RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Our country has been on a spiritual and moral slide for years. With increased access to technology, social media, television, TicTok and YouTube the moral slide has accelerated. 

The enemy (Lucifer) is after our children and grandchildren. He is come to steal, kill and destroy. He doesn't even try to hide it now.  He speaks through the voices of those who follow him and says...

"We're here!"

"We're queer!"

"We're coming for your children!" 

They are shouting this unashamedly in crowds and in gatherings and rallies.

Now it is not just limited to a month.  It is going on all year long.  You can't watch television without seeing same sex propaganda played out in commercials.  Drag Queens gyrating around children, reading books to children at schools and libraries.  "Sex education books" available in school libraries for kids  that display sexual sins in graphic detail.

The government is saying our children belong to them.  They are trying to make critical decisions about children's gender and future without parental involvement and consent. 

There is so much more I could add to this, but if you've been paying attention to our culture recently, you know just how "in your face" and "crazy" it has been.  They are focused on the next generation and make no qualms about it.

Children are being targeted and having doubts placed in their mind about who God created them to be.  This has led to an increase of children and teens making wrong choices about the very core of their identity.

Look at these stats and notice the increase.  This is the generational percentage of adults who identify as "LGBTQ+"  according to Gallup polls.

Traditionalist - .08%

Boomers - 2.6%

Gen X -  4.2%

Millennials - 10.55%

Gen Z - 20.8%

How can we help children not just survive, but thrive and become spiritual champions?

How can we raise up spiritual champions who will lead this nation back to God? 

How can we raise up spiritual champions who will know why they believe what they believe and are able to not just defend their faith, but to also proclaim it to the world?

How can we raise up spiritual champions who will see through the lies of the enemy and stand against it?

How can we see kids develop a Biblical worldview and not follow the sinful whims that are pushed their way?

George Barna says this:

Here are some key things we can do raise up spiritual champions in a culture gone crazy.

Passion in our ministries.  Dead churches produce children and teens who go through the motions without a passion to follow Jesus.The next generation must see that we are passionate about following Jesus and reaching others for Him. 

Apologetics.  We must equip the next generation to know why they believe the Bible is the Word of God and Jesus is their Savior.  They must be able to articulate and defend their faith and beliefs.

Intercessory prayer.  Nothing will be accomplished without prayer.  We must daily lift up the next generation to God in prayer.

A balance of truth and love.  It takes both to be effective.  The world will not listen to us until they know that we truly love them.  It's like a plane.  It takes both wings to fly.  So it is with people. It takes grace and truth to reach them.  The Bible tells us to speak the truth in love.  Truth and love is the combination needed.

Wisdom.  The next generation needs wisdom to navigate this crazy culture. Let's pray that God will fill them with wisdom so they can see and follow the ways of God.

The Bible.  They must know it.  Read it.  Cling to it's truths.  Stand by it when they are told it is outdated and irrelevant.  Use it to convict the lost and bring hope to believers.

Parental guidance.  Parents are the biggest influence in a child's life.  Period.  If we are going to raise up spiritual champions, it will happen through the child's parents.  Invest in parents.  Equip parents to lead their children spiritually. Give them what they need to guide their children through the insanity.

We must remember that we are in a race for the heart of the next generation. We must get their first. 

Your turn.  What are your thoughts on this?  Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

Childhood has changed.  You used to be a child, but now you are not. Today's children live in a world that is far different from when we were children.

It's crucial to know today's children if you are going to reach and disciple them.  

Let's take a look at 10 big things that have changed since you were a child.  

Unlimited access to information. Yesterday's children had to take an encyclopedia off the shelf or take a trip to the local library to get information they needed. 

Today's children can type in a topic in Google and instantly have access to a sea of information about the topic.  This has changed the way children do research, homework, write essays and more.  

Smartphones.  I remember when I was in college.  There were no smartphones. To talk with my parents, I had to walk down the street to a phone booth and make the call...a collect call of course since I was scrapping by in college.

