

Write a handwritten, personal note to everyone who served on your team. There would not have been a VBS without them.  If you have the budget for it, you can include a small gift like a Starbucks card. 

Invite the volunteers who served for the first time to join your team on a full-time volunteer basis. 

Make sure you help them have a good serving experience and then make the ask the week after VBS.  I've had as high as 85% of them say yes to joining our team.   

Clean up.  

After VBS is a good time to clean and de-clutter your spaces.  

Do you have any closets that are scary to go into?  I do and the week after VBS I am going to do something about it.  

Whether we realize it or not, our storage areas send a message.  Your volunteers know if your space is clean and organized or a junk pile. Everything must walk the talk. 

Take...rather make some time to organize and clean your storage areas.  

The last time I was at Disney World, I snuck a peek and checked out their sound booth area at one of the attractions. It was spotless. No clutter...no mess...no dust...it was immaculate.  Seeing that reminded me Disney is committed to excellence in every area...and it shows. We can learn much from this.

Debrief.

Be purposeful about gathering feedback.  Ask your volunteers to answer these questions.

What went well?

What needs to be changed or adjusted?  

What can we do to make VBS even better next year?

The feedback you gather will be valuable information that will help you improve the experience next year. 

Follow up with guests. 

Connect with guests that attended.  Reach out to these families and invite them to return. This is a great opportunity to reach unchurched parents who brought their child to VBS. 

Celebrate and share praise reports.

Many people invested in your VBS.  Now is your opportunity to pay them.  Pay them?  Yes, pay them. The pay they want is to know who God used the time, talent, and treasure they invested.  

Share with them how many kids indicated they want to enter a relationship with Jesus. 

Share with them how many kids attended.

Share with them about families who were reached. 

Share with them about the volunteers who invested in the kids. 

You can take it to the next level by making a recap video to show them.  

Have a salvation / baptism class the week after VBS. 

In a recent article, I shared why I don't do large group salvation prayers at VBS.

Instead, I offer a salvation class called Starting Point.  The class is for kids and parents to attend together.  No drop offs. In this class, I thoroughly share the Gospel with kids and their parents. At the end of the class, many parents lead their children to Jesus.  The cool thing is this...I usually always see some parents come to Christ as well.  I host the class the Sunday and Wednesday after VBS. 

You can get the Starting Point class at this link.  It is used by hundreds of churches to lead children and parents to Jesus. 

So...there you have it. 7 Key Steps to Take After VBS.  

What are some other steps you take?  Share with us in the comment section below. 

Some people think you only have to be good at teaching kids to be a children's pastor.

The truth is...there are so many more things you need to be good at if you are going to be a successful children's pastor. 

Let's look at what it really takes to be a children's pastor. These are in no particular order.

Skill #1 - A builder of volunteer teams.

If you want to be a successful children's pastor, then you have to know how to build volunteer teams. 

The success of your ministry will rise and fall on the strength of the volunteer team you build.  There is no way around it.  You must be able to build volunteer teams. You can be great with children, but if you can't lead volunteers, you will have a hard time. 

When young leaders ask me what they should be focusing on, I always tell them to become good at building volunteer teams. I believe it is the most important skill you can have.  

The good news is this...you can learn how to build volunteer teams. If you haven't read my book, "The Formula for Building Great Volunteer Teams," you need to get a copy today. It's available at this link - it has been called the best book ever written on the subject.  

Skill #2 - A vision caster.

Where will you take the people you are leading?  

What is the vision you are sharing with them?

People won't follow a person who has no vision.  

Get alone with God and seek His vision for your ministry.  

Point people toward a big vision.  

Be passionate about the vision.  

People will follow someone who is passionate about the vision God has placed before them.

Skill #3 - Public speaker.

You need to be able to teach kids effectively. 

You need to be able to speak to parents and adults effectively as well. 

If you don't feel confident as a public speaker, the good news is you can improve and get better at this.  

Skill #4 - Connect well with kids. 

You are in children's ministry.  They are your ministry.  

Learn how to connect with kids when you talk with them.  

Learn how to make them laugh.  

Learn how to say silly, funny things to them.  

Especially focus on being able to talk with first-time guests. 

Skill #5 - Navigating conflict resolution.

Believe it or not, there are times when conflict arises in children's ministry.

Volunteers will get upset with you.  Volunteers  will get upset with each other.

Parents will get upset. Parents will become disgruntled.  

I am not naturally good with conflict.  I don't like it...but it is important that you learn how to deal with it and solve it. 

