Rather than using workers to “baby-sit” children while adults hold their worship services, successful children’s ministries involve parents, Art Murphy said recently.
Rather than using workers to “baby-sit” children
while adults hold their worship services, successful children’s
ministries involve parents, Art Murphy said recently.
Such ministries focus on equipping persons to be
Christian parents and role models throughout the week, said Murphy,
author of “The Faith of a Child.”
Parental involvement was one of 10 components that
Murphy said make up a strong children’s ministry. Others are:
• Bible truth. Children’s ministries must teach and
reinforce biblical truths, through such exercises as scripture
memorization, Murphy said.
• Bible application. Children’s workers also should
be teaching what Bible truth means in age-appropriate ways.
• Shepherding. Murphy urged persons to observe children so they can learn best how to care for them.
• Safety. This is the most important topic for
visiting families, Murphy noted. Children’s ministries should be
concerned about emotional safety as well as physical safety, including
such issues as bullies, teasing, nicknames and labels.
• Trained and adequate staff. Training should
involve childhood evangelism and how to treat children, Murphy said.
Adequate includes having the right ratio of adults to children. He said
ministries should have one adult for every two babies; one adult for
every four preschoolers; one adult for every five elementary school
children; and one adult for every seven or eight preteenagers.
• Facilities. Child-friendly facilities “say we like kids and kids like it here,” Murphy said.
• Special events. Four or five special events each
year tell the children they are important to the church – and offer
opportunities to invite other children.
• Music. Christian music helps equip children to
face a non-Christian world. “It’s easier to remember songs than it is a
Bible verse, sometimes,” Murphy said.
• Play. Play helps children interact and get
exercise, Murphy said. “You’ll have more discipline, they are never
late anymore, and they bring their friends.”
Murphy emphasized that every church’s children’s
ministry should aim to equip kids to have two thoughts during the week
– “What would God want me to do in this situation?”
and “I can’t wait until next Sunday.” (ABP)