Today's children are getting smartphones at younger and younger ages. 95% of teens have access to a smartphone and the average age for a child to receive their first smartphone is age 12.  

Along with the phone comes access to a lot of good things and a lot of not good things.  Parents must monitor their child's usage diligently.  

Less play...more screen time.  I spent a lot of time outside playing as a child.  The neighborhood boys met up nearly every day at the basketball court to play until it got dark.  Today's children spend much more time indoors playing video games, watching movies and interacting with their friends online.

More diverse families.  We were taught that a family consisted of two married parents - a man and a woman - and their children. Today's families are more diverse.

Family may also mean two dads, two moms, a single parent, grandparents raising their grandchild or even non-binary people raising a child together. 

On-demand.  When I was a child, there were only 3 channels to choose from (maybe 4 if you held the antenna with aluminum foil on it a certain way).  Cartoons were on TV on Saturday mornings.  If you missed it, you missed it.  There was no on demand to watch it later nor was there a way to record the show and pull it up later to watch. 

Today's kids have access to entire networks of shows geared for children.  If a child has to miss the show live, he or she can bring it up on demand. Instant access. Binge watching. 

Text over talk on smartphones.  Most people...myself included, use text messages just as much or more than phone calls. Today's kids are experts at texting.  They even have their own set of abbreviations for words. Here are a few:

BTW: By the way.

CYA: See ya.

DM: Direct message.

FTW: For the win.

FWIW: For what it's worth.

ILY: I love you.

IMO: in my opinion.

JK: Just kidding.

LOL: laughing out loud.

The world of comparison has amped up.

"Social media has increased how much children compare themselves to others." says Dr. Jaime Kulaga, licensed mental health counselor.

Danger everywhere.  They are aware that wherever they are, they could be shot at.  School.  Shopping store.  Restaurant.  Parent's place of work.  Walking down the street.  Even at church.  

With each shooting that takes place across the country, it causes today's children to have anxiety and fear. 

Sinful lifestyles flaunted and proudly exhibited. Drag queens reading books to children at school and the library.  An increase in couples living together unmarried.  Same sex marriages.  An increase in alternate lifestyles being portrayed in film, television commercials and print pieces. They are being hard-pressed to not just accept these lifestyles, but to approve and celebrate them as well.  

Pressure to be tolerant. This generation is being told if they take a stand against any type of sin, that they are intolerant. If they say the Bible is the Word of God, they are ignorant.  If they say there is absolute truth, they are a bigot.

Our nation has drastically changed since I was a child.  I no longer believe we are a Christian nation.  We are a nation with Christians in it, but we are not a Christian nation. 

Would you join me in praying for today's kids?  Pray that we can have wisdom from God to navigate the stormy seas we find ourselves and our children in.  

No matter what changes here on earth there is one thing we can rely upon.  Jesus never changes.  The Bible tells us that He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Let's point children to Him.  As they grow in their faith and navigate the world they are growing up in, we can see them stay connected to Jesus.

Kids are a big determining factor when it comes to picking a church to attend. 

Parents can visit a church and like it, but if their child doesn't like it, they won't be coming back.  

Studies show that people pick a church based on 2 reasons.

1. How friendly are you?

2. What do you have to offer my child?

That being said, let's talk about 5 big reasons why kids pick a church to attend. 

1. They either have a friend that already attends or they make some new friends on their first or second visit.  Kids are just like adults.  It's all about relationships.  If they don't make friends with someone, they will feel lonely and not want to return.

Here are some practical ways you can help kids make friends at your church:

Be intentional about helping guests find a friend.

Introduce guests to other children that are their age.

Do icebreakers and other relational activities that help kids connect.

Train some children to be "guests' hosts."  Their ministry is to stay with guests for the entire time and get to know them.  This is a great way for children to serve and reach others. 

2. The lessons are engaging.. If you want children to pick your church, then present engaging lessons. Learn how to capture kids' attention and get them involved in the lesson.  Here are great tips on how to do this:

How to be a Captivating Storyteller for Kids

Gen Alpha...What They Like and Connect With 

Welcome Gen Alpha

When parents come to pick up their children, 9 times out of 10 you will hear them ask this one question.

