RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

The first movie they sent out was Tim Burton's Bettlejuice.

In 2012 they did over $1 billion in revenue.  Ten years later, its revenues had fallen to $146 million. 

The times have changed. Netflix has officially mailed out their last red DVD envelope. The last movie they sent out was True Grit.    

Like many things in the technology business, DVD's in the mail has run its course.

The big change started in 2007 with the introduction of streaming movies and TV shows.  Gradually people didn't even have to get out of their LazyBoys to watch the video offerings. 

No more waiting for the DVD in the red envelope to arrive. They could stream Netflix 24/7.  

The day of the DVD was over.  It was a great technology at the time but needed to change if they were going to move forward with other competing companies.

Change or go under?  It was really as simple as that.  They could no longer just do what they have always done.  

Netflix was smart enough to make the change from DVDs to streaming, on-demand viewing.  The change has gone extremely well and they now doing far better than they were in the days of DVDs. In 2022, they had over 31 billion dollars of income.

So let me ask you a question.  

Are you still using DVD's in a streaming, on demand culture?  

When I say this, I don't mean have you trashed all of your "Veggietales DVD's." What I am saying is this.  

Are you keeping up with a changing culture? 

Are you willing to shut down a good ministry model so a new model can be great?

Are you having people wait while they live in an on-demand culture?]

What methods, programs or events do you need to stop doing so you can be more effective in reaching today's kids and families? 

Change can be hard to make.  Some people get upset when there is change.  People want to cling to the past because that's all they have ever known.  

As a visionary leader, your role is to skillfully lead people through necessary changes so the ministry can continue to move forward and be effective.

Here is my challenge for you.

Set down at least once a year and go through everything you are doing.  Ask the hard questions.

Is this still effective?

Are people voting with their feet for this?

Is this still culturally relevant?

Are we reaching children and their parents through this?

What do we need to change about this?

Do we need to stop doing this?

What are we doing just because we've always done it that way?

Take the answers to these questions and be willing to change and adjust.

You don't want to be a DVD Ministry in a live streaming and on demand culture.

In the church world, a lot of things have changed since Covid-19 appeared on the scene.  How we interact, how we worship, how we fellowship...how we plan big events, how we connect with parents and volunteers...on and on we could go. The world is definitely not the same. 

In the midst of the changes you are experiencing and walking through, now might be a good time to make some subtle changes that you've been waiting for the right time to make.

Here's an example.  I know a church that still used hymn books.  Even though they had some very nice large screen TV's up front with the words to the songs, many people still sang out of the hymn books.  

When Covid-19 hit, for safety reasons, they decided to do away with the hymn books and have people just look at the screens for the words of the songs.  This went very well and brought no opposition since people didn't want to be holding and handling song books that might have germs and viruses from someone else.

Funny thing ...even though the church is pretty much back to normal, there are no hymn books...just the two big screens up front.  And everyone likes the picture quality on the TV's.  The song books will not be coming back.  No fuss...no voting...no one getting upset about the switch.  

When it comes to leading change,  it can be difficult at times.  It takes wisdom, a good strategy and the right timing.  

Covid-19 may be the right time to introduce some changes for you and your ministry.  What do you think?  

p.s. In my book "Lead Well in Children's Ministry" I talk about the process for leading change. You can get your copy of the book at this link.

The pandemic has brought about so many changes for ministries.  

Online services for kids.  Virtual VBS. Safety and security at a whole new level.  Cleaning and sanitizing amplified.  

And most ministries have had to stop or postpone some of their normal programming and events.  

But, here's the deal.  Cutting back on the number of ministries and events may be a good thing.  

Here's why.  A large percentage of children's ministries were trying to do too much before Covid-19 happened.  

Too many programs.  Too many events.  Too many activities.  Too many classes.  Too many...you get the point.  

You see, there is a natural tendency to keep adding more programs, more events and more activities to your children's ministry calendar.  

You then reach a certain point where you are doing a lot of things mediocre instead of doing a few things with excellence.  When it comes to being effective, less is more.  

With the current situation we find ourselves in, this is a great time to streamline your ministry and narrow your focus to a few things that your ministry can do very well.    

What do you need to stop doing?  (or not resurrect after things return to "normal?")

What is giving you the most impact?  Move some of the resources you were spending on fluff to this ministry program or event.

Are your volunteers stretched thin because you're asking them to serve in more than one area?  Focusing your volunteers to serve at one ministry or event will bring the biggest return.

Perhaps you have tried to streamline the ministry in the past.  But you were met with resistance and lack of support.  Now is the time to adjust while everyone is expecting changes to be made due to Covid-19. 

Here are some strategic steps you can take to streamline the ministry. 

Make a list of everything you are doing as a ministry.

Take a hard look at everything.  

Ask these questions:

Why are we doing this?

Is it helping us fulfill our mission statement? 

Are we reaching and discipling kids and families thru this ministry?

Is this ministry bearing fruit?

How much volunteer capacity does it require?

If we stopped doing this, would a large percentage of our families be affected?

Is this ministry still relevant for today's kids and families?

Could the budget money we are putting into this be used in another area for a greater impact?

Set a timeline for the changes you will be making and communicate it to the appropriate people.  Changes should be an open book not a secret diary. 

Streamlining your ministry may be just the thing you need to gain momentum and reach more kids and families in your community.  

Have you gotten a copy of my new book "Lead Well in Children's Ministry?  Chapter 5 covers how to lead through change well.  It outlines the specific steps you need to take when you are making changes.  You can get the book at this link. 

Your turn.  What adjustments have you made during Covid-19?  How are the adjustments doing?  Are there any other insights you want to share about leading during a time of rebuilding?  Share you thoughts and ideas in the comment section below.