NOTE: This is part of an ongoing volunteer training series called "Back to Sunday School". These articles are perfect to share with your team and often include printouts and worksheets to help your team think through various aspects of children's ministry.
Setting a clear vision for your children's ministry is foundational to guiding your efforts and ensuring that every decision you make aligns with your ministry's purpose. After considering the Biblical mandate to teach the gospel to the following generations, it’s important to take time to think about how to set a vision for your ministry and communicate that vision effectively within the church.
A vision statement for your children's ministry will guide decisions related to programming, curriculum, budget, and more. Having your vision clearly outlined on paper helps make it easier to communicate the purpose of your ministry quickly, keeping things focused and intentional.
Creating a Vision Statement for Your Ministry
The process of crafting a vision statement is an excellent opportunity for you and your team to come together. Even if you do not currently have a team, consider forming one by including church leadership, a few volunteers, and parents. It is essential that you discuss the following:
- Why do we have a children's ministry?
- What do we want children to learn in our classes?
- What does success look like in our children's ministry?
When you sit down to write your vision statement, keep these points in mind:
- Use present tense language
- Focus on success — What is a "win" for your ministry?
- Make it inspiring
- Align it with your church's goals
- Include actionable steps to reach the goal
- Back it up with Scripture
Sample Vision Statement
Consider this sample vision statement for a children's ministry:
"_____ Children's Ministry exists to partner with parents in raising up children who are committed followers of Jesus Christ; through gospel-focused, Bible-based, age-appropriate teaching designed to reach a new generation of children here in _____ city."
This statement includes:
- The "win" or end goal: Raising up committed followers of Jesus.
- The "how": Teaching that is gospel-focused, Bible-based, and age-appropriate.
- Language specific to your church context: Including the location (i.e., "here in _____ city").
Activity: Vision Statement Assignment
Now that you’ve thought about the key elements to include in a vision statement, it’s time to create your own! Get together with your team and use the worksheet to answer the questions that will help guide your team in crafting your vision.
- Why does your church have a children's ministry?
- What do you want children to learn in your ministry?
- What does success look like?
- How can you partner with parents?
Once you've crafted your vision statement, it’s time to think about how to apply that vision to your ministry’s programs.
Evaluating Ministry Programs
Now that you have your vision statement in place, work with your team to evaluate the programs you currently have. Do these programs align with your vision, or are they being done simply because "that's how it's always been"?
Example Program Evaluation: VBS
- Does it help raise up committed followers of Jesus? YES – it teaches the gospel.
- Is it age-appropriate? YES – different classes for various age groups.
- Is it gospel-focused and Bible-based? YES – assuming you use a solid curriculum.
- Does it align with partnering with parents and meeting the needs of your city or church? YES – VBS is often an excellent tool for reaching new families.
Example Program Evaluation: Skateboarding Club:
- Does it help raise up committed followers of Jesus? MAYBE – Is the gospel being taught during the club meetings? Will it be an evangelistic activity?
- Is it age-appropriate? MAYBE – Does the club leader have a plan for managing various age groups and providing the right teaching for each?
- Is it gospel-focused and Bible-based? NOT ON ITS OWN – This would need to be addressed to align with your vision of "gospel-focused."
- Does it fit your church's context? MAYBE – Depending on your church’s context, a skateboarding club might be a great outreach tool, or it could be a distraction.
By evaluating your programs through the lens of your vision statement, you will gain clarity on which programs are helpful and which need adjustment or replacement.
Sharing Your Vision Statement
Once your vision statement is finalized, it's time to share it with others in the church. Here are some ways to do so:
- Share it from the pulpit or in the church bulletin – This can be a great way for your pastor to show support for your ministry and encourage your team.
- Host a Parent Meeting – Walk parents through your vision statement word by word, explaining the reasoning behind it and how it helps to keep the ministry focused. This is a great opportunity to back up your vision with Scripture and get buy-in from parents as you partner with them.
- Train Teachers and Volunteers – Explain how your vision statement translates into your programming and teaching. For example, if your vision is "gospel-focused," show volunteers how to share the gospel with kids through lessons, discipline, and conversations. You might even want to hold training sessions that explore various aspects of the vision, like partnering with parents, age-appropriate teaching, or implementing gospel-focused lessons.
Final Thoughts: Implementing Your Vision
Now that you have your vision statement, evaluate your current programs, and have a plan to share the vision with your team, it’s time to implement. This process will take time, but by working together with your team and church leadership, you’ll be able to develop a children's ministry that is intentional, aligned with your church’s goals, and most importantly, focused on fulfilling the Biblical mandate to teach the gospel to the next generation.