Kidologist.com: Karl Bastian's Personal Site and Blog
Archive for Leadership
April 21, 2011 at 4:45 pm · Filed under Children's Ministry, Kidmin, Leadership
On Kidology.org right now there is a discussion right now titled Alternative Names for Volunteers, and folks are discussing what we can call those who staff our kids ministry besides “Volunteers” because that word can often not capture the commitment we are seeking to have. The word “worker” came up, and it reminded me of something funny from my college days.
Me and Gus on a PCM
As a Moody Bible Institute student, I always got a kick out of the evolution of the weekly volunteer “PCM” requirement. It stood for Practical Christian Ministry assignment. My ‘kick’ wasn’t that it was a bad thing or required, while lots of students complained, I loved it and learned a lot as they required a wide variety of assignments over the course of your college experience.
What I thought was a little funny was that when my parents attended MBI in the 60’s it was a PCW assignment: Practical Christian Work assignment. Over the years Moody dropped the unattractive word ‘work’ for the more appealing ‘ministry.’ Now, I could just as easily defend the change and see the benefits of the word “ministry” over “work, BUT we ARE called to WORK for the Lord!
I just think we sometimes soften too much what we expect of volunteers and the way many students treated their PCMs, perhaps Moody should consider returning to calling them PCWs. (Though the student might revolt! LOL)
Maybe WE need to call volunteers to WORK in the children’s ministry too?
Just a thought.
What do YOU think? Comment below, or in the forum.
And just for fun, since I went digging for MBI pics… my other assignment while in college…
to find a wife…
Practical Christian Dating at MBI 
April 16, 2011 at 1:03 pm · Filed under Children's Ministry, Leadership
Christine Yount
I loved Christine Yount’s “from the editor” in the latest edition of CM Magazine.
She admits, as we all would (or should!) – those unsettling moments when we feel out of control when everything isn’t going the way we think they should.
No matter how hard to try, there are constant crisis’ and struggles and things going wrong in our life and work… and we just can’t seem to get a handle on things.
It can be really frustrating. We have to look like we have it together for our staff and volunteers, so we let it out finally leak out to our spouses. (My poor wife!) Which Christine says she did on a walk with her husband, who gave her the following advice:
“You need to understand that one-third is going to be icky – and just accept it.”
Too often we focus on what we CAN’T CONTROL, instead of on what we CAN.
We can spend a lot of time complaining to our spouse about what we can’t change – instead of making changes we CAN make, or pursuing excellence in the areas we CAN control.
What can you change?
What do you need to change?
What are you afraid to change?
What are you waiting for?
“So if you, like me, get frustrated when things don’t go the way you want them to, embrace the 30-percent rule and consider what you can and cannot change…” – Christine Yount
April 1, 2011 at 9:00 am · Filed under Children's Ministry, Kidology, Leadership
Before there was Kidology.org – (well, it was members.aol.com/kidologyweb) – Before most people had heard of this guy who called himself “the Kidologist” – there was just this kids pastor name Karl Bastian who threw himself 287% into whatever he did! One of those times was when he got invited to provide the children’s programing (not child care!) for the Okoboji Lakes Bible Conference waaaay back in 1996. I was hired by none other than Scottie May. You may have never heard of her, but she is the Mom of Phil Vicher (Creator of VeggieTales), and he wasn’t a household name in kids pastor’s homes (or American homes for that matter) back then. I think the first VHS tape was just hitting stores!
Anyway – Along with my wife and some youth I brought from my church, we were proving children’s programming for TEN DAYS while the parents were in sessions over in the “Big Tent.” We did full scale Kids Church-like lessons, game times, crafts, and so much more. As I always do whether I’m doing Kid’s Church, speaking at camp, or writing curriculum, I provide more than asked and try to make it the best I possibly can for the kids sake. I believe in making memories for kids – spiritual anchors that will last a life time. It’s always been my passion and philosophy that we aren’t just teachers – we are making spiritual Ebeneezers – reminders for the future of what God did in the past in kids minds – that’s why we should go ‘over the top,’ whey they stray from the faith – they can mentally (and spiritually) see these Ebeneezers and be led back!
