What are your goals for children’s ministry at your church? One should be to create an inviting environment. Surroundings matter…a lot! But that doesn’t mean everything has to be difficult or expensive.
Easy improvements can instantly make your kidmin program more inviting to parents and kids. Get started with these ideas.
Goals for Children’s Ministry: 10 Tips
1. Start with the parking lot.
First consider how people arrive. I visit lots of churches and am often amazed at two things. The parking lot area is often in bad shape. Second, it’s often difficult to find the children’s ministry. Next time you drive into your parking lot, view it from the perspective of first-time visitors. Then make changes accordingly.
2. Be obviously safe.
Signage, check-in requirements, people with bright orange vests… Whatever you need to do to communicate that families are entering (and dropping their kids off in) a safe environment—do it.
3. Brighten things up.
Have you ever walked into an area that’s supposed to be for kids but is dark? Enough said.
4. Remember that music matters.
Have you ever walked into an area that’s supposed to be for kids but is dead silent? Enough said.
5. Be ready and waiting.
Next, don’t make families figure things out for themselves. When they arrive at church, they must figure out how to check in their kids, where they drop them off, where bathrooms are, how to get to the Worship Center, what they’ll do with the pager, and so on. There’s a lot to figure out, usually in a short period of time. (What visitor wants to walk in late to worship?) Greeters should be as much a part of your kidmin team as teachers.
