RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Millennials, who are the young adults and parents in your ministry, make up the largest share of both the U.S. population (34%) and employed population (26%).

They are increasingly turning to online banking and visiting bank branches less often.  Millennials are shaping the future of banking.

Bank branches have seen a 40% decline since 1991 and are projected to decline by another 25% by 2018. 

In response, banks are cutting back on their branches while spending more on mobile capabilities.  This is directly related to the continued shift to a mobile driven culture.  Mobile banking is growing at a rate of 20%.

These trends have significant implications for not only branch banking, but for brick and mortar businesses and institutions as well...including churches. 

Here are some things to consider...

• The bank branch may very well come obsolete.  Like any major shift, it will take time, but eventually bank branches as we know them may be a thing of the past.  

• ATM's may go the way of the phone booth.  As cash and check transactions decline,  ATM's will become nonessential and face the same fate as the physical branch.  

• The smartphone may become the primary source of banking.  It goes everywhere the user goes, has the ability to collect data and is already being used to make purchases. 

• More Millennials may shift from attending church at a physical building to attending online.  Church online is a great way to reach and disciple people, but we must keep in mind that it can pull Millennials from physically attending a church building.  

• Convenience is appealing.  Why drive to a bank branch when you can do the same thing on your phone in 5 minutes or less?  I do not think online church will pull Millennials entirely from attending church physically, but it will affect situations where they are running late, have had a busy week, are tired or have a tight weekend schedule. 

• Relationships, worship and fellowship happen best in person.  While you can get teaching online - relationships, worship and fellowship happens best gathered in a physical location together.  This is why I believe that while online church may affect physical gatherings to some degree, it will never completely make it obsolete.  People still long for face-to-face connections.  Local churches must be about personal relationships and community.  Churches who do this well will continue to thrive even in a culture that is becoming more and more online driven.

Your turn.  The floor is yours.  What implications do you think the decline of bank branches has for the church?  Share your thoughts and insights with us in the comment section below.

The Millennials, born between 1980 and 2000, are the young parents who are walking through your church doors.

It is vital that we reach them.  A church that is healthy will have young families.  Here's some things Millennial parents are looking for.

An encounter with God.  39% of Millennials who don't attend church say it's because they can find God elsewhere.  In their mind, why would they sit through a church service to experience God when they can do the same thing at the lake?

The presence of Gd is not something that can be manufactured.  It rests upon a church as a result of unity, prayer and seeking those far from God.  

An engaging experience.  31% of Millennials don't attend church because they say it's boring.  They want teaching that is relevant to their life.  They want to know how the Word of God connects to 2015. 

Authenticity.  35% say they want people that are authentic.  The church scandals they watched unfold as they were growing up have made them quick to sniff out hypocrites.  

Acceptance.  87% of Millennials say the church is not accepting of people whose lifestyles do not line up with Scripture.  They want a church that accepts people no matter where they are on their journey.  They want a place where you can belong before you believe.  A key thing to remember is there is a difference between acceptance and approval.  You can accept people and love them without approving of their lifestyle.  

Community.  48% of Millennials see church as a place where you can experience community with other people.  If you want to keep them, then you've got to offer easy steps for them to get connected into community.

Opportunity to initially remain anonymous.  82% of Millennials don't want to share more than their first name on their first visit to your church.  If you come across as a used car salesman when they first walk through the doors, they will run the other way.  

The floor is yours.  What are some other things young parents are looking for when they come to your church?  Share in the comment section below.

Minecraft is a game that is played on computers, game systems and mobile devices.

In Minecraft, you collect resources like wood, gold and iron that you use to build things.  A mix between a game and social network, it offers players a blank canvas to construct their own world.

It is one of the most successful games of all times.  Over 54 million copies have been sold.  Kids love this game.  Ask any kid if they've played Minecraft and you're very likely to get a "Yes!"

So what makes this game so popular with kids?  Let's take a look at 7 keys and how you can bring these elements into your children's ministry.

#1 - It lets kids be creative.
Minecraft allows kids to express their creativity through designing and building.  Kids can create mountains, clouds, prairies and more.

Kids are looking for opportunities to express their creativity.  If you encourage them to be creative at church, they will love coming.  This can be anything from letting them draw out a Bible story to designing a craft to building a replica of a Biblical structure.   

#2 - It offers community.
A thriving subculture allows kids to engage in all things Minecraft.  Kids can connect to strategize, plan and complete tasks together.  Online forums are formed and there are even conferences and summer campus where kids can connect around the game.

Kids want to be part of a community.  Are you offering kids the opportunity to connect into a community such as a small group where they can be known and interact with other kids?  Having a clear strategy for helping kids establish relationships in this context is so important.

#3 - It's an adventure.
When you play Minecraft, you enter an unknown world that is ready to be explored.  And at night, you fight to protect your goods from spiders, monsters and zombies.

