6 Creative Ideas for Children’s Ministry Through Coronavirus

Originally published at Youthworks.net on 1st April, 2020. © Youthworks 2020.

Dear children’s ministry friends,

It has not been easy to adjust to our new ministry reality.

I’m sure you were well into the swing of the new year. New programs had been written, curriculum and teaching times prepared, relationships with children and their families were being re-establishing. Some of you were doing all of this in the context of a new position in a new parish with whole new networks of leaders and relationships to get your head around. On top of all that, preparation for SRE Easter assemblies, services and holidays programs were well on their way.

Then the world changed. No longer able to gather together as ministry teams, let alone run face-to-face ministries with our children, I’m sure you have been left wondering how to best love and minister to your little ones when you are socially distant from them.

But the ministry I’ve seen online has thrilled me!

Don’t get me wrong. The coronavirus pandemic is a terrible tragedy. It is wreaking havoc across health care, employment, commerce and travel the world over. In short, the entirety of life as we know it. For the church, all of the attempts at ministering to children and families from across the digital divide, while brilliantly creative (I’ll get to that soon), are a shadow in comparison to the beauty of physically gathering together to read God’s word and express our faith together.

What has thrilled me, is that in the midst of this unforeseen crisis, I have heard from a number of children’s ministry leaders who have come up with thoughtful and creative ideas for connecting with their children and families which do not sacrifice their ministry priorities to help children grow in their knowledge, love and obedience to King Jesus.

I want to share a number of different ideas here, not so that you will necessarily copy any of these strategies exactly, but so that you will be inspired in your church to be equally thoughtful and creative in a way that is relevant to your ministry context.

Digital Discipleship*

A number of churches have embraced the opportunities that digital technology can provide. Two churches in Wollongong and another in the Camden area that I have spoken to are prerecording and posting lessons, either on YouTube, Facebook or on their church’s own website for children to use at home.

Kaitlyn from West Wollongong was excited about the new opportunities that these video lessons created for her and her team. You can see their Creche/Preschool and Primary School lessons on their church’s YouTube page.

Jenny and her team at Soul Revival Church, Kirrawee have been hosting Zoom hangouts with the children from their Friday night and weekend children’s ministries. The face-to-face format has not only allowed the leaders to read the Bible and pray with the children, but also catch up with the children and talk through their week as they would normally be able to in their weekly ministry time.

Amanda at Shoalhaven Heads is sending emails to the parents of Friday and Sunday ministries, with suggested lesson plans. These weekly emails include ideas of Bible passages to read, YouTube videos to watch, songs to sing and craft activities that can be done at home.

*IMPORTANT: The Sydney Anglican Diocese has released a number of new articles and policies regarding the use of digital and social media during this season of social isolation. Make sure you read and adhere to these policies before engaging in digital discipleship.

Rockin’ It Old School

Of course, not all our ministry in this season has to be done on the internet. There are also some great ‘analogue’ ways of caring for and supporting our children and families at this time. The strength of these approaches is that it can enhance the sense of real relationship and connection at a time when many are struggling with isolation, loneliness or cabin fever.

The simple approach of making personal phone calls to each family is high on the priority list for Alison from Fairy Meadow, sitting alongside the digital and online programming that they have planned. The love and care involved, not to mention the time commitment, shows once again that simple does not mean simplistic.

Amanda at Shellharbour City plans to drop off small Easter hampers to each of her families, including a copy of the Bible Society’s new Easter booklet, ‘The Who, What, Why, How of Easter’. And Jenny at Figtree is organising her team of junior leaders to write letters to each of the children in their respective small groups, which will be posted in the mail. Once again, the personal touch of each of these approaches will most certainly be warmly accepted by the recipient families.

As you carefully pray and prepare for your ministry to families in the coming weeks, I hope that these stories from your colleagues in children’s ministry will be an encouragement to you. Once again, the goal is not to blindly copy someone else’s strategy but to be creative and wise in developing a strategy that fits your own church’s vision, values, and available resources.

If you have your own stories to share or would like to receive some help in developing your church’s response to our coronavirus world, please contact the Ministry Support Team.