RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

 As we approach 2019, do you need to invest in yourself?

The most challenging person you will lead in the coming year will be the person you look at in the mirror each day.  Yourself.

Often as children's ministry leaders, we spend all of our time investing in others.  And that's a good thing.  In fact, it's what you are called to do - to equip your team for the work of the ministry.

But when was the last time you invested in yourself?
When was the last time you carved out some time to improve as a children's ministry leader?

Do you want to have more leadership influence with the team you lead?

Do you want your ministry to grow and flourish?

Are you looking for someone to help you become a better leadership minister?

Do you need someone to help you navigate and face challenges you are facing?

Rick Warren said this about leading a ministry -

Can you relate?  Then Advance Coaching is for you.  Led by Dale Hudson, you will grow as a leader and children's ministry staff member or volunteer.  Dale is one of the leading voices and leaders in children's ministry.  Whether it's your first year or 20th year in ministry, he can help you and your ministry get to the next level.  Dale has led in churches of all sizes, ranging from 100 to 28,000 in weekend attendances.  He also built and led a volunteer team of over 2,600 people.

When you join us for the Advance experience,  you get...

• 6 months of coaching.  Next session starts in January of 2019.  
• Monthly coaching session.
• Personalized growth plan. 
• Copy of all of Dale's books.
• Online support.

If you'd like to get more info. about the coaching program, you can go to this page for applications, more details, etc. 

The next group starts in January.  The deadline to apply is Dec.15th.  There is limited space, so apply now.  No matter the size of your ministry, you will gain great insight and personal growth in the program.  We have churches from 100 to 17,000 who have participated. 

Here's a few testimonies from leaders who have went through the Advance program. 

I am so thankful for the coaching experience I was able to have with Dale Hudson.  I have learned tools that will help with leadership, growth and structure.  I would highly recommend anyone in ministry to take part in this amazing experience. 
Michelle Clary, 5 Points Church

Can you teach an "old dog" new tricks?  Dale did!  Having worked in children's ministry for almost two decades, I have a lot of experience.  Basically that means I am good at some things and avoid the rest.  If you are willing to learn, Dale can help you with the rest. 
Joel Smith, First Colony Church of Christ

Dale does a great job of lining up the essentials of children's ministry to teach you the most important, often overlooked, aspects of ministry. While all of my previous training had been "on the job," this session with Dale really solidified all that knowledge and has also helped me have some tangible aspects to measure.  I was able to use this course to put some  processes in placea nd it allowed me to step back and create an over-aching plan for the ministry. 
Erin Althaus 
West Market Church 

I found the Advance program very helpful!  I'm convinced everyone can get something out of it - both those with formal training and those without. If you are a children's ministry leader,  you'll be glad you were a part.  If you're a senior pastor, you should have your kid's pastor participate. 
Eric Gayer
Lifegate Church 

Come join us and take your leadership and ministry to the next level.

We often talk about what an important influence parents are in their child's life.  And it's true.  Parents are the biggest influence in a child's life. 

But...hang onto that thought for a minute.  There may be someone else who we are overlooking when it comes to influencing children. 

In fact, some researchers say this person welds even more influence than parents in a child's life.  

Who is it?  Their pastor?  No.  Their grandparents?  No.  Their teacher?  No.  A sports coach?  No.

Okay...here's the big reveal.  It's their siblings.  Yes, you read it correctly.  When it comes to our development, brothers and sisters can be even more influential than parents.  This includes when the sibling is "older and cooler" or "younger and bothersome."

82% of kids live with a sibling.  That's a higher number than kids who live with their father.  Think about it.  Our sibling will be in our life longer than even our parents.  Siblings affect a child's life as they are growing up together. This is true in both positive and negative relationships.  

When a child's relationship with their sibling is harmful, it can lead to increased use of drugs and alcohol.  And when a sibling bullies his or her brother or sister, it can cause the child to become depressed, anxious and even engage in self-harm.

However, when the relationship is good, the sibling benefits greatly.  Research suggests that as kids' relationship with their parents grows different over time, their relationship with their brothers and sisters becomes stronger. 

Older siblings can also influence younger siblings to engage in risky behavior.  Younger children want to be like their older siblings and usually admire them.  This makes them more susceptible to trying things that are harmful.  Why?  Because their older brother or sister is doing it.    

An example is pregnancies. Girls are more likely to get pregnant outside of wedlock if an older sibling did so first.  

Sibling influence is for a life-time.  A survey was done of more than 1 million Swedes and the results found that the risk of having a heart attack spikes after a sibling dies from having a heart attack.  

We spend the majority of our time, resources and strategy trying to help parents be the primary spiritual influence in their children's lives.  And we should. 

But...this may fall short if we don't also influence siblings.  

I believe we need to go to the drawing board and come up with a new strategy that includes influencing siblings and helping them discover how they can make a positive difference in the lives of their younger brothers and sisters.  
I don't know of anyone who is including a strategy to influence siblings.  And that means we are missing a key element in raising kids to love Jesus.  

What if...

• We taught pre-teens how to influence their younger siblings for Christ? 

• We showed elementary children how to read Bible stories to their younger siblings?

• We encouraged teenagers to be intentional about helping disciple their younger brothers and sisters?  

•  We had teens participate in their brother's and/or sister's milestones.

Your turn.  The floor is yours.  How much influence do you think a sibling has?  What are some ways we an influence and partner with brothers and sisters?

Several years ago, I was leading the children's ministry at a local church.

I had only been there about six months, when I began to notice something that caused me to make a change in how we did Parent & Child dedication.

Families would sign up online for the dedication, but the first face-to-face contact we had with them was the morning of the dedication.

Waiting with the parents for the dedication to begin, I listened to their conversations.  It became apparent that many of them had no idea what the dedication was about.  I realized we were missing a golden opportunity to not only share with the parents what the dedication was about, but to also use the dedication to equip parents to disciple their children. 

