The Future of Children’s Ministry – Jonathan Cliff

Article #8 in our series is from Jonathan Cliff.

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The Future of Children’s Ministry – Jonathan Cliff

The future of Children’s Ministry can be summed up in one word.  Robots.  I believe that eventually the technological geniuses around the world will create a Children’s Ministry volunteer that will be totally automated to not complain about diaper changes, always show up on time, offer timely encouragement to their children’s pastor, be willing to stay for multiple services, and will accurately teach from the provided curriculum without adding their own strange theological nuances.  But as I sit an ponder this development, I’m worried.  If they can develop a Children’s Ministry Volunteer Robot, then couldn’t they just develop a Children’s Pastor Robot?  Scratch that, now that we know the robot is a bad idea, let’s look into the future for something a little more realistic.  Forget that we ever mentioned this robot idea.  Seriously, just move along to the next paragraph!

I believe that the future of children’s ministry will be… led by the first generation of leaders raised up in a strong children’s ministry.  They will be the first generation of leaders to draw back on positive experiences with their families and church leaders, as they themselves strive to provide even more stellar experiences for their own next generations!  As I write this I’m a 34 year old that has his share of strange church experiences.  I grew up in church (been there 9 months before I was born), but did NOT grow up with anything resembling a strong children’s ministry environment.  I spent my formative years being “cared for” by kind, loving individuals; but was never a part of a concerted effort to reach kids and change their lives through the gospel.  All the children’s ministry I experienced growing up was well-intentioned, but it was never led from the uppermost levels of the church leadership.  Now we are seeing the top levels of executive leadership in old churches and the new leadership in new church plants place a high value on leadership to children and families.  This gets me excited about the time I live in!

As of 2010, when I see current strong leaders in children’s ministry, I see a common theme amongst them all.  I see that most of them were raised in fantastic children’s ministry environments, and what they are doing is simply taking what they know to a new level.

Take a moment to ponder this future scenario: What will the future look like when the hundreds of kids in a great ministry to families are of an adult leading age?  How great will it be for my children leading other children when they are adults?

For the first time in Children’s Ministry history, we will have leaders that are not drawing on bad experiences to create good ones; instead we we will have leaders creating upon the foundations of great ministry to families to blow what we’ve done out of the park!

The overall expectation level of children’s ministry has been raised to a high level around the world in the past 10 years, and this will only continue to raise it further for our children’s children.  The future of all ministry is bright for families of this next generation, and I’m excited that the work I’m doing now with children and families makes me a part of it.  When I teach a 3rd grade boy in a small group that he can solve the world’s problems with God’s help, I’m helping to change what could happen for his own children 20 years later.  I’m excited for the future leaders that are now in High School that have grown to see what can happen when an entire family engages with truth of God’s Word together.  They’re only a few years away from leading our next generation of children to something we couldn’t even think of in our own times!

About Jonathan Cliff

Jonathan Cliff is the Next Generations Pastor at Trinity Church in Lubbock, TX.  He has been married for 12 years to Starr, and they together have two sons; Ryan is 8, Dylan is 7, and one daughter, Lauryn is 5.

Jonathan has a deep desire to see God’s redemptive plan for mankind expressed through his own family toward all those around them.  He also works hard to make sure that every baby, child, and student at Trinity Church in Lubbock have the best opportunities to discover God’s very best plan for their own life.  He regularly blogs at www.jonathancliff.com.

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All articles in this series reflect the opinion of the author and may or
may not reflect the opinion of Greg Baird and KidMin360.