Develop Your Kids Ministry Philosophy!

As I travel across the country talking Kids Ministry, the one thing that occurs to me most is that a lot of folks are out there doing Kids Ministry and just hoping it all comes together.

 

It’s been said that if you don’t know what you stand for, you’ll fall for anything. I\’m seeing folks falling for just about anything. Sad.

 

I’m concerned that many Kids Ministers today don’t really know why they do what they do… and because of that they fall for whatever is cute, whatever is trendy, and whatever the church in the next town is doing.  I’m convinced that every kids ministry needs philosophy… a starting point… a point of reference… a baseline from which to make ministry decisions.

 

Here are a couple things I think you should make sure you consider when developing your philosophy for Kids Ministry.

 

1. Decide what you’re trying to achieve.  Are you the church child care provider? Are you the social director for the kids in your church? Or do you feel called to lay spiritual foundations in the lives of the boys and girls that will hold strong for their lifetime? I think you’ll achieve whatever you decide to achieve. You just need to decide.
2. Develop an intentional plan. Do you just fly by the seat of your pants or is there and intentional plan? What about the Christian education and development of boys and girls in your ministry? What about the development of your leadership? What about the support and training of parents? If you don’t know where you’re going, you probably won’t ever get anywhere! Develop a plan and work the plan.
3. Choose tools that under gird your philosophy. Once you’ve developed your philosophy choose curriculum, camps, training, and other resources that under gird your philosophy. For example: If your kids ministry philosophy encourages strong relationships between teachers and kids and the tools you choose encourage large groups with no teacher/child interaction… you’re not living your philosophy.

 

There’s a lot to be said about cutting edge, latest and greatest, and new and improved… My challenge to you is to make sure you’re achieving the Kingdom results you’re aiming for.  Otherwise, you’re just spinning your wheels.

 

Bottom Line:  Effective Kids Ministry begins with a strong ministry philosophy.

 

Each ministry philosophy will be unique to the church, the situation, and the personalities involved… that’s okay… just take the time to care enough to have a philosophy!