RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Need some help parenting?  If you have an Amazon Echo with Alexa, the digital voice assistant, you may be in luck.

There's a new "Magic Word" function that you can turn on which will tell kids to use the word "please" when they ask for something.  The function can also be used to reinforce positive behavior.

Amazon has also introduced children's content for the Echo that includes 300 audio books for kids, as well as skills designed for kids by Nickelodeon, Disney and National Geographic.

Need help getting the kids out of bed?  Digital parent to the rescue.

Need kids to be reminded to study for a test?  Digital parent to the rescue.

Want to teach your child how to be polite?  Digital parent to the rescue.

Want to see your child improve in their history lessons?  Digital parent to the rescue.

Need someone to read a bedtime story to your child?  Digital parent to the rescue.

Want to monitor what your child is watching and listening to?  Digital parent to the rescue. 

The truth is no app, computer, digitally generated voice or "futuristic robot" can take the place of a parent. 

God has placed the guidance, training, spiritual formation and molding of children in the hands of their parents.

I often remind parents of this truth:  No one has more influence in the life of a child than his or her parents. 

Parents are told this in God's Word.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.  Ephesians 6:4

Parents are to...

Treat their children right (do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them).

Train their children (bring them up with the discipline).

Teach their children (bring them up with the instruction).

One of the most important things we can do is equip parents to raise their children to love Jesus.  When we influence the greatest influencers (parents), we can then truly influence their children through them.

This means we should teach parents how to treat their children right.  Most parents, by default, parent the way they were parented....bad parenting traits included.  Provide parents with the tools and resources they need to identify bad parenting habits they want to correct.  Show parents how they can build a great relationship with their child.

We should also teach parents how to train their children.  This includes how to discipline, how to train their kids to make wise decisions, how to manage money, etc.

And we should equip parents with the Biblical knowledge they need to teach their children the ways of God.  Giving them the understanding they need to pass on a Christian worldview to their children.

Do these 3 things and you will set parents up for success as they guide their children.

Let me ask you a question.  Do you have a plan in place to equip parents?  Do you have a strategy to influence them?

Here are some articles that can help you develop and implement a strategy to influence the parents in your ministry.

Helping parents prepare their children for the transition from elementary to middle school.

Helping parents see the importance of consistent church attendance.

Helping parents teach their children about managing money.

Equipping parents to lead their children to faith in Christ.

Equipping parents to raise their children to follow Jesus for a lifetime.

Anyone who says parenting is easy has never been one.  Parents are looking for help.  That's one reason many of them are excited about something as simple as a digital voice that will help them teach their children to say "please."

God has placed you in a unique position as a ministry leader.  You can be a voice speaking into the lives of parents, helping them step up to be the parent God is calling them to be.

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.

Do you struggle with any of these?

Volunteers showing up late?

Volunteers standing around talking with each other instead of interacting with the kids?

Volunteers sitting in the back rather than with the kids during large group time?

Volunteers coming unprepared and looking at their lesson during large group time instead of focusing on the kids?

Volunteers leaving as soon as the service is over rather than spending time with the kids while waiting for parents to come?

Volunteers not taking time to talk with and interact with parents?  

Here's how to change these scenarios.  Share with your volunteers that "every minute makes an impact."

Every volunteers on your team has something in common.  Here it is.  They want to make an impact.  They want to leave a legacy.  They want to know that the time they are spending volunteering is making a difference.

Help them see that they only have a small window of time each week to invest in the kids and parents and every single minute they spend investing in them makes a difference.  It's in the seemingly small conversations before service where volunteers can make the biggest connection with kids.  It's in the quick conversations at pick-up and drop-off where volunteers can encourage parents.  It's in the 3 minutes of a worship song that volunteers can model what it means to worship God.  It's in the few minutes after service that volunteers can speak life into kids while waiting with them for their parents.  It's in the first minute that volunteers can make new guests feel comfortable and welcomed.

Time spent investing in kids and families is never wasted.  Every single minute is valuable.  Every single minute presents an opportunity to make a significant impact in their life. 

When you help volunteers catch this vision, they will show up on time.  They will come prepared.  They will be intentional about what they say to parents at drop-off and pick-up.  They will engage with the kids before, after and during the service.

We are in a race to children's hearts.  Just like a minute matters in the outcome of a physical race, a minute matters in the outcome of this spiritual race.