Eight Staples of the Children’s Ministry*
Acronym:
P. R. A. C. T. I. C. E.
Staples hold everything together, and the following “principles” are the staples that hold the children’s ministry to its purpose of effectively reaching and teaching children and families that they might become fully devoted followers of Christ.
P—Protecting children with an uncompromising safety process.
Matthew 18:6 –“…but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
“In God we trust—all others must be screened.”
Sattleback Community Church
R—Risking failure through innovation and reinvention of programs.
Joshua 1:9—“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in that gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”
Theodore Roosevelt
A—Affirming, honoring and valuing others through authentic leadership.
1 Thess. 5:11—“Therefore, encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”
“Definition of an arch: Two weaknesses leaning against each other to make a strength.” Leonardo da Vinci
C—Creating an exciting, fun, learning environment with excellence.
Mark 2:22—“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”
“If you want to succeed, you should strike out on new paths rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.”
John D. Rockefeller Jr.
T—Trusting God for the impossible, the unknown and the unseen.
Proverbs 3:5-6—“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”
“Act as though it were impossible to fail.” Winston Churchhill
I—Investing in others through open and honest relationships.
Philippians 2:4—“Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
“One thing for sure, if you see a turtle on top of a fence post, you know he had help getting there.” Unknown
C—Coaching leaders and children to realize and fulfill their purpose and potential.
Hebrews 10:24—“And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.”
“A good leader takes people where they want to go and ought to be, but a great leader takes people where they don’t want to go but ought to be.”
E—Empowering leaders and children through active ministry opportunities.
Ephesians 4:11-12—“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”
“If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want one hundred years of prosperity, grow people.”
*The above items were adapted from the children’s ministry values of Saddleback Community Church in California.