And so I started a Parent & Child Dedication class.  We begin requiring parents to go through the class before they dedicated their children.  The class was held two weeks before the actual dedication.

We were very intentional with the dedication curriculum to share 3 big things with the parents...

1. What the dedication meant.

2. How to be the primary spiritual leader for their child and what that entailed.

3. We shared the Gospel and invited parents who didn't know Jesus to begin a relationship with Him.

The response was amazing.  Parents begin to tell us what a difference the class had made in their lives.  They felt equipped with the practical discipleship tools we shared with them.  Many parents who didn't know Jesus, began a relationship with Him, because of the class.

If you do not currently host a class for parents before they dedicate their children, I want to encourage you to start it up.  You see, when parents have a baby or preschooler, they will open their hearts and listen to what you are sharing with them.  And you will find they are receptive to your teaching and instruction during this time.

One of the most important times to connect with parents is when they are ready to dedicate their child to the Lord.  And if you can invest these parents, while their children are young, you can set them up for success as their child's spiritual leader.

I am excited to announce that the Parent & Child Dedication Class is now available for your ministry.  If you are not hosting a class for parents before your dedications, now is the time to start.  It is critical to have a clear strategy and plan to equip parents during this time.  Or perhaps you currently have a class, but need a fresh, exciting curriculum for it.

This curriculum kit will jump start your child dedication and make it a memorable, life-changing experience for the parents in your ministry. 

As an added bonus, you'll also get two sample child dedication services you can use at the dedication.  Their are two options - one during a weekend service - and another one that can be done outside of a weekend service, in case you do your dedication as a separate event. 

Here are more details...

Parent & Child Dedication includes...

• Teacher's guide (over 40 pages of teaching notes and insight)

• Media presentation files with teaching videos, graphics and music - ready to drop into any presentation software such as PowerPoint, Pro Presenter, Media Shout, Key Note, etc.

• Full color, ready-to-print handbook for parents.

• Ready-to-print resources for parents such as prayer calendars and prayer bookmarks. 

• Class is fun, interactive and keeps parents engaged. 

• Lots of great discussion starters and thought provoking insight. 

• Includes teaching for single parents.

As mentioned, also included is the Parent & Child Dedication Celebration.  Includes...

• A carefully planned format that will help you impact families and create a memorable experience that they'll cherish for the rest of their lives. 

• Dedication certificate template - ready to add your names and print.

• Detailed notes and layout to help you pull off an excellent dedication celebration.

• Media presentation with teaching notes, graphics and music.

• Invitation card template - so families can invite their unchurched friends, neighbors, co-workers and family.

Everything is editable and can be customized to fit your ministry.  And it's available right now as an instant download.  You can get it at this link.  You get both the class and the celebration resources together.

George Barna said, "In the race to a child's heart, the first one there wins."  It is true.  And that's why this Child Dedication resource is so important.  It can be a catalyst for the children and families in your church and community.

Below are some samples from the class.  Check them out for a preview.

Click here to see a sample of the Teacher's notes for the Class: 

Click here to see a sample of the parent handbook:
 
Click here to see a sample of one of the interactive games that parents play:
 
Below are some sample videos from the class.  Click the arrow to watch them full screen.

An urban myth is a strange or surprising story that many people believe, but which is not actually true.

You probably remember some you heard growing up.  Here are a few of them.

Alligators in the sewers of New York City.  The myth is that someone (probably a snowbird) brought some baby alligators back from Florida and flushed them down the toilet. They ended up growing into giant gators roaming the sewers.

The fake moon landing.  The myth is that NASA faked the moon landings in a movie studio.

The Jedi religion form.  This myth claims that if enough people fill out "Jedi" as their religion on their census forms, the government will have to make it an official religion.

Walt Disney cryogenically frozen.  The myth says his body was frozen when he died with the hopes he could possibly be brought back to life from technological advancements. It says his body is stored in a deep-freeze chamber under the "Pirates of the Caribbean" attraction. 

Pop Rocks and Soda explosion.  This myth says if you mix pop rocks and soda, it will explode in your chest.

The truth is, these are just myths.  There are not alligators in New York's sewers.  We really went to the moon.  Jedi is not recognized as a religion by the government.  Walt Disney was cremated in 1966.  Mixing pop rocks and soda may give you hiccups and burping for a few minutes, but it won't explode in your chest.

Over the years, there have been some "urban myths" that have circulated about children's ministry as well.  While they are not true, they have been believed by many.  In fact, walk into many churches and you will hear these myths still being perpetuated.  Let's examine some of these and talk about why they are just myths.


Children's ministry is just childcare.  This myth sees children's ministry as a baby-sitting service that is used to keep kids in check while the real ministry to adults happens.

The truth: Children's ministry is ministry at the most critical time in a person's life and is the most important ministry in the church.

If you serve in children's ministry, you are entering a black hole that you will never escape from.  This myth causes people to run from serving in children's ministry.  People fear they will be cut off from other adults forever and be doomed to corral hyper-active kids for the rest of their time on earth.

The truth:  Children's ministries want people who love serving with kids.  Serving in children's ministry is one of the best ways to grow in your faith.  And you have the opportunity to form friendships and deep relationships with the other adults you serve with.

Children are the church of tomorrow.  This myth is partially true and is meant to inspire people to invest in the future of the church.

The truth:  But the complete truth is this.  Children are the church of today and tomorrow.  They can be the church today.  They can make a difference today.  They can be leaders today.

Children can't enter a relationship with Jesus until they turn 12.  This myth often uses the analogy of Jesus going to the temple at age 12 and says kids under the age of 12 should not be allowed to make a formal decision to follow Jesus and be baptized.

The truth:  Jesus' parents brought him to the temple to fulfill the requirements of the law regarding his confirmation.  At 12, he was supposed to enter the period of life where He would have immediate dealings with the law, receiving it no longer through the instructions of His parents, but having been brought by them into a knowledge of it's requirements.  This was about Jewish tradition.  

