LifeWay

Kids Ministry

Dedicated to helping Kids Ministry leaders in their mission of making disciples

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Vacation Bible School

The Heartbeat Behind VBS: And How to Keep it Thriving!

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Churches across the world have embraced Vacation Bible School as a ministry strategy for over a century. The rich history of VBS points to why many churches continue to put the work and effort into what it takes to swing open the doors and invite an entire community to hear the gospel. Simply put, the opportunity for evangelism is the number one motivating factor and heartbeat behind VBS.

Millions of children participate in VBS every year—and while we only know what churches report—the number of decisions to follow Christ, go into ministry, and pursue a life in missions are staggering:

2.5 million participants enrolled in VBS (2017)
65,000 professions of faith (2017)
835 decisions for vocational ministry (2017)

These statistics alone are evidence of the value and heartbeat behind VBS.

From its beginning, we can see the “why” behind VBS. Some of the first “schools” began for the sole purpose of Bible teaching. Dedicated teachers felt they did not have enough time with children to teach them the Bible only on Sundays, so they created summer programming built on an intensive time in God’s Word.

Some of the earliest daily schedules on record show the school activities as:

Memory Work
Bible Work
Calisthenics
General Assembly
Mission Work
Recess
Stories from Church History

I dare say that VBS has morphed into a more fun and exciting version of this historical schedule, but you can still see the thumbprints and motivation behind the “why.”

Most of us would agree that teaching the Bible is what VBS is all about—including memory verses. We might also agree that VBS should have a missions component. In fact, the most current numbers say that over $7 million was given to mission organizations last year alone. And though “recess” is usually more organized into games and crafts, the idea that kids need to move and have fun is still baked into a typical VBS day. This allows for friendships to develop and strengthen, creating an environment where church community can develop and grow.

Whether in 1919 or 2019, a worthwhile VBS experience requires an “all hands on deck” mentality from the broader church congregation. This starts with the senior pastor and trickles down to the individual members. When everyone throws in their time and gifts to create something with the potential for such a large impact, the Lord will knit hearts together as the body of Christ works together for His glory. This too is the heartbeat behind VBS.

By looking back at the history of VBS while taking the time to evaluate why VBS is worth doing today, it’s important to recognize that the original heartbeat has not changed.

How do we keep it thriving? Keep doing what has stood the test of time:
Share the gospel with kids and families in the community
Teach the Bible in an intentional way
Foster friendships and memories that last a lifetime
Build a stronger church community

Together, let’s acknowledge that from a kingdom perspective, VBS is worth it because the souls of our kids and families are worth it.

Jana Magruder serves as the Director of LifeWay Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of Nothing Less, Kids Ministry that Nourishes, and Life Verse Creative Journal, which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Teaching Kids

Why Singing Makes for Great Classroom Management

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Training volunteers to work with children is a big part of our role in Kids Ministry. It’s important to recognize that not everyone comes equipped to manage a whole room full of preschoolers and children. In fact, often times, folks tell us “no” because they feel intimidated by working with kids in general. As leaders, we must give our volunteers practical tools for managing their groups. There are many tips for engaging kids and keeping their attention, but my personal favorite is singing—yes, singing! Now, hear me when I say—kids do not care if you are a good singer or not, so talent does not matter! Here are three reasons why singing makes for great classroom management.

  1. Singing helps cue kids to listen: You may talk for 90% of your teaching time, but when you start singing—it signals kids to listen for what’s next. For example, as kids arrive, they may be working on an activity page or coloring sheet until you’re ready to officially “start” your time together once most friends have arrived. When that time comes, you begin with a simple song. Once kids hear you do that consistently, they will always know that when you sing—you’ve got something important to say. This also works for clean up time, dismissal, and changing centers or stations.
  2. Singing helps teach truths in a memorable way: If you want kids to remember an important truth or take away from the Bible story and lesson, make it into a little song.  Yes, you can be a songwriter—creating a simple phrase with a simple melody. Sing it—and have your kiddos sing it back to you. They will leave with that song (and truth) in their hearts.
  3. Singing helps YOU stay joyful: Sometimes working with kids can be tiring—or even frustrating and you can risk losing your joy. But, if you keep singing as part of your classroom management—your heart will stay joyful and your kiddos will too. You can’t help but smile a little when you sing, even if it’s when you need to help friends get along, listen to a story, or clean up a mess of blocks. Singing makes everything better!

