As a visual learner who leads concrete thinkers, I believe it’s helpful to have some benchmarks for growing in Christian maturity. A benchmark is a standard or point of reference against which things may be compared or assessed. This sanctification and growing process must have some evidential criteria beyond a checklist, though a checklist is helpful to know along our journey if we’ve taken more exits off the highway or spent too much time at the rest stop or haven’t left the front yard at all as a growing faithful Christian.

One of my favorite resources to share with families is the Discipleship Begins at Home Blueprint: Discipleship For Life. This resource begins at the beginning of a child’s life providing developmentally appropriate holy habits and practices caregivers can use to lead littles to Jesus. There is also a Discipleship Begins at Home Blueprint: 5 Year Plan which offers an outline to begin the process with middle/high school and adults.

I learned about this resource we have printed, spiral-bound, and offer on our Family Resource Wall at an online Women In Apologetics conference. The Discipleship Begins at Home Conference was a two-day conference aiming to help parents, caregivers, churches, and teachers create a plan of biblical discipleship and growth for the children in their care. 

I consider it one of the greatest discoveries I’ve ever come across. Rev. Jeremy Bannister co-authors this e-document with his team through The Next Generation Ministries. He highlights six specific holy habits to teach, learn, and practice over a disciple’s life: Bible reading, Prayer, Fellowship, Outreach & Service, Discipleship, Giving. Rev. Bannister further explains these benchmarks like this:

Christian Maturity Benchmarks
1. Have read through the Bible at least one time.
2. Love God – attendance at church on Sunday mornings
    Love God’s people – participate in small group life
    Love Serving God – serving alongside the Body of Christ in church and outside the church
3. Practice the six primary holy habits of Bible Reading, Prayer, Fellowship, Outreach & Service, Discipleship, Giving (the Blueprints offer developmentally appropriate practices from infants through adults for each holy habit)
4. Have a desire to see someone else replicate these benchmarks

I can live with this. I can ask where my servant leaders are in this. I can see the fruit of this. I can set the table for these teachings with littles and with bigs. These are benchmarks I can throw some energy into and so can everyone else who serves in local church leadership. These benchmarks we can see, measure, and engage in conversations about.

If I needed a brain surgeon, I’d want to know that he/she’d read through the books, participated in the best practices led by those experienced (apprenticeship), and engaged in continuing education to be my brain surgeon. When I drive on the highway, it is not unreasonable to expect the professional semi truck driver to have read the books, participated in training (discipleship), attended all the classes (Sunday am), and taken care of their rig according to the owner’s manual. When a member or staff of a church is invited to take on a leadership role it is reasonable to ask if they’d read the whole book, are they giving of their financial resources, participating in small group life, and have a desire to invite others to join the journey.

Where would you want to throw some energy into? Question #1 – Have you read through the Bible at least once?

“…but few things are needed-or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42

Muhammad Ali was the greatest boxer of all time and one I followed through media and culture especially in the late nineties. “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. The hands can’t hit what the eyes can’t see,” was a phrase he often repeated to describe his style in the ring.

As Christian believers, there are parts of the Bible which make us feel warm and fuzzy like butterfly kisses. These passages are the wonderful parts of following Jesus, like…

• For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
• God is love. 1 John 4:8b
• Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
• And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32
• If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. 1 John 1:9
• So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10

There are also parts of the Bible that challenge us and cause us to go, “Woah! That stings!” The passages which remind us that Christian believers have chosen a standard of living and these passages teach us to ‘spur one another on to Godly love and good deeds,’ like …

• Everyone should be slow to speak, quick to listen, slow to become angry. James 1:19
• Be dressed and ready for service. Luke 12:35
• Do everything without arguing or complaining. Philippians 2:14
• Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Ephesians 6:1
• And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
• My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. James 2:1

I led a Children’s Moment a few weeks ago with a child holding a butterfly pillow sitting on one side of me, kissing my shoulder each time I read a butterfly kiss scripture. On the other side of me sat a child WAY too eager to sting my other shoulder with a bee puppet each time I read a stinger. The congregation laughed as the point was made.

