RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Seems like we are rocketing toward the future.  New innovation, technology, and changes are happening so rapidly we can hardly keep up with it.  

Around 35% of the world's population is under 20 years of age; known as Generation Z and Generation Alpha. Don't forget the newest generation as well...Gen Beta.

As we look out at the future,  we have to ask ourselves what children's ministry will look like...even just 10 years from now.  

As I research and study the next 10 years in children's ministry, major changes and innovations seem to move into my insight.

Let's talk about what I believe children's ministry will look like in 10 years.

Children will be less religious than today's children. 

The number of families who attend church is decreasing and will continue to do so unless we have a major revival or spiritual awakening.  More and more young adults are less likely to identify with a religion or be tied to a church. These young adults will be the parents of children in the next 10 years.

Back in 2007, nones only made up 16% of Americans. The "nones" are clarified as people who have no religion.  When Americans are asked to check a box indicating their religious affiliation, 28% check "none."  Religious "nones" will raise children who are religious "nones."

Children's ministries will be more diverse that today.

Diversity is a good thing. It's what Heaven will look like.  As America continues to become more diverse, so children will be more diverse.  

Since 2010, the U.S. population has become more racially and ethnically diverse.  Here are some examples among some of our states.

• In 2010, Nevada was 62.5% diverse. In 2020, it was 68.8% diverse.
• In 2010, Maryland was 60.7% diverse. In 2020, it was 67.3% diverse.
• In 2010, Georgia was 58.8% diverse. In 2020, it was 64.1% diverse.
• In 2010, New York was 60.2% diverse. In 2020, it was 65.8% diverse.

Churches that reach children and their families will reflect the diversity of their communities.

Children's ministries will not use DVD players.

This is happening now to a large extent.  Streaming is dominating all usage of video content.  In ten years or sooner, kids will be asking what a DVD is.  Cable TV companies will cease to exist unless they make the switch to being a totally streaming service.  

Digital Bibles.

I know the arguments.  I get it. At times, a hard copy of God's Word does seem better. We must also remember that the Bible is God's Word no matter if it is a hard copy or digital copy.  Today's kids are growing up with digital books...including a digital Bible. 10 years from now, I believe kids will primarily read God's Word on their phone, tablet, laptop or computer.  

More and more children's ministry leaders will work remotely during the week. 

I can personally attest to this already.  In my last job in a local church, I was given the opportunity to work at home. I spend at least half of my time working at home or in a coffee shop.  I believe this trend will continue to gain rapid acceptability.  

The future of work will be hybrid, with in-person and remote aspects.

The number of children and families who worship online will continue to increase.  

This is not ideal in my opinion. I believe children should worship physically among other believers.  I believe children should have face-to-face connections with volunteers.  I believe children should be prayed for in person.  

Yes, this can be accomplished to some extent virtually, but I don't think it is the same as in person. But virtual worship is here to stay and we must adapt, if we are going to reach and disciple the next generation.  In ten years, I believe we will see a balance of both in person and online worship experiences.

A.I.

A.I. will help kids learn more about God's Word.

A.I. will help create Bible lessons for teachers.

A.I. will cause kids to talk more and type less.  Kids are growing up talking with Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant. This will effect how they learn at church.  Kids will explore and learn through interactive games and activities with A.I.

A.I. powered lessons will adapt to children’s individual needs and learning styles. They will provide tailored lessons, exercises, and feedback, which help children engage and grasp new concepts more readily.

A.I. will lead to their eventually being robotic volunteers in some aspects of children's ministry. Normally children's ministries don't have the budget to purchase cutting-edge educational resources. But mark it down, there will come a time, as A.I. becomes more affordable, that children's ministries will move into A.I. volunteers to supplement some of their live volunteers.

A.I. will play a major role in how children born today experience the world 10 years from now. 

Immersive learning experiences.

Virtual reality will be used to create learning experiences that will immerse children right into the story. Kids will be able to walk on the battle field with David.  Kids will be able to help Noah build the ark.  Kids will be able to watch as Moses parts the Red Sea. Kids will be able to help pass out the food to the 5,000.  The lines between physical and digital worlds will become blurred which will lead to amazing learning experiences.

The future is in the hands of the children that you and I minister to.  Today’s kids are not waiting for the future to come to them, they are actively shaping it.  They are ready to make a significant impact. They want their voices to be heard and their actions to inspire change. Adults who believe in young people and provide mentorship and guidance can have a huge role in their future success.