"Did you have fun today?"

What are parents asking their child by referring to the service, class, etc. as fun?  They are asking if it was relevant?  They are asking if it was engaging?  They are asking if the child learned anything?  They are asking if they want to come back?

3. There is a teacher, small group leader, volunteer, etc. that takes an interest in them and shows them kindness and care. 

As you read through these 5 reasons, you will notice that I did not include buildings or facilities. While it is great to have a cool children's ministry space, that is not the primary reason kids want to come back.  

The number one reason they will return is because they heard someone call their name.  They had someone who listened to their prayer requests and prayed for them.  They had someone who genuinely showed they cared about them and took interest in them as a person.

I love this quote by Walt Disney.  He said this right before he opened Disneyland in California.  

You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.

As you think about this, here are some questions to ask:

How are our ratios?  Are our current ratios able to accommodate individual attention?  

Do we have a prayer time in the lesson where kids can share prayer requests and be prayed for by name?

Are we sending follow-up postcards, letters, etc. that are handwritten and addressed to the guests by name?

4. They feel safe in your care.  Today's kids are growing up knowing they and their world can be attacked at any time.  Terrorists.  Kidnappers.  Bullies.  Bombs.  Shooters.  

And remember...being at a church is no guarantee you won't be attacked. We realize this after seeing many shootings that have taken place at a church.  Even in a small, country church like the one in Texas where 26 people were killed.  

The safety measures you have in place to protect children are so important. Kids and parents may not say anything about this up front, but it is a concern that you must address.  Share with them the measures you take to keep kids safe in your care. 

5. They didn't hear a lot of ssssshhhhhhsssss.  The leaders know that kids learn best by dialogue instead of monologue.  Kids are encouraged to get involved by talking, using their learning styles, laughing, engaging in hands on learning and lots of opporutunties to move and just be a kid instead of being forced to "sit still and be quiet."

You are surrounded by children and parents in your community that don't know Jesus.  Let's go all out to reach them with the Gospel.  To see this happen, your church must become a place where children are welcome and children's ministry is a top priority.  

God may be calling you to be the person who grasps this and helps your church live it out.

Ahhhh, yes.  Bouncy houses.  If you are in kids' ministry, you know all about them.  

Bouncy houses (or whatever you call them) have been a staple in kids' ministry over the years.  And rightly so...kids love them...and so do parents who are looking for ways to help their kids burn off some energy.  

On any given day, you'll find them at birthday parties, church events and other special occasions for kids and families.

Bounceland, a company near Chicago that imports inflatables from China, sold more than 12,000 bounce houses between March and June, up 350% from last year. 

And due to the virus, sales of these large, outdoors toys on Amazon have increased by 50% this summer.  Inflatable water slides are big sellers as they provide kids and parents a way to "beat the heat."   The nationwide top seller has been Little Tikes Jump ’n Slide inflatable bounce house, available for $270 on Amazon.

Many parents are also purchasing bouncy houses for stress relief as they try to find something to entertain the kiddos who are now home a lot more.

So why do kids love bouncy houses so much?  

Obviously, one reason is because it gives them the opportunity to move, move, move.  You can jump, bounce and fly through the air with "the greatest of ease."  

But if you look a little deeper, you'll also see that bouncy houses represent something about this special moment in time that other yard toys don’t. Inside the bounce house you are safe.  The floor filled with air will catch you when you fall.  Plus, you can have a rule that no one outside of your own family can come in without first being checked for signs of the virus.

If you rent bouncy houses quite often, it is worth checking to see how much it would be to buy a few of them.  They will quickly pay for themselves as you use them for church activities and events. 

And bouncy houses have evolved into a variety of options.  You can buy a super hero inflatable...a giant, wild water slide...a castle...a sports themed bouncy house...an obstacle course inflatable...and on we could go.  There's a wide variety of bouncy houses for kids to have fun in.

