Biblical studies show us that God considers children to be very important.  Proverbs 22:6 directs us to “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old , he will not depart from it.”  Jesus impelled even the youngest children to be brought to Him.  Mark 10:16 states “And He (Jesus) took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them.”   Jesus mentioned children 205 times in the Bible.

He took time with children.

He spoke to children.

He held children.

He made children feel important.

If Jesus made children such a high priority, it must be important for us today to treat children as Jesus did.

Interactions of a child in a loving and Christ-centered church setting can greatly impact the spiritual development of the child for a lifetime.  Being surrounded by sights and sounds and music that glorifies God can leave an eternal imprint on the life of a child.

So why is volunteer recruitment one of the top issues for KidMin Directors today?  We all know that eager and reliable volunteers can be difficult to find and at times even more difficult to keep.  That is why you need to develop a culture of excitement and enthusiasm in your ministry and not just hours to be served.

Show people that serving in Kids Ministry is an incredible opportunity to develop Christ followers.  Look for all ages, men and women, older and younger.

By recruiting in person, you can communicate the service opportunities and expectations and invite them to join your team.  When approaching a potential volunteer, enthusiastically share your passion for the ministry so they can catch your enthusiasm.

Ask a volunteer to “join a team.”  People don’t need another job, but they do need a place to belong.  Being a volunteer presents an opportunity to build community.  Create an environment where volunteers can know, care for and encourage one another.

Refrain from recruiting through need or guilt-tripping.  Often these recruits are just there out of obligation or just “filling a hole”.  A better way to recruit is surrounding yourself with people who share your passion to help children grow in their faith.  Don’t be afraid to ask people to serve but be prepared to explain what is involved.  Present volunteering as an opportunity to invest in the spiritual growth of a child.  It’s not that people do not want to serve, they want to know their service will make a difference.  They want to know if their time spent is a good investment.  Instead of babysitting children while their parents go to worship, we are investing in times of intentional discipleship.  We want to help children grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and know how he loves them and cares for them.

Building  relationships is a key factor for volunteers in Children’s Ministry.  Many times, people serve because someone they had a relationship with brought up the opportunity and asked them to serve.  The more people you connect with, the more possible volunteers you will have later.  Most often people do not know where to look to serve if they do not know there is a need.  As you encounter opportunities to share your passion and excitement about your ministry, mention your awesome team and the positive things being accomplished in the lives of the children and the workers/volunteers.

Appreciate the volunteers you have.  You can show appreciation through words of appreciation or small gifts  and cards.  To appreciate someone is to recognize his or her contribution and value.  When we appreciate our volunteers we are recognizing what they have done.  People need to feel that their hard work and dedication matters and we notice their efforts.  Let them know you recognize them not only for what they do but for who they are.  As a director, be visible.  Pop your head in the room, speak to teachers and children.  Greet them by name.  Let them see that you respect and appreciate them. Get to know your volunteers and pray for them.

Lastly and most importantly, DO NOT NEGLECT PRAYER.  Jesus understands our struggles in recruitment.  He says in Luke 10:2, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few”. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.

No Place Like Home: Creating A Pathway for Spiritual Disciplines in the Home

In a recent study I conducted between parental spiritual maturity and spiritual discipline practices in the home, two key takeaways were noted. First, spiritually mature parents felt less confident to teach their children about the Gospel. Second, prayer was the least practiced spiritual discipline. Therefore, I created a HOME Model to help parents become the primary spiritual caregivers, as was intended from the beginning.

H – Habitual Spiritual Disciplines – We want spiritual disciplines to become a habit. Rather than start a checklist of all the things to accomplish, begin small. Use theologically sound resources. Calendar in when spiritual disciplines will take place.

O – Obedience in Christ – The Bible provides evidence of what happens when parents remain obedient in God’s Word and the consequences of those who disobey God and neglect their biblical mandate.

M – Meaningful, yet age appropriate, conversations. Meaningful conversations can be about small and large decisions – job promotions, moves, colleges, etc. Hard situations may involve death of a loved one, global/local crises, a medical diagnosis, etc.

E – Every Day Life – Families are primarily together at meals, in the car, and at bedtime. Spiritual discipline practices do not have to have this fancy setup but can be done as you are going.

The HOME model is the start, but creating a pathway will help maintain spiritual disciplines.

• Set attainable goals. Make your goal vague to give room for flexibility.
• Have someone outside your family to hold you accountable through the triumphs and trials of leading your children.
• If you have a big age gap, focus on disciplines that work best for the youngest. Involve the older kids by asking them to lead in the moment.
• Use a journal to help evaluate your progress. Make changes as needed.

