Kids Ministry

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Prayer

Praying Resilient Faith in 2022

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by Kayla Stevens

Resilient faith grows from strategic practice. When we are shaken by our circumstances, ministry weariness, unexpected change, and struggle, it is our continual, ordinary practices that lead us to endure—to grow strong and healthy again and again.

I long for resilient faith in my ministry. I would venture to guess that if you’re like me, your last few years of ministry have seen moments of spiritual milestones and celebrations and moments of discouragement and change. It is important that we make space to hold both as we consider how to pray for the coming year.

Hebrews 12:1 reminds us to “run with endurance the race that lies before us.” 

As we plan for the coming year of ministry goals, let’s plan to incorporate strategic practices of prayer in our ministries. We need and want resilient faith to minister to our children and parents.

Resilient Faith for Families 

  • Pray for families to have a renewed hunger to love and read God’s Word together. 
  • Pray for marriages to be strengthened and flourish in a renewed commitment to godliness.
  • Pray for single parents to be encouraged and strengthened by faithful community. 
  • Pray for siblings to love and serve one another with grateful hearts. 
  • Pray for kids to grow in bold faith as they ask questions about God and the Bible, learning to trust God when the answers are sometimes confusing. 

Resilient Faith for Kids Leaders and Volunteers

  • Pray for leaders to grow in a renewed commitment to their relationship with God.
  • Pray for leaders to engage with the kids they teach, being sensitive to the needs of each child.
  • Pray for leaders and volunteers to build relationships with others in their sphere of influence, both with parents and other leaders they serve alongside. 
  • Pray for the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional heath of your leaders and volunteers. 
  • Pray for God to provide fresh vision for leaders and volunteers as they serve and equip this generation to know and love God. 

Resilient Faith for Pastor(s) and Church Staff

  • Pray for your pastor and church staff to walk in faithful obedience to God’s mission for the church.
  • Pray for your pastor and church staff to engage in deeper discipleship and accountability with trusted believers. 
  • Pray for your pastor and church staff to find their identity in their relationship with God and to guard against pleasing others. 
  • Pray for your pastor and church staff to lead in ministry areas with humility, grace, and authenticity. 
  • Pray for your pastor and church staff as they prepare to lead each week.

Resilient Faith for Your Kids Ministry Leader (aka: You!)

  • Pray for your faith to be refreshed and encouraged as you lead. 
  • Pray for God to provide wisdom as you plan and prepare for the future of the ministry. 
  • Pray for balance in your ministry and personal life. 
  • Pray for God to strengthen your endurance to run well in the ministry He has entrusted to you.
  • Pray for your emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing, that God would sustain you and give you fresh excitement for the year ahead.  

Two practical tools for accomplishing your prayer goals. 

  1. Journal your prayers. Write out your requests, all of them, in detail. Revisit your journal with updates to your prayer requests and record any answers or victories the Lord has brought to you.
  2. Partner in prayer. Find another friend or kids ministry leader to pray with you each week. Find a parent that has a great heart for children and the church and pray with them as well. This gives greater encouragement in prayer as well as a good accountability in prayer.

As we begin again in this coming year, may we do so with prayerful resilient faith that sustains us as we depend on God and trust in His leading. 

Kayla Stevens is a Content Editor for Lifeway Kids and a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has contributed to several books and Bible studies including What about Kids Ministry? Practical Answers to Questions about Kids Ministry (2018), What is a Christian? Answers for Kids (2018), and Behold Your King (2020). She has been serving in Kids Ministry for over 14 years and has a deep passion for empowering children to own their faith and grow deeper in the joy of Jesus. 

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Prayer

The Importance of Prayer in Children’s Ministry

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Sometimes I feel like the most overlooked aspect of planning and preparation for (me personally) teaching Bible study is often prayer. Prayer is critical in our plan to teach boys and girls the deep truths of Scripture and without an intentional prayer life we may struggle to plan. The good news is that the Bible itself gives us great encouragement about prayer. Here are a few things we can learn from Scripture about prayer.  