Where am I going with this? At the end of this week, just a few years into being married, and a young children’s pastor at the beginning of my budding career, Scottie May – a woman I looked up to as an expert and guru in kids ministry gave me a letter along with my pay check. It has been thumb tacked to the wall by my desk for over 15 years – from ministry to ministry, I have cherished it! I usually just get a check in an envelop, but she went the extra mile to write me a letter! It has faded and gotten worn with holes and folds, but it is still special to me.
She Wrote:
Dear Karl, Sara and Troop:
WOW! You guys are phantasmagorical (I think that means unbelievable.) You amazed me with your organization, energy, efficiency, and execution. Parents loved you. Kids love you. My cousin’s family had to stay overnight because her children cried when she said they’d be leaving this afternoon before your final session.
Thanks for going above and beyond the call of duty to show the love of our Lord to these kids.
May each of you be refreshed and renewed as you travel home tomorrow. I know that God is pleased because you have been faithful and what you did was well done.
I’ll be praying with and for you about returning to minister again next year.
In awe of Him,
Scottie May
I don’t share this letter after all these years to brag or pat myself on the back – or I’d have shared it many years ago! But to tell you what an IMPACT this letter had on me as a children’s pastor of only three years! “phantasmagorical” ?!?! I had no idea what that meant! But it sounded good! I wanted to BE a phantasmagorical children’s pastor! I wanted to live up to how she described me! I wanted not just the kids to love me, (that was easy), but the parents too! I wanted parents to not be able to leave because kids had to hear my last lesson! I would always be known for “going above and beyond the call of duty” because anyone can do what is asked of them. And she caught why, it showed my love for these kids. And ultimately, I wanted the Lord to be pleased, and if I pleased the people I was serving, then there was a good chance, God would be pleased too. And being asked back – is always the best compliment you can get. (And I was asked back again!)
So I ask you…
- WHO encouraged YOU like this when you were starting out?
- WHO have YOU encouraged? Write them a note! (NOT an e-mail, a real hand written note on that flat white stuff called paper!) You never know, they may cherish and save it for years to come.
And Scottie, should you happen to read this – THANK YOU for believing in me and giving me a chance when I was just starting out and hardly knew what I was doing. I needed those opportunities early one to live and learn and love on kids! I am today what I am because of leaders like you and Mary Kay Meeker, Chris Yount, Byron Ragains, Linda Connell and so many others who gave me a chance before I had “made a name” for myself. You took a risk on a young guy who just seemed to be nuts about ministry to kids.
THANKS for encouraging ME! May many others do the same for others like me!
March 25, 2011 at 11:00 am · Filed under Adventures, Breckenridge, Devotional, Family, Leadership, Life, Luke, Parenting
Today was a VERY exciting day for my little boy! For he got to go MUSHING!
It was an exciting day for ME, because I got to drive my family on a sled across the snowly plains with mountains on all sides of me! What a thrill it was indeed!
Luke got to see some dogs, which he LOVES but can’t own due to daddy’s alergies (and no e-mails about allergy-proof dogs, we aren’t going there, been there, tried that!)
Here’s proof that I LIKED the dogs, just ain’t gonna OWN one!
But mushing was a BLAST! And being on the sled with my wife and son inside was a really cool feeling! (Quite literally too)
I realize those dogs were in more control than me – but I since another guest DID wipe out (woman driver, ha!) there was some steering to it! And I was the only one that got to do some downhill driving, though it was mostly level the whole way.
We never got over 15 MPH, but it was very windy and snowing, so not sure I’d want to go faster…. nah… I wish I could have, just not with the family on board!
But how could there be a Leadership Lesson in my day of Mushing? Could there BE any lesson on Leadership from my day Mushing? I think so. These dogs have done this run a thousand times. A few of them have run the Iditarod in Alaska. Some as competitors, others as medical dogs. I’m merely a tourist who gets to feel like I’m doing the real thing here. The reality is, I’m just along for a ride. But they humor me and my family. (For a buck.) But they know the trail and run it well, really just for fun! What they ran with me today is really quite easy for them compared to what they are actually capable of, I’m sure!