Encourage your volunteers to add singing to their toolbox for classroom management. Joyful hearts and voices will soon fill the hallways and rooms in your church!

Sing a new song to the Lord; let the whole earth sing to the Lord. Psalm 96:1

Jana Magruder serves as the Director of LifeWay Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of Kids Ministry that Nourishes and Life Verse Creative Journal, which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Vacation Bible School

Invite a Friend to VBS! New Research Shows It Still Works!

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I’m thrilled to share new insights about VBS coming out of a brand new study from LifeWay Research, commissioned by our Kids Ministry team. When we set out to conduct the study, we wanted our researchers to uncover how the general American population remembers VBS growing up and how those memories affect them now in their own parenting journey.

The results were even better than we thought!  Not only do most Americans recall going to VBS—they have positive memories of their experience! You may be thinking, “well, that was then and this is now—VBS has served its purpose, let’s move on.” Hold that thought. It turns out, the positive memories from the majority of Americans who attended VBS growing up translate into them wanting their own children to experience it—now.

Kidmin leaders and VBS directors should be encouraged that 69% of American parents say they would let their child attend VBS with a friend if invited—this includes parents who do not go to church. The tried and true strategy of “invite a friend to VBS!” still works. How can we equip our church family to invite friends to VBS? Here are three ideas:

  1. Give them tools: Think beyond the “flyer”. Today, families need tools such as share squares for social media and emails ready to go to invite multiple friends. Create an Evite or invitation to share with teams, classes, and individuals.
  2. Encourage inclusiveness: Kids should invite their friends—but think of kids who may not get an invitation to do something fun this summer. VBS could be a perfect chance to connect with kids who need a friend and need to hear the gospel.
  3. Make it Easy for them: Provide easy ways to register multiple friends. Think through easy drop-off and pick-up options for parents and always make new families who may be picking up their children feel welcome. You want them to leave with warm fuzzy feelings.

The LifeWay Kids team will be sharing more about this extensive research in the coming weeks and months. This is only the first sneak peek and the results are looking good, friends.  VBS is truly still worth it!

To see the first round of research, check out this article from Facts and Trends magazine.

Jana Magruder serves as the Director of LifeWay Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of Kids Ministry that Nourishes and Life Verse Creative Journal, which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Vacation Bible School

6 Ideas for Recruiting VBS Volunteers

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Recruiting VBS volunteers is a challenge but the rewards are worth it.

For many churches, Vacation Bible School is one of the most important and exciting times of the year. It’s when many children hear the gospel and commit their lives to Christ. And in most congregations, it takes an army of volunteers.

Recruiting them is no small task. Sometimes it’s a struggle to find enough volunteers to work with children on a normal week—and that’s asking people to help for only an hour or two.

For VBS, volunteers often have to give up a week of their time. VBS usually takes place in the summer, conflicting with vacations and summer activities. And more volunteers are needed—as many as three times the number needed for a regular week.

Despite all those issues, it’s worth doing. It’s worth it for the kids and families who will hear the gospel, and it’s worth it for the church family to serve alongside one another for the greater purpose of kingdom expansion.

Vacation Bible School and other large-scale events can be a great opportunity for an all-hands-on-deck mentality that can strengthen entire congregations, with multiple generations playing a role. Here are some ideas to consider when recruiting, training, and rewarding those who choose to say yes to serving.

COMMUNICATE THE VALUE OF VBS

Begin with the “why.” Tell your church why VBS matters. It’s not about entertaining kids for a week. It’s not about silly songs and games, even though they’re fun.

It’s about creating an intentional time and space for kids of all ages to hear the gospel, learn Scripture, and tell their friends about Jesus. Most pastors agree VBS is the most evangelistic program a church can offer to communities. Churched and unchurched kids get a full week of diving into God’s Word.

Is it a lot of work to put on? Yes. Do we need everyone’s help to accomplish this? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely.

BE ORGANIZED

Create a systematic way for people to sign up to serve. After the vision for VBS has been presented, be ready for what’s next.

Some churches devote multiple Sundays to enlistment, decorating tables with VBS promotional items in heavy foot traffic areas. Friendly faces greet people and ask if they would like to sign up.

Other churches have online sign-ups with emails going out for the call to action. Electronic applications can be used to capture information. Some churches use both methods.

