Children’s Ministry 911
Prepared by Teachable Heart Ministries
“Raising kids today is hard.”
• When was it ever easy- even Adam
and Eve had struggles
• What does the church have to offer
in terms of parenting help that is
different from “Nanny 911”?
• We have a wonderful opportunity and
a God-given responsibility to reach
out to the family as we do “children’s
ministry.”
• What are the trends affecting the
family today?
Current Trends
• too many choices and opportunities
• “very busy” families
• an instant generation- fast food, high
speed internet
• parents have jobs and activities
• kids have their own activities, and rarely
do the two coincide.
• Even in the car, cell phones, headphones,
video games, portable dvds.
• To have consistent communication on any
level within a family requires great effort
Children’s Ministry is Family Ministry
• Have you ever seen an episode of “Nanny 911”
• the nanny is necessary, not so much for the kids,
but for Mom and Dad.
• Parents are crying out for help, love their kids, want
what is best for them, but they need skills
• At the end of the show the nanny goes home
• Each activity, each program and every curriculum,
should be viewed through the lens of “family
ministry.”
• How can we use our opportunities with kids to help
their parents be the spiritual leaders God intended
them to be?
A Few Suggestions…
• “In the Car” question. This is ONE question you
send home with kids to discuss on the way home
include a brief summary of your lesson and a
reference for parents
• Make LOTS of devotional materials available to
your families
• Give families ideas about how to help their kids
participate in the worship services.
• “Sunday night family meetings” prepare for the
week ahead and then spend a few quiet moments
in prayer as they dedicate the week ahead to God.
• Prayer partners within the family. Make journals for
prayer requests and praise reports.
• Provide opportunities for families to serve together
• brainstorm ministry expansion from the child alone
to the child within the family.
Don’t Move in and Stay…
• At the end of the show the
nanny goes home!
• Equip the parent to continue in
the training of their children
• It is always a foolish thing to
assume all of the responsibility
when you not there all of the
time
The Long and Short of it
• A child who attends every
children’s program every week,
spends approximately 1055
hours in the church over 5 years
• They are 42,720 hours old
• They have spent 3% of their life
in the church being instructed
• We have to equip the parents!