RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY: #Jesuskids

Showing posts with label #Jesuskids. Show all posts

One at a Time

10:00 AM Dale Hudson

Do you need more volunteers?

Do you want to reach more kids and families in your community?

Do you want to see more kids discipled and grounded in their faith?

I'm going to share a simple truth with you that can help you in all of these endeavors.

Here's how you do it...

ONE at a time.

"One at a time" takes an ongoing commitment to building a team and reaching kids and families.

At one of the churches where I served as a children's pastor we saw the volunteer team grow from 300 to over 2,000 in nine years.

How did we do it? One ask a time. One person at a time. One week at a time. After doing this for nine years, we looked up one day and had over 2,000 volunteers.

If you are going to build a great volunteer team, you can't just rely on a general church-wide ask for volunteers. You might get a few volunteers from this, but it won't be the catalyst that helps you build a great team. Rather, the key is the personal, one-on-one ask.

Think about it. That is the way Jesus built His team. One personal ask at a time. One new disciple at a time.

Here's what I would challenge you to do. Make your dream list of volunteers. If you could have all of the volunteers you needed, what would that look like? Get this down in writing. Then start asking God to help you fill the empty spots. One at a time.

Ask a new person to join your team. Every single week of the year. Keep signing up volunteers one at a time. Do this consistently and one day you will look up and be amazed at how many volunteers you have.

87-93% of people who are serving were asked to serve through a personal invite.

The Bible tells us that "we have not because we ask not." Make a commitment to asking people to join your team...one person at a time.

If you'd like more tips and strategies for building a volunteer team, you can get it from my book "The Formula for Building Great Volunteer Teams." It is available at this link. It has been called the best book ever written on the subject.

If you are going to reach the kids and families in your community with the Gospel it is primarily going to happen the same way...one child at a time...one parent at a time...one family at a time.

If you look the ministry of Jesus, He spent a lot of time reaching people one a time.

The woman at the well.

Nicodemus.

Zacchaeus.

The man possessed with a legion of demons.

Person after person...one at a time.

At one of the churches where I served as a children's pastor we saw over 430 kids and dozens of parents come to Christ and get baptized in one year.

How did that happen? One child and one parent at a time. We consistently shared the Gospel with kids and parents.

Every single one of these kids and parents went through a salvation class before they were baptized. The class is called Starting Point and is available at this link. They also went through a baptism class called "Baptism for Kids." It is available at this link.

Hundreds of churches are using this to see many kids and parents come to Christ.

Make a commitment that you are going to reach your community one child and one parent at a time. Keep sharing the Gospel and watch what God does.

One volunteer at a time.

One child and parent at a time.

Will you make a commitment to put in the work it takes?

Are you willing to ask and invite a person every single week?

You can do this. God is with you.

What to Do When a Parent Asks If Their Child is Ready to Accept Jesus

11:37 AM Dale Hudson

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.

Free Giveaway - New Worship Album for Kids

12:00 PM Dale Hudson

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.

Let the Kids Lead

9:44 AM Dale Hudson

It's time we start giving kids the opportunity to lead in the church.

As you look through Scripture, you will see that kids were often given the opportunity to lead.

Here's an example found in Matthew 21.

...and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things He did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. "Yes,” replied Jesus, "have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
Jesus was all for children helping lead the way in the Temple that day.  And I believe He is also for kids helping lead the way today.  
Here are a few things to consider about this. 
1. There is no "Jr. Holy Spirit."  Kids can be led and controlled by the Spirit of God just like any adult can.  Throughout scripture we see kids being used by God.  The boy giving his lunch to Jesus.  David defeating Goliath.  The little maid helping Naaman get healed.  As we just read, children leading the way to praise Jesus in the temple.
2. Kids have a heart to serve.   Have you ever asked a group of kids who would like to help with something?  Hands will shoot up everywhere.  Kids naturally have a heart to help others.  It is when they get older, that they stop raising their hand as often.  Why?  In some cases, they have been told they are too young.  That they don't have the abilities needed.  That they should sit still and be quiet.  That they have to wait until they are a certain age.  This type of treatment causes kids to eventually stop raising their hand and saying "no" to serving as adults.
3.  Kids will act like kids.  Kids are wired to move.  They are full of energy.  Don't expect them to turn it off when it's time to serve.  This may mean putting them in a role that allows them to use their energy.  It might be helping with worship so they can jump around.  It might be helping lead a fun, energetic game or activity.  Instead of squelching them, help them grow and flourish with the gifts God has given them.  
4. Make a list of the different ways kids can lead in your congregation.  Take the initiative in this and create a list of ways kids can serve at church.  Share the list with kids who want to serve and help guide them into a role that matches their gifts and talents.
5. Provide them with coaching and feedback.  Don't stick them in a role and forget about them.  Be intentional about encouraging and challenging them.  Use this as a time to help them grow spiritually.  
6. Realize that kids who serve are more likely to not walk away from the faith when they get older.  Stats show that kids who get involved in serving are less likely to walk away from their faith when they are grown.  There is something about serving that activates your faith.  That brings a passion for Christ into your life.  That brings joy as you watch God at work through you.  
Your turn.  Do you give kids the opportunity to serve at your church?  What are some roles you allow them to serve in?  What are some other guidelines you follow for kids serving?  Share your thoughts, ideas and insight in the comment section below. 