Start with prayer, Bible study, and worship because they are the easiest spiritual disciplines to practice across the lifespan of a child. The examples below are tools you can take or change to best fit your household.

• Worship – Listen to worship songs in the car. Ask your preschooler, “What does this song say about God?” When at home, discuss what God made on your plate. At bedtime, sing a worship song. Allow elementary children to request worship songs in the car and discuss why they chose those songs. While at the dinner table, converse about big words heard in worship. At bedtime, read a chapter in Psalms. Discuss with your preteen in the car about the songs they are singing at youth group. Engage in a worship night at home. Allow your older children to pick the songs and lead. Before bed, compare worship songs to Scripture. Emphasize the importance of understanding what we sing to and about God.
• Bible Study – While in the car, listen to Scripture and emphasize to your preschool children that what they heard was true. While at the dinner table, discuss a characteristic of God, like love. Before bedtime, use a full Old Testament and New Testament, hand-held Bible. Allow preschoolers to hold and touch the Bible as you read. Listen to Scripture in the car with your elementary children and discuss what it says about God. Read the Bible as a family at home. Allow children to read the verses or plan the family devotion. At bedtime, discuss big words heard in Scripture. While in the car with your preteens, have them read the Bible out loud and dialogue what it says about God, but also what we should do as believers. Participate in a Bible study together. Discuss theological concepts at bedtime. “The question of the day is…”
• Prayer – Pray with your preschoolers when you see or hear an emergency vehicle. Pray before mealtimes. Teach and model prayer. While in the car, with your elementary student, pray for the day. Create a family prayer journal at home. At bedtime, pray through Scripture. When you have preteens in the car, discuss how God answered prayers. During a meal, ask how God worked in their lives during the week. At bedtime, discuss prayers that God has yet to answer. Do not give false theology or false hope; yet encourage them to keep praying. God still hears us and wants to be part of our lives.

There are a variety of ways to engage in spiritual disciplines with your children, but the key is to start. Do not wait for a proper time or a calm season. Begin today because we are in a battle for our next generations, everlasting consequences are on the line.

While we have the opportunity every week to prioritize ministry to children and their participation in the Kingdom of God, collectively there is an event that has been the most effective at reaching and leading children. It’s Vacation Bible School. According to Lifeway, “95% of Americans who say they have a child who has attended VBS agree that participating in VBS was one of their child’s most meaningful church experiences.”[1]

Why is Vacation Bible School so impactful? Think about the following:

At Vacation Bible School, kids interact with loving church members of all ages, as well as their peers.

At Vacation Bible School, kids are taught the Bible.

At Vacation Bible School, kids are given the opportunity to receive Christ.

At Vacation Bible School, kids learn in a safe and caring environment.

At Vacation Bible School, it’s all about kids coming to Jesus!

Last year, well over 100,000 kids participated in VBS at a Florida Baptist church! And there are plenty more who would participate, if invited.  “69% of American parents will encourage their child to participate in a VBS event at a church they don’t attend if invited by one of their friends.”[2] What kids will join your church at VBS this next summer?

As you begin to think about your plans for VBS, consider joining us for one of our regional Vacation Bible School trainings this spring. Our trainings are led by Florida Baptist children’s ministers who love kids and love VBS. We’d love to see you and your team at any of the following:

• February 8^th: Jacksonville – Hibernia Baptist Church
• March 1^st: Coral Springs – Parkridge Baptist Church
• March 1^st: Milton – Pine Terrace Baptist Church
• March 29^th: Kissimmee – FBC Kissimmee
• March 29^th: Alachua – FBC Alachua
• April 5^th: Ft. Myers – Crossroads Baptist Church
• April 12^th: Panama City – Hiland Park Baptist Church

[1] It’s Worth It, 48.

[2] https://vbs.lifeway.com

Make Your Ministry a REMARKABLE Experience 

Leaders will flock to an exciting experience. Think of companies that go out of their way to impress their customers. Disney, Chick-Fil-A, Target to name a few. Your ministry can be remarkable on a small budget. Think of ways to go over and beyond on a Sunday morning.  You may add fun kid’s background music in your hallways. Use bright and cheery decor. Think of inexpensive “SWAG” the kids could take home that drives home the lesson of the day. Anything that is out of the ordinary!  Use social media to create excitement!  We have all heard the saying “no one wants to join a sinking ship.”  Potential Leaders will be the same.  They will want to join a remarkable experience.

