1. GROWING A VISION FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
Linda Mei Lin Koh
GC Children’s Ministries
Steve Alley in his book, Growing a Healthy Children’s Ministry, likens VISION for our ministry to a gardener’s dream. He said,
“Knowing what you want to accomplish in your garden is critical. Visualizing your garden even
before you turn your first shovel full of soil will keep you focused and make gardening more
fruitful and rewarding.”
GROWING A VISION FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

2. What Does the Bible Say?
“Where there is no VISION, the people perish; but he that keeps the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18
What Does the Bible Say?
“Where there is no VISION, the people perish; but he
that keeps the law, happy is.”
Proverbs 29:18

3. Ellen White’s Counsel
“Your lack of spiritual vision makes you stumble like blind men. Had you had singleness of purpose, it would have been in your conference an element of tremendous power.” Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 296
Ellen White’s Counsel:
“Your lack of spiritual vision makes you stumble like blind men. Had you had singleness of purpose, it would have been in your conference an element of tremendous power.”
Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 296

4. What is Vision?
Vision is seeing what is around you and perceiving what God wants you to do with it
Vision sees beyond
Vision stirs the emotions
Vision directs actions
What is a Vision?
Vision is seeing what is around you and perceiving what God wants you to do with it.
Vision sees beyond.
Vision stirs the emotions.
Vision directs actions.
Our lives are filled with vision. We visualize, or dream, about our careers, our children, our retirement, and even our upcoming social engagements or dates. We visualize, because God, who created us, is a visionary. We can see this throughout the Bible: in the commands of Creation (Genesis 1), in the promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:5), in the promise of deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 3:8), and in the commission to the disciples (Acts 1:8).

5. Where does Vision come from?
It comes from God
It will include your passion and your beliefs about children’s ministry in general
God has created, trained, and equipped you
God will use all He has invested into you to craft your ministry vision
God will help you create and evaluate everything you do in ministry
Where Does Vision Come From?
It comes from God
It will include your passion and your beliefs about children’s ministry in general
God has created, trained, and equipped you
God will use all He has invested into you to craft your ministry vision
God will help you create and evaluate everything you do in ministry

6. How to Seek God for a Ministry Vision?
Know what you believe and feel about ministry (ministry philosophy)
Recognize and stir up your passion about children’s ministry
Understand the needs of today’s children
Ask God to give you a clear vision that will satisfy His will, your passion, and the needs of the people around you.
How to Seek God for a Ministry Vision?
You are about God’s work. He wants to bless your thoughts, deeds, and programs to accomplish his efforts to attract children to come to him. The frightfully beautiful essence of ministry is that God will let you and I personalize our ministry vision and goals.
Know what you believe and feel about ministry
Recognize and stir up your passion about children’s ministry
Understand the needs of today’s children
Ask God to give you a clear vision that will satisfy his will, your passion, and the needs of the people around you.

7. Nehemiah’s Vision
This is basically what Nehemiah did as he set out to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.
In Nehemiah 1 read about his passion as he wept over hearing about the condition of the wall. He mourned, fasted, and prayed for some days to receive God’s blessing and vision for the work.
In chapter 2 read about God’s gift of vision to Nehemiah evidenced by his plan. This is the same process you and I need to follow as we seek to rebuild the broken walls in our children, families, and community.
Nehemiah’s Vision
This is basically what Nehemiah did as he set out to rebuild the wall around the Jerusalem.
In Nehemiah 1 read about his passion as he wept over hearing about the condition of the wall. He mourned, fasted, and prayed for some days to receive God’s blessing and vision for the work.
In chapter 2 read about God's gift of vision to Nehemiah evidenced by his plan. This the same process you and I need to follow as week to rebuild the broken walls in our children, families, and community.

8. What’s the Equation? Inspiration + Information = Vision
Your ministry vision is a simple statement of the process by which your passion and God’s plan come together to lead children to Him in your church and community.
Your ministry vision incorporates all you are and all God wants to accomplish in your particular church location.
Before crafting your ministry vision, you must understand what you believe about the needs of children today, the church, and the family.
Your ministry vision is a very specific plan to deal with your specific children and culture which applies your personal philosophy and passion.
Your ministry statement will be a blend of God’s inspiration, your passion, and the information you have about today’s child.
So the equation is: Information + Information = Vision

