3 Stories to Share About Your Children’s Ministry

My teenage son and I attended our children’s ministry’s year-end celebration this week. We’ve both served in various roles for several years. It’s fun to get together, connect with friends and fellow volunteers, and revel in how God has impacted kids and families over the past 12 months. More than all the smiles and cheers, we love discovering the stories of life change. It’s powerful to find out how the Lord is at work in people’s hearts. It’s also encouraging to learn that your faithfulness makes a difference, even if you never see the results firsthand. I so appreciated how our children’s ministry director reminded us all about how our involvement creates a mighty ripple effect in kids’ lives for the sake of Christ.

With the school year coming to a close, now is the perfect time to collect some meaningful stories from the kids, leaders, and families in your children’s ministry. But don’t stop there. Get each person’s permission to share what God did in his or her life as a testimony to the community. It will be a blessing to those who are part of the children’s ministry and church. It will also inspire others to consider stepping up to serve or bring their family and friends to experience the ministry.

Three Stories to Share

If you don’t know where to start, there are three stories you can share about your children’s ministry at year-end. (Of course, these are also great to shout from the rooftops anytime during the calendar year!) Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Using this verse as inspiration, we can collect and share stories based on what happens through the children’s ministry from the inside out.

How is God using our children’s ministry to impact…

1. Kids and families?

2. Our leaders and church?

3. Our community and world?

The answers to these questions will vary from church to church. The Lord is at work in wonderful ways whether we hear about it or not. By telling these three stories of impact, you will gain the ear of people who want to celebrate, partner, support, and pray so kids, families, and leaders will grow in knowing, loving, and serving Christ.

Story Gathering Tips

You can grow in gathering stories and telling them, but it will require you to go looking. Here are some simple questions to ask. Be sure you carry around a notepad, voice or video recorder to get the story straight.

• How did children’s ministry make a difference in your life this year?
• What impact is engaging with God’s Word having on you lately?
• Why is being part of our church community important to you?
• Who is someone you invited to church and how did he/she respond?
• How did our children’s ministry help God work in people’s lives around the world?
• Who recently heard the Gospel for the first time and trusted Christ as a result?
• What is something about our children’s ministry that you love telling others about?
• [Create your own questions]

Don’t forget to ask permission to share these verbally, in print, and/or on social media. (Remember: You can share the heart of a story without including specific personal details.)

Story Sharing Tips

The pastors, leaders, families, and congregation connected to your church want to hear what the Lord is up to in your children’s ministry. To make sure it’s never viewed as a faith-based child care serve, you can creatively communicate what’s happening at the heart of this vital disciple making strategy. After gathering the stories, shape them into formats that will speak well to various people. Bulletin inserts, Facebook posts, slideshows, posters, newsletters, Tweets, testimonies, video interviews, and more are all ways to get the word out about what God is doing in your midst.

Below are three story-starter sentences to complete using the details of the stories you collect. Let people know why children’s ministry matters by expressing its impact on you and the world around you.

1. God is using our children’s ministry to impact kids and families by…

2. God is using our children’s ministry to impact our leaders and church by…

3. God is using our children’s ministry to impact our community and world by…

Awana would love to hear what’s happening in your children’s ministry. You can connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. Share your stories with us so we can celebrate with and pray for you as the ministry season transitions from year-end to summer.