Kids Ministry

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

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Ministry, Uncategorized

To See and Be Seen at Church 

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The familiar phrase and notion, “to see and be seen” is often intended to suggest something that is socially motivated. There are plenty of engagements such as Christmas parties, family gatherings, bridal showers and business lunches that are designed to be a “pop-in” event where people spend more time getting dressed for the occasion than actually attending it! Surely you have some of these in mind. Some church goers also have a reputation for this mindset—making sure folks see them at Easter and Christmas, checking a box that suits their reputation. Certainly we’ve all had times where we’d like to show up, take our name tag, shake a few hands and hug a few necks—and then slip out the back. As long as we see the people we need to see (and they see us), then we are good to go! 

Though this phrase may sound shallow in nature or potentially like a bad thing, I want to make the case for seeing and being seen as something good—particularly when it comes to children. In light of all the isolation and social distancing, the kids we are serving in our churches are craving tangible real-life relationships. They need to feel seen and known by their church family and they, in return, need to see smiling, friendly, godly adults who are ready to welcome them inside. 

How can we ensure this is happening in our ministry? Perhaps we could reframe the phrase “see and be seen” as a coaching principle for our volunteers and leaders. The goal would be to make certain they “see” each child and that they are “seen” as an adult who that child can trust and know each time they are there. If those two things are accomplished by each person, then you can be sure the culture of your ministry is going to be one where kids feel like they belong to their church—not just attend. They will feel seen and known and be excited to see their leaders each time they come back. So, maybe give it a try this week and see how it goes! Let’s make kids ministry a place to see and be seen, laying a foundation of relational trust that sets the stage for sharing the love of Jesus.

Jana Magruder serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director of Lifeway Kids in Nashville, TN. With a background in education, publishing, and ministry, she loves championing the local church to help families disciple kids of all ages. She is the author of Nothing Less: Engaging Kids in a Lifetime of Faith. Jana and her husband, Michael, are native Texans planted in Tennessee and love to explore both states with their three teenagers.

Discipleship, Evangelism, Family, Family Ministry, Kids Ministry, Ministry

Lend Me Your Ear: The Art of Active Listening

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By Kayla Stevens

Think about the last time you noticed a child in your ministry who felt cared for and seen by an adult leader. Introduce me to that leader, and I can guarantee that you will be introducing a leader who knows how to listen. He may not make the best self-portrait out of pasta or arrive fifteen minutes early as requested. But that leader knows how to listen to a child. 

The discipline of listening is a much needed and much neglected area of learning in our ministries. In the midst of delivering sound content, sanitizing our classrooms, and reviewing Bible skills, we can often forget that one of our most powerful tools as leaders is the ability to make space for active listening—not merely hear what a child says while simultaneously thinking about our response. As leaders, we must remember that we are called to teach children not lessons.  

Consider these opportunities as you leverage a listening culture in your classrooms: 

Legitimize Curiosity. Oftentimes, kids don’t want to know the correct answer as much as they want a safe place to ask their questions. When a child comes to you with a question she could have asked Alexa, take notice that she is not just looking for an answer. She is inviting you to help her interpret and make sense of the reality of the world around her. Recognize the gift of that kind of vulnerability and lean into it. Look for opportunities to ask leading questions such as,  “Can you tell me more about ______?” Verbally recognize the question and affirm a child’s curiosity. (That is a great question. I have wondered about that, too!) 

As leaders, we get to set the tone of creativity and curiosity. When curiosity is stifled, questions are silenced. But, when we give ourselves and the kids in our classrooms the opportunity to be curious, we invite questions that probe into deeper spiritual learning and development.   

Lessen Perfection. Allow kids to be wrong sometimes. If kids can’t make mistakes about their faith at church, where can they? As we leverage a culture of listening to deepen connection and growth, we must lessen the ideal of perfection and right answers and lean into the process of learning. Consider responding to kids by asking deeper questions. (I’m really interested in what you have to say and I want to make sure I don’t misunderstand you. Can you help me understand ______. I wonder what our Bibles have to say about that. Let’s see if we can find out.) Be appropriately vulnerable with your class and give yourself, your kids, and your leaders permission to not have all of the answers or get it right all the time. 