9. Creating a Ministry Vision
Every ministry vision should focus on how you will fulfill the Great Commission:
* “Go”—how will you go to them?
* Make disciples”—how will you attract children and interest them in Jesus?
* “Baptizing them”—how will you lead children to make commitment to Jesus?
* “Teaching them”—how will you teach children in a way that motivates them to learn more on their own?
* “To obey”—how will disciple the children & lead them to obedience and service?
Creating a Ministry Vision
Every ministry vision should focus on the Great Commission. It is our common purpose, and it is what we are all called to fulfill in our lifetimes:
“Go”: How will you become aware and involved in today’s child’s world? How will you go to them? What is God’s plan for evangelism?
“Make disciples”: How will you attract the children and interest them I Jesus?
“Baptizing them”: How will you lead children to make a personal commitment to Jesus?
“Teaching them”: How will you teach today’s children in a way that interests and motivates them to learn more on their own?
“To obey”: How will you disciple the children and lead them to obedience and service. How will they be inspired to teach others?
Your ministry vision should be visual and stir the emotions in those who hear or read it. It should contain words like, “We believe,” or “We see.” It should transport the reader or hearer into a visual tour of your ministry.
Your ministry vision should include answers to the following questions:
What will you accomplish in the lives of the children?
How are you going to accomplish it?
What will you see when your goals are accomplished?

10. “Go” A Great Commission Vision
We will Go into the world of today’s children with trained, passionate, godly adults who carry the message of the Gospel.
We will Go into the church, community, and the schools with a child’s ministry image that attracts children.
We will provide a safe, nurturing environment so parents can be assured that our children’s ministry is a positive place to which their children can Go.
“Go” -- A Great Commission Vision
We will Go into the world of today’s children with trained, passionate, godly adults who carry the message of the Gospel.
We will Go into the church, community, and the schools with a child’s ministry image that attracts children.
We will provide a safe, nurturing environment so parents can be assured that our children’s ministry is a positive place to which their children can Go.

11. “Make Disciples”
We will Make Disciples by drawing children into the presence of God through dynamic worship.
We will Make Disciples by teaching children how to pray and experience God’s presence and provision.
We will Make Disciples by teaching children the truths in the World of God, and providing opportunities to explore these truths for themselves
“Make Disciples”
1. We will Make Disciples by drawing children into the presence of God through dynamic worship.
2. We will Make Disciples by teaching children how to pray and experience God’s presence and provision.
We will Make Disciples by teaching children the truths in the World of God, and providing opportunities to
explore these truths for themselves

12. “Baptizing Them”
1. We will develop a process of child evangelism which leads children into a relationship with Jesus. 2. We will train our team members in the child evangelism process.
“Baptizing Them”
1. We will develop a process of child evangelism which leads children into a relationship with Jesus.
2. We will train our team members in the child evangelism process.

13. “Teaching Them”
1. We will train our volunteers in effective Teaching methods based on the interests & needs of children. 2. We will Teach Them with relevant curriculum that is Bible-based. 3. We will establish a variety of child-targeted programs that Teach them to apply God’s Word in their lives. 4. We will support parent in Teaching their own children through seminars.
“Teaching Them”
1. We will train our volunteers in effective Teaching methods based on the interests & needs of children.
2. We will Teach Them with relevant curriculum that is Bible-based.
3. We will establish a variety of child-targeted programs that Teach them to apply God’s Word in their lives.
4. We will support parent in Teaching their own children through seminars.

14. “To Obey”
1. We will teach children To Obey the commands of God by participating in supervised service projects. 2. We will teach children To Obey Jesus’ command to be “salt” and “light” to others through their words, actions, and choices. 3. We will expect the children To Obey Jesus’ Great Commission by volunteering to help in the children’s ministry.
“To Obey”
1. We will teach children To Obey the commands of God by participating in supervised service projects.
2. We will teach children To Obey Jesus’ command to be “salt” and “light” to others through their words,
actions, and choices.
3. We will expect the children To Obey Jesus’ Great Commission by volunteering to help in the children’s
ministry.

15. Pair and Share
Turn to your neighbor beside you and share one vision you have before or now.
Write a vision statement for your children’s ministry.
Pair and Share
Turn to your neighbor beside you and share one vision you have before or now.
Write a vision statement for your children’s ministry.

16. The Ministry Vision Wheel
Programs
Recruiting and training
Curriculum
Discipline plans
Growth plans
Parent relations
Outreach
Facilities
Service projects
Discipleship of children
Ministry policies
Many Spokes
The Ministry Vision Wheel
Your ministry vision is like a wheel with many spokes. All these spokes work together to turn your ministry into effective avenues of nurturing the faith of the children in your church. The wheel is composed of the following:
Programs: interesting programs to meet the needs of today’s children.
Recruiting and Training: this is an ongoing process that requires training of new volunteers who want to work with children.
Curriculum: use the curriculum approved and recommended by your church.
Discipline plans:
Growth plans: it is essential to have plans for the growth of your ministry both within the church and outside the church.
Parent relations: children’s leaders should build good relationships with parents as they are the ones who will be a great support to your programs as well as serving as resource people for your ministry.
Outreach: While it is important to nurture the faith of our children within the church, it is equally important to reach children outside of the faith community so as to introduce Jesus to them.
Facilities: Providing a safe environment for children is of utmost importance, where they can play, sing, and learn about God without the threat of abuse.
Service projects: It is vital that children participate in service projects to the less fortunate in the community for such experiences help them to develop compassion for others as well as love for others regardless of race, language, or socio-economic status.
Discipleship of children: The goal of children’s ministry is to nurture children in a loving relationship with Jesus. This requires consistent discipling of children to live like Jesus.
Ministry policies: Your ministry vision and philosophy should be the guiding principle for writing policies for effective running of your ministry. Writing out your policies help your team members to know the guidelines they need to operate.