The Bible tells us we must have the faith of a child to come to Christ.  Children can understand the Gospel and enter a relationship with Jesus before the age of 12. 

Each child is different and there is no set age of accountability.  Around the age of 7-8, children begin to be able to think abstractly and understand the meanings behind terms such as "Jesus is the bridge back to God."   

This doesn't mean children in kindergarten can't come to Jesus, but it does means that parents and churches should make sure a child has a clear understanding of the Gospel before they make a decision.  

We are not to push children into a decision and on the flip-side, we are not to hold kids back from a decision if God is at work in their life.  Rather we are to walk alongside children as the Holy Spirit draws them to God.

Worship leaders in children's ministry aren't as important as worship leaders in the "main" service.  This myth causes worship leaders to see the "main service" as the ultimate destination and shy away from leading worship in children's ministry.  Children's ministry becomes a place where the "leftover" worship leaders go to serve.

The truth:  Worship is worship.  Children's ministry worship touches the heart of God just like any other worship.  In fact, the Bible tells us that children led the way in praising Jesus in the temple.  All "worship stages" are level at the foot of the cross.  

Babies and toddlers can't understand anything at church, so there's no need trying to do any kind of lesson for them.  This myth causes churches to have no strategy for teaching babies and toddlers.  This myth is closely tied to the childcare myth.

The truth:  While babies and toddlers can't verbalize their thoughts, the early years are the most critical in a person's life.  Children learn exponentially in their first 3 year years.  Churches can make a huge impact by sharing age-appropriate Bible lessons, praying with and singing songs in this age group.

You shouldn't spend as much money on children's ministry, since children can't give enough to pay the church bills.  This myth causes churches to spend major dollars on adult ministry and worship elements for the "main" service, while giving children's ministry the scraps and leftovers.

The truth:  Jesus tells us in Scripture that when you welcome children, you are welcoming Him.  When churches make children's ministry a financial priority, they are ushering in the blessings of God.  God will bless the church financially that invests in children.

Youth ministry should be a higher priority than children's ministry.  You can see this myth play out when churches elevate youth ministry while neglecting children's ministry.  You can also see this reflected in many universities and seminaries who train youth pastors, but not children's pastors.

The truth:  The battle for the next generation is no longer in high school or even in middle school.  It is in the preschool and elementary years.  We are in a race for the hearts of the next generation and the first one there will win.  Children's ministry must be a top priority for churches.

If you fill children's heads with Bible facts, they will grow up to love Jesus.  This myth causes churches to stuff dozens of Bible verses into children's temporary memories.  This myth causes churches to spend much more time teaching information than application.  This myth causes churches to emphasize rules over relationship.

The truth:  Bible knowledge is important.  We must teach not only facts, but also apologetics, to an increasingly Biblically illiterate society.  That being said, teaching kids how to apply and live out the truths of the Bible, is just as important.  We must emphasize that following Jesus is about a relationship with Him, not about just "keeping the rules."

Children should sit still and be quiet at church.  This myth causes children to do their best to endure services and programs that are not geared for their age.  This myth causes teachers to stand and lecture children, while they painfully squirm in their seats for an hour.  This myth fills classrooms and hallways of churches with the sound of "ssshhhhhh."

The truth:  Children are wired to move and make noise.  If we want them to grow up loving church, then we must give them opportunities to do so.  Kids learn best through hands-on, active, participatory lessons. 

Children are too young to serve.  This myth causes churches to place fun events on the calendar that have no long-term spiritual purpose,while neglecting to create serving opportunities for kids.

The truth:  Throughout Scripture, we see children serving and being used by God to make a significant impact.  Children can serve now and make a major difference in God's kingdom, if we'll just give them the opportunity.  

Children's ministry is just about children.  This myth is perpetuated by people who are looking in from the outside.  They think serving in children's ministry is just about ministering to kids.

The truth:  Children's ministry is one of the most difficult areas to lead in the entire church.  When you lead in children's ministry you must know how to connect with and lead not only kids, but students, men, women, grandparents, single adults and young adults as well.

Children's ministry is also just as much about investing in parents as it is investing in children.  

Your turn.  The floor is yours.  What are some other myths the church has believed about children's ministry?  Share your thoughts and insight in the comment section below.

Has your ministry fallen into a rut?  Feel like you're spinning your wheels?  Know God has more for the ministry, but can't seem to get started moving toward it?

It could be due to one or more of the following factors.  Let's take a look at 5 factors that may be holding your children's ministry back.

Factor #1 - Lack of Delegation.  This happens when the leader of the ministry tries to do everything by himself/herself.  The leader becomes the person that is holding the ministry back...he/he is the lid.

There are many reasons why a leader refuses to delegate.  It can be because of insecurity.  He/she is afraid of "losing control" or someone else getting credit.  Another reason may be the leader is a perfectionist to a fault.  He/she refuses to give things away because he/she is afraid other people can't do it as well as they can.  Or they don't trust people to get things done.  The leader may even have a "super hero" complex that compels them to work harder rather than smarter.

Is this a factor that's holding back your children's ministry?  If so, here's some help.

• Five Reasons You're Not Delegating (and how to get over it)

• Are you a Children's Ministry Control Freak? Here's How to Get Over It

• How Effective Children's Ministry Leaders Spend Their Time

Factor #2 - No Room to Grow.  Once your ministry reaches 85% capacity, it will stop growing.  This applies to not only the children's areas, but also to the adult auditorium, the general hallways and the parking lot.

Here's an example.  If your preschool area will hold 100 preschoolers and you are averaging over 85 preschoolers per weekend, you will stop growing in that area.  Or if you have room in your children's area, but the adult service is full, you will stop growing.

If you're out of space, you've got to create more space if you want to continue to move forward.  This may involve starting an additional service or building more space.