As Christian followers of Christ Jesus we are to follow the whole counsel of the scriptures. If we only pick and choose to live among the butterfly kisses, we’ll never have the liturgy and proper equipping of God’s word for when life gets hard through loss and disappointment, relationships and school become confusing, nor when the littles we lead find following Jesus difficult and require courage.

Last Sunday we taught the Bible account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The Children’s curriculum make the point that when we stand up for Jesus, we’ll be rescued. That is not reality. Instead, we taught, “What causes three 30+ year old men to stand and not bow down to an idol when the consequence is surely a fiery, painful death?” After being taken as slaves, made eunuchs, and lived more than half their lives in Babylon, they followed the God of their childhood. Doing the math, these men were raised from babies until they were 10 years old during the reign of King Josiah. (2 Kings 22 & 23). This math makes my kidmin heart soar!

Teaching children the whole counsel of the scriptures, butterfly kisses AND bee stings, matters now and in the future. 

Still not sure? Spend some time in the Old Testament book of Daniel. It’s not warm and fuzzy. Rather it’s hot and intense, made for teaching and rebuking. Let’s train them to be strong and mighty through the whole counsel of God’s word.

“But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:18

Fall is my favorite season and October has five Sundays this year. This ‘celebrates just about everything’ gal is ready to set some spaces and places for our multi-generational church family to gather with hands, feet, smiles, casserole dishes, stories, so that our littles see their bigs share life together.

I saw this idea of sticking around after church on purpose on a social media post of my home church. I was inspired to make it fit our context and spaces available especially during this season of trusting the Lord in big-church business.

After getting the okay to move forward at last week’s staff meeting, collaborating with other ministry areas started, a fabulous graphic was designed, and a children’s moment with kids and sticks offered the first invitation on the last Sunday in September.

October Sunday #1 – Pie & Punch @ the Pit (I and kids like alliteration)
Costco has those huge fall pies out; our senior pastor’s wife offered to make the non-red punch; and we’re serving at the Gaga Ball Pit which will be put away within the next couple of weeks until next Easter. Supplies: paper products; pies; punch

October Sunday #2 – Churchwide Potluck @ Higher Ground (a request by small group leaders)
One of our amazing Sunday school classes set the signup and will do the physical setting up that morning at a location on our campus that has a garage door opening inviting kids to play outdoor games while having lunch. My favorite restaurant is a church potluck! Supplies: paper products

October Sunday #3 – Lemonade on the Lawn (a request by our Senior Pastor)
The Youth Ministry has a lemon press though CountryTime Lemonade will be free flowing. Cucumber lemonade will be what I bring. Supplies: cups & lemonade & paper towels

October Sunday #4 – Missions & Mountain Top Boys Home (bringing past missions passions to present)
We’ll ask for donations of deodorant and toothpaste for the residents of this amazing ministry which has been part of our church’s history for years. Folks will be invited to write a letter/note to a Mountain Top resident and/or one of our young adults who have been registered to receive Jesus Loves You Boxes this fall. The mailbox on wheels made by one our gifted McEachern Saints will be front and center to receive these notes of encouragement and hope. Supplies: note paper, envelopes, stamps, collection bins

October Sunday #5 – Table & Chair set up for that afternoon’s Fall Gathering (getting stuff done together)
The Fall Gathering 4-6pm is an all-hands-on-deck event and many hands will make for light work to set up the back parking lot for the Fall Gathering with food trucks, trunk-or-treat, cake walk, games, and more. 

Why? Community-building where littles and bigs see their church family learning, serving, in holy play, and sharing life together.
Who? Everyone.
What? Stick Around Sunday after the last service in a simple, yet intentional way to build our relationships with one another.
What will be the win? Sticky faith-formation memories for littles where everyone can play, everyone can serve, everyone can learn, and everyone can share life with great joy….and Mrs. McCoy’s homemade fudge.

“I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.” Psalm 45:17

Last week I shared an AirBnB and four days with three amazing kidmin champions at the KidzMatter Conference in Murphreesboro, Tennessee. Yes, we met lots of people. Yes, we learned lots of things (which you will hear more about in the weeks to come as I plan for next year). Yes, we worshiped, prayed, and ate. What else?

Let me introduce you to….

