Three Main Issues Within Children's Ministry Case Study

1. Question: What is the hardest doctrinal thing to teach children?
Answer: Ones salvation doesn’t come from good works alone. Kids think automatically that if they do something wrong that they wont go to heaven, because God wont love them. Like wise if they do something good they think that this will get them into heaven. We have to teach them that God wants them to imitate him and be nice and kind to everyone, but if they do something wrong he wont kick them out of his kingdom, instead he will forgive him.
My Reflection: I found this to be very insightful. For me this concept was drilled into my head at a young age, but even then I didn’t fully come to understand what it truly meant until I was in conformation class and read the catechism
Question: What is three main issues within children’s ministry?
Answer:
A. Hard to get parents involved and be willing to be the primary faith helper/ role model. We as church workers can help them and provide resources and support but they ultimately spend the most time and are the biggest influences on their children. We only get them for roughly 5 hours a week, they get them for all the rest.
B. After Sunday school, Vbs, camps, youth groups the information goes home and isn’t supported or is contradicted. We need to and the parents need to hold themselves accountable and help continue the conversations at home.
C. Behavioral issues- in school a teacher can ding their grade, send them to the principles office or detention, but what are we suppose to do in a church? We still need to act as Christian remodels. We need to promote and motivate better behavior but also motivate church.
Reflection: As a church worker I think to solve these issues I would try to make sure that the parents were rotating in and volunteering in the childrens ministry. This could be by becoming Sunday school teachers, leading worship, reading the sermons, helping with crafts. I would also have to train them in how to do so and equip them with the right resources and knowledge. I would also try to incorporate questions sheets in which the parents could take and have them ask the students in the car or at home, so that the faith discussion is not only in the church but also outside as
Question: What are some good resources for families to use and new church workers to have available?
Answer:
A. Curriculum- group publishing
B. Phase cards (age and stages of life) – “orange”
C. “Dig-in”- all online- build your own lesson Reflection: I thought the phase cards were a great resource to have available for parents. Each card has a set of behavior, physical, emotional, social, and faith traits these children will have at this age. This allows the parent to fully understand how and when the child should be developing in these traits and if they are falling short of any. Personally I would try as the church to send these out to the children on their birthdays or give a set to new parents. It shows that the church supports them in their discussions and wants what is best for the children.
The online website “Dig-in” was also a great resource to use it gives you templates to use and new ideas for lessons planning. You can also type in a bible story or key word and it will provide crafts, music, videos, questions, etc. on those topics to use.

4. Question: Besides being a DCE for your church, what other roles did you take on?
Answer:
A. Teaching in schools- student council, leadership groups/clubs, religion