Jesus is our example. Many places in the gospels record Jesus separating Himself from the crowds and seeking the Father in prayer. Here are just a few for you to consider, but feel free to find more examples on your own. Matthew 14:23; 26:36; Mark 1:35; 6:46; 14:32; Luke 5:16; 6:12. Jesus’ example of prayer shows how important prayer is to a healthy spiritual life. As we plan, we should take Jesus’ example and seek God consistently in prayer. 

Jesus prayed for children. Three of the gospel accounts show Jesus’ care and concern for children as these snapshots talk about a time when parents were bringing their children to Jesus so He could bless the children. Check out Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; and Luke 18:15-17. Jesus knew the importance of praying for children. As we prepare for teaching, we should share Jesus’ love and concern, and pray by name for each and every child whom we teach.  

Prayer is commanded. Many places in Scripture give us encouragement on prayer. Sometimes we might not know what to pray, but God, through the Holy Spirit, will help us do that too (see Romans 8:26.) We should always be in an attitude of prayer, trusting God to hear us and answer us as He wills. See a few other verses that encourage prayer. Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; and 1 Timothy 2:1.  

I love to tell kids that prayer is just a conversation with God. One definition defines prayer as “talking to God and listening to Him.” This definition evokes a conversational attitude where two people are talking and listening to each other. Our communication with God is not just important in the quiet times we spend with Him, but we should be the outward example of that communication as we lead boys and girls to discover how to talk to and listen to God. As we begin helping kids discover a closer relationship with God through prayer, they will grow deeper in their understanding of and relationship with Him!

What are some ways you are praying for the boys and girls you teach and how can we pray for you?  

Tim Pollard teaches 3rd graders at Tulip Grove Baptist Church. He’s passionate about helping kids dig deep into Scripture, which he pursues through his daily work as leader of the Explore the Bible: Kids team. Tim lives with his wife and daughters in Mount Juliet, TN.

Discipleship, Encouragement, Leadership, Prayer

Prayer for the Empty Chair

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As fall arrives, many of our ministries will re-gather, perhaps for the first time in a long time. Maybe you intend to kick things off with a large family event, followed by a fresh introduction to kids gatherings in Sunday school classrooms and in large groups for children’s church. Many of us will have new volunteers and new visitors and new opportunities to engage in ministry. Let’s absolutely make sure to appropriately celebrate those who attend. Greet her warmly, look him in the eye, call them by name, and let them know that they are welcome and wanted and valued. But even as we celebrate those who are present, I want to challenge you to also make an effort to be aware of those who are not there. 

I like to make a practice of praying over an empty chair. You can do this alone, with your volunteers, or even with the children in attendance. By praying over the empty chair we acknowledge that there is always room for one more, and that we want the Lord to bring someone into the group and fill the empty seat. 

The empty chair may represent someone who had been a regular attender who is no longer able to come to gatherings, or it may represent someone new to the area who is looking for a place to belong. It may represent someone who has never attended church before at all. 

By praying for the empty chair we make it known to all involved that our desire is to invite, welcome and celebrate those that God wants to bring to himself. It also lets children know that we pray for them even when they are not with us. 

As you return to gathering for ministry this week, consider starting a new practice of prayer for the empty chair. And ask God to bring newcomers into belonging in your church and in His family.

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.

Encouragement, Prayer
Kids Ministry, Ministry, Prayer
Kids Ministry, Prayer

Praying for Your Kids Ministry

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Children’s ministry has looked different these last few months. During this time, when we haven’t been able to meet in person, I’ve been reminded of the importance of continuing to pray for kids ministry in our churches. At this time, your church may be meeting online, gathering for family worship, or offering children’s classes again. You can use the below prayer prompts to pray for your kids ministry. 