Learn Together. Get excited about learning with kids in your classroom, not merely learning for them. Remind kids that you love their questions, even if you don’t have the answers. (And give yourself permission not to have all the answers!) As we learn about the Bible alongside the kids in our classrooms, answers should not be our main objective goal of learning. Discovery should be. As we learn alongside children, we communicate that their questions are valued and they are not alone as they discover more about God. Learning together cultivates an active participation for children and gives them appropriate responsibility in owning their faith rather than receiving information from their leader. 

If we want to maximize our impact as leaders we must make room for intentional listening. As we cultivate an atmosphere where questions are welcomed, curiosity is encouraged, and mistakes are acceptable, we begin to listen not only to the questions, but also to the very hearts of children.

Kayla Stevens is a Content Editor for Lifeway Kids and a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has been serving in Kids Ministry for over 10 years and has a deep passion for empowering children to own their faith and grow deeper in the joy of Jesus. 

Discipleship, Family Ministry, Gospel-Centered, Kids Ministry, Ministry

The Goal of Godliness: What is the top priority of your ministry?

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A few years ago we had a possum problem at our house. We decided to set a small animal trap so we could capture and then safely release the critter into a nice wooded area far enough away that he would not find his way back to our yard. So, we placed our trap and went to bed. The next day we discovered that we didn’t have an opossum problem at all. We had a skunk problem. If you have ever set out to catch an opossum but instead snagged a skunk, you know it’s a stinky situation to be in. 

I fear that many of our kids are being baited into the traps that have been set by a secular and ungodly world, and the outcome really stinks. 

Statistics and anecdotal evidence both suggest that the lives, values, and pursuits of “Christian” kids and families are largely indistinguishable from those of their unbelieving neighbors. 

Research gathered in a partnership between Lifeway Kids and Lifeway Research and reported in the book, Nothing Less by Jana Magruder, shows that 25% of Christian parents said that their top goal was for their kids to grow up to be happy. 22% said their top desire was for their kids to be successful. 19% said they wanted their kids to be “good people.” 17% said their emphasis was on their kids’ education. 

Only 9% of the Christian parents surveyed said that their top priority was for their kids to grow up to be godly. 

Don’t miss that stat. Less than 10% of 2000 “Christian” parents surveyed have the goal of godliness as the top priority for their children. That answer is both sad and revealing. Is it truly a surprise that so many kids from believing families walk away from their faith when they leave home? 

Please hear me, there is nothing wrong with wanting happiness and success and education and good-ness for our kids—I want all of those things for my own children—but each of those things must be defined and pursued in the context of the preeminent goal of godliness. 

The Word warns us of the stink we will experience if we do not train our children to be godly. In the absence of a top-level pursuit of godliness the world will teach our kids to be something entirely the opposite. 

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul cautions his protege that, “Hard times will come in the last days. People will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness but denying its power.” 2 Timothy 3:1-9

Read that list again. 

It could have been written yesterday to describe people today. It outlines the characteristics that our culture commends, and that our kids are being conditioned to seek and celebrate.

We need to be careful what narratives our ministries perpetuate. Our children do not need to be taught how important they are; they need to be shown how holy God is. They don’t need to be taught how to fit-in with a godless culture; they need to understand that they are not of this world. They do not need to be taught how to blend in; they need to be equipped with courage to stand up and to stand out. 

As ministers of the gospel we have a responsibility to push against the priorities of our culture and spur-on kids and parents to chase after godliness before anything else. The chief goals of a child’s life must not be his happiness, success, popularity, fame, education, health, wealth, or social status. The chief goals must always be his redemption and right-relationship with God. 

Mark asks a very pertinent question in Mark 8:36. “what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” 

Thankfully, I did not trap a skunk in my cage. Once I was aware of the real situation, I was able to remove the trap before I caught a living stink bomb. My prayer is that we, as ministry leaders, will have the courage and foresight to identify and disarm the traps that Satan has set against our children. May we help them to have eyes to see the dangers of running after the wrong things, and direct them to instead chase after Jesus with all of their strength.

Chuck Peters is Director of Lifeway Kids. Before his role at Lifeway, Chuck had a prolific career in television and video production. He is a 3-time Emmy Award Winning producer, director, writer and on-screen talent. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck, and his wife, Cris, have served in Student and Children’s Ministry for many years.

