Youth ministry is a unique calling, and it’s no secret that staying in it for the long haul isn’t always easy. For many youth pastors, what starts as a passion-driven role can sometimes turn into a temporary position—a stepping stone to other church roles or even a path out of ministry altogether. There are a lot of reasons for this: lower pay, challenging church cultures, demanding schedules, and yes, burnout. But while some of these factors may feel out of our control, there is one strategic choice we can make that directly influences our longevity in ministry. Leveraging a great, gospel-centered youth ministry curriculum can be the key to sustainable youth ministry.

The Burnout Problem

Youth ministry can be an all-consuming job. We plan events, disciple students, train leaders, manage budgets, resolve conflicts, and often create teaching materials from scratch. On top of all this, we still need to maintain healthy relationships with our own families and stay connected to God ourselves. The frenetic pace of ministry can be unsustainable, especially when unexpected challenges arise—like a volunteer stepping down, a crisis with a student, or a late-night call from a parent.

A major reason youth pastors burn out is that they try to handle all these tasks on their own. When everything feels urgent, it’s only natural to spend more time on what’s immediate (lesson prep, event planning) and less time on what’s important (relational discipleship, rest, and spiritual renewal). Eventually, the imbalance takes its toll, leading even the most passionate youth pastors to question whether they can keep going.

What Makes Youth Ministry Sustainable?

Ministry sustainability comes down to managing two things well: time and energy. The reality is, you can’t control everything about your church’s culture or your compensation package. You can’t control how often parents need to meet with you or when emergencies arise. But you can control how you structure your weekly workload. Practicing a Rhythmic Week to prioritize your spiritual, personal, and family life is a good place to begin the journey of sustainable ministry. One of the best practical ways to reclaim time and energy is by using a strong gospel-centered curriculum.

A quality curriculum isn’t just a set of pre-made lessons—it’s a tool that systematizes what can be systematized. It gives you a head start every week. The sermons are prepped, the game is set, the graphics are ready, the small group guides are written, and even resources for parents are included. When you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every single week, you create margin. And margin is where longevity lives.

The Research Backs It Up

Dan Navarro, in his annual Youth Pastor Compensation Report, shared a fascinating statistic: Youth pastors who’ve been in ministry for 15 years or longer often have budgets that allow for paid curriculum resources, conferences, and coaching. Now, correlation doesn’t necessarily mean causation, but the implication is clear—those who make wise use of teaching resources seem to stick around longer.

The reason is simple. When you financially support youth ministry, allowing for the continued growth of the leader and streamlining weekly lesson prep, you create space to focus on the non-negotiables of ministry: building relationships, investing in volunteers, and meeting the unique needs of your students. You’re not just surviving week to week—you’re thriving.

Imagine What You Could Do With More Time

Depending on your experience and gifting, you might spend anywhere from five to fifteen hours a week preparing for youth group. And yes, some of that time is invaluable. There’s no substitute for digging into God’s Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide your teaching. But what if you could cut your prep time by 60-70%? What else could you do with those extra hours each week?

Preventing Burnout Through Systematic Support

A good curriculum doesn’t replace your voice—it amplifies it. It gives you the freedom to focus on what only you can do: being present, building relationships, and responding to God’s Spirit in real-time. When the routine tasks are taken care of, you have more to give in the moments that matter most.

Burnout often comes when we feel like we’re constantly pouring out with nothing left to give. But when your teaching prep is simplified, you find yourself leading from a place of rest, not exhaustion. You can show up fully present—not just as a teacher but as a mentor and a shepherd to your students.

The Investment You Can’t Afford to Skip

I know the reality—many churches feel they can’t afford to invest in the youth ministry. But I’d argue the opposite: churches can’t afford not to invest. The cost of replacing a youth pastor—financially, relationally, and spiritually—is far greater than the cost of a quality curriculum.

If you find the right curriculum, one that is deeply gospel-centered and designed to equip you rather than replace you, it could change the entire rhythm of your ministry. G Shades Youth Ministry Curriculum is one curriculum that creates resources to make your life easier while keeping the gospel central. The goal is to give you the tools to lead well without burning out. 

Sustainable youth ministry isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing the right things well. By focusing on your growth and spiritual health, and leveraging a strong, gospel-centered curriculum, you’re not cutting corners—you’re creating margin. And that margin allows you to thrive in ministry for the long haul, offering your best to the students, leaders, and families God has entrusted to you.

Mike Haynes is a youth ministry veteran and the creator of G Shades Youth Ministry Curriculum. A vibrant contributor to the youth ministry landscape, Mike’s passion is to help students and youth pastors alike see life through the lens of the gospel. He and his wife Anna have five kids spanning elementary, middle, and high school.

The post Gospel-Centered Curriculum: A Key to Sustainable Youth Ministry appeared first on Ministry Architects.

• If you have limited time and simply want a free downloadable resource to help with planning ahead, click here.
• If you have a couple of minutes to learn why we encourage this ministry strategy, keep reading. 

When I was a kid, I loved getting our family’s mail. Most days after school, as soon as my mom put the car in park, I would jump out and run to the mailbox to see what had arrived that day – and for whom. Call me nosy, helpful, or hopeful, but one thing’s for sure: I consistently believed that our mailbox was full of possibilities. Every single day.

And the BEST day to get the mail (for me) was the day the church camp catalog arrived. See, I grew up in a denomination that invested thoughtfully into providing all sorts of camps, each and every summer, across multiple campgrounds. So. Many. Camps. And searching through all the options was like Christmas round two.

But what I didn’t realize until I was an adult is how early in the year one has to start summer event planning for camps like these.

If the goal for volunteer leaders is to be a part of a complete team, able to be fully present with children and youth throughout camp… (or VBS or a mission trip or whatever multi-day, multi-layered event is happening)…

And if the goal for parents is for them to experience a well-organized approach where logistics and expectations are clear… Where they feel confident their child will be safe in your care…

And if the goal for children and youth is to be able to spend concentrated time with a faith-filled community, experiencing what it means to follow Jesus…

Then planning can’t just “happen” a few weeks ahead of time. Solid summer event planning starts with worthwhile winter work. Work that isn’t characterized by angst or last-minute prep. Work that might just look something like this…

Step One: Kickstart Your Summer Event Planning

Six months before your summer event, schedule a day away from the office where you can invest a full set of hours solely focused on your camp, VBS, mission trip, or event. (If you’re serving in a role that is planning multiple events, gift yourself a set of multiple hours for each.)  

