Attention all new children’s ministers! It is so difficult when you first start out in children’s ministry, either as a volunteer or in a full/part-time position. You probably feel as if you are drinking out of a fire hose because there is a lot to juggle, and everyone else has an opinion about what you should be doing at your church. It is hard to get everything done at once, so focus on these top four essentials in children’s ministry. I will do a countdown rather than starting at number one.

#4- Get background checks

Make sure every volunteer in your children’s ministry has a background check. You might know everyone in your children’s ministry, or maybe they have been serving for years and years, but it is beneficial to make sure your children are in a safe environment. Also, if you have a new guest, they don’t know your volunteers, so background checks provide some comfort for parents.

#3- Get training for yourself

As a new children’s minister, you will face a lot of obstacles with volunteers, parents, theology, children, and something strange you would never have thought of before. Find training either with your association or online that will allow you to find answers to your questions. Through training, you will find resources that will equip you to minister to your kiddos in a more effective way. Training also allows you to find like-minded people to help support you and understand what you are going through. I wish I had found training when I first became a children’s minister; it would have helped me as well.

#2- Get ready for the guest

First impressions are a big deal, so prep your front desk or welcome area to be attractive and inviting to new guests. At your welcome area, make sure you have a registration form/tablet, information about your weekly events, and a treat for the new kids at your church. If you do have a tablet, have a registration form as well, just in case the tablets stop working. Sometimes, simple is best, so parents don’t feel overwhelmed when they arrive. You also want to have someone there to welcome families as they arrive. This makes for a more personal and inviting environment.

#1- Get gospel-centered

Getting gospel-centered is number one for a reason. Everything you do and teach should stem from the gospel, God’s Word. You want to make sure you always point to Jesus Christ in everything you teach on Sundays and Wednesdays or whenever you have your Bible study time. You don’t want to just say, “Jonah was swallowed by a fish, then went to proclaim God’s message to the Ninevites.” Okay, this is a wonderful story, but how can I talk about Jesus here? Well… Jonah was in the belly of a fish for three days and then was spat out on land to go and tell people what God would do. Who does this sound like? Jesus wasn’t in the belly of a fish but in the belly of a tomb, and three days later rose from the dead. Jesus went and told people about His resurrection, that they should repent, and that He would be back to get His people. Don’t miss your chance to tell them about Jesus while they are at church with you. You only have kids in your children’s worship time or Sunday school for an hour or two, maybe three. You do not want to waste a second. Point your lesson towards Jesus.

Julie Donavan has served in children’s and preschool ministry for 16 years and is currently the children’s minister at Temple Baptist Church in Shawnee, Oklahoma. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville State University and a Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School. Julie has written discipleship resources and leadership training for Lifeway, The Baptist Paper, and the Alabama State Board of Missions. Called to ministry at age nine, she continues to serve faithfully alongside her husband, Connor, and their two young children.