RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

One of dangers of success is being lulled into complacency.  Once you become satisfied with where you are, you stop growing as a leader.  Once a ministry becomes okay with where it is, it stops making progress.

Downhill is the only direction you can roll when you've got it in neutral.

To keep your edge and avoid this danger, you must never be okay with things being "okay."  You must remain obsessed with making things better.  If you want to avoid slipping into complacency then...

Question everything you do on a regular basis.  Is it still effective?  Is it relevant?  Is it the best use of our time and resources?

Always look for ways to make what you do better.  Evaluate.  Debrief.  Tweak.  Adjust.  Change.

Hold everything except the message with open hands.  Don't let past accomplishments cause you to miss future opportunities.

If you've seen the Lord of the Rings' movies, you know about Theoden.  He is introduced in The Two Towers.  He is the king of Rohan.  When Gandalf and the group arrive at his kingdom, he has grown weak and is being controlled by his chief advisor, Grima, who is secretly in the employ of the evil wizard Saruman.  King Theoden has been lulled into a state of complacency and sits on his throne in a dazed slumber, only a shadow of his former self.  It takes a hard confrontation to break him out of this.

Is this a picture of you or your ministry?  Have you been lulled into a state of complacency?  Break free and get your passion back.  Ask God to return the fire you once felt burning in your bones.  Move back outside of your comfort zone.

Complacency is a comfortable place to be.  But it's also a dangerous place to be because it will cause you to miss out on some great things God had planned for you.  God still has much for you to do.  Your best days of ministry are ahead!  Shift out of neutral and back into 5th gear. 

There are three voices you should be listening to as a leader.

The first is the voice of the Holy Spirit.  The Bible tells us this in John 16:13...

"When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth..."

The Holy Spirit can guide you as a leader.  He can give you wisdom as a leader.  He can comfort you when you are discouraged.  He convicts you when you do wrong.  He can empower you.  He can help you understand Scripture.  He can help you pray.  He can strengthen you.  

What a gift of grace the Holy Spirit is.  As a leader, you don't have to make decisions alone.  You don't have to lead in your own strength.  You don't have to carry the weight of leadership alone.  You don't have to give advice alone.  You don't have to motivate alone.  

Are you listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit?  His voice is gentle and quiet.   You can hear Him when you pull away from the noise of life and listen in the stillness and solitude of prayer. 

The second voice you should be listening to is the voice of people who encourage you.  Who are the people in your corner?  Who are the people who speak life into you?  Who are the people who lift your spirits with their words?  

Years ago, as a young leader who was in way over his head, I'll never forget the four words an encourager spoke into my life.  He said, "I believe in you!"  Wow!  What an impact it had in my life!  When I got discouraged, I listened to those words.  When I was overwhelmed, I listened to those words,  When I was lacking confidence, I listened to those words  When others doubted me, I listened to those words.

Make sure as a leader that you are listening to the voice of encouragement.  Trust me...you'll need it. 

The third voice you should be listening to as a leader is the voice of critics.  This is the hardest voice to listen to, isn't it?  With leadership comes criticism.  The only way to not be criticized is to do nothing.  But that's not you. You are a leader.  

Here's a mindset to adopt about criticism.  See criticism as a gift.  That's right, a gift.  A gift that can help you identify blind spots.  A gift that you can learn from.  A gift that can keep you growing.  A gift that can help you be a better leader.   No matter how unfounded or off-base a criticism is, you can learn something from it. 

The natural action is to turn a deaf ear to criticism.  But when you do this, you are missing out on a great growth opportunity.  Instead of taking the bricks criticism hands you and building a wall with them, take them and build your leadership.  

As a leader, are you listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, the voice of encouragement and the voice of criticism?

What causes a ministry to grow?  Is it the programming?  The worship music?  The children's ministry?  The student ministry?  Small groups?  Sharp branding and marketing?  Nice facilities? 

Let's look at it this way.  How do you successfully bake a cake?  You add in the ingredients, don't you?  Flour.  Sugar.  Eggs.  Butter.  Salt.  Baking powder.  Vanilla.  Eggs.  You mix all the ingredients together.  But it's still not a cake.  What turns the ingredients into a cake is the heat.  Without the heat, it will never be a cake. 

You see...the programming...the worship music...the children's ministry...the student ministry...small groups...sharp branding and marketing...nice facilities...those are the ingredients.  But without the heat, without the fire applied to those ingredients, the ministry will fall flat.  

Zechariah articulates this when he says, "it is not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord." 

The secret that makes a ministry grow is the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  

At times, I have found myself going to a conference or visiting a growing church and then spending more time trying to implement the ingredients than I did begging the Holy Spirit to bring His fire to the ministry.  Anyone else guilty of this?  What we need more than the latest program, more than another cutting-edge growth strategy and more than the coolest new sound system, is the fire of God to fall on our ministries.  

Does that mean we don't have to make our ministry ingredients relevant and the very best we can put together?  No.  Just like we wouldn't throw together the wrong ingredients and expect to see a great cake baked up, we shouldn't expect God to bless halfhearted efforts or out-dated ministry ingredients.   We should gather our very best ministry ingredients and then place them before God to anoint with His fire. 

When great ingredients are anointed by the fire of the Holy Spirit,  you will see a ministry begin to grow.  The fire of the Holy Spirit is the extra "it" factor that causes a ministry to move from mundane to miraculous.  Interview the Pastor and staff of a church that is experiencing miraculous growth and they will tell you they do their best, but they're quick to acknowledge that they're simply not good enough or smart enough to produce the kind of growth they are seeing.  They'll quickly tell you that only God can bring the kind of growth that is happening.  Look behind their music, programs, videos, strategies and facilities and you'll find a group of people desperately crying out to the Holy Spirit to do great things. 

Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.  And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

That's the POWER that takes the ingredients of a ministry and uses it to produce growth.

