Leadership

May 11, 2020

Lessons Learned Through Enlisting Volunteers

It seems no matter the size of the church, the greatest challenge for kids ministry leaders is enlisting volunteers. Many times, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by “filling a slot” rather than recruiting individuals to serve the Lord through teaching. In my years of enlisting teachers in kids ministry, I learned the following valuable lessons.

1. Pray and Listen. Prayer is imperative before, during, and after the enlistment process. Pray, believing God will give you the names of people to ask. Pray in confidence. Pray you would see people the way God sees them. Look to see their potential. Be open for what He wants to teach you through this process.

2. Know the Vision. Before we can ask others to pray about teaching in kids ministry, we must know and understand our vision. Why do you believe kids ministry is important? How does it make a difference in the church? Why would someone want to join our teaching team? What is our desired goal for our leaders, the kids, and ministry? Spend time developing or reviewing your vision for ministry. We have to know and understand our vision before we can communicate it effectively.

3. Communicate and Ask. People need to know the why (the vision) before they can understand and say yes to the what (teaching in kids ministry). As God brings individuals to mind, reach out to them to schedule a time to visit in person. Ask individually rather than continuous churchwide blanket announcements. The constant announcements for teachers implies no one wants to serve in kids ministry. Share stories of how God is using teachers to minister to families. Share the joy and excitement for teaching. Make sure to communicate the expectations for teachers. Ask the potential teacher to pray about a specific teaching opportunity in a particular class.

4. Accept Their Answer. After the prospective teacher has prayed about teaching, follow up with her. It’s unrealistic to believe God will call every person you ask to teach in kids ministry. When someone says, “no” to serving, don’t take it personally. You may consider asking if she would be a substitute teacher or interested in another role in kids ministry. If the answer is “yes,” make sure to equip them with knowledge, training, and resources as they begin teaching. Also, follow your church’s policies and procedures for volunteers in kids ministry.

The enlistment of teachers is continual. When I implemented the above strategies, I found recruiting teachers less of a chore and more of an opportunity to see God develop His call in others’ lives. Trust the Lord. He knows what we need and He is faithful to provide who we need.

Kids Ministry, Leadership

April 27, 2020

6 Considerations for Reopening your Kids Ministry

By Kids Ministry 101

Churches are beginning to discuss their plans to resume corporate worship, small group Bible studies and children’s ministries. After several weeks of isolation and distance ministry, the question has shifted suddenly from when we will get back together, to how we will get back together. How and when may look quite different from state to state, city to city, and church to church. Your plan to reconvene needs to take into consideration the official federal, state, and local guidelines for gathering in your area.

Download the free eBook and poster set here.

The implementation of these guidelines within kids ministry may be more specific and detailed than in other ministry areas. So where and when do you start? Begin by praying and gathering information to inform your own action plan for moving forward. We at LifeWay Kids have identified 6 key areas for kids ministry leaders to consider when making their plans for returning to church.

Ministry Strategy — Think through how your overall approach to kids ministry fits into the overall plan of your church. Your church’s plan will influence the reopening of your kids programming. Think through the group sizes, meeting spaces, and social distancing practices that will be necessary in each of the reopening phases outlined in your local governing guidelines. For example, we may first be able to gather in smaller groups of 10, then 50, before we are able to meet without restriction. This will have a direct impact on how we relaunch our in-person kids programs. Realistically, your children’s ministry may lag behind adult gatherings. In the meantime, churches will need to decide how to continue to minister to those who choose to keep worshipping virtually as well as those who return in person. Examining your strategy for ministry will help focus your efforts and resources.
Learning Environments — Many aspects of your learning environments will be impacted. Finding ways to maintain personal space during kids gatherings, and elevated cleanliness practices will be essential. You may need to have different plans for preschoolers than you do for older kids. You might initially need to limit the maximum number of children in each room, which could include asking families to pre-register their children each week to reserve their spaces. Reevaluate the size and layout of physical ministry spaces to determine how many children can be accommodated. The teacher/child ratio could potentially be altered as well. Assess the use of classroom tools to help manage kids’ behavior due to anxiety and stress, maximize space, and utilize supplies.
Teaching Resources — Teaching the Bible to boys and girls is a priority; however, your curriculum needs may change. The size of classes (including children’s worship), number of classes, and number of teachers could be smaller at first, but, as your community progresses through the phases of reopening, your group sizes will continue to grow, and may change very quickly. It is important to make a resource plan for the largest group you anticipate before the end of the quarter, even if it takes a while to reach that larger group size. Take these factors into consideration when ordering curriculum. Additional factors include the age of children in the classes and whether your church uses print or digital curriculum. It may be important to continue to provide your own videos and other downloadable digital resources for families who continue to worship virtually.
Policies and Procedures — Now is the time to review and update your policies and procedures. Some of your current policies and procedures will need to be elevated, others may need to be added, updated, or eliminated. Read through your current handbook and look for items that may need to be updated in light of new COVID-19 protocols. Make a list of new concerns around cleanliness and meeting spaces, and consider how you might incorporate them as revisions. Be sure to evaluate and address best practices around hygiene, wellness, and cleanliness. Also consider the number of classrooms that you might open at specific times and the arrangement of classroom spaces. It is wise to not do this in isolation. Consult with your church’s legal advisors and insurance providers so they can review your current and updated policies in light of new operational considerations.
Volunteers and Leaders — Volunteers are essential to kids ministry. Start thinking now about how your team may look different when you return. Don’t assume that all of your volunteers will be able to continue to serve. Some leaders may be hesitant to serve due to health concerns. You will likely need to recruit and onboard additional volunteers. Now is a good time to start having conversations with your current team to ascertain who may or may not be back. Use this time of preparation to communicate and minister to teachers. Begin casting new vision now so you can formulate an action plan before you meet again. You can find excellent kids ministry training resources online at ministrygrid.com.
Effective Communication — Clear and consistent communication will be an important part of the process of coming back together again. You will need to communicate with families and volunteers to let them know what to expect the first Sunday they return. Share the comprehensive plan and updated guidelines for engagement. Include key church leaders to ensure they are informed. Set predictable cadences and methods of communication so that everyone knows where and when to look for official updates and information. This may include updating or establishing your kids ministry communication lines through your church website, Facebook group, newsletter, email and/or text updates. Effective communication will make the transition as smooth as possible.

