RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Sunday School.  Some churches still use this term for their Bible study hour at church.   But a large percentage of church leaders would say the term is an ancient relic that has been lost in the progressions of change. 

Is Sunday School an ancient term?  Well,  it is over 230 years old.  It originated in Britain in the 1780's.  During this time of the Industrial Revolution, many children spent six days a week working in factories, which resulted in them being illiterate.  Christian leaders of the day wanted to do something to change that.  Sunday was the only available time for these children to gain some education.  Robert Raikes, an English Anglican evangelical, was a key leader in starting the Sunday School movement.  The first "Sunday Schools" were literally schools.  They were places where poor children could learn to read.

Soon Sunday School spread to America.  Churches everywhere began to create Sunday Schools and the movement became so popular that by the mid 19th century, Sunday School attendance was part of most children's lives.  Even parents who did not regularly attend church themselves sent their children to Sunday School.   Although Sunday School started as a way to educate illiterate children,  religious education was, of course, always an important part of it.  The Bible was the textbook used for learning to read.  Children also learned to write by writing out Bible passages.

As child labor laws grew and children started going to school during the week, Sunday School shifted toward being totally about religious education.  Sunday School also became an evangelistic tool for reaching children with the Gospel.

Over the last 30 years, the term "Sunday School" has been used less and less.  As mentioned earlier in this article, churches have shifted toward more contemporary wording and methods.  While children used to attend one hour of "worship" and one hour of "Sunday School," many now attend one hour that is a hybrid of the two.

Many churches have replaced the description with names like "Life Groups" or "Bible Fellowship" or "Connection Groups" or "Small Groups."  I don't think it is a negative thing that the term "Sunday School" is being used less.  The word "school" is not appealing to most kids and the last place they want to go on a Sunday is where they have been all week.

The important thing is not that the name "Sunday School" is dying.  The important thing is that kids and parents are taught the Word of God, are part of a smaller group of believers where they are known and cared for and have the opportunity to engage in discussion about God's Word.  These are key components that you just can't get in a large group only format.  Whatever you call it, we must provide an opportunity for kids to be part of these elements that are a vital part of discipleship.  Discipleship happens through relationships and that doesn't happen staring at the back of the person sitting in the pew in front of you.

Your turn.  Do you still use the term "Sunday School?"  If not, what do you call your discipleship opportunities for kids and families?  Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

I'll never forget when I called to check on one of our volunteers whose mother was sick in the hospital.  When he picked up the phone, he immediately begin apologizing for not being there to serve.  It broke my heart.  His first thought was not "Dale is calling to check on me and my family."  It was, "Dale is calling to see why I didn't serve."  It was a gut check for me.  I hadn't been asking him the right questions up to that point.  My questions hadn't demonstrated that I really cared about him and his family.

There are 10 questions your volunteers wish you would ask them.  Questions that show you care more about them as a person than about what they can do for the ministry.  Here they are. 

Are you in your sweet spot?
This question helps volunteers make sure they are in a role that aligns with their gifts and passion.  When volunteers are in their sweet spot, they thrive.  When volunteers are in their sweet spot, they enjoy serving.  When volunteers are in their sweet spot, they are fulfilled.

Ask this question to new volunteers before you place them in a role.  Ask this question a month after volunteers start serving to make sure they're in the right role.

There are volunteers who are miserable and frustrated because no one has taken the time to ask them this question.  There are volunteers who quit after a few months because no one took the time to ask them this question.  There are volunteers who are in roles where they are needed, instead of in roles where they need to be, because no one has asked them this question.

How are you doing?
Let me rephrase that.  Ask them, "How are you 'really' doing?"  Many times volunteers won't share what's really going on in their life, unless you ask them.  Behind the smile may be suffering, depression, financial problems, family issues and other struggles.  Take time time to find out how they are really doing.  

When is your birthday?  Your anniversary?  
Find out so you can celebrate with them.

Can we meet for coffee this week? 
Your volunteers want to spend time with you outside of serving.

