Wednesday, August 31, 2022

New Questions for You to Ask

I'm old enough (experienced enough??!!!) to remember when we first began running background checks on volunteers for our Children's Ministries. It was new; and many established volunteers did not like it one bit. But, we did it, because it was the responsible thing to do and because the times demanded we do so.

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Chasing WHALES - Get Your Copy & Use in Your Ministry

Some of you who have been serving in Children's Ministry for awhile may recognize the ministry CM Connect. If so you know Michael Chanley is someone who has an absolute heart for Children's Ministry. He is the founder of CM Connect and has traveled around the world to help people serve the children and families in their ministries as effectively as possible. I have had the honor of meeting Michael in person and he is someone with a true servant's heart who clearly loves God with his all.

Happily, whether you are familiar with Michael and his ministry or not, you are able to read his new book - Chasing WHALES: a spiritual dive with Jonah

Do You Have a Next Generations Ministry?

When I first began writing about Children's Ministry I wrote on my own website. Then after about 10 years people began blogging, so I switched my content to a blog format and have been writing this blog for about fifteen years now.

Monday, August 29, 2022

Equip Parents & Grandparents to Hand Down the Faith

One thing this Covid-19 Pandemic has shown us with the stay at home orders is, parents/ grandparents are the people who have to teach the children they love. This became for a time the case for school and is the case - has always been the case - when it comes to handing down confident faith. It is not the job of the church to be the people who hand down confident faith - it is the God-given job of parents and grandparents. It is God's best plan for parents and grandparents to hand down confident faith to the children and grandchildren with whom He blesses them. It is the job of the church to equip, encourage, and enable parents and grandparents, so they hand down confident faith in their homes. We clearly see this now as children were not able to go to church for a time, but while it absolutely has to happen now, it needs to be one of the things which continues far past Covid-19.

Friday, August 26, 2022

One Reason Why You Should be a Strong Supporter of Grandparenting Ministry

There are many reasons why pastors and church leaders should be strong supporters of  Grandparenting Ministry, but let's just look at one reason today. This reason is because 60% of grandparents in the USA are baby boomers and the average age people become a first-time grandparent is age 48 (according to grandparents.com).

Thursday, August 25, 2022

What Grandparents Need From You

If you serve in Children's Ministry, you likely think of the parents when you think about the adults who bring the children in your ministry. There is solid reason for you to do so, as most of the people who bring children to your church are likely parents. Most, but not all. Your church most certainly has grandparents who bring their grandchildren to your Children's Ministry and there are some significant things you need to keep in mind when it comes to these grandparents . . .

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Think about the Grandparents!

When it comes to Children's Ministry, we obviously think a great deal about the children; as we well should. And, we typically think a fair amount about parents. But there are more people who we should think about, too. Grandparents. 

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

How are You Helping Grandparents Who Bring Grandchildren to Church?

Typically when you think about the adults who bring children to your church, you think of and picture the parents. And, for most of the children it is the parents who bring them to church. But not all. In most churches 10% to 25% of the people bringing the children to church are the grandparents. 

Monday, August 22, 2022

Do You Know Something Very Important?

There are many things you know, learn about, and keep track of when you serve in Children's Ministry. Things such as how many children are in your ministry, how often the children are attending, how many volunteers you have, and how many you need, along with what curriculum you are using and training your volunteers to use it effectively. These are just a few of the things you know, learn about, and keep track of when you serve in Children's Ministry. 

Friday, August 19, 2022

Strengthen Your Children's Ministry by Equipping Grandparents . . .

When you think about the families in your Children's Ministry, who do you think about? Of course families include children, parents, possibly older siblings in your youth ministry, but there is someone else to keep in mind when you think about the families in your Children's Ministry . . . the grandparents. Yes, grandparents!

Thursday, August 18, 2022

Who Are the Grandparents of the Children in Your Ministry?

When you think about the families of the children in your  Children's Ministry you of course think of the children; we know who they are. They are the people between the ages of birth and nine, ten or eleven - depending on where your church ends Children's Ministry and begins Student Ministries. 

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Yes, Our Children's Ministries Need to Change

I'm going to say something you may not have heard before . . . the church has allowed parents and grandparents to "outsource" their job of handing down confident faith to their children and grandchildren. Not only has the church allowed parents and grandparents to do this, but, sadly, we often encourage it. Even more, we communicate to parents and grandparents we in the church are the people best equipped to hand down confident faith. We must stop doing these things.

