Pastor's and Staff's Kids...Live Online Seminar

P.K. That is short for pastor's kid. In this live seminar, we are going to talk about how to best minister to this special group of kids whose father or mother is a pastor or staff member. P.K.s go through challenging times, many of which are because they are a P.K. (I know - I am a P.K.). P.K.s often feel like they live in a glass bowl.

33% of P.K.s no longer attend church. Why is this?

In this seminar, we are going to take a deep dive into what causes some P.K.'s to stray and how we can prevent that from happening.

As pastors and ministry leaders, our most important ministry is our own family. And yet for many leaders, they fall into the trap of not pouring enough into their children due to the demands of the ministry.

In this seminar, we are going to talk about...

• What causes P.K.s to stray?
• What are the best practices for ministering to P.K.s?
• What pastors say they have done best in raising their children.
• What pastors wish they had done better.
• How to pour into your children while you are in ministry.
• How to keep your family first and not let them take a back seat to ministry.

        and much more.

If you are a pastor, staff member or someone who ministers to pastor's and staff's kids, you need to be part of this seminar.

When you register, you will receive a copy of Dale's newest book - Fertile Soil...how to see kids' faith grow and flourish for a lifetime ($17 value). If you live outside the USA, you will receive the ebook version. 

You can register at this link.

Can't make it to the live seminar? No problem. The seminar will be recorded and will be available for you on demand.

Join us as we discuss this critical topic.

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Children's Ministry Video Update with Dale Hudson

Hey friends.  If you haven't heard, I have a brand new book out that can help you and your ministry see kids follow Jesus for a lifetime.  

The book is entitled "Fertile Soil."  In this book, I share the 3 big reasons why kids walk away from the faith and the steps you can take to prevent that from happening.  

The book is available in both ebook and paperback formats. It can be purchased on Amazon or at my website. 

I believe this book can change the way we do children's ministry and help us see many more kids have a growing faith that will last for a lifetime.

Check out this short video below for more information.

 

If you are reading this in an email and can't see the video, you can view it directly at this link.

Book is available on Amazon at this link. 

Book is available on my website at this link.

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Children's Ministry is Essential for Your Church's Success

If you serve in children's ministry, you are serving in the most strategic ministry in the church. 

If your church is going to grow, it will be because your children's ministry starts growing. 

If you emphasize the importance of children's ministry, you will have people step up and serve in children's ministry. 

The most important physical space in your church, is your children's ministry space. 

Remember this...

Children's ministries that have subpar space, will seem worse than the ministry really is. 

Children's ministries that have excellent space, will seem better than the ministry really is.

Jesus believed in children's ministry.  We often see Him taking time to minister to children.

Children's ministry is how you reach families.  Think about how many times in Scripture when parents came to Jesus for one reason.  They needed help for their child.  Their first contact with Jesus was because of their children.  This still rings true today.  You can reach parents and grandparents through their children.  I have seen this happen so many times.

When you make children's ministry a top priority, Jesus will bless your ministry.  Every single time when we invested in children's ministry I saw the ministry begin to grow.  

One of the churches where I served as children's pastor grew from a weekend attendance of 6,000 to 16,000 in three years.  Guess when the growth explosion happened?  After we build a new children's ministry area.  This type of exponential growth can happen when you make children's ministry a top priority.

A church that maximizes children's ministry will maximize the blessings of Jesus. A church that minimizes children's ministry will minimize the blessings of Jesus. 

Churches that are dying...and there are lots of them...are dying because they are not successfully passing off the faith to the next generation.  If you do not reach the next generation, your church is terminal.  You will eventually have to close the doors.   

I often say, "Where there is no crying (nursery), your church is dying."

But you can change that.  If you will turn and engage the next generation, you can see your church begin to grow and flourish.  When churches die, it is often because the older generation isn't willing to let go of their preferences.  Notice I said "preferences" because that is what it is.  One of the biggies is worship music.  The older generation doesn't want to introduce new worship songs that the next generation can connect with.  In the "struggle" to keep the church tied down with their preferences, they are missing out on the opportunity to engage the next generation.  

Personal preferences are often generational. Older generations like older hymns. The next generation likes worship music and style that is connected with their generation.  Hence the battle of the worship preferences begins.  I am not saying you can't sing any hymns. And I am not saying we should abandon great hymns like "Amazing Grace." But I am saying that new worship songs should be the predominate theme if you want to reach the next generation. 

In closing...let me ask you this.

Are you willing to step up to the plate for the next generation?

Are you willing to change to reach the next generation?

Are you willing to make children's ministry a top priority?