Kids, families, and volunteers will be excited to get back together soon. They will all be looking to church leadership for a reentry plan that is safe and sound. Now is the time to prayerfully design your plans around the key areas of strategy, environments, resources, policies, volunteers and communication. Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and strength to meet the new and emerging challenges of ministry in this unprecedented time, and know that in the coming days, the LifeWay Kids team will provide tangible tools to help you navigate this unique time.

Click here to download the free eBook and poster set here.

Encouragement, Leadership

April 22, 2020

HOW ARE YOU? I MEAN, REALLY?

By Klista Storts

I know you.

You’re anxious.

You’re worried.

But not for yourself. You’re concerned instead for everyone around you—your family, your volunteers, kids in your ministry, the world.

I’m sure you’ve heard the advice from flight attendants saying in case of loss of oxygen to put on your own mask before helping those nearby—even your own kids. I’ve often wondered if I could do that. (Praying I never have to find out!) But it makes sense. If you’re gasping for air, you can’t help anyone. Even if you want to.

Many times, those who serve in ministry feel neglectful and even guilty when taking time to care for themselves. But if your goal is to be like Jesus, and I’m pretty sure it is, you need to model even your selfcare after Him.

Jesus took time to be with those closest to Him. To rest. To talk with the Father. Yes, He was Emmanuel, God with us, but He was also human. Jesus knew if He was going to carry out what His Father had planned, He needed rest. Time away. Encouragement from His Father.

These past few weeks have been hard. No doubt that the ministry side of you kicked in and kicked in big time. You’ve been searching for ways to carry on your ministry. In fact, you’re most likely consumed with it.

Stop. At least for a bit. Even if it’s just a few minutes each day. Stop.

Consider choosing one or more of these ways to care for yourself so that you can be at your best to care for others.

· Sleep late!

· Exercise

· Read (for fun and inspiration – not work!)

· Allow others to minister to you

· Seek time with the Father

That last point. Look at it again. Especially the first word—Seek. Even with all the time in the world available right now, if you’re not intentional about seeking God, it won’t happen. Listed below are very few of the many, many verses given to us for “such a time as this.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Mark 6:31-32

Mark 1:35

1 Peter 3:4

Philippians 4:6-8

John 15:4 (My version of this is: “Apart from Him I’m just a stick.)

I’m sure you have your favorites, and I’d love to read them. Please share! We’re all in this together. Take care of yourselves, my friends. We need you!

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Volunteers

March 11, 2020

6 Ways to Set Expectations for Volunteers

By Chuck Peters

We bring our expectations with us into every situation. The primary factor in feeling successful and satisfied is how well our expectations and our situations match up.

When our expectations are met or exceeded, we’re happy and satisfied. The best way to set ourselves, and everyone around us, up for success is to clarify and communicate what is expected.

When expectations are not identified or articulated, stress and struggles ensue.

When it comes to recruiting and leading our volunteers we need to take the initiative in setting clear expectations right out of the gate, and in reinforcing them often.

Whether you’re recruiting short-term helpers for camp or VBS or investing in long-term teachers who lead recurring groups and classes, here are six expectations that are worth considering for the kids ministry volunteers you lead.

1. ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT

Every volunteer is expected to actively engage with children.

Some may think that their mere presence in the room is enough and that it’s okay to passively pass out papers and make sure the kids don’t hurt one another.

Others may be inclined to scroll through their phones while their teaching partner carries the bulk of the load.

We need to clarify that all helpers are expected to actively engage with kids during ministry times. Our spaces are No Phone Zones, and our leaders are present for the purpose of participation.

2. ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPATION

Speaking of participation, another expectation is that everyone on our team participates with a proper attitude of enthusiasm.

Kids are drawn to enthusiastic leaders, and enthusiasm is contagious. When our leaders refuse to play the games, learn the verses, sing the songs or do the hand motions, kids won’t want to do them either.

Attitude is everything. Set the expectation that your leaders not only participate, but that they do so with energy and enthusiasm.

3. RELATIONAL CONNECTION

Teaching can be done via video or from a stage or a printed page, but discipleship can only happen in the context of a relationship.

Set the expectation that your leaders invest in learning kids’ names, knowing their family situations and listening to their prayer concerns.

There’s more to kids ministry than facilitating a lesson; we need our leaders to build relationships with the kids in their groups and take an active interest in their lives.

Years from now, kids may not remember much of what we taught, but they’ll absolutely remember those who cared about them.

4. CATALYTIC CONVERSATION

Catalytic conversations are intentional interactions that happen apart from a lesson. This may mean answering questions that kids ask or listening to their concerns.

Kids often ask profound and thoughtful questions seemingly out of nowhere.

We need our leaders to always be ready to engage in these kinds of discussions with kids. They don’t have to be able to answer every theological puzzler that a kid might throw at them.

But we can always seek out answers to tough questions and get back to them later, but we do need our leaders to look for these opportunities to engage in one-on-one conversation.

5. SUPPORTIVE SUPERVISION

Clarify the expectation that all of your adult leaders and volunteers need to be authority figures during ministry times.

As the main leader, you cannot police every child and monitor every situation on your own. Your adult leaders need to be supporters and co-enforcers of the rules you have instituted for kids in regard to behavior and participation.

That means not undermining your authority but encouraging kids to respect whatever guidelines you’ve put into place.

6. PRAYERFUL PREPARATION

People care for what there’s prayer for. Though that sentence is not grammatically correct, it is absolutely accurate.

Encourage your leaders to pray for their ministry times before they arrive, committing their lessons and sessions to God and asking Him to speak to guide thoughts, words and attitudes for His glory.

Ask your leaders to pray with, for and over the kids in their groups every week. Part of our ministry needs to be lifting our kids before The Lord.

Another part should be modeling prayer for children to see. Prayer-filled people are care-filled people. Set an expectation of prayerful preparation for your leaders.

Expectations that are not identified, clarified, and articulated cannot be met. Lead your volunteers well by setting and communicating clear expectations for them to pursue.

CHUCK PETERS is director of operations for LifeWay Kids. He is a graduate of Columbia Bible College. A creative person by nature, Chuck’s unique combination of leadership experience in media production, business, and ministry has caused him to become an unexpected fan of leadership, strategy, data, and analysis in ministry. He lives outside Nashville with his wife and four kids.

Kids Ministry, Leadership

March 2, 2020

5 Ways to Expand Your Kidmin Influence

By Landry Holmes

Leadership is not about being the boss. Take that approach with kidmin volunteers, and you’ll be miserable (as will those you are attempting to lead). Instead, think of leadership as service and influence. Isn’t this the type of leadership Jesus modeled. In fact, here are five aspects of leadership we can learn from Jesus:

Invest in team members. Pretending that we are the only ones who can accomplish most kidmin tasks is rooted in the temptation to justify our leadership existence by what we do. That’s not what Jesus did. In fact Jesus heavily invested Himself in 12 men, spending most of His time with them during His brief earthly ministry. Jesus taught them, ate with them, prayed with and for them, cried with them, rebuked them, partied with them, and dragged them to His speaking engagements. Jesus’ disciples learned how to lead by living with the ultimate servant leader, Jesus. The result was the spread of Christianity throughout the world.
Involve team members in decision-making. Leadership 101 emphasizes the importance of pushing decision-making to those who will end up being affected the most by those decisions, or who will be the primary implementers of the decisions. Ultimately you are accountable for making many final decisions; however, if you want others to own your kidmin vision, then make some decisions collectively. Also, unlike Jesus, you are not perfect and therefore someone else might have a better idea than you.
Allow team members to make some decisions on their own. Again, this is basic leadership. If volunteers are always waiting on you to make every decision, you become a ministry bottleneck and your influence may stall. On the other hand, if you do a good job of investing in team members and involving them in decision-making, volunteers will know how to make decisions in ways that expand your ministry influence.
Be strategically intentional with your own time and energy. Remember you can’t do everything and you can’t be everywhere, so stop acting as if you are omnipotent and omnipresent. God created you to need rest. Even Jesus rested. He didn’t heal everyone who was sick, and He didn’t feed everyone who was hungry. Jesus’ ministry lasted only three years, and He had to say, “No,” sometimes. You may need to do the same in order to preserve your time and energy for opportunities that expand your ministry influence.
Say, “Yes,” to team members as often as possible. Want to breathe life into your volunteers? Then, make saying, “No,” the exception. This is different from saying, “No,” to requests that zap your own energy for the sake of feeding your ego. Sometimes I fear that we may have too many rules and regulations in our churches that keep volunteers from carrying out the mission God has given them. We do need policies for the protection of children and volunteers, but don’t let rules stifle the ministry passion of volunteers.