Factor #3 - A Small Vision.  The ministry will never outgrow your vision.  Great ministries come from great vision.  If the ministry has stalled, the first place to look is in the mirror.  The ministry is simply a reflection of your vision and passion as the leader.  Here's some tips for expanding your vision for the ministry.

• Fresh Vision

• How to Effectively Communicate Your Children's Ministry Vision 

• Cast Vision Like Disney (chapter 1)

Factor #4 - Lack of a solid ministry for adults.  You can have an amazing children's ministry, but here's something you must consider.  I've never seen a church that was growing that didn't have the combination of a great children's ministry and solid adult ministry.

The children's ministry can be exciting and relevant for the kids, but if the children's parents are sitting in a service that is outdated and not relevant to their life, eventually you will lose the family.

If you see this happening in your church, it may be time to sit down and have an honest conversation with church leadership.  Make sure you do so with a humble spirit that comes from a place of wanting to see the church reach families.

Factor #5 - Children's Ministry is not a priority in the church.  It is difficult to move a children's ministry forward when it's not a priority.  Show me a children's ministry that is growing and 99% of the time it is part of a church that highly values children's ministry and pours resources, volunteers, promotion, budget and facilities into it.

It can be very frustrating as a children's ministry leader to be in a church that doesn't value children's ministry.  You want to help the ministry move forward, but you feel limited because it seems to be out-of-your hands.

We'd like to help you make children's ministry a priority in your church.  That's why we're hosting a live webinar later this month entitled "Making Children's Ministry a Priority in Your Church."  Join Ricardo Miller and I for this special event.  You can get more information below and register at this link.

I believe children's ministry should be one of the most important ministries in the local church.  It should be a top priority.

Sadly, in many churches, it is not.  Children's ministry is looked at as childcare.  When it comes to budget, the ministry gets inadequate funding.  Facilities for children are an afterthought.  There is little to no paid staff.  Only a few people are willing to volunteer in the ministry.

The result?  The entire church suffers.  Potential growth is hindered.  Children's ministry staff and volunteers get discouraged.  The church misses out on reaching the greatest harvest field....children and their families.

We want to help churches make children's ministry a priority.  And so we are bringing this webinar opportunity for you. 

We'll start by laying out the Biblical reasons WHY children's ministry must be a priority in the local church.  You'll be given the compelling evidence you can use to help your church see why it's vital to focus on children''s ministry.

Then we'll lay out practical steps you can take to make children's ministry a priority in your church.  You'll get the HOW to make it happen in your church.

Below is more information about the webinar.  Space is limited.  You can register now at this link.  We hope you'll join us for this event.  It could be a game changer for your ministry and church.

Gen Z.  They are the largest generation on the planet and are a force to be reckoned with.  Their spending power is estimated to be over $44 billion.   

They are our mission field and if we want to reach them, first we've got to know how to effectively connect with them. We've got to figure out what they want, how they want to interact and what they value.  Let's take a look at 3 big keys to effectively connecting with Gen Z. 

Gen Z is mobile first.  80% of internet users own smartphones.  And for Gen Z, smartphones are a way of life.  They use their smartphones to interact with their friends, parents and other contacts.  If you want to connect with them, the pipeline is their smartphone.  Ministries must provide mobile apps, experiences and communication. 

Think about it...

How can you deliver mobile discipleship tools?

How can you let kids integrate their smartphones into the lesson?

How can you equip kids to share their faith using their smartphones?

How can you help kids invite their friends to church through their smartphones?

Gen Z is looking for examples of authentic faith.  Gen Z is growing up with digital content coming at them 24/7.  This is causing them to navigate through messages with precision.  They are not easily fooled and know how to spot hypocrisy.  To earn their trust and respect, you must go above and beyond to show them what genuine faith looks like. 

As they grow up, they will lean heavily on each other for advice when making decisions about where to go to church, what leaders to trust and what to invest their time in.  83% say they trust their peers' opinions more than they do the messages that constantly bombard them. 

Think about it...

How can you model genuine faith for Gen Z?

How can you leverage peer-to-peer recommendations and advice to connect with Gen Z?

What are some things you can do to earn the trust and respect of Gen Z?

What is the trajectory of Christianity in America?  Recent projections give us a glimpse into where we could be headed.

Currently, the fastest growing religions in North America are Muslims and "other religions."  The share of the population that belongs to other religions is projected to double - rising from .06% to 1.5%.  Though it will still be a small percentage of the total population, it is a significant increase.  By the 21st century, the United States is likely to have more Muslims (2.1%) than people who identify with the Jewish faith (1.4%).   

Christianity is projected to decline from 78% of the population in 2010 to 66% in 2050.  During this same time frame, the percentage of people who aren't associated with any religion is expected to rise from 16% to 26%. 

Here's a look at the percentages in a graph format.
While these are only predictions, they should be given serious consideration.  The church must be committed more than ever to reaching the next generation.  We must reach the Millennials, who are now becoming parents.  We must reach Gen Z who are now children.  We must reach the generation that will follow Gen Z, who are yet to be named.

Psalm 78 talks about this.  It says...

"He commanded our ancestors
    to teach them to their children, (Millennials)
⁶ so the next generation might know them —
    even the children not yet born (Gen Z) —
    and they in turn will teach their own children.(children of Gen Z)
⁷ So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
    not forgetting His glorious miracles
    and obeying His commands."

The church must be committed to sharing the Gospel more than ever.  I believe the Gospel still has the power to change people's lives.  I believe the Gospel still works, if we will be busy sharing it.  You can't spell Gospel without Go.  Matthew 28:19 makes it clear for us. 

"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone ."

The church must be committed to teaching our children why we believe what we believe.  In a recent article, I talked about the fact that 78% of "nones" (people not associated with any religion) grew up in church, but have walked away from their faith.  The prediction that the number of nones will rise from 16% to 26% should deeply concern us.  Unless we help children get grounded in their faith, many of them will be part of the nones in a few years.  