May God stir up within us a longing to see the Holy Spirit move in and through our ministries.  May God find us on our knees before each service, begging the Holy Spirit to anoint us.  May God find us desperately crying out to the Holy Spirit to do what we cannot do...produce fruit through our ministry.  

That's the secret that really makes a ministry grow.  And the good news...it's available to all of us.

Has your children's ministry plateaued or is it not growing like you think it should be?  I believe the big key to sparking growth lies in one word.  Here it is.

CHANGE. 

Listen to what Walt Disney said.

“We can ill afford to rest on our laurels, even to pause in retrospect.  Times and conditions change so rapidly that we must keep our aim constantly focused on the future.”  -Walt Disney

Walt Disney always had one foot in the past, because he loved the nostalgic, and one foot in the future.  He was constantly seeking and integrating new technologies that improved what he did.  A great example of this is Disney’s commitment to not only maintain, but also update many of the classic rides in their parks to keep them relevant.  An example is the ride, Pirates of the Caribbean, that was recently was updated.  Enhanced special effects were added including new cannons with water-based smoke and strobe.  New scents were added to experience in different areas of the ride.  The audio animatronic figures were rebuilt and fitted with new costumes to appear even more realistic.  Captain Jack Sparrow was added a few years ago as well.

Another example of an update is Peter Pan’s Flight, one of the most popular rides, which recently added a new interactive queue.  The queue takes guests through the Darling home, as Mr. and Mrs. Darling get ready for a night out!  Tinker Bell makes an appearance, as does the Darling’s beloved dog, Nana.

Disney not only updates rides, attractions and shows, they also replace the ones that aren’t popular or have run their cultural course.  Here’s an example.  Not long after Disneyland opened, Walt opened an on-site circus show.  He set up two huge circus tents on the edge of Fantasyland.  Two 75-minute performances took place every day, featuring acrobats, aerialists, wild animals and the Mouseketeers.  Guests voted with their feet and it was unpopular.  After a series of mishaps, Walt shut the circus down after just a few months.

Here’s another example.  In Epcot, Norway the Maelstrom ride, which first opened in 1988, has been replaced with a new “Frozen Ever After” attraction to make it culturally relevant for today’s kids.  These are just a few examples of the many rides, shows and attractions that have been closed or replaced over the years.

“Disneyland will always be building and growing and adding new things...new ways of having fun, of learning things, and sharing the many exciting adventures which may be experienced here in the company of family and friends.”  -Walt Disney

Children’s ministries that want to be successful must operate in the same mode.  They must be willing to change or replace what’s not working and constantly be looking for ways to improve what is working.  There are many ministries that were thriving in the 70s and 80s that are now just a shadow of what they used to be.  Ministries that were reaching young families that now rarely hear the sound of children in their hallways.  What happened?  They were unwilling to change.  They are still operating like it’s the 70s and 80s and are dying a slow death.

Ministries that are bent on preserving the past are struggling...ministries that are committed to reaching the next generation are thriving.  Ministries that are more concerned about singing the songs they grew up with than they are connecting with today’s kids aren’t growing...ministries that have changed their music to resemble what kids are hearing on the radio today are reaching them.

Past traditions are important...but change is the dynamic that sparks growth.

Is your ministry changing?  Is it adapting?  Does it speak the language of today’s kids or is it stuck in the past?  We must be open to new ideas.  We must hold the ministry loosely and not be tied to philosophies or programs that are no longer effective.  We’ve all seen people who are stuck in their ways and refuse to change.  Don’t be that guy.  Stay anchored to the truth, but geared for the current culture.  Honor the past...learn from the past...but always be looking to the future.  Stay thankful for the past, but don’t let it dictate the future.  You can’t reach for something new if you’re holding onto the past.  The rear-view mirror is for glancing...not staring.  Don’t get trapped in the past.  Focus on what’s ahead of you.  That’s why your front windshield is bigger.  Remember...

The last three letters of trend are E-N-D.

This is an except from the new book If Disney Ran Your Children's Ministry.  You can get your copy today at www.kidminmouse.com.

Our weekend attendance at the church where I serve has grown to over 26,000 people.  On big days like Easter over 54,000 people will walk through our doors.  Those numbers are staggering to me at times.  I can't believe we get to impact that many people.

The truth is...we never sat down and said, "Let's reach 26,000 people every weekend."  In fact, if you had told me 8 years ago when I came here that we would grow that much, I would have questioned if it were possible.

So...how did it happen?  First and foremost, there is the God factor.  He grows His church.  He simply asks us to be faithful.  Which brings me to the heartbeat of this post.  He asks us to be faithful in the small things. 

Big things are founded and grounded in the small things done consistently well. (tweet this)

If you want to grow a big ministry, you have to think small.  If all you do is "go big," you'll never actually get there.

Focus on doing the small things well.  Zeroing in on the small things leads to big results.  So instead of being obsessed with big attendances, ask yourself questions like, "What's the smallest change we can make that will help make our ministry more effective?"  Small changes eventually lead to big results.  But you can't get the big results if you're not willing to focus on doing the small things well.

Focus on creating small environments that make people feel big.  Here's the deal.  The larger you get, the smaller you must become.  Great ministries are not built in a large worship center, they are built in small environments where people feel known, loved and cared for. 

The small things done well make the biggest impact.  Remembering a guest's name.  Placing a sticker on a diaper that says "I was changed."  Walking someone to their classroom instead of pointing them.  A small handwritten note to a volunteer.  Holding the door for a senior adult.  Staff parking in the worst spots so guests can have the best spots.

Small wait times in line.  The larger you grow, the more intentional you will have to be about people waiting in line.  Constantly watch how long people have to wait to drop off and pick-up their kicks.  Make adjustments.  Keep the lines small. 