If you want your church to grow and thrive...then that is what needs to happen.

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One Word That Can Take Your Guest Services to the Next Level

I have to eat out a lot when I am traveling.  It's always interesting to see how businesses try to create welcoming environments and great personal service. 

This past week, I was in the car line at a well known fast food restaurant. As the person greeted me, she asked for my name.  As she finished up taking the order, she said a magical word.  The word was...

Dale. 

"Thank you Dale for eating with us today."

When I got to the pick-up window, I was again met by someone who greeted me with "Hi Dale. Here is your food. Thanks for eating with us today."

I'm just like you and everyone else.  My name is music to my ears. When someone goes out of the way to address me by my name, it makes a great impression. 

Most of the time, the opposite happens.  The person at the window approaches with a look that says, "I don't like working here" and "I'm sure not going to go out of my way to call you by name."

This is a reminder of one simple step that can take your guest services to the next level. 

Use people's names when you are talking with them.  It makes a great impression, especially when it is their first time to visit your ministry.  When you address people by their name, it will set you apart from the other places they go and interact with.

Name tags normally provide us with an easy way to remember guests' names.  But there are situations where you will be introduced to a new family that hasn't gotten checked in yet.  If you are like me, I have a hard time remembering people's names that I have just met.  

I have a friend who is excellent at meeting new people and remembering their names.  I asked him how he became so good at remembering peoples' names.  He told me when he hears the person's name, he repeats it 10 times in his head.  This enables him to call guests by their name.

This has been a short post, but I hope you get the main point.  Say people's names often...especially first time guest families.  It will make a difference. And it will take your guest service experience to the next level.

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Make the Ask

Check out this verse. 

“You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” James 4:2-3

What do you need for the ministry you lead?  Budget increase?  More volunteers? A new building?  More staff members?  

If you need any of these things, it starts by making the ask. 

The reason you may not have what you need for the ministry, may be because you simply haven't made the ask. 

The verses go on to say that you may not have what you need because you have wrong motives.  You are asking because of pride or competitiveness or the need to feel important. You want to have the best children's ministry facilities in your city for bragging rights. You want to reach more kids so your self-esteem can be boosted. You may want to feel validated.

Get past the wrong motives and you have unhindered access to a Heavenly Father who loves you and wants to provide your ministry needs and even dreams.  

So, if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  Mathew 7:11

Why haven't you made the ask yet for the dream God has placed in your heart?  

What is holding you back from making the ask?  Fear of rejection?  Lack of trust in God?  Believing it's not important enough to make the ask?  

My dear friend...I want you to know today that God is ready to answer your prayers and give you what you need so you and your ministry flourish. 

Around 25 years ago, I was a young children's pastor in my early 30's (that's young when you are now 55) The ministry I was leading was growing. In-spite of being in an old, dark room that was used for funerals, we were packing the room out with kids. 

During this time, God placed a dream in my spirit to build a new children's ministry area.  I was very, very nervous about making this ask. Would the Pastor and elder board say "yes?"  Would they dismiss my dream?  Would they see children's ministry as a valuable ministry that they were ready to invest in?

A meeting was set for a Wednesday night.  I remember how nervous I was walking into that room of older, wiser men.  I took a big breathe and shared with them the vision God had placed in my heart. I had a folder for each person in the room that explained the vision and what I believed God could do if we pursued this.

After I finished the presentation, the chairman of the elder board stood and said he had to leave early for another appointment he had.  Besides the pastor,  he was the most influential person in the room.  He paused at the door as he was leaving and said, "I believe we should do this."  

That "yes" was the beginning of a great ministry adventure as we begin reaching new families for Christ and saw the ministry grow exponentially. 

I felt overwhelmed with joy and appreciation.  I was so glad that I had made the ask...even when I doubts about it. 

I told you that story to tell you this.  

Make the ask.  

I know it seems like too big of an ask.  But make the ask anyways. 

I know you are hesitant to make the ask because you are afraid your vision will never come to pass.  But make the ask anyways.  

I know you are afraid to make the ask.  But remember you serve a great, big God and if He is in it, don't let anything stop you from making the ask. 

I know you feel stuck in a rut and wonder if you will ever get out.  Make the ask.  It may propel you forward.   

Don't let the reason the ministry didn't move forward be due to a lack of asking.  

One final thought.  As the verse says - make sure you are asking for the right reason.  Make the ask for God's glory.  Make the ask for building His kingdom.  Make the ask with the end result being people coming to Christ. 

Ask.

Ask. 

Ask.  

You have a great God who will hear and answer you.  He's just waiting for you to make the ask.

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