There are lots of great books you can read to get better at conflict resolution.  I personally recommend the book "How to Have That Hard Conversation" by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. You can get this book on Amazon.

Skill #6 - Influencer of parents.

Being able to influence parents is even more important than influencing kids.  

No one has more influence in a child's life than his or her parents.  Influence parents and you will influence their children.  

Always be thinking "parents."  

How can I extend this lesson into the home?

Remember...when you reach a child, God changes a life.  But when you reach parents, God changes an entire family. 

You need to be able to connect with parents.  

Skill #7 - Motivator of people.

You need to be able to rally volunteers around a common vision.  

You need to be excited about what God is doing and effectively share this with volunteers.

You need to be able to effectively share the "why" to your volunteers.' 

Skill #8 - Team manager 

You must be able to equip volunteers. 

You must be able to empower volunteers.

You must be able to communicate well with volunteers.

You must be able to help volunteers find their sweet spot and minister in it.

Skill #9 - Event planner and organizer. 

Kid's camp.

VBS.

Fall Trunk or Treat.

Easter Egg Hunt.

You must be able to plan events and empower leaders to own the plans. 

Skill #10 - Counselor and shepherd.  

You must become a shepherd and counselor for your volunteers.  

When they need prayer, they will come to you. 

When they need council, they will come to you.

When they need comfort, they will come to you.

When they need advice, they will come to you. 

Don't feel inadequate when you look at this list...we've got your back. You can do this. These are skills that can be learned and improved in.  

Here are a couple more resources for you. 

The book "Lead Well in Children's Ministry" contains lots of wisdom about leading in children's ministry.  You can get it here.

I have a 6 month coaching experience that you can be a part of.  You can get more info. at this link about Advance Children's Ministry Coaching.  

Keep growing...keep learning...keep stretching...keep pushing yourself.  You got this. 

How do we know if kids are growing in their faith?  What markers can we establish that will help us measure this? What do they need to know from God's Word that will help them grow?

I spent many hours mapping out 30 key discipleship topics.  I believe that these are the key topics that will help kids grow in their faith.  

Here are the 30...

God

Forever Love

Salvation

Baptism

Communion

Prayer

The Bible

Sharing Your Faith

Worship

Creation

Jesus

Holy Spirit

Heaven

The Church

Fruit of the Spirit

Your Purpose in Life

Faith

Sin and Forgiveness

Forgiving Others

The Apostle Paul

Praise

Angels

10 Commandments

Wisdom From God

Giving

Joy

Friends

Faithfulness

Overcoming Temptation

These topics are available in my new kids' discipleship devotion book.

It's called "A Great Start" and helps kids get off to a great start in their spiritual growth. 

You can get more information at this link.

Do you want to become a better children's ministry leader?

Did you know that as you grow as a leader, your ministry will grow in proportion? 

Rick Warren said this.   

"As I grew, the church grew."  

Warren decided to focus on growing his own faith and leadership, which in turn, led to the growth of his church.  

This shows a belief that individual spiritual development and leadership effectiveness are crucial for your ministry to grow.

If you are leading at a level of 10, then your ministry will grow at a level of 10 as well.

If you are leading at a level of 5, then your ministry will grow at a level of 5. 

Here's the good news. You can increase your level of leadership.  

How?  Is there a pill you can take for this?  No...unfortunately not. 

But there is a way that you can grow as a leader.  It's by getting a coach who can encourage you, push you, equip you, help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, and help you develop a personal growth plan.

I'd like to be the person who invests in you.  With over 36 years of experience, I can partner with you and help you grow as a children's ministry leader.  From this, you will see your ministry grow.

Advance Children's Ministry Coaching includes: 

• 6 months of coaching. (July to December) 

• Monthly group coaching call. Live, one-hour sessions on the important topics listed below. Each session includes teaching and group discussions. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the topics with Dale and the other leaders in the group.  Sessions are also recorded so you have access to them later.  Topics include...

• self leadership
• leading staff and volunteers
• leading through changes and challenges
• keys to growing a ministry
• creating a dynamic children's ministry culture in your church
• partnering with parents
• staying relevant in ministry

•  Personal growth plan:  

• One-hour zoom call with Dale to help you identify areas of growth and development.  From this, Dale will help you create a one-year growth plan in those areas. Includes identifying your personality traits, strengths, weaknesses and blind spots. Plan includes developing a personal mission statement, key books to read, guided growth conversations to have with key people in your life, action steps, setting goals and helping measure progress. There is also a one-hour follow-up phone session at the end of the year to access and celebrate your growth.

• Copy of 6 of Dale's books: ($85 value)