As you think about the church God has called you to plant, there are things that you immediately consider: website, worship, etc. Many church planters forget to think about kids and how you will care for them along the way in your church planting journey.
When we planted Exodus, we had 30 adults and 15 children on our core team. These children were an important part of our launch team. We wanted to make sure that we provided something for them that would help them grow as disciples of Jesus. You will need to do the same in your church planting preparation.
Here are four things I would encourage you to consider as your Kids Ministry grows on your church planting journey.
Safety
I can’t overstate the importance of the safety of the children entrusted to your care. This will include but not be limited to background checks, proper policies around the number of adults in a room, having a security team present and visible, and keeping toys clean. The way we care for the children entrusted to us communicates something about how we view God’s care of us. We want to reflect his care and protection in how we care for them.
Substance
“Kids Ministry is not childcare. It’s Disciple Making.” I can’t tell you how many times I said that in the early days of our church. You are making disciples in your kids ministry. So, make sure that the content is age appropriate and gospel centered (not moralistic). Teach them to observe what Jesus has commanded. Make sure there is substance in your kids ministry.
Structure
The vast majority of people function better in some sort of structure – particularly kids. Free play sounds fun but quickly devolves into chaos. Create clarity for your leaders and consistency for your children by providing an age appropriate schedule.
Simplicity
You want every part of your Kids Ministry to be simple. Most people who are part of launch teams come from churches with established kids ministry areas that have a lot to offer. The temptation for a new church is to replicate what they see which is often complex. From check in to curriculum, keep it simple.
Now, as your church grows, Kids Ministry will need to grow with it. However, these four principles will need to guide the growth. What they look like will change, that they are important will not change.
I love helping church planters think through things like this. If I can help, let me know.