Will you join me in praying for those who don't yet know Jesus?  Will you join me in sharing the Gospel and reaching people one at a time?  Will you join me in helping the next generation become grounded in the faith?  

I believe if the church will do this, we can see the number of Christians in our country increase rather than decrease between now and 2050.

Here are 10 common strategy mistakes that children's ministries make. 

#1 - They target the youngest kids in the room when they are teaching.  When they have a group of kids together, they bring the lesson down to the level of the youngest kids.  In doing so, they alienate the older kids.  The younger kids, who take their cues from the older kids, see this and tune out as well.

You can avoid this mistake by aiming for the oldest kids in the room when you are teaching.  Cool rolls down hill.  Catch the attention of the oldest kids in the room and you'll have the attention of all the kids in the room.  You can reach more about this in the book "If Disney Ran Your Children's Ministry."

#2 - They beg for volunteers.  When you need more volunteers, the natural tendency is to panic and make desperate appeals for help.  But this is a mistake because it has the opposite effect.  When people see desperation, they pull away.  People are drawn to vision.  Build your volunteer team by offering people the opportunity to be part of something significant.  You can learn more about how to effectively build a great volunteer team in the book "The Formula for Building a Great Volunteer Team."  

#3 - They fill their calendar with events and programs.  They fall into the trap of believing that busyness = productivity.  This spreads their budget, volunteers, staff, marketing and energy thin and they end up with a lot of mediocre events and programs.  A better approach is to focus on doing a few things with excellence.  People are drawn to excellence. 

#4 - They don't involve parents in their child's salvation decision.  They pray the salvation prayer with kids when the parents are not present.  In doing this, they miss an opportunity to reach not only the child, but the entire family with the Gospel.  Another strategy that has been proven to be effective in reaching the entire family, is inviting kids to a class with their parents where the Gospel is shared. 

#5 - They equate knowledge alone with spiritual growth.  Learning Bible facts and memorizing verses is only part of spiritual growth.  It also takes application, relationships and serving for wholesome spiritual growth to take place.

#6 - They put more emphasis on guest follow up than on providing a great first experience for guests.  Follow up can enhance a great first experience, but it can't overcome a bad first experience.  Yes, follow up, but spend even more time and energy on giving guests a great first experience. 

#7 - They tell kids they are the church of tomorrow, but don't allow them to be the church of today.  Kids are the church of tomorrow and today.  It's vital that we give them opportunities to serve and make a difference now.  Kids who are told to "sit still and be quiet" will grow up to "sit still and be quiet."  But kids who start serving and being the church now, are much more likely to serve God tomorrow when they are adults.  You can hear more about this in the webinar "Making Children's Ministry a Priority in Your Church."

#8 - Not connecting with other children's ministries.  It's easy to get so busy that you don't make time to connect with other churches for ideas, brainstorming and feedback.  Being a silo will shortchange your ministry.  Contact some other churches and arrange to visit them.  This can be a regular source of fresh ideas, insight and inspiration. 

#9 - Using lectures as the primary teaching method.  Studies show that the least effective method of teaching is lecturing.  And yet, many ministries still put a talking head in front of kids for 20-30 minutes and wonder why they are bored and disengaged.  The most effective teaching method is hands-on activities, discussions and games.

#10 - Treating the nursery as simply baby-sitting.  The early years of a person's life are the most critical.  Babies' brains can form over 1,000 neural connections every second.  And these connections are the building blocks of their future.  Children who are read to from the Bible, talked to about God, sung worship songs to and given personal attention in the nursery will have better cognitive capacity and a better opportunity to grow up to follow Jesus.

Your turn.  Do you agree with these?  Why or why not?  What are some other mistakes children's ministries make?  Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.  

Easter is just around the corner which means you'll have guests walk through the doors.  This gives you a great opportunity to see them come back and become part of your church family.  But seeing them move from guest to family won't happen without intentional follow-up. 

There are 5 keys to effectively following up with Easter guests.  Let's dive into them.

Key #1 - A great first experience.  Follow up starts when guests first walk in your church doors.  How they are treated and how you make them feel on their first visit will largely determine if they return or not.  Without a great first experience, the rest of these keys will fall flat.  Here are some ways to give guests a great first experience.

• 7 Steps to Really Caring for Guest Families

• 10 Ways to Get Better at Talking with First-Time Guests

• 3 Big Keys to Giving Guests a Great First Experience at Your Church

• 12 Reasons Guests Don't Come Back  

Key #2 - Make it personal.  If you send a follow-up email, make sure it's not just a mass email addressed to "Dear Friend" or "Dear Guest."  If you call them, don't use an automated phone call system.  Use their name.  The sweetest sound to any guests is their own name. 

One easy way you can make it personal is by intentionally mentioned something personal that lets the guest know you were personally thinking about them.  An example would be sending them a handwritten note that addresses them by name and says something that is unique about them.

Another great way to make it personal is by having a guest reception after the service.  Invite guests to come to an area where staff and key volunteers are available to meet with them, talk with them, get to know them and answer any questions they may have.  Have some light finger foods or desserts available.  Food will cause guests to stick around and talk with you longer. 

Key #3 - Make it timely.  Stats show if you follow up with guests within 48 hours of their visit, the chance they will return goes up significantly.  I know you'll probably be exhausted after Easter, having held extra services, special events like Easter egg hunts, musicals, etc.  It's important to get some rest after the big weekend, but make sure you leave margin for timely follow-up. 

Key #4 - Keep it balanced.  Have you ever been in a store, perhaps at a car dealership, where the salesman crowds you?  You end up feeling smothered, don't you?  As you follow-up with guests, don't do this.  You want to be personal, but not pushy.  You want to be caring, but not overbearing.  You want to be interested in them, but not interfering to the point where you disrupt their family (like showing up at their house unannounced).  You want to be welcoming, but not to the point where it makes them feel weird.