• For this first step, we’d recommend staying small. This is a time for just you, or you and one teammate, to list ALL the logistics that will make your event successful. (You might even need to start with defining what “success” looks like.) Then, break down each big responsibility into bite-sized tasks.

• Before the end of this day, be sure you’ve clearly identified the first five things you need to do next. These could be inviting additional teammates to take ownership of parts of the big list, blocking out your next day away, or ensuring your families are communicated with sooner rather than later so they can save the dates and their kids can participate.  

Step Two: Finish Five in Fifteen

Diving back into the routine demands of daily ministry after your day away has the unintentional potential to undermine the work you’ve mapped out. DON’T LET IT.

• Sit down for 15 minutes on your next day back, look at those first five things you earmarked to do next, and go ahead and schedule 30-60 minutes for each one over the next 15 days. That’s right, give yourself two weeks to tackle those first five tasks. “Finish five in fifteen.” Because, if you haven’t completed them in that time frame, you’ll know you need to call in some help. 

Summer won’t wait, and neither will all the stakeholders relying on your summer event planning efforts.

You already know – families begin signing kids up for spring sports in January and some summer camps fill up before February. The calendar can get so full that some households have to hire a project manager just to find a free week for their family vacation! (Alright, maybe not. But maybe…)

• Thus, we’d recommend prioritizing these steps as a part of your first five:
  • Organize your big list into categories that are a manageable size for one person.  
  • Make a list of people who you want on your core team. These are high-capacity volunteers who can take on a category. (Remember: don’t say someone’s no for them.)
  • Confirm the dates and location(s) of your event with the larger church calendar and any other organizations you’ll be partnering with. 
  • Craft a communication plan to ensure your congregation, ministry families, and community know what they need to know to participate. (dates, cost, location, age range, etc.).

Step Three: Gather your Summer Event Planning Go-Getters 

Once you’ve invited your core leaders to their specific areas of oversight – and they’ve said yes –  plan a meeting to plan a party.

• These core team leaders will need others by their side, along with resources and supplies. (Some of which you may have already identified). So plan a meeting where this smaller group gets clued in on ALL the details. From the broken-down version of the big list to the overarching goals of the event, bring these folks up to speed on the big picture. 

• Then, create multiple call lists together. Rather than you being the one who calls everyone else, or these 4-5 leaders rushing to call all the same people, spend some time talking through who to invite to which teams. Each leader should leave with their tasks, a call list, and a clear invitation to the next: a planning party.  

Step Four: Throw A Party, Not A Meeting

Raise your hand if you want to attend 7 different evening meetings at church for the same event.

Now, raise your hand if you want to come to one big planning party where the whole team knocks it all out at once!  

You know your people better than we do. But this is a fun and different take on tackling the enormity of that big list. And while we know there are a variety of ways you can empower others, troubleshoot questions, and knock out prep, organizing one big party can help prevent the procrastination and siloing that so often happens with a piecemeal approach to planning.

So here’s a sketch of what that day can look like:

• Schedule the party for March or early April (because, you know, May gets crazy). Invite the full event team, maybe making it mandatory.

• Every party needs food, fun, folks– and a focus.
  (And, of course – you’re allowed to delegate these out, too, if that’s helpful).
  • FOOD: coffee and donuts may suffice for the morning, but providing a hearty lunch and ensuring there are snacks throughout the day will be thoughtful.
  • FUN: this isn’t just a logistical checklist event. This team gets to be a part of planning an incredible set of days where all involved can grow closer to one another and closer to the Lord. So aim for interactive vs. solely informative. Incorporating fun, funny, and light amidst the work that needs to get done will be a gift to many.
  • FOLKS: Make it easy for people to say yes to being a part of this day. Devoting a full Saturday can be a big ask. So consider providing childcare or, at least, try to attend to any potential hurdles that may hinder someone from showing up. 
  • FOCUS: This party is a multi-purpose party that can include prayer, worship, games, and fellowship – and should definitely include the sharing of the event’s theme, introduction of team members, the overarching goals, and breakout groups led by your core leaders (to discuss those big list breakdowns.) This is also a perfect time to provide the necessary safety training and emergency procedures review so that all volunteers are equipped and ready to go.

• Last but not least, the party shouldn’t end until these are accomplished:
  • Everyone knows their roles, responsibilities, and any next steps.
  • A giant (or multiple) “to-buy” list(s) has been created, and the way purchases and reimbursements will be managed for this event is clear to everyone. 
  • There’s closing prayer and growing excitement to see what the Lord will do with all that’s planned.

Step Five: Do it all again next year

Lest you think I came up with these ideas all on my own, I didn’t.
This is simply my version of one part of the genius that is The Ministry Architects Preventative Maintenance Calendar. (Yes, this is the same free download link from above.)

What is a Preventative Maintenance Calendar and How can it help with Summer Event Planning?!?!

A PMC (for short) is a proactive approach to ensuring we don’t waste winter, or any other months. Instead, this tool helps us pace our days in a sustainable way. Put another way, the PMC is a month-by-month guide that maps out a thoughtful rhythm of how to attend to those non-daily responsibilities that often get forgotten or delayed. In a nutshell, it helps make sure things don’t get missed.

Why add one more tool to my toolbox? The others work fine…

For leaders who are already strategic planners, a PMC is still useful. You can combine a few of your hyper-focused guides into one comprehensive behind-the-scenes calendar. And, for leaders who feel great angst around event planning, the PMC is a game changer! You don’t have to let the phrases “last-minute” or “after-hours” characterize this work. The PMC outlines an earlier start to all major event planning and helps you have more control of the pace. 

Ultimately, the PMC is one more resource that can strengthen the sustainability of your ministry and help care for others in your community more intentionally. 

And who wants to miss out on that?

As a big fan of summer camp, parties, mailboxes, and well-paced ministry days, Renée would love to talk. She’d be happy to help your summer somethings be exactly what you hope they will be. Just click here to send her a note and she’ll connect with you soon.

Renée Wilson will tell you the best advice she ever received as a volunteer in youth ministry was “prepare well and love ’em to Jesus.” And that’s exactly why she’s a part of our team. Through her 20+ years of mentoring and ministering with children, youth, and young adults, Renée knows the value of building healthy teams and loves creating approaches around the vision of seeing more and more people come to know Christ.

The post Don’t Miss Winter: The Ultimate Summer Event Planning Guide appeared first on Ministry Architects.

And my answer is always: yes!

Inclusion allows our kids with disabilities or special needs to learn about Jesus with their peers. And, it allows our typical kids to grow in understanding and compassion for others. But there are times when, no matter how much your ministry desires to embrace inclusion, a separate space will be needed. So it’s helpful to have a both/and mindset. 

