Multiplying Multiplying ministries to kidsministries to kids

providing loving environments where the Spirit multiplies young disciplemaking followers of Jesus

Our mission is to walk with Jesus in our world:

pursuing his

GreatGreat C Commissionommission

to make disciples…to make disciples… winning the lost

building the believers

equipping the workers

multiplying the leaders

What?

Our passion for Jesus’ Great Commission is fueled by Jesus’

Great Great CommandmentCommandment

love for Godlove for Godand for peopleand for people

Why?

GC2 = Great Commandment Great Commission ministry lifestyle

The probability of a faith commitment to Christ is 32% at age 5 to 13

4% at age 14 to 18 6% at age 19+

75-85% of today’s American Christians made their initial faith commitment before age 15.

The opportunity and responsibility to minister to kids is very great!

Who?

and experience

A challenge

It’s about Jesus

“You may be thinking, I’d like to see emerging generations reached, but how the heck can I ever keep up with all the waves of cultural change? Amid our anxiety, remember that although ministry methodology, church, and culture change, Jesus NEVER does.”

-Dan Kimball-Emerging Church

Our primary goal is not to provide complex structures and glitzy programs, but to provide environments where the Spirit moves freely to help kids consistently experience Jesus’ life-changing love

Provide environments

We must touch their

hearts before we can

reach their minds

Hearts first

Build community

To kids, love looks like free pizza. That’s where we might start—but our goal is to help themexperience the love of biblical community.

The key for building this type of community is leadership that is love-expressing, intentional & visionary.

“The goal of children’s ministry needs to be to find ways to help parents talk about spiritual things with their children, helping families prioritize and center their lives on God’s presence.” -Ivy Beckwith, Post- Modern Children’s Ministry

Includeparents

“Every year, tens of thousands of parents are

brought to faith in Christ because one of their

children was so changed by his or her own

relationship with the Lord that the parent could

not ignore the power of Christ any longer.” -George Barna

Kids reach parents

“The degree to which we are effective in communicating God’s love is the degree to which we will see kid’s lives changed.” -Dann Spader

So how do we get God’s love flowing?

Communicate God’s love

It’s about relationships

Provide places where

love is actively

experienced and

expressed: With believing kids With pre-believing kids

It’s a lifestyle, not a program

but get organized—

be intentional

Here’s what to do:

• Provide opportunities for loving interaction• Provide affirmation & belonging• Provide genuine spiritual fellowship• Get the kids involved in expressing God’s love to others through ministry

• Advertise the ministry to community parents and grandparents

• Emphasize a values-based approach• Encourage kids to bring friends• Provide transportation (van/carpooling)• Encourage kids to wear cool t-shirts

advertising your ministry at school• Sponsor a community event that is

kid-oriented

More ideas

• Ask unchurched parents to help out in the program alongside churched parents

• Plan a parent/child or family/child event

• Involve the kids actively in the ‘big-church’ worship service

• Provide a nursery for pre-schoolers

More ideas

Generationsworkshops

To schedule day-long workshops that more fully explore disciplemaking ministry to kids, contact Ted Johnston, Generations Ministries director at:

Ted.Johnston@wcg.org