Kids love to go on adventures.  The Bible contains the greatest adventures ever told.  Use teaching props, sound effects, movement, action, video and more to make those adventures come alive.  Kids will find it irresistible.

#4 - It lets kids make choices.
When kids are young, most choices are made for them.  What time they have to get up.  What time they have to go to bed.  What they will eat for lunch.  What classes they will take in school.  So when they do get a chance to be in control and make a choice, it's a big deal to them.  That's a major reason why they are drawn to Minecraft.  They control their own destiny and can make their own choices.

Instead of telling kids exactly what they're going to do at church during class, give them some options at times.  Let them choose what game they want to play, what song they want to sing, what craft they want to do, etc.  Let them make choices and you will find them choosing to come to church more frequently. 

#5 - It's a sandbox game.
There is no true purpose like other games where you have to fight bosses and defeat levels.  You can do whatever you want...when you want.  It's all about playing and having fun.

Kids love to have fun.  Give them the freedom to laugh, giggle and move.  Instead of telling them to sit still and be quiet, let them be kids.

#6 - It's simple and easy to play.
The graphics are very basic.  There are no classes to learn, skills to understand and it's not based on your reflexes like a shooter game would be.

Share God's Word in a simple, easy-to-understand format.  Package teaching truths in short statements that are easy to remember.

#7 - It's impossible to lose.
If you die, you can re-spawn.  If you drop some items, it doesn't matter.  You can still play hide and seek or chase other people around in the game.

While there is nothing wrong with competition, it's important to create an atmosphere where kids are rewarded for trying and participating not necessarily just for winning.  An example would be a review game.  Even if a child misses the question, he or she can still get a prize for trying.

Dear Parent:

I know. You’re worried. Every day, your child comes home with a story about THAT kid.

The one who is always hitting shoving pinching scratching maybe even biting other children. The one who always has to hold my hand in the hallway. The one who has a special spot at the carpet, and sometimes sits on a chair rather than the floor. The one who had to leave the block center because blocks are not for throwing.

The one who climbed over the playground fence right exactly as I was telling her to stop. The one who poured his neighbor's milk onto the floor in a fit of anger. On purpose. While I was watching. And then, when I asked him to clean it up, emptied the ENTIRE paper towel dispenser. On purpose. While I was watching. The one who dropped the REAL ACTUAL F-word in gym class.

You’re worried that THAT child is detracting from your child’s learning experience. You’re worried that he takes up too much of my time and energy, and that your child won’t get his fair share. You’re worried that she is really going to hurt someone some day.

You’re worried that “someone” might be your child. You’re worried that your child is going to start using aggression to get what she wants. You’re worried your child is going to fall behind academically because I might not notice that he is struggling to hold a pencil. I know.

Your child, this year, in this classroom, at this age, is not THAT child. Your child is not perfect, but she generally follows rules. He is able to share toys peaceably. She does not throw furniture. He raises his hand to speak. She works when it is time to work, and plays when it is time to play. He can be trusted to go straight to the bathroom and straight back again with no shenanigans. She thinks that the S-word is “stupid” and the C-word is “crap.”

I know. I know, and I am worried, too. You see, I worry all the time. About ALL of them. I worry about your child’s pencil grip, and another child’s letter sounds, and that little tiny one’s shyness, and that other one’s chronically empty lunchbox. I worry that Gavin’s coat is not warm enough, and that Talitha’s dad yells at her for printing the letter B backwards. Most of my car rides and showers are consumed with the worrying.

But I know, you want to talk about THAT child. Because Tabitha’s backward Bs are not going to give your child a black eye.

I want to talk about THAT child, too, but there are so many things I can’t tell you.

I can’t tell you that she was adopted from an orphanage at 18 months.

I can’t tell you that he is on an elimination diet for possible food allergies, and that he is therefore hungry ALL. THE. TIME.

I can’t tell you that her parents are in the middle of a horrendous divorce, and she has been staying with her grandma.

I can’t tell you that I’m starting to worry that grandma drinks…

I can’t tell you that his asthma medication makes him agitated.

I can’t tell you that her mom is a single parent, and so she (the child) is at school from the moment before-care opens, until the moment after-care closes, and then the drive between home and school takes 40 minutes, and so she (the child) is getting less sleep than most adults.

I can’t tell you that he has been a witness to domestic violence.

That’s okay, you say. You understand I can’t share personal or family information. You just want to know what I am DOING about That Child’s behavior.

I would love to tell you. But I can’t.

I can’t tell you that she receives speech-language services, that an assessment showed a severe language delay, and that the therapist feels the aggression is linked to frustration about being unable to communicate.

I can’t tell you that I meet with his parents EVERY week, and that both of them usually cry at those meetings.

I can’t tell you that the child and I have a secret hand signal to tell me when she needs to sit by herself for a while.

