Easter Sunday 2020 has passed. Churches all over the nation, rose to the challenge and conducted the first ever, fully online, digital, Easter Sunday experiences. We are a couple months into the season of Covid-19. You may have finally found your rhythm and it is already time to prepare for more change. Even though it may feel good to sit back and let things idle for awhile, NOW is go-time for conversations about what the next season will look like for churches. If you lead a team, you are probably already asking…What Now? How do I pivot my kid’s ministry team into the next season?
In fact, a more realistic question is ‘How do I pivot my kid’s ministry team into the next season when I do not even know what the next season will entail‘?
Many experts are predicting that ‘normal’ as we knew it, won’t ever exist again. This season is preparing our nation for a brand-new normal, of which the details are still to be determined. This includes a new normal for our churches.
Pivot your Kid’s Ministry Team to a Brand New Normal
The Unstuck Group recently conducted a survey to gather information on how churches have been responding to the coronavirus crisis. The data was calculated from over 500+ respondents. It indicated that two out of every three churches are having higher weekend engagement online versus in person.
The reality is, more individuals have ‘attended’ online church experiences than were stepping onto a physical campus. Families participated in children’s experiences together, which opened the door for more direct faith-based conversations parent and child. There have been many wins in this season. Hopefully, you have been able to see the fruit of your intentionality and efforts to reach individuals and families, right at their own address.
Fail to Plan = Plan to Fail
Many churches moved to online platforms in response to having their buildings close. Among the churches who already offered online streaming, far less offered children’s or students programming online. Church leaders across the nation, have worked tirelessly to quickly develop opportunities for students and families to be connected.
Pivoting your ministry team into the next season will be far more successful with proactive planning instead of a reactive response.
While we may not have the specific details for the next season, we know for certain that we will not be in physical isolation forever.
Time and the ability to have collaborative conversations NOW are our biggest asset to finding creative solutions.
Plans for these next phases of reopening our churches will not look the same across the nation. While it is great to look to other leaders and churches for ideas, insights and wisdom; church leaders won’t necessarily be able to cut and paste another church’s ‘re-open plans’.
Facility differences, government mandates, community population, volunteer teams, and kids ministry specifics will cause diversity in re-opening plans for churches across the nation.
At the time of this writing, one Governor has already began to open up their state. While clearance has been given for churches to meet in person, the pastor of one of the state’s largest churches is keeping their doors closed. They are choosing to wait to meet in person until they can safely reopen their kids’ environments. They want to provide the same level of excellence kids and families have come to expect.
It is advantageous to begin conversations early and take full advantage of the time to evaluate, collaborate and brainstorm. Kid’s ministry is going to be a big piece of the puzzle as decisions are made about reopening church campuses.
Crisis is either an accelerant to creativity or concrete that cripples.
It has been exciting over the last couple months to watch children’s ministry leaders create new, innovative ways to reach families.
Some of the early data would suggest that families prefer having options to attend church at their convenience. It is why, you may be finding that your ‘live engagement’ is far less than the total number of views a few days after you share new family-specific content.
Likewise, as children’s ministry has shifted to taking place 100% within the home, it has served as a reminder of God’s call to parents to hold the primary responsibility in their child’s spiritual development.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7: “Let these words that I’m commanding you today be always on your heart. Teach them repeatedly to your children. Talk about them while sitting in your house or walking on the road, and as you lie down or get up.”
Here are 8 things to consider as you engage in conversations and brainstorm solutions to pivot your children’s ministry into the next season.
1. Is Digital Done or Here to Stay?
What can we do to improve our digital content and engagement now? Is the quality, the messaging, the frequency connecting with our community? This is a question that can drive improvements NOW. It should also serve as a starting point for conversations about what online content, if any should content even after re-openings.
Since data shows an online reach extends far beyond a church’s physical location, how can your team maintain a digital presence?
2. Partnering with Parents
In what ways has your ministry intentionally partnered with parents (both pre-Covid-19 and during)? (If asked would parents say, that your team and church play a vital role in the success and growth of their family?) Relationships, resources and intentionality are critical to partnering with parents. (See my post Faith Conversations with Kids for some resources you can use to help equip parents for salvation conversations with their kids.)
What are the specific, tangible, immediate needs that parents in your community and church have in this season? Can your team help meet any of those needs? Parents may need childcare support as they return to work. Perhaps they have young students who could benefit from tutoring. Can you be ready to provide child size masks for families, in the event your area requires them?