Our primary role as kidmin leaders is to serve and influence others for the sake of God’s kingdom. After all, kids ministry is not about us. It’s about Jesus and His bride, the Church.

Landry Holmes is the Manager of LifeWay Kids Ministry Publishing. A graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Landry served on church staffs before joining LifeWay Kids. He is a church leader, writer, workshop facilitator, and publisher. Landry also teaches children at his church in Middle Tennessee. He and his wife Janetta are the parents of two adult sons and two daughters-in-law, and the grandparents of four adorable grandchildren.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Recruiting

February 17, 2020

What About Marketing?

By Chuck Peters

Some people have a hard time reconciling the concepts of ‘ministry’ and ‘marketing.’ At surface level the notion of marketing may bring about thoughts of selling or commercializing something. In reality, marketing might be better thought of as the communication of information about a product, event, or service that is of interest to a specific audience (or market) who has a need or desire to find the promoted item(s).

In the church world, marketing looks a lot more like an invitation, or series of invitations, to the gatherings that we host rather than a commercial for something that we sell. Some of these gatherings may be special events that only happen occasionally and have very large guest lists, but others may be smaller weekly gatherings for much smaller groups of people. In either case, the right people need to know the who, what, where, when, why, and how of each gathering so they are able to decide if they can or will attend, and who else they may wish to bring with them.

While marketing is an area of study that one could spend a lifetime learning and perfecting, here are a few foundational concepts to consider as you set out to market your ministry more effectively.

1. Demographics, Audience Awareness, and Segmentation: Know who you are trying to reach.

One of the most important things to do at the onset of any messaging campaign is identify who you are trying to reach. Professional marketers know that it is important to know who you are talking to, and that the wording, imagery, and means of communication you choose to use must all be tailored to appeal to the persons they are trying to reach. An advertisement for an event for young men age 18-24 will use different pictures, words, colors and fonts than an event for ladies age 55 and older. You may find that there are several sub-audiences or segments of an audience who merit distinct communication. For instance, it may be most effective to create multiple versions of an announcement for a church-wide family festival. One version may target young parents within the church who are regular attenders, another version may target recent visitors and newcomers to the church, and a third may address the general population of the church who are not young families. While the invitations may look similar in design, the specific messaging and call to action may change from, “bring your kids to fellowship with their friends,” to “we’d like to get to know you better,” to “come connect with young families in our church and community.” Adjusting your message to multiple unique audiences makes your marketing more personal and appealing.

2. Impressions and Response Rates: Know what response to anticipate.

The goal of any marketing action is to generate a positive response. If marketing is an invitation, you want people to say yes to the invite. Marketers know, however, that expecting 100% of the people you “invite” to show up is not realistic. Principles of advertising tell us that people typically need to see something at least three times before they become aware of it. So it is important to run your advertisement for your new mid-week parent’s group several weeks in advance of the first meeting, and to announce it in multiple places. You might consider printing it in the church bulletin, posting posters on hallway bulletin boards or in restrooms, and including the announcement in church-wide emails and through its social media channels. The more places a person sees the announcement, the more likely they will be to develop interest. These interactions with the ad are called impressions. More impressions generate more awareness and thus, greater interest. All impressions are not created equally. Different types of impressions will generate different response rates. For instance, 3% of people who see an announcement for an event in the church bulletin or on a poster may decide to attend based on the ad. 10% may attend if the invitation is announced from the pulpit or in a classroom setting. But 50% or more may decide to attend if they are subsequently invited personally by a leader. To reach a specific attendance goal for an event, you would do well to message more people than you want to attend (knowing that only a percentage of those messaged will respond), and to post the message in multiple places so that people will interact with the announcement at least three times.

