RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Highland Kids at Church of the Highlands

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

3. Gateway Kids at Gateway Church

4. Crossroads Kids Club at Crossroads Church

5. CCV Kids at Christ Church of the Valley

6. Saddleback Kids at Saddleback Community Church

7. CFKids at Christ Fellowship Church

8. Promiseland at Willow Creek Community Church

9. eKIDZ at Elevation Church

10. Southeast Kids at Southeast Christian Church

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

12. Second Kids at Second Baptist Church

13. Kingdom Kids at Mt. Zion Baptist Church

14. Summit Kids at Flatirons Community Church

15. Port Mariner's Kids at Mariners Church

16. Bayside Kids at Bayside Church

17. K12 at 12Stone Church

18. kidVenture Island at LCBC Church

19. Family Christian Center Kids at Family Christian
      Center

20. Rock Kids at Rock Church

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

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