January is when we begin planning the year for children’s and family ministry outreach. Last year, this planning felt so ordinary and perhaps even boring – until it wasn’t. As we enter 2021, how do we plan our spring and summer events? How do we cross the bridge of uncertainty to make sure family ministry continues to reach students and parents?

First, remember the church’s mission has not changed since the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Evangelism and discipleship remain our great mandate. Because Jesus has guaranteed the success of The Great Commission, you can trust in the sufficiency of God in your portion of this work. The Sovereign Lord has placed you in this position for such a time as this. God has already given you the right abilities, the right people, and the right resources. Be assured that this is the right time – the kairos time – all pre-ordained by God.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for calling me to serve you and help build your Church. By faith, I believe that since you called me, you also equip me to do the work. Infuse me with fresh encouragement, new ideas, and wisdom to spread your great message of salvation and hope to this generation of children in the contextual challenges of 2021.

Second, plan the best you can following current local and state conditions.

Winter restrictions are likely to be more constraining than next summer but prepare for the ‘worst-case scenario’. If you live in a state with few COVID-19 restrictions (that do not require masks and social distancing), include a “Plan B” accommodating for social distancing needs. When a vaccine is administered, and conditions improve, you can always return to more familiar ways of running VBS. Until then, plan and stay flexible.

Prayer:

Father God, your plans for us have never changed. You have plans for our well-being, plans to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Jesus, you are the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). While my circumstances may change, you have promised that your Kingdom will grow no matter what difficulties or opponents might come. Help me to plan well. Please lead me, guide me, strengthen me, and give me courage.

Third, don’t wait.

Start now to assemble your team of leaders and other volunteers. Ask new people to help by speaking with them individually. It’s a perfect year to bring in new ideas and try something different. Procrastination never helps, so start early. Do whatever you can now, including choosing your VBS theme, determining your budget, and forming your team.

Prayer: 

Jesus, this virus was no surprise to you. You have unique and specific plans for our church, our families, and the kids you bring to us. You also want to bless many in our church community by allowing them to serve you by serving others. Bring more volunteers with cheerful hearts that they may have the joy of using their skills and talents for your glory. Help us bond together in a spirit of unity, work well together, and solve problems together.

Fourth, keep your “joy factor” high.

My grandfather had an old saying, “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” We ‘catch’ more volunteers to help, and we ‘catch’ more souls for Christ when we have joy, hope, and a positive outlook. Thankfully, joy and hope are not contingent on our circumstances. Remember that the same power that lifted Jesus from the grave lives in you (Romans 8:11). Further, Jesus promised that even the gates of hell would not prevail against the work of the church. You are destined to THRIVE, not merely survive because God is on your side!

Prayer:

Lord, help me to see the joy in small victories. Open my eyes to see the little things that are going well to see more clearly how you are working for good in this church, in our ministry, and in my life as a leader. The joy of the Lord is my strength! I choose joy – today, tomorrow, and every day. I ask for your grace to help me live Philippians 4:8 in very practical ways.

Fifth, communicate clearly with your pastor and with families.

Schedule your event dates and let people know in advance. If you need to limit the number of students in attendance, perhaps you can reserve more time on the church calendar to accommodate one week for each age group rather than all ages together. Also, let families know that plans are subject to change depending upon future circumstances.

Prayer:

Lord, you are the Good Shepherd. You feed your flock, carry the lambs in your arms, and hold them close to your heart (Isaiah 40:11). Please grant me the grace to care well for your sheep no matter their age or stage in life.

Sixth, learn from local educators.

Teachers and school administrators have learned so much about handling COVID-19 and state-required restrictions, particularly for children. Ask them to educate you. Talk to the principal of a local Christian school or connect with public school teachers whom you know.

Prayer:

Father God, I need wisdom. Your Word states in James 1:5 that if I lack wisdom, I should ask you for it, and you promise to give it to me in abundance. So, I am asking. Lead me to people who can help me, who can provide me with wisdom for the practical parts of holding successful summer ministry while keeping children and volunteers healthy and safe. I ask this in faith, knowing that you hear me and will answer me (1 John 5:15).

Seventh, stay connected with families and children all year.

Send postcards and birthday cards, make a phone call, bring a single flower to each household, deliver Lent and Easter activity packages at doorsteps. A simple text lets people know you are thinking about them and praying for them. You might be surprised at how much it means to people to hear from you. You may also have the joy of knowing that the Holy Spirit prompted you to connect with someone precisely when they needed encouragement.

Prayer:

Lord, your love never stops! You never sleep nor slumber, and your love never ends (Psalm 121). I pray for the families in our community to know you deeply care for them and are always with them. Lead me, Holy Spirit, to encourage the right person at just the right time so that they will feel your compassion at work through me.

Finally, the power of the gospel, our prayers for healing and miraculous divine help, our faithful service as ambassadors of light and love in this world can all bring change to our communities. At this moment in history, many are overwhelmed with worry, fear, and burdens. Hearts are yearning for security, safety, and significance. Jesus still has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). He still sits on His throne, and His plans for the children and families in your church will come to pass at such a time as this. Those whom He calls, He also equips!

