RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

1. They hate waiting in line.

2. They hate not knowing where to go.

3. They hate being ignored. 

4. They hate being singled out. 

Here are some questions guests are asking themselves: 

Will they be friendly?

Will my kids like it?

Will there be anyone else like me?

Where do I go? 

3. Bring the wow factor.

When you exceed people's expectations by going the second mile, you will see them return. 

Jesus talked about going the second mile. Think about how you can go the second mile to see guests return.  Here are some examples.

Normal factor - having a good check-in program for guests.

Wow factor - having a separate check-in area that is just for guests.

Normal factor - send a follow-up email to guests.

Wow factor - sending a handwritten follow-up note to guests with a gift card.

Normal factor - finding the coat that a family left and calling to tell them it will be in lost and found.

Wow factor - finding the coat that a family left and delivering it to their house. 

Normal factor - calling a locksmith for a single mom who is locked out of her car in your parking lot after church.

Wow factor - calling a locksmith for a single mom who is locked out of her car in your parking lot after church and paying for it

4. Watch your words- they convey more than you say.

Here are some examples.

Enjoy the service – you're saying - you are a spectator, sit back and watch, it’s not about you…its about what’s happening on the stage.

Instead say this  – welcome – so glad you are part of the service today.

Are you new here?  You're saying - I don’t know you. Even if you’ve been coming for 20 years you are not important.

Instead – Hey, I’m Dale. I don’t think I’ve had the privilege of meeting you yet.

Thanks for visiting today. you're saying - you’re an outsider

Instead  - We are honored to have you as our guest.

I don't know. You're saying I don’t care. You’re not worth the effort to find out.

Instead - That's a great question. Let me find out the answer for you. 

Go down that hallway.  Take a left. Go up the stairs.  Take a right by the water fountain. You're saying you’re not important enough for me to leave this spot. Good luck. You are on your own.

Instead - I'd be honored to walk you there.

5. Does and Don't of making a first impression:

Don’t say “I don’t know” and leave a guest hanging.

Do say “That’s a great question. Let me find out for you.”

Don’t say “She can’t talk right now.”

Do Say “She’s currently teaching the kids. I’d be happy to let her know you stopped by and give her a message for you.”

Don’t say “No problem.”

Do say “It’s my pleasure.”

Don’t say “It's over there.”

Do say “I’d be happy to show you. Follow me.”

Don’t make guests wait in a long line.

Do have a separate area for guests to check-in.

Don’t stay in your huddle of friends and ignore guests.

Do get out of your clique and talk with guests.

Don’t make them feel like they are a bother.

Do show genuine interest in them and answer

6. Be committed to excellence.

Everything speaks. Do the little things well.

Excellence is the whisper that comes from the little things done well. - Dale Hudson

7. Establish a connection as soon as possible.

Invite them to coffee or lunch. 

8. Say good-bye well.  

Have greeters that greet families before and after the service. The last impression is just as important as the first impression. 

9. Follow-up.  

Send them a handwritten thank you note. 

Text them.

10. Offer a gift for their second visit. 

At one of the churches where I lead the children's ministry, our return rate was about 7%. We decided to make an investment and give away t-shirts on the second visit. Once we implemented this our return rate went up to 38%. 

Put these 10 tips into play at your ministry and I promise you that your return rate will go up.

Remember...you can't disciple empty seats. Getting guests to return must be a top priority for your ministry if you want to impact kids and families with the Gospel.  

p.s. Have you read my book "Be Our Church Guest?"  It's a must read if you want to see more of your guests return. You can get it here. 

Jesus makes it very clear that we should reach and disciple as many people as we can.  

He is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to Him. 2 Peter 3:9

He wants his house full with people. 

So His master said, "Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full."

On the day of Pentecost over 3,000 people came to Christ. 

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:41

Numbers matter. Because behind every number is a person that Jesus died for and seeks to redeem. 

There is much we can learn from these children's ministries. I have put links for each children's ministry so you can go to their website and be inspired to reach more children and families for Jesus and get fresh ideas.

Exam the largest churches in the nation and without exception you will find a thriving children's ministry.  God uses children's ministry to help grow the church and reach people with the Gospel. 

I would also say this. While we count how many people are attending our churches...the number that matters the most is how many people who live around us that don't know Jesus. That is the overarching number that we should focus on and pray about. That is what should keep us up at night. That is what should motivate us to keep growing and reaching more people. 

These children's ministries have grown because this has been their focus. May it inspire us to keep the main thing the main thing...reaching kids and families with the Gospel. Amen and Amen. 

1. Life Kids

2. Highland Kids

3. Christ Church of the Valley Kids

4. Kids Life

5. Dream City Kids 

6. Waumba Land & Upstreet 

7. Kids' Club 

8. CF Kids  

9. Eleven22 Kids  

10. South East Kids 

11. Eagle Brook Kids 

12. LP Kids

13. FC Kids 

14. Mariner's Kids

15. Community Bible Kids 

16. Central Kids

17. Saddleback Kids 

18. Prestonwood Kids

19. WC Kids 

20. Gateway Kids 

21. Kidventure 

22. Kid Life

23. eKidz  

24. CTK Kids

25. Bayside Kids 

*this is based on Outreach Magazine's largest churches report 

How to partner with parents is a big topic of discussion in the world of children and family ministry. 

