This article was guest written by Lindsey Bush.
A few years ago, I came across a scripture that gave me renewed perspective on welcoming families to our church community. The scripture contains the words of Jesus’ brother, James, at a crucial time in the early church. A council had been formed to discuss the inclusion of Gentiles into the church community. While discussing this change, James says this in Acts 15:19, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.”
I’ve read through the book of Acts numerous times in my walk with the Lord, and yet, this scripture jumped off the page like never before! As my highlighter ran across the text in my Bible, I was moved by the Holy Spirit that these words were not only for the early church then, but also for us today.
What a gift to receive a living and active word from thousands of years ago to my present moment. As ministry leaders, we love new ideas and updated curriculum for the generation we serve. However, I’m reminded that the greatest and most effective ideas come from the word of God. We don’t need to scrape and scrounge for leadership tips and skills- our Good Shepherd gives us more than we need.
And this word, Acts 15:19, challenges us not to make it difficult for people to come to Jesus. Let me be clear, this verse isn’t saying following Jesus isn’t difficult. Following Jesus is our greatest joy, but also a narrow way that is full of challenge and difficulty. In this verse, James is compelling us not to make it difficult for people to come to Jesus. What does a wide invitation to the narrow way of following Jesus look like?
Here are three ways we can, as ministry leaders, make it easy for the people we serve, families, to come to Jesus:
1. Be for Your Community!
Where has God placed you and your church for this time and place? What are the needs of families and children? What are the strengths your community provides? Partner with community leaders who attend your church and ask for their input on how the community and church can work together.
Over several years in ministry, I’ve had the privilege of being a part of many community-focused initiatives and programs. From mentoring in local schools, serving at a food pantry, coming alongside safe homes for women and children, coaching youth sports, to discipling young leaders on a college campus… all of these opportunities were not held within the four walls of a church building! They were among the people, in the places they gather beyond Sunday morning.
However, we can also find ways to support our community inside our church walls. What events do you offer to children and families? Is there a way you could host your event alongside a community location, business, or partner?
Let’s think about Easter. Instead of hosting your own egg hunt, what about coming alongside a local egg hunt and supporting it in some way? Providing bottled water and snacks? Passing out egg-collecting bags? Providing a park space for families to connect and play after the egg hunt? The creativity is endless. The point is to join families where they already are- making it easy for them to be invited to join for Easter services by not only your church marketing team, but by personal families from your church. Be for your community, it is rich soil for planting and harvesting that the Lord has right in front of us!
2. Care for Families
Caring for the families in our church communities is easy to say, but much harder to do. Why is it hard? It takes intentionality! As ministry leaders, we must be intentional and strategic when it comes to caring for the families God has entrusted to us. We can do this by providing lines of care in two ways: networking and planning.
What is the care network available at your church? How do families feel seen and loved in challenging times? What kind of ministries and/or contacts are available for families within your wider church network? A good place to begin is offering a referral list of family counselors that can be shared with parents looking for support. Another simple line of care for networking is prayer. Find a way to receive prayer requests from families, maybe a simple form on your church website or a prayer request box they can leave a note in on Sundays. Follow up with these prayer requests as needed and don’t be afraid to include other trustworthy staff and prayer warriors, forming a network of people who truly care for those in your church.
Finally, a line of care can simply be a plan. What kind of plan exactly? Think about families who may be hesitant to come to Jesus at your church because of planning questions they may have. How do I check my kids in? Where do I park? What are the safety guidelines? What if I have a child with special needs? Be ready to have a plan of care for families clearly communicated on your website and readily accessible to church volunteer teams. Families appreciate clear communication when coming to your church. Clear communication doesn’t need to be overwhelmed with details; it just needs to be overwhelmed with care and commitment to meet families right where they are.
Caring for families is a dynamic way to make following Jesus an easy “yes” for families in your community.
3. Flex for Connection with Families
As children’s and family ministry leaders, we all know that flexibility is key. We need to be flexible with our planning and also with our partnerships. Specifically, our partnerships with volunteers and parents. Without volunteers and parents, we can’t offer environments for children to come to know and love Jesus. When partnering with volunteers and parents, we must not just focus on information; we must connect with them! We need to prioritize flexibility when connecting with families (volunteers and parents).
For volunteers, does your schedule give margin for connecting with volunteers not only through a Sunday morning huddle, but throughout the week? Set up a lunch and/or coffee hour and find time to connect personally with the volunteers on your team.
For parents, have you found times that work best to offer resources and/or parenting encouragement? Every season of the year looks different for parents, and we need to remember to be flexible for these opportunities. Maybe a parenting class can work best after church and include child care with lunch during a busy school year? During the summer months, could you offer a preschool story time and connection for young moms? When the holidays arrive, and parent schedules are packed, maybe a short texting campaign to families would be helpful? Be flexible and find ways to connect!
Whatever the season, when we flex for connection with our volunteers and parents, following Jesus at your local church becomes not just a place they serve or attend, but a place they belong.
As You Serve in this Easter Season
Remember James’ words in Acts 15:19, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.”
These words ring true to them then and for us today. Let’s commit to being ministry leaders who make it easy for families to come to Jesus!
To nurture and prepare your hearts for Easter, listen in on this playlist created just for you.
INCM is hosting a free webinar Thursday, March 19 at 1PM (CST) on outreach! Register & learn more here!
About Lindsey Bush
Lindsey has served children and families in ministry for over 16 years. She is the Children’s Pastor at GatheringPoint Church in Bourbonnais, IL, and Assistant Director of the Center for Faith and Family at Olivet Nazarene University. She enjoys laughing at corny jokes and traveling to Walt Disney World with her husband, Jamin, and daughter, Cassey.