Be encouraged, friends.

Maryl Darko
Senior Product Editor
Christianbook.com

The post Family Ministry Planning Tips for Another Uncertain Year appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

There are many qualities you might look for in your volunteer team or staff. Qualities such as their love for Christ, commitment, loyalty, fun, team player, creative, problem solver, or willing. But one quality often left off that list is ‘appreciated’. A quality you as the pastor or leader have direct impact on.

Ask yourself this question honestly: does your team feel appreciated? An under-appreciated team member may become disgruntled, feel their work does not matter, may underperform or give just barely enough. They may even be bitter or difficult to work with and ultimately, they may not stick around for long.

On the other side of the coin, an appreciated team member, a team member that feels valued and feels their contribution is noticed, understands they are part of a bigger picture. Such team members are not only a joy to serve with, but their service has a greater impact.

So, what are some ways you can show your deep appreciation for your team? I’m happy you asked. I’ve got a few ideas for you to take and use in your own church. Or perhaps my thoughts will spark a different idea in your mind! That’s one of the beautiful things about collaborating on ideas… it gets creative juices flowing for everyone!

Tip #1 Write thank you notes 

Download FREE Thank You Postcards Here! 

Ok, yes I know. Simple. A no brainer idea. But in a world that is mostly digital and fast paced, receiving a thank you note in the mail with a handwritten message is powerful. Set out time in your calendar to once a month or once a quarter write out thank you cards to members of your team appreciating them for their service. Highlight something specific you’ve seen them do or a character attribute you see in them to make it extra personal.

Tip #2 Take advantage of holidays on the calendar

New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter, 4^th of July, first day of fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are some of the times in the year when you can use the holiday to say thank-you. Deposit seeds of appreciation all throughout the year to your VBS team. Some ideas:

1. Valentine’s Day: ‘Thank you for making this team great!’ – include a small treat.
2. Easter: A chocolate bunny with a note that says, ‘there is no bunny like you on this team – thanks for serving during Easter!’
3. 4^th of July: A sparkler or glow in the dark necklace with a note that says, ‘you make our team sparkle!’

You get the idea – have fun – search out Pinterest and creatively say thank you to your team. You’ll communicate they are valued and make them smile.

Tip #3 Volunteer Appreciation Meal

This can be cheap or elaborate depending on your budget. When I was a children’s pastor we did a ‘breakfast for dinner’ thank you dinner with our team. It was a blast. We had big griddles for pancakes, eggs, & bacon – a waffle station, fruit, coffee and juice. During the meal we played games, laughed and got to know each other more. As our time concluded I publicly honored each team member by sharing a quality they possessed and thanking them. For months after, my team told me how much it meant to them to be publicly affirmed. This was a cheap event to pull off that had a big impact.

Tip #4 Create rhythms in their service to your team

I fully believe ministry life is less about balance and more about rhythms. There are seasons that are just flat out busy and there is no way around it. Easter, VBS season, Christmas are times when we give a lot and we ask our teams to give a lot. After busy seasons, work in a season of rest. This is good for your personal life and it’s good for the life of the church. There is this pressure to keep things rolling at a fast pace ALL the time but it’s just not sustainable. Build rhythms of rest into your culture. That might look like scheduling time off for your regular volunteers

Tip #5 Care about who your team members are as people… more than what they do for you! 

This is a really important way to appreciate your team. Take the time to develop your team. Invest in their character, in their personal walk with the Lord, in their family. This takes time on your part but the pay-off is worth it. The goal should never just be to get volunteers to carry out your vision. The goal should be to carry out the vision of the church while simultaneously developing those on your team. It’s not either or but it’s both.

Tip #6 Volunteer of Month 

Utilize social media or your team e-newsletter to highlight a volunteer of the month or week, depending on the size of your volunteer team. When you highlight them, share their picture, how long they have served, a specific thing you appreciate about them, and then maybe a fun fact. Two things are accomplished here: your team member feels valued AND other volunteers learn a little about their peer.

Good luck as you create a culture of appreciation with your team! Be assured, the work is worth it! Appreciated people are some of the best people to work with.

– Article by Holly Trewern, Church & VBS Product Editor at Christianbook 

The post VBS Volunteer Appreciation Tips appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.

Your Children’s Ministry influence can set kids up for a great year ahead, all while helping them build a lasting relationship with Jesus. To assist you with this task, we created a couple of handy printables you can use to start the year right.

You’ll find printable name plates to cut out and let the children write out their own names. These name plates can be used to identify a desk; or a ‘cubby’ where kids hang their jackets and backpacks.

We’ve also created an ‘All About Me’ page – it’s the perfect tool to help you get to know the kids… but also for the children to get to know each other!

Simply click the printables below to download, and then print out as many as you need.

Click to Download Name Plates

Click to download All About Me

For more Children’s Ministry resources, click here!

The post Back-to-School Activities for Children’s Ministry appeared first on Christianbook.com Blog.