Sometimes in life and leadership we get to thinking we are pretty hot stuff (or cold stuff in this case) but the reality is, we are just following a path that has been laid out for us ahead of time. Either by others who went before us, or – if not – by God Himself, who determined that He wanted us to do what we are doing, He chose us, gifted us, and prepared for us the very things we are doing. And while we might think it’s pretty impressive all we are doing, it’s actually a piece of cake for God compared to what He is capable of!
I Corinthians 4:7 is a verse my dad made me memorize as a young boy, “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” He saw that God had given me some gifts that would lead to a certain level of success in life, and wanted to make sure early on I never thought for a moment it had anything to do with me – but that I would always know, I was just riding a sled being pulled by God.
And if I ever got off that path, I’d end up looking like this:
Yup. That’s me. I did go off the trail to see just how deep the snow was, and it IS deep! Luke said later, “I didn’t like when you did that daddy, I thought you were going to sink and I’d have no more daddy!”
I think I’d better stay on the path for my son’s sake!
March 22, 2011 at 7:39 am · Filed under Children's Ministry, Kidology, Leadership, Life, Spiritual Growth
Got some Kingdom Building Plans?
I’ve got a bit of a sober warning and challenge for my fellow ministers today – one written in my personal online journal a few years ago that I’m publishing today. I pray some will consider it slowly and with an open heart. It was written by one who learned these lesson not easily! So it is written not preaching down – not side to side, and perhaps at the time it was written, broken looking up.
OC writes,“These are days of tremendous enterprises, days when we are trying to work for God, and therein lies the snare. Profoundly speaking, we can never work for God.”
Out of deep and sincere devotion to God we can make great effort to work for God, to assist Him in building the Kingdom, but our efforts are like a little boy with a toy hammer banging on the side of a sky scrapper. We may feel really powerful and important, but our efforts are silliness compared what God is doing and has already done. And to think that we can DO anything, is so wrong.
“The men and women He is going to use in His mighty building enterprises are those in whom He has done everything.”
The moment we look at something we have done, is the moment it is no longer a part of what God is doing.
“The only men and women He will use in His building enterprises are those who love Him personally, passionately and devotedly beyond any of the closest ties on earth. The conditions are stern, but they are glorious.”
We talk much of vision, and goals, and objectives (I’ve got published articles all about them!) but the spiritual reality is that GOD alone does the aiming, and we are the mere arrow in His bow. Our work is to chose to remain in the bow (our situation) and in the Hands of God (our Master Archer) while the bow is bending.
“A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the said says – “I cannot stand any more.” God does not heed, He goes on stretching till his purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God’s hands.”
Our aim ought not be ministry, but fellowship with God, and HE will take care of the aiming for us.
“Shipwreck occurs where there is not that mental poise which comes from being established on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the heroic effort of your life; you fling yourself in reckless confidence in God.”
In the midst of ministry, it is extremely difficult to keep our aim and focus on God, because so much of what we are doing, if not everything, is ABOUT God and His work! Being in the midst of ministry is the most dangerous place to be spiritually, because it is nearly impossible to see when our focus gets off God and instead gets onto His work.
“When once we lose sight of God, we begin to be reckless, we cast off certain restrainsts, we cast off praying, we cast off the vision of God in little things, and begin to act on our own initiative.”
If you are in the midst of ministry, STOP for a moment. PAUSE. Set it all aside – and check your walk with God. Nothing you are doing for God matters, if you are not in close fellowship with Him. It won’t matter for anything, and it can cost you the very things you are striving to maintain.
“The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we take this view, life becomes one great romance, a glorious opportuity for seeing marvelous things all the time. God is discipllinging us into this central place of power.”
Are you building a ministry? Or building our fellowship and relationship with God? THAT is the only building that will last, and the one that will build a stronger and longer lasting ministry anyway. So focus your aim and energy on God, not ministry, and the ministry will take care of itself.