You know what else is helpful to consider when starting out?

This list:

1. Utilizing Space for Special Needs Ministry

Space, it’s not just the final frontier. Intentional space can allow your church to welcome people with higher-level sensory needs. If you have extra space, a nice, quiet area with low lighting usually does the trick in creating a quiet place for children who are easily overwhelmed. Equip the space with a few soft items such as bean bag chairs, weighted blankets, and quiet activities, and you have yourself a sensory room. 

I prefer to include all the kids in the same space. However, some children may not be able to participate if they do not have a separate space. Space may be what holds you back from having a separate quiet or sensory area, but it does not need to keep you from serving families with sensory needs. 

2. Inviting People

The greatest (and least expensive) resource you need. If space is not an abundant resource for you, how about people? Creating a one-on-one buddy system may make the difference between a family attending church, or not. 

I know what you’re thinking, “But we’re in constant need of volunteers for what already exists!” But did you know that buddies tend to be a popular volunteer position? This is especially true for youth who want to serve. 

A buddy’s one goal is to help a child be successful. And the outcome of that success is often an entire family attends your church, knowing their kid is safe and well-cared for. So it’s just good ministry math to add this role to your roster.

3. Traveling with Tools for Special Needs Ministry

Fun fact: the greatest tools I have used to serve children who are neurodiverse fit in one small backpack. If your church does not have a designated sensory space, a sensory bag may do the trick. I like to provide my buddies with a simple backpack to carry for the children they serve. 

What’s in the bag? 

It depends on the needs of the child, but here are a few favorites:

• Headphones
• Laminated picture schedule
• A fidget
• Playdough
• Timer

4. Sharing Awareness

Be curious, not judgmental; this is more than just a quote debated for who said it first (was it Walt Whitman or Ted Lasso?) it’s an invitation for everyone to learn and grow.

Create awareness amongst the church, volunteers, and even the children by helping everyone understand that different people learn, engage, and participate differently. Thus, meeting those differences with the same grace and diversity of resources can make all the difference when it comes to the strength of connection, the ability to be present, and the experience of feeling welcome.

Take a look at Luke 14 and ask the question of who Jesus was inviting to the table. The blind, the crippled, the lame, and the poor. (Also, if your church is stuck on what are the proper terms for families with special needs, Luke 14 will help you see that those terms change all the time.)

5. Establishing A Family Room

A new addition in many churches is a family-friendly sensory room. This is a space that allows parents to listen to the message being streamed while their children are safely in the room with them. These rooms are equipped like a sensory room with low lighting, soft seating, and quiet activities like fidgets. The upside is there is no need for additional volunteers and parents get to connect with one another.

In a perfect world, I would offer an inclusive buddy ministry with the option of a quiet, separate sensory room. But most of us don’t live in that space-abundant, perfect world. So we do what we can with what we have, taking the steps we can now to move forward into our next.

A family our church served in a weekend respite program could not safely be welcomed in our Sunday service until we made a few significant changes. It took us two years to make those changes. But each little step forward kept us moving in the right direction until, eventually, the entire family could be present on Sundays.

So what do we do, in the meantime, when it’s not safe for a child to attend without a separate space for special needs ministry? 

We welcome families safely by using the resources we have, understanding that for some of our families, the safest answer for their children may not be no, it just might be not now. Hear me: this is not a no. Instead, it is an opportunity to work with the family, walking through the list above to consider the best, safest way to welcome their whole family. 

And if you want to talk through what a first step can look like in your ministry world, please click here and let’s connect. 

Kerri-Ann Hayes

kerri-ann.hayes@ministryarchitects.com

Kerri-Ann Hayes has been a children’s and family ministry leader in Central Florida since the late 1990s. She has led children’s ministry in both single and multi-site churches. Kerri-Ann has a Disney family heritage, a hospitality management background, and a love for the local church that all shifted nicely into the world of family ministry. During her years of serving families, Kerri-Ann developed a passion for those struggling to find their place in the church due to the special needs of their children. She loves supporting and equipping churches to be accessible to families with special needs or traumatic backgrounds and is the author of The Accessible Church. Kerri-Ann and her husband, Tom, live in Clermont, Florida, where they raised their three children.

The post 5 First Steps to Creating an Inclusive Special Needs Ministry appeared first on Ministry Architects.

As you consider your role as a children’s minister, volunteer leader, or supportive presence in the life of children and families, here are a few suggestions to help with back-to-school emotions and healthy habits:

Children’s ministers should…

Become Aware:

Ask children and parents about the school they will attend, who their teachers will be, and what grades they will be in. Ask about their interests and what they plan to do this school year. In this way, you will have more knowledge about your flock and can follow up as the school year progresses.

Offer Help:

If you find that a child or parent feels insecure about school, offer to help. For children’s ministers, this may mean providing a listening ear, stopping by a home to deliver a back-to-school encouragement gift, praying with and for the family, or checking in intentionally to see how things are going, once the school year begins.

Stay In-the-Know:

Don’t miss the opportunity to stay aware of what is happening throughout the school year. Periodically ask parents how school is going. When you see children on Sundays, ask them about school. If you simply ask children how school is going you may only get a one-word answer: fine. Here are some guiding questions to avoid the dreaded fine answer:

• What is your favorite thing about school?
• Tell me about your teacher.
• Who do you play with at recess?
• What is your favorite specials class? (ex: gym, music, art, library, etc.)
• What’s something cool you learned about last week?
• Are there any special school events coming up?
• Is there anything that bothered you today?

Make Connections:

If you learn that a child is learning about ocean life or weather, help the children make connections to Bible stories. If a child is worried, provide them with a Bible verse to remember when worry creeps in.

• Ocean Life: 
  • God created fish. (Genesis 1:20-22)
  • Jesus called his disciples to make fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17)
  • Jesus helped the fishermen (who had been unsuccessful with their overnight fishing ventures) catch a bunch of fish. (Luke 5, John 21)
• Weather: Jesus calmed the storm. (Matthew 8:23-27, Luke 8:22-25)
• Worry: Instead of dwelling on worries, think about other things. (Philippians 4:6-8)

Become a Partner:

Ask parents if their child’s school allows lunch visitors, classroom volunteers, or adults to read to children. If so, offer to visit or to volunteer at the schools represented by the children in your ministry. Allow interested parents to sign up to have you visit their child’s school. In this way, you will build relationships both with the children, the parents, and the schools, bridging a gap between church, school, and home.

