There is no doubt that 2020 has been a difficult year, and we are only halfway through. No matter your role the truth is things are different now. No matter what your job or family situation, things are different now. As different and crazy as things are, it might be time to consider a Kid’s Ministry Reset.

What is a Kid’s Ministry Reset?

I really like the definition of reset from dictionary.com

RESET: to set, adjust, or fix in a new or different way

If you consider a kids ministry reset, that means you are considering adjusting some things. Your vision and goals probably won’t change, but you may be able to meet those goals in a new or different way with a few adjustments or changes.

Often we make ministry changes around the calendar. January and September are usually good times to make changes, since there are already changes happening around us.

The 2020 Pandemic gives us an unprecedented opportunity for a reset that we have never had before. In December, we may have a 2 week break in normal activities. Sometimes we slow down programming over the summer, then gear up for the fall. That makes the time right after a break a good time to introduce a change.

Well, we are currently in the middle of a nationwide church shut down. Right now there are some churches that are slowly starting to reopen, and many many more making their reopening plans. That makes this time right now a GREAT time to consider some changes. You have an opportunity to start over. You could push the Kid’s Ministry Reset Button.

What does that mean?

It means this is a great opportunity to reevaluate your ministry.

Ask yourself a few questions.

• What is your vision?
• Why do you do what you do?
• What have you been doing that was successful?

What is your vision?

This question is huge.

Your vison:

• is yours, but it come from God.
• while being yours, also needs to be in line with that of your pastor and your church.
• is a big deal, as much of what you do will revolve around this. If you don’t yet have an overall vision, there is no better time like the present to get started!

Chances are your vision has not changed, but step back and look at all of your programming and ‘stuff’ that you do. Look at it all through the lens of your vision. Does everything line up with your vision?

If not, consider why you are still doing it.

That brings us to question two.

Ask yourself why.

Think back to the decisions you made in the past. Can you explain why do did what you did? If not, it is possible you spent valuable time and energy in places you did not need to. Whatever it is you are doing, you need to constantly be asking yourself why. This will help keep you on the right track. If the answer to “why?” doesn’t line up with your vision, then you probably can find a better way to spend your time.

• Why are you having this event?
• Why are you choosing this curriculum?
• Why are you doing this and why aren’t you doing that?

Chances are, you have an answer for most things that you did or are going to do, but if you ask yourself enough, you might just find something you are doing ‘just because’, or you really don’t have as good of a reason as you thought.

Since being in shut-down, there are a LOT of things that you have not been doing. Maybe now is the time to eliminate some of those things. Don’t bring them back when you start up again.

By eliminating a few things you will be able to focus your time and attention on some more important matters. Instead of doing a bunch of things and doing them good, maybe you could choose only a few things and make them great.

Now you might be looking over your ministry and wondering how could you even begin to eliminate anything. That brings us to question three.

What have you been doing that was successful?

Well, start by making a list of all the things that you do. The first considerations to eliminate are those that don’t fully line up with your vision.

Next, identify the success rate of everything on your list. Consider keeping those things that bring the most fruit to your ministry. At the very least, this thought process can help you identify some of those things you need to work a little harder on to make successful.

It’s interesting right now because you have an opportunity to drop some ‘things’ from your ministry, but you will likely have some things to add that you would have never thought of before.

“Virtual Church” that has been happening the last several months has greatly evolved from a simple facebook live stream of the service. You may have been making digital content for the families in your church for the first time.

Maybe you drove around town and left little surprises on the doorsteps of all of your kids.

Maybe you are considering a home based VBS because you can not meet in your church venue.

While you are looking through your ministry at the possibility of eliminating some things, keep in mind you are doing things right now you probably never did before. What are some of the things you are currently doing now that match your vision and have been successful? Try to find something you are doing now that you can continue to do moving forward.

Change is hard. Evaluation is tough. You now have a chance to do both. Rarely will you have an opportinity By asking yourself these questions you can set up yourself and your ministry for success moving forward. Use this time to consider a kid’s ministry reset.

How do you keep in line with your vision? What is one thing you could eliminate from your list and one thing you could add? Leave a comment and let me know.