Do you need a break from serving?
There are times when volunteers need a short break from serving, but they won't tell you.  Ask them. 

How can I pray for you?
They need to know you are praying for them.    

Can I give you some feedback?
This question shows you want to invest in them and help them grow as a leader.  Here's more info about how to effectively provide your volunteers with feedback. 

Are you ready to take on more responsibility?
Your volunteers want to be challenged.  They want to grow as leaders and take on more responsibility.  As they are faithful, ask them this question.   Out of the 70 people we have on our children's ministry staff, 65 of them started out as volunteers that we asked this question.

Are you going to the worship service?
Ask this question to your volunteers on a regular basis.  Make sure they are getting feed and poured into.  This will help them serve from the overflow. 

What's your favorite __________?   
Candy?  Drink?  Restaurant?   Find these things out and surprise them with it occasionally.

All of these questions will help deepen your relationships with your volunteers.  Remember...

Use the ministry to build people instead of using people to build the ministry.

Your turn.  What other questions do you ask your volunteers?  What other questions do you think volunteers want us to ask them?  Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to visit the children's ministry at Eagle Brook Church in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area.  Eagle Brook is a multi-site church with 6 campuses.  The amazing children's ministry there is led by Darcy Wood and they minister to thousands of kids.

Kid-O-Deo is their birth through kindergarten ministry.  In Kid-O-Deo, kids to learn to be lifelong followers of Jesus.  They teach kids about God in a way that they will understand.  Kids have fun, feel safe, build relationships with others and learn that God loves and accepts them.  Here's a video overview.
  

Elevate is their elementary ministry.  In Elevate, they provide kids with a place where they can make the decision to have a real relationship with Jesus and grow in their faith.  Kids in Elevate participate in large group worship and teaching.  They learn more about God through singing, teaching, Bible stories and life applications.  After the large group service, they spend time in groups where they learn more about the lesson, ask questions, work through activities and build relationships with their peers and group leaders.  Grades 1-3 have their own environment as well as grades 4-5.  Here's a video overview.



They have been blessed with amazing facilities.  Here are some pictures I took while there.  If you are ever in the Minneapolis area, be sure to stop by and see what God is doing at Eagle Brook.

NEW WOODBURY CAMPUS OPENED ONE YEAR AGO

THEY CREATE THEIR OWN PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM

CHECK-IN STATION

ADULT AUDITORIUM

INTERACTIVE PLAY AREA IN PRESCHOOL

PRESCHOOL CHAPEL AREA

PRESCHOOL CLASSROOM

KIDS' ARTWORK DISPLAYED

PLAY AREA IN PRESCHOOL HALLWAY

GUEST CHECK-IN AREA

THEY CREATE THEIR OWN ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM

CLIMBING WALL IN 1-3RD GRADE ROOM

VOLUNTEERS MEETING BEFORE SERVICE

KIDS CAN PLACE PRAYER REQUESTS HERE

4-5TH GRADE ENVIRONMENT

INTERACTIVE DIGITAL FLOOR GAME

POPCORN BEING SERVED IN 4-5TH GRADE ENVIRONMENT

4-5TH GRADE WORSHIP

1-3RD GRADE WORSHIP

Millennials.  They are the young adults who are serving in your children's ministry.  But they can be somewhat slippery to hold onto.

A recent survey says 25% of them plan on switching jobs in the next year and 75% by 2020.  This translates into their volunteerism as well.

This is a red flag because great children's ministries are built by volunteers who are committed long-term.  A children's ministry that is getting the job done is comprised of new volunteers and veteran volunteers.  So...if you want your children's ministry to bear fruit long term...it's vital that you keep your Millennial volunteers.

Here are the 3 big factors that will keep them engaged for the long haul.

#1 - Purpose 
87% of Millennials believe the success of an organization should be measured by purpose.  Studies show that if there is a purpose gap, which is the difference between the purpose Millennials want from your organization and what it offers them, they will go searching for purpose somewhere else.