Provide Resources:

If parents have questions or struggles, be a resource for them. This may mean finding articles, videos, or books about the subjects parents struggle with. Listen for common concerns, and compile a list of resources for parents. Here are some suggested topics:

• Discipline or healthy boundaries with children
• Teaching children faith at home
• Bullying
• Helping children with anxiety
• Age-appropriate development/learning
• Signs of learning differences or special needs

And finally, children’s ministers should pray for everyone:

If you click here, you can download a set of back-to-school prayers for free. These can be shared with your volunteer teams, ministry colleagues, and families in your community.

For more information, recommended books and websites, or to find resources for children’s ministry and Christian parenting, let’s connect! You can email me at elaine.pendergrass@ministryarchitects.com or visit Teaching Kids About God.

Elaine Pendergrass

elaine.pendergrass@ministryarchitects.com

Elaine comes with a wealth of knowledge about teaching and learning, child development, and children’s discipleship. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Studies and an M.A. in School Administration, both from Gardner-Webb University (Boiling Springs, NC). Elaine has devoted her career to education and children’s ministry. She has served both in public and private schools as an Elementary teacher, Instructional Specialist, Preschool Director, and Head of School. Elaine served as a Children’s Minister at two large churches in Houston, TX. Elaine is passionate about loving children, making disciples, and equipping families to raise their children in faith. Elaine and her husband David have two beautiful children, Hayden and Julia.

The post Back to School: Resources for Children’s Ministers appeared first on Ministry Architects.

But hold on! We can intentionally plan for, even expect, these children to come through the doors of our church and right into the fun of VBS. 

If a child enters your doors in a wheelchair, you may quickly think through how to accommodate them, but what about children who have invisible challenges such as autism, anxiety, or ADHD? If we are expecting these children to be a part of our VBS, there are a few things we can do to be prepared: 

1. Expect Them To Be There

If you anticipate 100 children at your VBS, how likely is it that you will have some kids who need additional assistance to participate with your typical children?

Here are a few numbers to keep in mind as you plan for the fun of VBS:

• 1 in 6 children (17%) aged 3-17 were diagnosed with a developmental disability as reported by parents 
• 1 in 36 children has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

2. Utilize Care Forms

If parents share on their child’s registration that they have a diagnosis, follow up with a simple intake or care form. This collects information regarding a child’s likes and dislikes and what to do if the child gets overwhelmed. Be sure to notify the parent that the information will be shared only with those working closely with their child.

3. Recruit Buddy Volunteers

Add the role of a buddy to your list of volunteer needs, even if you aren’t sure you will need them. If you expect 100 kids, it would be great to have at least five buddies. If you don’t have anyone specific who needs a buddy, add the buddy to a group that could use some behavioral support.

4. Train Your Team

Start by sharing the above statistics to cultivate awareness with your staff and volunteer team. 

Remind your team that not all behavior is misbehavior. Sometimes, behavior is communication. We can find out what behavior is saying by asking a few simple questions. Is the room too loud? Are the lights too bright? Is the child overwhelmed? 

Train all of your volunteers on how to work with children with special needs. The volunteers do not need to be experts. However, a basic understanding of children with autism or ADHD and who to talk to if they need additional help will go a long way. 

5. Provide Support Tools

Provide group leaders or buddies with tools to help a child be successful at VBS. A laminated picture schedule of the events of the day or a timer will help with anxiety and transitions. A fidget, or something recommended by the parent, may help a child keep their hands busy and their minds focused. Put these items in a backpack for the group leader or buddy, and their group will be good to go! 

6. Create a Sensory Space

Even with buddies and a plan in place, VBS can be overwhelming. The number of people, sights, and sounds can cause even our typical kids to need a moment of quiet. Creating a sensory quiet space for children to retreat to with buddies when they get overwhelmed can help a child catch their breath and get back on track. It does not need to be a fancy room. A corner of a room away from the activities, an office with dimmer lights, or a tent inside a room can create a quiet getaway. I know a church that used a six-foot table with a tablecloth over it that became a quiet fort. Whatever you choose, be sure to abide by your church’s safety policy. If a buddy needs to step away with a child, another volunteer needs to go with them.

7. Modify Activities

Include children with special needs in games with instructions they will understand. Help them to participate in games focused on cooperation versus competition. Be understanding if a child does not want to participate. Offer alternative crafts or simplify the steps, such as pre-cutting items needed for crafts for a child who needs extra assistance. Offer help only when needed. Children of all abilities like to do things themselves.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Let’s find ways this summer to ensure that all children feel welcome to participate in the fun of VBS and, more importantly, experience the love of God through his church.

Additional Vacation Bible School Resources: 

• VBS as a Bridge: Expanding Vacation Bible School throughout your community
• After VBS: How to prepare for follow-up NOW

Kerri-Ann Hayes

kerri-ann.hayes@ministryarchitects.com

Kerri-Ann Hayes has been a children’s and family ministry leader in Central Florida since the late 1990s. She has led children’s ministry in both single and multi-site churches. Kerri-Ann has a Disney family heritage, a hospitality management background, and a love for the local church that all shifted nicely into the world of family ministry. During her years of serving families, Kerri-Ann developed a passion for those struggling to find their place in the church due to the special needs of their children. She loves supporting and equipping churches to be accessible to families with special needs or traumatic backgrounds and is the author of The Accessible Church. Kerri-Ann and her husband, Tom, live in Clermont, Florida, where they raised their three children.

The post VBS for Everyone appeared first on Ministry Architects.

• Families plan vacations around Vacation Bible School dates so their kids don’t miss out.
• VBS is often secured on the church’s annual calendar, right after Christmas and Easter.
• Financial resources are strategically designated, as new yard banners get purchased, set designs get crafted, and SWAG (stuff we all get) gets ordered.
• The entire church building pauses pretty much everything else to accommodate all that a VBS needs.

Plus, almost everyone who’s ever lived near a church building knows: this is THE thing churches do in the summer for kids. 

Which means, if you’ve been around the church world long enough, you’ve probably heard some good, Christian people actually complain about how “that family” always finds “every VBS in town” to send their kids to for “free childcare”.

It’s on this hill I’d like to – not die but – build a bridge.
Because… isn’t that the point?
AND… what if we got ahead of them?

What if families unfamiliar with our churches didn’t have to do any research to know when our VBSs were taking place? What if… what if we strategically invited every kid we can to VBS?

Investing in the children and families who already attend our churches is a great, good gift. 
Of course, it is! 
AND, two things can be true at once. 

Because, while getting to hang with the kids you already know can be another faith-strengthening experience for their already-established roots…

…VBS offers an incredible opportunity to meet kids you don’t know! 

And not just kids! 
You could meet their siblings, their parents, cousins, neighbors, teammates – all sorts of folks!

