Sustainable Children’s Ministry
From Last-Minute Scrambling to Long-Term Solutions
(IVP Praxis, 2018)
WHO: Mark DeVries, founder of Ministry Architects, and Annette Safstrom, a senior consultant with Ministry Architects who has more than 30 years of experience in children’s ministry.
THEY SAY: “Flash and fizz are fun and can be very effective at attracting young families, at least one time. But without sustainable systems beneath the unforgettable moments, the impact is always short-lived.”
THE BIG IDEA: This book, written for senior church leadership as well as ministry workers, provides the tools to create change in their children’s ministry.
THE PROGRESSION:
In chapters 1 and 2, Annette shares her early years of ministry, mistakes and all.
In chapters 3 through 7, the authors introduce a systems approach to children’s ministry and provide a baseline for what “normal” kids ministry usually costs a church. After this, they describe the essential systems needed to build a sustainable children’s ministry.
Chapters 8 and 9 tackle the topic of building a growing volunteer team, often a church’s biggest problem.
In chapters 10 and 11, the authors provide a roadmap for negotiating church politics and family ministry.
Chapters 12 through 14 wrap up with an emphasis on self-care for the ministry worker and ways to prevent burnout.
“We can live at a life-giving pace and lead inspired teams who are deeply passionate about the ministry Jesus warned us not to ignore.”
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