Italics are quotes for Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest
March 4, 2011 at 4:38 pm · Filed under Leadership, Life
At the airport this morning I stopped at McDonald’s to get a healthy breakfast… O.K., to get something to eat while waiting for my flight to Oregon. After I got my food I commended the young employee for her excellent work. She looked surprised. So I said, “Well, you completed all of the six steps flawlessly. Well, except for Step #, but I understand that one has been dropped. But to make up for it, you still did the Bag Principle – so I give you extra credit. When I was a McDonald’s Corporate Spy, I would have noted your name this store number from that plague over there and recommended a bonus for you in your next pay check.” The manager over heard me and came over and said I’ve always wanted to meet a McSpy and shook my hand.
You see, when I was a McDonald’s employee I heard about this McSpook’s myself. I think I can confess I got to be a McSpook for awhile without killing anyone – since I was honorable discharged over twenty years ago. But let me back up. You might be wondering what the “Six Steps” are and the Bonus Bag Principle are? (If not, I’ll tell you anyway. Back in the day, McDonald’s trained it’s employees in the following Six Steps:
- Greet the Customer “Welcome to McDonald’s”
- Take the Order w/ an Up-Sell or Suggestive Sell Up-Sell is if they order fries, “Large size?” or suggesive sell is saying at the end, “Would you like an Apple Pie with that?”
- Take Their Money
- Assemble the Order
- Present the Meal: Bag Principle: Fold the Bag Twice Arches Toward the Customer
- Thank Them and Ask them to Come Again
I have learned that they have sinced dropped the “Up-Sell” or “Suggestive Sell” – at least requiring it of their employees. Which I think is a mistake. For my economics class in high school, I got permission from my manager to do an experiment for a week and do it alternatively only with every other customer for a week and the results affirmed that the success of this principle had a dramatic impact on sales. Over 70% of customers responded to the Up-sell or suggestion and took my suggestion! (Or was it just my Jedi Mind Control?) Perhaps in this economy they should bring it back!
When did I become a McSpook? Way back when the McKid’s stores launched, I was hired as the McKid’s Store Magician – and would go to the mall, walk around with a puppet promoting the in-store show and then do a magic show. It was a lot of fun. They had a nice set up for a show with seating around a giant TV screen they had set up for entertainment in the store normally while moms shopped. It was primarily a McClothing store. Unfortunately the brand failed. Hopefully it wasn’t my fault! Anyway, part of my gig was that when I was on the road, I could eat at any McDonald’s and “spy” the location – turn in a report and get reimbursed for my meal. I could be a difficult customer even and report on how they responded. Change my order, order unusual things, or ask for odd combinations. But mostly, I just checked if it was clean, courteous and followed the corporate expectations. Though usually my trend coat and shades tipped them off. (J/K!) It was fun to be a spy, while it lasted!
The fun ending to this encounter was that this employee asked me, “What do you do now?” Wanting to inspire her, I said, “I now run my own business – so keep doing those steps and someday you’ll be writing the steps.” She smiled and said, “I will!”
The Point? Standards work, they get results, and they create leaders. And when you’ve walked a path – don’t forget to encourage those who are behind you on the same path so they see the path is worth staying on. In other words, don’t be ashamed of the fact you once worked at McDonald’s. It was good training!
February 21, 2011 at 3:59 am · Filed under Children's Ministry, Conferences, Kidology, Leadership, Teaching
Are you coming to San Diego in March? (previous blog post)
Let me invite you to my ALL DAY Kidology Training!
I’m looking forward to spending an entire day in sunny San Diego with a select group of folks talking about children’s ministry and enjoying some sweet fellowship.
It will be a fun intimate setting with great practical training!
February 18, 2011 at 7:50 pm · Filed under Blog World, Children's Ministry, Internet, Kidology, Leadership, Technology, Twitter
Social Media and Kids from a Conflicted Social Media Junky
by Karl Bastian (a.k.a. Kidologist)
See at the bottom how to
WIN A FREE BOOK and
Download the Complete Kidology Report on Social Media and Kids that includes additional authors.
I both love social media and fear it. I can’t attack it too much or I’d be a hypocrite I have over 10,000 “tweets” so far, and nearing 1000 friends on Facebook, but why do I still feel so lonely? Social networking is a part of my daily – O.K., let’s be honest, moment by moment, life! I do not, not, think it is an addiction or bad for me! (I could quit any time I wanted to, right? I just don’t want to!)