Build a Strong Biblical Foundation

As you train leaders and the kids in your ministry, have a consistent “go to” way that you will study every lesson. In our ministry we use the 4 W’s. After every lesson on Sunday mornings, Wednesday Nights, after school Bible studies, or VBS, we ask the kids to consider the 4 W’s.  Why did God include this in the Bible, Where is Christ in this story, What can I do with this story in my life and Who can I tell and why?  The discussions that come from these simple questions will be very rich. It is easy for leaders to catch on and lead these discussions. Soon, the kids will start to lead the discussion on their own. It has been a great addition to our kids small groups.

Recruit Continually

As a Kids Pastor/Director, our job is to be continually recruiting. Everyone you meet is a potential member of your team. As you meet people, learn about their life, gifts, and passions. Chances are, there is a place for them in the Kids Ministry.  Get everyone on board, even if they start out with a very minimal task. Adding to the team will help create excitement! Get creative and use the gifts potential leaders possess.  You will find that they may start in one position and grow into a position that you had not considered for them.

Prepare and Train Leaders for the Role

Start your potential leaders with a “Test Drive” Sunday. Match them up with a seasoned leader to try out the ministry before they commit. Use this time to convey the ministry’s vision and see how a typical day runs. Try to provide them with the resources they will need so they can come in with minimal preparation.  Think of leaders that may be available during the week and may only want to serve behind the scenes to help with curriculum and supply preparation.

Evaluate Regularly 

After every Sunday, there is a lesson to be learned. As you develop your strongest leaders, take time to have a conversation each week on what could have made that day run smoother. Celebrate wins together and share how the Gospel was presented that week. Take these conversations and communicate them with your team. As your team builds, they will begin to understand expectations and begin to lead newer members of your team.

Every ministry, no matter what size can use these steps to build a strong team. To begin, find a few leaders to start the process. Give leaders a time frame so they feel like they have a way to step out at some point if they need to. Our goal as Kids Leaders is to help others develop the passion to lead the Next Generation to Christ!

This year, LifeWay’s Spark Studios is centered on Ephesian 2:10. We are all created in God’s image, designed for a purpose. Kids will discover that God made them, loves them, and has a plan just for them. What a timeless truth that kids need to hear today. Kids are being bombarded with so many negative impacts with they way that they see themselves. The mixed message of this world can distract and derail us. But God’s message is true, He created us to be His masterpiece, designed our paths and gives us strength to do His will.

Mark your calendars to bring your whole team to one of the seven trainings across Florida!

This year, we have added classes that are not theme specific to Spark Studios but specific to any VBS or Kids Ministry training. Topics that are great for any VBS and Kids Ministry training include: Sharing the Gospel with Kids, Small Church? No Problem, Helping your Volunteers shine, Classroom expectations for the Church and Unchurched, and Follow-up.

I pray that you and your church will say YES to VBS and that I will see you at VBS training.

2022 VBS Trainings:

March 5 East Florida VBS Regional Training | Jacksonville

March 26 West Florida VBS Regional Training | Pensacola

April 2 North Florida VBS Regional Training | Tallahassee

April 2 Central Florida VBS Regional Training | Kissimmee

April 9 Southwest Florida VBS Regional Training | Palmetto

April 23 West Florida VBS Regional Training | Panama City

April 30 Southeast Florida VBS Regional Training | Fort Lauderdale

• Make the Gospel a priority

This may seem like a no-brainer, but with the added logistical concerns this summer, there may be a tendency to make sharing the Gospel something we add-on. Sharing the Gospel and helping people grow in their walk with Jesus is the reason the local church exists. Make sure to communicate the Gospel truth this summer. It will be a win to get students back, but make sure you intentionally share the Gospel.

• Build and re-establish relationships with students

Normally going off to camp or the added time at VBS gives you time to build relationships with students and kids. This summer you may be focused more on cleaning surfaces, checking temperatures, or keeping people 6 feet apart. Take the time to engage with those in your ministry and re-establish relationships with them. There is a good chance that you have not seen some of them in a few months.

• Evaluate volunteer structure

Recruiting is a never-ending task in the life of those leading next generation ministry areas. This summer may provide new on-ramps for potential volunteers. Keep in mind that some volunteers may not return to work with kids and students, so recruiting new volunteers for the fall may be a necessity.

• Have fun!

COVID-19 has added more stress to gathering next generation ministry areas in our churches. Make sure you take the time to have fun! VBS, summer camps, and other events in the summer are usually the highlight of our year in next gen ministry. Have fun!