It's an important element. We know parents are the biggest influence in a child's life as they should be. How effective we are at influencing the biggest influencers matters...a lot. 

There are lots of great ideas out there. Believe me, I know. I have probably tried them all at one time or another.  My thoughts are not just speculation, but have been born out of real time, hands on ministry with families. 

That being said, I believe spiritual milestones are the most effective way to partner with parents. Milestones are key times in a family's life when they are looking for spiritual help and insight. Milestones can be life changing for families. I have seen the spiritual anointing that is on Milestones lived out in real time ministry. 

Milestones remind me of the experience that Abraham and Isaac had together when God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. It was a life-changing moment. They came back changed from the experience. There is so much spiritual power when a parent and child encounter the presence of God together.

I believe God is still at work in the lives of today's' families. I believe one of the biggest ways He works is through milestone moments. If you are intentional about this, I believe God can use it in your ministry to see families' lives be changed.

There are 5 key times when Milestones can help you be effective in partnering with parents and influencing them. Here they are.

Parent & Child Dedication

One of the most important times to influence parents is when they are ready to dedicate their child to the Lord. This is one of the key times when parents open the door of their heart and are receptive to your insight and teaching not only about dedicating their children, but also how to raise them to love and follow Jesus. 

Bible Presentation

Another key time when you can equip and partner with parents is when their children are entering elementary school. Bible presentation and celebration is a shared experience for kids and their parents at this crucial time in their life.  

Salvation

Starting Point is a one-session class designed for kids who are interested in starting a relationship with Jesus. The class is designed for kids and their parents to attend together and provides tools that parents can use to follow up with their children at home.  

Baptism

Baptism for Kids is a one-session class that helps kids understand baptism. The class answers questions like...

What is baptism?

Why should I be baptized?

When should I be baptized?  

Elementary Graduation

One of the key times parents are open to your guidance and input is when their child is transitioning fro elementary to middle school. This is one of the most critical times in children's ministry and it's vital to have a clear strategy for influencing kids and families. 

Normally, these milestones sell for $199 for all five.  Hundreds of churches across the country are using these milestones to impact and influence parents. 

I am committed to getting these effective resources in the hands of children's ministry leaders. 

So...for the month of October...I am offering all 5 milestones for only $99. This is your opportunity to get these great resources for a fraction of the normal selling point. You can get the milestones at this link. 

If you want to be more effective with influencing parents...this is a great opportunity. Get the milestones today and watch what God does through it. 

 

You feel like you've had enough. You've given it your all and yet it never seems to be enough.

You've experienced doubt, heartache, betrayal, mistrust, and devalue. 

You are so discouraged that you can't see a way back to the joy and passion that once fueled you in your ministry. 

You have done your best to keep this hidden. Fake smiles. Saying the right things to those who ask how you are doing. But knowing inside things are not okay.

You are on the verge of quitting. Before you quit, would you consider these 10 things. 

You're not the only one that has experienced this.

We've all been discouraged at times. It's part of the journey. The most popular, polished pastors you see have been discouraged at times. The pastors that lead megachurches have been discouraged and have wanted to quit before.  

I know...Monday morning never seems to be your friend. You look back at the weekend and you are encouraged by some things and discouraged by other things.  Sometimes the discouraging things cover up the blessings. 

Remember what God told Elijah when he was discouraged and ready to quit.  He told him there were thousands of other people that had not bent their knee to the dire circumstances they found themselves in. 

So...consider this before you quit. Many others have faced what you are facing. 

God called you and His call is still on your life. 

When you are discouraged it can cause you to doubt your calling. Go back and visit your calling. Remember when and how God called you into ministry. His calling is without repentance.  

This too shall pass. 

You may not be able to see it now, but your discouragement will pass if you remain diligent. We all go through seasons and periods of ups and downs. Don't make any rash decisions while you are in a valley. You may be walking in the valley right now, but the mountaintop will be yours again. 

God hasn't called you to be successful. He has called you to be faithful.

The Bible doesn't say we will hear "well done good and faithful leader." Rather we will hear "well done good and faithful servant."  

Stay faithful.  Don't give up! Don't quit!  

God is with you...even when you don't feel like it.

You may feel like God has removed His hand and blessings from your ministry. You may feel like your prayers aren't going any higher than the ceiling. You may feel like God has put you on the shelf and is done with you. 

But that is not the case. He is with you in the valleys and the mountaintops. When you feel like He has forgotten you, be reminded that "He will never leave your or forsake you." 

Failure isn't the end. 

Maybe your discouragement and reason you want to quit is due to a failure. You tried to start a new ministry initiative and it failed. The ministry you are leading is not growing...it is actually shrinking. 

We all fail at times. The important thing is to get back up. You may have been knocked down numerous times and it has stolen your confidence. Ask God to renew your spirit. Ask God to empower you to move forward.  

You may have failed...but He is not done with you.  