Quite to the contrary, it has given me yet another avenue to amplify the message God has given me to share. Unlike many who live their lives like a pin-ball game bouncing through life from one opportunity to another with no clear game plan, I sought God for a very specific Life Mission at age nineteen and have had a laser focus on that Mission ever since. It is written and defined and has enabled me to say “no” to many good things and focus on the Great my entire life and ministry (not that I haven’t gotten distracted and needed to get back on course at times!).
Social Networking has enabled me to expand this Mission into spheres that otherwise I could have never reached, and on a daily basis during idle moments that other wise could have been wasted… Relaxing? Reading? Enjoying my family or praying or… There I go again… the internal struggle erupts! But would I truly be doing those noble things every time I tweeted or updated by Facebook status? The simple answer is no. Social networking has enriched my life with friendships I would have never made until heaven! Now heaven will be a grand Tweet-Up!
But enter children into the conversation, and the conversation shifts. Is it good for them? Unfortunately, folks, there is an element of surrender here. Frankly, we can’t stem this tide – only steer it. Let’s look at it from a different or historical angle. How many teenagers DIE annually driving cars? Do we ban them from driving? Perhaps we should! Unfortunately, that will never happen. You, like them, were destined to drive. My preschooler is already talking about when he will get to drive. In fact, all he wanted for his fifth birthday last month was a REAL Jeep. So we rented one for a day and I taught him how to control the wiper blades and turn signals and let him sit on my lap and steer around the block. My own dad understood both the dangers of driving and the inevitability that the son he loved would soon be on the road without him. Once of the best things he did was take me out and teach me, not only how to drive, but how to slide and spin and control a skid. He had me memorize, “When you are spinning, you are not out of control, you have only lost the ability to stop.” This saved my life years later when my wife and I spun out of control on the highway in winter on the highway. As we crossed the center line spinning with a semi-truck plowing toward us and cars spinning in all directions off the road I yelled at my wife, “I AM NOT OUT OF CONTROL! I HAVE ONLY LOST THE ABILITY TO STOP!” And I control spun the vehicle in front of and around the semi, and back to the correct side of the highway, all while spinning. While God had a lot to do with it, for sure – my dad had trained me for this event, and saved our lives.
The point? Today kids are driving Social Media! We cannot prevent it. We would be fools to think we could stop it. They are in the drivers seat. But we can, and MUST prepare them for the spins and wipe outs ahead. They will listen to our wisdom and advice, and we can give them the guidance and protections they need to keep them safe. We can teach them to put it down. We can give them limits. We can help them find balance and foster real relationships outside of 140 characters and digits and keyboards. We can show them sunshine and go for walks and plan outings and plan in-person socials. We can help them stay real and remind them that we care and make sure they know they don’t need to turn to anonymous sources when they need companionship, counsel or help.
- Karl Bastian, Founder of Kidology.org
This is my portion of a complete Kidology Report featuring several authors. Download the entire report and then add your own input in the Kidology Forum.
You can also WIN A FREE BOOK by Jim Weidmann of Heritage Builders just by adding your comments in the discussion forum. So let me know your thoughts on Kids and Social Media. Details in the forum discussion thread.
The full report is HERE and the discussion is HERE. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the topic!
November 30, 2010 at 6:04 pm · Filed under CPC, Children's Ministry, Conferences, Kidology, Leadership
You’ve Always Wanted to Become a Kidologist, and Master the Ways of Kidology! Now is your chance to spend an entire day with me and learn my ministry secrets in person!
What are my secrets for connecting with kids? How can you make your classroom one that kids will talk about years from now… and tell their kids about? How do share the Gospel with kids in more creative and effective ways? And how can you Unleash your own creativity?
Take your own personal ministry technique up several notches in 2011!
ON MARCH 15th, 2011 - you can spend an entire day with me in San Diego at the Town and Country Resort in a very informal learning environment as I takes you on a learning journey through my four favorite training sessions!
