5 Ways to Support a Thriving Children’s Church
It shouldn't surprise you that an expensive curriculum isn’t everything. A fancy set of church lessons engages kids in the moment, but a well-rounded children’s church makes an impact that lasts for life. If your Sunday school content isn’t part of a bigger story, then your children’s church might not be up to scratch.
Amplify your efforts by designing a ministry strategy, not just choosing a ministry curriculum. The children at your ministry benefit from a healthy church culture, growing closer to God through their lived experiences of their community. You probably spend a lot of time ensuring your adult ministry is well-rounded and thriving, but do you pour the same energy into your kids' ministry?
Keep reading for five essential children’s church ideas to keep kids connected and kidmin thriving.
Developing Leaders
If you want to improve your church, you need to first look at your leaders. Every ministry needs a strong team of people to lead the way in all church sectors. Offer specialized training to your kids’ ministry and adult church leaders alike, so you know your congregants are in safe hands.
Focus on equipping your team with the tools they need to excel in their kids' ministry role. Think about where time is being spent, wasted, and valued, and create a plan to streamline your ministry processes, keeping your workers efficient and effective.
Do you spend more time lesson prepping or focus on small group sessions? Is there room for progression in your ministry model, or do volunteers stagnate? Developing leaders means spotting potential and providing the training to cultivate a people-first church.
Guiding Kids to Faith
A good curriculum will educate young minds about God’s work, the gospel, and scripture. But, a connected and inspiring kids’ ministry will lead youngsters to Jesus, encouraging them to live a Godly life. Ministry should be a safe space, offering a chance for children to explore their faith.
The truth is that faith cannot be quantified. No number of Sunday school lessons a child attends or passages of scripture they can recite will determine their relationship with God. Faith is a feeling felt from within; there must be more to kids’ church than curriculum.
One of the biggest achievements of any ministry worker is seeing their impact transfer to the lives of the children around them. Make this a priority at your ministry by encouraging a connection that runs deeper than any curriculum, class, or church—cultivate Christians for life.
Family Involvement
By now, you probably know just how important family involvement is when conducting kids’ ministry. Not only do little ones spend most of their time with their parents, but parents often benefit from a little extra direction from their church leaders. Learn more about the importance of family in ministry here.
Make your ministry feel more like a home than a school by taking extra steps to draw the family in. Support parents by encouraging them to complete tasks with their kids at home or dedicate daily time to focus on prayer and gratitude.
Children’s brains are like sponges. Their minds develop through imitation, so living by the Bible yourself is essential, whether you’re a church leader, ministry volunteer, or parent. Practice what you preach, and be the kind of person your child will be proud of.
Community Outreach
Having a community outreach sector is essential at any church, but do you go the extra mile to involve your kids in the process too? Introduce kids to the realities of the world at an early age to show them the work their church does to make the world a better place.
Your youth ministry should offer youth volunteer programs to get your kids involved from the get-go. The harsh realities of life are unavoidable, and mission work for youth can highlight the differences in life situations in a way that empowers them to make a difference. Choose youth ministry outreach ideas that welcome action.
Giving youth volunteers the chance to share their beliefs by ministering in nursing homes or soup kitchens will show them that some people are less fortunate than themselves. It becomes an opportunity for teaching, thankfulness, and generosity that they will continue into their adult lives.
But Curriculum Does Matter
Curriculum may not be everything, but it certainly makes a difference. If your ministry leaders are overworked, underappreciated, or experiencing burnout, the trickle-down effect will impact your kids' ministry.
Some churches do design their own curriculum, but nowadays, most ministries prefer to purchase a curriculum package directly from a trusted provider. Not only does this save essential time, but it also ensures you are offering the very best for your students.
When you don’t have to think about curriculum every week, you will free up space in your schedule to focus on the more important elements of ministry. Read this blog to find the right curriculum for your church.
Conclusion
Children’s church and children’s ministry are not the same. They may contain similar elements, but one prioritizes building a bond between God and His people, while the other mimics a school classroom. Learn more about the differences here. Put your youngest minds first by ensuring your ministry offers more than just a curriculum, but an experience that leads them to God.