Get with Jesus.

Remember when David was in danger of being stoned to death as a leader? Talk about a bad day. Talk about a discouraging day. But it goes on to say that "David encouraged himself in the Lord."

The person who can breathe encouragement into your life is Jesus.  Run to Him. Get with Him. Spend time with Him. Talk to Him. 

To get back to a good place, you are going to have to spend time with Jesus. In His presence is fullness of joy. In His presence is divine encouragement. In His presence you will regain your passion for ministry. 

Guard your heart. 

Proverbs 4:23 reminds that our number one job is to guard our hearts. 

Guard against bitterness. Guard against anger. Guard against jealousy. Guard against vengance.

The enemy will try to destroy your heart for ministry. The enemy will try to steal away the joy in your heart. The enemy will try to diminish your passion for serving Jesus. The enemy will try to whisper your failures to you. 

People will hurt you. Don't let it make you bitter. People that you have invested in will walk away from you. Don't let it make you discouraged. People will lie about you. Don't let it make you angry. Guard your heart and walk humbly with Jesus.  

Getting rest will help you push reset.

Often when I get discouraged it is because I am tired. It is when I have worked way to many hours. It is when I have not used my vacation days. It is when I have not taken my day off.  

Taking care of yourself physically can help you push reset. Talking care of yourself mentally can help you push reset. Having hobbies or fun things you do can help relieve stress. Many years ago I went through a rough time in ministry. I almost had to stop doing ministry  A big part of that was because I wasn't pushing the reset button by getting rest. You can read more of my journey at this link. 

Take some time off. Even God took a day off after He created everything. 

Talk to someone. 

You weren't meant to do ministry alone. Have trusted friends you can talk with when you feel like quitting. 

If you are considering leaving ministry or if you are discouraged, I pray this post has been helpful. If you'd like to connect and talk more about this, feel free to contact me at dale@buildingchildrensministry.com.  

I want you and I to be able to say what Paul said in 2 Timothy. 

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 

Consider this...before you quit.  

Many people who are not involved in children's ministry have some assumptions about children's ministry that are simply not true. 

Here are 10 myths that people looking in from the outside still believe. 

Myth #1 - People don't want to serve in children' ministry.

Yes they do. You just haven't personally asked them to. 

Will everyone say "yes?" No. But if you consistently ask people, you will find people who will say "yes." Often we have not, because we ask not. Don't listen to people who say otherwise. You can build a strong volunteer team if you want it bad enough and are willing to pay the price.  

Myth #2 - Children can't serve until they get older.

They tell children to sit still and be quiet. So kids grow up with that mentality and then we wonder why as adults they sit still and are quiet at church.  It's because we told them to.

Kids can serve. Kids can make an impact. Kids can be used by God. 

Kids can help teach lessons. Kids can serve as greeters. Kids can lead worship. Kids can go on mission trips. Kids can run a/v during services.  Kids can be part of a prayer team. There are so many ways kids can serve.  

Think about how God used kids in the Bible. The boy who Jesus used to feed 5,000 people. The little maid who led Namaan to be healed.  

Give kids the opportunity to serve and watch how God uses them.  

Myth #3 - Kids have to be sitting still and quiet to learn.

This comes from a lecture-style model of learning. Kids are made to sit still while someone talks on and on and on.  

But the truth is lecturing is the worst way to teach kids. Kids only remember about 5% of the information when someone lectures them. But when you teach them through active, hands on, learner based methods their retention rate can go up 95%. 

Myth #4 - Parents won't prioritize their children's discipleship.

Yes. Families are busy. Yes. In many cases parents get their priorities wrong. They put other things before their child's discipleship. Sports. Activities. Entertainment. 

But yes. Parents will respond when we encourage them to prioritize their child's discipleship.  Parents are the biggest spiritual influence in their child's life. The influence will either be positive or negative. It is crucial to have a plan to influence the influencers. 

One of the best ways to influence parents is through spiritual milestones. These are key times in the life of a family when you have the opportunity to influence them. You can get more details about spiritual milestones at this link.  

Myth #5 - Kids can't have a relationship with Jesus until they are older. 

There is no certain age of accountability. It will vary from child to child. But kids can accept Jesus as their Savior. Yes. It is vital that they understand the decision they are making. I created a class called Starting Point that kids attend with their parents. This class unpacks for kids what it means to know and follow Jesus. You can get more information about the Starting Point class at this link. 

As Jesus said, "suffer the little children to come to Me and do not hinder them." The Bible says we must have the faith of a child to come to Christ.  

Kids can know and follow Jesus.  

Myth #6 - The best way to enlist new volunteers is by begging people to serve. 

If we show people how desperate we are for volunteers, they will sign up to serve. Actually the opposite is true. People are not drawn to desperation. Rather they are drawn to vision and a purpose. 

Stop using words like please, help, and need. No one wants to get on the Titanic. Start inviting people to join you to make an impact and leave a legacy through their serving.

Myth #7 - Kids should not have fun at church.

Listen as parents pick up their children after Sunday School or kids' church.  

Most of the time you will hear parents ask their children this question:

Did you have fun today?

