Reaching Kids and their Families

1. God loves and values the young--all young people of the world (John 3:16)

2. Christian youth are important in the body of Christ and should be respected (I Cor. 12:12)

3. For youth to grow to spiritual maturity it will require a caring adult to invest in building relationships with youth (Luke 6:40)

4. Youth need to be accepted, loved and discipled at whatever level of spiritual interest they are (Phil 1:15-18)

5. Parents are the primary instrument God uses to train children. Youth Ministry must support the home. (Eph. 6:1-4)

6. To train youth for leadership youth must move out of their comfort zones (Luke 10:1-17)

10 Tips for Reaching Unchurched Kids

1. Advertise your children’s ministry to community parents:

• distribute flyers throughout the neighborhood where the church meets
• put information and pictures on your church’s Web site
• post a giant sign or banner in front of the church
• hang posters in businesses or schools (be sure to get permission)
• send information to TV and radio stations that do free public service announcements

2. In your promotional materials, advertise your children’s ministry as a resource for building good morals and spiritual values into children. Both Christian and non-Christian parents appreciate help in teaching children values, and many parents want their children exposed to church even if they don’t attend.

3. Encourage kids to bring friends. Plan a special ‘Bring a Friend’ meeting with an unusual theme or maybe unusual animals to meet (reptiles from a local zoo or pet shop, police dogs, etc.).

4. Encourage kids to wear shirts or buttons advertising your children’s ministry to school, as an “opening” for talking to kids who ask about it. Provide kids with invitations to hand out (check the school’s policy).

5. Make a fuss over visitors when they come. Introduce them and have everyone cheer for them. Let visitors choose a small gift from a “prize bucket” containing toys and knickknacks. Give them a special button or send a “Glad You Came” postcard to follow up.

6. Arrange carpooling between unchurched parents and church-member families. This provides a service and helps parents get to know each other.

7. Get names, addresses, and phone numbers of kids who come to VBS, and send information about your children’s ministry to their parents.

8. Sponsor a community event (fun fair, ice cream social, spaghetti dinner, etc.). Have an information table showing your children’s ministry books, kids’ projects, and informational brochures. Have children’s ministry leaders/teachers staff the table to talk with interested parents.

9. Sponsor a booth about your children’s ministry at other community events. Or enter a float in a local parade.

10. Encourage church-member families to invite kids in their neighborhood. Provide them with invitations that have kid appeal.

10 Tips for Reaching Unchurched Parents of Kids in Your Program

1. When unchurched parents form relationships with people from your church, they’re more likely to receive Jesus and become involved in church. Sponsor an activity for parents during your children’s ministry time. Encourage church-member parents to attend, too, to get to know the unchurched parents.

• parenting group
• couples small group
• MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)
• weight control class
• craft club
• aerobics
• basketball
• “What does the Bible say about...” discussion group

2. Encourage church-member families to invite unchurched kids’ parents to church social events.

3. Send a “video packet” home with kids to enjoy with their families:

• Christian family video or a video showing your children’s program in action
• information about upcoming kids’ and church events, plus contact information

4. Add your children’s program families to your church mailing list and e-mail list.

5. If you hear of a crisis or major event in a child’s family, find someone to follow up (the child’s leader/teacher, a church member who has gone through a similar circumstance, the pastor, etc.). Have all the kids and leaders/teachers in the children’s program make a giant card for the family with drawings and signatures.

6. Recruit a greeter to chat with and get to know unchurched parents when they drop off kids for your children’s ministry and pick them up. Provide coffee and refreshments.

7. Ask unchurched parents for help in the program:

• bring refreshments
• help chaperone an outing
• help lead an activity that matches their hobby or profession
• take pictures or videos of a children’s meeting or special event

8. Ask unchurched parents for help in church, in an area where they can work alongside church-member parents:

• ask a computer whiz to help get your church online
• ask a parent to run sound or video equipment for a Christmas program
• ask a parent with drama experience to help with a skit the kids will put on

9. Plan a parent/child or family/child event. Allow time for a question-and-answer session.

• family talent show
• homemade mini-golf through the church hallways
• picnic
• indoor winter beach party

10. Plan to have kids help during a church service. Invite parents to come and feel proud of their kids. Urge church-member parents to introduce themselves and talk with them. Kids could usher, sing, make banners to go with the theme of a sermon series, and so on.

50 ways to befriend a kid

Everyone can make a difference in the lives of children and teens. Even if you don't think you can tackle tough problems such as violence, alcohol and other drug use, or school problems, you can make a difference by being a caring, responsible friend for a kid. Need some ideas for what you can do? Here are 50 of them.

[Reprinted with permission from Jolene L. Roehlkepartain, "150 Ways to Show Kids You Care" (Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute, 1996). All rights reserved by Search Institute, 1-800-888-7828]

1. Remember their birthday. 

2. Ask them about themselves 

3. Play with them. 

4. Tell them their feelings are OK. 

5. Be honest. 

6. Be yourself. 

7. Notice when they're acting differently. 

8. Surprise them. 

9. Share their excitement. 

10. Send them a letter or postcard. 

11. Follow them when they lead. 

12. Hide surprises for them to find. 

13. Give them space when they need it. 

14. Laugh at their jokes. 

15. Create a tradition with them and keep it. 

16. Show up at their concerts, games, and events. 

17. Apologize when you've done something wrong. 

18. Listen to their favorite music with them. 

19. Thank them. 

20. Point out what you like about them. 

21. Clip magazine pictures or articles that interest them. 

22. Give them your undivided attention. 

23. Ask for their opinion. 

24. Introduce them to your friends and family. 

25. Tell them how much you like being with them. 

26. Let them tell you how they feel. 

27. Help them become an expert at something. 

28. Tell them about yourself. 

29. Ask them to help you. 

30. Applaud their successes. 

31. Nurture them with good food. 

32. Let them make mistakes. 

33. Visit their schools. 

34. Be silly together. 

35. Hang out together. 

36. Accept them as they are. 

37. Become their advocate. 

38. Trust them. 

39. Share a secret. 

40. Do what they like to do. 

41. Build something together. 

42. Encourage them to think big. 

43. Celebrate their firsts and lasts, such as the first day of school. 

44. Visit them when they're sick. 

45. Tape record a message for them. 

46. Introduce them to people of excellence. 

47. Give them your phone number. 

48. Introduce them to new experiences. 

49. Be spontaneous. 

50. Love them -- no matter what.