RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Here's a list of the 20 largest children's ministries in America for 2017. 

Though size and growth are not the only signs of spiritual health, they are important indicators. 

There is much that can be learned from these children's ministries.  I would encourage you to click on the links and check out their websites.

I've had the honor of working with many of these ministries and personally know many of their leaders.  They are the real deal and care deeply about the kids and families in their cities and communities.  They give everything they have to reach people.  It's not about numbers for them.  It's about the individuals those numbers represent.  They know each number represents a person and each person is someone Jesus died for and longs to redeem.

A few years ago, I started a round table gathering for the children's ministry leaders on this list.  We meet once a year and spend two days sharing ideas, brainstorming, praying and learning from each other.  If you'd like to see the notes from this year's meeting, it is available in this recent post.

Though these churches are reaching tens of thousands of kids and families, they're just scratching the surface.  There are still millions of people across the country who need Jesus.  In fact, there are over 74 million children in America right now with 9,000 babies being born each day.

That's why every church, no matter the size, must go all out to reach kids and families.  As long as there are kids and families who don't know Jesus, we must continue to do our best to reach people with the Gospel and help them become fully devoted followers of Jesus.

1. Highland Kids at Church of the Highlands

2. Waumba Land, Upstreet and Kidstuf at Northpoint
    Community Church

3. Gateway Kids at Gateway Church

4. Crossroads Kids Club at Crossroads Church

5. CCV Kids at Christ Church of the Valley

6. Saddleback Kids at Saddleback Community Church

7. CFKids at Christ Fellowship Church

8. Promiseland at Willow Creek Community Church

9. eKIDZ at Elevation Church

10. Southeast Kids at Southeast Christian Church

11. Kid-O-Deo and Elevate at Eagle Brook Church

12. Second Kids at Second Baptist Church

13. Kingdom Kids at Mt. Zion Baptist Church

14. Summit Kids at Flatirons Community Church

15. Port Mariner's Kids at Mariners Church

16. Bayside Kids at Bayside Church

17. K12 at 12Stone Church

18. kidVenture Island at LCBC Church

19. Family Christian Center Kids at Family Christian
      Center

20. Rock Kids at Rock Church

*This is based on Outreach Magazine's Largest Church Report 2017 and is comprised of churches who reported their attendance to the editors.

As the transition from lecture-based education to learner-based education accelerates, children's ministries that continue to depend upon good "teachers" will become ineffective.

The rules of teaching today's kids have changed.  The learning environment can no longer be centered around the teacher, but must center around the students and how they learn best.

Effective children's ministries will have good facilitators instead of good teachers.  And just because someone is a good "teacher" doesn't mean they are a good "facilitator."

Good "teachers" will find it harder and harder to engage kids who learn less and less by hearing and more and more by doing, talking, and interacting.

One big difference is this.  A good teacher can teach "on the fly."  But a good facilitator must be able to create and craft learning experiences that are carefully planned, fine tuned, and thought out with learning styles and attention spans guiding the process.  There is no "on the fly" with an effective facilitator.  You can read more about the difference between a facilitator and a teacher by reading this article.

Today's children's ministry "teachers" must shift from being the gatekeeper of all learning to being a guide, mentor, and encourager.

Pager methods will no longer work in a cell phone world.  Take a look at your kid's environments and think about it.  Is it time for some changes?

Pull back the curtain of successful children's ministries and you'll find these 7 secrets at work.

They choose effectiveness over busyness.  They are very focused in what they do.

They say no to a lot of things and yes to a few things.  Everything on their calendar is a step toward their goals.

Instead of diluting their volunteers, resources, and efforts with a lot of mediocre programs, they channel them into a few things done with excellence.  

They have Senior leadership who doesn't just say they believe in children's ministry, but actually make it a priority.  This is evident in budgeting, promotion, staffing, and facilities.

They constantly evaluate everything and make changes.  Things are constantly shifting.  They let go of things that don't work.  What's coming is talked about much more than what was.

The children's ministry is on par with the rest of the church.  It's rare to find a thriving children's ministry that is part of a church that isn't.  A culture of excellence normally runs through the entire church.

They have an outward focus.  They cater to outsiders instead of insiders.  Their heart beats for people who are away from God.  

They have a dynamic volunteer team.  Behind every dynamic children's ministry is a dynamic volunteer team.

The volunteer team is engaged, equipped, and empowered for the work of the ministry.  There is also a sense of family and fun among them.

They have the "it" factor.  What is "it?"  They can't put their finger on it, but they have a sense that God's hand is on the ministry in a special way.

There is a God factor that causes them to walk with Godfidence.  They are very aware that what is happening is way beyond their "ability."

What are some other traits you've observed in successful children's ministries?  Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.