Fun at church. What exactly does that mean?  What are parents really asking their children? 

When they ask "Did you have fun today" what they are really asking is...

Did you have any friends there?

Was the teaching relevant to your life?

Did they get your attention?

Did anyone pray for you?  

Fun means so much more than fun.  If fun means solely that children are entertained, then we've fallen way short of what we should be seeking to accomplish during class time. 

Fun means sharing God's Word with children in a way that captures their attention and engages their heart, mind, and soul.  Fun means you teach children using the methods they learn best by. 

The opposite of fun is boredom. Boredom happens when children's ministry leaders try to teach children using outdated methods. When boredom sets in, children will begin to squirm, talk, and disengage.  If your teaching is boring, kids will invent their own interactive curriculum.

Myth #8 - Kids won't sit still long enough for extended times of prayer.

Several years ago I was invited to speak at a conference in Jakarta, Indonesia.  The church where the conference was held was amazing. They had over 12,000 people attending in a country that is 98% Muslim.  

Guess how many staff members they had? 2! The pastor and his administrative assistant. How were they doing this? What was the secret? I was soon to find out.

During one of the services, they took me down to a room. In the room, there were over 20 kids on their knees praying for God to move in the service.  The children do this every week.  Praying intensely for over an hour.

They challenged me when it comes to kids and prayer. If you will get kids on their knees and lead them to pray, they will respond.  

Myth #9 - Put the youngest kids up front when you are teaching.  

I did this for years. But then I read this quote from Walt Disney. 

It was the first entertainment that Walt Disney had ever designed expressly for children. ‘But we’re not going to talk down to the kids…let’s aim for the twelve-year-old. The younger ones will watch…they’ll want to see what their older brothers and sisters are looking at.'

Before I saw this quote from Walt, I would put the youngest kids up front and the older kids in the back. That was a mistake. When older kids see "little" kids in front of them, they will disengage because it appears to be for the little kids. 

Flip that. Put the oldest kids up front. This will help you engage all of the kids. Younger kids will look up front and see the older kids are engaging and it will cause everyone to engage. 

If older kids are bored with your lessons or events or programs, try this simple idea from Walt and you will see immediate results.

#10 - The next generation doesn't care about following Jesus.

Yes they do. God is moving in the hearts and lives of the next generation.  They want you to challenge them and inspire them. They want to know Jesus. They want to walk with Him. Yes...they are facing things we never faced as children but God is with them. He is doing something fresh and new in the next generation. 

Do you believe any of these myths? Prayerfully reconsider. The next generation is looking to you. Show them what it means to love and follow Jesus passionately.  

What are the elements of a successful children's ministry?

I believe there are 3 big ways you can measure the effectiveness of a children's ministry. 

Let's take a look at these. 

FAITH. 

Successful children's ministries main focus is reaching kids with the Gospel and seeing them discipled. 

The ultimate goal of every children's ministry should be rooted and grounded in the great commission.

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."  Matthew 28: 18-20

Children are the greatest mission field in the world. We know that the majority of people who come to Christ do so before they are 18 years old.  We have a short window of time to reach children with the Gospel.

You can do a lot of things in your children's ministry, but the bottom line is this - Are you reaching kids with the Gospel?  Are you then helping them grow in their relationship with Jesus? 

We must keep the main thing the main thing.

When it comes to curriculum, make sure you are using a curriculum that regularly shares the Gospel as part of the lesson. If the curriculum you are using does not share the Gospel consistently, then you should find one that does or start writing it into the curriculum yourself. 

There are lots of truths, Bible verses, and lessons we can share from the Bible. But nothing is more important than sharing the Gospel with kids.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes."  Romans 1:16

I believe without salvation there is no success in children's ministry.

Dare to ask yourself these questions. 

How often am I sharing the Gospel with kids?

Am I seeing kids come to Christ and follow Him in baptism on a regular basis?

If the baptistry is dry...what is the cause of this?

Do I have clear steps mapped out for kids who express an interest in accepting Jesus into their life?

If you need help with this - check out Starting Line. It's a salvation class that kids and parents attend together. Churches across the country are using this resource to reach kids and families. You can get more information and order it at this link. 

FUN

I believe kids should have fun at church. I have met many people over the years who say, "I'm not going to church because I was made to go as a child."  Newsflash...you don't have to make someone go where they enjoy being.

I've never heard anyone say, "I'm not going to Disney World because I was made to go as a child." They didn't want to go because it was boring and irrelevant to their life.

In recent years, there was been some push back about trying to make children's ministry fun for kids. Negative statements about parents asking their children if they had "fun" at church when they pick them up.

Hang on a minute. David said this about the house of the Lord in Psalm 122:1.

"I was GLAD when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD'!" 

He didn't say he was sad. He said he was glad. 

How do we help kids be glad to go to the house of the Lord?  We create fun, creative environments that God uses to engage kids. 

BTW - when parents are asking their kids if they had fun at church, they are not just asking was it a party or environment where it was all fun and games. What they are saying is this...

Did they capture your attention today?  Did they engage you?  Was it relevant to your life? Did you learn anything significant.

