WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE KIDS

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WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE KIDS?
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What Do We Do With the Kids? Overview

• 1. Evaluate what has been done in Childrens
  Ministries the past 20 years, suggesting that
  you have a Philosophy of Ministry that is
  intentional and strategic for retaining the next
  generation in Faith.
• 2. Discuss different Models for Childrens
  Ministries.
• 3. Look at the 4 Basics in getting started in
  CM.
• Inform you of a Church Planters Tool
  Kit for Family/ Childrens Ministries.

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WHOEVER WELCOMES A CHILD IN MY NAME WELCOMES ME.

• Remember
• If you want Gods heart, it will include loving
  children.
• A great Childrens Ministry will bring families
  to your church!
• Most believers made a commitment to Christ as a
  child.

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Ages When People Become Christians
85
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Observations of CM Today

• Childrens Directors/Pastors are staff members.
• We have quality programming.
• Fantastic resources are available.
• Staffing pressures are common.
• Our programs are mostly all age segregated.

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IS IT ALL WORKING?
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• 75-88 of our church grown kids are leaving
  the church each year.
• 85 of Christian parents know that biblically
  they have the primary responsibility for the
  spiritual development of their children, but less
  than 10 do any intentional teaching at home.
  (Barna Research)
• 33 of Evangelical Christians place a high
  priority on their childrens spiritual life.
  (Lifeway Research)

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ESTIMATED PROPORTION OF EACH GENERATION REACHED
FOR CHRIST GENERATION PERCENTAGE
REACHED FOR
CHRIST Builders (born before 1945) 65 Boomers
(born between 19461964) 35 Busters (born
between 19651976) 15 Bridgers (born between
19771994) 4 based on present trends among
older Bridgers (taken from The Bridger
Generation, by Thom s. Rainer)
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WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO OUR DILEMA?

• Going back to the Biblical basis
• for passing faith to the
• Next Generation!

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BIBLICAL BASIS

• Deuteronomy 64-9 These commandments that I give
  you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them
  on your children. Talk about them when you sit.
  . .walk. . .lie down. . .write them on the
  doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
• 112,5,7 Remember today that you children
  were not the ones who saw and experienced the
  discipline of God his majesty, his mighty hand,
  his outstretched arm.
• 3245-46 Take heart all the words I have
  solemnly declared to you this day, so that you
  may command your children to obey carefully all
  the words of this law.
• Psalm 78 He decreed statutes for Jacob and
  established the law in Israel, which he commanded
  our forefathers to teach their children, so the
  next generation would know them, even the
  children yet to be born, and they in turn would
  tell their children.
• 1454-7 One generation will commend your
  works to another they will tell of your mighty
  acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor
  of your majesty. . .
• Judges 210 After that whole generation had been
  gathered to their fathers, another generation
  grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he
  had done for Israel.
• Acts Families worshiped together with other
  families in homes leadership was appointed based
  on the state of the home, the OT provided
  instruction regarding children and bringing them
  up in Faith.
• III John 4 I have no greater joy than to see my
  children walking in Truth.

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WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
OF OUR CHILDREN?THE CHURCH OR THE PARENTS?
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Freudenburgs models
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A PARADIGM SHIFT NEEDED!

• Church responsible for
• vision casting and Biblical instruction for
  parents
• training/encouragement
• providing resources, administration of service
  opportunities for families
• connecting what teaching of children done in
  Childrens Ministries to the parents at home
  (IDEA A blog on your website)
• Parents responsible for
• modeling authentic faith
• making Biblical principles relevant in their
  childs daily life
• talking to their children about spiritual things
• Child responsible for
• responding in belief and obedience to Gods
  redemptive plan

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WHAT IS GODS PART?

• Attention Parents Its ALL ABOUT YOU, but ITS
  NOT ABOUT YOU AT ALL!
• John 644 No one can come to me unless the
  Father who sent me draws him. . .
• But, Gods Sovereignty does not negate human
  responsibility!
• Focus on loving God with all our heart, soul
  mind and strength and be faithful to obey Gods
  model for passing faith to the next generation!
  (And remember, we wont do it perfectly ?)

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WHAT ARE THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN?
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CHILDREN NEED. . .

