RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Are you struggling with an event or program that you feel may have seen its better days?

Are you considering quitting a program or event?

Do you feel the passion for a particular event or program is slipping away? 

Here are 5 questions to ask yourself.

Is this a sacred cow?

Over the years, churches tend to get attached to certain events and programs.  It becomes a part of the church's DNA...whether it's still working or not. 

Use wisdom when you start talking about getting rid of a sacred cow. There is a method to getting rid of a sacred cow. I talk more about this in my coaching program. 

Are we doing this just because it's something we've always done?

Sister so and so started the ministry or program in 1965. We've been doing this ever since then. A few families in the church are heavily invested in this program or event. They will get upset if you try to change or drop the said ministry or program.  They may even quit the church if you try to change this. 

What worked in 1965 may not be working today. But they continue to prop it up because they value tradition over effectiveness. 

Does this ministry or event pass the blank piece of paper test?

What is the blank piece of paper test?  Here it is.

A year after the event or program, can you write down the names of people who have been reached and have become a part of your church family? 

I know a church that is going through this now.  They have a program that they have been doing for 9 years. The program is well attended each year, but families are not being reached through it. In fact, 9 years into the program, they can only write down the name of one family that has been reached. They are having some hard conversations about whether they should continue to do this program.

If you can't write down the names of people who have been reached and discipled, then maybe you should try something else that will help you reach kids and families.

How are people voting with their feet? 

Is the program or event well attended?  Is attendance declining?  Are you only continuing because of a small group of people who value it? 

People vote with their feet.  If they are voting "no," then why would you continue to perpetuate it. 

Is this program or event causing us to be busy but not effective?

There is a difference between being busy and being effective. Just because you are busy doesn't mean you are effective. 

Sometimes the best thing you can put on your calendar is eraser marks. 

Less truly is more. You can do a lot of things mediocre or you can do a few things with excellence. 

Every year, I challenge you to sit down and take a hard look at all of your programs and events. Ask yourself these five questions. Make changes where changes need to be made.  Remember...the Gospel is unchanging...but methods are ever-changing. 

Don't get stuck in the past. Have the courage to make changes that need to be made. Be willing for a few people to get upset so that the ministry as a whole can move forward. 

We are on an urgent mission...to reach kids and families with the Gospel and to see them discipled.  We can't afford to waste time and resources on unproductive ministry. 

Dare to ask these 5 questions about everything you are currently doing and be willing to change as needed. Remember...the last 3 letters of trend is end.  

End what is not working. It might just be what you need to do to see God move in a new and fresh way.

Do you have constant turnover in your children's ministry volunteers?

Do you want to see your volunteers go the distance with you?

Do you get tired of having to replace volunteers who have quit? 

Do you want to strengthen your volunteer team? 

Here are seven keys to keeping your volunteers long-term.

Build relationships.

How long volunteers stay is directly related to the depth of the relationships they form with you and other volunteers. 

At one of the churches where I served, I oversaw nine campuses. I would regularly go and visit the campuses during weekend services. At one of the campuses, I noticed that every time I went to visit, there were lots of volunteers and the volunteers were smiling and happy. 

I ask the director of that campus what she was doing to keep her volunteers happy and serving with joy. Whatever she was doing was working and I wanted to pass it along to the other campuses. 

Here was her response. She said, "I don't have volunteers...I have friends."

In that moment it became crystal clear. Her volunteers were happy and committed because she had built a friendship...a relationship with them.  

Let me say this one more time. If you want to keep your volunteers...build relationships with them.  

Put them where they need to be.

Have you ever asked a new volunteer where they wanted to serve and they said "wherever you need me." 

The temptation is to place them where you need them. But that often doesn't work out. 

Here's the answer. 

Instead of placing volunteers where you need them, place them where they need to be. 

Where they need to be is in a role that aligns with their gifts, talents, and interest.  Sit down with them and find out where they really want to serve.  One month after they start serving, connect with them and find out if they are enjoying where they are serving. If they are not enjoying it, then help them find another role that is a better fit. 

Put them in their dream job. 

This ties in to the previous point. You want to help people find a role that they are passionate about. A simple way to help them uncover this is to ask them this question.

What is your dream job in children's ministry?  

Once they tell you, place them in that role. When a volunteer gets in their sweet spot, they will enjoy serving.  When a volunteer gets in their sweet spot, they will thrive. When a volunteer gets in their sweet spot, you will see smiles instead of frustration.

Shepherd them well.  

If you lead well, you will become a shepherd for your volunteers. They will look to you for spiritual support, care and prayers. They will come to you with prayer requests, and spiritual needs. 

Embrace this. 

Pray with them. Cry with them. Go to the hospital to visit them. Support them. Remember...volunteers don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Empower them.

Invest in them. Train them. Trust them. Give them responsibility and let them run with it. Don't micromanage them. Believe in them.

Remember this - Don't use volunteers to build the ministry. Instead, use the ministry to build volunteers. 

Challenge them.