The cost is only $69 and I can tell you that I will make it well worth your investment with the resources you will receive that day! (I am under-promising and will over deliver!) This is a MUST-ATTEND EVENT you do NOT want to miss!
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE?
I’ll be doing a PRE-CONFERENCE as part of the Children’s Pastor’s Conference – BUT – you do not need to attend CPC to be a part of this ONE DAY KIDOLOGY TRAINING! Of course, I highly recommend CPC, but if you can only come for one day – or just want to come for a day of Kidology Training – then THIS IS YOUR CHANCE to come learn from the Kidologist!
“This is your chance to spend a day learning from Karl – asking questions, enjoying fellowship, and hanging out with other Kidology users – learning from the creator of Kidology.org, ToyBoxTales.com, and DiscipleTown and hearing his heart for relational, creative, Christ-centered ministry. It’s a day that can change your ministry!” – Kidology.org
Learn More On Kidology.org | Register on INCM.org (San Diego CPC Only!)
Here is an OVERVIEW of the day:
Kidology: His Message Through You to Their World
Kidology is the study of kids! The Apostle Paul said he became all things to all men so that they might be reached. Pastor Karl Bastian, aka “The Kidologist” entered children’s ministry at age 10 and has been equipping adults for over thirty years on how to approach ministry from the perspective of a child and from within their culture. His unique approach is highly creative, super effective, causes discipline problems to vanish and results to soar – and yet is easy and fun. Come learn the secrets of the Kidologist that will transform your ministry.
Kidology 101: Relational Ministry – 9:00 a.m.
The aim of this workshop is to challenge and equip adults to engage in relational ministry through a working knowledge of the culture of kids. Learn how to get into the world of kids and make connections with kids in ways that are both fun and engaging. You’ll be inspired and equipped to teach in new and surprising ways that may just transform your teaching ministry.
Refreshment Break - 10:30 a.m.
Kidology 202: Making Your Class Rock – 10:45 a.m.
“You Rock!” is one of the highest compliments a child can give a teacher. What makes some classrooms more exciting and effective than others? Why are some teachers remembered into adulthood when most are quickly forgotten? What can set YOUR class apart from all the rest? Rock your class and rock a kid’s world!
Lunch - 12:00 p.m.
Kidology 303: Unleashing Your Own Creativity – 1:00 p.m.
Think you aren’t creative? Discover the secrets of creativity, and learn how to come up with super creative ideas for games, skits, stories, skits and more, from ANY passage of scripture – instantly! You’ll be amazed at what YOU can do by the end of this session!
Kidology 404: Leading Kids to Christ – 1:45 p.m.
At the end of the day, the most important aspect of our ministry is leading kids to Christ! So we will end our day learning some practical skills for this most important aspect of our ministry. Not only will you learn some new Gospel presentations, you will be equipped to make sure that you are doing the best.
Dismissal - 3:00 p.m.
I really hope many of your can come! Especially my friends and fans on the West Coast! If you are already coming to CPC, this is a great add-on! I always enjoy getting to meet “Kidology Folks” at CPC – this is a way I can get to spend a day with you. Many have asked me for years why I don’t do a pre-con, well, they have given me one! So the best way to make sure I get one again – is to fill it up!
So sign up today!
November 1, 2010 at 11:58 am · Filed under Children's Ministry, Discipleship, Kidology, Leadership, Spiritual Growth
Here is the first of 18 articles from Greg Baird’s series from Kidmin360.com
In January 2007, I presented ten trends I predicted would characterize children’s ministry in the years ahead. As we approach January 2011 and I review those, it is interesting to consider which of those have trends still resonate as hot trends, which are assumed or fading, and which I wish were of greater emphasis as I scan articles, workshop descriptions of conferences or forum discussions of various websites.
Whenever I am asked to write or speak on the “future” I often start with one of my favorite quotes, which always goes off better verbally…
“I’m not a prophet, nor the son of prophet. In fact, I work for a non-profit organization.”
