Swinging in the New Year!

Is your ministry in need of a pendulum swing this year?

It might, if like many other kids ministers, you’ve made changes in programming in an effort to help families fight over-scheduling issues. Unfortunately, our best intentions may be leading us down a road we didn’t intend to go.

While some programs did and still need to be deleted from your calendar, it’s possible that we’ve removed much of our discipleship in the lives of our kids and their families—things such as Wednesday night Bible studies, mission groups, and Bible memorization.

As this new year begins, evaluate your programming. What are you doing in kids ministry specifically focused on discipleship? While I’m not advocating the return of an overly packed schedule, you may need to take strategic measures to ensure that your kids are growing in their relationship with Christ. That doesn’t mean adding hours and hours back into your week, but it could mean re-thinking what you’re doing.

After noticing a downturn in Sunday morning attendance, some churches are returning to Sunday and Wednesday night activities. Why? Because they discovered that a decrease in Sunday morning attendance also meant a decrease in personal discipleship growth of their members. Is that the right decision for you? Maybe. Maybe not. Every congregation is different. Look at your church and community, determine the needs, and make the necessary changes.

Disciple growth can also be encouraged in simple ways without adding to your church programming, such as providing family and personal devotional guides; offering home Bible studies; presenting Bibles to rising first graders and others who might not have Bibles in their homes, and encouraging Bible memorization.

Whether a pendulum swing for your ministry means new programming on your church campus or encouraging changes at home, make a resolution this year to facilitate discipleship growth in the lives of the kids and families in your church.

Klista Storts serves as an Editorial Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Kids. Before coming to Lifeway, she served as the Weekday and Preschool Specialist at the Tennessee Baptist Convention and as Director of Preschool Ministries at churches in Oklahoma and Tennessee. Klista has a passion for equipping leaders to share the love of Christ and lay foundations for conversion in the lives of kids.