17. Sources of Vision Infestation
Traditions
Fear
Complacency
Fatigue
Short-term thinking
Sources of Vision Infestation
Our vision can diminish slowly if infested by:
Traditions—these are hard too change and often deter you from carrying your vision to fruition. “That’s how we have done it the past 20 years” is used to discourage leaders with great vision for change.
Fear—for some leaders, fears of the ministry can be overwhelming. They are afraid of moving too fast and not able to gain support from the church; they are fearful of failure and criticism; or not having enough budget for children’s programs.
Complacency—it can kill passion! Restore and protect your passion!
Fatigue—ministry leaders have a tendency to overwork that they suffer fatigue or burnt-out. The ministry needs you, and as a ministry leader who deals with matters of eternal significance, you must be rested before beginning work.
Short-term thinking—leaders must look beyond and plan ahead for the next few years. Don’t concentrate only on today.

18. Treatment for Infestation
1. Value traditions as foundations for the future. Don’t throw out traditions or be controlled by them. Build upon them!
2. Don’t focus on your fears; focus on God’s power and vision. Growth requires risk. Move forward cautiously, sensitive to people’s needs, and with much prayer.
Treatment for Infestation
Traditions—Value traditions only as foundations for the future. Don’t throw out traditions or be controlled by them; build upon them! Move beyond the past and focus on the future.
Fear—Don’t focus on your fears; focus on God’s power and vision. Growth requires risk. Moving forward requires change. Move forward cautiously, sensitive to people’s needs, and with much prayer; but move! “Vision replaces fear with energy and hope” (Aubrey Malphurs, Developing a Vision for Ministry in the 21st Century, pp ).

19. More treatments . . .
3. Remember, restore and protect your passion! Read books about CHM. Network with others in CHM. Pray for more passion! Complacency can kill passion.
4. Fight fatigue, both physically and spiritually with plenty of sleep, protected days off, and a Sabbath worships.
More Treatments . . .
Complacency—Make every effort to restore and protect your passion! Read books and magazines about children’s ministry and passion. Network with others and pray for more passion!
Fatigue—fight fatigue, both physically and spiritually,, with plenty of sleep, protected days off, and Sabbath worships. Leaders must be rested before beginning the work for children.

20. More Treatments . . .
5. Ask God for the ability to focus on the future, not on today. Remember that God’s vision for a ministry may well outlive the person who first had the vision. You are part of a bigger picture! Look beyond!
More Treatments . . .
Short-term thinking—ask God for ability to focus on the future, not on today. The “fires” of today are demanding. They can easily produce short-term thinking in you and your team. Remember that God’s vision for a ministry may well outlive the person who first had the vision. You are part of a bigger picture! Look beyond.

21. Vision & Children’s Leaders
BE A SERVANT
* humble attitude to serve God
* gain respect from team members
DISCIPLE OTHERS
* train others to share the tasks with you
* lay aside your ego
* delegate duties
Vision & Children’s Leaders
Be a Servant – The greatest thing you, as a children’s leader, can do, is to prove yourself to be a servant first. This can easily be done in a matter of months as you do the menial tasks that could be assigned too an underling. This is not done to call attention to your great humility, but, rather, with the attitude of serve to the Lord. It is also done in order to experience what each phase of the ministry requires. Those who you later direct in those areas will respect you, knowing that you understand. Jesus did this when He took on the menial task of life on this earth, doing such things washing the disciples’ feet.
Disciple Others – The second greatest lesson that you should learn is how to disciple others. It would not be healthy for you to continue doing the menial tasks for a prolonged period of time. The Lord has called you to carry the Gospel to children, and you should seek the Lord for workers who could be trained to do the menial tasks. This would then free you to devote your total attention to creating and shepherding. This is the same dilemma the early apostles face in Acts 6. Your ego must be laid aside in order that others might be used to enhance and multiply the ministry.
Children’s leaders carry many functions and it would be impossible for any one person to care for all of these areas. So train others to assist in this ministry. Keep in mind also that children need to be trained and equipped for service under your guidance; then, they will be channeled back into the church body to serve and hopefully disciple others themselves.