Let's not hide behind excuses for not making church a relevant and engaging experience for kids. 

Cloaked in the fun factor is ministry that engages this new generation of kids. Fun doesn't have to mean "shallow" or "entertainment." It doesn't have to be one or the other. You can have fun and depth at the same time. I believe fun helps kids engage in discipleship. 

Bill Maher is a well known atheist.  He is very adamant against the things of God.  He even went so far as producing a movie called "Religulous." The movie follows Bill as he travels globally to question and satirize religious beliefs.  

In the movie he talks about going to church as a child. His words...

"I hated going because it was boring."

"I didn't quit because of any ideological idea...I quit because it wasn't relevant to my life."

I wonder...if he had been part of a relevant children's ministry as a child, would his life have taken a different route?

I believe that successful children's ministries do a great job at blending fun and discipleship. In other words, they make discipleship fun. 

There are some little Bills sitting in your children's ministry right now. Will you make your ministry fun and relevant to their life?  Their future as a Christ follower could hinge on it. 

FAMILY 

One big element that successful children's ministries have is family. This is all about relationships.

The ministry is a place that welcomes people and helps them become part of a faith family.

The ministry is a place that connects with parents and involves them in the discipleship pathway. 

The ministry is a place where volunteers serve alongside friends. 

The ministry is a place where children are known and cared for. 

The ministry is a place where children ministry volunteers are there for each other.

Listen closely to any successful children's ministry and you will hear the faint whisper of the song "We are family!"

So there you have it. 3 big elements of a successful children's ministry. I hope this has been a help and encouragement to you.  Take some time to think about these 3 elements.  Are they active in your ministry? 

What are some other elements of a successful children's ministry. Would love to hear your thoughts and insight. You can share in the comment section below.  

There are lots of ways you can try to build your volunteer team. I've tried them all over the years.  

Church announcements.

Bulletin ads.

Video appeals. 

Handouts to parents. 

Most of these attempts fall short and are not effective ways to build a volunteer team. 

So what is the best way to build a volunteer team?  

I believe it is personal, 1-1 asks.

Did you know that 93% of people who are serving are there because someone personally asked them to serve?  Think about it. There's a great chance that you are personally serving in children's ministry because someone asked you to join them in serving.

This is the way Jesus built His team. He went to the disciples one at a time and asked them to follow Him. 

Yes. This means what you may be thinking. It takes a lot of hard work to build a great volunteer team. 

Volunteer enlistment can't be a one and done.  

You will always need more volunteers.  You will always need to be enlisting new volunteers. 

Building a great volunteer team means enlisting people 52 weeks a year.  That's it plain and simple.

Personal asks works. At one of the churches where I served, we had around 300 volunteers when I arrived. As a staff team, we decided to make volunteer enlistment our top priority. We did this and started asking people to join our team each week. Week in and week out, we made the asks. 

After 9 years of doing this, we looked up and we had over 2,000 volunteers on our team. We didn't set out to have 2,000 volunteers. We set out to be faithful to ask people to serve. One ask at a time.  

I don't mean to sound harsh, but if you aren't asking people to join your team on a regular basis, then stop complaining about not having enough volunteers.  You have not because you ask not.  

If I looked at your personal calendar, would it reflect that asking people to serve and investing in them is one of your top priorities?  

Set a goal to personally ask a certain amount of people each week to join your team. Does this mean everyone will say "yes?" No...of course not.  But I will promise you this...ask enough people and you will get some "yeses." 

This past weekend, I asked 3 people to serve with me in children's ministry.  Two of them said "no." But one of them said "yes." In the last 8 weeks, I have personally asked 21 people to join our volunteer team.  14 of them have said "no." But 7 of them have said "yes." 

To get some "yeses" you have to step up to the plate and swing. Trust me...make enough asks and you will get some "yeses."  Keep doing this week in and week out. If you will do this consistently, a year from now, you will thrilled with how your team has grown. 

When you make the asks, first pray and ask God to lead you to people He has already been speaking to about serving. 

Here's an example. Two weeks ago, I was in the auditorium before the service started.  I was looking at the back rows. I have found that people who aren't connected or involved yet tend to sit in the back of the auditorium. I saw a man sitting in the middle section by himself. I felt the Holy Spirit say, "there is the person I have prepared."  I obeyed and sat down with this man and began to talk with him. I asked him if he was serving anywhere."  He replied, "no."  I asked him if he would serve with us in children's ministry. He replied that he had been thinking about getting more connected by serving somewhere. He said "yes" to serving in children's ministry.

It was a divine appointment. See...I believe there are people in your church that God has been already been working on about serving. Ask Him to lead you to those people and you will be amazed at what will happen when you start asking people to serve.  

Have you read my book "The Formula for Building Great Volunteer Teams?" It is filled with proven ways to build and equip your volunteer team. You can get it at this link. 

I am a big fan of Disney.  I had season passes to Disney World when I lived in Florida and I even wrote a book entitled "If Disney Ran Your Children's Ministry."

Over the years, I have gleaned much from Disney's approach to engaging kids and families.  