Small classroom ratios.  Keep your classroom ratios small.  The larger you grow, the temptation will be to let them slip.  When you don't keep your classroom ratios small, kids will not feel loved and cared for and parents will be concerned, even if they don't tell you. Here are the ratios that we follow.

Small programming list.  The temptation as you begin growing is to fill up your ministry calendar with stuff.  Keep it small.  Add by subtraction.  Keep what you do to a small list of the essentials and do them well. 

Small habits.  People often only see the big results.  What they don't see are the small habits done consistently.  Day in and day out.  Week in and week out.  Year in and year out.  Decade in and decade out.  Small phone calls.  Small spiritual disciplines.  Small meetings.  Small successes.  Small jobs.  Big results are simply the fruit of small things done consistently well.

We have over 2,600 children's ministry volunteers.  How did that happen?  Week after week after week for 8 years we have been inviting people to join our team.  Inviting people to serve...one small invite at a time.  That small habit, done consistently for years, has helped us build a large volunteer team.

Don't be obsessed with reaching big goals.  Be obsessed with the small things that will take you to those big goals. (tweet this)

Small habits is the road that will take you to big results.  Remember what Jesus said?

We have a rose bush in our front flowerbed.  At first, it flourished and produced beautiful flowers.

But not now.  The flowers have stopped blooming and there are no signs of life.  It's branches are brown and crackly.  We've left it there for several months, hoping it will come back.  We'll see...but right now it doesn't look good.

The rose bush has been a good reminder for me of the importance of keeping the children's ministries we lead healthy and growing.

When you see a children's ministry that's growing, there are usually 5 things at play behind the scenes.   

VISION
A growing children's ministry flows from the heart of a leader who has a vision to reach his/her community for Christ.  The vision compels the leader and his/her team to never stop until every, single child and parent in their community is reached.  Not satisfied with the status quo, they focus on the future rather than dwelling on the past.  Great growth comes from great vision.

ADEQUATE SPACE
A growing children's ministry makes sure they are not hindered by the 85% rule.  This rule basically says that when you reach 85% capacity, you will stop growing.  Here's an example.  If your children's ministry rooms hold 100 kids, once you are averaging 85 kids a week in that space, you will stop growing unless you create more space.  This can be done by building or starting more services.  Growing children's ministries keep a pulse on this.

HARD WORK
It takes a lot of hard work to build a children's ministry.  Growing children's ministries are committed to doing the hard work of preparation, planning, follow-up, excellent execution, cleaning and more.  God doesn't bless laziness.  Simply put...pray for a good harvest with the sweat running down the hoe handle.

VOLUNTEER TEAM
A growing children's ministry has a growing team of enthusiastic, committed volunteers.  As your volunteer base grows, your children's ministry will grow because kids are being cared for, ratios are being met and connections are being made.

GOD-FACTOR
Of course, all of the above hinges on the "God-factor."  A growing children's ministry often wonders in amazement as they watch God move.  They know without His anointing and blessing, all their efforts are in vain.  This keeps the ministry humble and constantly seeking God and depending on Him.  They plant the seeds...God grows the fruit.

Perhaps you are reading this and your children's ministry is currently like my rose bush.  Not much happening.  Be encouraged.  Renew and expand your vision, make sure you have adequate space, work hard, grow your volunteer base, seek God's face...and watch your ministry begin to grow.

We've talked before about not letting your children's ministry get stuck in the past and becoming irrelevant.  You can read more about that here.

But with today's rapid changes accelerating, it's not enough to avoid protecting the past.  You must avoid protecting the present.

Here's some signs you're protecting the present...

• You're not taking a hard look at your processes, programs and events. 

• You're not asking for feedback.

• You're ignoring trends and shifts in the culture. 

• You say, "If it's not broken...don't fix it."

• You're growing content and complacent. 

• Your hesitant to try something new.

• You aren't taking any steps that will take your ministry to the next level.

If this is the case, then it's time to shift and start preparing for the future. 

• Regularly evaluate everything you're doing.  

• Ask for feedback from volunteers, parents and kids. 

• Stay in tune with notable trends and shifts in the culture.

• Be willing to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. 

• Plan for growth not just maintenance.

• Write down where you want the ministry to be in 1 year.  From this, create a strategy to take it there.

What got you where you are now won't take you where you need to go in the future.  Be thankful for what God is doing now but be like Paul when He said, "I press on for the high calling of Christ Jesus."

What sets childrens' ministries apart, the ministries where volunteers love to serve and kids and families' lives are being changed, is PASSION.

Do you want your ministry to be full of passion?  Here's how to build passion in your ministry.

Have something worth being passionate about. 
Let me re-word that. You already have something worth being passionate about...the Gospel.  There is no greater cause.

The key is constantly helping people make the connection between their serving role and the greater purpose.  Pointing people to the purpose will ignite passion.  

Remember passion is caught more than it is taught.  The passion level of your ministry is a mirror of your passion as a leader.  Show your passion...to the point where at times you get very emotional about it.  When was the last time your volunteers saw tears running down your face as you shared your heart for the mission?  When was the last time your earnest prayers echoed through the hallways of your ministry?  When was the last time you fasted for the families of your community?  If you want to raise the passion level of your ministry, then start with yourself.

Surround yourself with passionate people.  When you are passionate, you will attract passionate people.  Surround yourself with them.  There will always be people who feel their calling in life is to throw cold water on the fire.  Be kind to them...but don't let them get close.  If you do, they will douse the flames.  Bring people in close whose passion will encourage and inspire you.  

Fan the flames.  The natural tendency of passion is to wane.  Keep the passion burning by revisiting the purpose often.  Celebrate the passion.  Share stories of the passion.  Honor those who show passion.  

Never be satisfied.  The opposite of passion is complacency.  Keep your passion by staying in growth mode.  Always be reading, stretching, asking questions and seeking God for more. 

When you have passion, you won't have to tell people.  Passion is very evident.  People know it when they see it.