It's up to us to help mold them into a life that is passionate about knowing Jesus and following Him.  

Ready for the next 10 years? Let's go! 

Your turn. What do you think children's ministry will look like in 10 years. Feel free to share your thoughts and insights in the comment section below.

Do you have an eye for detail? It's important to pay close attention to the details if you want a ministry that is done with excellence. 

A great example of excellence is Disney. While I don't approve of everything they do or say, there is much we can learn from them when it comes to paying attention to the details.

Walt was famous for his eye for detail, and he made sure that everyone on his team paid the same attention that he did.

He said this...

Whatever you do, do it well. Do it so well that when people see you do it, they will want to come back and see you do it again, and they will want to bring others and show them how well you do what you do.

Here are some examples of this strategy in motion.

Disney World uses over 15,000 speakers to play ambient music in the park.  All of those "little speakers" add up to an overall experience of excellent background music.

The manhole covers in Disneyland have an emblem of Mickey Mouse on them.

There are underground tunnels that the cast members use to get to their positions. This is so people won't see characters outside of their part of the park.

Florida is humid and there's a lot of dew, so each morning, bright and early, a small army of cast members wipe and dry each and every surface a guest could sit, put their things or their children on. 

The light posts and trash cans change between areas of the park to reflect the unique differences in decor.

The horses on the King Arthur Carousel are all individually hand-carved and painted. They are continually being repainted and all the brass is polished every night.

Look in the windows at Liberty Square and you will see a rifle in one of the windows.  This represents the Minutemen during the revolutionary war.

There are no public bathrooms in Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom.  Walt designed it this way because there were no indoor bathrooms during colonial times.

If you ride Dumbo the Flying Elephant, look down at the ground and you will see elephant footprints.

When you walk into Toy Story Land, you will notice huge footprints from Andy.

Listen to the fog horn sound when you go on a Disney Cruise. It plays "When You Wish Upon a Star."

When the Pirates of the Caribbean ride opened in 1967, the fake skeletons available were so unconvincing that the engineers borrowed medical research skeletons – yes, real ones – from UCLA.

The sorcerer in Fantasia is called Yen Sid. Spell it backwards.

In the Aladdin movie, when Genie takes Aladdin's order, he writes from right to left, the way Arabic is written.

Pirates of the Caribbean attraction has special smells pumped into the air. You can pick up the smell of damp wood and gunpowder.  

You can hear music and vocal exercises coming from the window marked, "singing lessons" on Main Street. 

On the Mount Everest ride, the climbing gear in the queue is actual gear salvaged from Mount Everest.

Some of the handrails in Disney World get repainted every night to keep them looking fresh.

What great examples of being committed to the details.  

Do you have an eye for detail?  It is something that can be learned.  Here are a few ways to create a culture that has an eye for detail.

Pay attention to the small things.  

Excellence is the whisper that comes from a thousand small things done well.

Small things add up to being big things.

Live by lists.  

Write it down.  Write it down. Write it down.  Write it down.  Write it down.

Gather people around you that have an eye for detail. 

If you are not a details person, gather people around you who are. They can help you grow in this area of leadership.

Look at things intentionally.

Do this.  At least once a month, get 3-4 people together and walk your ministry space.  Look for things that need to be fixed or cleaned. Write down what you see.  Put it on a to-do-list and take care of it as soon as possible. 

It's easy to get blind to what needs attention.  We get used to seeing the same things week after week and that familiarity leads to missing the details.  The cure for this is being intentional about looking for the small details.  

Remember everything walks the talk.  

We must remember that everything we do is important when it comes to details. Everything we do should walk the talk.  Will you miss something occasionally?  Yes.  Will your ministry space and programs hit 100% all the time.  Probably not. But that is what we should be striving for.

That stain on the carpet that you've been walking over...must walk the talk.

The chipped paint on the wall that you've gotten accustomed to...must walk the talk.

The typos in the lesson plan you send to your volunteers...must walk the talk.

The supplies that didn't get put in the buckets for your teachers...must walk the talk. 

The messy, unorganized storage space...must walk the talk.

The cluttered sound booth...must walk the talk.

The volunteer meeting that you come unprepared for...must walk the talk.

Work on these type things and you will start developing an eye for detail and that eye for detail will help you take your ministry to the next level.

