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Can Kids Help You Grow Your Church?
Can kids help you grow your church?
Absolutely!
Kids are a big part of growing a church.
The church growth people tell us that kids are one of the top three reasons why people choose a church.
#1 is the pastor
#2 is worship
#3 is the kid’s ministry
I discovered this early on in ministry. I was helping my youth pastor plant a church in Royal Oak, Michigan. All the kids (3 – 12) years old were in one room because we were just starting out.
I was teaching on the Word of God, which is the Sword of the Spirit. I went to the local Army Navy Surplus Store and purchased a real machete. I used apples to represent temptation. I would throw the apples in air and slice them with the machete.
A new family showed up with a three-year-old and an eight-year-old. I was a little concerned about what the three-year-old would think of the crazy man with the machete.
I went ahead and taught the machete lesson because it was the only one that I had prepared, but I wondered what the three year old would say to her parents. I was a little surprised to see the new family come back the next week. Dad came to me smiling and told, as they were getting ready for church that morning he was discussing with his wife what church to attend. Three-year-old Brook spoke up and said, “I want to go to the apple slicing church.”
It was the first time that their kids had expressed an opinion about what church to attend. A good kids program may not bring new people in, but it absolutely brings them back a second time.
Parents are the decision maker, but kids have a lot of influence with the parents. It speaks volumes to a parent when Johnny says “I want to go to that church.”
How do I get the kids to help me grow my church?
- Teach The Bible. Make it deep. Give them something they can fight the devil with.
- Make It Fun.
- Do Small Groups. This helps kids make friends.
- Get Kids Involved In Serving. When kids are on the schedule to serve Mom and Dad have to come too.
- Know Their Name.
What types of things do you do to get kids to invite their parents back to church?
I really appreciate the things you share. They confirm and also give direction. Praise God! Thanks and thanks!
Thank you, Verna. I am glad that you were able to get direction today. blessings Debbie
GREAT ARTICLE! If I had a dime for everytime I’ve heard the quote, “I want to go to the church with the _______ pastor” (fill in some crazy thing I did!) I’d be rich!
HIgh energy and creatively fun ministry that is also DEEP (so glad you included that!) will bring families back every time as the kids insist they go to YOUR church!
Karl, thank you. It is true – keeping it high energy and creative. Blessings Debbie
I ask them to help with lesson the following week, plan for kids to sing in big church, tell them what will be happening the following week (i.e. Object lesson or science experiment or special snack). They need something to look forward to.