News

What does children's ministry in the future look like? Ashley Nichols examines the discussion that has already happened and explores some of the questions that arise: how do we help children meet God for themselves? What is the leader's role with regards to teaching and/or exploring together? How can we provide the tools children need to read and make sense of the Bible?

A holiday club requires a lot of work, resources and effort, so at the end of the holiday club summer season, it's worth asking ourselves the question - what is the point? Emma Hughes reflects on the many benefits of this kind of outreach, which will continue to influence ongoing ministry, long after everything has been packed away.

A thriving inner-city café for local children helps a Finsbury Park church become the central focus of a vibrant urban part of London.

In the second of our two articles on failure, Tim Broadbent reflects how, by recognising our shortcomings and that we will never be able 'do everything' in the spiritual lives of children, we can be freed from putting too high expectations on ourselves. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians, 'I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.'

Children's ministry is hard work. Children's workers all want to be the best they can be, searching for that perfect session. But the most significant sessions can be the ones that don't achieve what we'd hope. The best sessions can be those that failed.

Being a children's worker is often not a job that brings a great deal of reward, praise or recognition. Alex Taylor thinks it's time to champion the good and the great… the God-inspired in our work.

It can be uncomfortable when we explore the more difficult stories with children, such as Samson killing a lion when his bare hands. When she asked what children would have done if they were Samson, Anna Giles got a range of responses! But, after exploring Samson's story, she is left with some reflections on where else she could have gone with the passage.

What do you do when you get as many parents in Sunday School as children? Are they a distraction, with their emails, mobiles and chatter? Or is this an unexpected opportunity to rethink how we nurture and grow the faith of families together? Helping to foster a faith that lasts into adulthood is easier when parents are on board, so perhaps Sunday School should be a place for all ages.