Here are five things people won't tell you about Children's Ministry. I learned these things the hard way...ministry trial and error.
Hopefully, I can save you some frustrating time and energy by sharing these things with you now.
If you are a rookie, these may be surprising to you. If you are a veteran in children's ministry, it is helpful to be reminded of these things.
Ready? Let's talk about these five things .
Children's ministry is more about leading volunteers than it is about children.
I often say this...
The success of your children's ministry rises and falls on the strength of your volunteer team.
You can be great with kids, but if you can't build and lead a volunteer team, you will have a hard time building a children's ministry.
You should spend as much or even more time investing in volunteers than you do investing in children.
Learn how to enlist volunteers.
Learn how to equip volunteers.
Learn how to engage volunteers.
Learn how to encourage volunteers.
Learn how to empower volunteers.
If you haven't read my book "The Formula for Building Great Volunteer Teams" then get your copy today. It will reveal how I built a team of over 2,000 volunteers in a local church. It will give you valuable ideas and insight on how to build a great volunteer team. It is available at this link.
You should spent a big percentage of your time connecting with and engaging parents in your ministry.
Think about it. Parents have the greatest influence in a child's life.
If you want to influence kids, then you have to influence their parents.
Always be thinking about parents.
How can you engage them?
How can you equip them?
How can you influence them?
One big way you can influence parents is by involving them in key milestone moments.
Parent and child dedication. Salvation. Baptism. Spiritual growth. Transition into middle school.
You can get more info. about Milestones kits at this link.
No matter what you do...some families and volunteers will walk away from you.
Volunteers you have poured your time and energy into will quit serving.
Families that you have invested in will leave the church.
Get used to it. It's going to happen and often there is nothing you can do about it. You have to let them go.
If you want to grow the ministry, you have to grow yourself first.
You can't have a 10 children's ministry, if you are a 5 leader.
Look what Rick Warren said.
Years ago I stopped worrying about how to grow our church and instead focused on growing me. As I grew, our church grew.
Growing churches require growing pastors. The moment you stop growing, your church stops growing.
Focus on your own personal leadership growth. Read leadership blogs. Listen to podcasts that will help you grow. Read leadership books. Attend conferences. Join a coaching group.
I have a 6 month coaching experience designed specifically to help children's ministry leaders grow. You can get more information at this link.
Families will only attend your ministry one to two times a month.
This can be frustrating, but it is reality.
The average family only shows up a few times a month.
Parents will make unwise decisions by putting their children in sports' leagues that play on Sunday.
The family dynamics of divorce will cause children to only be able to attend every other weekend.
Families' will have wrong priorities that hinders their church attendance patterns.
Then we wonder why children grow up and don't make church attendance a priority.
Encourage families to be faithful and consistent in their church attendance, but don't be surprised when they continue to make unwise decisions regarding this.
May God continue to give you wisdom and insight as you serve in children's ministry.
