Spend Your Time in the Wisest & Most Effective Way

As someone who serves - whether part-time, full-time or as a volunteer - in Children's Ministry, we only have a set amount of time which we are able to invest in the Children's Ministry each week. Clearly we want to make the most of the time we are able to spend; we also want to get the most out of this time. Obviously there is a certain amount of time which must be spent on recruiting, retaining, training, encouraging volunteers. There is a certain amount of time which must be spent on writing/choosing curriculum and resources. There is a certain amount of time which must be spent in classes/ministries/activities with children. There is a certain amount of time which must be spent connecting with parents/grandparents/families. There is a certain amount of time which must be spent on planning. Most importantly there is a certain amount of time which must be spent in prayer and study of God's Word.

All of this time is time wisely spent, but there is also one more area where we must spend time - and sadly where most churches do not spend time . . . time spent equipping grandparents and parents, so they are able to hand down the faith. Parents/grandparents are the ones who are with the children on a daily basis - obviously the spend more time with the children than do you. If they are equipped to hand down the faith, they will be able to accomplish so much more than the church ever will. Your time is very well spent when you spend it on equipping parents and grandparents to hand down the faith.

Parents and grandparents need to understand it is their God-given "job" to hand down the faith. They need to know they are able to make a significant difference and impact in the lives of the children they love, so they grow up to love, know, talk and walk with God. They need to know what resources are available to help them hand down the faith effectively. They need to know they are not alone when it comes to handing down the faith - especially in the families where the parents are not handing down the faith and the grandparents are doing this on their own. Please do not leave these grandparents feeling like they are all alone when it comes to handing down the faith.

Plus, please keep in mind, in an ever growing number of church families, as the children grow up they are leaving the church. (Check the post I wrote at this link about a Barna study which looks at why they are becoming atheist/agnostic.) We must open our eyes and focus upon equipping parents/grandparents, so they are able to hand down the faith. Yes, you have no shortage of things you need to do - things which take the time you have available to give to the Children's Ministry, but also know, when you team up with the parents and grandparents and equip them to hand down the faith, your time will be extremely well spent as families become stronger and children grow to claim the faith as their own.