Engaging Children in Your Community

1. Engaging Children in Your Community …… and their families!

2. Pulse • Have you taken the pulse of your congregation? • Is it beating for the lost and disconnected? • If not what is getting in the way? • Focus on “members” and members kids? • Never talk about it? • No urgency?

3. How is your energy level? Reaching the community takes energy: • Financial! • Creative! • Commitment! • How much energy do you or the congregation have?

4. Slow and steady wins the race……… too slow is NOT an option!

5. Getting Fit for the Race May need to change the culture: • How much of the budget is set aside for outreach? • How many conversations-meetings-other are had about the un-churched in your community? • Does your church have an evangelism team or do all the teams talk about evangelism!

6. Strength TestCongregational Gifts • Teaching? • Creative Arts? • Sports? • Evangelism? • Hospitality?

7. Strength TestCommunity Strengths • Sports • Arts • Counseling • Parks • Other

8. Starting the Race Map out the course: • Decide WHAT you are going to do? • Decide WHEN you are going to do it? Look at your church calendar and your community calendar. • Decide WHERE you are going to do it.

9. Getting the players ready Players are VERY important! Are they: • Ready to welcome ALL people? • Comfortable talking about Jesus? (if not is someone on the team?) • In it for the long haul- or at least able to pass the baton?

10. Who’s the coach? Coaches are important? Who are they?: • The Pastor • People who are intentional about connecting people to the church • People who can see people through Jesus eyes and know they may look and act different then a “typical” church goer?

11. The Race You have taken the pulse You have sized up the players You have chosen the venues The coaches are ready to cheer you on Its time to run the race! But wait……. The road is a little bumpy!

12. It’s more than having a Program! • Intentionality • Willing and ready for mistakes. • Knowing when to change course- and knowing its ok! • Willing to try things • Throw things to the wall • Throw them out when they don’t stick!

13. It’s more than the Kids.. Its About Family! • Can reach the kids by meeting parents needs. • Can reach parents by meeting kids needs. • Growing the parents – will grow the kids.

14. Celebration Ministries A Journey…..

15. Childcare/Schools A wonderful way to have many children and families on your campus daily!

16. Intentionality

17. TEN years at Celebration ONEfamily joined church

18. Last two years approximately ONE family a MONTH has remained committed. • Pastor seen several times throughout the week by staff and families • Staff catching the vision of the entire ministry • Programs that meet the needs of our families

19. Business vsMinistry

20. Ministry: God’s word is being proclaimed and lives are being shaped and formed FREE OF CHARGE! • Business: Money is being collected, families are costumers, standards outside of the church must be obtained. • Ministry & Business: The church is charged with being good stewards of the business.

21. Is the church being faithful to the great commission? • Sharing Christ with the families of the school • Being examples of Christ Love by praying with and for the families? • Providing ways for families to grow in their faith?

22. Is the church being good stewards of the finances? • Mission first? • Managing funds and following best business practice to ensure ministry into the future?

23. Programs A wonderful way to meet needs in the community! Are the programs meeting the needs of the participants?

24. Types of Programs Celebrate Connect Care Calling

25. Celebrate • Try to engage children in worship • Make if family friendly or have an alternative to meet each developmental age • Use dance ribbons to wave during appropriate musical offerings

26. Connect • Create Opportunities that connect to the community on a larger scale • Easter Egg Hunt • Live Nativity • Back to School Celebration • Once a contact always a contact!

27. Care • Create Opportunities to Care for families in the community • A group for single parents • A group for kids with divorced parents • Fill a need like providing school supplies

28. Calling • Create Opportunities for families to share their gifts • Drama • Dance • Cooking • Music • Sports

29. Intentionality

30. EXAMPLE: A Group for Single Moms • Meet at 6pm ( this is when our daycare ends- or on the weekend) • A meal is prepared. • Someone is available to help with homework and/or a children's program is available. • Quality hour of topics to support and encourage moms so they can support and encourage their children What mom is going to go home, fix a meal, do homework and have time to get back for a program?

31. EXAMPLE: Teens Afterschool program • Tutoring 3-4pm • Devotion and a chance share • Programming : Cooking, drumming, anger management, interviewing, sports, etc…. • Pastor, volunteers, and staff make connections with parent(s) Meets a need in the community – gives a chance for youth to meet goals, share with caring adults, and hear about Jesus!

32. EXAMPLE: Live Nativity • Stops traffic! • Invite the community and our childcare families • Have activities that allow volunteers to talk to the participants, share Jesus, and tell about the church Great way to connect to the community. Live Nativities alone are a spectator sport – take it the next level and provide time for one-on-one conversations

33. Next Steps • Pray • Take your congregations pulse • Get to know your community • Pray for your community • Map out what you can do to meet needs in your community • Pray • Practice sharing Jesus with people you know • Have a plan for after you make connections