Vanessa Myers – Vanessa is a full-time children’s ministry director serving the folks of Dahlonega, Georgia. She designs simple Bible resources to equip children’s leaders, parents, grandparents, and local churches to love God’s word through Family Faith Builders. Her beautiful resources are developmentally appropriate for preschool through upper elementary. They can be used at home or at church. She’s a graduate of Duke Divinity School and chooses to point littles and bigs to God’s word so they love the Lord with their whole heart for their whole lives. She’s also written two kid’s devotionals I use for large group, small groups, and children’s moments: Bible Food Truck and Breakfast With Jesus. In mid-October another kid’s devotional will be available just in time for Advent: Wondering to Bethlehem. It’s still a devotional for ages 5-11, but this time, kids dive a little deeper into the birth story by using their wonder and imagination. They’ll put themselves into the story at that time in history and use their 5 senses to wonder what was going on around the characters in each devotion. There’s a passport!

Hannah Harwood – Hannah is a full-time family ministry director serving the folks of Dalton, Georgia. She just started at her new church with the goal of equipping leaders to reach all kinds of families. I met Hannah years ago when she served as the campus ministry intern at Reinhardt University and I’ve watched her grow her kidmin skills and her faith as she’s served several churches from part-time to full-time. She’s a professional in every sense of the word and continues to prioritize her networking relationships, prayer, and her family to sustain her in all areas of ministry. 

Christen Clark – I was introduced to Christen at Children’s Pastors Conference last January by the fabulous Brittany Nelson of Deeper Kidmin, a Teachers-Pay-Teachers resource website for leaders in faith formation. Christen is the creator and host of Collide Kids Podcast. Christen has led children’s worship at some of the largest churches in North Georgia. Right away I invited her to come to our last two Family Vacation Bible School events last June as a children’s worship consultant. Why invest in a consultant? Because we needed fresh eyes on what we were doing to jack it up and be the most effective. What did we learn? That our folks really stepped up to do their best for our littles and bigs when a consultant was on deck; that we can easily gather families to worship together much more often with the resources (people, places, passions, provisions) we already have on hand; that a different voice can speak truth and permission into service lives before, during, and after an event. Money very well spent as an investment into the future of our local church.

These relationships began because networking is a priority for sustaining an effective life in ministry. “Networking is a lot like nutrition and fitness: we know what to do, the hard part is making it a top priority.” — Herminia Ibarra

Does your blah-blah need a rah-rah? Natalie Runion’s book, Raised To Stay, speaks about finding our Pauls. The Pauls are sainted cheerleaders sharing life AND content. We need these Pauls, ‘but the deal is, we have to keep going and run that ball full court.’ (p139) 

When someone believes in you, let them. Sit with the wise. Build in the margin for growing in relationships with others in the trenches of ministry with children and families always with a teachable spirit. Make some introductions. Be available to make a new friend-in-the-Lord. 

Who is in your networking group? Who is sharpening you? Who are you sharpening?

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17

Time to Update is the book to let ministry leaders and communicators know they’ve already started and how to move forward to share the greatest story ever told to a world of littles and bigs who need it. Thank you Brittany Nelson for putting together a guidebook of small steps and giant leaps for digital discipleship in Time to Update: 7 Areas to Integrate Digital Discipleship into Your Children’s Ministry Strategy. I’ve been waiting for a resource like this for years and she’s put it in one place. Thank you, Brittany!

Discipleship is the process of making disciples of Jesus. Discipleship is THE JOB we have in the local church. Digital Discipleship is the process of making disciples through digital methods. We are not talking about live-streaming children’s church or watching a video on a screen to create or share content. Rather, “a digital approach to children’s ministry involves intentionally using technology to enhance and improve various areas within the ministry, from administrative tasks no one ever sees to communication with families to teaching Bible lessons on Sunday mornings.” (pg 3)

The goal of making disciples has not changed, yet our learners have. Digital is what our littles and bigs know; digital makes for faster information sharing; dependence on technology is not going away; digital is how our little disciples are now wired to learn. There was a time when a radio was enough. Television came around and having only the sound on was not gonna cut it now that visual images were involved. The same thing goes for the families we are trying to reach with the gospel. This is where our congregation lives. Why would we not want to go where the people are?