OFFER MULTIPLE WAYS TO SERVE

Many people assume serving in VBS means they have to teach kids. Not everyone feels equipped to teach, and that’s OK. There are many ways to serve in VBS.

Be sure to present all the roles—snack coordinators and servers, set builders and decoration installers, greeters, worship leaders, registration helpers, T-shirt organizers, and the list goes on. Everyone has a way to use their gifts during VBS.

HOST A KICKOFF PARTY

Once you have enlistment complete—or even partially complete—get folks excited by throwing a party. This helps potential and committed volunteers feel more connected to the upcoming event. More specific training can come later for certain groups, like those who will teach.

Get creative and serve the snacks that will be served during VBS, decorate with theme-related décor, play some of the games, and engage with the crafts. Most importantly, talk about the Bible content and how exciting it is to share this with the kids who will come to VBS.

Close by praying for the week, asking God to work in the hearts of those who attend, and to do great things in the life of your church.

SERVE THOSE WHO ARE SERVING

Let potential volunteers know they will be cared for: create a hospitality team with the task of serving VBS volunteers. Encourage this team to provide food, daily notes of encouragement and, if possible, a space to take quick breaks during the event.

This strategy allows another group of people to use their gifts while helping those who are working feel blessed and refreshed.

SHOW APPRECIATION

When VBS is over, the most important way to thank your volunteers is to celebrate what God has done.

After the last bit of glue has been scrubbed from tables and the worship pastor finally has the stage free from extra props and scenery, don’t forget to give thanks for the gospel being displayed and shared, for God’s name being made known, and for the work He accomplished in the lives of those who served.

Once volunteers see what happens when everyone rolls up their sleeves and serves alongside one another for the gospel to be shared, this joy can overflow into the next season of recruitment.

Jana Magruder serves as the Director of LifeWay Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of Kids Ministry that Nourishes and Life Verse Creative Journal, which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.

Discipleship, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Parenting

Do Your Kids Love God’s Word?

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Ah, February—the month of love and romance, chocolate and roses, and yes—the obligatory Valentines Day (or so our minds have been programmed to think of the greeting card business.) Kids spend time carefully crafting heart and doily-decorated shoe boxes with mail slots to receive dollar store cards with superheroes or princesses from friends and classmates. Couples feel the pressure to honor the day with at least a cheesy card or maybe ordering a cheesy heart-shaped pizza. While all of these things are fine and can be fun traditions, I wonder if we could displace some of the energy spent on the theme of love—to actually loving God’s Word even more.

Recently, the LifeWay Kids team commissioned the Nothing Less* study conducted by the LifeWay Research team to find out what makes the biggest spiritual impact on kids as they are growing up. In other words, what can parents do now with their children that will make the biggest difference in their spiritual health as they become adults? The findings were simple, yet profound. The number one thing parents can do (by far) is to help their kids love their Bible. It should be no surprise that reading God’s Word is the biggest indicator of spiritual health in adulthood. After all, only Jesus transforms hearts and He does it through His Word.  However, many parents (myself included), have a tendency to chase the wrong things that don’t even make the list of indicators for spiritual health in kids as they age into adults. Let’s use Valentine’s Day as an example.

As a mom, I have volunteered for countless class parties, baked cookies and cupcakes, bought cards, and yes, helped create the aforementioned mailboxes. Our family has participated in Daddy-daughter dances and Mother-son dates, made homemade crafts for teachers, and spent money on flowers for grandma. While nothing is particularly wrong with any of these activities, none of them points to making time for Bible reading.

So, this February, I’m declaring a “love your Bible” emphasis at the Magruder home. Yes, we will still make class valentines. But, more importantly, we will make time to read the Bible more. Ultimately, I want my kids to fall in love with God’s Word and know that the Bible is His love letter to them. The heart behind it all is to rearrange priorities to what really matters instead of chasing all the other things first. I am looking forward to walking through the Gospel of John and having great discussions about how much God loves us. Maybe we’ll have some heart-shaped cookies and cocoa while we read and then maybe we’ll call grandma to tell her what we learned (she actually prefers phone calls over flowers). Maybe you too can adopt the “love your Bible” emphasis in your home and ministry this February—and beyond.

Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me.  John 14:23-24 (CSB)

* The book Nothing Less by Jana Magruder is available at Lifeway.com or a LifeWay store near you.

