This article is one part of a complete guide for church ministry during COVID-19.

Find the rest of the guide here. 

 

God has always intended and instructed parents to be the primary spiritual leader in the lives of their children. In recent years, the church has often served as the primary disciple maker in the lives of many children. This time of no large group gatherings and social distancing may provide a healthy reset of disciple making starting in the home while being supplemented by the church. Managing the current challenges in next generation and family ministry is doable. Below are some considerations for next generation and family ministries:

 

1. 1. Kids Ministry
2. 1. 1. Areas of Focus for Kids Ministry
         1. Help your families stay on track by providing the materials/lessons for at home Kids Ministry. (Like AMI packets for church, only more fun) 
         2. Help your families enjoy this time by not overcomplicating the lessons or overwhelming them with too much material.
         3. Provide brain breaks and family fun activities by giving simple suggestions and ideas for ‘down’ time or ‘recess’ during the day.  Tie in simple messages to help parents weave God moments into these everyday moments.
      2. Resources for Kids Ministry
         1. An article was posted to the ABSC website with tips from the ABSC’s Emily Smith about children’s ministry in the current environment.
            1. To view this article, click here. 
         2. The Lifeway page containing discipleship and church resources to help with the current challenges also contains material for children’s ministry that can be led and facilitated by parents in the home.
            1. To view these resources, click here. 
         3. Children’s Ministry Leaders from around the state are sharing ideas and helpful hints to the Arkansas Kids Ministry Network Facebook page. 
         4. 4 VBS Strategies for this Summer:
            1. To view these 4 strategies click here.
         5. 4 Ways to Utilize Tech Tools for Kids Ministry: 
            1. To view these 4 ways click here.
         6. 4 Truths for the Discouraged Parent: 
            1. To view these 4 truths click here.
         7. Helping Kids and Parents Cope with Stress (podcast):
            1. To listen to this podcast click here.
         8. Tips for Working and Schooling (and all the things) at Home:
            1. To view these tips click here.

 

1. 2. Student Ministry

 

1. 1. 1. Areas of Focus for Student Ministry
         1. Personal Walk: encourage students to engage in personal spiritual disciplines.
            1. Consider teaching on disciplines and how they can use their extra time right now to create some healthy, spiritual habits.
            2. Offer a daily devotion/reading plan for teens (possibly through the Bible App).
            3. Group message students something that they can pray for that day.
            4. Outline a way to do prayer journaling.
         2. Family Discipleship: encourage parents to equip their teens spiritually.
            1. See the section on family ministry.
         3. Church Connection: encourage students to build a strong connection to their church.
            1. Offer 2-3 digital opportunities per week for students.
            2. Teaching times can be large group or small group style.
               1. Large group services can be streamed on various platforms like Facebook Live, Youtube, or Instagram TV (IGTV).
               2. Small groups can be offered on other platforms like Google Hangout or Zoom.
            3. Also consider chances for students to simply connect.
               1. Maybe a fun digital game like “kahoot” or an onscreen game through zoom or google hangout
               2. Students can set up a Zoom group or group chat for Bible study with friends from the church student ministry.
            4. Get creative in allowing students to be a part of ministry.
               1. Have connected students write encouraging notes to students that haven’t participated in during the CoVid19 crisis.
               2. Get their input on how you can create digital opportunities.
               3. Ask their opinion on what your student ministry can do once the social distancing limitations are passed.
      2. Resources for Student Ministry
         1. An article has been posted to the ABSC website with insight from ABSC Student Ministry Leaders concerning student ministry in the current environment.
            1. To view this article, click here.
         2. Student Ministry Leaders from around the state are sharing ideas and helpful hints to the Arkansas Student Pastor Network Facebook page.
         3. YM360 (Youth Ministry 360) and Download Youth Ministry are offering several free services and resources for navigating this time. 

 

1. 3. Family Ministry 

 

1. 1. 1. Areas of Focus for Family Ministry
         1. Encourage parents to set up a text group among the family just for sharing scripture, prayers and encouragement.
         2. Families can read scripture together by placing a jar on the table full of brief passages to be read at dinnertime now that families are able to eat together more frequently.
         3. Express both fears and hope in front of your children so that you can model faith in the midst of crises.
            1. To view an article on this, click here.
         4. Make faith conversations a priority.  Take this opportunity to share how Jesus changed your life and/or how God has worked in your family through the years.  
         5. Begin to cultivate a culture of family worship daily, weekly, and monthly.
            1. Daily - Pray together as a family, beyond saying grace at meals. At dinner, share “God Sightings” from the day, or ways each family member saw God at work. Informally talk about spiritual things as you go about normal daily activities and routine.
            2. Weekly - Gather as a family to have a faith talk, with conversation about a Scripture passage and prayer (15-20 minutes).
            3. Monthly - Serve others in the name of Jesus as a family  by performing an act of service to meet someone’s needs.
         6. Set aside a time of prayer.  Now is the perfect opportunity for dads and moms to model prayer in front of children and teens.
         7. Create a family Bible study on the Bible App or pick a devotion/study to be working through together.
         8. After watching the online sermon from your church, have a couple of discussion questions to ask the family.
         1. As a family, ask God for someone to serve in your neighborhood or from your church.  Meeting someone’s need together will model the compassion of Jesus to your kids.
         10. When you read your Bible or pray, do so in a visible place so that your children and teens can see your personal devotion to Jesus.
      2. Resources for Family Ministry
         1. Use the Fighter Verse App to encourage Scripture memorization with your family.
         2. For other devotions, resources, and encouragement, see the D6 website by clicking here.
         3. Don Whitney’s latest book called “Family Worship: In the Bible, In History, and In Your Home.”
         4. The Lifeway page containing discipleship and church resources to help with the current challenges also contains material for family devotionals that can be led and facilitated by parents in the home.
            1. To view the family devotional material from Lifeway, click here.