Just because YOU may not be on social media, our families are. A lot! Digital information is at our fingertips. The greatest search engine for the littles we serve is no longer Google, but YouTube. Our families are locating, shopping, driving, ordering, alarming, posting, scrolling, friending, and communicating with the digital devices in their hands. So how do we start leveraging digital resources to make disciples beyond placing Amazon orders?

Brittany clearly lays out chapters dedicated to policies and procedures; evaluating your church’s website (or at least your ministry page); partnering and communicating with parents/caregivers; recruiting, training, and retaining volunteer leaders; how to grow healthy relationships through social media; even using technology to aid in your administration tasks. Each chapter ends with several Action Steps and a ton of bonus tools and ideas.

The title reads ‘children’s ministry strategy’, but this book really is an all-skate. If you are in ministry with and for people for Christ, this resource is a guide for you. Weekday Preschool, Recreation Ministry, Youth Ministry, Family Ministry, Women’s/Men’s Ministry, Christian Education, Hospitality, etc.

There is so much to capture in this book that I’ve decided to lead an online book discussion in October. We’ll read 2-3 chapters each week and chat on Wednesday mornings 9-10:30am. Want to join in? Sign up at https://forms.gle/4ZMw8C41kgHL7qVx9 

“He said to them, ‘Go into ALL the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'” Mark 16:15 (emphasis mine)

Generational Discipleship is best shared in partnership with families at church AND at home. How do we get resources in the hands of family leads (grandparents, parents, caregivers, teachers, coaches, etc.) for various age levels with various time schedules? One size does not fit all and one resource doesn’t help all.

The Family Resource Wall is the place where we can generously offer resources for families as they go. (Deuteronomy 6:7) The Family Resource Wall is located just outside the Children’s Welcome Center at the bottom of the stairs at the Children’s entrance to the building. It was built by the Junior Trustees (3rd-5th grade Power Tools Class) from wooden pallet remnants. 

We choose what goes on the wall by what’s in our hand. (Exodus 4:2)
* Leftover books shared at Parenting With A Purpose classes
* Extra books I pick up from children’s ministry trainings/conferences
* A senior pastor’s library of books he didn’t take when he retired
* Pictures of Jesus with kids of varied ages

Only one copy goes in a basket at a time and we refill as resources are taken.

Three resources are constant:

1. A Children’s Bible or Adult Bible – A preschooler’s Bible is written at a 7th grade reading level, so we look for colorful images in a child’s Bible or a red-letter edition (if it’s red, Jesus said…) Even used, a Bible is a true gift.
2. Are My Kids on Track: The 12 Emotional, Social and Spiritual Milestones Your Child Needs to Reach by Sissy Goff, David Thomas, and Melissa Travathan – This trio of experts operate the Daystar Counseling Center in Nashville, TN. Their Christian resources are plentiful for kids and families and super practical. They also offer incredible teaching in their Instagram stories and podcasts. Jesus is our savior and parents can do this!
3. Discipleship Begins at Home Blueprint – This developmentally-appropriate blueprint leads families on a discipleship pathway for families with infants through young adults. If the task of the local church is to equip the saints for Godly works, parents and caregivers are the greatest disciple-makers ever. This apologetics resource (defense of the faith in Christianity) is provided by The Next Generation Ministry which exists to equip parents to help them disciple their children into mature, robust believers in Christ. Beyond the Bible, this resource was a free resource offered at the Discipleship Begins at Home online conference sponsored by Women in Apologetics. 

How are you resourcing your families to point their kids to Jesus ‘as they go’? What would go on your wall?

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:15-16

Last Friday night we offered a Prayer Warrior Bootcamp for women from high school through adult. A small group of ladies, including four guests, gathered to learn to pray together, overcome the fear of praying out loud, and practice a plan for praying with intentionality and boldness.

Cyndee Ownbey is the creator of the Women’s Ministry Toolbox online community and the founder of Women’s Ministry Toolbox (www.womensministrytoolbox.com). She has a slew of resources to support and lead women in ministry. With almost 8,900 members, it’s a safe place for sharing resources and encouragement for women serving women around the world in the local church and beyond. I purchased both the leader and participant workbook to copy and didn’t change a thing. 

Our goal was to offer training for a holy habit to be practiced in Christian community AND leverage as an onramp to the Bible studies and small groups beginning two weeks later. 

