Effective Children’s Ministries
Many churches put much effort into trying to draw families with young children into the sphere of the church. ‘Mums and Toddler’ groups and ‘Mums and Baby’ groups have many advantages. They draw families together when having young children can be stressful. They are a venue for showing that Christians really do care for those outside the church. Strong relationships are more important than good administration/
However in discussions with several churches the success rate in drawing people into becoming active servants of the Lord Jesus is often lamentably small. Most can point to one or two families who have joined the church through this introduction but is there anything more that might be done to win more families for Christ through these groups? After all the church is called to go out and produce fruit by witnessing about Jesus. This is what John 15 is emphasising.
Should the ministers/elders of churches have a clearer strategic plan about how to make our ‘littles ministries’ more effective at winning people for Christ? Perhaps this acronym can help focus our minds.
L Loving the parents and children who come to these groups is clearly the first essential step. Usually real love is expressed in hospitality and friendship. Are church members making real friends who meet up outside the groups. The group is a great way to meet new people but genuine care is far-fetching and very powerful. A study of successful teenage ministries will reveal that it is the development of close friendships by doing a variety of activities, which itself is costly, is a common feature. Good administration is no substitute for warm, caring relationships.
I Invitations. The regular giving of invitations to suppers, brunches, picnics etc.will show this love in practice. Invitations to church services and events will be far more attractive when given by a close friend.
T Testimonies. Previous generations of Christians were trained early in their Christian life to explain how and why they became Christians. Are group leaders ensuring that everyone involved knows how to move a conversation onto spiritual matters so that it becomes perfectly natural to share why being followers of Jesus is so important. Are all helpers being trained how to explain the gospel both simply and effectively?
T Talking to the Lord. Praying specifically for each of those we meet has two effects. It encouragers the Spirit of God to keep reminding our friends about the necessity of having spiritual life. It also helps us to keep focussed on why our Lord has saved us.
L Literature is a great way for helping those who are strangers to Christian things to understand what Jesus and his apostles were saying. There are now many excellent articles available on-line but even better are those that are home made. People are more likely to read something when the writer gives it. Is such material being regularly given to those who come to the groups?
E Examine the effectiveness of our individual ministries. How seldom this is done, perhaps because we find it embarrassing. Are those we have befriended warming to the Lord Jesus. How many of my friends have become Christians in the last year! Why is this? Am I bothering to make non-Christian friends?
S Strategic rethink. Church leaders can delegate actions but not responsibility which must remain shared. If some aspect of a church’s activities is not thriving it is not only the delegate who is responsible. The elder/ministers remain responsible to ensure that all that is done for Christ under their authority is becoming increasingly effective in winning individuals and families for him. Tim Keller has reminded us that God expects us to be fruitful and not just faithful.
If we are not building strong relationships with people, we will seldom be effective at winning them for Christ.
BVP
