Many church members have observed that children in their congregations are drifting away towards secular activities. What can we do to bring them back to our faith communities? A small group of dedicated individuals in any congregation can significantly impact the lives of families and children. Here are some practical ways to achieve this.
Recently, I was asked on social media how to encourage children to return to faith communities, and it made me realize that many churches wonder about this very thing.
I started analyzing the methods we've previously employed to achieve this. It was challenging to pinpoint the interconnected and diverse activities that combined to invite children and their parents to experience the joy of life in Christ. Yet, as I reflected on it, I smiled at the memories. Some things didn't seem to produce fruit then, but many did. Mostly, it was fun.
If you are a regular reader here, then you know that I consider children the most important people in any faith community. They are worth the effort, the energy, and the investment. If your faith community misses the joyful sounds and excitement of children in the halls, you can bring it all back!
Gather a team of people who want to do this ministry work.
Here are some things you can do to jump-start your efforts.
Talk about and pray for children. If children are few in number or absent altogether, discuss this issue without letting the conversation devolve into a gripe session. Gather a team of people who are ready to talk about solutions. It is so easy to let this discussion become a time where we reminisce about when "parents dragged children to church," "back in my day," "this culture hates faith," or "kids hate church." or "parents are lazy" Set those topics aside. It doesn't help. Besides, this oversimplifies the problem. Start a positive conversation, and bathe the little ones in prayer.
Own up to the failings in this area of ministry. Congregations without children should look honestly at how children's ministry has been conducted for the past three generations. We must recognize that we haven't always done this vital work well. Then, we should determine together how to improve. This is self-awareness in its finest hour.
Gather and commit. Set up a team, even if it is only you and one other—covenant together to work tirelessly to invite children. Trust me. It will take more than one event, week, or year to improve a situation that has been in the making for a long time.
Create a series of events. My rule of thumb for children's ministries is to hold one significant community event each quarter, one church family event every other month, at least one weekly meeting for children, including recreation and education, and a few weekday ministries during the summer. Here are some specifics:
a. Hold seasonal events and invite the community: Fall Festival, Advent Activity Day, Resurrection Celebration, and Summer Splashdown. Make sure that these events appeal to today's children and youth. Planning a Gospel Sing will not draw children or any community families not already in a church.
b. Hold family events for the entire congregation every other month. Examples are a comedy show where the children do simple skits and tell jokes, a family talent show, a family scavenger hunt at the church, a cookout with wacky relay races, and a concert of modern Christian music featuring a local band. Not a Gospel Sing. Apologies to all my friends in the south.
c. Consistently offer a weekly recreation and education program for however many children show up. If it is only one child, give that child your very best. Have a plan and a trajectory for the education, and plan the recreation as carefully as the lesson. And remember: never cancel children's ministries. Never. Cancel. Consistency is key.
Be visible. Place flyers in local stores and the public library, put a large, bright banner in front of your building, set up bounce houses where the whole community can see, use social media, free radio spots, and anything else you can think of. Tell the world that your congregation loves children and has activities to share. Use social media. It is the market square of the 21st century.
Consider what else you can offer. Hungry children are everywhere. Rural poor children have a challenging time finding food when school is not in session. Can you provide a free lunch program during the summer? Choose one day a week, and invite other churches to choose other days. Buy good food and prepare it well. (hint: do not use government funds; their rules are onerous) Put up a banner, advertise every way you can, and proceed to feed the poor families in your area. It's not easy, but it is worth it. Free after-school homework one day a week could work. What can you do?
7. Be realistic and cover the children with prayer. Children will not attend churches that are not serving them. It takes a lot of energy and resources to serve them well. If your church does not have enough volunteers with the health, energy, or ability to welcome children, perhaps you can hire someone. If you can't do that, you can pray for your community. Gather together and specifically pray for the children of your community. Focused and fervent prayer still moves mountains.
Small churches can participate in this! One of my dear colleagues, Paul Dunham, encouraged his congregation of 14 adults to provide a Monday evening family night in their rural community. They did this on several Monday evenings last summer. The turnout was fantastic! A congregation that some might have considered insignificant served 30 children. Your church can do this, too.
Do not overlook the significance of children's ministry. If we fail to welcome children into our hearts and buildings, secular coaches, teachers, and others who do not love Jesus will take the opportunity to teach our children to ignore Jesus and the church.
Today's children face many challenges. They often lack community support, deal with negative influences from social media, and come from fragmented families. To invite families and children into your church, you must offer them the love and stability they need. Children must feel heard, seen, accepted, encouraged, and be introduced to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we don't assume this responsibility, they might not find it anywhere else. We are the Church. This is our mission and our duty. Embrace it with joy!
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