Just 3 Things Families Need (and Want) From Your Ministry

Have you ever wondered why some families might not attend church events as often as you’d hope? It’s easy to feel disheartened, but trust us, there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes in families’ lives. This article explores how ministry leaders can tune in to families’ needs and become even better faith formation teammates. We’ll look at the importance of being flexible and creative in our approach, and how small gestures can make a big difference in showing families that they’re valued and understood.

Let’s dive in and discover how to make a positive impact by focusing on three things families need and want from their church.

Empathy.

Families need and want to feel seen and understood. We ministry leaders work so hard to plan and provide engaging ways for kids and their families to learn about God and build relationships. So it’s easy to get frustrated when families don’t readily participate in our plans. We can jump to assuming that spiritual leadership just isn’t a priority. But is that fair?

To successfully serve families today, we need to see and understand what they’re facing throughout the different seasons of the year. Then we’ll be ready to adjust our ministry game plans to better fit their complex lives. Of course, we can’t account for every individual family’s needs. But when you look for opportunities to listen and put yourselves in busy families’ shoes, you’ll show you care, you understand, and that you’re a trusted partner in their lives. For example, back-to-school time can bring a lot of worries and anxiety for everyone in the family—so, how might you equip them with ways to look to Jesus for strength and courage during that season?

Encouragement.

Parents and caregivers are hard on themselves. Especially in today’s digital age, it can be easy for anyone to compare themselves to the ideal lives that other people appear to be living. When it comes to matters of faith, parents often feel like they’re not doing enough. So, let’s offer encouragement and regularly remind parents they’re doing a good job.

As a ministry leader, you get to shepherd not only children, but also their grown-ups! Simple words of encouragement can show parents and caregivers that your church is a safe place and that you’re ready to offer resources and encouragement when they need it the most.  You can deliver this encouragement through one-on-one conversations, in text messages or email, in social media, and more. Feeling seen is powerful for anyone—and a simple “you’re doing a great job” or “your kids are so kind” can uplift a parent or caregiver that’s feeling inadequate.

Everyday Faith.

It can be tempting to look at infrequent church attendance as a sign that faith just isn’t important to families. But have you ever stopped to think about why they come, no matter how often? The truth is, they come because faith IS important to them! Weekly attendance may not be feasible, but that doesn’t mean faith isn’t growing!

You can support families with practical ways to incorporate faith into every day. Like creative prayer prompts or kid-friendly worship music, talk starters to use at the dinner table or ways to look for God out in nature. Think about the things families already do together and how they can add faith into the mix. Whether it be a conversation in the car, prayers at bedtime, or a trip to the park—faith can naturally be woven into anything (but you already knew that 😉)!

👀 Look! Here’s something to help you…

Let us introduce you to Team Family™—a resource intentionally designed to help you understand families, encourage parents/caregivers, and equip families for everyday faith.…

Team Family delivers resources that help you serve families where they’re at. You’ll be pleased to find that Team Family easily plugs in to your ministry plan and naturally fits into families’ daily lives. You’ll be equipped to show families you understand them, encourage them, and help them weave faith into every day.

We invite you to learn more and discover an affordable and practical way to serve families inside and outside your church.

Learn More About Team Family

More helpful articles on family ministry…

IRVOF – The Winning Combination for Family Ministry

5 Family Ministry Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make

A Blueprint for Family Ministry

3 Simple Steps to Enhance Your Church’s Family Ministry