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An Invitation to Children's
Ministry
What is children’s ministry?
Children’s
ministry is an interaction with children
aimed at enhancing the enjoyment of and response
to
the love of God as expressed in Jesus Christ.
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Children’s ministry is done in many
different ways and contexts. Within this great diversity
it is possible to discern five basic processes. In practise
these processes are closely interrelated and complementary.
Here they are isolated for the purpose of definition and
systematic description.
The categories used for these five processes
are well known within children’s ministry circles.
This inevitably means that there are great differences
in how each of these is used and defined. For that reason
each of these will be defined and then outlined in terms
of its key concepts, biblical basis and ministry implications.
This part is necessarily more theoretical in nature. It
is followed by a more practical part where the basics
of practical children’s ministry are outlined in
terms of four different ministry contexts: home based,
church based, school based and community based children’s
ministry. A summary of each of these – the five
children’s ministry processes and the four children’s
ministry contexts – is given on the next two pages.
Basic Processes
of children’s ministry
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Nurture
is a family process through which children experience
the love of God.
Key concepts: Love,
Care, Discipline
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Socialisation
is a process of building relationships and entering
into community.
Key concepts: Communication,
Play, Enculturation
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Evangelism
is the process where Jesus is presented in such a
way that people can respond in faith and be incorporated
into the Body of Christ.
Key concepts: Presenting
Jesus, Calling to faith, Incorporation
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Learning
is a life-long process through which we integrate
faith and values into practical Christian living that
brings honour to God and joy and hope to the world.
Key concepts: Discovery,
Imitation, Instruction
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Healing
is the process through which wholeness is restored
to broken people and their broken world.
Key concepts: Bonding,
Encountering the Healer, Growing
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Social contexts
of children’s ministry
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Home-based Children’s
Ministry
- Ministry within the Family – nuclear
and extended
- Ministry by the Family – to children or
families
- Foster Care: formal and informal
- Friends, servants, guardians, boarders
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Church-based Children’s
Ministry
- Local church:
- Worship services, small groups, pastoral
ministry,
- Serving children in the community, Witness
- Denominational:
- National and international initiatives for
children’s ministry, equipping and outreach
- Interdenominational:
- Rallies, camps and outreaches for children
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School-based Children’s
Ministry
- Involving teachers, children, parents and friends
- Formal and informal contact
- Different contexts:
- Assembly, classroom, playground, sport grounds,
- Hostel, boardroom, camps
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Community-based Children’s
Ministry
- Community development
- Sports, recreation, entertainment, arts, culture,
clubs
- Media
- Early childhood care & learning
- Residential care
- Health services, ministry with children in distress
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