Leadership, Ministry, Sunday School, Teaching Kids, Training

Teacher Preparation 101

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Preparing for a session is one of the most important aspects of a teacher’s ministry. In this post, a suggested rhythm of preparing throughout the week is offered to teachers to help them maximize their time with kids each week. 

We all know the stereotype: the teacher who opens up the leader guide on Saturday evening to begin preparing. While there may be times when a crazy week’s schedule requires this, preparing at the last minute should be the exception, not the norm. It’s a matter of value—we need to value our kids, the Word of God, and the gospel enough to do this right, and putting off preparations surely is not doing it that way.  

If putting off preparing until the last minute is the worst approach (well, not preparing at all would take that crown), the best approach is to sit in the session plan all week long, at least for 10-15 minutes each day. Here is one suggested schedule to do that:

MONDAY: Read the Bible passage. That’s right, don’t even crack open the leader guide yet, except to know what Bible passage is covered for the week. Grab your favorite Bible and read the Scriptures themselves. Be sure to read the background passage, not just the focal passage. Focal passages are chosen, in part, for space. So you will want to read as much around that focal passage to know the context. Reading the Bible passage first thing in the week gives you room throughout the week to sit in what you are teaching. You give the Holy Spirit time to work in your mind and heart so He might solidify the beauty of the gospel you will later share. 

TUESDAY: Read the leader guide. Now it’s time to read the leader guide. Take your time through the session, being sure to focus on the “why” of the session. Why does this session matter? What is its big take-away? Be sure you understand how you get to it from the Bible passage itself. Once you feel good about that, drill down on the specific activities, games, crafts, etc. to understand how they work and how they support the session’s content. 

WEDNESDAY: Use the additional leader resources. Most curricula provide additional teaching tips and resources to help leaders prepare. Use these to either deepen what you already know or, perhaps, to broaden your focus for that session. 

THURSDAY: Read additional Bible translations and commentaries. By this time, you should have a good grasp of what you are covering this week and how best to cover it. So it’s time to put the curriculum resources aside again. Read at least the focal passage in a few different translations (the Internet and Bible apps make this so easy these days). When I study, I like to use the CSB, ESV, NASB, and at least one paraphrase that is more thought-for-thought like the NIV. This is also a great time to read through some commentaries on the passage, especially if anything is not quite clear to you. Even if you are studying an aspect that you are pretty sure you will not cover with your kids, it is important you dig into it so that you have the confidence you need—and you never know where the Holy Spirit might guide the conversation with your kids.  

FRIDAY: Collect supplies. It’s time to get practical and collect the supplies that you will need for the session. As you do, review the activity, game, or craft that the supplies are for to be sure you understand it and how those supplies will work.

SATURDAY: Review and connect. Spend some time reviewing the session, focusing on any rougher spots that you are not as comfortable with. Try to touch base with your kids and/or their families to share that you are looking forward to seeing them the next day. 

SUNDAY: Rely on God. Be sure to get a good night’s rest and wake up with plenty of time for your morning routine. As you go through your morning ritual, pray for your session and each kid by name. Arrive on time, ready to greet your kids and their families and then enjoy watching God use your time of preparation for His glory. 

Brian Dembowczyk served in the local church ministry for over 16 years. 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.

Kids Ministry, Ministry, Resources

Clarify Your Why: 5 Reasons to Revisit Your Mission Statement

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Almost every ministry has a mission statement in a frame on their wall or in the first paragraph of their handbook. But mission statements aren’t meant to be framed; they’re supposed to be followed. 

In order to be effective as a ministry leader, you need to be able to identify and articulate a clear and compelling “why” for your ministry in your context. These statements don’t have to be long, but they do need to be specific, actionable, and relevant to your everyday decisions. If you have one, it may be time to review your “why” statement to make sure it still accurately outlines the primary purpose of your ministry. 

If you do not have one, today would be a great day to begin drafting one. Here are five big benefits to help inspire you to clarify your why.

Benefit 1: Your “why” gives you a target and a filter. Understanding your “why” helps you answer the otherwise difficult question, “Should we  ______?”. As a leader, you will need to fill in this blank a hundred times. Should we continue to have a kids choir? Should we host a fall festival for the community? Should we have our kids write notes to shut-ins? Should we take a group of kids to summer camp?

