RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

How can you know if a church  values children's ministry? Some churches say they value children's ministry but their actions tell a different story. 

Let's put it to a test. Here are 7 ways you can know if a church truly does value children's ministry.

Volunteers

The church encourages people to serve in children's ministry. It is high on the list when it comes to volunteer opportunities. 

The best, most gifted volunteers can be found in the church's children's ministry.  The choir loft isn't full of volunteers while the children's ministry volunteer team is minuscule. 

The church knows this - the success of the church rises and falls on the strength of the volunteer team that ministers to the next generation. 

Facilities

When parents walk into your facilities, what are your facilities saying? 

Children are important here?

We care enough about the next generation to create quality environments for them?

Our children's facilities were designed with kids in mind...not adults?

Subpar children's facilities will make your children's ministry seem worse than it is while high quality children's facilities will make your children's ministry seem better than it is. 

Facilities for children matters...a lot. You can't stick kids in the basement in an environment that looks like a hospital and expect growth.

Your adult space may look great...but if your children's space isn't popping...then you will struggle to grow the ministry.

Budget

The children's ministry budget should be one of the largest budgets in the church. If a church says they care about reaching and discipling the next generation, then their budget allocations will reflect this. 

Money invested in children's ministry will pay for itself many times over in families who are reached.

Show me your budget and I will tell you how much you value children's ministry. 

Staffing 

A church that values children's ministry will have adequate staff.  I have created a staffing chart that shows how many staff you should have in your children's ministry based on attendance.  If you'd like a copy of the chart, feel free to email me and I will send it to you.

Visibility

The children's ministry will have high visibility.  This includes pulpit declaration, bulletin space, announcements, screen time, and an overall culture that says children's ministry is important to us.

Partnerships

The children's ministry will not be a silo. Other ministries in the church will partner with the children's ministry. There will be a partnership with student ministry. There will be a partnership with adult ministry.  The children's ministry will often collaborate with other ministries to reach and disciple families.  

Events

The church will invest generously to host children and family outreach events. Some examples are VBS, Easter outreach, summer camp, fall festivals / trunk or treat, Christmas events, etc. 

The entire church will get behind these events and will get involved by giving, volunteering, promoting, etc. 

Does your church value children's ministry? These are some good talking points as you lead children's ministry in your church. Feel free to share this article with your church leaders. 

A lot is at stake...we only have a short window of time to reach and disciple children.

I was at a church a few years ago that had no children.  No babies.  No toddlers.  No preschoolers.  No elementary children.  No teenagers. 

As I looked around, it became very clear that this church was dying a slow death. Zoom forward a few years and you will see a church that is permanently closed. 

If you ask me what happened, I would respond by saying, "They were not intentional about passing on the faith to the next generation."

A recent report from Barna has revealed that 56% of children's ministry leaders agree somewhat that children's ministry is often forgotten by their church. 

What are some signs that a church has forgotten about children's ministry?

Physical Space - the place where children meet at the church is subpar.  Kids meet in an old, musty basement or in another space that is not kid-friendly.  The church spends big money on things like choir robes while the children's ministry rooms are bland and uninviting for kids. 

Personnel - the church makes it a priority to have a full-time choir director, small groups director, etc. while little to no money is allocated for a children's ministry director / pastor.

People - there is a big shortage on volunteers.  People serve in other ministries while the children's ministry is struggling to have enough volunteers to operate. 

Profile - you rarely hear about what is going on in the children's ministry.  There might be a small blurb in the bulletin once in a while, but for the most part, people are vaguely aware that you have a children's ministry.

It's crazy to think that many churches have forgotten about children's ministry or not made it a key part of their ministry.  Forgetting or negating children's ministry sounds a death knell for a church.  

Do you want God's blessings on your church?  Then children's ministry must be a top priority.  Look what Jesus says in Mark 9:36-37.

Then He put a little child among them.  Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, 'Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.' Mark 9:36-37.

The church or ministry that minimizes children's ministry will minimize Jesus' blessings.  But the church  that maximizes children's ministry will maximize Jesus' blessings on their church. 

Your church or ministry can thrive in the days ahead if you will make children's ministry a priority.  Do you want to reach unchurched families' with the Gospel?  It will happen through children's ministry. Do you want to see your church grow? It will happen through children's ministry.  Do you want Jesus' blessings on your church?  It will happen through children's ministry.

As the children's ministry leader, your role is to keep children's ministry as a top priority.  You have to be the squeaky wheel.  Take articles like this and share it with your church leadership. Be the advocate for children's ministry.  If you don't do this, who will?

Time and time again, I have seen great things happen when the church where I was serving kept children's ministry at the forefront.  Each time we focused on children's ministry, the church experienced significant growth.

Has your church forgotten about children's ministry?  Be the leader that champions children's ministry and keeps it at the forefront.