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

The Other "Basket" - Encourage Them!

Image result for clipart for encourageWe have been talking about if we are truly serious about reaching children for Jesus, so they learn to know and walk with Him, we have to, "move some of our 'eggs' to a different 'basket'", the "basket" of ministry to parents and grandparents. As I said, I believe this  "basket" has to do three things: engage, equip, and encourage and we have looked at engaging and equipping parents and grandparents to pass on a heritage of confident faith to their children/grandchildren. Today we will look at encouraging them to do this.

Monday, August 15, 2022

The Other "Basket" - Equip Them!

Image result for images for equip parentsI have been talking about ministry to parents and grandparents, so what might ministry to parents and grandparents look like? I believe it has to do three things: engage, equip and encourage. and we looked at, "engaging" them. I looked at some ideas of how to engage them and said, "The important thing is to get the attention of parents and grandparents, help remind them how quickly their children/ grandchildren will grow up and engage them in passing on a heritage of confident faith. Among the many important things parents do each day, there is none more important than passing on a heritage of confident faith to their children. And grandparents are not 'finished'. They have not, 'done their part'. If they are grandparents, they still have a job to do, a part to play in passing on a heritage of confident faith."

Friday, August 12, 2022

The Other "Basket" - Engage Them!

For the record, I love Children's Ministry. I absolutely believe it is important and valuable. I am certain the church needs to do all it can to have an engaging, effective Children's Ministry. But, I also believe for far too many years we have, "put all our 'eggs' into one 'basket'" by focusing on Children's Ministry as the church and have failed to engage, equip, and encourage parents and grandparents to pass on a heritage of confident faith. 

Thursday, August 11, 2022

Don't Leave the Grandparents Alone - Come Alongside Them Instead

You are certainly aware of the children in your Children's Ministry. You likely know the parents of the children in your Children's Ministry, but do you know how many children in your Children's Ministry are brought to your church by their grandparents? Do you know these grandparents or are they basically, "invisible"?

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Some Facts About Grandparents and How They Impact Your Children's Ministry

Image result for clipart for Grandparents pass on a Heritage of Faith

I sincerely believe all churches should focus on engaging, equipping, and encouraging grandparents to pass on a heritage of confident faith to their grandchildren. There are reasons I believe this - some of them are . . . 

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Imagine the Difference & Impact Grandparenting Ministry Would Make on Your Children's Ministry!

If you knew there may be a group of people in your church who were not truly being engaged; what would you do? If you knew it was possible these people were not really being equipped and encouraged to disciple children, who in many cases were part of your Children’s Ministry; what would you do? If you knew it was possible if this group of people were engaged and equipped, they very well might become some of the strongest supporters of your Children’s Ministry; what would you do?

What Do I Need to "See"?

In our children's and family ministries "imparting  information" is important, but it is infinitely most important for us to pray for "eyes to be opened". In our ministries we "impart" a lot of "information". We teach Bible lessons, we train volunteers, we encourage parents . . . we "impart" a lot of "information". But, do we focus on asking God to "open eyes"? What are some things we need to have our eyes . . . and the eyes of children, parents and volunteers . . . opened? Consider the following . . . 

Friday, August 5, 2022

Lay the Foundation AND Teach the "Whys" - It Matters

Please share this with the parents/ grandparents in your church -

More and more often we hear and read about leaders in the church around the world who are renouncing their faith. And not just leaders in the church around the world, but many of us have children, grandchildren, siblings who have turned from a walk with God. What is happening?

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

"Anchored Helps Kids Uncover 'Why' We Believe, Not Just 'What' We Believe"

 

I have been sharing with you about the new supplemental curriculum - Anchored. Today I want to share with you what Joani Schultz (from Group Publishing) says about it . . . 

Monday, August 1, 2022

Make this Year the Time When You Teach the "Whys" With Anchored

Sunday school originally began in 1780 because people wanted to teach poor children to read as they typically worked in factories all week. Nearly all children went to Sunday school - even if their parents did not go to church - and along with learning to read, they were taught the Bible - as it was the main book they learned to read. These children also learned to write as they copied verses from the Bible.