Every decision you make along the way will either align with your why in a way that reinforces the core mission of your ministry or divert your attention to something else. In each instance, continually looking back to your stated purpose will help you evaluate each decision with greater clarity. Then, you can make confident decisions without stress, and you can let your yes be yes and your no be no. 

Benefit 2: Your “why” helps you determine your destination. The first thing your GPS asks you to do is enter your desired destination. Knowing where you are going is essential information in order to set a successful and efficient course. Your purpose is your compass. Many kids ministry leaders are actively driving and moving and steering and accelerating their ministries without really knowing where they are going. Articulating your ‘why’ is the equivalent of entering an address into your GPS. We begin with the end in mind. 

Once you know what you want your kids to know, and how you want them to grow before they go, you can move forward with greater confidence that you are taking effective steps to get them there. 

Benefit 3: Your “why” helps you stay focused on big problems. As we seek to connect our kids to God through growing individual relationships with Jesus, we face some pretty big opposition. Our kids are immersed in an ungodly culture within a worldly-minded kingdom that competes for the affections of their hearts. 

We have a culture problem. Romans 12:2 warns us to not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but we know that the world pressures and influences our kids to conform everyday. 

We have a kingdom problem. Matthew 6:25-26 contrasts the responses of those living with a worldly kingdom mindset and those who live for the kingdom of God. Those who don’t know God or the way He works are filled with worry and doubt and anxiety. Our kids’ values are being shaped daily by a worldly kingdom that denies God as ruler and king. We need to show them how to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness so they can walk in boldness and confidence. 

We have a heart problem. True and lasting spiritual transformation does not come from correcting kids’ behavior. If we merely teach them how to act in ways that look good—act nice, act humble, act godly, or act like a good Christian—we are really just teaching them to be actors. In Isaiah 29:13 The Lord says, “…people approach me with their speeches to honor me with their lip-service, yet their HEARTS are far from me.” Coaching kids to change their outward behavior does not transform. True change that honors God has to start in the heart. 

Benefit 4: Your “why” helps everyone know their role. Discipling children to spiritual maturity requires an intentional partnership between ministry leaders, volunteers, parents, and kids. Deuteronomy 6 reminds us that God intends for parents to be the primary disciplers of their own children. Many parents are not well equipped to do this themselves. We live in what might be referred to as an outsourcing culture. If I want my son to learn math, I hire a tutor. If I want him to learn piano, I hire a teacher. If I want to help him advance in soccer, I hire a trainer. Likewise, many parents who want their kids to grow in faith look to outsource spiritual development to the church. 

While training, teaching, and tutoring kids in matters of faith directly will always be an important part of what we do, we must also be ever mindful to partner with parents to coach, equip, and resource them to disciple their own kids at home. Just as pastors are called to equip the saints for ministry (not just do it themselves), we are called to equip parents to lead their families spiritually. 

Benefit 5: Your “why” helps you define success. According to research reported in the book Nothing Less by Jana Magruder, written to report the results of surveys conducted by the Lifeway Research team, Christian adults want many good things for their kids, but many of the good things families pursue are not effective in cultivating spiritual maturity in kids as they grow into adults. Of those surveyed 25% want their kids to be happy, 22% want their kids to be successful, 19% want their kids to be ‘good people,’ 17% want them to be well educated. Less than 10% of those surveyed say they want their kids to be godly. Too many of us are content to lead our ministries in a way that fosters happy, successful, educated, ‘good kids,’ without prioritizing their godliness. 

Rather than teaching our kids to pursue being happy in a world within which we are meant to be set apart, may we instead teach them that they are God’s workmanship, made in His image, created on purpose, designed for purpose, known by God, highly valued, deeply loved and completely forgiven through the person and work of Jesus. Let’s define success by a different standard than the world. Let’s craft our ministries to train up kids who know they are made to be set apart. 

What’s your why? 

Take time to reevaluate your mission, vision and values statement in light of these five factors. It may be time to make some edits or adjustments to clarify the “why” for your ministry. 