They are also a great outreach tool.  Set them up anywhere and you'll find kids and parents eager to connect with you for some free bounce time.  

Your turn.  

Do you use bounce houses in your ministry (pre-virus days)? 

How have you used inflatables for outreach?  

Do you own or rent?

Share your thoughts, ideas and insight in the comment section below. 

Happy bouncing! 

Today's post is not for everyone, but it is for you, if the title caused you to stop for a moment and think, "I need help with this."

How are you doing?

It's a simple question, but often is answered with a canned answer that you use to hide how you are really doing. 

Someone who is reading this is going through depression.  And you're trying to hide it, hoping no one will notice.  But the sleepless nights, anxiety and fear is taking its toll on you. 

I know how you feel.  And I am qualified to answer the question because I have been there and experienced this.  To truly understand depression, you have to go through it.

I'm here today to tell you that there is hope.  Can you see it?  It may just be a tiny beam of light that is trying to shine through the darkness and despair you find yourself in.  Grab hold of that tiny ray of hope and find a way to start crawling out of the deep, dark pit you are in. 

Here is my story.  Read on and find hope.  

I’m wired with a type “A” personality….a high “D” if you’re familiar with the DISC personality test. Very driven…an overachiever…never satisfied with status quo.

I entered full-time ministry over 31 years ago. From the start, I had an extreme passion to make a difference for Christ and reach others with His message. Many times during those years, I became unbalanced. I was so driven that it caused me to work too many hours, not take care of myself physically, and not get enough rest.

After just a few years in ministry, the door opened for me to serve in a mega church. This fueled my drive even more. My pace quickened as my responsibilities increased. My unbalance became even more apparent. This was no one’s fault but my own. I served under Pastors and leaders who cared for me and encouraged me to slow down and find some balance. But I wasn’t wise enough to listen…I mean really listen. I’d nod my head in agreement and then continue right on with my unrelenting pace.

In spring of 2008, my drive had reached a breaking point. For the past three years, I had been working 80 hours a week…getting into the office at 6:00 a.m and going home after 8:00 p.m. The ministry I was leading had exploded with growth and I was just trying to keep my head above water. I was also writing a book with deadlines to meet. In addition, I was flying around the country speaking at conferences. I would leave for the conferences on Friday, speak all day Saturday, get back after midnight on Saturday, and then be up early on Sunday to lead 4 services that day. Monday it all started again with no break.

Fridays were supposed to be my day off…but I rarely took them. If I wasn’t speaking at a conference, I was at the office working. My excuse was, “My wife is working and my kids are in school…so I’ll just work.” I had over six weeks of unused vacation time.

Finally in May of 2008, my body said, “That’s enough.” I woke up in the middle of the night with extreme chest pains. I thought I was having a heart attack. I went to urgent care and they ran an EKG and several other tests. They couldn’t find anything wrong with me.

The chest pains continued and over the next several days, I developed what felt like the worst case of the flu that I had ever experienced. My body ached all over. I lost my appetite. I could barely sleep at night. 

My flu like symptoms continued. In fact, they got worse and worse. I continued to go to several different doctors and have multiple tests ran trying to figure out what was wrong. None of the tests showed there was anything wrong with me. I continued to have no appetite and lose weight. I also continued to have a hard time sleeping.

I finally hit the bottom. I could barely walk. I could not sleep at night. I went seven nights without sleeping. Yes…that’s correct. A full week without sleeping. I would just lay there at night staring at the ceiling…my mind racing.

I thought I was going to die. I felt like I had fallen into a dark pit and couldn’t get out. I had no emotions. I couldn’t laugh…I couldn’t feel any joy…I didn’t care about anything. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, I didn’t want to go outside, and I couldn’t stand even the slightest noise. Even a spoon hitting the side of a plate made me want to scream. I felt like a zombie. I wasn’t myself. It was like I was stuck in a bad dream and couldn’t get out.

Finally someone told me about a doctor who they thought could help me. He opened my eyes to the possibility that I was going through depression. My first reaction was “Depression…what’s that?” I had heard it mentioned, but just thought it meant you were sad or discouraged.