Mail, such as post cards and thank you notes are a great way to show appreciation and to let parents know you are thinking about them. One of the easiest ways to send cards is through ecards. (We have used americangreetings.com and bluemountain.com.) Don’t underestimate the simplicity of a card. One of my sweet Sunday school teachers sent me a card letting me know she was praying for me. That card gave me so much comfort to make it another day! Thankfully, the Post Office still runs through rain, sleet, snow and pandemics!

Group Facetime calls and Zoom are another way to connect with parents during this time. Be creative with the way you group your parents. This can be a great way for families to connect with others they may not know. Think carefully about the times that you schedule virtual calls. Schedule them in the evening and keep them brief. Think about sending out questions or topics ahead of time so moms and dads are prepared.

Group Text is an easy, simple and effective way to connect with parents. I found that I already had lots of my parents in my contacts and setting up a group text was easy. Try not to send super long or detailed message, just a short and simple message of encouragement or a funny quarantine meme.

Connecting with parents in my Kid’s Ministry has been one of my favorite parts of quarantine. It has allowed me to connect with then more than I had ever before. Through talks and texts, I have found potential Kid’s Ministry volunteers and parents who are eager to help who just didn’t know what was needed. The parents in my ministry are walking through work and on-line school, just as I am, and we have found a comforting comradery.

By Kelley Pekarek, Director of Children’s Ministries – North Jacksonville Baptist Church, May 20, 2020

A simple, yet effective opportunity for rallying leaders around connecting with children and students lies in old fashioned home visits. That’s right, the day of home visitation returns! This time the format shifts from entering the home to an appropriately distanced “howdy” outside of the home.

Our Next Generation Ministry team at FBC Plant City recently did this and were blessed as a result. Our simple game plan focused on snacks, drinks, and a time to connect.

• First, input your student names and addresses into an Excel sheet, and then drop them into Google Maps. Seriously, it’s easier than you think, just Google it. If you hate the sound of doing that, find whatever will work best for your context.
• Next, break your volunteer team (married couples work well, or pairs visiting together) up into homes nearest their own home using your Google Map layout. We found that 10-15 homes per team seemed like a sweet spot taking roughly 3-4 hours to cover, depending on your level of talkers in the group.
• Finally, find a gathering spot to divvy out snack boxes and drink coolers to each delivery team. We gave each student at home a choice of something sweet and something salty, followed by a Coke, Sprite, or water.

Off they went to connect face-to-face with students all around the Plant City area. (Yes, they each had masks and gloves that were changed for each visit.) One recommendation would be a general social media post of some sort to let parents know that volunteers would be calling them about a snack delivery. Volunteers called the day the visit was planned to make sure students would be home and that parents were ok with someone dropping by the house.

The snacks and drinks were a nice gesture, but the real blessing for our leaders came from those face-to-face conversations and opportunities for prayer at each home. While our ministries will continue to exercise creativity in connecting through the digital world, we must start to seek out opportunities for in person connections as well. A 10 minute visit may vastly improve a student’s mental health during this time.

Proverbs 27:9 says, “A sweet friendship refreshes the soul and awaken our hearts with joy, for good friends are like the anointing oil that yields the fragrant incense of God’s presence.” I encourage you to find out what it takes to love your people well during this season.

Each region of Florida may have different guidelines, but all of our churches will be processing how they return to worship and ministry programs. Reaching pre-school, elementary, middle and high school students are a vital element to our churches.

Please refer to this COVID-19 Guide to Re-Gathering Next Gen Ministries as well as the resources available at www.flbaptist.org to assist you.

Churches can think through VBS for this summer by:

• Staying the course

Our church leaders have a desire to communicate the Gospel to families and kids in our communities. Keep that as the main focus of the decisions you are making for the next few months.

• Creating multiple options

With the uncertainty of what the summer will be like regarding the number of people that will be allowed to gather at once, churches will need to start creating plans for multiple options. For example, a church may need to think about VBS this way:

1) VBS at church like normal

2) VBS smaller at church

3) VBS at home

I interviewed Melita Thomas, Lifeway’s VBS Specialist, this week. View interview here. Also, please take some time to check out the resources that Lifeway is producing in assisting with this thought here. 

• Continuing to equip your leadership  

 While you may not be able to see them in person, prepare them through email or digital meetings. Keep them informed of your options as you approach summer. Lifeway has some great training tools through their Directors Club portal. Preparing your leadership for multiple options is critical during this time.  

• Being patient

This may be the toughest thing. Models, projections, and dates change with this situation every day. Each day more information keeps coming out. Hang in there. Keep hope that a great summer of reaching kids and families will take place.