Promo info: How’s your prayer life? You don’t have to settle for an okay prayer life or be filled with fear and dread when it comes to prayer. Ephesians 3:12 tells us we can approach our great God with boldness and confidence! Come learn how.
Ladies of all ages and stages are invited to the Prayer Warrior Bootcamp on Friday, August 25, 2023, 6-10pm in Oaks Hall.
Adult tickets are $25 per person and includes dinner.
Student tickets for high school through 25 year old adult ladies are $5.
Sponsored by McEachern Women’s Ministry.

We ordered Chicken Salad Chick for dinner delivery, invited ladies to wear camo or workout clothes with a pop of pink color; offered all the teas and cucumber lemonade (my favorite summer beverage).

Three different ladies were the ‘personal trainers’ to lead the different sections adding a chatty response of sharpie painting prayer rocks just before the closing. Chatty response = our hands are busy with a creative response to what we’ve learned while we chat and grow in relationship with one another. 

Our event design team will gather soon to offer another holy habit teaching workshop, but first we are rolling out Bible studies and small groups and we couldn’t be more excited.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12

Each Women’s Bible study and Women’s Ministry small group (Women’s Ministry is my lane, too) was invited to participate in a service activity before their last group meeting last Spring. One service opportunity was to bring new/gently-used outdoor play items to fill laundry baskets to be dropped at local green spaces and neighborhood playgrounds the first time the weather forecast shows three great days in a row.

A sign on the laundry basket read, “FREE TO PLAY WITH & KEEP: We hope you are enjoying this beautiful day the Lord has made from your friends and neighbors at McEachern Memorial United Methodist Church!” 

Part of being a good neighbor is unwrapping everything so that every item is ready to play and there is little to no trash/debris. Items included sidewalk chalk, bubbles, balls, bats, hula hoops, play animals/dinosaurs/ people, and more.

GOALS:
1. Be a good and generous neighbor to delight littles and their bigs where they play. No bait and switch, just being a good and generous neighbor.
2. Give small groups an opportunity to serve and practice generosity alongside one another.

We’ve been waiting for those three great weather days since May and the Lord provided them here in the Atlanta area last week in the middle of August. 

Three of us made deliveries last week. The timing was perfect because the website is updated with all the upcoming fall small groups as well as the youth and children’s calendars of events for the school year. I’m getting videos and pictures of delighted kids playing with plastic bugs and jumping rope shared almost daily from the community Facebook pages from our own church folks who live in the communities.

How are you being a good and generous neighbor to the littles where they live?

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25

Serving at a local church with multiple buildings on the same campus, I can see first hand that families can get easily frustrated if it takes 15 minutes to drop off all the littles all over campus before Mom and Dad can get where they need to be on Sunday mornings, especially if they are serving. This is why we opened a Kid’s Welcome Center for K5-5th grade. Every event, even Sunday school, will give parents a one-stop location to sign in their children and see their children immediately engaged in games and ‘friendship stations’ to begin the day/event. It also helps our church greeters to direct guest families to one location. And the benefits continue.

Adults engage in fellowship and community over coffee. Little people do the same over a shared game. If their hands are busy, their minds are calm. The Welcome Center is set up with various ‘friendship stations’ so little people can play together. Playing together builds a sense of belonging. Learning to play together well builds connection to our peers and other members of the family of faith. Only a game can encourage even the shyest kids to talk and participate.

We add something new each season and even make a snack station with a water dispenser for those who are hungry and don’t have time to eat before arriving. A container with colored plastic cups is always the building go-to, but these are the latest additions:

Bluetooth DoorBell – After children check in, they ring the doorbell. Everyone looks and waits to see a friend enter and shouts out his/her name. Kinda like our own Cheers moment. (I probably just dated myself.)

A Globe – As we talk about traveling and missionaries and such, having a globe handy is fun for kids to chat through locations. We found ours in a long-lost storage closet.

Head Hoop Basketball Party Game – The older boys are constantly wanting to toss a ball. This satisfies their need to toss a ball and my need to keep some safe space for the others in the room.

