Engage. Equip. Empower - Make These Changes Today

I have been writing quite a bit about how we in the church - and in Children's Ministries in particular must make changes. We are losing children, teens, and young adults at double the rate of any previous generation as they decide they no longer want anything to do with church and are turning away from their faith. We are able to change this, but we must act now. Consider the following things you are able to do today - and then please do them!

First, you must give an honest look at what you are doing in your Children's Ministry. Are you boring children? Do you still use lecture when you teach or do you engage the children so they are able to help teach the Bible lessons? Do you use science projects to help them remember the point? Do you make your Children's Ministry a place where all children want to be, or are they bored? You ARE about to make the changes you need to make so your Children's Ministry is genuinely effective. Make these changes today.

Secondly, are you equipping, engaging, and encouraging grandparents/parents so they are able to hand down confident faith? In the best case scenario you are only with children a couple hours a week - and most of the time children only attend church every other week. Parents and grandparents are with the children they love far more and are able to make a significant impact on their lives, so take advantage of this. Equip them with resources which will help them hand down confident faith. (You will find resources you are able to use at this link and this link.) Encourage them to hand down confident faith. Doing this will make a huge difference, so make this change today.

Ask your curriculum publisher to add apologetics to each lesson - or at least each month or quarter. We MUST teach children WHY they are able to believe what we teach them. If we do not, far too many of them will turn away from their faith. Ask your publisher to do this - if enough churches do this, they will add this feature to their curriculum. Until they do, add it yourself. Give children a confident faith - help them know why they are able to believe in God and trust His Word with confidence. Do this today. (An easy way to do this would be to use the Life on the Goldilocks Planet series along with your current curriculum. Teach about a different animal each week, or at least each month and why they help children know they are able to have a confident faith - check this link for details.)

Engage children at church. Equip and encourage parents and grandparents to hand down confident faith at home. Empower children so they know the "whys". These things matter. Make these changes today.