Kids' Funny Bible Quotes

5:59 AM Dale Hudson

Kids can say some hilarious things about Bible stories they have heard, but haven't fully comprehended yet.

Here are some of the best. Enjoy.

Shadrach, Meshach and a billy goat were thrown into a fire.

Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree.

Joshua led the Hebrews in the battle of Geritol.

Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark.

Noah built an ark, which the animals came on to in pears.

The people who followed the Lord were called the 12 decibels.

A Christian should have only one wife. This is called monotony.

The epistles were the wives of the apostles.

The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.

David fought with the Finklesteins, a race of people who lived in Biblical times.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel.

David had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.

Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards.

Jesus went up to Heaven, but will be back at the end of the aluminum.

Once upon a time, Jesus was walking through the countryside with His disciples. Since this was before Chick-fil-A, they didn’t have easy access to food while they were traveling.

There was tennis in the Bible. It says Joseph served in Pharaoh's court.

Moses was the most wicked man in the Bible. He broke all 10 commandments at the same time.

Jesus drove a car - it was a Chrysler.

The Egyptians were all drowned in the dessert.

Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the 10 amendments.

The 5th commandment is to humor thy father and mother.

One of the opossums was St. Matthew, who was, by profession, a taximan.

And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.

How to Lead Well Through Major Change

8:14 AM Dale Hudson

The coronavirus has caused all of us to make some major changes in how we do ministry, hasn't it?

Pre-virus there were only a handful of kid's ministries that offered their kids' services streaming or on demand.

Now nearly every ministry in the country is streaming their weekend kids' services as well as other times they can engage kids and their parents.

Change is never easy. Especially when you are forced into it.

There is no doubt the way we do ministry will change in some aspects due to the virus. Wherever change leads us, we must be prepared to lead well through it.

Let's take a look at a few of the ways you can effectively lead well through change.

Lead well through change by having excellent communication. Focus first on the "why" behind the change rather than just the "what" of the change. Explain the purpose of the change. Share how it is connected to the values of your team. Show the benefits that will help the ministry become stronger. Communicate early and often.

"You can't leave team members in the dark during the week and then expect them to shine on Sunday."

Lead well through change by including team members in the decision making. It is crucial that you bring people together to plan out the steps to the change. When there is collaboration, there is buy-in. The change will go a lot better if you include people in the planning. And remember this...

"The smartest person in the room is the room."

Lead well through change by being resilient. Change is not easy. That's why you can't give up. Stay focused. Stay positive. Guard your heart.

Some of your plans you may not see come to fruition until years from now. And you'll probably have some miscues and blunders along the way. But don't be diverted by these things. Stay faithful. God is by your side and it will come to pass in His time.

You can get lots more about leading through change well in my new book - Lead Well in Children's Ministry. Here is what the book covers.

Lead Yourself Well

Lead Team Members Well

Lead the Ministry Well

Lead Parents Well

Lead Change Well

Lead Through Challenges Well

Lead Up Well

Lead Multi-site Well

Lead the Next Generation Well

Lead Well for the Future

You can prepare yourself to lead well in all these aspects of ministry with this book. It comes from over 30 years of experience leading in children and family ministry.

Get your copy today. Available in paperback and digital formats at www.buildingchildrensministry.com.

What to Do When Your Volunteers Don't Want to Come Back Because of the Pandemic

10:33 AM Dale Hudson

As we continue to search for a vaccine and cure for the Corona Virus, many people are still hesitant to go out and mingle with others. And rightfully so.

The virus is reshaping the daily routines of millions of Americans.

It is also causing many churches and other non-profits to struggle with a lack of volunteers. This could impact crucial service for the most vulnerable people.

I have been listening to what church leaders are saying as they work through opening their physical campuses back up.

They are asking some great questions. One of the questions is "What will we do when older volunteers are hesitant to come back to serve - because of the virus?" Many of the older volunteers are saying they will not be back to serve until there is a vaccine available to cure the fast spreading virus.

This can really have an impact on children's ministries because in many ministries we depend on Boomers to serve and fill key roles.