Chuck Peters is Director of Operations for Lifeway Kids. Before his role at Lifeway, Chuck had an extensive career in television and video production. He is a 3-time Emmy Award Winning producer, director, writer and host. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck, and his wife, Cris, have served vocationally & voluntarily in Student and Children’s Ministry for many years. They have four amazing children: Tally (21), Tristen (20), Tyson (14) and Tate (11). 

Kids Ministry, Ministry, Teacher Appreciation

Ministering to Kids as They go Back to School

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Well this has been a weird year, and from the looks of it, it could be weird again. Kids across the country are getting ready to go back to school, many live and in person. While that might not be true of the kids in your particular ministry area, there are ways for you to minister to kids as they begin this new school year in whatever fashion it comes. Here are a few thoughts that might get you started. 

  1. Pray! Prayer obviously is the greatest thing we can do as kids begin this transition. Let the kids hear you pray for them and their schools. Make it a point to pray by name for the kids in your ministry as they get ready for this next step of their educational journey. Pray for the teachers and the administrators at the various schools and pray for the moms and dads that homeschool. Pray for the congregation to come alongside the girls and boys as they learn. Bathe the entire educational year in prayer. 
  2. Have a special back to school kickoff event. Kids love a fun event, and secretly parents do too. At your event you can provide kids with a bag full of school supplies or other fun things they can use as they begin their school year. Engage with local schools to discover some of the things that might specifically be needed and try to provide some of those items to the schools. Get the kids involved in collecting items for school needs. 
  3. Appreciate educators in your congregation. Take time in corporate worship to identify and offer appreciation for the members in your church that teach, work in the school system somehow, and the parents that homeschool their kids! 
  4. Continue to care. Provide opportunities throughout the school year for kids and parents to talk about their experiences. Don’t just forget about school once it starts, make sure the kids know you care!

What are some ways you are planning to continue ministry to kids as they start back to school?

Kids Ministry, Ministry, Uncategorized

You know you’re in kidmin when …

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By Shelly Harris

You know you’re in kidmin when … 

  1. You come home from church with the security tags you collected from parents stuffed in your pockets.
  2. You get excited when someone buys Crayola crayons and markers for the kids (and you!) to use.
  3. You know that you can fit 50 2-liters in one shopping cart. 
  4. You smile when you see a clean, organized Resource Room or Closet.
  5. You peruse the dollar spot at Target, the entire dollar store, and the sale aisle at Hobby Lobby just in case you might find something you can use for a game or craft … one day.
  6. You watch the cashier scan 150 foam paint brushes/folders/glue sticks individually while the people behind you sigh.
  7. You’ve had at least one conversation with the custodial staff about glitter.
  8. You loaded an entire cart full of cheese crackers and counted the number of people who said “Wow! You must love cheese crackers!” or “You must be really hungry for cheese crackers” as you strolled to the front register.
  9. You cringe slightly when the phone rings on Saturday night. Not another call out!
  10. You have been VBS tired.
  11. You have at least one craft that you will NEVER do again. 
  12. You love the smell of freshly sprayed Lysol.
  13. You have prayed for a child’s pet to get well soon.
  14. You have more than one favorite Bible story.
  15. You can say the Books of the Bible in 60 seconds.
  16. You have researched allergen-free products so all the kids in your ministry can be safe and participate.
  17. Your heart breaks for the kids in your ministry.
  18. You wake up in the middle of the night thinking about that family who is going through a tough time.
  19. You cherish the moment you see a kid understand the gospel for the first time.
  20. You would do it all again because this is where God has called you, and there is nowhere else you would rather be.
Discipleship, Kids Ministry, Ministry, Missions

Missional Sunday School

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By Anna Sargeant

Do you tend to think of the kids in your Sunday School classrooms as missionaries? Most people don’t. We think one day—when our kids are more mature or know more right answers or better understand their spiritual gifts or have learned to sin less—then God will use them. 

We think too little of both God and children. 

This blog is part of a two-part series on missional Sunday school, an approach to Sunday school which focuses on training kids to openly and eagerly share what they have gained in the gospel with others. There have been dozens of books written on the missional movement, and in sum, the missional mindset says, “As Christians, it’s the church’s job to take the good news to the lost, not for the lost to come to the church to find the good news.”

So in this first post, I’ll highlight three things:

  • God likes to use kids in His mission. 
  • Kids have what they need to be missionaries.
  • God cares about mission.