3. Safety as Precedence
Safety is often a parents top priority when choosing a kid’s ministry program. We are likely going to see that be even more true now, even for our regular attenders.
Upon reopening, what additional cleaning procedures will need to be added? Is there alternate flow patterns for check-in or even advance check-in options so we can keep families physically distant?
How do you keep preschoolers physically distant? Sure, carpet spots are great. But, as anyone who has served with 2 year old’s will tell you, they are most definitely NO GUARANTEE. This question alone is no doubt going to impact some decision making.
Are family style services an option? What would it look like for kids to attend the main service with parents?
Perhaps, this is a unique opportunity to begin to engage parents and kids together, in a kid-specific service. One of the most frequent questions I have had from parents during my years in ministry, is ‘How do I talk to my kids about God?’ Creating an opportunity for them to sit and participate with their children provides them with language they can use as they continue the conversations at home. It also ensures a safe environment with parents helping maintain social distance for their family.
4. Do They Hear You Loud & Clear?
Parents are already looking ahead. They will be eager to receive details and clarity regarding the safety of their children at your facility. How will you communicate when you do re-open that your environments and facilities are safe for their families? Early and frequent communication about your intentions and safety measures is important.
Cities, schools and businesses are communicating often in this season. Silence and lack of communication on your part, could leave an impression of lack of concern or failure to plan.
Even if you are unsure of the exact details, early reminders that the safety of their children is your top priority, will be reassuring.
5. Relationships > Content
Kids ministry teams work hard to provide safe environments for kids to build relationships and learn about Jesus. Is it necessary to make any shifts, to the vision for your ministry or to how your team accomplishes the vision? Should the lesson plan and content for small groups look the same? Kids are longing for interaction with their peers and with the adults who invest in them at church.
Content helps kids learn, but relationships are what keeps them coming back to church.
As you have evaluated your active online engagement in this season with families, kids and students, what conclusions have you made? If there has been less overall interaction than you anticipated, perhaps that is indicating a bigger focus on the relational side of kids and student ministry is necessary.
What can your team begin to do RIGHT NOW and moving forward to create deeper connections and a more intentional relational focus between your volunteers and the families who attend your church?
6. It takes a Team Effort
Volunteers on your team will also be anticipating details and clarity as they prepare for this next season. In what ways can you begin to equip them now, while they wait? Conversations now, create excitement, momentum and serve as a tangible reminder of their value as a member of the team.
Are there virtual trainings or resources you can share now to help equip your team? It may benefit them to be coached on navigating hard topics or comments that may come up. Kids have struggled in this season. In what ways can you prepare your team to offer mental health support, even if just age-appropriate, healthy, encouragement?
Has team engagement been low? Volunteers typically thrive when they feel relationally connected and valued/appreciated. Now is a great opportunity to evaluate the health of your volunteer team.
7. Re-Launch Party
Dream creatively, like you’re planning to see a family member you’ve been away from for awhile. (That is how this season feels, am I right?)
A ‘Welcome Back – We Missed You” party can communicate intentionality and build excitement for families. Sure, the multi-phase re-opening plan may mean that it will be awhile before everyone is invited to attend church all together. Regardless of how many families may return at one time, whenever they do show up, it will be reason to celebrate!
Make a plan now for how to communicate love and fun to families upon their return.
8. Switching Seats on the Bus
Any season of change, including one where facilities close and then re-open, provides an opportunity for reflection and evaluation. In many ways, returning to your campuses will feel like a fresh start, a re-launch even.
What have you seen from your staff or volunteer leaders in this season? Is there anyone whose leadership, has surprised you?
Today may be the day to create new opportunities for leadership as you plan to take your ministry to the next level.
What staff or volunteer positions, do you know that you need to shift or change? You may find that you have some people sitting in the wrong seats on the ‘team bus’. This season allows you to restructure if needed and then re-launch, with your team all in the right spots.
We can only pour out of ourselves what we are allowing inside.
Finally, how have you taken advantage of the opportunity for growth in this season? Have you invested in your personal relationship with God, or given your body rest? Maybe you have created new ministry resources or tools, or even learned something new to increase your leadership ceiling?
It is not too late. Begin today. You, your team and your ministry will better because of it.
Increase the capacity of your team upon return, by increasing YOUR capacity now.
If I can support you as you evaluate, brainstorm and begin to pivot your kid’s ministry team into the next season, please reach out. You can connect with me through the Contact Me form or through social media. You are not alone. Praying for discernment and wisdom as you navigate the road ahead.