3. Call to Action/RSVP Mechanism: Ask people to respond, and tell them how to do so.

Each ad or invitation should include a specific call to action that tells people how to respond. An announcement that merely says, “Family Festival, July 17th” is not as effective as one that says, “Join us for this years’ Family Festival! Sign up in the foyer to reserve your space!” Give people a clear way to express interest or intent, and make it easy for them to do so. This serves you in a couple important ways. First, it lets you get an idea of how many people to expect and prepare for at the event. Will you need hot dogs for 50 or 250? It also gives you a list of hot prospects with which to follow up. Once someone has expressed interest by signing up, you can send them more detailed messages about the event. By signing up for the RSVP, they move deeper into your messaging funnel, getting details on what to bring or how they might help. The foyer sign up sheet is just one means of response. You might use a Google form on an iPad, or a Signup Genius sent via email. The point is to ask people to take a first-level action based on their interest.

4. Tracking and Analysis: Record what happens so you can adjust future strategy based on data.

The best way to gauge the effectiveness of your marketing efforts is to keep records of the actions you take and the response they generate. For instance, you can make an announcement from the pulpit inviting the whole congregation to sign up in the foyer and note how many do so as a result. Two days later you might make a post on social media that points people to a signup form and track how many respond through that channel. Test sending invitations with more detail and others with less detail. Test the use of printed ads, and test using video. In each case, record the results each action generates and use the information you gather to hone future strategy. As you track the response generated by different types of marketing, you will gain valuable insight into how to best communicate with your intended audience.

5. Be Creative: Marketing is more effective when it is fun.

Marketing messaging is the most effective when it is communicated creatively. The first four principles listed here apply regardless of how creatively you name your events or advertise opportunities, but their effectiveness in generating interest can be increased exponentially when you deliver the information in creative, exciting, and memorable ways. Don’t just read or recite an announcement for your pizza party—have a delivery guy interrupt children’s church to bring a special message inside a pizza box. Advertise your food drive by pushing an empty shopping cart onto the platform, then challenge the congregation to see how many carts they can fill. You can make your causes more compelling by making your marketing fun and creative.

Understanding a few marketing principles can help you immensely as you promote your ministry in the church and in your community. They can also help you in your efforts to recruit volunteers to serve along with you. Careful communication and creative messaging are great resources for promoting your ministry.

CHUCK PETERS is director of operations for LifeWay Kids. He is a graduate of Columbia Bible College. A creative person by nature, Chuck’s unique combination of experiences in media production, business, and ministry has caused him to become an unexpected fan of strategy, data, and analysis in ministry. He lives outside Nashville with his wife and four kids.

Family Ministry, Kids Ministry, Leadership

February 5, 2020

Equipped for Ministry

By Brian Dembowczyk

Pursuing opportunities to develop in ministry is important. In this blog post four key questions are shared that you will want to ask yourself as you decide how best to grow for ministry.

Serving kids and their families is one of the greatest privileges God gives. It’s also one of the greatest responsibilities He gives. Partnering with parents to point their kids to the beauty of the gospel is an odd mixture of joy and doubt. One moment we experience unspeakable joy at seeing God use us to help the gospel take deeper root in a child’s heart and the very next minute we wonder if we have anything to offer kids—anything at all.

It is during the latter times when we find the old axiom “God doesn’t call the equipped but equips the called” so comforting. It’s good to remember that God provides all we need to serve Him. But this equipping is not automatic. We need to pursue it and choose the best available training from a number of options. Here are four key questions to consider as you pursue your ministry development options:

1. Why am I pursuing ministry development? While you might be quick to answer that you want to pursue development to serve in ministry better, be careful that there isn’t some other reason lurking deeper down. For some, the real reason is validation—to prove one’s value to others. For others, the deeper reason is career advancement. While neither of these reasons are inherently wrong, neither can be the main reason. Serving kids and parents more faithfully must be.

2. Do I have the resources? The main resource you need will be time. Do you have the time to invest in development opportunities? The other main resources are money and energy. What resources you have available will greatly influence the specific type of development option you should pursue.

3. What are my informal options? If any one of your three main resources—time, money, and energy—is limited, you will definitely want to go the informal development route. Here are a few of the main options you might pursue:

Podcasts. Podcasts are one of the cheapest most accessible options out there today. What can be better than listening to a theology, ministry, or leadership development podcast during a commute to maximize your time? The Kids Ministry 101 podcast is a great place to start.
Blogs. Like podcasts, blogs are an inexpensive, accessible option for development. While it is more difficult to multitask while reading blogs, an advantage of this option over podcasts is that it allows you to jot down notes and move more slowly over some content that you want to chew on.
Books. Books require more of a financial investment but they will generally provide more depth than either podcasts or blogs. Many great books also come in audio format, allowing the multitasking win of podcasts with greater depth.
Training Platforms. Training platforms, such as Ministry Grid, requires another step up financially, but opens a new world of training opportunities. Many of the training resources include videos and study guides providing sort of a classroom feel.
Personal discipleship. This one shouldn’t really be an option, but a given. We are all called into discipleship relationships, in both directions. Someone should be pouring into us as we pour into others. If you don’t have someone pouring into you, consider some of the ministry leaders in your community and ask one.