Walt built Disney on the values of faith, family, and virtue. An example of this is the movie "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."  He released the movie in 1937. It contained themes about good triumphing over evil, love, and redemption.  It was a huge success and helped launch the Disney empire.

Walt said this - "The important thing is the family. If you can keep the family together—that’s the backbone of our whole business, catering to families—that’s what we hope to do."

But over the years, Disney has drifted away from their primary focus of families and family values. Here are a few of the articles I have written about this.

Disney Night of Joy was cancelled while Pride Nite was invited in

Same Sex Kiss in Disney Movie

Disney Intros Gay Character in Beauty and the Beast 

But it seems the ship may be turning. For the first time in 20 years, Disney has introduced an openly Christian character in their new animated series "Win or Lose" on Disney+. Her name is Laurie, and in one scene, she prays: "Dear Heavenly Father, please give me strength. I have faith, but sometimes the doubt creeps in." 

The entrance of Josh D'Amaro as Disney's new CEO also seems to bring hope of a return to family values.  He is leading Disney to distance itself from corporate policies tied to inclusive language and identity-related debates. 

Over the years, several of the experiences inside Disney parks had began replacing traditional expressions like "ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls" with neutral expressions such as "dreamers of all ages" or "friends." D'Amaro is leading the way back to the traditional expressions.

For years, Disney has produced progressive content and diversity-focused messaging. But there appears to be a clear effort to reduce the perception that Disney operates as a politically activist company.

Here are some more examples of moving back toward family values.

Disney branded television has been rebranded as Disney Kids & Family, streamlining its identity to better reflect its focus on children and families. The division now oversees Disney+, Disney Junior, Disney Channel, and other family-targeted content Inside the Magic.

They have shelved DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) initiatives linked to “inclusion” and “diversity” roles, eliminating around 1,000 positions. This includes stopping the deconstruction of classic fairy tales for “correct” identity politics messaging.

Disney has also begun reinstating traditional values in its parks and studios, reversing some of the more controversial changes made after 2020. This includes restoring classic attractions, addressing backlash over perceived political overreach, and aiming to rebuild trust with long-time fans.

What do you think about this shift? Are you a fan of Disney? Why or why not?  Would like to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Today’s kids are growing up in an experience-driven culture. They eat in restaurants such as The Rainforest Café and Chuck E. Cheese, where a meal is not just about food, it’s about the whole themed experience. 

They experience rides at amusement parks that put them right in the middle of an unfolding, experiential story. 

They play video games that let them experience new worlds and adventures. The computer and smart phone have become a portal to unlimited experiences through virtual worlds, games, and online communities.

Let’s be real. We can’t compete. We’ll never have the resources to match what kids experience on a daily basis outside of church. But we can still create service experiences where kids encounter God and his truth in memorable ways.

How? It’s not as hard as you may think. Let’s start from scratch.

Get a creative team together. 

It can be made up of anywhere from three to six people.

Decide what Scripture / Biblical truth you are going to teach. 

Decide how you’re going to “package” or “theme” the Scripture.  The packaging or theme should be something culturally relevant to a child’s world.

Begin tossing out ideas and writing them down. 

Even if an idea is not used, it will spark other ideas. Many times the craziest idea will be the seed that brings a great plan to fruition. Normally, when you hit gold everyone will know it. Everyone’s eyes will light up when the idea is mentioned. It will just click.

Create your large-group experience. We use the large-group/small-group model. Here are the steps we follow to create a large-group experience.

Choose a worship song that reinforces the truth. Worship is a key element in helping kids experience God’s presence. The Bible tells us that God inhabits the praises of his people.

Use skits to reinforce the truth. Use skits that involve real-life scenarios that kids face so they can see the truth lived out. Skits can be done live or by video.

Use games that illustrate the truth. The first game should be high-energy, fun, and even messy. The second game can be more tame and can be a review tool.

Use a large-group lesson based on the truth or Bible story. 

Make it fun and interactive. 

Use stories to illustrate the truth. 

Personal stories from your own life are great. Also be sure to use lots of visuals such as pictures and video clips.

Create your small-group experience. 

The kids have been sitting in large-group time. They have been participating, but maybe in a limited way. Small-group time makes the whole experience complete. Here are some tips for small-group time.

Make it interactive. 

Kids want to talk. They want to be heard and known. So let them talk away. Use icebreaker questions and activities to get kids talking. Ask guided, open-ended questions that will get kids interacting.

Involve kids in the learning process. 

Use crafts, activities, and games that get kids moving, participating, and having fun as they learn.

Include Scripture. 

Go over the key Bible verse with kids. 

Use fun games and methods to help them remember it and understand its meaning.

Make it applicable. 

Talk about real-life situations kids might face where they could apply what they’ve learned. Then create a specific challenge for the coming week where they can live out that truth.

Pray. 

Let kids share prayer requests and spend a few minutes praying with them for those needs. Rely on the Holy Spirit to move in kids’ hearts so they can enjoy the greatest experience of all—God’s presence.

You can get more great ideas to grow your children's ministry in the book "100 Best Ways to Grow Your Children's Ministry. It is available at this link.

