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Children’s Ministry Hazards: 10 Things That Can Ruin a KidMin Program

6. Lack of volunteer training

You know volunteers who have outstanding gifts and a real aptitude for children’s ministry. But even “natural-born” workers benefit from training and encouragement. Plan training events, provide written resources for individual study, and send volunteers to conferences.

Develop regular or ongoing leadership training so volunteers can update their skills.

7. Competing with media for children’s attention

In our media-saturated world, we’re often tempted to spend lots of money on state-of-the-art equipment and technology. You may want to leave your children amazed and dazzled with mind-boggling programming and events.

Don’t give in to the temptation! Art Murphy ministers in Orlando, Florida, in the shadows of the world’s best high-tech theme parks. But he doesn’t advocate eye-popping programming. He says the best programs are simply “noisy gongs and clanging cymbals” unless they communicate love. Murphy challenges his kidmin volunteers to make Bible study and other programs real instead of “Disney-like.”

Kids remember special effects only until they see a better effect. But they’ll remember truth shared in love for a lifetime. Helping children apply and understand one biblical principle is better than knocking their socks off with technological brilliance.

Strive for genuineness and transparency in leading events and Bible studies. Embody Jesus’ message of love by lovingly teaching children.

8. Isolating children’s ministry from the church

Children’s ministry can become a “satellite” ministry, spinning on its own axis and following its own orbit. If this happens, your program may not embrace your church’s goals and philosophy. And it’ll suffer from a lack of intergenerational contact with church members. Meanwhile, kids will miss out on Christ’s larger purpose for the church in the world.

Write a purpose statement for children’s ministry, describing how it relates to the total church.

9. Ingratitude

Everyone wants to feel needed and valued. You do, and so do the people who help make your ministry possible. We’ll go the second mile for someone who appreciates us.

Review the past month of your personal calendar for names of people who’ve assisted, encouraged, or served in your children’s ministry. Write simple, heartfelt thank-you notes. You’ll reap what you sow!

10. Neglect

The most dangerous threat to any ministry is neglect. If you don’t weed out problem areas, your ministry will wither away. Fight neglect by constantly evaluating your children’s ministry. Rejoice in successes and learn from mistakes to keep neglect at bay.

Slip this list into the first page of your personal calendar. Then each month, weed out any threats to your ministry’s success.

This article by Walter Norvell originally appeared here.