I had the rare opportunity to have lunch with Reggie Joyner. If you don’t know who this guy is then check out his website. He was on staff with Andy Stanley at NorthPoint Church in the greater Atlanta area. Reggie is the guy who has started to change the way we as children’s ministers think. I asked him this question: “What do you think the future of the typical children’s ministry will look like?” His response was along these lines:
The future of the the typical children’s ministry will need to change. Ministry to Babies all the way to highschoolers will need to become more integrated and get on the same page. Parents need to become integrated into that same plan so we are all working together.
What a wonderful thought. When was the last time you met with your youth pastor to go over goal and vision together? When was the last time you called a meeting with parents to get them on the same page and get them in on the vision? Have you done this? What has the response been and what can you offer as advice yourself?
Oh yeah, I know I said that I’m not into name dropping but Randy Christensen was there too 🙂
Imagine that the whole church working together…WOW.
“I have a dream…”
I don’t know if I completely agree with Reggie’s statement. Yes, we need to all be working toward the same goal of connecting children to God so they can impact their schools, city and world with the message and love of Jesus. But to say that we need to get parents on the “same page” as us. It is our job to partner with, resource and empower parents to be the primary spiritual teachers to their kids. If I understand the sentimentality of Reggie’s statement, we are simply resourcing parents so they can further the curriculum we have. Family ministry needs to be more about a holistic approach and involving parents in what we do instead of telling them what to do. Our goal shouldn’t be focused on standardizing methods across the board or even topics across the board. We need to get a common vision (that begins whithin the family) and then work in our unique ways toward that vision while resourcing families and giving them a hand up instead of a handout.
I love it! I think every children’s pastor can relate to not totally syncing with the YP. I think this is the case because it isn’t a value for most churches… maybe a good idea but not a value.
Back in January I spent a few days with Central Christian out in Las Vegas. These guys “get it.” They have an amazing family ministry strategy that shook me to the core. I know I’ll never do ministry the same again.