Key #5 - Give them a reason to come back.  Many churches strategically plan special series or events the first few weeks after Easter.  Starting a relevant teaching topic for adults or an exciting new series for kids the week following Easter is a great idea.  I have also planned special family events or experiences a week or so after Easter.  This gave us a great experience to invite families back to.  And if you can get them back the second time, there is a great chance they will become regular attenders.

Another great way to invite guests back is offering them a special gift on their next visit.  In this post, I share a creative way we did this that helped us see 18-20% of guests return.  The national average is only 7%.  

Your turn.  The floor is yours.  What are you doing to follow-up with Easter guests?  What have you seen work?  What are some new follow-up ideas?  Share your thoughts with everyone in the comment section below.

If you want to see how healthy a church is, go to their nursery.  Go to their preschool area.  Go to their elementary area.  Go to their pre-teen area.  A healthy church has a healthy children's ministry.

A healthy children's ministry reflects a healthy church volunteer culture.  A healthy children's ministry is made possible by a healthy volunteer team.  And healthy children's ministry volunteer teams are normally made possible because the entire church has a healthy volunteer culture.  You can walk into a church's children's ministry area and see how healthy the church is by the number and quality of volunteers you see serving.

Just because a church sends people to volunteer on a mission's trip a few times a year doesn't mean it's healthy.  It's the week in and week out serving roles that reflect true health.  This is not saying that missions trips are not important.  They are extremely important.  But I believe true church health is measured in volunteers serving faithfully in roles that take long-term commitment.  

A healthy children's ministry shows a church's commitment to reaching the next generation.  Psalm 78 makes it clear what a church's commitment should be to the next generation.

For He issued his laws to Jacob, He gave his instructions to Israel.  He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children^, so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children.  So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. 

I believe the health of a church is not measured by the sound of its worship team, but by the sound of children in the hallways.  I believe the health of a church is not measured by the size of its auditorium, but by the size of its children's space.  I believe the health of a church is not measured by the quality of its coffee shop or cafe, but by the quality of its preschool program.  I believe the health of a church is not measured by the dynamic sermons of its pastor, but by the dynamic lessons of its elementary teachers.  I believe the health of a church is not measured by the dpi's of the projectors in the "main service," but by its investment in pre-teens. 

A healthy children's ministry shows that a church is reaching young families.  Healthy churches reach young families.  This is not to diminish the importance of reaching and ministering to senior adults.  Just as a healthy family is comprised of all generations, a healthy church family is comprised of all generations...babies...children...students...
young adults...middle age adults...senior adults.  But if a church is predominately grey-haired, then it is not reaching all generations.

A church that is not reaching young families doesn't have a future.  A church that is not reaching young families is not relevant.  A church that is not reaching young families is more concerned about preserving the past than it is about effectively proclaiming the Gospel to the next generation. 

A healthy children's ministry shows that a church is generous.  A church that is generous invests in those who can't "pay their own way."  A church that is generous makes sure that the children's ministry budget is a priority.  This is reflected in children's ministry staffing, operating budget, physical space and programming.

And here is what I believe.  God will bless the church financially that invests in children's ministry.  Jesus made it clear that when you give a cup of water to a child, you are giving it to Him.  Investing in children's ministry ushers in Jesus' presence, power and financial blessings into a church.

A healthy children's ministry shows that a church is growing.  I believe that children's ministry is one of the keys to growing a healthy church.  Take a look inside the fastest growing churches in the country and you will see without exception that they have a healthy, growing children's ministry.  The key to reaching parents is by reaching their children.  Kids can't drive themselves to church.  Get them excited about coming to church and they will drag their parents with them.  A church that doesn't have room to grow in its children's area will plateau church-wide.  If you want to grow a healthy church, then focus on growing a healthy children's ministry.

Is the children's ministry in your church healthy?  Is it growing?  Is it a priority?  If you'd like to elevate the importance of children's ministry in your church, then join us for a live webinar on Thursday, April 6th.  I will be sharing about why children's ministry must be a priority in churches and my friend, Ricardo Miller, will be sharing practical steps you can take to make your children's ministry a priority in your church.  The session will be recorded as well so you can share it with your church leadership.  You can get more information and register at this link.

Recently, I took my car in for some maintenance.  I took it to a small company that specializes in working on the brand of car I own.  When I entered, I was immediately greeted and made to feel at home.  After getting my information, they offered me the option of a complimentary ride home during the wait or I could hang out in the waiting lounge.  I chose to stay since I had brought work with me.  Seeing I had my laptop, they quickly let me know free wi-fi was available. 

If you've been to have your car worked on, you know that most car businesses offer free coffee.  And this business did as well, but they made the experience exceptional.  Whereas most places have serve yourself, one of their workers came and asked what kind of coffee I would like.  They offered several options.  After taking my order, he returned in a few minutes with not only the coffee, but with breakfast food as well.  For me, that seemingly little extra touch turned a good experience into an exceptional experience.

This weekend a family is going to walk through your church doors for the first time.  They will decide if they are going to return or not based on the guest experience you provide for them.  If the experience is good, they may return.  But if the experience is exceptional, the likelihood that they return increases greatly.

How can you make their experience exceptional?  Well, here's the good news.  It doesn't take a lot of extra money or time.  You see, it's the small things that make a guest family's experience go from good to exceptional.

Walt Disney World resorts are a great model of how small, intentional add-ons can turn good into exceptional.  Here are some examples.

• Pixie Dust: “Close your eyes, make a wish, and with a little faith, trust and pixie dust may all your wishes and dreams come true.” That’s the special phrase you may hear as a merchandise Cast Member sprinkles pixie-dust over a guest entering one of their retail locations.  Being “pixie-dusted” creates a magical moment that can transform a typical shopping experience into a cherished memory.

