Leadership

March 11, 2020

6 Ways to Set Expectations for Volunteers

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.

Encouragement, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Ministry

December 18, 2019

4 Things You Can Do Now to Prepare for January

By Landry Holmes

Why do we do this? Why do we over schedule ourselves during December to the point that when December 25^th finally arrives we’re exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically? There are the church staff parties, kidmin leadership parties, preschool and children’s ministry parties, church-wide events requiring child care, school programs, and extended family gatherings. And, good luck trying to decorate your house and go Christmas shopping!

Do you ever wonder what God thinks about all this busyness? I think Solomon provides a glimpse of God’s view through this statement: “When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 2:11) Taken in context of the entire Bible we know that this teaching does not condemn hard work, because elsewhere in the Scriptures God speaks against laziness.

However, I don’t believe busyness and productive hard work are synonymous. I do think that when we are unnecessarily busy, we sometimes fail to follow God’s plan and are prone to miss His will. So, here are four things we can do now to be more effective kidmin leaders in January:

Review. Spend time listing major ministry accomplishments this year. Also, write down your biggest challenges and disappointments related to kids ministry.

Reflect. Think through both lists. What led to the kids ministry successes? Why did some of your ministry efforts fail? What is God teaching you about ministry success and failure? Whom did your ministry positively impact this year?

Renew. Thank God for what He accomplished through you in ministry this year. Ask God’s forgiveness for the times you strayed from His plan. Take extended time to meditate on God’s Word. (Note: don’t try to cram your annual Bible reading plan into the next 24 hours!) Rest physically. Turn off your mobile devices and the TV. Take a walk. Say, “No,” to some of the Christmas parties.

Refocus. Ask God to show you what is important and what is His desire for your church’s kids ministry in 2020. Write down one or two ministry goals for the new year. Write down one or two personal aspirations. These are not resolutions. They are what you believe God wants you to focus on in the next 12 months.

Confession: I’m terrible at reviewing, reflecting, renewing, and refocusing. I’m better at reminiscing, ruminating, regretting, and reliving. But that’s not God’s will for you and me in 2020. Instead, let’s join the Apostle Paul in saying, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

Encouragement, Leadership

September 9, 2019

Help! I’m a leader without a team!

By Micheal Walley

“Do only what you can do then delegate everything else.”

We often hear or read that the best leaders are the best delegators, but what if there is no one on your team to delegate to? What if you are literally the only person on staff? What if you are the only person who is tasked with thinking about your area of ministry outside of Sunday mornings?

This is a reality for many leaders in ministries or smaller organizations. You might consider yourself a “one person show,” and the amount of work and energy needed to pull-off your ministry can be overwhelming.

Here are five tips for navigating times when you’re feeling that pressure as a leader without a team:

Check your heart and attitude. When you feel like you’re carrying a ministry or a workload all by yourself, it can be easy to grow bitter and entitled. “I should have a team like everyone else!” “I’m doing the work of 3 other people!” When you begin to feel these feelings, check your heart and attitude. Say a prayer and ask God to remove any entitlement or bitterness. Ask Him to remind you why He called you to your current position and to show you the impact you are making for His Kingdom through your hard work. Finally, sincerely thank God that you are able to be in a role that impacts the lives of others.
Seek out help and encouragement. As Christians, we know that it is not good to be alone. Even if you are the only one “on payroll” or on staff, it is vital that you seek out some help when you feel like the load is too much. Considering finding some volunteers who might have some free time during the week who can help you out for an hour or so. Don’t be afraid to ask a peer if they can spare 30 minutes to help you with a project occasionally. Find help wherever you can and always say “yes” when someone offers to help!
Grow yourself. Always be challenging yourself to grow as a leader. Maybe you need to grow with organization and productivity—find resources to help you! Maybe you need to grow your creative talents—find resources to help you! Make time to read books or listen to podcasts that grow you personally. Most importantly, be sure you are growing spiritually by spending time in the Word, praying, and engaging with the Christian community. As a leader, make it a priority to intentionally help yourself by devoting some time to your own personal growth.
Work hard when you work. Rest hard when you rest. Burnout is real. Burnout can come quickly, take everything you have, and spit you out on the other end exhausted. You are not meant to work 24/7 (even if you have a thousand things on your checklist that could take that long to finish.) Find ways to balance your schedule and have a healthy work schedule. When you’re at work or church, give it all you have! But when you are “off the clock” or “on vacation,” unplug from your email or notifications. Take time to recharge and fill yourself up before jumping back into work.
Communicate often and transparently with your leaders. If you’re struggling, overwhelmed, or feeling burned out because of the amount of work you do as a leader, have a conversation with your leadership as soon as possible. They may not realize the expectations that they have put on you or exactly what you deal with. It might be awkward at first, but having a great and transparent line of communication with your leadership could be the most rewarding thing as you lead. They could help you figure out solutions to issues, work through emotions you may be feeling, and could potentially make a plan to alleviate some of the demands on your plate. Be open, be honest, and (referring back to Tip 1), check your heart and approach every conversation with love and gentleness.