1. PRAY FOR THE CHILDREN IN YOUR CHURCH.

The children in your church may come from a variety of backgrounds, including single parent homes, foster homes, blended families, intergenerational families, and children whose parents do not attend church.

  • Pray for children as they develop spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
  • Pray they come to know Christ and grow in their faith.
  • Pray they would boldly share Jesus with friends.
  • Pray for godly friendships. Pray relationships built during the children’s ministry years will continue to build in future years, giving them Christian community and accountability through the teenage years.
  • Pray for authentic, lasting heart transformation in the lives of the children in the church.

2. PRAY FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF CHILDREN.

Just as children come from a variety of backgrounds, parents and guardians do as well. Some parents have grown up in the church, while other parents have never been to church. Some parents in your church are single parents, step parents, foster parents or grandparents raising grandchildren.

  • Pray parents would grow in their relationship with Christ. For parents who have yet to accept Christ, pray they would understand their need for a Savior and become a Christian.  
  • Pray for wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit as they seek to be the spiritual leaders and provide a godly home for their family.
  • Pray for opportunities for spiritual conversations with their children during the week; intentionally recognizing teachable moments and continuing spiritual conversations.
  • Pray that in the busyness of life, they would make spiritual development a priority in their family’s life.
  • Pray parents have wisdom to understand and guidance of how to parent each child the way God has created Him.

3. PRAY FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY TEACHERS AND VOLUNTEERS.

This group is vital to every children’s ministry. These volunteers are the hands and feet of Jesus as they teach and care for the children in your church’s ministry.

  • Pray they would hear God’s voice as they read His Word and prepare the lessons. Pray for their spiritual growth and relationship with Christ.
  • Pray they will see ways God is using them to make a difference in children’s lives.  
  • Pray for renewed strength, energy, and health as they teach each week. Include their family members’ strength, energy, and health in your prayers, as well.
  • Pray God would encourage them with time of adult fellowship and godly friendships.  Children’s Ministry teachers need adult fellowship and community with other believers.  
  • Pray for teachers as they seek to build relationships with the families of the children they teach and partner with parents in the child’s spiritual development.

4. PRAY FOR THE CHILDREN’S MINISTER. 

The person who oversees and leads the kids’ ministry may serve as full-time, part-time, or as a volunteer.

  • Pray for wisdom as they communicate their heart for ministry to children and families.
  • Pray their relationship with Christ grows and deepens. Pray for spiritual protection for his or her family from the enemy.
  • Pray for renewed strength, energy, and health as they lead the children’s ministry. Include their family members’ strength, energy, and health in your prayers, too.
  • Pray they will build relationships with other adults including church staff members, children’s ministry volunteers, parents and children’s ministers from other churches.
  • Pray they are encouraged as God works in and through them in the lives of children and families in the church.

As you pray for the children’s ministry regularly, seek out other kids ministry leaders and parents for others specific ways you can pray. Then, let them know you’re praying for them by sending a handwritten note, email, or text message. Even better, let them hear you pray aloud for them. When you hear someone pray aloud for you, it’s extremely impactful and meaningful. Regardless if your church is meeting online or in person, remember the importance of praying for your kids ministry.

Prayer, Vacation Bible School

National Day of Prayer for VBS – May 17, 2020

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By Rhonda Vancleave

Each year, the third Sunday in May is designated as the National Day of Prayer for VBS. It is at this time that thousands of churches are ramping up their focus on VBS. VBS directors are making final preparations. VBS leaders are organizing their resources and gathering the items they need to make VBS fun and exciting. This special day of prayer focuses on the leaders who are preparing, the kids who will come, the friends they will bring, and especially those who will discover their need for a Savior.

Sunday, May 17, 2020, is this year’s National Day of Prayer for VBS, and we find ourselves in a set of circumstances that may be drastically different for each church. But, some things are still the same. God is still God. He is sovereign and good. God’s message is still true. Jesus is the only way to receive salvation. Churches are still finding ways to share that message with the people around them.