A name is coming to mind right now as you read the title of this article. 

You know...the person who always approaches you with a negative word.  The person who throws cold water on the new idea.  The person who is quick to remind you that "we tried that before and it didn't work."  The person who opposes the vision God has placed in your heart for the ministry.

Don't worry...you're not alone.  Every ministry has a Debbie Downer.  It's just part of being a leader in ministry.  No matter what you do...there will be a Debbie Downer who wants to halt progress.

But you can't let the negativity of this person derail the growth and forward movement God wants to bring to your ministry.  And as the leader, you've got to overcome the roadblocks negative people drop in the pathway of progress.

Here's 5 ways to lead past negativity.

Bring the facts.  Be ready to show the stats that prove why this change must be made.  An example would be showing that your attendance has plateaued or is in decline.  Let the facts speak for themselves.  Hard evidence will counter negative opposition.

Meet the status quo head-on.  A lot of negativity comes from someone not wanting to move out of their comfort zone.  Change is hard for people and brings out insecurities.   Counter this with the consequences of letting the status quo continue.  Help them see why they must move the boat away from the dock and into deeper waters. 

Challenge sweeping statements.   You'll hear statements like, "If it ain't broke..." or "we're doing okay" or "things are fine the way they are."  Anticipate these type of statements and be ready to challenge them.

Show how everyone will win.  Negative people tend to dwell on the past.  They rarely look into the future. Your biggest tool for overcoming negativity is vision.  Help people see the end result and how they will benefit.  

Focus on the goal instead of winning the argument.  Your goal is not to "win the argument" with the negative person.  The goal is to bring them along with you on the journey.  The natural trajectory with negative people is to turn it into something personal.  Don't fall into this trap.  Make it about the vision and direction rather than about personal agendas.

Your turn.  The floor is yours.  What are some other tips for overcoming Debbie Downer?  Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.  And please...don't list the names of your Debbie Downers.  They might read this.  No need adding fuel to the fire.  Just kidding.

Do you want to see your ministry bear more fruit?  It may require some pruning.

I have a tree in my front yard that is growing quickly.  It started just a foot tall and is now over my roof line.  One reason is because I prune it on a regular basis.

If you've grown plants or trees or other types of greenery, you know how important pruning is.

Pruning by definition means to remove dead or overgrown branches or stems...to slim down...to make reductions...to make cutbacks.

Jesus used pruning in John 15 to show us how to be more fruitful as Christ-followers and ministries.  But pruning can't be done randomly.  It involves a clear strategy.  Here's some steps to take when you're ready to prune.

Identify what is bearing fruit.  Notice what Jesus said.  He said to prune the branches that are bearing fruit.  Identify what is working well in your ministry.  Identify what God is using to reach people.  Identify what is God using to grow people's faith.  Identify what is God using to change lives.  These are the branches that you want to keep resources, volunteers, time and energy flowing into. 

Identify what is not bearing fruit.  What is not growing?  What is being perpetuated that is not effective?  What is being kept alive because sister so and so started it in 1978?  What is still happening simply because "we've always done it that way?"  What is no longer culturally relevant but is operating in a comatose state because of resistance to change? 

Explain why you need to prune.  The reason you prune is so the fruit-bearing branches can get the nutrients and minerals they need to produce even more fruit.  Bottom line...if you want to see lots of fruit, you have to send the resources to the fruit bearing branches.

The plethora of good ministries that you are trying to grow may be keeping you from growing a few great ministries.  The multiple programs you staff with a few volunteers each may be keeping you from staffing a few programs with lots of volunteers.  The long list of events you are pulling off each year with mediocrity may be keeping you from pulling off a few events with excellence.  Your budget that is spread across multiple strategies may be keeping you from adequately funding one or two great strategies.

Prune at the right time.  Timing is important in pruning.  You have to be strategic about when you prune.  For trees that bloom in spring, pruning is best done when their flowers fade.  Trees and shrubs that flower in mid-to-late summer are best pruned in winter or early spring.

The same applies to ministry pruning.  You must be wise about when and how you prune.  Don't make the mistake of rushing in and pruning without counsel or process.  I've made this mistake in the past.  In my zeal to see more fruit produced, I either ran over people or didn't take the time to bring people along and help them see the "why." 

Master pruners make pruning a process instead of a surprise.  They strategically communicate to the right people at the right time.  They get the right people on board and gather momentum before starting the pruning.  

Pruning without knowledge or due process can result in damage rather than more fruit.  Make sure you prune at the right time with the right people by your side.

Be prepared for resistance.  I also have very tall palm trees in my front yard.  They grow branch shoots at the top that have to be trimmed.  This is not always an easy task as they grow in between the larger branches and can be hard to get too.  They are also difficult to cut through at times.  Then after I cut through them, they can get hung up in the healthy branches as I try to drag them out of the tree.

One thing is for sure...when you start pruning, there will be resistance.  No matter how much you communicate the "why" there will be someone who just doesn't get it and will resist.  People simply don't like change...and pruning is change.

But you can't let the resistance stop you from pruning.  The health of the plant is at stake.  Bearing more fruit must take precedence. 

Remember that pruning isn't one and done...it's a continual process.  Pruning must be done on a regular basis if want to remain fruitful.

That's why each year you must evaluate everything you do.  That's why you must ask the hard questions about the ministry on a regular basis.  That's why you must be willing to shift and adjust often.

Be willing to prune everything...including "your" branches.  I have found that it's easy to prune something that someone else started or grew...not so easy for something that I personally started or grew.  Are you same way?  But we can't bear much fruit if we follow this mindset. 

People that bear much fruit hold the ministry with open hands.  They detach the ministry from personal agendas,  preferences or personalities.

Pruning means you must die to yourself and put the fruit bearing of the ministry first.

Get ready for more fruit!  The result of pruning?  The parts of the plant that are bearing fruit get more nutrients which results in more health and more fruit.  Check out what Jesus said in John 15.

