It's a glaring reality that there are a lot more women in Children's Ministry than men. Why?
Is it because we have made Children's Ministry too feminine? We give away "tote bags" to new volunteers...use feminine colors...create training activities geared toward women...ask men to stand in a circle and hold hands...and then wonder why they don't want to be a part of Children's Ministry.
It's time we "man up" Children's Ministry.
- Intentionally go after men to volunteer. Go where men are... Men's Ministry...men's Bible classes and groups...Fathers.
- Show men the impact they can have serving in Children's Ministry. They don't want to "babysit." They want to be a part of something they see as significant. Show them the difference they can make in the lives of boys who desperately need a strong male role model.
- Place men in some of your key volunteer leadership roles. Get men involved in your decision making processes, ask for their insight from a male perspective, have them lead other men, etc.
- Remember men attract men. Ask the men that are serving to help enlist other men to serve.
- Hire men on your Children's Ministry staff. If you have multiple staff members on your Children's Ministry team, make sure some of them are men.
- Provide men with strong leadership. Men are attracted to strong leaders.
- Don't force men into training activities or situations where they don't feel comfortable. Keep them in mind when you are putting together training activities, prayer times, etc. Is the activity something a man will look at as "too feminine?"
- Make sure your colors aren't too feminine. If you give your volunteers a shirt to wear when they are serving, make sure it's a color the average guy will be comfortable in. When you are decorating for a training event, you might consider not putting out the lacy table cloth and pretty flowers.
What are your thoughts? Do you believe we've made Children's Ministry too feminine? What can we do to change this perception? What can we do to get more men involved? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
