We make bucket lists for lots of things – summertime, our lives, a particular season. But have you ever made a bucket list for your children’s ministry? As you head into back-to-school season and plan out the school year ahead, what hopes, dreams, and goals do you have for your ministry?
Take some time this week to pray and brainstorm a bucket list or a dreams list for your children’s ministry this school year. What do you want to see happen? What do you hope God does in and through your ministry? As you list ideas, defer judgment until later and just go for quantity. Challenge yourself to come with a bucket list of 100 different things. Don’t get bogged down yet in the logistics and budget restraints. Just let yourself dream and brainstorm without restriction, criticism, or critique. You might even want to do the first part of a brain dump! As you pray and let yourself dream, you might be surprised what God places in your heart and mind for the year ahead!
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- have 60% of our families return post-COVID
- start a family worship service
- create a follow-up system for new families
- take Fridays off
- train new volunteers in a fun, effective, and creative way (or host a VIP Volunteer meeting)
- offer more resources for parents
- 2 family events each semester
- paint the hallways
- encourage kids to pray
- play more scripture memory games
- have a significant, gospel conversation with one child
- read 1 new book a month
- take a child out for ice cream each month
- improve our ministry social media strategy
- host a parent-child small group/devotion
- update our ministry logo
- equip families to read the Bible at home
- organize the supply closet
- delegate one of my weekly tasks
- write weekly thank you notes
- incorporate more Bible skills development
- stay on top of my to-do list
- study a book of the Bible
- streamline volunteer onboarding (we can help!)
- host a family night that invites the community
- play more games
- attend a children’s ministry conference (or learn online!)
- send a family survey to get to know the needs of your families
- host VBS
- give quarterly volunteer appreciation gifts
- encourage volunteers to connect with kids outside of Sundays
And as you’re planning out your ministry year and start narrowing down your options, check out our calendar planning checklist to help you create a balanced and effective ministry calendar!
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[…] have probably heard of a bucket list (earlier in the week we talked about making a bucket list for your ministry), but have you ever encouraged kids to make one for their school year that related to their faith […]