He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.  John 15:2

Years ago, I was taught that if you want to bear fruit in ministry then you need lots of branches.  The more ministry branches you had...the more fruit you would bear.  But over the years, I found the opposite to be true.  If you want to bear lots of fruit, then prune your ministry on a regular basis.

Take an inside look at the ministries across the country that are bearing more fruit and you will see that they are pouring their time, energy, volunteers and resources into a few branches that are bearing lots of fruit.

And...they are relentless pruners.

Let's define simple children's ministry.

Simple children's ministry...

• has a focused, clear strategy
• thinks discipleship steps instead of programs and events
• keeps ministry areas aligned with the strategy
• does a few things with excellence
• eliminates the unnecessary

The simple strategy works.  Look into the business world and you'll see that the top brands keep things simple.   They cut through the clutter and deliver what customers want, when they want it, without hassle.  They simplify the customer's experience in a complex world.  Here's some examples...

• Google
• Netflix
• Publix
• Amazon
• Chipolte
• Zappos.com
• Dunkin' Donuts
• Burger King
• KFC
• Pizza Hut 

When children's ministries build a culture of simplicity, they can provide families with a great experience.  When families have a great experience, it leads to growth.

When growth begins, the tension of complexity will resurface and come back into play.  The natural bent is to move toward complexity.  It takes hard work to remain simple.  As you grow, you must remain very intentional about keeping processes and steps simple.  You must be committed to saying no to "good opportunities" that are complexity in disguise.

How do you create a simple children's ministry model?  Here's a blueprint.
1. Define who you are as a ministry.
2. Define what your discipleship goals are for kids and families.
3. Create simple steps they can take to get there.
4. Let the steps dictate your ministry calendar and programming.
5. Build your staff and volunteer team to support the steps.
6. Say no to anything that is not part of the steps or strategy.
7. Constantly evaluate the effectiveness of the steps you have in place.  Tweak and adjust as needed.

Look across the country and you'll see the most effective children's ministries follow this simple model.  If you feel like you're spinning your wheels, it could very well be due to the complexity of your ministry.  Remember...less truly is more.  Simplifying can be a catalyst for children's ministry success.

How do you know if your children's ministry is unhealthy?  Here's 10 telltale signs and how to treat it.

Symptom #1 - Lack of volunteers - crisis mode. Classrooms are not able to open due to lack of volunteers.  The volunteers you do have are stretched thin.

Treatment:  Build your volunteer team.  In this post, I share proven methods of building a volunteer team, no matter what size church you are serving in.

Symptom #2 - Programs or events that are not effective are perpetuated.  They are continued because "we've always done it that way" or because "Sister-So and So started this years ago" or "the few families who attend would be upset if we stopped it."

Treatment:  Regularly examine everything you do.  Is it helping people grow spiritually?  Is it helping you reach new families?  When you get negative answers to these questions, be willing to adjust and change.

Symptom #3  - Very few kids.  The largest classes are senior adult classes while many of the kids' classrooms sit empty.  You rarely hear the giggles and laughter of kids echoing in the hallways and when you do, there's a good chance it's grandkids visiting from out-of-town.

Treatment:  Be willing to do what it takes to reach young families.  In this post, I share what young parents are looking for when they visit a church.  Remember...anything that is healthy will be growing.

Symptom #4 - No partnership with other ministries.  The children's ministry is a silo.  Other ministries are seen as competition for resources, volunteers and space.  There is no collaboration or strategizing together.

Treatment:  Move from competition to collaboration.  In this post, I share how to make this transition.

Symptom #5 - The "why" of children's ministry is not articulated.  Mission statement?  What's that?  The church sees children's ministry as "childcare."

Treatment:  Start with the why.  In this post, I share the why of children's ministry.

Symptom #6 - Volunteers don't feel valued.  They are shoved into classrooms with little or no training.  They never hear "thank you."  They are never asked for their ideas, input or feedback.

Treatment:  Shift your thinking from what you can get "from" volunteers to what you want "for" volunteers.  Say "thank you" every week.  Here's more about how to value your volunteers.

Symptom #7 - Little or no passion.  People are just going through the motions.  You hear more talk about the past than you do the future.  Volunteers see their role as a drudgery instead of a delight. 

Treatment:  Get fired up!  Everything rises and falls on leadership.  Be a thermostat rather than a thermometer.  A thermostat controls the temperature instead of just measuring it.  In this post, I share 5 ways to get your children's ministry fired up.

Symptom #8 - Kids are saying it's boring.  Parents are having to "make" their kids come to church.  Kids are forced to sit and endure the lessons.  They hear "shhhhh" quite often. 

Treatment:  Create fun, relevant environments that will have kids dragging their parents to church.  In this post, I share how to make church a fun experience for kids.

Symptom #9 - The only time you connect with parents is when you are asking them to serve.  Parents are seen as a resource for your children's ministry instead of your children's ministry a resource for parents.

Treatment:  Realize that if you truly want to influence kids, then you must influence their parents.  Begin partnering with parents and equipping them to be the spiritual leader of their kids.  You can find out more about how to do this here.

Symptom #10 - Run down facilities.  Facilities are a reflection of a children's ministry's attitude and commitment to excellence.  Run down facilities will make a children's ministry appear even more unhealthy than it may really be.  Parents will immediately make an assumption about a children's ministry based on what the facilities look like.

Treatment:  Keep your children's ministries clean and clear of clutter.  Update them when you can.  Don't have the budget for a new children's building?  Do what you can with what you've got.  It's amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do.  And remember...clean and tidy doesn't have anything to do with the size or scope of the building.

The floor is yours.  What are some other symptoms of an unhealthy children's ministry?  Share with us in the comment section below.

Last weekend, I visited Church of the Highlands in Birmingham.

