What Are You Doing?

Does your Children's Ministry equip parents and grandparents so they are able to hand down confident faith? What do you do to do this? If you say you teach the Bible in your Children's Ministry, then, while this is essential, you are very likely not really equipping parents and grandparents so they are able to hand down confident faith. A new Pew Research Center survey finds that 80% of U.S. adults say religion’s role in American life is shrinking – a percentage that’s as high as it’s ever been in their surveys. (You will find the report on this at the following link.) You must teach the Bible, but clearly you also must do more.

So, what is the "more" you need to do? The real "biggie" when it comes to "the more" is teach the "whys" - why we are able to believe what we believe. I write about this a lot - but there is a reason for this. Teaching the "whys" matters because as Barna's studies show, we are losing the next generation at double the rate of any previous generation. These young people are turning away from the faith they once had to atheism. They are turning away from the "whats" - what we believe, and one reason for this is because they do not know the "whys" - why they are able to believe. There are so many solid reasons why they are able to believe, but we did not know we needed to teach the "whys" and so we do not. We are paying a huge price for not teaching the "whys".

We must teach the "whys". This matters. There are some resources out there to help you teach the "whys" to the children - at church and which you are able to share with parents and grandparents so they are able to do this at home - consider using and recommending the following resources . . . 

• Anchored curriculum supplement. You will find information about this resource at the following link, you are able to use it with any curriculum you are currently using.
• Deeper In curriculum - this curriculum includes Anchored curriculum supplement. You will find information about this resource at the following link.
• Generations Quest. This resource is designed to get families reading and praying Scripture together and will also engage them in learning the "whys". You will find information about this resource at the following link.
• the little answer book and the little answer book for children. These books provide the information parents and grandparents need to teach the "whys". You will find information about these resources at the following link.
• The Life on the Goldilocks Planet book series - these books engage children - and adults - as they learn about the amazing animals in our world and how they help us know God is real! You will find information about these books at the following link.

Check these resources out. Use them in your Children's Ministry. Let parents and grandparents know about them so they are able to use them as well. We must teach the "whys" - if we continue to not do so, we will continue to see the children we love turn away from their faith.

So, does your Children's Ministry equip parents and grandparents so they are able to hand down confident faith? What do you do to do this?