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Last Login: 1/23/2008 3:27:40 PM
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| We are in the very beginning stages of our next building campaign~ I was told that the next building phase would focus on Children's Ministry...but I am seeing signs that other ministry areas are trying to get that emphasis changed (I bet that shocks all of you doesn't it...). We are a 5000+ congregation in a upper-middle class high consumerism culture~ What I am looking for is: *Data that correlates the building of a new Children's Wing/Area/Building (whatever) with a large growth in the church. Children = Growth *I am going to be looking at churches that have a state of the art facility for their Children's Ministry (both in person and via the web) so if you can steer me in the direction of a church you feel has something that I ought to see please email me. Blessings, Cari Vega Minister to Children and Their Families St. Andrew UMC, Plano Texas |
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| | Read this article from the Baptist Press "Children's Ministry spurs baptisms and Church growth" http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=26227 You will find some interesting Facts regarding church growth and children in worship at http://fact.hartsem.edu/Press/churchgrowth.htm Keep sharing the good news stories of your ministry and how it is impacting children and families for Christ! Also, I'm taking a Sunday School training class through our association and I was told that a growing preschool Sunday School program is the biggest indicator of a growing church. May blessing abound as you deal with those growing pains!
Lisa B from NC |
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| Cari, Go get 'em. I'm eight weeks on the other side of moving into a new facility. During that time we added 300 new attenders and the growth curve doesn't seem to be slowing. And I'm already seeing that some of my classrooms are inadequate in size. It's forcing Sr. staff to consider worship/service format changes that could create conflict. I'm not grousing at Sr. Leadership. We bought as much footprint as the budget allowed and an inordinate amt of the decorating budget came my way. The commitment to the kids wing was staggering. And we are still in this position. In addition to touring churches get sq footage/child ratios from NAEYC. There's an out- of-print Gospel Light book, Sunday School Standards that has similar help. I'm not sure what the numbers are for an expansion project, but on average, a church relocation, done right and without conflict, generates between 25-50% growth in the first year. You might be able to project your sq ftage needs by getting projected growth numbers (your financial wonks have a model for budget purposes). If you assume that your ministry will grow proportionately with it's current size, I bet you can get a ball park estimate on the necessary footprint. Church on the Move comes to mind. We borrowed decorating concepts from Granger in Indiana. (And a lot of European design toy catalogs to get a distinctive look. Larry Shallenberger |
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Last Login: 1/23/2008 10:11:47 PM
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| We just finished building a new state of the art building ourselves (Grand Opening is this weekend). We placed a HUGE emphasis on children’s ministry, knowing that one of the #1 reasons parents choose a church is the children’s ministry. In our building, our nursery, preschool, & elementary spaces really have prime real estate. Our nursery and preschool are closest to one of the main entrances (we actually moved our offices from the first drawings that the architect submitted) b/c we value these families. Our elementary spaces all have the latest digital sound and light boards for worship.
I just met with our church risk management agent and he told me the design of our children’s ministry was one of the best he’d seen when it comes to safety and security of children (not bad coming from an insurance salesman).
Here’s an article that was written in today’s Atlanta Journal and Constitution about our church.
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2008/01/21/metchurch_0122.html
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Last Login: 3/11/2008 4:06:40 PM
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| Sounds to me like you've got all the help you need above there. Great words of encouragement, etc.
I know from experience (no hard data though) that there are families in our church who decided to come to our church because we are the only church in our city that has a children's director/pastor. People have said to me directly that they are here because of the great children's ministry that we have.
Children's Ministry in church usually equals growth. Thats my experience.
Mark Myles
Mark Myles
Director of Children's Ministries
Campbell River Baptist Church |
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