It’s such a sacred space when an adult, who has minimal, if any, connection to your church, entrusts their children to you!

And while we probably could write a whole book about the motives of parents, relatives, and guardians when it comes to bringing their kids to faith-based places, for THIS event – Vacation Bible School – let’s just take a moment to steep it in some Great Commission* waters and consider how VBS truly does help disciples make disciples. (*Matthew 28:16-20)

1. VBS changes lives.

I know more than one friend who met Jesus for the first time at a VBS. 

And you already know, some kids live in homes where faith is a word said on Sundays rather than a life lived with a Savior. Some kids live in homes where children are seen and not heard – and love is earned, not abounding. And some kids live in homes where they have to fend for themselves, with no caring adults around at all. 

Vacation Bible School is a firsthand experience of what Jesus meant when he said, “Let the children come to me.” (Matthew 19:14) And YOU get to help every size, shape, and style of kid know what that love looks like, sounds like, and feels like.

Next step:

Have you ever asked your volunteers or staff leadership about the role VBS played in their stories? What about the whole congregation? Try it! Doing so would not only remind people of the impact these concentrated times together can have on a life, it also helps everyone remember that kids’ faith matters, too. And by investing time, presence, prayers, and funds in events and experiences like VBS, people are investing in disciples who are just a bit shorter, stickier, and younger than they are. (This is also a big part of championing your ministry.)

2. VBS gives gifts.

I bet you could join me in writing down dozens of parents’ names who significantly appreciate the gift of time VBS provides each summer. Their kids are safe and they can get that grocery shopping done without all the extra “help”.

Don’t knock it ‘til you try it! While VBS requires scads of volunteers, those parents who don’t say yes are not the worst. First of all, you already know that just because you were a kid doesn’t mean you’re good with kids. Second of all, give some people a break! If shame is your game in creating your teams, please – for the love of grace – stop. Recognize that parents are experiencing your version of Jesus, too, when being communicated with, equipped in their roles, and invited to VBS (amongst all other things.)

Here are 3 gifts VBS can give to parents and guardians:

Time:

What a wonderful break in their summer days, to be able to simply drop off and pick up and experience quiet for a few hours. Gift it with a smile, friends. 

Food:

What if, for one week of the summer, caretakers didn’t have to plan all three meals for a few days? Could you center your VBS around a meal, or offer an additional half-hour where parents could pick up and join in a meal, too?

Community:

For many, parenting is a lonely season where you’re surrounded by other adults, but you don’t really know them. What if your VBS created a “big-persons station” with coffee, donuts, and a leader who helped guide fun and fruitful conversations? Who knows where those connections could lead?!

Next step:

Consider how your VBS can be a gift to parents/relatives/caretakers. This might require a pivot in your plans or a shift in how you use your resources. But caring for the whole family could make a whole lot of difference – and see their return. (And if you don’t believe me, ask Chris Sasser.)

3. VBS ventures beyond the ordinary.

If your church isn’t inviting everyone and their neighbor to VBS, you’re missing out.

Read that again. YOU are missing out, not just the people you’re inviting. The family of God is big and messy and beautiful and different and extraordinary, and when we only focus on those we know, we miss out on swads of people that are threads in the tapestry of eternity. 

Vacation Bible School isn’t a copy + paste of your typical weekly offering, so neither should its invitees be. VBS is often a big, beautiful, different – and, yes, messy – derivation beyond the ordinary that your congregation embraces! So what would it look like to embrace the people who aren’t typical, either? Not just the program.

Next step:

Dream with your team and ask: what population wasn’t present at last year’s VBS that we could welcome this year? 

Kid participants:

Do all the students at the nearest elementary schools know your VBS dates and have an invitation? Are the teachers able to talk about your VBS knowledgeably, if parents ask questions? Connect with your local school(s) and build that bridge. (And if a whole school feels daunting, start with one classroom or grade and build relationships with those teaching teams. Forging relationships with other stakeholders in the life of a child will do far more good than being a random church person who shows up once a year with a whole bunch of flyers and hopes someone says yes.)

Student leaders:

Are you connected with your local high school service organizations? (think: Key Club, Student Council, etc.) Do you need extra volunteers – and do they need service hours – and could you connect with club advisors now to be able to offer VBS as a summer serving option? Be sure to include with this idea the time it takes to put together and provide a proper training with background checks and an intentional pairing of the new-to-church youth with a familiar-with-church youth. (This might look different than the training you’re already using for the VBS volunteers in your church. And bonus points if you create an opportunity for your youth minister to connect, too.)

Foster care networks:

Could your church partner with your local foster care network and be a summer respite option for foster parents to bring their kids to? Better yet: what would it look like to design a VBS specifically so that you could be this kind of gift for this kind of community?

Listen, “Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to change everything to get a different result than the one you’re getting. Just change something and before you know it, you’ll be running.” — Heather Kenny, senior consultant, One Step at a Time

You know now when VBS will be. 
And you know now that seeing rooms and worship spaces filled with all the energy kids exert brings life to a church building, and all those who are a part. 

So much so, don’t you just want to build a bridge and share VBS with every kid you can?

Renée Wilson will tell you the best advice she ever received as a volunteer in youth ministry was “prepare well and love ’em to Jesus.” And that’s exactly why she’s a part of our team. Through her 15+ years of mentoring and ministering with children, youth, and young adults, Renée knows the value of building healthy teams and loves creating approaches around the vision of seeing more and more people come to know Christ.

The post The bridge that is: Vacation Bible School appeared first on Ministry Architects.

Meet Anxious Amy. She loves, loves, loves Jesus, and she loves kids. She has been leading a large children’s ministry at her own church for over 7 years. And Amy has been running at full speed, ever since she can remember. Her motto is, “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” She is energetic, and will do whatever is required to get the job done. However, she rarely slows down long enough to take care of herself, or tend to the multiple piles of paper on her desk. She knows she needs systems but there’s no time! That’s all right with Amy, though, because she keeps anything of importance mentally filed away in her ultra quick, filled to the gills brain. She remembers every volunteer’s name, and the names of his children after one meeting.

Right now, Anxious Amy is putting out some children’s ministry fires. Come to think of it, she seems to spend most of her time dealing with some level of ministry crisis. This week, she is dealing with volunteer and equipment issues. Volunteers are consistently inconsistent. For the last three weeks, one of the third grade Sunday school teachers has been MIA. While Amy hopes that the teacher is all right, her real concern is how she is going to replace this teacher.

