Sundays not only matter greatly to you, but they matter greatly to the families that you serve each week. Whether parents are bringing their young children back to your preschool environment or dropping their high school student off for small group – here are 3 effective ways to help families win on Sunday.
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Be Present
Presence is simply the act of making yourself available. Whenever a family arrives to a family ministry environment there should always be someone available and ready for them. Consistently equip your team members with a clear vision for being present for every child, student, and parent on Sunday.
When a little one is being dropped off… they want to know they are safe.
When an elementary-aged child joins a group… they want to know they matter.
When a teenager shows up… they want to know someone will show up for them and they won’t feel alone.
When families show up on Sunday… Who and what will they see?
Will they see someone ready, welcoming, and smiling?
When I train family ministry leaders, we take time to practice smiling. And I tell them to expect their cheeks to hurt a bit on Sundays. Why? Because we are committed to helping families win on Sundays with intentional presence, a warm welcome, and a big smile.
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Make It Fun
If you want to help families win on Sundays, then make sure you equip leaders help make Sunday fun for the kids and students who show up.
Why does this matter? Because our missiology matters.
If we were serving in another country or culture, then as a well-equipped missionary we would know what matters to the people we are serving and practically meet them there. That is how we communicate tangible care and love: by understanding and responding to what matters to the people we are serving… And fun matters to kids and students.
We communicate to the next generation that we genuinely care about meeting them where they are when we put in the effort to provide them with purposeful, age-appropriate fun. Your family ministries ought to be using a biblically sound, scripture- based curriculum. Help kids and students to love learning the scriptures and point them to the Author of joy… by making it joyful!
Not only does “making it fun” help kids and students win, but it helps the whole family win because next Sunday parents and kids will be much less likely to have conflict about heading to the church together. Instead, kids will be asking, “Is it time to go to church yet?!”
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Give a Good Word
Proverbs 12:25 tells us that “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”
As I often say to other parents, “This whole parenting thing is not for the faint of heart.” Family ministry leaders have the unique opportunity to bring gladness by intentionally giving a good word to parents on Sundays.
Make it a point to equip leaders to go out of their way to encourage parents with a “good word” that is specific to their child. Here are a few examples:
- “It was a joy to have Xavier in small group today. He gets along so well with the other boys!”
- “Maya went out of her way to help me today. You are doing a great job teaching her to be a helpful servant.”
- “Micah was asking great questions in class today. It’s evident to me that He is growing in his faith.”
- “Veda goes out of her way to include girls who our new to our student ministry. It’s evident to see that God has given her a kind heart towards others.”
In summary:
- Be present for every family.
- Make it fun for every kid.
- And bring a good word to every parent.
Every Sunday is an opportunity to help families win!
Written by
Serving the local church for over 15 years, Chris Warszawski currently serves as a City Missionary for SEND Network. His passion is to help churches, church planters, and ministry leaders take their next, best step. He is the author of “Primed to Lead: An Honest Conversation for New & Experience Leaders.”
