Show me a church that is thriving and I will show you a church that has a thriving children's ministry. Each year, Outreach magazine reports on the fastest growing church's and the largest churches. Last year I researched the top 20 churches in growth. Without exception, every one of them has a thriving children's ministry.
See...I believe God will bless churches that make children's ministry a top priority. Look what it says in Mark 9:37.
“Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me,
and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who
sent me.”
When you welcome children, you open the door for God to bless your ministry.
Do you know the top two reasons people pick a church?
1. How friendly are you?
2. What do you have for my children?
In the last few weeks, I have seen two children come to Jesus.
One is a 5th grader who was brought by a friend. His parents do not attend church. I called and shared with his mother that he is asking about being baptized. She brought him to the church one afternoon and I shared the Gospel with them. He will be baptized next week and his unchurched family is coming to his baptism. I am praying that the entire family will come to Jesus.
The other child is a 6th grader who lives in the neighborhood that our church is located in. She rides her bike to church each week. On her own. No encouragement from home. She has also come to Christ and now she wants to be baptized. I am talking with her mother about this. Mom has given permission for her to be baptized and I am praying all of her family will come to see her baptized so they can hear the Gospel as well.
I have seen this happen hundreds of times. God uses a child to reach an entire family. Think about how many times in the Bible when people came to Jesus through their children. Their first contact with Jesus was because of their children. They needed their child to be healed. They needed their child to be brought back to life. They needed their children to be blessed by Jesus.
Reaching children is crucial if you want your church to be healthy and thriving. I often say this...
"If you can't hear any crying...then your church is dying."
A church that is not reaching children and young families is dying.
That being established, here are some ways to help your children's ministry thrive.
Make the children's ministry budget a priority.
Put your best people (volunteers) in children's ministry.
Make children's ministry a high priority.
Place a gifted leader over your children's ministry.
Make your children's ministry physical space the best space in the church building.
You want to see your church thrive? Then share this article with your Pastor and church leaders.