God likes to use kids in His mission. 

Look at Josiah, who became king of Judah when he was just 8 years old:

“Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.” (2 Kings 22:1-2, emphasis added)

Talk about an important mission: ruling a whole kingdom! 

Or how about David, who scholars say was around 15 years old when he killed Goliath? It was the Israelite army’s mission to defeat their enemy, but they were terrified and did not trust the Lord. So David (the teenager) took on the job. He put His full trust in God and accomplished the task. 

David responded to Saul, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37).

In other words, when David was even younger than 15 years old, he had been fighting off lions and bears with God’s help. David had developed such a robust faith in God, that he (the teenager) gladly stepped up and slayed the giant when no one in the military would.

This is what the kids in our Sunday schools need to know: a vibrant relationship with God will compel them to step out in faith, to be a witness to God’s power and glory in the world. And they can do this starting now. Josiah did it. David did it. Mary, Jesus’ mother, did it. Countless other kids and teens throughout history have done it. God loves to use kids in His mission. 

One way to jumpstart outward-facing, missional thinking in your kids is to ask certain questions following a Bible story. After discussing the facts, you could ask: 

  • How do you want to be part of what God is doing in the world? 
  • What needs do you see around you? What do you want to do to meet them? 
  • How can we work together as a church to meet those needs?

Kids have what they need to be missionaries. 

Not only is it possible for God to use kids in His missions, it’s necessary.  

According to a study conducted by the National Association of Evangelicals in 2015, 63% of Christians claimed they put their faith in Jesus between the ages of 4 and 14, the age range some have called the 4/14 window. Usually, we interpret this to mean that adults—family members, pastors, coaches, friends of the family, etc.— need to share the gospel with children. And that’s true! I became a Christian when I was five years old when my dad shared the gospel with me. 

But Christian children should not be ignored as credible witnesses to the gospel as well. After all, our children have testimonies: 

  • They can talk about what God is teaching them. 
  • They can talk about prayers God has answered. 
  • They can listen to someone’s pains or problems and pray for them. 
  • They can tell someone the basic gospel message: Our sin separates us and God, but Jesus paid for that sin when He died on the cross and rose again. Now all who believe in Jesus can have a real relationship with God.
  • They can talk about how God is helping them and changing their hearts.

A friend once told me even though her kids couldn’t articulate what was different about them after they became Christians, she could. She saw clear evidence of the Holy Spirit in their lives when there was no evidence before. Encourage the kids in your classrooms to ask their parents, “How am I different now that I am a Christian?” This information is part of their testimony. It’s part of what they can share the good news with their friends. 

Secondly, children have the spiritual qualifications of ambassadors for God. After all, what is God looking for?

  • Childlike faith (Matthew 18:2-4)
  • People who feel weak (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
  • People who are insecure in themselves (1 Chronicles 17:16)
  • People who can tell the truth, even when it’s awkward (Acts 4:20)

Still, some of us get worried when we think about our kids being on mission. We fear they will say the wrong thing. We’re afraid they won’t represent Jesus well. We don’t want them to face rejection and not know how to bounce back. But aren’t all of those the same fears we face as adults? And none of that should keep us from sharing our faith! So why should these things keep our children from sharing theirs—especially if the people they would be sharing with are their friends, neighbors, classmates, and teammates, all people in that 4/14 window? 

Again, a missional mindset is simply the mindset that says, “My faith isn’t only about me. I want to share the gospel with those around me! I want to be part of God’s mission.” Christian kids can have this mindset, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, they have everything they need to share their faith.  

God cares about mission

Lastly, it’s important that we help our kids to think this way so that we’re not giving them a partial gospel. God always intended to use His people to go to new places, to be a blessing wherever they were, and to fill the earth with His glory. Consider the following Scriptures:

The prophet Habakkuk said: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14) 

Jesus said, “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.“ (Matthew 24:14) 

Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) 

John says in Revelation: “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10

This is the end goal—that people from all over the world hear the name of Jesus and believe—and God is inviting us to join Him. Let’s make sure our kids know this and understand that they can be a part of it, starting today! 