There is something I do at the conclusion of every volunteer huddle that I lead. 

p.s. When I say huddle, I am referring to a brief meeting with your team right before they start serving. 

Here it is. I have everyone stack hands and we break it out with a cheer. 

Here are some of the breakout cheers that we do. 

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit...Jesus! 

1...2...3...Rock Bridge Kids! (sub the name of your ministry there)

1...2...3...Jesus!

1...2...3...Reaching Kids and Families! 

This simple little step is very valuable. Here's why. 

It brings unity to your team. 

There is something that doing a cheer together does...it binds you together as a team. Unity is key to having a successful ministry. Breaking it out with a cheer says we are one unified team.

It brings energy and enthusiasm to your team.

Energy and enthusiasm are important in children's ministry. I have found that when you don't break it out at the end of a team meeting that you risk ending the meeting with a blah.  That's not what you want them feeling as they start serving. 

Here's the deal. As the leader...you must be a thermostat and not a thermometer. The difference...a thermometer measures the temperature...a thermostat controls the temperature.  One of the most important times you need to be a thermostat is at the end of your team meeting. 

Breaking out your meeting with a cheer will immediately bring a spark of enthusiasm. You will see smiles and you will feel the temperature rise. 

It helps everyone focus on the mission and reminds them of why we do what we do.

It's easy for volunteers to forget why they are serving. You can't just rely on casting vision once in awhile. Why?  Because vision leaks...and quickly I might add. 

Breaking it out with a cheer each week will help everyone focus on the mission and the part they play in fulfilling the mission.

So there you have it. One very important thing I do at the end of every volunteer meeting. 

If you're not doing this...give it a try. You will be amazed at what it does for your team.  

Need more volunteers for your ministry? 

I do. 

I'm sure you do as well. 

So...where are you going to find them?

Here are 5 key places where you can find new volunteers.

In the back of the auditorium /worship center.

Often people who are not connected will set in the back of the auditorium by themselves.

This past weekend, I went into the auditorium between services.  I noticed a young man sitting by himself in the back. I felt the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit say, "go talk with him...he wants to serve."

I went up to him and introduced myself.  I found out he is a bio-chemist. After making small talk for a few minutes, I asked him if he was serving anywhere. 

"No....but I've been thinking about it."

"I'd love to have you serve alongside me in children's ministry."

"Yes...that would be amazing...I'd like to serve with you."

He is joining our team and will start serving in the next week or so.

New Member's Class 

If your church has a class that people go through to join the church, it's a great place to find new volunteers.  Ask the people who lead the class, if you can come in and share about opportunities to serve in children's ministry.

Guest Reception

Does your church have a place where guests can go to meet the pastor, staff, etc. after their first visit? This is a great place to meet new people and share the vision of children's ministry. 

Here's a real life example of this. One Sunday, I went to the guest reception that was held after the worship service. When I walked into the guest reception, I saw a young lady sitting by herself. The Holy Spirit nudged me to go and talk with her. I did so.  Long story short, she started serving in our children''s ministry at that campus. She is now the children''s pastor at the church's largest campus. 

Bible study classes for adults.

Does your church have traditional Sunday School classes for adults?  Or maybe you have small groups for adults that meet during the week? 

These classes and groups are another great place to find volunteers. Connect with the leaders and ask if you can come in and share the vision of serving in children's ministry. 

Student ministry. 

Do you have students serving in your children's ministry?

Students make great children's ministry volunteers.  While you need adults serving in your children's ministry, it is also beneficial to have students serving alongside of them. Kids look up to students and so students can make a big impact in the life of kids. 

Connect with your student pastor and ask to get in front of the students to share the vision of serving in children's ministry. Students are normally enthusiastic about serving in children's ministry. 

All of these places have something in common.  Do you know what it is?  

All of these places are outside of children's ministry. This means you need to get freed up so you can go to these places. It is hard to build a volunteer team if you are stuck there and can't get out to meet people. 

Do you have a copy of "The Formula for Building Great Volunteer Teams?" It is packed full of proven ideas that you can use to build your children's ministry.  You can get your copy at this link. 

I believe building your volunteer team is the most important thing you do in children's ministry. Get out there and see what God does. 

We often complain about a lack of volunteers. But the Bible reminds us that "we have not because we ask not."  How many people are you asking to serve each week?  Don't complain about a lack volunteers, if you are not asking people to serve.  

You got this. Get to these 5 places and you will see God begin to grow your volunteer team. 

Communicating well is very important in children's ministry. Here are a few tips that can help you become a pro at talking with kids. 

Get on their eye level.

We forget as adults what it's like to be a child looking up at this tall, big person staring down at you.

Kneel down so they can see you face to face. Making eye contact is very important. 

One of the best preschool leaders I have known would get down on her knees at the entrance of her classroom and would greet each child by name when they entered and would say "I'm so glad you are here! I've been waiting all week to see you!"

Be positive when you are redirecting children. 

Here's an example. Instead of saying, "no running" try saying, "inside we walk...outside we we run."

Speak encouraging words.