Millennials want to know they are making a difference.  Constantly remind them of the purpose and how what they are doing ties into it.  Share with them the stories of how they are making a difference in kids' and families' lives.

#2 - Leadership Development
Another big reason why Millennials leave is because they don't see enough opportunities for leadership development.  If you want to keep them...you must invest in them....empower them...and release them to lead ministry.

The great news is this...they're interested in more than just clocking in...putting in their time...and going home.  They want to grow and lead.  Are you ready to invest in them?

#3 - Relationships
When it comes to this, Millennials are like previous generations, they want to serve in community.  Relationship is the super glue that will keep them.  Make sure you create a family culture.  Volunteer teams that play together and hang out together...stay together.

Purpose...leadership development...relationships...focus on these three things and you'll see your Millennials stick around and become pillars in your 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.

In a recent article, we shared that only 20% of parents are actually engaged in their child's spiritual growth.  This is based on the assumption that it parallels parent's involvement in their child's academic growth at school.

Here are the percentages of engaged parents.

• 20% engaged
• 57% indifferent
• 23% disengaged 

Let's look at 5 more keys to engaging parents in their child's spiritual growth and seeing the 20% increase in your ministry.  These are based on another study that asked parents what would motivate them to get more involved.

Key #1 - Leadership
Parents are looking for leaders who are in touch with the needs of their family and can provide them with helpful pathways and resources.  How can you find out what those needs are?  Ask them.  One way to do this is to regularly host a parent focus group.  You can get more information about this here.

Key #2 - Commitment to Teaching God's Word
Parents are seeking churches that are committed to teaching their children God's Word.  They want their children to be challenged to grow spiritually.  When parents see their child is excited about what they learned at church, they're be more likely to engage with them at home.  Think about ways you can more effectively communicate with parents what their child is learning.

Key #3 - Safety and Security
Seems an odd one for this list, doesn't it?  But in an era when 30% of parents worry about their child's safety, parents are focused on this.  Parents are more likely to engage when they feel confident their child is safe and secure in the environment.  Think about ways you can more effectively communicate and demonstrate the safety and security measures you have in place.

Key #4 - Personal Relationships
Parents are looking for a children's ministry where the staff and volunteers know their child individually.  When a child is connected to a caring leader who knows them personally, not only does the child become more engaged, but the parents as well.  Cast vision with your volunteers about this.  Help them see the vital role they play in engaging parents and provide them with pathways to do this.

Key #5 - Communication
Communication must move beyond an occasional email or newsletter.  Parents want meaningful communication.  They are looking for feedback about their child.  Feedback that invites them to become actively involved in the child's spiritual growth.  Think of ways you can provide parents with a "spiritual report card" so-to-speak for their child.
 
Research shows when you do at least 1 of these 5 keys well, 58% of parents become fully engaged.  When you do all 5 well, 84% of parents become fully engaged.  Consider each of these keys, work to improve them in your ministry and you will see an increased percentage of parents engaged in their child's spiritual growth.

Does it feel like your volunteers are in a revolving door?  You can't seem to keep them long-term?

Here's 5 ways to stop the revolving door and keep your volunteers.

1.  Place them in their sweet spot.  Make sure you place volunteers in their "sweet spot."  In other words, place them in roles they are gifted in and passionate about.

When you ask most new volunteers where they want to serve, they will usually say, "Wherever you need me."  But don't place them "where you need them."  Place them where they are gifted and passionate.  And a month later, go back and ask them if they are in their sweet spot.  If they're not, let them try another area.

Don't place people where you need them.  Place people where they need to be."

People who are in their sweet spot will stay long term.  People who are not in their sweet spot will hit the revolving door.

2.  Relationships. 
Relationships are the glue that keep people serving in your ministry.  Create an atmosphere of family.  People who do life together will continue doing ministry together long term.

3.  Time off. 
Give your volunteers breaks.  Create windows of margin that will allow them to be gone.  If you don't allow them to take a vacation occasionally from serving, they will hit the revolving door.

