Building a thriving Children's Ministry

Advent just had their birthday last month. Part of me feels like we have been doing this forever. Then the other part of me realizes that our church is still a baby. We are very new and we are still working out the kinks. I've had many passions and ideas for the children's ministry and I just thought I'd put "pen to paper" and share those ideas with you all. First off, I would like to share littleADVENT's values and philosophy: The Advent’s values remain present in the lessons and activities presented with the children each week: The Presence of God, Conversion of Life, and Bearing Witness to Christ. Our goal is to help the children participate in worship in a tangible way. Ultimately, I do not want to organize the children's ministry to serve itself. My hopes are for the ministry to be looked at in the scope of our parish, and ultimately the Church in the larger scope of things (global/across time). I feel it is very important for us not to overlook it and wait for our children's ministry to grow before we start organizing and serving it. We are a mission church, therefore the only way for it to work is for us to do it, to be there for the kids, and to be ready each week no matter the small number of children are. So because of this, we are working on a revival of sorts in our littleADVENT ministry. When the church takes care of the children, is ready and eager to serve them, then people who have children (parents) actually want to go to church and they feel supported. Living in community with one another in this way is a great action in being the hands and feet of Christ.


I also wanted to focus on prayer. We have been working on the practical aspects of establishing littleADVENT over the last couple of years, but I also wanted to ask for your participation in praying for this ministry. If you are a volunteer, I'd particularly like to ask you to prepare your heart in prayer before every service, and remember to pray with the children during each service. If you are not a volunteer, I'd like to ask you to remember these children in prayer. Please also remember the leaders in this ministry and the volunteers. There are many hearts in formation here, not just the children.


I have a lot of dreams for our parish and for our children's ministry. I feel that with the right support, we will be able to touch the lives of many people (some big, some small) through this ministry.

Here are some specific ways that you can help serve and participate in our littleADVENT ministry:

1. Sign up to volunteer in the classrooms at http://vols.pt/vJg5xe .

2. Pray for littleADVENT.

3. Tithe (the church offers great activities, crafts, and events for the kids when we can afford it).

4. Hold babies in church. Don't be scared. Offering to hold a baby in church can be a great distraction and a great support for a stressed out parent.

5. Offer to serve a family in church. Pick a family and offer to sit with them each week and help with the children. Many of the families in the church belong to those who are also serving during the service, leaving one of the parents alone with the kids. Having a second hand can be super helpful!

6. Follow Little Advent on facebook for news and updates!