RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

There's no doubt about it - the presence of a caring volunteer has a positive impact in the life of a child.  

It only takes one person to help a child grow up to love Jesus.

If you asked a child in your ministry if there is anyone at church that cares about them, what would they say?  Would they name anyone specifically?

It's not cool buildings that leaves a lifetime impact in the life of a child.  

It's not fun activities that impacts a child.  

Lifetime impact doesn't come from playing games at church. 

Lifetime impact happens when a child knows there is a caring volunteer that will be waiting for them at church.

Impact happens when a child is known by a caring volunteer.

The child will have someone at church who knows their name.

The child will have someone at church that knows how they are doing in school.

The child will know someone at church knows about any struggles or frustrations they are having.

The child will know someone at church knows where they are in their spiritual journey.

Impact happens when a child is prayed for by a caring volunteer.

Prayer is a powerful thing.  When volunteers cover children in prayer, it makes an eternal impact.

Jesus told Simon Peter this in Luke 22.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail."

We know the evil one is out to kill, steal and destroy the next generation.  But just as Jesus prayed for Simon, when we pray for the children in our ministry, it makes the difference.

Impact happens when a caring volunteer helps kids have a higher attendance pattern at church.  

Every church I know is struggling with children having low attendance patterns.  The norm is now once every three weeks or even less.  

Volunteers can make an impact in a child's attendance pattern.  

They can impact a child's attendance pattern by sending them a "missed you" card in the mail. 

They can impact a child's attendance pattern by calling the parents and checking on the family.

They can impact a child's attendance pattern by encouraging the child to be faithful.  

Impact happens not only for the child, but for their parents as well.

Kids don't drive themselves to church.  Caring volunteers can impact an entire family through ministering to their child.  

They can connect with parents at church for a few minutes. 

They can distribute resources that parents can use to disciple their child....which is a double impact in the life of the child and his or her parents.

They can pray not only for the child, but for their parents as well. 

Simply put...impact can happen when children's volunteers are intentional about including parents as much as possible at church.  

What an opportunity we have to impact children for Christ.  Will you be that person?

The biggest influence in a child's life is his or her parents. If that is true, then we need to spend time empowering parents.

We need to place tools in their hands that will set them up for success as a parent and spiritual leader in their home.

What does that look like? 

Here are 7 ways you can empower parents to lead their children spiritually.

Empower parents in prayer.

Create a prayer promise calendar for parents. Have a prayer promise for each day of the month.  Encourage parents to use this to pray for their children. 

Put a prayer promise from God's Word on the wall in each of your nursery and preschool environments.   Let parents know that each week the prayer will be prayed over their child.  Encourage them to join you and pray the same verse over their child at home. 

Empower parents in dedicating their child to Jesus.  One of the most important times to partner with 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 about not only dedicating their children, but also how to raise them to love and follow Jesus. 

Empower parents in teaching their child about the Bible.  Offer a parent and child class about God's Word. Empower parents to lead their children to love God's Word as they enter their elementary years. It can be a life-changing experience as parents present their child with a Bible and speak a blessing over them.

Empower parents to lead their child to faith in Christ.  Offer a one-session class designed for kids who are interested in starting a relationship with Jesus. Use a class that is designed for kids and their parents to attend together.  Provides tools that parents can use to follow up with their children at home.

Empower parents to prepare their child for baptism.  Have a one session class for parents and their children that answers questions like...

• What is baptism?
• Why should I be baptized?
• When should I be baptized?

Provide follow-up tools that parents can use to help prepare their children for baptism.  

Empower parents as they prepare for their child to graduate from children's ministry into student ministry. One of the key times parents are open to your guidance and input is when their child is transitioning from elementary to middle school. This can be a nervous and challenging time for parents.

This is one of the most critical times in children's ministry and it's vital to have a clear strategy for empowering kids and families.

Host a class for kids and families as they prepare for the move into middle school ministry. Create a solid bridge between your children's ministry and middle school ministry.

Host a parenting class.  We often lean on adult ministry to have parenting classes.  I believe it is time for children's ministries to step up and take the lead in having parenting classes.  One of the best tools you can give parents is a parenting class where they get strategies and Biblical parenting wisdom.

These empowering tools for parents are available for you. Hundreds of churches are using these resources and are making a big impact in the lives of parents and their children.  You can check these tools out at this link.  

Empowering parents is one of the most powerful things you can do to see their children love and follow Jesus for a lifetime.

Here's a strategy that can really make a big impact in the lives of the young families in your church.

Most churches do a baby dedication service at least once a year. 

As part of the materials you give parents for the dedication, consider giving them a letter. 

The letter is from the parents to their child who they are dedicating.  The letter lets the child know that the parents dedicated him or her years ago.

The letter is to be put in a special place after the dedication. Years later, when the child is elementary age and enters a relationship with Jesus, the parents bring the letter out and gives it to their child. 

The letter is a form letter but it leaves room for the parents to add their additional thoughts as well. 

The letter tells the child that at his or her dedication, the parents received the letter and began to pray for the child to enter a relationship with Jesus when he or her was old enough to understand and make that decision.  

I have seen this happen and it really impacts the family.  What an experience when the parents read the letter to their child.

If you'd like a copy of the letter you can use for this, feel free to email me at dale@buildingchildrensministry.com and I will send it to you.  

Just one more way we can impact families and walk with them in their spiritual journey.