• Bell Ringer:  Every day at noon, a guest is chosen to ring the lunch bell at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café – one of their quick service dining locations in Magic Kingdom Park. With the clang of the bell, and the aid of fellow cast members, the bell ringer is encouraged to call out to passersby – “It’s time for lunch! Come in and eat!” Again, this simple touch provides a unique experience for the bell ringer, as well as for fellow diners and those who thought they were just passing by.

• Celebration Buttons: These provide a unique opportunity to connect with guests on an individual basis.  Celebration buttons send a visual cue to cast members that a guest is celebrating a birthday, anniversary or their first visit.   This creates numerous chances for fun, spontaneous interactions with cast members and guests.

As you can see, the above examples don't take a lot of extra money or even much time.  You can get more tips from Disney about creating exceptional guest services experiences in our book If Disney Ran Your Children's Ministry.   Think about some small things like this that you could do to provide your guests with an exceptional experience.  I would even encourage you to sit down with your team and make a list of some simple add-ons that have the potential for this.

Here are a few ideas...

• Have a separate check-in area for guests. 
• Give guests a small gift with your ministry logo on it (an example would be a wristband).
• Walk guests to their room instead of pointing them. 
• Give guests a "fast pass" for pick-up. 
• Give guests a special name tag or button so volunteers can give them extra attention and make them feel at home.
• Call guests by their first name. 
• Find out what the guests' favorite candy is and get it for them. 
• If you sell coffee at your church, give guests a coupon for free coffee.
• Offer a guest reception area for new kids and their parents after the service. Have popcorn, snacks, etc. available at the reception. 

Exceptional service makes an impact.  Exceptional is remembered.  Exceptional service brings families back.  Exceptional service helps grow a ministry.   Exceptional service helps close the back door.

Your turn.  The floor is yours.  What are things you do to provide exceptional service for guests?  What are some of the little "add-ons" you do for them?  Share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comment section below.

A recent study has found that today's fathers want more involvement in their kids' lives and as a result are more hands-on, present, patient and understanding than ever before. 

The report also finds that the father's role as the primary disciplinarian is shifting.  Today's dads see themselves as less strict, feared, distant and work-focused than their own fathers.  Most see their role as protector, mentor and teacher.

Some other findings...

• 44% say parenting is harder than in previous generations. 

• 50% find that raising children is a lot harder than they thought it would be. 

• 62% want to be more involved in their children's lives.

• Over 50% say their workplace doesn't align with their desire to be there more for their kids and doesn't understand the changing roles of being a father.

• 78% believe they are doing a good job as a dad. 

• 80% are grateful to be a father.

The study also identified three categories of modern dads.

Provider dads - they are the primary breadwinners who receive parental direction from the caregiver who is not working or working part time.

Super - subs - they are the primary breadwinners, but also act as relief caregivers.  They employ a tag-team system of parenting.

Carer dads - they are the primary caregivers and are only occasionally or not the breadwinner and have a partner that works full or part time.  They are hands on, proactive and ignore parenting-related gender bias. 

According to the study, today's dads want marketers and programmers to more accurately reflect the changing role of fathers.

• 42% agree that the media portrays dads as stupid or clueless.

• 50% believe the media should portray dads as sensitive and nurturing by showing them interacting with their kids and enjoying activities with them.

The fact that today's dads want to be more involved in their kids lives is a great thing.  The church has a wide open door to teach fathers how to be a spiritual leader for their kids.

I believe children's ministry is one of the most important ministries in the church.  But the truth is, in many churches it's way down the list when it comes to visibility, budget, staffing, volunteers, building space and recognition.

It is critical that churches understand how important children's ministry is...not only for children, but for the entire church.

That's why we are bringing a live webinar to you entitled "Making Children's Ministry a Priority in Your Church."

I am excited to have my friend and children's ministry champion, Ricardo Miller, joining me as a speaker for this webinar.  He is one of the nation's leading and most influential voices in children's ministry and leadership development.  He has journeyed throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Central America evangelizing children, training parents and equipping children's ministry leaders.  Recognized as one of the top 20 most influential leaders in children's ministry, Ricardo is a trendsetter, making waves in reaching the next generation. 

The webinar will be on Thursday evening, April 6th from 8:00-9:30 pm EST.

Session 1 - I will be talking with you about "Why Children's Ministry Must Be a Priority in Churches."   I'll give you a solid, Biblical foundation for why children's ministry is crucial for any church that wants to reach its community.  You'll walk away with the tools you need to share why your church should make children's ministry a priority.  I have personally seen the truths I will share work in churches.  In the most recent children's ministry I led, it helped the church double in size.

Session 2 - Ricardo will be talking with you about "How to Make Children's Ministry a Priority at Your Church."  He will share practical steps you can take to make children's ministry a big deal at your church.  Ricardo lives this each week as a children's pastor at his church where he has seen the children's ministry become a high priority. 

Both sessions will feature live Q & A so you can interact with us and the other attendees to get answers to your specific questions.

One important thing I also want to mention.  We will be recording the webinar and you will be able to access it and even download it afterwards.  I believe this will be extremely helpful for many people who want to share the teaching with their lead pastor or other leaders/decision makers in their church.  Many times a children's director sees the importance of children's ministry, but then struggles to get the Pastor or other decision makers in the church to understand.  This webinar will be great to pass along to other leaders in your church to help them see the importance of children's ministry as well.  In all my years of serving as a children's pastor, I was always looking for articles, videos, podcasts, etc. that I could pass along to my leaders to help them understand why children's ministry must be a priority.  I would have loved to have had a session like this to share with them.

The registration for this webinar is only $14.99.  As an added bonus, I will be giving a ready-to-go volunteer training to everyone who registers.  This is a training I used to train my volunteers and includes the teaching notes, handouts, media files, etc.

You can register for the webinar at this link.  Once you're registered, we will send you the link and pass code for the webinar.  Space is limited, so register as soon as possible.  Below is more information.  Join us and let's make children's ministry a priority!

