By J. Michael Feazell
Leadership Network published the findings of its Children's Ministry Forum, a meeting of more than 90 children's ministers from congregations across the United States.
The forum met to discuss issues, resources, changes and opportunities facing children's ministry in the 21st-century church. Below are excerpts.
Perhaps it is because they are largely unseen in most sanctuaries, or they are small in voice and stature, or they are viewed only through the lens of the church of tomorrow.
Whatever the reason, few realize that children constitute one half or more of a church's attendance on a given Sunday in today's growing congregations.
In many large churches, it is not uncommon for there to be multiple hundreds, and in some cases in excess of a thousand or more infants, toddlers and children who gather for Christian learning and nurture.
In congregations that are reaching young adults with families, an effective children's ministry is often the front door to the church and the single most important reason parents choose to join a particular church.
Yet the growing significance of ministry to children and their parents is often not reflected in a church's budget priorities, staffing and facilities.
Family issues include the changing family structure, parents taking less responsibility for their children and even less for their spiritual formation, the inconsistency of ministering to children of divorce every other Sunday at best or often one Sunday a month, and an increasing ministry to parents as well as children.
The number of children with emotional and physical special needs is skyrocketing because of fetal drug and alcohol abuse.
Cultural changes include the reality of church being in competition with other community activities such as sports (leisure as religion) for the time and participation of children and parents.
Those changes also include the consumer mentality of church attendance that encourages church hopping and the resulting difficulty of establishing relationships with children and parents.
A major change is related to increasing legal implications-- screening of workers, both paid and volunteer, safety issues and compliance with local, state and federal laws.
There has also been a shift to more participatory learning for children and an increasing awareness of the different learning styles of children.
In large congregations with multiple children's staff, both paid and volunteer, the role of children's minister is becoming more administrative and less connected to children, much to the regret of many children's ministers.
Security and litigation are increasingly important and consuming more time on the part of the children's minister.
Parents want a children's ministry that is safe, child friendly and biblical. Neighborhoods are changing and raising new issues of ministry to children and families outside the church walls and into the community.
New training methods for teachers and volunteers are needed that allow for the time pressures of today. Many are using audio and video tapes that can be taken home. The team approach to ministry and small groups for children that allow greater relationship building and mentoring are important new developments.
(Complete Children's Ministry Forum Notes are available for $10 by contacting Leadership Network at 1-800-765-5323.)
Children's ministry is a vital element of any growing church. Effective children's ministry is the single most important reason young parents choose to join a church.
It's true that we don't often think of children as today's church. Our children are the future of the church, we often say. But, our children are also the present of the church.
Of all people in the United States who are Christians today, 80 percent made their decision to accept and follow Jesus Christ before the age of 14.
Ministry is different from a program. Children's ministry should not be allowed to become just another program. A program is geared to get a job done. A ministry, on the other hand, is geared to reach the hearts of human beings with the grace of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
It is an outreach of the gospel message. It can be directed toward a physical need, a spiritual need or both. Its goal is to minister to the deepest needs of human beings--the need to know that God loves them, that he sent his Son Jesus Christ so that whoever believes in him will not be separated from God, but will live in God's presence forever.
To help people know God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent-- that is what ministry is all about. It involves kindness, caring, patience, joy, gentleness and modeling the love of God through the fruit of the Spirit.
Likewise, children's ministry is more than just a program. It's touching children's hearts with the good news of who Jesus is and what he has done for them. It's helping them to get to know their Best Friend for life.
Once a month or every other week doesn't provide the consistency needed to make a ministry to children effective. Lack of priority in choice of facilities, in budget allocation and in recruitment of volunteers, point to a lack of recognition that spiritually healthy, growing congregations and a vital, effective children's ministry go hand in hand.
Children are not merely a resource for the future. They are a major part of the body of Christ now. They need to be nurtured in the gospel as do teens and adults, and, given age-appropriate opportunity for spreading the good news to others.
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs (Luke 18:16).
Church Administration can help with questions about resources, policies or ideas. Children's ministers can call Victoria Feazell at 1-818-304-6025. Ministers were sent copies of "Introduction to Children's Ministry."
Feb. 18, 1997, WN, page 15
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