Beyond that, rumor has it that the Kindergarten teachers have gone off the proverbial curriculum rails. Apparently, they’ve been “teaching” whatever comes to mind. In the pre-school class, the video projector hasn’t been working for a couple of weeks. Worse still, Amy just found out about it this morning via a curt text from a frustrated volunteer asking when it would be fixed. Amy is thinking to herself, “How can I fix a problem if I don’t know about it.”

Amy’s dream is that one day, programs will run smoothly, volunteers will be responsible, and she will get to bed before 11:30 p.m.

Meet Calm Catie. Catie leads a children’s ministry across town from Amy. She has been hoping to meet Amy for lunch for a while. However, every time they have planned to meet, Amy has cancelled at the last minute with a frantic apology and a promise that she’ll make it up to Catie. For the past five and a half years, Catie has been serving as the director of children’s ministry at her church where she loves building relationships with her volunteers, parents, and kids. Catie’s motto is, “The more, the merrier.”

 This week, Catie is focused on planning the details for her volunteer gathering/training event for the next quarter. She is anticipating honoring her pre-school volunteer coordinator on being named “Volunteer of the Year.” Catie’s husband marvels at how she always does her job with a smile on her face. It seems that every Sunday, someone that Catie is counting on gets sick, or has some sort of unforeseen emergency. However, Catie just smiles and says, “Honey, that’s what substitutes are for!”

Every Tuesday, Catie does a walk through of each of her Sunday school classrooms. She gathers individual incident report forms, classroom needs forms, and lesson feedback reports. She heads to the kitchen, pours a cup of hot coffee, and heads back to her office to enjoy it as she reads through Sunday’s paperwork and crafts her “to-do list” for the rest of the week. In addition to planning her volunteer event, Catie will make some recruiting calls, parent calls, and ask her supply coordinator to order craft supplies for the next quarter. Before Catie leaves for the day, she will complete a maintenance request to check the projector light bulbs in the preschool rooms.

At 5:30, Catie is headed out to watch her son play baseball.

While Amy and Catie are fictional characters, they clearly reveal the difference between a children’s director who is tirelessly focused on content and a director who is utilizing solid systems to manage her ministry.

Content thinking is short-term, isolated-incident thinking.

By nature, my personality is to deal with an incident and move on. On the other hand, my husband’s nature is to deal with the root issue of the problem. That way, we never have that particular crisis to deal with again. Sometimes, this approach takes too long for my short attention span. However, in my experience, I have learned that while it may be easy in the short term to deal with the immediate crisis and get it off of my plate, in the long run, those issues will come back to haunt me, over and over again. If I address the system rather than the content, I will solve the problem once and for all.

Do you see why I say this isn’t rocket science, but it is hard work?

For example, both Amy and Catie had issues with their video projectors. Amy was completely unaware for weeks that this was a problem. If part of her lesson included a video component, there is no telling how long those volunteers may have been supplementing the lesson on the fly. (And, building ongoing frustration in those volunteers!)

Systems thinking is long-term, sustainability thinking.

Catie has a system for volunteers to report when something is broken and a preventative maintenance plan as well. By providing a feedback form for classroom needs, she’s always made aware of issues like these. Now, properly trained volunteers fill out the form, and the problem can be addressed before frustration rears its ugly head.

Additionally, it appears that Catie has a substitution system in place. She knows the nature of families and understands the surprises that life can dish out on a Sunday morning. Catie has prepared systems for that by having an on-call sub each week who is trained, ready and available wherever needed.

In Song of Solomon 2:15, The Beloved mentions the “little foxes that spoil the vine.” What a perfect picture of how being focused on content affects our ministry!   When you get focused on the little things (content), you tend to become anxious and lose your focus. You allow those “little foxes” to spoil the productivity or fruit of your ministry.

However, when we have the proper systems in place to protect the precious content of our message (and the programs supporting the message), those little frustrations won’t have access to you or the ministry. You won’t find yourself in a panic over last minute emergencies (like broken equipment) when you have systems in place for volunteers to communicate those types of things. Jesus said that his desire for your fruit was that it should remain. (John 15:16) The right systems, can act like a fence, and offer protection for the smooth operation of your programming. Once you have employed the right systems, you will find things running smoother. Most importantly, you will move from constantly being reactive to working proactively able to prepare for a bright and well-ordered future.

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Annette Safstrom

annette.safstrom@ministryarchitects.com

Annette fell in love with children’s ministry in the 1980s and has never looked back. After graduating from Bible college in 1991 with a certification in children’s ministry, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University, and a Master’s from SMU. Over the years, she has consistently served in various roles in the church from volunteer to director of children’s ministry. Annette has been a member of the Ministry Architects team since January of 2012, and co-authored Sustainable Children’s Ministry with Mark DeVries in January of 2018. She loves to share the joy of children’s ministry with others through workshops, trainings, and national conferences. She lives in McKinney, TX with her husband Kevin, and their two children, and enjoys traveling, cooking, and writing.

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As I’ve been having lots of conversations, facilitating focus groups, and leading seminars, I’ve noted many common themes. The one that stands out most starkly is this:

Kids, teens, and parents are all hurting in so many ways. 

The pressure to perform, the strain of relationships, and the overall stress of life seems to be bringing people down at an increasing rate. It seems to be harder and harder for people to embrace the hope of Jesus and the belief that a life with God, while not perfect or problem free, will offer a freedom and joy that can overcome the world.

This overall feeling is well-summarized by a quote from a recent conversation I had with a high school student at my church: 

“Stress levels are enormous. I used to love school, now I stare at the clock until the bell rings. I play sports as well which means I miss some class but have to make it up later. My parents aren’t any help either. They are part of the problem. “You better watch that 93 in science. It’s getting a little too close to an A-” They don’t get it. Keeping perfect grades while playing 3 sports a year is difficult. But don’t let them see me too sad, or too stressed, or too much of any negative emotion or they’ll blame it on my phone and snatch it right up until I cry at the dinner table about it. Someone has to tell adults that we will crumble without some sort of relief.”

That last line really gets me and, in some way, has become a rallying cry for me.

“Someone has to tell adults that we will crumble without some sort of relief.”

Kids and teenagers today are crumbling. We, as adults, have to pay attention to what is going on in more ways than ever. We must be in the fight with them, equipping and encouraging them as they navigate the world. This desire to help parents and ministry leaders truly see what is happening and be proactive in the fight has led me to create a few resources that I hope will help.

In 2022, I released the book Bags: Helping Your Kids Lighten the Load. This book comes from years of watching young people pack and carry some tremendous emotional baggage. On top of that, they have no idea how to deal with it. The book identifies eight common “bags” that kids pack as they grow up. I talk about things like comparison, rejection, disappointment, and the pressure to perform. Each chapter offers practical things those parenting and doing ministry can do to help kids not pack these bags. We can give them a lighter load to carry through life.