While being a leader without a team is definitely hard work, I hope that these tips can help you as you navigate this incredible calling you have. Know that you are not alone and there are countless others in ministry who understand and are also working tirelessly to make the gospel known to kids and families.

Micheal Walley serves as the LifeWay Kids Event Producer. He is a graduate of Mississippi College and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Micheal has been serving in Kids Ministry from the moment he was “promoted” out of kids ministry himself. He loves coffee, leadership, all things creative, and his wife, Anne Marie.

Kids Ministry, Leadership

July 29, 2019

Looking Forward

By Bill Emeott

In October 2002 I was approached by LifeWay to consider an opportunity to join their team as the Lead Childhood Ministry Specialist. To be honest, it was a dream come true. For years I had found that the favorite part of my work as a Children’s Minister was the opportunity to train and develop other leaders. It really wasn’t ever a struggle to move forward with LifeWay and one of the greatest blessings in my life was to be invited and then to accept the position as ministry specialist.

LifeWay is an incredible place to serve. Over the past 16+ years, God has allowed me to live my dream. Meeting thousands of KidMin leaders and having the opportunity to partner with you and in some way minister along side of you has been an incredible gift and a blessing that I don’t take lightly. Your trust and confidence in me has been both honoring and humbling. What a joy to do what God calls and creates you to do. Thank you for that privilege.

About a year ago, God started something new in my life. Something very unexpected and something I had really not considered as part of my future. I’ve often said, “God is preparing me for what He is preparing for me.” That’s exactly what was happening. I began to have conversations with an incredible team of ministers/friends and my heart started to be pulled back to the ministry in a local church. By January the conversations were in full swing and my heart was moving west.

After much prayer and with a humble heart I have accepted my next assignment by God as the Minister to Children at Houston’s First Baptist Church (Texas). I will join that awesome ministry team and begin a new chapter of God’s journey for me on August 1.

As I look to the future I take so much with me from you. Learning from church leaders and their experiences has prepared me for this time. When it comes to kids ministry, these three things stand out as pillars:

The Gospel: Children’s ministry should have at its core a desire to see boys and girls come to know Jesus Christ and experience heart transformation that only comes from a real encounter with Him. Children’s ministry should point boys and girls and their families to Jesus and His salvation with each program and activity “umbrellaed” by the Gospel; seeking opportunities to share the good news and equip parents, leaders, and kids to share the good news of Jesus, too.

Discipleship: We desperately need boys and girls to be salt and light in the world in which they live and to grow up to be culture shapers. Churches cannot continue to raise generations who don’t know what they believe. Many “church-attending” kids have no defense when the world rattles their faith and they too often cave to the pressures of political correctness and a lost culture.

Discipling boys and girls past the point of conversion, to a growing, loving relationship with Jesus must become a priority. Children’s Ministry must help kids understand and live out spiritual disciplines/habits/practices that lead them to become culture-changing Christians grounding kids. Knowledge and practice of spiritual habits (such as prayer, Bible reading and study, worship, stewardship, and service) will lead kids to become Great Commission, Great Commandment, Acts 1:8, culture shaping followers of Jesus.

Family: Healthy Children’s ministry recognizes the biblical role of parents and strives to undergird that role by seeing the kids ministry through the lens of family.

I believe that God intends for parents to be the primary spiritual leaders and faith developers of their children. Children’s ministry has the privilege of coming alongside parents to partner with them on their child’s spiritual journey. We have the opportunity to champion families, encourage and equip parents, and provide disciple-growing programs and events that undergird and promote the family.

So, these are the things I take with me as I look forward to this next phase of my ministry. These are the lessons/goals I walk away with as I strive to be the servant God has called me to be in Houston. However, I do have one last request of you. Please pray for me. Please pray that God will use me to achieve these (and many other) goals. Pray that I will be humble yet bold; moldable yet solid; vulnerable to new things yet strongly rooted. Pray that in all this, God will receive ALL the glory for it is only through Him that I have been able to do anything of eternal difference. And, it is only through His power that I will make the Kingdom difference that I desire.

Bill Emeott has served as Lead Ministry Specialist for LifeWay Kids since 2003. He is a graduate of Mercer University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Bill has served in Kids Ministry for almost 30 years and recently accepted the role as Minister to Children at Houston’s First Baptist Church.