Have you read my best-selling book "If Disney Ran Your Children's Ministry?"  You can get your copy today at this link or on Amazon.  It will help you learn even more about doing ministry with excellence.

It's only 2 days away! The Children's Ministry Online Conference.  

We will be talking about effective strategies to see more of your guests return and get connected to your church. 

Did you know the average guest return rate is only 7%?  

But in this conference, you will discover how to see 38% or higher of guests return for a second visit.  

The conference is in 2 days - October 16 from 11:00 am - noon. (central time zone)

Here's some cool news. When you sign up for the conference, you will receive a copy of my new book "Be Our Church Guest." You'll also receive on demand access for the conference so you can watch it later with your staff and volunteers. 

I don't say this light-heartily.  

THE FIRST IMPRESSION TRULY IS A LASTING IMPRESSION. 

You have one opportunity to make a first impression.  If a guest doesn't have a great first impression, they are not going to come back.  It doesn't matter how many times you call them, email them or text them, they won't be back.

That's way it's so important that you attend this conference, if you want to see your ministry grow.  

Get signed up now. You can sign up for the conference at this link.

See you there.

You only get one opportunity to make a great first impression.

The truth is this - if a guest family has a bad experience...they will not be back.  It doesn't matter if you call them or send them an email...they aren't coming back. 

With this in mind, here are 10 things you should never say to a guest family if you want to see them return.

"I don't know."

There is so much finality when you say this. It leaves the guest family with no options and very frustrated. 

Instead say, "That's a great question. Let me find out for you." 

"It's down that hallway and up the stairs." 

You should always walk a guest family to their classroom.  You are familiar with the church layout.  But your customer is not. Don't frustrate them by making them find a room by themselves.  Instead of trying to give them directions, have someone personally walk them there. 

Remember - never point with directions...always walk your guest to their room. 

We don't have anyone who can help you with that.

I was checking out at a large department store. One of the items did not have a bar code on it, so they couldn't scan it.  I asked the cashier if someone could bring another one to the front.  She looked around and then said these words, "We can't help you with this - we ain't got nobody."

This was very frustrating on so many levels.  I didn't get the item I needed and it was obvious no one had effectively trained their staff about what to do and say in these type of situations.  

Don't let a lack of volunteers frustrate guest families.  Build your volunteer team so you have enough people to meet the needs of guests.

I'm just a volunteer.

If you don't train and empower your volunteers, they will say this when asked about something they don't know.  

Invest in your team members.  Show them you value them.  Equip them with the information they need to be successful. 

If you are truly equipping and empowering your volunteers, guests won't be able to tell the difference between staff and volunteers.  Let that be your goal and multiply yourself.

We have a policy about that.

Yes. You can't bend on safety and security rules. But there are some "policies" that you can bend on.  Especially if it will benefit your guest.  

Remember...people come before policies.  Here's a common example of this. A guest family asks if their children could attend the same class even though they are a few years apart. If you value policies more than you do people...you would tell the family that you don't allow this.  But could you?  Maybe at least for their first visit? 

I can't do that.

This can come across as cold hearted.  Is this something that you could do, even if it's an inconvenience?  This is an opportunity to go the second mile instead of saying "no."

Calm down.

When a guest is upset, the words "calm down" will have the opposite effect.  It will escalate the situation. Instead of saying "calm down," take things down a notch by answering with a lower decibel level and say "I understand. Let's work together to resolve this."

That's not my department.

This says, "you are not important enough for me to find out what is happening in another department."  One way you can fix this is to give your team a list each week of what is happening in the other departments in the church. 

It's not our fault.

Be quick to accept responsibility when there is a glitch or misunderstanding. Interact with a humble spirit with the guests God brings your way.  Remember...it's not about who is right or wrong in a situation.  It's about helping guests first and foremost.  Don't let your pride get in the way of this.

What was your name again?

The sweetest sound to a person is their name.  Ask guests for their names and then use their name several times as you interact with them.  When you keep asking someone what their name is, it devalues them.  Work at being good at remembering names.  It will make a difference. 

Your turn. What else should you never say to a guest?  Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

p.s. Have you registered yet for the upcoming online conference?  It's going to be about how to have excellent guest services.  The kind of service that will help you see more guests return for a second visit. 

Here's more info. below.  You can register now at this link.  When you register, you will also receive my new book "Be Our Church Guest."  This book will help you take your guest services to a whole new level.