RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Kids may be small, but they are a big factor when it comes to parents choosing a church. 

Researchers at Barna found that 58% of parents say children's ministry programming is the primary reason they chose their current church. 

One interesting factor  - parents that take their children to church on a regular basis are also involved in their children's other activities.

Children that are active participants on Sunday tend to also be involved in spiritual growth activities during the week.  They are twice as likely to engage in church outreach activities, Bible studies, camps, etc

So the big question is this - What are parents looking for when they walk in the doors of your church?  What are some of the determining factors that they are looking for?

Safety and Security
We live in a new normal when it comes to safety and security.  Safety and security is one of the biggest reasons why parents choose a church.  They want to know that their child will be safe in your care.  This includes things like drop-off and pick-up processes, doors locked down after service begins, a policeman on duty in uniform, being able to contact them during service, etc.

I would encourage you to share your safety and security process to new families as you are walking them to their room.

We must be prepared for this.  Attacks can happen at any time and at any place.

Kid-friendly Facilities
Facilities aren't everything, but it does make a big impression with new families.  Without even saying anything, it makes a big statement to parents.  It says you value the next generation and are investing time and resources into the place where they meet. 

The Fun Factor
Parents are looking for a church where their children actually like attending.  If the kids complain about the service being boring, parents will take them to a church that isn't boring.  When I refer to "fun" it simply means that the service keeps their attention and they are allowed to be kids.  

Volunteers 
If a new parent gets to the 4-year-old room and there are 30 kids and 2 adults, they will probably not come back.  When they drop off their child they are looking at all of the elements involved.  Make sure you keep your ratios in balance.

Relevant Lessons
Kids should be able to tell their parents on the way home what they learned.  I'm not talking about the standard  - we learned about "God" or "Jesus."  If you are teaching lessons that kids engage with, they should be able to share the main point at the minimum.

I would encourage you to look at these five parts of children's ministry and see how your ministry is doing.  What do you need to change, start doing or tweek?  Or it may mean a total makeover.

Your turn.  What are some other things parents are looking for when they visit your ministry?  Share your thoughts, ideas and insight in the comment section below.

Some people have a bent toward being negative.  They see the glass as half empty. 

Most children's ministries have at least one "negative person" in their midst.  You're probably thinking of someone right now.

They immediately think up a negative analysis when a new idea or plan is brought up.  And if it's an outside event, the person is sure it will be raining.  New idea presented at a meeting?  He or she will explain why it won't work.

A common thing you will hear the negative person say is, "We already tried that and it doesn't work."  With statements like that, the energy in a room is drained.

If you bring the negative person close to you in leadership, watch out.  Their negative attitude can rub off on you and take away your motivation.

What you want to do is bring positive people close to you.  Don't spend much time with a negative person.  Negativity can be crippling.  Surround yourself with positive people.

Realism vs. Negativity.
Being positive doesn't mean you walk around all the time with your head in the clouds thinking happy thoughts.  Realism is not the same as negativity.  Realism lets you look at the situation and see the situation as it is without highlighting the negative. 

Born That Way?
Some people say "yes," negative people are born that way and it is a blind spot. 

Others would say "no," Being negative is the result of the environment in which we are raised and we can change our negative thoughts into positive thoughts.

Find out what is behind the pessimism.  Where does it come from?  What is causing it and why?  If we know the “why”, we can begin to change the thinking pattern.

A little negativity?
Some negativity can be beneficial when you are planning and evaluating.  It can add some caution and can be used to see both the good and bad of proposals and programs.  It can be helpful when creating a plan B.

Have a conversation with the negative person.  Find out why they are negative.  The cause could be from a hurt or offense that took place in the past.  Use open questions.  Reflect with them.  Point them toward something that will help them diminish any problems they may be having by serving and helping others.

Set the example.  Be a positive leader.  I once reported to a person that was always negative.  Never a word of encouragement.  Never a prayer.  When we met, the person immediately defaulted to talking about negative parts of the ministry I lead.  I tried to stay positive, but it wasn't easy.  It was a learning experience for me.  It reminded me that people respond to encouragement more than any thing else. Be a positive, encouraging leader and it can help negative people on your team see how to led well.


If you're looking for more leadership materials for leading children's ministry, then you need my newest book - Lead Well in Children's Ministry.  It contains over 300 pages of ministry insight that 
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I recently heard someone talking about their "career" in children's ministry.

I personally don't believe ministry is a career.  I believe it is a calling of God. 

Most people who are in ministry are not in it because they decided to make a "career" of it.  They are in ministry because God did a supernatural work in their heart and ushered in an invitation to give their life to reaching and discipling people. 

That was my case.  When I was 16-years-old, God began to quietly whisper into my spirit that He wanted me to give my life to reaching people.  At first, I said "no way."  That is not something that was on my radar.  And it was definitely not something I wanted to pursue.  But the "calling" continued to pursue me. 

I'll never forget the day I got on my knees and said "yes" to God's call.  I told God I'm going to stop running away from Your plan for my life and start running toward it.  

And if you are called, I am sure you remember God pursuing you for ministry as well. 

Even now, you may sense God calling you to give your life to reaching kids and families.  You may be experiencing a burning bush call from God. 

A career is about the income.  A calling is about the outcome.

A career is you pursuing finances and prestige.  A calling is you pursuing God.

A career comes from your plans.  A calling comes from God's plans.

A career is about climbing the latter.  A calling is about climbing higher in your relationship with God.

A career is about seeing how many people can serve you.  A calling is about seeing how many people you can serve.

A career is about increasing yourself.  A calling is about asking Jesus to increase and for you to decrease.

You can change careers.  But the calling of God is a life-time commitment.

A career is about advancing yourself.  A calling is about advancing the kingdom of God.

Someone once told me if you can do anything else besides ministry, do it.  Get a career and run with it.  But if you are called by God to ministry, you will never be happy or fulfilled doing anything else.  And it's true.  Some of the most miserable people I know are people that ran from the call of God and instead began pursuing a career.

How can you know if you are called?  The Holy Spirit will deal with you if it is a calling.  Everything you do and think about will begin to point toward the calling He is asking you to walk in. 
 
Like never before, we need children's and family minister leaders who are called by God to give their lives to reaching and discipling the next generation.

Perhaps you are reading this and you God has been calling you to give your life to reaching the next generation.  Don't run from the call.  Embrace it. 

Or perhaps you have grown weary in your calling.  Weary in the well doing that comes with it.  You are just going through the motions.  You have forgotten why you are doing this. When this happens, go back to your calling.  Walk in it.  Serve in it.  Live in it. 

How do you see your ministry?  A calling or a career?