[poll id="2"]
One thing that makes a great children’s ministry blog is staying connected with the readers. Since this blog has kept growing it’s been harder for me to keep track of who is reading and why. So, I thought I would open up this poll.
My previous results have indicated most readers are active in smaller churches. Of course, that is okay by me. My church is small too.
Tell Us More
The comment section is open, so feel free to tell me more about your church. What is its worship style? Do you have paid children’s ministry staff? What do you love about your church?
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Very encouraging to see that 48% (31 votes) were taken from people from churches smaller than 100. I hear so much talk out there from ministers in churches of 500+ with 3-5 services per weekend. That’s good but what they’re experiencing isn’t going to be the same thing as what I’m experiencing in a church of 100 with 15 children at one weekend service meeting in rented facilities on Saturday night. I’m interested in hearing from others in similar settings, dealing with similar strengths and challenges and limited resources because of the low attendance.
Interesting data Tony. Thank you for running this survey. It would be interesting to get more precise numbers in the category 100-500. For example, my church is about 280, which is a whole different dynamic than 101 or 500. Anyway, thank you for doing it!
@Glen: Good point, there is a big shift in there. I wasn’t sure where to mark it off. At that level it seems like adding a second service (and Sunday school) really complicates things on the children’s ministry end.
@Brenna: I am still surprised that at the results. I initially thought many of the readers were on staff at churches. Then I began to realize how many volunteer children’s ministry leaders are looking for help too.
It really allows me to write more targeted content.
I will be an active one here for larger churches then. We only run 2000. We are a mix service type currently mostly contemporary and are making a transition to video venues as well by 2010. I am full time and building up an intern base as well.
You still have at the time I looked at your poll a 20% readership of those from what you are calling larger churches of 1000+.
Isn’t it great that churches of all size can be used by God. Keep up the good blogging Tony.
@Todd McKeever: Thanks for your comments. You are right, God uses all kinds of churches. I’m amazed at how different they can be sometimes, but so much is ultimately the same (especially in children’s minsitry).
I’ve found that most resources today seemed to be geared to the “large” church with full-time paid staff. Have you noticed when most denominational events for children/youth leaders are head? Generally during the day during the week (except for larger conferences). Have you ever tried to network with other children’s ministry leaders at other churches? Generally I have found it is a “let’s do lunch” if they are full-time or difficult to make schedules work together for the part-time or volunteer leaders so sites like this that let children’s leaders network has become vital in today’s culture.
Bill, I grew up in those churches (the ones where people actually work all week and volunteer for the weekend, using their own time, money and materials!)…and have been part of a “big, staffed” church for about 10 years. I don’t think having paid staff necessarily makes anything better. it’s just different. there doesn’t seem to be more ministry going on, for all of the paid time! I have found that Sunday lunch, after church, when everyone is still thinking about what just happened, is a great time to do this kind of thing. It might take some doing but the encouragement is worth it!
I agree Mary, that churches, no matter the size, face similar issues. What I was referring to is the children’s ministry director trying to network with other children’s ministry directors/pastors in the area. When I have tried to network with other children’s pastors who are FT, they generally meet during lunch, or prefer to meet for lunch which I cannot do unless I take a day off my FT job, using vacation time (which I have done at times).
The main differences I see in FT vs PT or volunteer is the time they have to plan/organize events/activities and to build relationships with the youth. I am greatly blessed in my situation in a church that meets in a movie theatre, but oh how I wish I had the time a FT children’s pastor had to plan and build relationships, but then I know, I’d probably be bogged down with other “managerial” things…where is the balance, I just want to reach the children…