Hi Julie,  We had 20 children before covid . When we were closed we started our  "Snail Mail," program. We purchased a different style of postage stamp for our mailings each week. We have continued our mailings each week. They receive a lesson, word search, crossword, and coloring pages that enforce our lessons. The children are slowly returning. We continue sending our lessons to each child who has not been attending our Sunday School.

We had 7 children in our Sat. VBS class (10-2:30) on, Pentecost. We had a great time. We are continuing our VBS program on sat. July 17th and Aug. 14th to try and keep the children involved. We have found our Sat. VBS program is a great way to use our time and resources as far as being able to present a complete lesson and gather volunteers.

Blessings,   Ms. Audrey

@julie burton, I am so sorry to hear that you don't feel like you have the support of the senior pastor for Sunday school and children's ministry. Please know that I am praying for you and your ministry, and also for your congregation and especially the leadership to become aware of the importance of discipling children, and through them their families.

I think Carol and Audrey make good points above about reaching out to families directly. During the shutdown I was sending monthly letters with an assortment of seasonal lessons and little gifts to my preschool class friends (and some of the other families, too). I received positive feedback from a few families; but now that we are meeting again in person, all have thanked me for the encouragement and for helping to keep them connected to the church and helping them disciple their children.  (The associate pastor had asked us to write a letter to our students early in the shutdown; I decided to keep doing it as my own personal unofficial project.)

I am glad your associate pastor seems to be on board. Maybe she or you can share some studies on the importance of offering ways for families to connect as well as reminding the leadership of baptism promises to come alongside parents in nurturing their children in the Word. Here is a link to some thoughts about children's ministry as a way to activate adult and family attendance (and you will find many more articles and ideas at that link, including some research numbers).

Praying for wisdom and creativity as you go forward! And if you want a bit of "in-person" encouragement and brainstorming, join us on Zoom next Monday.

@julie burton posted:

Two years ago we had 17 children on roll under age 8. None of them attended Sunday School. Since the pandemic, I have learned we have lost several of those families to churches that have live children's programs that meet during worship. Also, our leadership doesn't participate in the education program.  I have been asked to meet with two new elders who have been made chair of Christian Education, but haven't attended in years.  The Associate Pastor has tried to keep the children's program going, but there is little support from the Senior pastor. Where do I start???

Hi Julie, old friend!
You are such an amazing Christian educator that I have to believe you have been put there "for just such a time as this."

I've helped lead two Sunday School "complete rebuilds" starting with very few kids and not a lot of hands-on support from the Senior Pastor. Sometimes their "benign neglect" is okay as long as they are permission-givers rather than interferers. Silver lining?

It sounds like your "future Sunday School" is in your preschool room right now. So I would encourage you to begin family ministry with them. Other than seniors, the parents of preschoolers are the age group MOST interested in being together. They are keen on family, friendships, and child-rearing subjects. Their presence and energy also attracts other young families. The "blest ties" you help nurture among them will also pay-off in Sunday School attendance as those kids grow up.

Hope this helps. I have memories full of ideas so feel free to PM me to further pick my brain ...such as it is.

Neil

P.S. It was the similar question of "where is my future youth group right now?" that turned my heart toward children's ministry 30 years ago.

Hi Julie -

You've already started, by taking the first step to reach out to the wise folks @rotation.org!

The first thing that struck me was that pre-pandemic, you had 17 kids under the age of 8 who didn't attend Sunday School ... yet several of those families left to attend church that offered SS, which to me indicates that those families are yearning for faith formation. Carol & Amy's suggestion of communicating directly w/ the families is a great second step. If it takes hold, which I bet it will, the leadership team is bound to take notice. One last thing - if the leadership team truly doesn't participate, you can form/mold the program which you feel will resonate best! Hopefully one or two parents will be willing to help, and you have the beginning of a program. Tap into the great lesson plans available here and you're on your way.

D

Thanks for all your responses.  Starting with the church leadership will be important, to see what kind of vision they have for our congregation post-pandemic. The  Senior pastor has a serious health concern, which may be contributing to the perceived lack of support. The Associate pastor has worked hard to have a family ministry, so I'm not sure where that is.  This support from you all is vital, and gives me encouragement for the meeting this week. Thank you!

This video message from Brian Wallace and the Pittsburgh Presbytery—in its entirety—is worth listening to.

Some takeaways:

We've lost momentum: a train can take a mile to stop and a mile to get up to speed. Children and Youth Ministry thrive on the momentum created by regular gathering and that has been lost. They also thrive on big events like retreats and activity nights  --which have been seriously impacted by the pandemic and attendance trends. Kids have lost two years of consistency and thinking of the church as part of their routine.

We need patience and time to get up to speed and develop good habits. It may be 3 to 5 even 7 years for the effects of the pandemic to ease in our children and youth ministries. Why? Because the two years that were lost to a 6th grader, now as 8th and 9th graders they live in a different world, even a different body.

We need flexibility. Things won't bounce back like they were. Instead of trying to revive something that used to work, maybe it's a time to innovate, to create new habits and expectations.

Scripture teaches us that we are at our best when we look forward to where we are going than when we look back at where we have been.