Through talking with this doctor and researching online, I found out more about clinical depression. I discovered there is a chemical in your brain called serotonin. When we go through stress it depletes it. Continued stress can eliminate it. When it is eliminated, the result is called “clinical depression.”

It became clear this was what had happened to me. I was going through clinical depression. The nineteen years of drive, stress, and not resting had finally caught up with me. I thought my life and ministry were over. I desperately needed help.

I discovered that you can’t just “walk" out of clinical depression.  You have to crawl out of it.  You have to somehow find your way out as you crawl through the darkness and search for hope.

People who don’t understand what clinical depression is may just say “Read a Bible verse, pray, and get over it.” That’s what I would have said before I experienced it. Now I realize you need medical help. Yes, God can bring instant healing…but He may also choose to bring healing through a doctor. That’s how He brought hope into my life.

The doctor told me I needed to give my mind and body time to stabilize. I needed to take medication that would help my serotonin build back up. He gave me medication to help me sleep. The reason I couldn’t sleep was because my adrenaline was stuck. My mind couldn’t slow down to rest. The medication he gave me helped my thoughts slow down and allowed me to start sleeping.

It was a gradual process. After a month of taking the medication, I gradually started feeling more like my old self again. I started to enjoy being around people again. I still had ups and downs, but with each passing month I begin to crawl further out of the deep dark pit called clinical depression.

Even the medication they give you to help you overcome clinical depression takes weeks to stabilize you.  It is a crawl out...not a walk out.

I’m still taking medication and probably will for the rest of my life.  Depression is a physical illness like heart disease, diabetes, etc.  Your brain is a physical part of your body, not some separate entity hovering above you.

I look back and realize God used this experience in my life in a great way. Here some of the things I learned in my journey through depression.

Rest. I now take my days off. I finally learned my lesson. Even God took a day off!

I don’t let my drive completely drive my life. The work will be there tomorrow. If I don’t get it all done…so what!

I take vacations.  

I’ve learned to say no.

Family is what matters. My wife and kids stood by me through all this. I wouldn’t have made it without them. They are the most important thing in my life. They are my most important ministry. 

I exercise. I make the time to work out 5 days a week.

I am nothing without God. At my lowest point, I realized that my work, gifts, and drive are nothing without God. I was stripped down to the point where I realized that He is my all in all. I can do nothing without His help and blessing.

Listen to those around you. I should have listened to those who were telling me to slow down.

I have more empathy for those who are suffering from depression. You can’t fully understand it unless you’ve been through it. I have been able to help several people who were going through depression.

These are the lessons I learned the hard way.  

Someone reading this knows exactly what I am talking about because you are going through depression and you are in the deep, dark pit.  

Please.  Talk with someone and let them know.  Don't let pride stop you from getting the help you need. You can email me at dale@buildingchildrensministry.com and I will connect with you. I am not a medical professional and can't give medical advice, but I can offer you some hope and encouragement.  You are not alone.  Others have experienced what you are experiencing and have crawled out of the pit with the help of God, doctors and friends. 

Take heart.  The sun will shine again for you.  You will make it out of the pit.  You are not alone.  Hope and healing can be yours.

This is the first time I have ever written about homeschooling.  One thing that prompted me to write this article is the current situation we find ourselves in due to COVID-19.  

As schools began closing due to the virus, it has caused millions of parents to take a closer look at homeschooling and to consider going that route. 

Dr. Andrea Dennison is an assistant professor of school psychology at Texas State University.  She has studied why some parents choose to homeschool and says the families are motivated by a desire for control over their children's education.  Rather than waiting to hear what the local school district will be doing, they take matters into their own hands.  

The percentage of homeschooled children in grades K-12th is 3.3% or 1.7 million students. 

Why do parents choose homeschooling?  Here are the top 3. 

1. Concerns about the school environment (negative influences, drugs, exposure to COVID-19 and general safety).

 One mom said, "There is absolutely no way I will be sending my child into a caldron of germs."