Jana Magruder serves as the Director of LifeWay Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of Kids Ministry that Nourishes and Life Verse Creative Journal, which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.

Bible Skills, Bible Study, Bibles, Kids Ministry, Leadership

Top Indicators of Spiritual Health in Kids (Part One)

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The “Nothing Less” Research was conducted to answer the question: “What can parents do now to affect their children’s spiritual health when they become adults?” In partnership with LifeWay Research, I set out to find the answer to this question. Secretly, I was hoping for a ‘magical’ formula that I as a mom could mix up and produce, making sure my kids would be faithful servants of Christ as adults. What the research discovered was something more profound, yet very simple.

By far the number one thing we as parents can do is to incorporate Bible reading often. Statistically, this was way far above and beyond the other indicators (we will discuss those in parts 2 and 3). Bible reading may sound like the obvious church answer, but if it’s so clear—why aren’t we doing more of it?

Statistically, we know that Americans on average own seven Bibles—but rarely open them. The numbers don’t change much even when you segment evangelicals. It’s no wonder we have a biblical literacy crisis in the church today. Therefore, we cannot ignore this new study that tells us reading the Bible is the number one thing kids can do to grow up spiritually healthy. The question is, what can we as adults (parents and church leaders) do to encourage them to love God’s word? Here are three ideas I discuss in the book, Nothing Less that unveils the research.

  1. Choose an age-appropriate Bible: There are many choices of translations, designs, and covers for families to choose from. It’s important to find one that fits the child’s life stage. For example, a toddler and preschooler may enjoy being read to from a storybook Bible with colorful pictures and easy language that communicates the biblical truth. An older child may enjoy something they can write in or that has devotionals inside that help them understand what they are reading.
  2. Use a Bible Reading Plan: Find something that works for your child and your family. Stick to succinct passages that kids can read in 10-15 minutes. This will lead to creating a consistent habit.
  3. Commit to Just Do It: I recommend making the commitment along with your child so that you can both get in the habit. Just recently, I started Bible and Tea with my kids in the evening before bed. We sip on chamomile tea and read from the Bible. Sometimes we take turns reading aloud and sometimes we read quietly. It’s working now, but I suspect that will change—and that’s ok. The most important thing is just to keep at it.

I am on this journey as a mom and as a leader in Kids Ministry. Join me and let’s dig in together because only God’s word transforms hearts! Nothing Less!

Find Nothing Less at Lifeway.com

Jana Magruder serves as the Director of LifeWay Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of Kids Ministry that Nourishes and Life Verse Creative Journal, which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Teacher Appreciation, Volunteers

How to Foster Community with your Volunteers (so they stick around)

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I always tell people my favorite part of my job is the chance to listen and talk with KidMin leaders across the country and world. Our team at LifeWay Kids has our ear to the ground with church leaders either on the phone, in the field, or online—engaging in thousands of catalytic conversations from leaders in all kinds of churches—small, big, mega, rural, urban, multiple denominations and non-denominations. One thing is consistent without fail;  the number one pain point of children and preschool leaders is volunteer recruitment and retention.

We spend lots of energy blogging, podcasting, conferencing, book-writing, and so forth talking about this dynamic which is particularly important to kids ministry. Sure, other ministries need volunteers—but not at the same rate and volume as kids ministry. Am I right? So, out of all the strategies and tactics of volunteer recruitment and retention, I want to hone in on one that I believe is often overlooked: the importance of fostering community within the volunteers that serve with you.

Think about it. When you make the big ask for someone to serve in children’s ministry you are more than likely asking them to give up an hour where they would be in community with adults. In fact, this is one of the main reasons adults resist serving in children’s ministry. They don’t want to give up a small group or Sunday School class with their adult peers. So, how can we as KidMin leaders change that perception?