4.  Increased responsibility.
Many times volunteers will get bored in their role after a number of years.  Challenge them to go to the next level in serving.  Give them a fresh challenge or more responsibility.  If you don't, they'll hit the revolving door and go looking for it somewhere else. 

5.  Appreciation.
Take time to regularly show your appreciation.  Honor them.  Thank them.  Tell them.  Your thank you's may be the difference between a person serving for 10 years instead of 1 year.

What are some other tips for keeping out of the revolving door?  
Share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comment section below.

Each summer, we do a two-day retreat for our children's ministry staff.

This is a time of reflection, recharging, relationship building and growth.  It also helps us prepare for the fall ministry season.

This year's staff retreat theme was "Full Things Fill Things."  The focus was on staying filled ourselves so we can pour into the lives of others.

Below are the schedules for the two days if you'd like an inside look at our retreat.  Tomorrow, I will post all the teaching notes from the two days.

Day 1:

• 8:30 am - Breakfast
• 8:45 am - Worship
• 8:50 - 9:15 am - Fill Up with Discipleship (speaker - Dave Simele, campus pastor at our Royal Palm Campus) 
• 9:15 - 9:45 am - Table discussions 
• 9:45 - 10:15 am - Fill Up with Leadership (speaker - Craig Johnson, Director of Ministries at Lakewood Church, Houston)
• 10:15 - 10:45 am - Table discussions
• 10:45 - 11:00 am - Break
• 11:00 - 11:30 am - Fill Up with Parent Partnership      (I led this session)
• 11:30 - 12:00 pm - Table discussions
• 12:00 - 12:30 pm - Fill Up with Mentorship (speaker - Cherie Duffey - Children's Ministry Director at Newspring Church in Anderson, SC)
• 12:30 - 1:30 pm - Lunch break & campus presentations
• 1:30 - 2:00 pm - Table discussions
• 2:00 - 3:00 pm - Games & discussion about how to connect kids to environments
• 3:00 - 3:15 pm - Desert break
• 3:15 - 4:00 pm - Pour Out (I led this session)

Day 2:

• 9:00 - 10:00 am - Devotions and Prayer
• 10:00 - 12:30 pm - Leadership Lids (identifying personal and ministry lids and how to lift them)
• 12:30 - 1:30 pm - Lunch
• 1:30 - 3:30 pm. - Fun Time 
• 3:30 - 4:00 - Desert & closing discussion

What keeps kids coming back to church?  What makes the biggest impact in a kid's life?  What is the key to helping disciple kids?

RELATIONSHIPS.

Building relationships with the kids God has called you to reach is one of the most important things you can do.  Here's 4 easy ways.

1. Say "Hi!" 
This may sound simple, but it's effective.  There are kids who go through an entire service without a single adult speaking to them.

This is especially true for kids who are quiet.  You know...the kid who sits alone or is out on the edge of the group.  Just a friendly "hi" can make a difference.

2. Talk with them.  Talk to kids about their world.  What's their favorite movie?  What did they do this week?  How's school going?  What's their favorite sport's team?  What's going on in their life?  

3. Get involved in their activities.
Rather than standing in the back texting before service,  get involved and play games with kids, do activities with kids, etc.  Don't just watch kids have fun, have fun with them.  When you take an interest in their activities, you'll make a connection with them.

4. Become real.  When you talk with kids and get involved in their lives, you become a real person that they will look up to and care about.  You become not just a "teacher" ...but a friend.  Kids will listen to someone who is their friend.  Kids will participate with someone who is their friend.  Kids will come back to church to see someone who is their friend.

It's not about cool buildings...it's not about big budgets...it's not about great programming...it's not about awesome videos...it's about relationships.

The floor is yours.  What are some other easy ways to build relationships with kids?  Share with us in the comment section below.

The Millennials, born between 1981 and 1997, are the next generation of parents.

As they have children, many of them will walk into the doors of our churches looking for spiritual guidance for themselves and their children.