4. What are my formal options? If you have the time, money, and energy, then formal development might be the way to go. There is something about learning in community at a Bible college or seminary that cannot be matched. Until recently, this meant you either needed to live near a college or seminary or you were able to move to one. But distance learning has blossomed, even allowing you to pursue a PhD from your home. If you are considering this route, it is a big step that requires ample research. Don’t just go with the cheapest or easiest option; you want to make sure you choose an academic institution that meets what you need in all three of these areas:

Accreditation. Simply put, only consider accredited institutions. You will likely stumble across a number of internet options that seem too good to be true—because they are. Accreditation is not just important, it is essential. Without it, you cannot be guaranteed of the quality of education you will receive and you greatly limit who will recognize what you earn.
Denomination Affiliation. Be sure to know the denominational affiliation and statement of faith of the institution and be good with both. This will not only affect what you learn in classes, but it might also impact future career opportunities. Like it or not, right or wrong, one of the first items prospective employers will notice on a resume is the academic institutions you attended.
Focus. Not all Bible colleges and seminaries are alike. Many will try to stand out from the crowd by specializing in a particular area of ministry. Know what the institutions you are considering are known for and also be sure to confirm that the degree you are interested in is offered. This is especially important if you are interested in a degree in children’s ministry; not all seminaries offer one.

Brian Dembowczyk is the managing editor for The Gospel Project. He served in local church ministry for over 16 years before coming to LifeWay. Brian earned an M.Div. from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his family live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Encouragement, Kids Ministry, Leadership

January 29, 2020

What is on Your Kidmin Bucket List?

By Landry Holmes

Until the release of the 2007 feature film The Bucket List, I didn’t know I was supposed to have such a list. In fact I was unfamiliar with the concept of checking off certain “to-do” items before I die, or “kick the bucket.” Bucket lists may include skydiving, bungee jumping, rock climbing, solo flying, bull riding, and so forth. My bucket list is short and fairly risk averse. One item is already checked off: Go to a major NASCAR race.

Maybe you have a long bucket list, or perhaps you have no desire to make such a list. As we begin a new year in a new decade, now may be a good time to think about the things you want to accomplish in kids ministry in the next 12 months, or 10 years.

Keep in mind that a bucket list is not the same as a litany of ministry goals. Goals tend to be challenging, yet attainable. A bucket list disregards barriers, such as budget constraints. As you compose your list, pretend there are no obstacles keeping you from checking off the items. Here are some questions to ask to get you started:

What is the one kidmin event you want to host?
What is the one physical item you wish your church would build?
What is the one thing you want to do to influence kids ministry beyond your local church?
Who is the one ministry leader you would like to take for coffee?
What is the one place you would like to visit that could impact your ministry?

Still not convinced a kidmin bucket list is for you? I suggest you try making one that is non-binding. Keep it private, if you so desire. Go ahead, it will be fun!

Encouragement, Kids Ministry, Leadership

January 8, 2020

Taking Care of Yourself As A Leader

By Delanee Williams

As a kids minister, it’s easy to find ourselves so busy serving others that we don’t make time to care for ourselves. As a leader, it’s imperative to take care of yourself in order to lead effectively. If you’re like me, you’ve heard these reminders before (maybe even multiple times). With the new year approaching, it’s a great time for these reminders.

Take Care of Yourself Spiritually. Your relationship with Christ is the most important relationship in your life. Make sure you’re spending time reading the Bible, praying, and memorizing Scripture. Commit to attending corporate worship. Take a day each week for your Sabbath. Don’t be so busy SERVING Christ, that you aren’t BEING with Christ.

Take Care of Yourself Physically. This reminder may seem silly to some of you, but I’ve found it’s the one people most often neglect. We find ourselves going and going and going until we literally can go no more. We must guard ourselves to prevent burnout. Get adequate sleep. Schedule time to walk or run (this is a great time to pray or memorize Scripture.) Aim for nutritious selections with your food.

Take Care of Yourself Mentally. Be a lifelong learner. Read for work and pleasure. Audio books and podcasts (Kids Ministry 101) are great to listen to while commuting, especially in traffic. Carve out time for your hobby.