One of your primary roles as a Children’s ministry leader is to develop adults. I know most of us got into kids ministry because we love kids; but when you truly survey your role—who do you mostly work with? Adults. Therefore, it is our role to pour into them, develop them, and foster community with their fellow volunteers. More times than not, when we develop community with our leaders, they will stay with us longer. Here are some ideas for how to do just that:

  1. Pray together: It seems obvious, but I’ve talked to countless leaders who don’t meet regularly to pray for each other and the children they are teaching. Carve out time to do this either before or after class or during another environment (such as Wednesday night Bible study).
  2. Break bread together: Find a regular time such as a monthly lunch to eat and fellowship together. It’s essential to have time to get to know one another, share about families, jobs, hobbies, and talk about how the Lord is moving in each of their lives.
  3. Bear one another’s burdens: The more prayer and community time your volunteers have together with each other and with you, the more they will begin sharing prayer needs in their own lives.
  4. Encourage each other: Be sure your volunteers have contact information for everyone serving and begin to model how to text and call to check on one another. It may be a verse to share, a prayer need lifted up, or a call to action to help someone in need.
  5. Feed your people: We already discussed breaking bread with meal, but even more importantly, feed your people with the Word. Take time to share Scripture—even studying the lesson being taught to kids each week. If time is prohibitive to do this, an online, private Facebook community could be a great avenue to share God’s word (as well as other vital communication such as announcements, etc.)

As you can see, fostering community with your volunteers can be a key factor for retention. You want them to become friends and go deeper as brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.  It’s scriptural and you won’t regret the time it takes to invest in them. Before you know it, your ministry will have a waiting line! For His glory!

“Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

Jana Magruder serves as the Director of LifeWay Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of Kids Ministry that Nourishes and Life Verse Creative Journal, which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.

Family, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Ministry, Parenting

Motherhood and Ministry:  How to honor both callings

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If you are a mom who happens to also be in full or part-time ministry, then you know the tug-of-war that happens on your time, energy, and even your heart. There are so many women in ministry today—and particularly in children’s ministry. Because of this, I felt it was timely to address the dynamic of doing mothering and ministering well and in conjunction with God’s plan. Here are three things to remember about motherhood and ministry:

  1. Know that you are called to both. Chances are, if you have been in ministry for any number of years, then you have truly been called. If you aren’t truly called, sadly, you will not last long. Ministry is a calling and when we remember that God Himself called us, then we can rest knowing that He does not call us without equipping us. Hebrews 13:21 says that He will “equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.” Though there will be times when we do not feel equipped, we can hold true to the promise that He will provide what we need to accomplish His will.
    If you have children of your own, then you know that you are called to motherhood. This is an instinctive passion that drives almost everything we do—generally speaking. We wake our kids up, fix a meal, pack a lunch, dress them, drive them to school, check their homework, enroll them in lessons and leagues, and tuck them in at night. Of course, this list is much longer. Let’s not forget that we also discipline them, teach them, and most importantly—disciple them. We cling to the verses in Deuteronomy as a daily reminder: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:5-6
  2. Be warned that the enemy tries to lie to you in both ears. You probably recognize some of these whispers: “Why are you spending all this time with other people’s kids and not your own?”  “You should be doing more at work instead of spending time with your kids.” Sound familiar? Remember, “your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour”  (1 Peter 5:8).  He would love to steal any kind of joy you have in ministry—and motherhood. Resist the temptation to listen to the lies and instead, be fully present and open to the gifts that both roles offer.
  3. Seek to find synergy in the two roles. If your kids are actually part of the ministry you lead, let them help lead songs, help you plan fun events, or prepare activity supplies. If your kids are teens, give them more responsibility such as helping you with AV equipment, leading worship, and co-teaching with other leaders.  Serving together may be the biggest benefit of being a mom in ministry.

Jana Magruder serves as the Director of LifeWay Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of Kids Ministry that Nourishes and Life Verse Creative Journal, which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.

Family, Kids Ministry, Parent Helps, Parenting

3 Ways to Re-engage Families in the Back to School Season

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Nobody loves summer like the Magruder clan! My kiddos cherish the freedom of unscheduled days, the silence of the alarm clock, and playing outside with the fireflies. My husband and I love grilling burgers, serving up guilt-free ice cream (those calories don’t count in the summer, right?), and piling up on the couch for family movie nights. We all love it—until we don’t. All good things must come to an end, so they say, and that includes summer. At some point, we crave the structure, routine, and a regular bedtime; so, in God’s perfect timing—summer usually comes to an end at just the right time. With the inevitability of the first day of school comes the desire to re-engage in church. Vacations are over, grandma has gone home, and families are ready to find a normal rhythm of church attendance once again. For us as ministry leaders, we would be wise to harness this energy and be ready to re-engage families in this fresh “new year” season. Here are three easy ways to do just that:

  1. Host a party: If you know me, you know I love a good reason to have a party. Promotion Sunday or back-to school time is an awesome reason to celebrate! Cater some BBQ or pick up some giant subs to slice-up and invite everyone to stay after church. As you welcome parents and caregivers, be sure to tell them how excited you are to serve them in the coming year and assure them that your ministry is there to partner with them and pray for them during their new school year.
  2. Invite parents to serve: You may already have your slots filled for teaching, but you can always use substitutes and other jobs that are quick ways to make “the ask” during this new season of energy!! This could be the perfect time to identify new people who have never served in your ministry before. Don’t be afraid to make the one-on-one ask (hint: you could ask at the party—dessert table chatter!)
  3. Provide a fresh resource: You might consider giving a new family devotional or a special devotional for boys or girls. It may not be January 1, but the start of school is similar to New Years. Families may be more willing to try some intentional time together at home—perhaps for the first time!

Here’s to fresh pencils, brand new boxes of crayons, a first day of school outfit and photo—and to a brand new start at church. Our team is praying for you as you seek to engage families in your ministry for the gospel!

Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.  Isaiah 43:19

Jana Magruder serves as the Director of LifeWay Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of Kids Ministry that Nourishes and Life Verse Creative Journal, which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.

Bible Study, Bibles, Kids Ministry, Leadership

Nothing Less than the Whole Bible

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Biblical literacy in adults today is anemic at best. We know that on average, American adults own a total of seven Bibles, but rarely read them. Statistics tell us that only 25% of church-going adults read their Bible regularly. And of those who do choose to read the Bible, many Christians never even read eight or more books (I’ll let you guess which represents the current generation). What does this mean for the kids we are bringing up in the faith?

A recent study published in Transformational Discipleship found that the #1 indicator of spiritual growth in the life of a believer is Bible reading. Not surprisingly, a recent study found that the #1 predictor of a child’s spiritual condition as an adult is directly related to how much they read the Bible. As kids ministers who reach a broad range of children and their families, we need to ask ourselves, “Are we prioritizing the Bible in our ministry?”

A.W. Tozer once said, “Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.” If this is true, many of us are living the Christian life without the fullness of the complete Word of God. There are 66 books in the Bible, yet most adults gravitate to only a handful. If we truly believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, then we must prioritize reading all of the Scripture. This hold true for the children we lead as well.

Why do we hold back from teaching kids certain books of the Bible? Some of us feel ill-equipped to teach about them because we’ve spent such little time reading and understanding them Or, we feel like a certain book may not be appropriate for a child—whether it’s too difficult to understand, doesn’t apply to them, is too gory or graphic, or even contains sensuous material (hello Song of Songs!). One can certainly argue there is a timeline for when certain stories and Scriptures are revealed to children of young ages. However, it would be a mistake to withhold part of God’s Word because of our own comfort level.

So then, what shall we do?

  1. Commit to spending time in books of the Bible that we may not normally read. We should ask God to teach us more about Him as we read and study, and request for Him to reveal something special that we can present to kids in an age-appropriate way.
  2. Consider finding a plan that will help us teach all of Scripture. Review curriculum that has been developed through research that provides age-appropriate lessons for children to learn the whole Bible.
  3. Pray that children and families would fall in love with God’s Word. After all, the Bible is His love letter to all of us.
At LifeWay Kids we want everyone to fall in love with the Bible.  This truth convicted us to dedicate time and space at our 2017 ETCH Family Ministry Conference to unpack what it means to not just say the Bible is important, but unpack how this truth transforms your leadership and your ministry. Our 2017 ETCH theme is “Nothing Less”. Throughout the event, we will unpack and help put context to A.W. Tozer’s quote. We will help you apply it to your ministry, your leadership, and your team. At the end of the day, our desire is to do everything we can to equip you to serve and equip parents of the kids in your ministry. For more info on ETCH speakers, breakouts, and more, visit ETCHConference.com.
Kids will not be fully nourished without development in biblical literacy. As they take on the sword of the Spirit, they will be ready to expand the Kingdom as salt and light in a culture of darkness. Give them His Word in its entirety—as it was meant to be—and watch how the fruit of the Spirit will surely develop inside of them at every age. Let’s change the trajectory of biblical literacy from anemic to fully nourished. For His glory!

Jana Magruder serves as the Director of LifeWay Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of Kids Ministry that Nourishes and Life Verse Creative Journal, which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.

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