Some churches are changing their VBS dates and discovering the unique adjustments that entails. Some are looking for ways to gather in smaller numbers or in locations that are safer for their circumstances. Some are combining the powers of technology and various delivery systems to help kids have a special VBS experience at home. 

Let us all commit, on this unique day of prayer, to bring this ministry before God. May He guide churches as they consider how to reach kids and their families. May He give leaders the courage to focus on the “why” of VBS in order to determine their best “how.”

John F. Kennedy is quoted as saying, “When written in Chinese the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters—one represents danger and the other represents opportunity.” A variety of fears may be facing our churches, but the biggest danger is missing the opportunity to reach families who may be looking for answers for the very first time. We know the answers are found in God’s Word and in a relationship with His Son, Jesus. Join us in praying that churches will rise to the challenge of this crisis to embrace the opportunity of sharing the love of Jesus with their communities. His love IS our rock solid foundation.

Kids Ministry, Parenting, Prayer

Did Jesus Get Hand Cramps?

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I started praying for a family I’ve never met a few weeks ago. Thanks to the internet, I learned that a Christian artist I’ve followed for a while suffered a tragedy. Her daughter, one year younger than my oldest, had a seemingly minor fall which resulted in a traumatic brain injury.

Doesn’t news like that just jostle you when you have kids of your own? It feels impossible — the reality that these precious children we raise could leave us in mind or body in a split second fall. Doing normal things. On a regular day.

I started praying for this little girl, and led my daughters to pray for her, too. 

Then, a few weeks later, my youngest needed extra snuggles, so I was laying in her bed with her, and I heard my oldest daughter from the other room praying out loud. She started praying for the little girl to be healed, as we had been praying for weeks, and then her prayer changed.

“Jesus … actually, can you just come back? Yes! If you would just come back, the little girl would be healed and her mommy and daddy wouldn’t have to be sad anymore … I have to do school in the morning. What was your favorite subject in school? Well, you didn’t … WAIT, you probably did! You had to have your hand cramp and have your day be so long! Why did you do that? You could have just stayed in heaven …” 

I cried. And I’m crying again now. What a prayer.

How often do I forget Jesus’ humanity? How frequently do I pray a list of demands rather than praying with the humility that would ask questions like, “Why did you leave heaven to come here and live this life of pain and suffering and the hand cramps of carpentry? You could have just stayed in heaven …”

You know how the Spirit answers that why question, right? 

“Because I so love you …” (John 3:16).

And isn’t that what we’re all wanting to know? 

I spend a lot of time teaching my daughters about who God is and how much He loves them, but my 8-year-old daughter’s prayer last week taught me. He is so powerful that He can change anything for any prayer at any time. And He’s so approachable that we can talk to Him about His favorite subject. 

So, pray that God will help you teach your children about this glorious mystery of a God who loves broken people. Pray that God will work wonders. But also pray that He’ll help you see and learn from these little children, about the kind of faith that knows He hears. 

Scarlet Hiltibidal is the author of Afraid of All the Things and He Numbered the Pores on My Face. She lives in Middle Tennessee.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Prayer

Developing a Kids Ministry Prayer Team

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VogelI’ve probably never met another Kids Minister who said he did not believe in prayer. But, do we really? Do we truly practice biblical praying when it comes to our kids ministries? I must confess that as a kids minister I often rushed into action exerting my own efforts and then prayed, “Dear God, bless this mess!”

Lately, God has spoken to me and made me aware that every Kids Ministry should have a Prayer Team. It occurred to me that our churches will always have folks who do not feel led to teach kids on a weekly basis. But, they would agree to be part of a Kids Ministry Prayer Team. My vision would be to enlist a team of folks to your Kids Ministry Prayer Team. The goals of the group would be to:

  1. Pray for you on a regular basis. Pray for your health, your wisdom, and your protection from the evil one. Receive from you “personal” prayer requests.
  2. Pray for kids leaders on a rotating basis. Part of this assignment would also be to write notes of encouragement to leaders letting them know that they had been prayed for.
  3. Participate in “prayer walks” throughout your kids ministry areas … asking God to reach boys and girls and for protection against evil in your ministry area. Some might be willing to prayer walk through your ministry area while teaching is occurring.
  4. Pray for a dedicated classroom and leaders regularly.
  5. Pray for leadership needs in the Kids Ministry area.
  6. Pray specifically for physical and spiritual needs of the kids and families in your Kids Ministry.

