My List of Trends Affecting Children’s Ministry
I’m wrapping up preparation for my workshop on culture trends that affect children’s ministry. I’ve been working to narrow down my list to those trends that are most significant and that are actionable– a children’s pastor can make response that is constructive. I’ve decided to only let four or five of these trends into my content so I can keep the workshop interactive.
I’m also aware that Chris Yount Jones is presenting her well researched list of megatrends in children’s ministry. I’ll be differentiating my list from her research by focusing on the surrounding culture and not how lead children’s ministries have already begun to respond. From memory her list includes trend like 1) Experiential Learning; 2) Focus on Safety and Security; 3) Family Ministry; 4) “Wired Ministry” and 5)… I can’t remember five. D’oh! It’s good, it’s important… I’ll come back and edit this with number five.
Here’s my list, so far…
1) “Outsiders” between the ages of 16-29 (new parents) view Christianity as the disease and not the cure.
2) The falling prices of video technology has placed children’s ministry in the adolescent phase of the digital shift.
3) The rise of two income families have changed the face of the available volunteer.
And here are the trends on the bubble…
4) Families value holistic over departmental approaches (allowing the rise of family ministry).
5) The continued impact of consumerism on children’s ministry. (Leading to our need to create a “product” for parent. And leading to the token economies w/in our ministries.)
Larry,
Thanks for sharing your list. I know you’ve addressed some of these trends / challenges / opportunities elsewhere, but I’d love to see a summary here of what you think are the best response(s) of CM to each of these 5.
Thanks.
Great list. In reference to point one, I would suggest that it is primarily a Western phenomenon, and that the age range is actually broader, although not all in that demographic hold that worldview. Yet they are getting the most attention lately as far as I can tell.
Point 4 is spot on, based on the many conversations I have had with people. Problem is, we are still trying to figure out how to integrate it into the ethos of our churches. For my part and in my situation, I see the value of some kind of hybrid solution, holistic, yet also with age-graded expressions of ministry. Thanks Larry!
Larry,
I love your list. Your first one is SO true!
One that I thought of that you might want to consider is that Postmoderns are seeking spirituality in some form. Whether this is found in Christianity or not is to be determined.
Tim, great idea. I’ll drop those later for those who don’t attend the Conspire Conference. But I’m excited about posing the issues and allowing a room full of sharp Children’s Pastor architect their own responses.