Heartprints

Evaluate Your Ministry… “When To Make Changes” Part Two

In my last blog I discussed how to determine and set goals for your ministry.  After the goals have been set, the next process is to evaluate those goals.  Regularly evaluating and appropriately adjusting your goals in three key areas of your children’s ministry will lend to the overall success. 

In my last blog I discussed how to determine and set goals for your ministry.  After the goals have been set, the next process is to evaluate those goals.  Regularly evaluating and appropriately adjusting your goals in three key areas of your children’s ministry will lend to the overall success. 

Below are some considerations and questions to ask yourself and your team in order to evaluate your children’s ministry.  Every ministry is different and has different needs; therefore these questions are simply a guide to help you think through the process.   

Educational 

This area deals with the spiritual education of children.  Children have different needs as they grow and develop, therefore different sets of goals should be implemented for the different age levels.  Consideration should be given on each learner’s physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual development.  

Here are some questions to ask yourself and your team.

  1. Is the curriculum meeting the spiritual needs of the children?
  2. Does the curriculum still answer to the biblical imperatives, mission statement, goals and objectives?
  3. Is the curriculum interactive and engaging?
  4. Is the curriculum fun and exciting?
  5. Are the children growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ?
  6. Are we seeing lives changed?
  7. Are children applying the biblical principles?
  8. Are children learning and memorizing scripture?
  9. Are the programs in the ministry complimenting Sunday school or are they competing with Sunday school?
  10. Are the programs relevant or unnecessary?
  11. Is the learning environment stimulating and fun without losing the primary focus on Jesus Christ? 
  12. Is our ministry growing or have we plateaued?

Facility 

This area deals with the building and operations of the children’s ministry.  Every facility that involves children should be safe, secure, and clean.  When creating a children’s program one should consider the classroom size, furnishings, and equipment. It is crucial to maintain an environment that is safe for all children; secure with the right amount of staffing; prepared appropriate policies and procedures in place; and is conducive to learning both indoors and outdoors. How well the building functions to meet the needs of the children is vital and should not be overlooked.  

Here are some questions to ask your team. 

  1. Has the class size grown?
  2. Is the classroom able to safely accommodate the number of children present?
  3. Do we need more space to accommodate the children?
  4. Are we keeping our classrooms free of germs?
  5. Are our bathroom facilities accommodating for size and the amount of children
  6. in our program?
  7. Are the needs of the children being met?
  8. Is equipment and furniture in good repair?
  9. Are toys in good repair and clean?
  10. Are all the safety measures being implemented for the well-being of each child?

Personnel

This area is primarily concerned with volunteer staff.  Volunteers are the most valuable people in your program.  Taking an interest in their spiritual and physical needs and training them with adequate resources to serve with excellence is vital for their success.  Recruiting, training, and keeping teachers, administrative staff, and an educational team is foundational for a strong program.  

Here are some questions to ask your team.

  1. Do our volunteers need additional training?
  2. Is the ministry meeting their needs?
  3. Do we have an adequate amount to accommodate the amount of children?
  4. Are we adding new people to our team?
  5. Are we committed to their personal spiritual growth?
  6. Are volunteers serving because they are called by God? 
  7. Do they feel like they are a part of the team?
  8. Are we partnering with them as a team?

An evaluation process can be challenging at times, but it is necessary and crucial for any ministry who desires to grow and expand.  Making appropriate changes that help and not hinder the ministry is important.  Remember, the ultimate goal in children’s ministry is to lead children into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to encourage them to embrace a lifetime of serving Him. It’s not about changing programs and curriculum in order to compete or be recognized, but instead it’s about seeing young lives changed and hearts filled with the love of Jesus Christ.  May all of the kids that walk into the children’s ministries around the world embrace our Savior, Jesus Christ and therefore, call themselves “Kingdom Kids.”  

Lisa Goodyear holds a Master of Arts degree in Christian Education, with a focus in Children's Ministry, from Dallas Theological Seminary. She has over twenty-eight years of local children's ministry, as well as an extensive background in early childhood education and international ministry to children. Currently, she is serving with the family/children’s ministry in her local church in Shawnee, Kansas. Lisa's passion is to see children from every nation, tongue, and tribe trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and grow in their relationship with Him. She is married to Rolla and they have two grown children and three grandchildren and a little Yorkie, Romeo. Lisa lives in Olathe, Kansas.