Volunteers want to grow. Give them opportunities to do so. As they grow, give them more responsibilities and provide them with feedback that will give them clear steps to get to the next level. 

Here's an example. 

A volunteer starts out as an assistant in a preschool room. 

As they prove themselves, challenge them to become the leader in a preschool room. 

As they continue to grow, place them in a leadership role that oversees other volunteers.

A next step would then be to place them over an entire hallway of classes. 

When a staff position comes open, offer to bring them on board.

At one of the churches were I served, we had 72 children's ministry staff members. Out of the 72, only 5 came from the outside. 67 of them started out as volunteers. As we challenged them and saw them grow, we placed them into staff roles. 

I first met Tracy at a guest reception after a church service. I saw potential in her so after the reception I invited her to see our children's ministry facilities. Long story short, she started volunteering. Then she moved into a part-time role in our preschool ministry. As she continued to grow, I gave her more responsibilities.  Today she is the children's director at a church campus of 12,000 people.  

I believe when you invest in people and challenge them to grow, they will respond and God will use them in a great way.  

Communicate well with them. 

I often say this. 

Don't expect your volunteers to shine on Sunday if you've keep them in the dark all week.  

It is important to keep your volunteers in the know. Don't catch them by surprise when it comes to making big changes, dates and plans for events, and weekly need-to-knows. I communicate with my volunteers every week through email, text messages, and phone calls. 

p.s Here's a bonus tip.

Appreciate your volunteers. Say thank you on a weekly basis. Write them a handwritten thank you note. Give them gift cards to Starbucks. Brag on them. 

Stats show that 65% of volunteers have never heard the words "thank you."  This is not the way to keep volunteers long-term. 

As you put these keys into place, you will begin to see less volunteer turn around and they will stick around. 

Your turn. What are some keys you have found to keep volunteers long-term? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

p.s. Have you read my book "The Formula for Building Great Volunteer Teams?"  In this book you will get lots of more tips on leading and keeping volunteers. It is available at this link.  

When kids transition to a new ministry environment, it can be a nervous time for them and their parents. But a strategic plan can turn transition into a time of anticipation, excitement, and spiritual growth for the kids and families in your ministry. Here are some ways to build an effective bridge for transition.

Create a partnership between environments. Helping
environments work together is key to building the bridge.

Have key staff from the new environment come and meet the transitioning kids. Have them hang out before a service, greet the kids from the stage, or even teach a lesson. We start this process three months before transition. The key staff members come at least twice a month.

Communicate. Send out communication pieces to parents. Start communicating about transition at least two months out.

Send a welcome packet to parents of transitioning kids. Include a welcome letter, sample lessons, sample take-home papers, a calendar with important dates, sign-up forms, and any other pertinent information parents will want to know.

Announce the transition to the kids. Make it fun and exciting. Tell them about cool things that will be coming up in the new environment.

Take the kids to their new environment and give them a preview before they transition. This will relieve a lot of anxiety as kids see the environment and get a feel for what it will be like.

Have an open house. It’s a great way for kids and parents to visit the new environment, ask questions, get information, and meet their new leaders. Have key staff in the room to meet the new kids and their parents. Have information packets available and consider families’ busy schedules. Consider offering several options for families to attend.

Have a graduation ceremony. Offer families a spiritual milestone they will never forget.

Ask volunteers who have worked with the kids to share memories.

Ask graduating kids to share what they’ve learned, memories, and thanks to their leaders.

Ask parents to publicly bless their kids with Scripture, thoughts, and prayer. (Ask everyone ahead of time so they have time to prepare.)

Provide graduation certificates or maybe even gifts.

Have kids walk across the stage. This is visual confirmation that they are transitioning to a new environment.

Give a brief devotion or challenge to the kids and parents. Then close with prayer. Have parents and leaders gather around the children and pray for them.

Have a party, cookout, or reception after the ceremony. This is a great time for staff, volunteers, and students from the new ministry environment to connect with transitioning kids and parents.

I have created a graduation celebration milestone kit for kids who are transitioning up to middle school ministry. It includes everything you need for a great transition strategy and ceremony. It is available at this link. 

Keep kids grouped together as much as possible. Keeping groups together will provide security for kids and help them continue to deepen relationships.

Have volunteers move up with kids. We love it when volunteers want to move up with their kids! It helps calm kids’ fears, but more important, when a leader invests in a child’s life over the years, the spiritual impact is multiplied. 

Make yourself available for kids or families who are struggling during transition. I have found over the years that transition has a way of revealing kids and families who need an extra ministry touch. Perhaps it brings out the anxiety a child may still be feeling from a divorce; perhaps it shows parenting challenges a mom or dad is facing. How will you know who they are? Don’t worry…usually they will come to you. Whatever the need, be there to encourage them and walk with them through this time.

One of the great joys of being in children’s ministry for the long haul is seeing kids grow up and become fully devoted followers of Christ. It reminds you that all the time you spent building bridges for them was well worth it. 

The kids in your ministry will grow up fast. Be there to build bridges across the transitions.