RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Each month, I make a short video for our parents to give them tips and tools for leading their children spiritually. We post the videos on our Facebook page for parents. Here is this months. I share with them about Teachable Moments...teaching their kids God's truth on ordinary days and in ordinary ways.



Posted by Dale Hudson

My friend, Matt Wright, who is the Children's Pastor at Family Worship Center in Carrollton, Ky., recently sent me these four questions. They are great questions to ponder if you are in Children's Ministry. Below are my thoughts. Would enjoy hearing your thoughts on these questions. You can post them in the comment section below.

What 3 resources (book, magazine, newsletter, speaker, etc...) have you found to be the most practical and impacting on your journey in children’s ministry?   

Outside of the Bible...it would be....

1. Creating Ever Cool...A Marketer's Guide to a Child's Heart by Gene Del Vecchio (book)
2. Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley (book)
3. Axiom by Bill Hybels (book)

What 3 resources do you provide to parents as tools to help their children live out their faith outside the church building? 

1. Parent Connection take home paper with questions, activities, and discussions from the weekend lesson so the conversation and discipleship can continue during the week.
2. Parent Facebook page which includes downloads, a monthly video, and more.
3. Texting - weekly texts sent out with key discussion questions, verses, truths, etc.
    

If you were starting a children’s ministry from scratch, what steps would you take to build influence with your parents?  

1. A personal touch each weekend. I spend the weekend connecting with parents face-to-face before and after the service.
2. Parent focus groups. Bring in groups of 6-8 parents on a regular basis and get their honest feedback, evaluation, and ideas on how to make the children's ministry and partnership more effective.
3. Partner with adult ministries and lead a parenting class.
4. Intentionally partner with them at times like child dedication, baptism, pre-teen passage, etc.
5. Over communication...everything. 
6. Follow through and keep your commitments. When you tell them you are going to do something, make sure you keep your word.

What methods have you found to be the most effective when communicating to parents?  

1. Texting (98% of texts get read).
2. Face-to-face. 
3. Facebook page. 
4. Phone. 
5. Monthly parenting video sent out.
6. Email.
7. Weekly take home paper.
8. Weekend bulletin.   

Posted by Dale Hudson

There's a new phrase that is being used to describe today's kids. They are being called Generation R...Children of the Recession. The recession has affected kids across the country.

Recent stats show that...

• Over 1.5 million children are homeless.
• Over 16.7 million children are hungry.
• 1 in 9 children are living with an unemployed parent.
• 31 percent of the unemployed are parents.
• Over 2 million children have had their lives disrupted by foreclosure. Children who have to switch schools due to foreclosure are 77 percent more likely to develop behavioral problems in their new schools and 20 percent more likely to show violent behavior.
• The number of children living in poverty has risen 33% since 2000.

Here's more from a special CBS report that aired.


What should be our response as Children's Ministries? How can we minister to kids and families who are in the midst of this recession?

• Watch for kids and parents who are being affected by the recession. Kids are very honest. They will usually tell you when their family is having a tough time. Many times it is when they are sharing prayer requests.
• Listen to their story. When going through tough financial times, kids and families will most likely experience increased stress, tension, and arguing in their home. They need someone who will listen to their story with empathy and compassion.
• Encourage them. Many times kids and families will feel like their life is unraveling all around them. Encourage them with God's promises and affirmation.
• Provide assistance.  Provide financial assistance as you are able. Paying some utility bills, creating a food pantry, giving leads for job connections, and even providing school supplies is a big help.
  
• Pray with and for kids and parents. Pray for provision. Pray for job. Pray for patience. Pray for their faith to remain strong and even grow during the time of need.
• Secure more scholarships for church activities that cost such as camp, events, etc.
• Partner with adult ministries to provide classes for parents on finances, budgeting, steps to take during a recession, etc.

How has the recession affected kids and families in your ministry? What are some more ways we can effectively minister to Generation R and their families?

Posted by Dale Hudson

One of the best parts of serving in Children's Ministry is simply the journey. You get to do life with kids and families. You get to celebrate with them, cry with them, eat with them, struggle with them, and even laugh with them.

As I look back over the years, I can remember a lot of funny things that have happened in Children's Ministry. I'll never forget the time when one of the boys (it's usually a boy), for some reason decided to put his head through the hole in the back of his chair....right in the middle of class. (Probably because he was being bored to death by my teaching.)

Anyways, next thing I know he has his head stuck in the chair, can't get it out, and is crying for help. Needless to say, we had to stop class as everyone turned and looked at this boy with his head stuck in his chair. We tried several different angles to get the chair off, but it wouldn't budge.

I called for help as we walked with him out of class...chair still on his head. Finally some men came and after numerous attempts, we were able to squeeze the chair off his head. At the time, it wasn't very amusing...but as I look back it was hilarious. I wish I'd had a camera.

Good chance if you're in Children's Ministry that you are a driven person. You've got your "agenda to change the world" in full swing. But we have to remind ourselves to not be so serious on the journey...to remember to...

• Laugh with the kids. 
• Laugh at ourselves. Someone said those who don't laugh at themselves, leave the job to others.
• Crack a joke on a regular basis...even if it's corny.
• See more humor in life.
• Smile...even if circumstances don't seem to warrant a smile.

I know you've got a full plate today. So full, it's stacked up to the ceiling. There's meetings to attend, phone calls to make, problems to solve, and plans to discuss. But don't forget to smile. Laugh. Tell a joke. Laugh with others. Laugh at yourself. Recall something funny that's happened on the journey.

Why so serious?

p.s. I'd love to hear a funny story that has happened in your Children's Ministry journey. Feel free to share it in the comments section.

In 1975, three men met together to discuss how to change the world for Christ. Bill Bright, Loren Cunningham, and Francis Schaeffer identified seven pillars of society that are the keys to transformation. If we are going to change the world for Christ, then we must infiltrate these seven areas.

1. Business - where people either build for the glory of God or the glory of man
2. Government - where evil is either restrained or endorsed
3. Media - where information is either interpreted through the lens of good or evil
4. Arts and Entertainment - where values and virtue are either celebrated or distorted
5. Education - where truths about God and His creation or lies are taught
6. Family - where either a blessing or curse is passed on to successive generations
7. Religion - where people worship God in Spirit and Truth or settle for a religious ritual