2. A dissatisfaction with the academics at their school.

3 A desire to provide religious instruction.  They want to keep their children protected from the influences of the wider world for as long as they can and want a curriculum that includes the Bible.

With the ravages of C0VID-19, more parents are considering the effects the virus is having on education.  This is leading to more families being interested in taking their children out of traditional schools this fall and beyond.  In fact, two-thirds of parents with kids in elementary, middle or high school were concerned about their child falling behind. 

The pandemic has also affected many homeschooling families as well.  Many have been cut off from educational trips and other local homeschooling communities that they rely upon for sports and socializing.

So how are the new home-schooling families doing during this pandemic?  In a survey of over 1,000 parents who started homeschooling due to the pandemic, it was found that their children seem to do better and were happier outside a traditional school environment.  A few of the reasons were unchecked bullying and special needs that were not supported appropriately. 

What is the makeup of families that homeschool?  In many cases, parents who are able to homeschool effectively are two parent families who can live on one income.  It is very hard for parents to work from home and homeschool.

The pandemic has definitely caused parents to be more intentional about the kind of school experience they want for their children. 

Would love to hear your thoughts.  Many of you reading this are homeschooling your children.  

Did you start homeschooling after the virus came on the scene? 

What are the positives that have come from homeschooling your kids?

What are the challenges of homeschooling your kids? 

What would you say to someone who is considering homeschooling?

If your child attends a traditional school, why did you go that route?  

What are the advantages you have found by having your child attend a traditional school?

 Leave your comments, insight and ideas in the comment section below.

Last week, we announced the release of a brand new worship album for kids. 

The album is called 12 because it contains 12 new, original songs that will help kids grow in their faith.

We had a drawing to give away an album to celebrate the release.  

The winner of the album is Julissa Lopez.  Julissa is the Children's Ministry Director at ICC Church in Staten Island, New York.  Congrats Julissa! 

I am really pumped about this worship album.  The songs were written and produced by an amazing artist named Travis August. 

Each song was written as part of an intentional discipleship pathway that takes kids on a journey from salvation to spiritual leadership.  It corresponds with our Connect12 curriculum.  

Each song has a really cool lyrics video that can be used for live worship.  If you'd like to see a few samples of the songs, you can do so below.   Audio and lyrics have lead vocals and no vocals so you can use the songs in worship with your voice or the voice of Travis.  

You can get all 12 songs for only $39.00.  This is an incredible deal.  Most songs with a worship video sell for $12 to $15 each.  

You can preview the album and get more ordering information at this link.

The songs are all written with today's kids in mind and the words get stuck in your head which means it lodges in kids' long term memory. 

Below are some of the song samples. 

When a child starts asking his or her parents about entering into a relationship with Jesus,  the parents will often come to you for advice. 

Is my child old enough to understand this?  

How can I know it's the right time to pray with them for salvation?

Should I tell my child to wait until they are older?  

What should you do when this happens?  Here are some pointers that will help you know what to say.

• If their child continues to come back to them about accepting Jesus, that’s a good sign that God is working in their life.

• They must understand what sin is and that they have sinned.

• You sense this is something they know they need to do rather than just something they want to do.  Do you see the difference?  If they just want to be baptized because their friend did, that would be wanting to be baptized.  But when you sense they know this is something they need to do, it’s a good sign.

• While there is no exact age a child must be to accept Jesus, I will say this.  Around the age of 7 ½ - 8 years-old, kids begin to understand not only concrete, but abstract ideas as well.  Here’s an example.  If you tell them Jesus is the bridge to heaven, they will understand it’s not a real bridge, it’s just an illustration to help you understand the way to heaven.

I often tell parents this...

Our job is not to push kids to make a decision.  I have seen parents try to push their child to be baptized, even though they didn't understand what they are doing. 

Our job is also not to hold kids back from making a decision.  I have seen kids who understood the Gospel and were ready to step across the line of faith, but their parents wanted them to wait until they are 12 or 13.  

