resources for effective children's ministry

    In most churches I've served in volunteers must either miss the sermon - because they are busy serving - or they miss out on being a part of an adult class - because they are busy serving.  Often times this is the reason given for volunteers quitting - they "miss out on not being able to attend the service or being a part of an adult class."
 
This causes some real challenges for staffing classes properly.  Some churches have gone to a rotating schedule of several volunteers for each class, i.e.. one set of volunteers teach one week or month and another set the following week or month, etc.  Eventually the first set of volunteers rotate back through and the schedule continues to rotate.  This may allow adults to be "ministered to", but it does not allow children to be effectively ministered to - yes, child care is provided, but not effective ministry.

The reason for this is that effective ministry is built on a foundation of commitment and relationship.  Volunteers need to be committed to knowing the children in their classes and determined to building a real relationship with these children as individuals.  Someone only rotating through who the kids many only see on an occasion will have an extremely difficult time building a real relationship with the kids in the class.  More and more our volunteers do not want to miss out on the adult opportunities, but rotating schedules do NOT work for children.  So, what is the solution to this problem?

Well, there are several steps we can take to care for and nurture our volunteers as well as provide consistent, committed teachers.
 

1. Hold to a standard time commitment for your teachers - I recommend teaching for the school year with the option of taking a break for the summer. ( utilize VBS on Sundays for the summer and recruit a new summer staff)  If that is just not possible, stand by a quarter commitment - same teachers for three months.  Three months is the minimum time to develop real relationships with kids and provides consistency for the quarter's lessons.  Whatever time commitment you decide on, make sure your volunteers know what it is and stick to it.
2. Commit to support your volunteers by providing other adults to "adopt" teachers who teach during their adult Sunday School class (see the information on this in our Summer '97 issue) and provide cassettes  of the service for teachers who serve  during the service.
3. Provide a library of books to encourage and challenge volunteers in their own walk with God (many excellent books have been reviewed in previous issues - more will continue to be reviewed in each issue as well).  Ask your volunteers to commit to read one recommended book a month.
4. Provide opportunities for teachers to fellowship together ( see previous issues for ideas on Holiday Open Houses and Teacher Appreciation Dinners).
5. Finally, consider utilizing the book, "The Teacher Burnout Buster" for additional information in how to build, support and encourage your teachers (see first issue archive for information on this resource)

In the Eye of the Storm Author - Max Lucado Publisher - Word Publishing Price - $19.99

    It is so important that we and our volunteers continue to grow in our own walk with the Lord.  the most important way to do so is to read the Bible and pray.  Reading books can also serve to challenge and encourage us in our walk as we benefit from the wisdom learned by others.  I have found Max Lucado's books to be excellent reading material to challenge and encourage me.  All of us experience stress at one time or another.  How many times have you had a volunteer quit - due to stress?  "In the Eye of the Storm" takes a look at the second most stressful day in the life of Jesus and how he responded correctly to stress.

Favorite Features:

• creatively and extremely well written
• clear message that Jesus really knows how I feel and he will help me through stress, doubt, fear, and failure
• study guide with application questions for each chapter
• topic is one all of us can identify with at one time or another

    Living Free in Christ
    Author - Neil T. Anderson
    Publisher - Regal Publications
    Price - $12.99

    It is so important for teachers to keep up on their own spiritual growth.  This book is an excellent resource to challenge and encourage teachers to grow.  It includes 36 short studies, verses and prayers that will encourage you to remember who you really are in Christ and how that affects your life and how the way you live it.  Neil based this book on the "I am" list from his book, "Victory Over the Darkness" and I have found it to be a terrific source of help and encouragement to my own life.

    Favorite Features

• 36 short studies that genuinely challenge my walk with God and encourage my soul
• clearly written to teach scripture and how it applies to our lives
• prayers at the end of each study really help apply and bring the scripture and study home

    CONSIDER-

• presenting a book to each teacher
• presenting a book to your teacher(s) of the year
• placing several copies in your teacher's resource library and encourage all teachers to read

Table of Contents