Here are some key points that can help you navigate what to do when your older volunteers are hesitant to serve during this time.

People come first. Older adults are more likely to have serious health issues when they catch the virus. With the virus reshaping the daily routines of millions of Americans, many nonprofits are struggling with those age 65 or older,” says Dr. Natasha Bhuyan, a family physician in Phoenix, Arizona.

“The reason why is because our immune system is less effective at fighting infections as we get older. Also, having multiple other chronic diseases can complicate this virus.”

This means we should put our senior adults first. Especially those who already have an underlying

condition. Don't place your senior adults in serving situations where they are likely to catch the virus or spread the virus.

"Use the ministry to build people, not the people to build the ministry,"

The quote above should be often considered. Don't bring risk to senior adults just because you have some vacant volunteer roles open. There may be other roles they can fill for the time being that don't require contact with people.

Enlist new volunteers. This is a great opportunity to share the vision of your ministry and how people can make a difference in the lives of other people. People are tuned in to helping other people in this season. Remember to emphasize the "why" of the ministry. You can get many more great ideas for building a volunteer team in my book "The Formula for Building Great Volunteer Teams." It's available at this link.

Realize some volunteers were looking for a way out. The virus is the exit door they have been looking for. Thank them for their service and lovingly let them walk away. You want people on your team that want to be on your team.

Consider doing children's ministry differently until you can ramp back up to full speed. You may need to adjust some classrooms. Drop some activities you were going to do. Move to doing a lot more things online. Think about some games you can play online with the kids (make sure you have parents' permission). You can share a devotion each week online. Perhaps it means sending the lesson plans and activities to parents and having them do the lesson with their child.

Make sure your volunteers know all the steps you are taking to keep them safe from the virus. Share with them that people are wearing masks, everything is being sanitized, no one is allowed to come into a the classroom if they have a fever, etc. These steps may be the difference between someone who chooses to serve and someone who doesn't.

Some of the best volunteers I have had the privilege to serve with were senior adults. While I want to see them be able to serve, I first and foremost want to protect their health. That's why it's so important to have a serving plan that will protect them.

Your turn. The floor is yours. What are you doing to encourage volunteers to continue serving? What safety measures are you putting in place?

Share your ideas and insight in the comment section below.

You're a Big Reason Why Parents Attend Your Church

12:12 PM Dale Hudson

Why do families decide to attend a particular church? Recent research by George Barna reveals that the majority of parents decide which church they will attend based on the church their children like.

58% of parents say the children's programming is the biggest reason they choose the church they are attending.

This reaffirms the fact that children are a big influence on where their family attends church. Kids may be small, but they carry a lot of weight when it comes choosing a church.

I can't emphasize this enough and I hope you realize what an important role you play in reaching families. You oversee the biggest growth engine in your church.

Kids definitely have what I call "pester power." They will pester their parents when they really want something. Have you ever bought a child a toy that requires batteries and you forget to purchase the batteries?

It happened to me once...and I learned my lesson. One Christmas, I bought my son a toy that required batteries and I forgot to purchase the batteries. He opened the toy and was so excited...until he saw we didn't have batteries. He asked me to get batteries. I told him we would, but that it would be tomorrow before we got the batteries since most of the stores were closed on Christmas day.

30 minutes later, he came and asked me again about the batteries. I told him it would be tomorrow.

But he was back again in a few minutes asking about the batteries. After being asked about 10 times, I said, "Okay, let's go find some batteries." And we found a store that was open and got the batteries.

Our goal should be this - make church such an engaging experience for kids that they pester their parents to bring them back.

There have been times when I heard someone say, "We were going to stay home and watch the service online today, but our kids wouldn't stop asking us to bring them and so here we are."

Remember this...

"When you take a child by the hand,

you take a parent by the heart."

By ministering to children, you have the opportunity to influence the greatest influence in a child's life...their parents.

You may oversee the children's ministry and your main focus is the children. But if you really want to make a huge impact, then you must also think about the children's parents.

Think about this as well...

"When you reach a child you change a life, but when you reach parents you change an entire family."

What a great opportunity God has entrusted you with. To reach kids and their parents with the Gospel of Jesus. And then help them grow in their faith and become mature believers.

Look at an example found in John 4:23-54.

After the two days he left for Galilee.(Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there.

Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a
certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

“Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”

The man took Jesus at His word and departed.While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.

Notice what happened. The man came to Jesus for one reason. His son was sick and needed healing. And through that it says, "So he and his entire household believed."

It happened then and it can happen now. God can use you to bring children and their families to Jesus.

Walk in this calling. Live out this calling. Bear fruit from this calling. Be the catalyst that God uses to see entire families transformed by His grace and love.