All Things Children's Ministry
Children’s ministry is one of the most impacting and fulfilling ministry areas in the Church.
There are many reasons why Children’s ministry will be successful. For those of you doing Next Gen ministry to Youth and Children, I think you recognize the importance of Next Gen ministry, and specifically, Children’s ministry. Frederick Douglass, the Civil Rights activist, once said, “It is far easier and much cheaper to build young children than it is to repair broken men/women.”
One of the principles of sustainability for the church is the discipleship of its young people. This is the elementary importance of the of having healthy Next Gen ministry in the church. A successful church will make Children’s ministry a high priority. And that success will interest and ultimately breed the next leaders of the church who will leave a continual legacy.
The Value of Children’s Ministry
We are not trying to set apart the Next Gen area as more important than any other age range or generation in the church. The ministry priority must be placed on every age stage. We are not trying to silo or highlight ministries or departments as more important than another. The reality is that every age stage must be celebrated and focused upon for total church health.
Dietrich BonHoeffer had serious thoughts on this topic of Next Gen. Known mostly as a political activist, those who knew him well understood that BonHoeffer had another important commitment close to his heart. He was also a youth leader in the church.
I've stood in Berlin, Germany at his church and home. I’ve sat at his desk. I sat there and heard his Pastor tell the story that BonHoeffer, though strategically committed to young people, did not see the children and youth as anything separate from the church. It was that commitment that made him a defender of adolescents and ministry to them.
They were not siloed, they were the church and that's the mentality we have also. When people see the value of Children’s ministry they want to be a part of it and this success becomes viral.
Why ministry? All of us as ministers have to ask that question because if you know the why, it becomes a catalyst for longevity and we follow the why with great understanding and discipline. There are so many different reasons why we do Next Gen.
Here are a few:
Jesus valued the children
You know obviously Jesus valued children and He made sure that children were not pushed aside and that they were included in what He was doing. He actually likened the Kingdom of God as little children. Muitiple times Jesus placed children at the center of His work.
The future belongs to the children
I mean we talk about the now generation and that is true. But, don’t lose sight of the strategy that secures the future. The future belongs to Generation Alpha. The future of our country the world and our church lies in their hearts and minds. Children’s ministry is sowing and reaping at a sustainable commitment.
Spiritual development at an early age
Spiritual development and discipleship are most effectively done at an early age. Especially because almost of the research says that more than 83% of people who are born again will choose Christianity before they complete high school. (SNU online) If we wait until after the teen years the conversion rate drops astronomically.
Seeing children and youth in the presence of God
One of my favorite things to do in life is worship with young people. This is personal for me. When you get the opportunity to see a child respond to the presence of God, it is lifechanging. Do not underestimate the presence of God and the spiritual impact it has upon young people.
Leadership development
I’m sure you know the next great young leaders of the church and society are coming from Next Gen ministry. Every sector of society will inherit young people who will lead in government, business and the private sector, education, and entertainment. Now you see how critical Next Gen is to the future of a nation.
Family impact
It goes without saying that the impact Next Gen ministry can have on the family is stunning. Families can be reached by winning the children to Christianity first. When a child goes home every week and shares the content and the stories from Children’s ministry with their parents, we are going to see the affect that Christ has upon the home.
Next Gen ministry requires a relational approach
It is vital to the success of Next Gen ministry that we place relationship as a high priority. We cannot promote programs over people. We cannot celebrate job descriptions as more important than the person who executes the work. It can be easy to stay in work mode and recruiting mode and leadership development mode and miss the relationships in front of us.
Be mindful of the commitment to policy and procedure above people.
There is so much more we could talk about and we will make this an emphasis moving forward.
Finally
As the church we have to become spiritual leaders to Generation Z and Alpha Generation. The most important thing one generation will pass on to the next generation is faith. The principles of one generation become the practices of the next.
Look at these practices and apply these principles in your ministry to see the kind of preparation needed to position the next generation in a place of priority in the church.