Take Care of Yourself Socially. As a kids ministry leader, it’s easy to find yourself isolated from adults not in kids ministry. Seek to be a part of an adult group in your church. Better yet, one that you aren’t leading. Be a part of a network with other kids ministry leaders from your area or state. It’s imperative to connect with other kids ministry leaders who understand the challenges of kids ministry. Take time to be with family and friends.

If you’re not intentional about these aspects in your life, they won’t happen. As you reflect on this past year and look to the upcoming year, take time to reflect and pray. In what ways can you take better care of yourself in order to be a better leader in kids ministry?

Family Ministry, Kids Ministry, Leadership

January 1, 2020

6 GAPS BETWEEN KIDS AND STUDENT MINISTRY

By Trey Garza

Whether they articulate it or not, parents intrinsically want the Kids and Student ministries in a church to be coordinated, at least to the degree that their child feels at home as they move from one ministry to the next.

This is often not the reality that they experience. Kids and Student ministries often function in completely different worlds. They make decisions independently and rarely communicate, coordinate, or collaborate on ministry strategy, philosophy, purpose, or experience. I recently had the opportunity to contribute to Facts & Trends magazine to explore the issue of identifying and bridging gaps that exist between kids and student ministries. We wanted to share this article with you through our own Kids Ministry 101 blog as well.

This summer my 13-year-old son and I went on a mission trip to Jamaica with a group from our small church. Our primary purpose was to facilitate VBS in a poor community in the center of the island. It was a fantastic week and we saw God work in awesome ways—not just in kids, but in whole families.

While we were there we stayed at a hillside boarding house. The property was protected by tall, colorfully painted cement walls, and the small parking area was protected by a massive metal gate that rolled in a 6-inch-wide groove in the ground that was ankle deep.

The gate was designed to protect guests from outsiders when it was closed, but when it was opened it became a hazardous gash in the ground that nearly broke the ankles of several of our team members.

I quickly found myself acting as the gate gap guard; cautioning my teammates to ‘mind the gap,’ lest they unknowingly stumble into the cavernous chasm that could take them out of commission.

Fortunately, none did. Because we noticed the gap, we were able to take proactive steps to avoid the harm that it might have otherwise inflicted and our mission was not delayed or distracted by the calamity that it could have caused.

My experience running VBS in that small Jamaican community, and in avoiding the gaping gate gap at our guesthouse, caused me to ponder the state of the church back home. I believe many of our churches unknowingly have deep and dangerous gaps.

While these are not physical chasms in the ground, they are real, and churches are losing kids and families because of them. The gaps I am talking about are the areas of disconnect that exist between ministry areas.

The most pronounced and prominent gaps may well be the ones that separate our kids and student ministries. When ministry areas operate in isolation, we may find people are connected to individual ministries for short seasons, but aren’t securely attached and connected to the church as a whole.

Churches are vulnerable to lose families when it’s time for kids to transition from one area to the next. As ministry leaders, we need to identify and acknowledge our gaps and mind them well on behalf of the families we serve. By tightening some gaps and bridging others we may prevent some of our families from falling into the cracks.

1. RELATIONAL GAPS **(THE WHO)**

Relational gaps can take on two forms. The first one, ministry relational gaps, occurs when there is a lack of connection between ministry leaders. Churches are stronger when kids and student ministry leaders know, trust, encourage, support and promote one another.

The second, personal relational gaps, occurs when people who attend a church feel relationally isolated from other members. They desire, but don’t find, meaningful and lasting friendships, relationships, and acceptance within the church.

People want to be where they feel known, loved, valued and appreciated, and kids want to be where their friends are. If a child’s perception is that her friends are all in the kids ministry, but she now has to move up to the student group, she may feel relationally isolated, and not connect well.

Bridge this gap with communication. Kids and student leaders need to interact with one another more and better. These leaders may not seem to have much in common at surface level. They may be of different ages and genders, and may be at different stages of life.

Meaningful communication between these leaders may require effort and intentionality, but the connection they build is invaluable for the sake of kids and their families. Leaders must always be aware of the relational gap that kids face as they advance from one ministry area to the next and take active steps to connect newcomers into friend relationships.

The effort we take to build strong connections will pay off in creating security and a sense of belonging.

2. PHYSICAL GAPS **(THE WHERE)**

Kids and student ministries tend to function in separate spaces places. This practice can be a good thing inasmuch as it gives unique contexts and identities to the two ministry areas, but moving from a place that is familiar and comfortable to another that is unknown can be intimidating for kids as they advance and can cause stress that keep them from making the transition.

Bridge this gap with celebration. Make changes in environment an exciting rite of passage to which kids can aspire. Create opportunities for kids to visit and tour their future gathering spaces. This may look like an open house for kids and parents (parents need to feel familiar also) or visiting a class for a week or two before the transition.

