Kids’ ministry is often the most volunteer-intensive ministry in the local church, and it carries challenges no other ministry faces. But every one of those challenges is also an opportunity to disciple the next generation, shepherd families, and equip God's people. Here are three opportunities that senior pastors should understand.
For years, I believed and expressed that kids’ ministry is the most volunteer-intensive ministry in a local church. In many churches, it requires more committed volunteers than any other ministry. I have sensed that leaders of other ministries wonder if I am elevating the priority of kids’ ministry above their own. I love every ministry in the church I pastor, but I want to be honest about the unique challenges of a healthy kids’ ministry, because those challenges are really opportunities.
1. Kids’ Ministry Is Really Three Ministries in One
In terms of the number of volunteers, the administrative responsibilities, and the organizational lift, kids’ ministry could easily be viewed as three overlapping ministries: elementary, preschool, and check-in (including ensuring the facility is safe, clean, and follows the processes for protecting the kids). The overwhelming amount of responsibility and number of volunteers needed may be challenging, but kids’ ministry has the opportunity to equip God’s people in significant roles investing in the next generation. The scope of responsibilities just means more people can be invited into a ministry that shepherds kids and their families to Jesus.
2. Healthy Kids' Ministry Serves Three Groups: Kids, Parents, and Leaders
Consider the following story: This past weekend, a fourth-grade small group leader told the story of Jesus healing the blind man to his group. Then, after class, the small group leader spoke with the father of a boy in his group about how the child was handling his mom’s cancer diagnosis. On the way home from church, the dad and son were able to talk about the story of the blind man, which led to a meaningful conversation about God's care for the sick and the suffering.
This one example illustrates how kids’ ministry serves three groups: the kids, the parents, and the leaders who serve both. A healthy kids ministry carries a burden for all three and finds ways to serve and shepherd them all. The opportunity here is obvious. The scope of influence of a healthy kid’s ministry is amazing as families and generations are impacted.
3. Kids’ Ministry Never Stops
In the majority of churches, kids’ ministry is offered all fifty-two weeks a year. It never stops! While other ministries slow down in the summer or take breaks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, kids’ ministry continually gathers kids. That constant rhythm can feel like a significant burden.
There are Bible lessons for preschoolers and elementary aged kids to prepare, volunteers to recruit and equip, rooms to organize, families to communicate with, and children to engage every single week. But while the burden of ongoing ministry is great, so is the opportunity for consistent discipleship.
Each Sunday is another chance to help children know God, understand his Word, build relationships with trusted adults, and take another step in following Jesus. Week after week, those moments add up. The goal isn’t simply to fill fifty-two Sundays with activities; it’s to make the most of all fifty-two opportunities to help kids grow in their relationship with Jesus!
Kids’ Ministry is An Opportunity to Disciple the Next Generation
As a pastor, I want to recognize the challenges of kids’ ministry so our church leadership can encourage our kid’s ministry teams. And I want a kids’ ministry team that views those challenges as incredible opportunities for equipping God’s people, shepherding kids, parents, and leaders, and consistently discipling the next generation.
Kids’ ministry is challenging, but your kids’ ministry curriculum does not need to be! You don’t have to choose between biblical and simple Sunday school lessons for kids, between content that is amazing for your kids and easy to use for your leaders. RightNow Kids has a new preschool and elementary school church curriculum that is great for both your kids and your leaders. I encourage you to explore the God’s Kids children’s ministry curriculum today!
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Equip your kids’ ministry with the God’s Kids curriculum today.
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