I can’t tell you that he spends rest time curled in my lap because “it makes me feel better to hear your heart, Teacher.”

I can’t tell you that I have been meticulously tracking her aggressive incidents for 3 months, and that she has dropped from 5 incidents a day, to 5 incidents a week.

I can’t tell you that the school secretary has agreed that I can send him to the office to “help” when I can tell he needs a change of scenery.

I can’t tell you that I have stood up in a staff meeting and, with tears in my eyes, BEGGED my colleagues to keep an extra close eye on her, to be kind to her even when they are frustrated that she just punched someone AGAIN, and this time, RIGHT IN FRONT OF A TEACHER.

The thing is, there are SO MANY THINGS I can’t tell you about That Child. I can’t even tell you the good stuff.

I can’t tell you that his classroom job is to water the plants, and that he cried with heartbreak when one of the plants died over winter break.

I can’t tell you that she kisses her baby sister goodbye every morning, and whispers “You are my sunshine” before mom pushes the stroller away.

I can’t tell you that he knows more about thunderstorms than most meteorologists.

I can’t tell you that she often asks to help sharpen the pencils during playtime.

I can’t tell you that she strokes her best friend’s hair at rest time.

I can’t tell you that when a classmate is crying, he rushes over with his favorite stuffy from the story corner.

The thing is, dear parent, that I can only talk to you about YOUR child. So, what I can tell you is this:
If ever, at any point, YOUR child, or any of your children, becomes THAT child…

I will not share your personal family business with other parents in the classroom.

I will communicate with you frequently, clearly, and kindly.

I will make sure there are tissues nearby at all our meetings, and if you let me, I will hold your hand when you cry.

I will advocate for your child and family to receive the highest quality of specialist services, and I will cooperate with those professionals to the fullest possible extent.

I will make sure your child gets extra love and affection when she needs it most.

I will be a voice for your child in our school community.

I will, no matter what happens, continue to look for, and to find, the good, amazing, special, and wonderful things about your child.

I will remind him and YOU of those good amazing special wonderful things, over and over again.

And when another parent comes to me, with concerns about YOUR child…

I will tell them all of this, all over again.

With so much love;
Teacher.

Written by Amy Murray

1. They were created to serve. (Ephesians 2:10)

2. Jesus modeled serving for us. (Mark 10:45)

3. Kids are the greatest mission field. (Matthew 9:37)

4. God blesses people who serve in children's ministry. (Matthew 10:42)

5. Jesus ministered to children. (Mark 10:13-15)

6. Easier to build boys than repair men.

7. Serving will help them get connected to other people.  Service creates community.

8. God uses children to reach parents.

9.  Serving bring glory to God. (1 Peter 4:11)

10. Kids are the most receptive to the Gospel.

11. Serving is a key component of spiritual growth.  Growing Christians are serving Christians.

12. Kids need godly role models.

13. Kids can serve God for a lifetime when we disciple them.

14. We are called to pass on the faith to the next generation. (Psalm 78)

15. Serving helps kids and families discover new life in Christ.

16. Serving kids brings glory to God. (Matthew 5:14-16)

17. When you serve kids, you are serving Jesus. (Matthew 25:40)

18. God has given them gifts to be used for the furtherance of His kingdom.

19.  It keeps you young at heart.

20. It's a blast!

I'm guessing you want your children's ministry to grow.

You want to reach the families in the community God has called you to.

You want new families walking in your doors every week.

You want your rooms full.

You want to outgrow your current facility and build a larger one or start more services. 

How can you see that happen?

Lots of big events?  A bigger budget?   More staff?  More volunteers?  Billboards all over town?  Television commercials?  Direct mail to every family in your city?

All of these are helpful...but they are not the best way to grow your children's ministry.

The best way...WORD OF MOUTH.

86% of people come to church because of a personal invitation.  If you want your children's ministry to grow...get the kids and families in your ministry to start talking.

Make your ministry worth talking about.  When a family has a great experience, they will tell other families about it.  Raise the excellence of your ministry and the natural result will be families talking about it.  And the natural result of families talking will be new families.

Create a culture of invest and invite.  Every week at the end of the kid's service, we have an empty chair on stage.  We take time to share that the empty chair represents our friends who do not attend church.  We ask the kids to pray for and invite one friend to come with them the next week.

Teach families to invest in relationships with unchurched families.  This will give them an open door to invite these families to church.  Remember...you get what you emphasize.

Provide invite tools.  Create simple invite cards that kids and families can use to invite their friends.  Make them available every week.

Let kids and families know about special "invite opportunities."  Events like fall festivals, Christmas services, family events, etc. are great opportunities for kids and families to invite others.  Highlight these opportunities.

Word of mouth...it's the best way to grow your children's ministry.  Get people talking and you will grow.