Your words hold so much power when it comes to children. You can make a huge impact by encouraging them with your words. 

Call them up instead of calling them out.

Kids hear all the time what they can done wrong. Instead of putting them down, call them up to the behavior you'd like to see. 

Here's an example. If a child is picking on another child, instead of saying "Stop picking on so-and-so. That's not a nice thing to do.  I am very disappointed in you." Instead, call them up by saying "God wants us to treat each other with kindness and I want to call you up to God's best. He is a kind and merciful God when He deals with us, and as His children, He wants us to do the same. So follow His ways by being nice to the other children in the room."

Talk about their interest and show that you care about them.

"Hey...what video game system do you have?"

"What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?"

"What's your favorite movie?"

"How's school going?"

"What's something really cool that happened to you this week?"

When you do this, kids will open up their hearts to listen to what you have to say.

Don't talk down to them.

Make sure you are age appropriate. 

A fifth grader doesn't want to be talked to like they are a kindergartner.  

Ask open-ended questions.

That is, questions that are not answered with a simple yes or no answer.

This questioning style provides invitations to say more and share their heart, ideas, and feelings. 

Here's an example.

Instead of saying, "Did you enjoy John's birthday party?," say "What was the best part of John's birthday party?"

Show them you are interested in hearing what they have to say and that they are important to you. 

I hope these tips have been a help to you as you talk with kids and impact their lives for eternity.

I believe kids are key to a church's success. Here's why...

Jesus made children's ministry a priority.  

In the midst of busy ministry, the disciples tried to divert children away from Jesus. 

But Jesus quickly made known His priority in the situation. He told the disciples to let the children come to Him. 

When a church makes children's ministry a top priority, it is inviting Jesus' presence and blessings upon it. 

Jesus reminds us of this in Matthew 9. 

“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes not only me but the One who sent me.” 

Welcoming children is about valuing them. If you want to see Jesus' blessings fall upon your church, make children's ministry a priority.

Many people come to Christ because of their children.

Think about this with me. Think about the many instances in Scripture where people came to Jesus for one reason. They needed something for their children. Healing. Deliverance. Raised back to life from death. 

Their introduction...their compelling need...their draw was because of their children. 

I have personally seen this happen thousands of times.  Parents bring their children to church because their child is starting to ask questions about what it means to follow Jesus or about baptism. 

Parents also bring their children to church because they want their children to get a good life foundation to build upon. 

In the process, the parents end up coming to Christ as well. One of the primary ways I have seen this happen is through parents bringing their child to a salvation class / milestone.  The parents get in the class with their child, hear the Gospel clearly, and realize they need to come to Christ as well. 

I have a class / milestone I use for this. It's called Starting Point.  You can get it at this link.  Use this class and I promise you that you will see kids and parents come to Christ. 

Children's ministry is a big reason why families pick a church. 

Here are the top 2 reasons why families pick a church.

How friendly are you?  

What do you have to offer my kids?

Tonight there will be a family who decides to go out to eat. They will drive past steak houses, nice Italian restaurants, and other high-end places to eat. 

They will end up going to McDonalds. Why? Because that's where the kids want to go. The kids want to get a kid's meal and they want to play on the playground. 

A church that is really serious about reaching families will make note of this phenomenon and will tailor their ministry after this. They will spend money on building an indoor playground. They will create spaces designed with kids in mind. They will make children's ministry a significant amount of their budget. They will hire quality staff for children's ministry. 

How many children's ministry staff members should you have?  I created a chart that can help you with this. It tells you what positions you should hire and when you should hire them.  Send me an email and I will send it to you free of charge.

Children are the greatest mission field in the world.

There are nearly 2 billion Gen Alpha kids in the world...most of them don't know Jesus. We know that about 80% of people who come to Christ do so before the age of 18. 

Children are the greatest mission field and we must reach them while we can. We must share Jesus with them while their hearts are young and tender to the things of God. 

Churches that focus on reaching children with the Gospel will be blessed.

Churches that consistently share the Gospel with children will have the anointing of God on their ministry.  

Churches that reflect the heart of God for children's salvation will be aligned with His heart.  

The next generation is the future of every church. 

I often drive by an empty, decaying church building. There is a for sale sign on the property. When I see this I am reminded that at one time they were babies crying in the nursery. At one time there were kids laughing in the hallways. At one time there were teenagers giggling in a classroom. 

But the church wasn't able to pass along the faith to them.  The baton got dropped.  Perhaps it was dropped because of tradition. Perhaps it was dropped because the older generation wasn't willing to change to reach the next generation. Perhaps it was dropped because of a lack of strategy to reach young families. Perhaps it was dropped because the church put rules before relationships. Perhaps it was dropped because children's ministry wasn't a priority. Perhaps it was dropped because of a lack of vision to pass along the faith to the generation that was coming behind them. 

Remember...without succession there is no success. 

Here's what I know.  If you look at the largest, fastest growing churches in the country, you will see children's ministry is a top priority for them.  Without exception. 

Bottom line...if you want your church to succeed you must make children's ministry a top priority. Kids are a key part of a church's success.