Straw Connector Set – I discovered this box of straws and connectors at a kidmin training event where Vanessa Myers was leading. I’ve used them at a Women’s Retreat, as centers at Family VBS, with staff meeting devotionals, and in the Welcome Center. Each box has ALOT making one box easy to split to use on tables and even the floor.

The bonus is for our parents who so faithfully lead a Sunday school class as a small group leader. They can register and drop off their littles, then head to their classroom to review the upcoming lesson or adjust the supplies that are provided…in peace. When Sunday school is scheduled to begin, the small group leader returns to the Welcome Center to gather their students to escort them to large group. When Sunday school is over, the students are returned to the Welcome Center so the small group leader can tidy their spaces (we all share space with other ministries with children) and return unused supplies to their class carts. All I need to do is look down the hallway to see if their class roller carts are outside their doors to know if all the classes are finished.

If you look closely, there is usually a parent, grandparent, or a Sunday school teacher in the mix…chatting and building with Lego bricks (donated by older boys cleaning up their bedrooms), setting up the Giant Jenga game again, playing Otrio or just touching base with a student who offered up a prayer request last week. The Welcome Center system has worked well and serves as an opportunity to extend extravagant hospitality and a sense of belonging. Brittany Nelson of Deeper Kidmin calls this the chips & salsa of Sunday morning. We just use it every time kids are on campus.

What other systems are you using to make for a smoother Sunday morning for your families?

“Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells.” Psalm 26:8

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The first thing God said was ‘not good’ was for man to be alone. (Genesis 2:18) Here Adam was, the king of the world, and both God and Adam knew they were missing something.

Are you missing something? Are you feeling like no one knows what you’re going through? Are you working your tail off hoping someone sees all your great effort? Do you feel you are shipwrecked on the sea of ‘it’s just me’? I have a few ideas.

“The question for all of us as we navigate the demands of ministry and our relationship with Jesus and the Church is, do we understand the original assignment?” Natalie Runion, from Raised to Stay: Persevering in Ministry When You Have A Million Reasons to Walk Away

The marching orders of all Christians is to “go and make disciples of all the nations…teaching the new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.” (Matthew 28)

1. Go to church – When we are invited on staff and the honeymoon of a ‘new thing’ is over, no one tells us how to figure this one out, so I will. We are still a child of God, not His employee. We still need to gather regularly and serve and learn in Christian community. Listening to podcasts and sermons online won’t cut it. If there is an earlier service offered, get up and go. If there is a service offered in your community on a different day/night, go. Set a Sabbath day of the week and guard it as the day you do things or meet with others to remind you you are His and He is good.
2. Go to Bible study – The Holy Bible is the library of 66 books which teach us about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We are always students of the triune God. Verses here and there won’t cut it. Rev. Dr. Tony Evans said, “Christians today have changed books.” My daughter and I went to Hobby Lobby to find a wall hanging for a gift with scripture. We traveled row after row checking the printed scriptures with our phones and more often than not, the scriptures printed for sale did not match the plethora of Bible versions on our phones. Whoever is in charge of your adult education would be thrilled to have you co-lead alongside another. But if they don’t, look online for a study being offered by another church near your home and make some amazing new friends-in-the-Lord.
3. Go to a networking opportunity – There is no way in the world I’d still be in ministry if I had not made a monthly lunch with others in Christian education a priority. It is an investment in Christian friendship with others and in myself as a Jesus gal who needs other Jesus folk to share the journey. The distractions will be hot and heavy because the fruitfulness is guaranteed to be sweet and mighty.

It’ll take a sacrifice of time, a sacrifice of preferences, and it will not be convenient. You’ll have to guard it as a priority, but it’ll totally be worth it. 

Over the last month I’ve been adding to our weekly curriculum a slide or two about why we go to church. I thank Brittany Nelson of Deeper Kidmin for the inspiration. We go to church to ‘spur one another on to love and good deeds’ and we don’t forsake gathering together as per Hebrews 10:24-25 though it will look different than before we were on staff.

Isolation, despair, and loneliness is the complaint I read about all over the kidmin sites, especially lately. My heart hurts for them. It’s preventable. Go. 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Note: Don’t miss a single weekly post, by subscribing above. And Brittany Nelson has authored a book on Digital Discipleship for ministry with children and families. Keep an eye out for it!