Church of the Highlands began in 2001 and is exploding with growth.  They are ministering to over 30,000 people each weekend.

Highland Kids is their children's ministry.  Highland Kids is led by Beth Cunningham.  She was gracious enough to give us an inside look at their ministry.  We picked up so many great tips.  I want to share some of them with you.

Tip #1 - Keep it simple, laser focused and strategic.  Highland Kids (and church) is very strategic in what they do.  They say no to a lot of good things, so they can say yes to a few great things.  They go into each ministry year with a set number of events, conferences, etc.  

Tip #2 - Provide clear growth steps for people.  They have four growth steps.  Each of these steps has a class attached to it. You can see them in the picture below.
Tip #3 - Make serving a big part of your church culture.  Class 401 centers around serving.  The class begins with teaching about serving and then people choose which ministry they want to serve in and go to that area for training right then.  Through this intentionality and clear step, they are able to move people into serving with a very high success rate.

I believe one of the biggest factors in their growth has been their commitment to help people find their place of service.  The weekend I was there over 2,100 people served in children's ministry.  As leaders, success is not measured by doing ministry but by equipping people to do the work of the ministry. 

Tip #4 - Invest not only in kids who are guests, but in their parents as well.  Like many churches, they give a gift to every child who is a first-time guest.  But they take it a step farther and also give each parent a gift.  The gift is the book "Praying Circles Around Your Children" by Mark Batterson. 

Tip #5 - Pray for kids.  They have prayer cards that kids can write down their prayer requests on.  These cards are collected each week and prayed over.  One of their goals is for every child to hear a leader pray for them each weekend. 

Tip #6 - Create stickers the kids can wear to remind their parents about upcoming special days or events.

Tip #7 - Have a drop-off area close to the building for families with kids.  Families can pull up and one of the parents can get out with the kids. 

Tip #8 - Encourage people to do an act of kindness and then leave a church invite with the person.  Below you can see the card holder.  People are encouraged to do things like pay for someone's meal and leave the card for them.  They constantly have stories of people who have come to the church because of this.

 













Tip #9 - Remind your volunteers what an honor and privilege it is to serve God.  In each area of service, you will find this sign.  What a great reminder for volunteers to see each week.

Tip #10 - Be learning from two people who do your job at another church.  Each staff person does this. 

Tip #11 - Have middle-schoolers serve as buddies for first-time guests.  They stay with the child during the service and make sure they are comfortable and connecting.

Tip #12 - If you're a portable campus, use supply carts to hold your check-in computers.  This is a simple, but very proficient way to house portable check-in systems.  You can see the picture below.

Tip #13 - If you're a portable campus, attach curtain tracks in the ceiling for your room curtains.  This saves you from having to take them up and down every week.  You can see an example in the picture below.

Tip #14 - Provide cabinets for volunteers to lock their valuables in while they are serving.

Tip #15 - Place preschoolers' take home papers, activity sheets, etc. in a lunch sack.  This makes it easier for parents to carry it which means it has a better chance of making it home.

Tip #16 - Have a laminated supply list sheet in each room.  Ask volunteers to write down any supplies that need to be replenished.  This makes it easier to know what each room needs each week.

Tip #17 - Have some games (Uno, Bible trivia, etc.) in each small group container that the leaders can play with the kids during pick-up, extra time, etc.

Tip #18 - Empower volunteers to lead other volunteers.  They have volunteers who are caring for and leading other volunteers.  I met several people who volunteer 20-30 hours a week and lead major parts of the ministry.  Raising up leaders of leaders is how they are able to care for and lead so many volunteers.

Tip #19 - Going multi-site gives you the opportunity to reach many more kids and families.  If they only had one campus, they would not be able to reach as many people.  They will continue to grow and reach more people because they are continuing to add more campuses.

Tip #20 - A thriving children's ministry is a key to building a thriving church.  Take a look at Church of the Highlands and other churches across the country that are exploding with growth and you will see they have dynamic children's ministries.  No matter how far a parent is away from God, their child is an inroad into their heart.  When you take a child by the hand, you take a parent by the heart.  Reach a child and you will reach their parents.  God blesses churches that make children's ministry a priority.

Bonus...here are some pictures of some of their children's areas.



If you're ever in the Birmingham area, check out this amazing church!  You will be encouraged and your vision will be expanded.

We all have fears as leaders.  Some we have conquered and others we still battle.  Some come from outside sources and others rise internally.  

As I interact with children's ministry leaders, here are the top 10 fears that I hear echoed.

These are not ranked by greatest to least.  The order varies from person to person.

Fear #1 - Lack of Volunteers
Ever found your heart beating fast on a Sunday morning because you've had 3 volunteers bail on you and you didn't know how you were going to pull off the ministry?  Ever had VBS staring you down and you were short 6 teachers?  Ever been told the church is adding another service or an additional campus and you felt a wave of anxiety because you're already stretched thin on volunteers?

Conquer this fear...
Be encouraged.  Everyone has or is struggling with this.  You'll always need more volunteers...especially if you are growing and reaching people.  There are strategies you can implement that will help you build a dynamic volunteer team.  In this post, I share 10 simple secrets to building a volunteer team. 

In Matthew 9:38, Jesus told us to pray for laborers for the harvest.  He would not have told us to pray for something He didn't want to give us.  When you feel this fear creeping up on you, pray this prayer against it. 

Fear #2 - A Child Being Abused or Abducted
No matter how many precautions and safety measures you have in place, it's in the back of your mind.  When you hear about it happening at another church, you shudder when you think that it could happen in your ministry as well.  What if a child was abused while here at church?  What if a predator who hasn't been caught up to this point, started serving in our ministry?  What if someone slipped by our check out point and abducted a child? 

Conquer this fear...
It's our job to do everything possible to prevent a child from being abused or abducted.  Having solid walls of protection such as background checks, a no one ever alone with a child policy, a check-in plan and other safety measures are all ways to lessen the chance of a child being abused.  Here are more ways to make your ministry a safe and secure place.