Our job, as parents, is not to push or hold back.  Rather it is to walk alongside our child.  Have the spiritual conversations.  As you do this, you will see the Holy Spirit working in their life and drawing them to salvation.

I believe the most important thing we do is equipping parents to lead their children to Jesus. 

The pandemic we have been walking through has left many volunteers hesitant about coming back until things clear up. Which is very understandable.

As a leader, one of our tasks is to keep our volunteers excited and passionate about serving and reaching the next generation.  

The pandemic has definitely made this a challenging things to do as a leader. 

I have found that quotes can be used to encourage and empower volunteers.  

Here are 10 quotes that you can use to encourage your volunteers and let them know how valuable they are to God and to the volunteer team. 

Remember that we want to use the ministry to build people rather than using people to build the ministry. We should use wisdom and let volunteers know that first and foremost we want them to be okay personally and that they protect their health.  When people know you care about them, they will be more prone to return when the time is right. 

Here are the quotes. My prayer is they will be a blessing to you and your volunteers as you lead though these tumultuous times. 

1. You matter.  What you do matters.  A lot.

2. Comparison is clamoring for your attention.  Don't look.  Keep your eyes on the course God has for you.

3. Choose optimism today.

4. Children are the future of your church and without them your church has no future.

5. Stop waiting for someone to tell you how important you are.  Jesus showed how important you are on the cross. 

6. Walk on - even when you've been walked on.

7. Serve not for the applause, but rather for the cause.

8. Your best insight will come from your hardest challenges.

9. Your greatest experience is waiting outside your comfort zone.

10. You can't go forward if you keep going back to your past.   

Your turn. Share a quote that has encouraged and helped you. You can put them in the comment section below.   

The most important thing we do is leading kids to Jesus.  It should be our #1 priority.  

We should not take this lightly.  Eternity is at stake.     

As children's ministry leaders, there are some key roles you should be in with regards to leading kids to Christ.  

Role #1 - faithfully and consistently share the Gospel with kids.  In classrooms.  In chapel.  In children's services.  At retreats.  In small groups.  In prayer time and devotionals.  

John 3:16 encapsulates the entire Bible.  "For God so loved the world" should weave its way into every lesson you teach.

#2 role - Host a class about salvation for kids and their parents.  When a child asks about inviting Jesus into their life, ask them to attend a salvation class with their parents.  This strategy can be very effective. In my last year of ministry at a local church, we baptized over 460 kids in one year.  Every single child had been through our salvation class for kids.  The class is available to you at this link.

#3 role - Partner with parents.  When possible, place tools in parents' hands that they can use to lead their child to Jesus.  One of parents' greatest joys is to lead their children to Jesus.  Don't take this role away from them (this applies to children and their parents who attend church faithfully).  The class we mentioned above can be one of the biggest ways you can partner with parents when God is at work in their child's life.  

#4 role - Be a guide.  We must remember that our role is to be a guide.  We cannot save anyone.  That job has already been taken by Jesus.  As a guide, our role is not to be pushing a child from behind into making a decision.  While there is no certain age for a child to accept Jesus, we can know certain signs to watch for.  If a child continues to come to you about making a decision for Christ, that is a sign that God is working in their life.  But let God do the work...don't force it.  

As a guide, our role is also not to hold kids back.  I have seen leaders and parents tell kids they are not ready to enter a relationship with Jesus because they are "too young."  I would say this...most of the time kids begin to be ready at the age of 7-8 years old.  At this age, they begin to understand abstract concepts.  But again, each child is different.  

Our role is not to push a child into a decision nor is it to hold them back.  Our role is to simply walk beside them, so to speak.  As we walk with them, we share the Gospel with them.  As we do this, God will draw them to Himself. 

This is your role.  Step into it and let God use you to reach many, many kids and parents with the Gospel.

I was thinking about David this week.  Here's this young kid, taking care of the family sheep herds.  The last person you would think about sending to battle against a huge man named Goliath. 

The reason David was willing to go to battle against Goliath was one simple thing:  HE HAD A CAUSE.  