I believe nursery ministry makes a huge difference in a church.  And I believe it provides the greatest opportunity to impact children.  There is no other time frame that has so much potential to lay a spiritual foundation in a person's life.

Babies' brains can form over 1,000 neural connections every second.  And these connections are the building blocks of their future.  Children who are read to from the Bible, talked to about God, sung worship songs to and given personal attention in the nursery will have better cognitive capacity and a better opportunity to grow up to follow Jesus.

And nursery ministry leaders that really want to influence and impact children in a significant way, will not only focus on the time they have with the children at church, but will also focus on influencing their parents.  Why?  Parents are the biggest influencers of their children.  A baby's spiritual foundation is most affected by their day-to-day experiences at home.  Coming alongside parents and giving them the tools, resources and knowledge they need to spiritually lead their children at home is a must. 

Please...please...please...make nursery ministry a priority at your church.  The youngest members of the next generation must have your spiritual influence now.

Here are some more practical ways your nursery ministry can impact babies and their parents.

How Nursery Volunteers Can Make a Huge Difference in Children's Lives

Nursery Volunteers...Don't Underestimate the Big Impact You Have 

Top 10 Nursery Tips

A Simple Tool for Partnering with Preschool Parents

How Parents Affect Their Children's Faith (the latest findings)

There are over 77 million Millennials (ages 18 to 36) in the United States.  They comprise 24% of the population.  Millennials are less likely to marry than previous generations, only 21% have tied the knot compared to 42% of Boomers at the same age.

But not being married is not slowing them down from having children.  While just 21% are married by the age of 36, 56% of Millennials have children and by the age of 34 the percentage rises to 83%, whether they are married or not.

Millennial parents have their own unique generational values that you need to know and understand if you're going to reach them and their children.  Let's look at some of these to better understand the Millennial mindset.

Millennial parents are diverse.  They are more ethically and racially diverse than any previous generation.  44% of them are non-white - including 19% Hispanic, 14% African American and 5% Asian.  By 2050, it is expected that the Hispanic and Asian populations will grow by 167% and 142%.  This means that the children of Millennials are already 50/50 white and non-white.  71% of Millennials say they appreciate the influence of other cultures compared to only 62% of Baby Boomers.

Churches and ministries that want to reach Millennials and their children must reflect their diversity in their advertising and content.  

Millennial parents invest in their children.  Millennials have grown up in an age of difficult financial times.  This has made them price-conscious and savvy when it comes to spending their money.  They look for shopping deals and ways to save money.  The top 20 apps used by Millennials are either retail or discount-focused.

While they are careful about how they spend their money, there is one thing they will open their wallets wide for...their children.  Millennial parents outspend Gen X parents on child-friendly products.  And when it comes to spending money on their children, quality trumps quantity.  Millennials are 14% more likely than Boomers to pay a premium for an innovative new product and 22% more likely to pay extra for sustainable brands.  They want to know how things are made, where they come from and who made them.  

Churches that want to reach Millennial parents and their children must offer focused, high-quality programs and events that are done with excellence.  More than ever, if you provide a great environment for children, you will grab the attention of their parents.  Millennial parents are willing to drive across town for a great children's ministry even if it mean by-passing nearby churches that don't offer great children's ministry.

Millennial parents live and breathe technology.  It is a big part of their identity.  They have grown up with cable, internet and cell phones.  And they are very good at adopting new forms of media.  Here's an example.  They are strong magazine readers - even stronger than Boomers.  But much of the reading is done digitally.  40% of Millennials use a TV but with a connected device.  They are still consuming content, but in ways they can customize.  Customization is a big part of the technological future of Millennial parents.

Churches that want to effectively connect with Millennial parents will keep up-to-date with technology and use it to communicate with them. 

Do you want to reach Millennial parents?  The key is going to be continually seeking to understand their unique characteristics and approaches to parenting and adapting our ministries to meet their needs.

Great ministries are built week by week.  It's the consistent things you do each week that over time compound for great results.  There are 5 phone calls you should be making every week. 

#1 - Call first-time guests.  When you call, simply thank them for coming, ask if they have any questions about the ministry and let them know you're glad to help in any way they may need.  The call should be made within 48 hours after they visit.  Some ministries even make this call the same day of the visit. 

#2 - Call a potential volunteer.  Great volunteer teams are built by personal asks.  We built a volunteer team of over 2,000 people in the ministry I led.  How?  By personlly inviting people to serve every single week.  After years of doing this, we looked up and we had 2,000 people volunteering.  Have a list of people you want to invite to serve and invite at least one of them every single week. 

A great place to get names of potential volunteers is your church's new member's class.  I always asked for these names and was able to enlist hundreds of new volunteers by calling these people.  You can get more great ideas for building your volunteer team by attending the upcoming webinar - "Building Volunteer Teams."  Here's more info.

 #3 - Call a family who was absent.  Studies show families are attending church less frequently.  And if a family misses more than 5-6 weeks in a row, you may lose them altogether.  Keep attendance records and connect every week with a family that has been missing.  Many times God will use your phone call as a gentle reminder of how important it is to be connected to other believers.  The phone call should be made from a heart of love and not a heart of scolding. 

#4 - Call a current volunteer.  Call at least one volunteer each week to simply thank them for serving and to let them know how valuable they are to the ministry.  65% of volunteers say they have not heard the words "thank you" in the last year.  Don't be that leader.  Consistently thank your volunteers.

#5 - Call a parent whose child has indicated they want to begin a relationship with Jesus.  As you share the Gospel with kids and invite them to respond, it's crucial to involve the parents.  Rather than praying the salvation prayer with the kids when they respond, I recommend you invite them to a class with their parents where you share what it means to follow Jesus.  This gives parents the great opportunity to lead their children to Jesus and gives you more time to make sure the child understands the decision.

I can promise you this.  Make these  5 phone calls each week for a year, and you will see great things happen in your ministry!