Fear #3 - Criticism
Ever opened an email and it ruined your day?  Ever got a voice mail from a parent and dreaded calling them back?  Ever been hesitant to ask for feedback because of what you know you'll hear?  Ever not made a change because you didn't want to go through the backlash you'd get?

Conquer this fear...
Shift your thinking.  When a parent or volunteer brings criticism or complaints, see it as a gift.  Listen to it and learn something from it.  Some of the best lessons you will learn are when you are thrown under the bus.  Here's some more tips on how to overcome this fear.

Fear #4 - Lack of Growth
Ever stared at your attendance sheet and realized the number of kids attending your ministry is either flat or going the wrong way?  Ever stared into a half-empty classroom and wondered if there is anything you can do to more effectively reach kids and families?

Conquer this fear...
Remember, this is something you can't control.  God simply expects us to do our part by removing any barriers that are hindering growth.  Here is a list of barriers.  When we remove these and other barriers, God does His part and grows His church.

Fear #5 - Not Being Liked
Are you a people pleaser?  Are you afraid someone won't like you?  Do you lose sleep when you know someone is upset with you?

Conquer this fear...
The need to be liked is normally rooted in a need for affirmation.  We want the approval of others.  To conquer this fear, we must tie our identity to what God thinks about us, instead of what man thinks about us.  If you struggle with this fear, here is some help.

Fear #6 - Conflict
Do you run from hard conversations?   Do you let stuff slide because you don't want to deal with it?  Do your palms get sweaty when a parent asks to meet with you over an issue?

Conquer this fear...
This is one of the bigger fears for leaders.  The good news...navigating conflict is a skill that can be learned.  Conflict is never easy, but if you enter it knowing what you are and are not going to say, it significantly lessons the fear.  Here's some help with navigating explosive conflict.

Fear #7 - Volunteers Leaving
If it wasn't stressful enough to enlist a volunteer team, you have to keep them as well.  You get wind that one of your key volunteers is talking about stepping down and it sends chills down your spine.

Conquer this fear...
Build relationships with your volunteers.  This is the glue that will keep them serving with you.  That being said,  realize that no matter what you do, you will have some volunteers bolt on you.  Don't sweat it, God will send someone to replace them. 

Fear #8 - Not Making an Impact
We all want to know that our lives have made an impact.  Deep down inside we sometimes wonder if we are laboring in vain.  Will we be able to look back in the end and see that we clearly made a difference?  And if we do, will the impact be miniscule compared to what we had hoped and prayed for?

Conquer this fear... 
Two simple verses will help you conquer this fear.  Memorize and quote them when this fear approaches you. 

"It is the same with my word.  I send it out, and it always produces fruit.  It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it."  Isaiah 55:11

"So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable.  Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."  I Corinthians 15:58

Fear #9 - Lack of Funding
Have you ever been afraid to ask for something for the ministry because you're sure the answer will be "no?"  Ever catch wind that the church offerings are down and wondered what that meant for children's ministry funding?

Conquer this fear...
Remember you must be the children's ministry champion in your church.  You must evaluate, pray and determine what the needs are.  It's your job to make the ask.  After that, it's out of your hands.  Don't sweat it.  God will provide what you need.  And remember, our perception of what we "need" may not match up with what God knows we need at the time.

Fear #10 - Kids Not Really Understanding a Decision They've Made to Follow Christ
Ever walked away from a baptism struggling with whether or not the child was really ready to be baptized?  Ever felt the weight of the responsibility of sharing the Gospel clearly with children?

Conquer this fear...
It's our job to share the Gospel with clarity.  Involve parents in the process and offer them guidance as they journey though this decision with their child.  Have a class kids go through before they are baptized.

Do due diligence to ask kids questions about their decision.  If you feel they are not ready, then work through this with the child's parents.

Be reminded that we can't save anyone.  That job has already been taken.  We get the privilege to introduce kids to the One who does the saving.

The floor is yours.  What are some other fears you have faced?  How did you deal with them?  How have you dealt with some of the fears mentioned above?  Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

A recent experiment increased attendance in over half of the churches that participated.

What was the key?

1 simple step - an email sent on Saturday inviting their people to come on Sunday.  This resulted in a 13% average week by week attendance boost.

Why send the email on Saturday?  Timing is everything.  Saturday is a low volume and high open rate day for emails.  And with 48% of email openings happening on a mobile device, people don't have to be at work to check their email. 

A few weeks ago, Outreach Magazine released their annual list of the largest and fastest growing churches in America.   Based on that research, I'd like to share with you the 20 largest and fastest growing children's ministries in America.

Here are a few factors to consider as you go through these two lists.

• This is based on the assumption that the children's attendance at these churches is 20% of the overall attendance.  15-20% is considered healthy in the average church.  At some of these churches, it may be a higher or lower percentage.  This is for newborns through 5th grade.

• There are churches that did not report their attendance this year.  If you do not see a children's ministry on the list, it is because they did not report their attendance.

• God wants His house full.  He said to go out and compel people to come in so His house will be full.  He wants your children's ministry to grow!

• This list is not really about numbers, but about churches that are reaching kids and families effectively.  Behind every number is a name and behind every name is a story.  

• Remember, they face many of the same struggles as smaller churches...lack of volunteers...budget shortages...programming restraints...staffing shortages, etc.  It's just on a bigger scale.  They don't have it all completely together.  They all have weak spots and warts.  The children's ministry I lead is on the list and I can tell you this is true for sure.  We've got a lot of things that we need to improve.

• Check out these churches' websites and look at their children's ministry sections.  What can you learn from them?  What are they doing effectively?