Look what he says in I Samuel 17:29.

"David said, "What have I now done? Is there not a cause?"

David had a cause.  He wanted to silence the mouths of those who constantly ridiculed his heavenly Father.  He wanted to bring honor and glory to God.  

His cause was greater than his fear.  He appears to be fear free, but I can promise you that he was nervous.  

You know the rush that comes when a football team runs onto the field at game time?  That's probably the feeling he had as he walked toward the battle field.  If your cause is not big enough to make your knees shake, then you need to get a bigger cause.

Your cause may seem unattainable.  It may seem overwhelming at times.  It may leave you thinking, 

"Why did I start doing this?" 

"I feel overwhelmed.  It's too big a task for me."

"There's no way I can meet that goal?"

All of these doubts and fears can be overcome when you have Jesus guiding you.  He will work through you to accomplish the cause if you invite Him to help.  

Especially when your cause lines up His cause.  What is His biggest cause?  It tells us in Luke 19:10.

 "The Son of man came to see and save that which was lost."

When your cause becomes reaching people far from God, you can be sure that this is Jesus' cause as well.

"As ministers, we shouldn’t talk because we have to say something but because we have something to say."

Remember to praise God for what He has done in the past.  David reminded them that God had helped him kill a lion and a bear while watching over the sheep.  God had been faithful and the same God would be with Him that day.

If you want to live in victory, you too must have a divine cause. You must discover God's high purpose for your life and pursue it with a fervency of heart that inspires you to value the things of God even more than your own self-interest.   

Do you have a cause?

Yes,  you read the title correctly.  We are giving away a full album of our new worship music songs for kids. ($39.00 value).

12 songs total 

lyric videos for each song

with and without vocals

song motions.

written with today's kids' music styles

Below are a few songs from the album. If you can't see the songs in your email, you can click here to access them. 

All you need to do to enter the drawing is to email me at dale@buildingchildrensministry.com.

I'll randomly pick someone (close eyes and draw a name - ha) and then announce the winner here, next Tuesday.

Or if you don't want to wait - here is the link where you can get all of the songs now.  When you buy the entire album,  you are getting the video worship songs for only a little over $3.00 each.  Compare that to most worship videos for kids that cost anywhere from $10-15 dollars each.

But I've got to warn you.  These songs are written to get stuck in your head.  After listening to them, I find myself humming the songs all during the day.  And that's a good thing. We want the truths of these songs to get stuck in kids' heads so they'll remember them for the rest of their lives.

This past weekend I was consulting with a church that is hiring a children's director. 

I was helping them conduct interviews with the people who had applied for the position. 

I have a list of questions that I asked the candidates.  Thought I would share the questions with you.  

These questions can also be used with a volunteer who is stepping up to assume more leadership responsibility as a volunteer. 

 1. Can you tell me about your relationship with Jesus?  When did you enter a relationship with Him?  What do you do to grow in your faith?

 2. Why are you applying for this position?  What drew you to this?  Why do you want to be a children's director?

 3. What are your strengths?  What comes easy for you?

 4. What are some things you are working on to get better at?

 5. What are 3 goals you would set and try to accomplish in your first year?

6.  Can you tell me about a time when there was conflict in a previous job and how you handled it?

7. Children's ministry is about the volunteers who make the ministry happen just as much as about the kids who are part of it. How would you build and equip a volunteer team?  What experience do you have leading adults?

8. How would you partner with parents and equip them to disciple their children?

9. Have you taken a personality test?  If yes, what were the results?  If you haven't would you be willing to take one?

10. What have I not asked you that I should ask you?  

The children's ministry director is one of the most critical hires you can make.  Get the right person and they can help the children's ministry become a major growth engine for the church.  

And think about this.  No one, besides the Pastor, has more contact and influence with the people in your church.  The children's director ministers to babies, preschoolers, elementary, pre-teens, students who serve, adults who serve, parents and grandparents.

This is not an exhaustive list of questions.  What are some other questions you ask potential hires?  Share your thoughts and insight with us in the comment section below.