The big question...how can you keep them connected?

Recent research by Barna says Millennials are looking for 5 key things.  Focus on these and you'll see them connecting to your church.

1. RELATIONSHIPS
Millennials are twice as likely to stay at a church if they have a close personal relationship with someone in the church.  When they do not develop relationships in the church, they drop out.  Studies show 7 out of 10 Millennials who drop out of church did not have a close friendship.

If you want to keep young families connected to your church, be intentional about providing ways for them to get relationally connected with others. 

 2. TEACH CULTURAL DISCERNMENT
Pop culture is a driving force for Millennials.  Bringing their faith in Jesus to problems they encounter in the culture is a powerful motivator for these young parents.

Millennials want their faith to move beyond just Sunday worship.  Studies show that Millennials who stay connected to church have been taught how to effectively navigate the culture.  This does not mean inundating them with overprotective impulses that are driven by fear of the culture.  That approach will turn them off.  Instead, we must help them engage the culture from a Christian perspective.   

3. REVERSE MENTORING
Millennials want to make a difference...now.  From their perspective, institutional church life is too hierarchical.  They are not interested in "earning" their way to the top so much as they want to put their gifts and skills to work now.

Reverse mentoring means giving these young parents opportunities to lead and serve, instead of asking them to "wait" their turn.  An example is in the area of technology, where they can teach older generations.

When Millennials are given opportunities to serve, they are twice as likely to stay connected to church.   

4. VOCATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP
A fourth way churches can deepen their connection with young families is to teach them a theology of vocation or calling.  When Millennials view their gifts and passions as part of God's calling, they are three times more likely to stay connected.

This means helping them see how the Bible applies to their field or career interests.  Many churches only dive into this with young adults who show interest in traditional church-based ministry and in doing so miss the majority of Millennials.  Vocational discipleship is connecting Millennials to the history of Christianity through the unique work God has called them to.

5. CONNECTION WITH JESUS
Millennials who remain active in church are much more likely to say Jesus speaks to them personally in a way that is real and relevant.  They find a sense of authority in the Bible and in their experience with God.

A key is helping Millennials see that their connection with Jesus must be wholly integrated into all areas of their life and not compartmentalized.

Here's some questions to discuss with your team...
How are we helping young families build relationships with each other?  What are some ways we can improve in this area?

Do we teach young families to engage the culture or to hide from the culture?  What are some steps we can take to help them be better equipped to engage the culture?

Are we giving young parents the opportunity to lead and serve?  What are some ways we can do this more effectively? 

Are we helping young parents see their vocation as their ministry?  Are we equipping them to make a  difference for Christ with their job? 

Are young parents encountering God's presence in a real and personal way in our services?  Are we  giving them the tools they need to connect with God during the week? 

Twice a year, our children's ministry staff team goes on a retreat together.  We actually call them "advances" instead of "retreats."  Our goal is to move forward not backwards.

I believe it's important to get away as a team on a regular basis to pause, reflect, deepen your relationships, pray, plan and dream together.

One of our Advances takes place the first of the year.  This Advance focuses on team building, leadership development, spiritual growth, a review of the previous year and goal setting.  It's a great time to gear up for the new year.

The other Advance is held late summer and focuses on team building, leadership development, spiritual growth, campus reports, evaluating everything we do, brainstorming new ideas and planning out the next year's calendar.  It's a great time to gear up for the fall ministry season that's coming.

Here is the agenda for the one that we just went on to kick off 2015. 

• Worship 

• Devotions

• Break

• Ministry overview

• Lunch

• Review of last year

• Goals for 2015

• Leadership training - How to equip, encourage and empower your volunteer team

• Games and team building

• Prayer

We went to a camp our church owns for the retreat.

We love to laugh and have fun.

We stopped by to pray over one of our new campuses on the way home.

I'm always looking for ideas.  Would love to hear about any retreats, planning sessions, team building games or other things you do to grow together as a team.  Share them with us in the comment section below.