I believe there are many folks who would be willing to be a part of your Kids Ministry Prayer Team. Why don’t you take this possibility to the Lord in “prayer” and see what develops?

Jerry Vogel is an Editorial Ministry Specialist in Lifeway Kids. He is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University and has served over 40 years in Kids Ministry at the local church level as well as at Lifeway. Jerry currently teaches four-year-olds at his church.

Bible Study, Devotional, Kids Ministry, Parenting, Prayer, Preschool, Preteen, Resources, Spiritual Disciplines

Teaching Kids to Pray

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by Mary Wiley

No matter if a child is learning to deal with his parents’ divorce or is just sad because he has to wait his turn to play on the swing, kids face battles both big and small. As parents and those who serve kids in the church, you can equip kids to fight those battles wisely through prayer. Teaching kids the spiritual discipline of prayer can feel daunting, and for many parents, they don’t feel capable of teaching their kids something that they also find to be a struggle. We want to equip you in the way you equip kids and parents to strengthen their prayer lives through three resources tied to the movie WAR ROOM.

Below are 5 tips and 3 resources to help you equip kids and parents in their journey toward healthy prayer lives. Let us know what you would add in the comments!

Tip #1: Model prayer daily.

When kids see that you view prayer as important, they will realize that it is also important in their own lives.

Tip #2: Pray for God to do big things.

Remind kids that God is big enough to do all things. He can heal the sickest of the sick and help the most helpless. Praise God for His power and also rely on Him to work.

Tip #3: Pray for God to do small things, too.

Being afraid of the dark or not being able to find a favorite toy might seem big to some kids, but we know in the grand scheme of things it’s a small thing. Make sure to pray for the small things. Never tell a kid their prayer request isn’t worth praying for. All things are worth taking to the Lord, and the Bible says that He cares for all of our concerns.

Tip #4: Talk about what it means to pray without ceasing.

This is a verse we like to throw around sometimes without a lot of explanation, but for a kid’s concrete mind, this sounds like never opening our eyes and having a really bad crick in our necks from bowing our heads for so long. Help kids understand that God wants us to talk to Him like we would a good friend – throughout the day.

Tip #5: Start now!

Don’t feel defeated if you haven’t been praying with your children each day. Each day is new and there’s no better day to start than today! Don’t worry about teaching your children perfectly. Ask God to help you and your children better understand prayer. He is faithful!

3 Resources for Kids:

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Peter’s Perfect Prayer Place 

This story for ages 4-8 follows Peter as he tries to find the perfect place to pray to God. Peter learns that God hears his prayers, no matter where he is, so the perfect place to pray is anywhere that you are!

Screen Shot 2015-09-24 at 2.24.11 PM

Prayer Works

This training guide will equip your 8-12 year olds to develop a strategic, growing prayer life. It is filled with activities, illustrations, and journaling prompts for kids to experience to help them think through why they should pray, why their prayers matter, and if God will answer their prayers.

Screen Shot 2015-09-24 at 2.24.34 PM

This Means War

Isn’t being a teenager a war in itself? Grab this book for those 13 and up to encourage them in their prayer life. This book includes journaling space and also short chapters that answer questions that teens have about prayer. There is no better skill to teach your children than to teach them to pray. As you seek to equip parents and children’s ministry leaders, consider offering up these resources developed alongside the movie WAR ROOM. Our children are walking into battle everyday. Let’s teach them the right way to fight.

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