Celebrate the arrival of newcomers with welcome receptions and a party atmosphere. Getting younger kids comfortable with their new location can alleviate the stress of the unknown, and actually get kids excited as they anticipate moving up.

3. SCHEDULE GAPS **(THE WHEN)**

Unfamiliar and uncoordinated ministry times and cadences can make it difficult for kids to transition well into the student space. The primary time slot for children’s ministry is typically on Sunday morning. While kids may have Sunday night or Wednesday evening programming, attendance at those times tends to be lower in kids ministries.

In contrast, student ministries tend to have their largest ministry gatherings midweek or Sunday evening. Some student groups meet on Sunday afternoons or Saturday nights.

These shifts in schedule can be a hurdle for families with busy routines to overcome, especially if they have multiple children who are involved in both kids and student ministries.

Bridge this gap with coordination. Make things as easy as possible for families by scheduling regular kids and student gatherings on the same days, at coordinated times, and on the same campus.

This will require collaboration on the part of leaders, but maintaining consistent and predictable schedules that coincide will build a culture of meeting times for which families can plan.

4. EDUCATIONAL GAPS (THE WHAT)

There is often a large disconnect in the content taught in kids and student areas. Areas often choose curriculum resources separately and follow their own individual study plans without consideration of a progression of learning for kids as they advance.

Kids are generally taught foundational Bible stories from first through fifth or sixth grade. Students regularly focus on real-life situational issues. Both types of teaching are important for developing mature and fruitful faith, but the gap between kids and students teaching plans can be a tough adjustment for many kids to make.

Bridge this gap with cooperation. Kids and student leaders can align their curriculum choices, opting to use the same resource for both kids and students.

While the approach to study can be contextualized to the different age groups and physical settings, kids and families can continue on the same, or a very similar, journey in regards to study style, approach to application, and the scope and sequence of their study plans.

5. PHILOSOPHICAL GAPS **(THE WHY)**

Kids and student ministry leaders can be motivated by starkly different mission, vision, and values, all of which impact the decisions leaders make in regards to content and methodology.

A ministry’s why acts as a target and a filter as leaders build strategic plans for their ministries. Even if each ministry has its own clear and compelling goal, without building in some common language in regards to the church’s larger purpose, we may unintentionally create philosophical gaps that make ministry areas feel disconnected as people move from one to the next.

Bridge this gap with contemplation. When kids and student leaders agree to adopt and adapt to a common mission, vision, and purpose for ministry, the gap between areas will be greatly diminished—even if they use different methods or resources.

Having a common why unites us in culture and mission. Landing on a shared philosophy of ministry may take deep thought and shared philosophical, theological and methodological contemplation, but the return is well worth the investment.

6. METHODOLOGICAL GAPS **(THE HOW)**

The way we do ministry looks and functions differently between kids and student areas.

Kids may sit in rows or around tables where they complete worksheets, memorize verses and provide simple answers to questions around a Bible lesson, but they primarily listen to biblical stories and teaching.

Students in the same church may sit in circles, perhaps even on sofas, with the expectation of participating in active discussion and application of abstract spiritual truths. This change in teaching methodology can cause young kids transitioning into a Student ministry environment to feel insecure, intimidated, and uncomfortable. Some may subsequently drop out.

One group or the other may meet in a large open auditorium with a big stage, lots of energy, a praise band and concert lighting. Unless both groups share this culture, moving from one to the next can cause culture shock.

Bridge this gap with collaboration. When leaders from both teams understand each other’s what and why they can work together to bridge gaps in how they each execute ministry to make transitions easier for children as they move from kids ministry to youth group.

This may mean placing older kids within the children’s ministry into a special discussion group set in a more youth-like environment to begin preparing them for student conversations.

Kids and student teams might also plan to attach a bridge adult leader to a group of children who are advancing. This adult leader might begin working with kids in the children’s space, and then move to the student area with advancing students to help them make a clean transition.

This type of strategy requires a high degree of collaboration from ministry leaders, but it has the successful adjustment of the child in mind.

If we aren’t careful, we can lose families into the gaps that exist between our kids and student ministries. As ministry leaders, we need to come together around a common mission, purpose, and strategy as we minister to kids, students, and families.

Ultimately, each specific ministry within a congregation should share the common and consistent culture of the overall church. Evaluate your gaps, and take active steps to build bridges that set kids and families up for success and satisfaction as they grow.

CHUCK PETERS (@_chuckpeters) is director of operations for LifeWay Kids. He is a graduate of Columbia Bible College. A creative person by nature, Chuck’s unique combination of experiences in media production, business, and ministry has caused him to become an unexpected fan of strategy, data, and analysis in ministry. He lives outside Nashville with his wife and four kids.

This article originally appeared on Facts & Trends.

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