Looking back on 20 years of ministry in the CRCA and three years in the role of Children's ministry worker, there remains one consistent theme regarding children that continues to push itself to the fore of my thinking.  It's the need to disciple children by actively involving them in every part of the life of church. That is, by considering them as partners in the gospel, rather than passengers. To envisage a ministry of children, rather than simply a ministry to children. As gifted members of the body, Jesus himself described the blessing children bring to the church. They bring energy, faith and enthusiasm that lifts, exemplifies and enlivens a church....

Not to be a Scrooge, but I confess, I'm not big on Christmas plays. I always feel a slight cringe when I see one. There are a number of reasons, but mainly because we put on christmas plays primarily so that we can admire our children as cute and funny. If we were really serious about the spiritual value of acting out the story of Jesus' birth why don't adults ever play the roles?  In this way, as the one time in most churches that children have a significant role in the church,  the christmas play conveys the message that children's contribution is to perform so we...

1. Is it Biblically sound. Being Biblically sound is more than having a memory verse or a Bible passage. Ask yourself; Is the lesson in keeping with the overall message of the Bible and the particular point the passage is trying to convey? We do the Bible and our children a disservice when we lay aside a story's clear message for another. For example, today many children's curriculums downplay the Biblical world view of sin and salvation for talk about self esteem and human potential.    2. Is the presentation faithful to the whole tenor of the Bible as the Word of God? Cute talking animals, cool dudes...

    Were you chasing this year's volunteers in January? Far too late wasn't it? Make 2014 different; start recruiting now. Take intentional steps this term to recruit your 'A' team for 2014. To begin with, start praying and asking the Lord to supply what you need for next year.  Have a personal discussion with each of your current leaders about their experience in 2013. Give each of them a gift. Affirm their contribution and tell them how much they have meant to the ministry.  Then, for those who have done well (you may find some really need to leave) share your vision...

Children's minsitry leaders need to be trained well; especially in their understanding of the Christian faith. Why? Because teaching children can be harder than teaching adults.   John Piper put it this way in his message, 'Are we hindering Children from Coming to Jesus?'      It takes as much or more understanding of a biblical doctrine to teach it to children than it does to teach it to adults. If you understand a thing well, you can usually make it plain for ordinary people and children. But if you are fuzzy in your own understanding, you will generally be overly...

What will children's ministry look like in the future?   Amy Dolan says that, 'the phrase “I don’t know” will soon become irrelevant. It’s no longer possible for us to not have the information we need at our fingertips.... And, it’s no longer necessary for children to attend Sunday school simply to learn Bible stories and hear spiritual truths."    Her comments are based on the reality of the internet and the 'democratisation' of information in which children have unfettered access to vast amounts of information and in which they are being encouraged, and indeed are able to, become 'independent learners.'  ...

Last week I attended a church that had only a few children in a creche and a 'middle group'. Each room was supervised by only one adult. To my mind, this was far from adequate. Why? Researchers have found that the critical factor in churches that makes abuse possible is opportunity.   Law professor, Patrick Parkinson wrote*,  "The issue of opportunity is particularly important in understanding sex offending in Churches. Most sex offenders who abuse children and young people do so after forming relationships with them through natural points of contact. These relationships then provide the context within which a child or...

  I visited my daughter's local church. They were conducting their regular children's outreach event. It was a pretty simple affair; a jumping castle, some tables with children's activities such as playdough, a WII, some other games and activities.  It ran for 2 hours and had been advertised in the local primary school. Some community children attended, their parents met church parents, a gospel story was shared and offers were made for further ministry and care.  Most churches could organise something similar. Last year our church had a Sunday games day that we advertised in the local community and two families attended. ...

This month the NSW government initiated a Working With Children Check. Like its Victorian counterpart the check is a prerequisite for paid and unpaid child-related work, defined as, "work in a specific, child-related role or face-to-face contact with children in a child-related sector including...• Clubs or other bodies providing services for children"   Checks are an essential screening tool to ensure offenders do not obtain access to children.    However, the checks are limited. They cannot identify people who have not previously been caught or are yet to offend.  Therefore, while churches must comply, in no way should they consider the checks...