• A consistant authentic faith modeled at home or
  by significant people in their lives.
• Stories of Gods faithfulness Heb. 121,2
• A Biblical foundation by preteen years.
• To be welcomed and accepted as members of the
  Body of Christ.
• Responsibilities in their church.
• Teachers and role models, including the older
  generation.

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WHAT MAKES FAITH STICK?

• TOP THREE FACTORS
• that doubles the likelihood of kids staying
  connected to the Church
• Faith Conversations with Mother
• Faith Conversations with Father
• Family serving God together
• Search Institute, Minneapolis,
• (faith based research)

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SO, JUST EXACTLY, WHAT SHOULD THE CHURCH DO?
Understand the Goal and Change the culture of
Childrens Ministries
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WHATS THE GOAL?

• That parents would view themselves as disciplers
  of their children and that the church would help
  them be successful.
• Ask these questions What does it look like to
  successfully partner with parents? What does it
  look like to equip and train parents?
• Resource Building Faith At Home/Take It Home,
  by Mark Holmen

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DO WE NEED TO RETHINK PROGRAM STRAGETY?

• Yes, we do! And as a church planter you have an
  incredible opportunity!

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CHOOSE A STRATEGY

• AGREE ON THE GOAL
• AND
• DEVELOP A MODEL FOR
• FAMILY/CHILDRENS MINISTRY

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Family Integrated Worship Servicewith Training
for Parents

• Pros
• family has same context
• parents wont have to check in with teachers
• children observe worship
• children feel a part of the community of faith
• Cons
• difficult for some parents
• worship service is not geared for children
• disruptions

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• To be effective you must have
• Pastor/leadership support
• Parent buy-in and training
• Buy-in from community of faith
• a childrens bulletin is helpful
• discussion questions for car/home
• Resources
• Parenting in the Pews, Robbie Castleman
• Family Integrated Church, J. Mark Fox
• Bethlehem Baptist Church, John Piper,
  www.childrendesiringgod.com

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• Children Dismissed For Their Own Sermon Same
  Topic, Different Topic
• Parents and Children Worship Separately followed
  by Joint Session with Parents (Kids Stuff, Andy
  Stanley, Reggie Joiner)
• Separate Childrens Church Program for Entire
  Service
• Family Night Model
• Small Group Family Integration
• Faith At Home Model Mark Holmen
• Family Integrated Sunday School

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DEVELOP YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY
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FOUR BASICS IN GETTING STARTED
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THE CHURCH NURSERY

• Find the right person!
• Support that person with training, encouragement,
  and recognition.
• Communicate your support and passion for the
  babies and young children.
• Budget appropriately and give attention to space
  needs.
• Resource Nursery Smart Pages, Gospel Light

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2. Safety and Security Policies

• Represent the realities of our society.
• You may have to start the process before you find
  someone to continue it.
• Keep records confidential and locked up.
• Some church plants screen everyone, so that
  anyone can fill in for people in the nursery.
• Resource Safe Place, Trak-1, Group Pub

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3. Curriculum

• What to look for in curriculum.
• Curriculum may need to be strengthened or
  adjusted.
• Suggested Curriculums Gospel Light,
  Discipleland
• Resource www.yourchurch.net

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4. Recruiting finding and keeping the right
people

• Key things to remember
• Vision recruits
• People want significant impact
• Use spiritual giftings when possible
• Have clear, detailed job descriptions
• Take care of your volunteers
• Develop a team with a leader
• Look for people with passion for children

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4. Recruiting finding and keeping the right
people

• TRAINING
• Know peoples training needs
• Have inexperienced teachers work with an
  experienced one
• FIND THE RIGHT TEAM LEADER
• A big picture person
• Spiritual gifting of leadership, administration
• Relational people work best
• Meet regularly and LISTEN!

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CHURCH PLANTERS TOOL KIT

• Nursery Smart Pages, Gospel Light
• Safe Place
• Growing A Healthy Childrens Ministry, Steve
  Alley
• Building Faith At Home, Mark Holmen
• Emergency Response, Group
• Teacher Training On the Go, Keith Johnson

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Childrens Ministry

• What is your childrens ministry plan?

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The End
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Key Books
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Key Books