An international team of academic researchers and ministry practitioners from Brazil, Canada, the UK, and the USA are asking, “Do we need a new plan for children’s ministry?”
If you’re a church leader, school teacher or Christian parent, that’s a stop-you-in-your-tracks question.
What have the researchers discovered to make this question the title of their Multi-national Children’s Ministry Report (October 29, 2021) on children’s faith formation? To find out, you’ll have to download the pdf. What I will tell you is that after analyzing the data from an online survey conducted in June 2021 and comparing the findings with other studies, the researchers concluded that COVID-19 exposed significant flaws in the philosophical underpinnings and the methodology of children’s ministry.
If we fail to understand and address the inherent problems in children's ministry, it will lead to fewer children connecting with Jesus and His Story. Click To TweetSo what? Why should the deficiencies in children’s ministry be a matter of concern? Because if we fail to understand and address the inherent problems in children’s ministry, it will lead to fewer children connecting with Jesus and His Story.
Read Report
You may not like reading reports, but you should read this one. The unproductive trends and patterns in children’s ministry are more than issues for academic consideration. If you genuinely want to see children’s faith formation thrive in the church, school and home, you can’t ignore this report. Nor can you read the report and remain neutral. After digesting the information, you’ll have to do one of two things: formulate new strategies and approaches to children’s ministry, or disregard the findings (at your peril) and continue doing what you’ve always done.
Children's ministry isn't hindered by our lack of imagination, but by our failure to unlearn old ways. Click To TweetAll that to say, you should read the report. Not because I’m involved as one of the researchers. And not because I’m convinced we need new paradigms of children’s ministry. I’m inviting you to read it because children’s ministry isn’t hindered by our lack of imagination but by our failure to unlearn old ways. And I’m inviting you to read it because the present and future spiritual health and growth of children’s ministry are at stake. C-19 is a catalyst. Depending on what we do now, there will be an increased decline or a remarkable recovery of children’s ministry in the years ahead.
Download Report
Before you access the free report, take stock of your situation and reflect on your experiences during C-19. What happened in your church, your school, and your home? Think about these things, and you’ll be in the right frame of mind to read the report.
To access and read the key findings, click on this link: Do We Need A New Plan For Children’s Ministry?
Related Articles
Developing A New Plan For Children’s Ministry
Canadian Children’s Ministry Report 2021
How COVID-19 is Shifting Children’s Ministry
© Scripture Union, 2021
This is brilliant!
Thank you! More people need to see this!!
Children’s ministry is one of our two main focus areas for us this year and since Covid has given us the perfect excuse to try something new, I’ve been doing research to rethink what does children’s ministry of the future look like and your research has helped with that. I’m so grateful. I’m a lead pastor and agree senior leadership need to get more involved with strategy and clarity of that strategy.