I believe that we, as parents and ministry leaders, can have a tremendous impact on the way our kids view the world and how they learn how to be healthy along the way. 

Speaking of health, that has become an important word to me as I have thought about the state of families today. Everyone has a picture of what we think “success” looks like. I don’t know about you, but when it comes to my kids and how they turn out–

I have changed the target when it comes to success. 

For me, success no longer looks like good grades that lead to the right college or job that helps them achieve financial success. The idea that my kids need to earn awards and climb whatever ladder is in front of them, be a good citizen and live in the right social circles, is no longer important to me. (We all know people who have achieved the “American Dream” and are miserable.)

I simply want for my kids to get to their young adult years and be healthy. I want for them to be healthy emotionally, mentally, relationally, and spiritually. If my wife and I can get our kids to their mid 20s and they are healthy in these areas, I don’t care where they work, where they live, how much money they make, or what social circles they run in. I obviously pray that they will have a real relationship with God that leads them every day. And I believe that if they do, they are much more likely to be healthy in the four areas I’ve mentioned:

– Emotional Health
– Mental Health
– Relational Health
– Spiritual Health

As adults who are raising and leading kids and teens, we can make a tremendous difference in their lives. We have the opportunity to equip and encourage them along the way, pointing them to a God who loves them and a faith that can lead them. As we lead, we have to both pay attention to what is happening to them and be proactive in what we want for them. As anyone who has worked with or raised kids and teens knows, this is a dance. Sometimes we stumble and fall, and we sometimes move into a beautiful expression of life and love.

In my opinion, it all hinges on one thing: Relationships

We have to work, not just on the mechanics of life, but on the connections we all crave. If we, as adults, focus first on the relationships we have with the kids and teens in our homes, or sphere of influence in our neighborhoods or ministries, instead of just teaching the things we think kids need to know, we will have a much better chance at actually seeing the “bags” they carry. Then, we can help them lighten the load and move towards the health they so desperately need. 

So, hang in there. Keep fighting. Focus on health, for both you and the kids and teens you love so much. Pray for their hearts. Offer encouragement. Build relationships, lead well, and trust that the seeds you are planting and watering will grow into what God wants them to be.

Additional Resources

Want more helpful resources? Check out these free downloads!

• Five Mistakes Churches Make In Family Ministry
• Whole Family Ministry Conversation Guide

Chris Sasser (a.k.a. “Sass”) is the Pastor of Family Ministries at Port City Community Church in Wilmington, NC. He has served in full-time ministry since 1993, working with children’s, middle school, high school, college, and parent ministries. He has a passion for equipping and encouraging parents and leaders to help the next generation walk with God. Chris shares thoughts and ideas at www.equipandencourage.com and loves to share with students, leaders, and parents. He is married to Karin and they have two children, CJ and Kylie. Chris is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and has done some graduate work at Fuller Theological Seminary and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

The post Kids Are Crumbling appeared first on Ministry Architects.

Researcher Thom Rainer called the bi-vocational movement “a true revolution in the church.”¹ He estimates there are over one million bi-vocational pastors in North America alone, with that number consistently increasing since the start of the pandemic. According to a recent Lifeway research study, over 26% of pastors surveyed reported being bi-vocational with at least one job outside of the church.²

So, what does this mean? It means that bi-vocational pastors aren’t going anywhere and the way we care for and develop them will have a direct correlation to the successful impact of our ministries.

Being a bi-vocational minister is hard. It’s not for the faint of heart. So, what can we do as church leaders to support them? How can we give our bi-vocational ministers the resources and tools they need to be successful? 

The #1 thing we can do to support a bi-vocational pastor is give them a canvas.

I’ve heard it said that clarity is kindness, and the bi-vocational pastors on your team need even more clarity than a full-time pastor. Think about it: the bi-vocational pastor doesn’t have any time to waste! Their time is the most precious thing they have and it has to be split between their day job, the church, and their family. Hands down, the best thing you can do for a bi-vocational pastor is to give them the gift of clarity.

And one of the best ways to think about the gift of clarity is to picture an art canvas. 

To a non-artist, a blank canvas can be intimidating. But to an artist, a blank canvas provides a boundaried space full of possibilities! Upon this surface, defined by its four sides, artists have the freedom to create whatever they want. And nothing they create on the canvas can be labeled wrong. The confidence that comes from knowing “this is mine to paint” and to not have to worry about any other canvases allows for focus and attention to be directed rightly. 

The canvas you give your bi-vocational pastors works largely the same way. Each side of the canvas represents a different type of clarity bi-vocational pastors need. As they use these four lines to guide their work, they’ll experience freedom to pursue all sorts of possibilities and the confidence to live into the plans God has for them. Instead of frustrating bi-vocational pastors with choices about what they have time to accomplish and what they must ignore, a canvas of clarity allows them to operate freely in the sweet spot of the ministry they’re called to. Let’s take a look at this canvas:

Side #1: Clear Boundaries

The first side of the canvas represents clear boundaries. To say the bi-vocational pastor has a lot on their plate is a massive understatement. Without clear boundaries around family, rest, and vocational availability, what often gets sacrificed first is the pastor’s own health and family. When that happens, their ministry will always suffer.

The most effective ministry comes from the most healthy pastors with healthy families. These are exactly the things this side of the canvas protects. The first gift we want to give to a bi-vocational pastor is to give them clear boundaries around family, rest, and availability. Help them set clear time frames around when they will be available and when they will not. Help them find the limit to their availability, as well. Because they will have a limit and they need to know it’s okay to step back when they’ve hit it.

We also want to help them set boundaries around family. A pastor’s first ministry is always to their family. Help your bi-vocational ministers to identify where their family will always come first. What will take precedence when ministry and family compete? How often are they willing to miss family dinner? When is it okay to choose work or the church over their child’s birthday or an extracurricular event? Clarity around these items will help the bi-vocational pastor choose – in advance – who gets their time when there’s not enough to go around. As a bonus, their family will be more supportive and bought into the ministry because they’ll have an understanding of the boundaries, too, and the priority they are.

Finally, help your bi-vocational pastors set boundaries around rest. When will they sabbath? How will they protect the sabbath? How many weeks do they need to take off each year to stay healthy? What will they do when they start to feel burnout or exhaustion coming their way? Answering these questions will pay major dividends for the church and the pastor down the road.