The reality is, I’m always faced with a very real dilemma. Do I respond with my Predicted Future, or my Preferred Future? Because in many ways, unfortunately, they are very different when I look over the children’s ministry landscape today. I often feel as though I am both fighting against the advance of the kidmin culture as well as contributing to it. On one hand, I’ve been a significant influencer of children’s ministry over the years, and on the other hand, I often find myself trying to push against the goads and challenging the status quo. As I’m about to do.
My answer to the question, “What is the Future of Children’s Ministry?” is going to be to answer it twice. First, I will give you my Predicted Future and then my Preferred Future. Which describes your future will depend on whether you are a leader who is interested in numbers or disciple-making. It will depend on whether you want to wow kids and parents or whether you want children who will walk with Jesus through high school and into their adult lives.
The stats are in. Despite all the modern advances of children’s ministry, youth pastor’s can tell us, if we will listen, we aren’t doing them any favors with our million dollar facilities and fancy curriculum and edutainment and mini-youth groups. Their job hasn’t gotten much easier. And blaming families isn’t the answer either. While supporting families is critically important, in our culture, less and less children are in healthy Christian families, so there will only be a growing need for strong children’s ministries to reach them. So let’s take a look at two possible futures and then make a choice.
My Predicted Future
The demise of the children’s pastor and children’s ministry. Both have been usurped and swallowed by family ministry. Misunderstanding the distinct difference between children’s ministry and family ministry, churches opt to roll the children’s ministry into family ministry. Rather than embracing family ministry as a church-wide responsibility that should coordinate with and work in concert with children’s ministry, it is seen as the solution and biblical mandate that renders children’s ministry obsolete. Of course, this happens slowly. First the children’s pastor is replaced. Next, the word “ministry” is dropped from children’s ministry. In time, “children’s programming” becomes part of the family ministry, a disguised name for child care. This is denied emphatically, but the lack of evangelism, discipleship and solid biblical teaching is the proof, those having been all been delegated to parents. Volunteers are no longer trained to study and teach and lead children to a saving faith in Christ. They are trained in safety standards, how to run video equipment, and to foster caring environments and build loving relationships. Worship is emphasized and is central to the experience at church along with highly entertaining programs teaching bible stories and virtues based on biblical principles. All of which are important, but do not fulfill Jesus’ mandate to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 18:19-20) Processing large groups of children through similar group experiences with as few volunteers as possible will be key. Resources that make volunteering as easy as possible with as little preparation as necessary will be the best selling. And of course, neither children, nor volunteers, will bother bringing their Bibles to church anymore, because they simply are no longer needed in the Lord’s House.
My Preferred Future
The resurgence of the teacher and a return of the student. When was the last time you heard the kids at church referred to as “students?” I would like to envision both the children’s pastor and volunteers studying the Bible during the week. I’d like to see children again memorizing Scripture and completing assignments at home. I see them logging on to a website with their parents to interact with materials the church has provided to help them engage with what the church is teaching their children. I see Dad getting a text message during the week from the children’s pastor with a question he can ask his son about the main point of the week in class and Mom getting an e-mail with ideas of discussion questions the family can use at dinner time about the theme of the month from the family pastor. I see the family ministry and children’s ministry working together, one first being far broader than families with kids – and the latter being far broader than kids with a mom and dad. Where they overlap, there is a lot they do together, but where they don’t, they have learned that merging them leaves too many left neglected. So family ministry reaching far more than a children’s ministry ever could, and children’s ministry reaches more than families ever could. Oh, and on Sundays, the children’s pastor, (this is a role, not necessarily their title) is actually teaching from the Word, with a Bible in hand, and the children are following along in their Bibles, some even underlining, learning to correctly handle the Word of Truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
Neither of these futures are automatic, nor will either represent every church. But both will exist in some churches. The question is only which is more likely to more closely represent your church?
What the future of children’s ministry needs most for success is a return to an emphasis on the study of and teaching of the Word of God, and less on making ministry easy for volunteers, attractive to families and processing large groups of children through fun environments. That hasn’t produced disciples who will walk with Jesus for life. The future doesn’t need more technology – it needs deeper and better relationships. If technology can foster more connectivity or methods of relating, that is wonderful. But “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)
Karl Bastian, the Kidologist
www.karlbastian.com
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