Anna served on the children’s ministry team at The Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, Texas from 2009-2017, first as a volunteer, then as full-time staff. She also wrote for six years for The Gospel Project for Kids curriculum. Anna currently works as an acquisitions editor for B&H Kids in Nashville. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading a book, sipping tea, chatting with loved ones, attempting to record a podcast, or walking in the woods.

Events, Family Ministry, Kids Ministry, Ministry, Resources, Teaching Kids
Encouragement, Events, Family Ministry, Kids Ministry, Ministry, Reaching, Resources

Ready, Reset, Go!

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Summer is here, and kids ministry leaders everywhere find themselves re-entering into the joys and challenges of conducting busy summer ministries like VBS, attending summer camps, and creating summer programming to re-engage kids and families. It has been encouraging to see so much momentum around vacation bible school this summer. If there was any question as to whether kids would return to at-church events, the answer is a resounding, yes!

The good news is that the positive response we have seen to summer ministry events would seem to indicate that kids and parents are ready to come back to church. Ready or not, kids are coming back, and we need to make sure we are ready to go when they arrive. It may be tempting to take a break and relax with a major vacation getaway and let ourselves let down after camp and VBS are over, it would be wiser to take a brief respite and quickly reset our sights on fall. The reality is that the calendar is not our friend. Time is short, and, if we are honest, many of us are not really ready. If you feel like you have been running late and making a lot of last-minute decisions you are far from alone. We have all been functioning in a reactive mode, shrouded in uncertainty, without the ability to plan as far ahead as we would prefer. 

Although we don’t have eons of time to regroup, we do have a window of opportunity to make preparations over the next few weeks so we can get out in front of what we hope will be a significant fall influx. But we cannot afford to delay. Now is the time to make key decisions and take important actions as we anticipate the restart of our kids ministries, some or all of which may have been on mothballs for the last 18 months. 

We cannot afford to simply return to what we did a year and a half ago. This is time to reassess, reevaluate, regroup, reenlist, reengage, and possibly reinvent our kids ministry strategies, programs, and personnel. We need to re-design our ministries to make sure that they are well informed by the current state of our culture and make adjustments where necessary. In many regions churches have already returned to ministry as usual where they no longer require leaders or kids to wear masks or to enforce strong guidelines on social distancing, however it is wise for us to continue to implement standards and practices that minimize contact and maximize space for everyone in attendance. If you have not already reviewed and updated your guidelines, now is the time. 

The Lifeway kids team has created two important and helpful e-books that you can find at lifeway.com/kmfa. 6 Considerations for Reopening your Kids Ministry gives insight in regards to standards of practice for safety, cleanliness and volunteer preparation and 10 Attributes of an Unshakable Kids Ministry helps you reevaluate your priorities so you can best serve kids and families as we emerge into a new post Covid season. 

We anticipate what may be the largest fall kick off for kids ministries anywhere, ever, so we would all be wise to create strategies specific for re-engaging kids and families who have not attended regularly over the last 18 months, and to welcome and invite new families from the community to visit our churches this fall. Summer is a great time to offer fun family events in your fellowship hall or parking lot to attract and connect with kids and their families. This is a great opportunity to proclaim that your kids ministry will be back in a big way this fall. Starting this conversation early will help kids and families prepare now to be back then. To help you host a successful relaunch event, the Lifeway kids team has also provided a handy kit for creating your own fall relaunch celebration. The Go Time Kit is a printable download that will help you outline an experience for families that will reestablish relational connection between your church and the community you serve and restart momentum as we get ready to press go. 

As we anticipate a massive return of kids and families to our churches this fall nationwide, we as kids ministry leaders need to not only gear up to re-open our doors and prepare our spaces for kids to be back, but also reevaluate our strategies in light of a world that has changed. Whether we are ready or not, fall is coming, and it is coming fast. Now is the time to get ready, and to reset, so that we can be all-systems-go as we near September and the relaunch of our kids ministries.

Chuck Peters is Director of Operations for Lifeway Kids. Before his role at Lifeway, Chuck had an extensive career in television and video production. He is a 3-time Emmy Award Winning producer, director, writer and host. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck, and his wife, Cris, have served vocationally & voluntarily in Student and Children’s Ministry for many years. They have four amazing children: Tally (21), Tristen (20), Tyson (14) and Tate (11). 

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