• Though these numbers are good to look at...they are not the most important numbers and should not be what we focus on the most.  The number we should be focused on is the number of people in our city/community that do not attend church anywhere.  That is the number that should keep us up at night.  The issue is not how many are attending but how many are not attending.  

• The majority of these churches are in areas that have a large population.  If you're going to reach lots of kids and families, you have to go where they live.

• One thing is for sure.  Children's Ministry is one of the biggest growth factors in a church.  Behind the majority of growing churches you will find a dynamic children's ministry. 

20 Fastest Growing Children's Ministries in America 2014

1. Cherry Hill Community Church in Highlands Ranch, CO (43%)
2. NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC (34%)
3. 2/42 Community Church in Brighton, MI (44%)
4. LifePoint Church in Fredericksburg, VA (50%)
5. Next Level Church in Sommersworth, NH (155%)
6. New Life Church in Conway, AR (25%)
7. Grace Church in Sumfries, VA (72%)
8. The Crossing in Las Vegas, NV (36%)
9. Christ's Church of Flagstaff, AZ (25%)
10. Freedom Church of Acworth, GA (109%)
11. Elevation Church in Matthews, NC (20%)
12. Houston's First Baptist Church in Houston, TX (22%)
13. Grace Church in Greenville, SC (26%)
14. Fountain Springs Church in Rapid City, SD (40%)
15. Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton, VA (25%)
16. Gateway Church in Southlake, TX (18%)
17. Rock Church in San Diego, CA (19%)
18. Rock City Church in Columbus, OH (53%)
19. The Crossing in Quincy, IL (21%)
20. Church by the Glades in Coral Springs, FL (20%)

20 Largest Children's Ministries in America 2014

1. Northpoint Ministries in Alpharetta, GA
2. NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC
3. Gateway Church in Southlake, TX
4. Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL
5. Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL
6. Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA
7. Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY
8. Christ's Church of the Valley in Peoria, AZ
9. Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach Gardens, FL
10. Second Baptist Church in Houston, TX
11. Woodlands Church in The Woodlands TX
12. Eagle Brook Church in Centerville, MN
13. Flatirons Community Church in Lafeyette, CO
14. Crossroads Church in Cincinnati, OH
15. Elevation Church in Matthews, NC
16. 12Stone Church in  Lawrenceville, GA
17. Family Christian Church in Munster, IN
18. Mariners Church in Irvine, CA
19. The Rock Church in San Diego, CA
20. McLean Bible Church in Vienna, VA

What's the best thing to know in Children's Ministry?

That you don't know it all.

When you reach a point where you think you know it all, you're in trouble.  Your growth stops.  You repeat mistakes.  You refuse to change what isn't working.  You become arrogant and unteachable.

People are the most susceptible to this when they are a young leader or a veteran leader.  When you're young, you are ready to conquer the world.  You have all the answers.  When you are a veteran, you can develop a "been there, done that, know that all ready" attitude.

The most effective leaders are very aware that they still have much to learn and lots of room to grow.

Tom Fletcher, lead singer of the English band McFly, wrote an original song called "Something New" while photos from each day of mom's pregnancy form a virtual flip book. Watch and behold the joy of new life.

If you'll notice in the poll to the right of this post, the following question is asked.

"What is your biggest growth obstacle right now?"

I asked this question because many children's ministries find their attendance plateaued or even declining.

Our children's ministry has plateaued twice where I serve as director.  On both occasions, it has been due to lack of space.  Either the adult service was full or the preschool area was full.  And once you're 85% full, you're done growing until you make a change.

Both times we plateaued, we made a change that put us back on a growth path.  Here's what we did.

We started one or more additional services.  And as soon as we did that - we started growing again.

Here's some reasons why starting a new service can put you back on a growth path:

It allows you to create more space without having to build space. 
As stated above, once you're 85% full, you're going to plateau.  You can find out what percentage you're at by comparing your room capacity to how many kids are attending on average.

Here's an example - if your rooms have a capacity to hold 100 kids and you're averaging 85 or more kids, then you've hit a growth obstacle.  You've got to create more space.

People want options.
What do you look at closely when you're going to a movie?  The times its showing.  And the more options the better, right?  A movie that has showings throughout the day is going to have a lot more people attend than a movie that only offers one or two viewing opportunities.

The same applies to your children's ministry.  The more options you offer, the more people you will reach.

It creates fresh momentum.
Starting a new service forces you to recruit new volunteers, enlist families to shift to the new service, and creatively communicate.  All of this can create fresh momentum and excitement.

It catches God's attention.
God is not willing that any should perish.  He wants every single boy, girl, mom, and dad in your community to have a relationship with Him.

You see, the deeper issue is not how many people are attending your children's ministry.  It's how many are NOT attending.  You are surrounded by people who don't attend church anywhere.  You are surrounded by people who don't know Jesus.  And that's the number that should keep you up at night.  That's the reason why you've got to create more space and give people more options.

If your children's ministry is plateaued, it's a great problem to have.  But it's not a problem you want to live with.  A new service may be just what you need.

This past week, I hosted the church tour at Children's Pastor's Conference in Orlando.  We toured three churches.  Below are some pictures.

One of the best ways to learn and grow is by visiting other churches.  If you have never visited another church for ideas and inspiration (or if it's been awhile), then here's some tips.

1. Contact a church that's where you want your ministry to be one day.
2. If possible, go during a weekend service.  You'll get more ideas seeing it in action.
3. If you can't go on a weekend, then ask if you can come on a weekday when they are having staff meeting.  Observe their staff meeting as part of your visit.
4. Come with a list of questions.  Here's a few examples.

• What's working well right now?
• What has helped you grow?
• What are some challenges you are facing right now?
• If you were re-building or re-modeling your children's area again, what are a few things you would change?

5. Take some of your staff / key volunteers with you.
6. Send the church a thank you note when you get back.

CHURCH IN THE SON



NORTHLAND CHURCH



CALVARY ASSEMBLY OF GOD