Side #2: Clear Expectations

What are your expectations for the bi-vocational pastor in their role? The answers to this question are represented in the second side of the canvas. Do you have a clear job description with areas of oversight designated specificaly to them? How many hours, on average, do you expect them to be available each week? Are your expectations hours-based or task-based? Is there a cap you don’t want them exceeding or a “this must get done” list for each month? 

Finally, what results do you expect? If we don’t connect clear expectations to well-defined results, it becomes difficult for leaders to know if they are being effective or not. Identifying the key responsibilities a leader must accomplish to be successful provides thoughtful direction to both the minister and the ministry.

Side #3: Clear Plan for Work & Care

Even with clear boundaries and expectations, this isn’t all the bi-vocational pastor will need. They will also need your help to create a work plan that works for them. The first part of a clear work plan is a strategy for time management. Again, the bi-vocational pastor’s time is their most precious resource, so why not help them plan how to manage this limited resource? 

The second part of a clear work plan will be helping them outline weekly priorities. When they don’t have enough time to get everything done, what do you want them to focus on first?

Lastly, what’s the best rhythm to help hold the bi-vocational minister accountable and proactively get their feedback? This part of the plan ensures you, as their support, stay in the know and any problems that arise can be addressed as early as possible.

Side #4: Clear Path to the Future

Now we’ve made it to the final side of the ministry canvas: a clear path for the future. This part of the canvas is all about outlining hopes and dreams for the future. Is there a pathway for the pastor to eventually join the staff full-time or is this role best served by someone willing to invest part-time? Does the leader want to let go of their other job and solely focus, full time, on this work, or do they prefer being bi-vocational? If the pastor does desire to go full-time in the future and that is a viable option, when and how will it happen? By answering these questions together, the bi-vocational pastor and the church leadership get to paint the same picture and significantly decrease possible frustrations or issues from popping up later.

If you want to support the bi-vocational pastors in your congregation well, the best gift you can give them is a clear canvas for ministry. When you do, they will thank you. 

Let Jeff know if you would like to talk more about bi-vocational ministry. He’d love to hear from you and learn what sides of this canvas make the most sense, or what’s missing, and how you support the bi-vocational heroes in your community.

¹ https://churchanswers.com/blog/the-bi-vocational-revolution-most-churches-are-missing/

² HTTPS://lifewayresearch.com/2019/01/11/more-than-half-of-pastors-started-their-careers-outside-the-church/

The post How to Support the <br>Bi-Vocational Pastor appeared first on Ministry Architects.

So much for well-made plans. 

All children deal with behavioral issues now and then, but what if that behavior tells you something else? What if the behavior communicates that this child needs accommodations due to special needs or trauma?

Dr. Karyn Purvis said it best: “Behavior is the language of a child who has lost their voice.” Whether you refer to these children as differently-abled, exceptional, or special needs, we all agree there are some children who need extra help to participate in our ministry successfully. 

Not sure these kids are in your ministry? Chances are that if you serve more than ten children, these kids are already part of your church. Here are some statistics to keep in mind:

• 1 in 6 kids has a diagnosed special need, whether medical or developmental 
• 6.1 million children/students have been diagnosed with ADHD
• 1 in 44 children/students has been diagnosed with autism

As ministry leaders, we aim for everyone to feel welcome in our church. With that in mind, it may be time for us to find out what is behind our kids’ behavior. When a child enters the church in a wheelchair, we consider the accommodations they need to participate in the ministry. But what about children who have invisible challenges? Autism, ADHD, and anxiety play out in the ministry as behavioral problems when really, they are challenges a child needs help navigating. The good news is you don’t need a separate special needs ministry to welcome these families. You need a plan, and that plan can start with these steps:

1. Cultivate Awareness

People are our greatest asset when it comes to serving children with special needs. Train your team with a brief understanding of invisible differences and how they may impact your ministry environment. Volunteers do not need to be experts on autism; they need to be experts on the child in their group. Training a volunteer to sit near a child who needs additional help can change the trajectory of your morning. If a child is talking out of turn, a gentle reminder with a hand on their shoulder is often all they need to get back on track.

2. Partner with Parents

Partnering with parents can seem like an elusive goal for ministry leaders. When working with differently-abled children, it becomes much easier. Parents are the experts. If parents share their child’s challenges, seek them out for what works best for them both at home and school.

Have an intake form available for parents to complete before attending or when checking their child into the ministry. An intake form gives you important information to better serve the child. 

Parents may not disclose their child’s challenges for fear of rejection. Asking a parent, “How can we help your child be more successful?” opens a dialogue with the parent and builds a partnership. 

Some children have never been diagnosed. It is never the job of a ministry leader to suggest a diagnosis. You don’t need a diagnosis to serve a child. You can accommodate a child because you know they need extra help. 

3. Know Your Kids

Help your team become “empathetic investigators” by finding out what is behind the behavior. Develop a relationship by asking questions of a child struggling in your ministry. Try this approach:

• Ask-Words alone are often not enough. Visual aids help kids put words to their emotions. An Emoticon Chart is a simple tool that helps kids describe their feelings. This is a great starter for small group or class.

• Listen– Listen to what children communicate through their words and behaviors. Remember, behavior is a language.

• Plan-Have a plan in place when you know the child is struggling. Schools offer Individual Education Plans. Why not an Individual Ministry Plan? What does this child need to be successful? Having a plan for one child will serve the whole group.

4. Assess the Environment

How does the room feel to a child walking in for the first time? Is the music loud? Are the lights too bright? Is the room crowded? Be mindful of sensory needs. A child with supervision may step out during worship or sit in the back of the room. Knowing your child will help you answer these questions and have a plan.

We once changed our entire Sunday morning schedule with one child with ADHD in mind. The kids were moving and singing during worship, sitting during Bible story, standing for a game, sitting during the closing prayer, and traveling to small groups. Do you see a pattern? The outcome of just moving our schedule around served all our children, not just the child with ADHD.

5. Train Volunteers and Kids

Communicate clear expectations to everyone. Begin your time with what kids can expect and what you expect from them. We begin our time by sharing three expectations. 

Together we will:
Respect God
Respect leaders
Respect each other

When we experience behavioral issues, we connect it back to one of these expectations. Another clear expectation would be a visual schedule for my friends who need additional help. Understanding what will happen next gives participants a sense of control. Boundaries and clear expectations provide safety for everyone.

Having the desire to serve these families is the first step. You don’t need a sensory room or separate space. You need people, and you can start with one person willing to partner with a child. I like to encourage volunteers with the reminder that when they serve these children they help, not just the child, they help their family be part of the church, as well. 

So, where do you start? You start with one child. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)

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