I recently saw a church advertising their Sunday service on social media with the words “Childcare provided” prominently displayed on their invitation. Those two simple words stopped me in my tracks and prompted some deep reflection.
Is that really what we believe children’s ministry is about? Childcare?
When Ministry Becomes Merely Supervision
I once had a conversation with a former children’s ministry volunteer who confessed, “I quit because all I was doing was babysitting.” Their words have haunted me ever since. When did we reduce children’s spiritual formation to mere supervision? When did we start viewing our youngest church members as distractions to be managed rather than disciples to be mentored?
The truth is, children’s ministry should never be merely babysitting. Every moment we spend with children in our churches should be intentionally focused on helping them encounter Christ in ways that resonate with their developmental stage and unique personalities.
The Commercialization of Children’s Ministry
I think part of our problem stems from the increasing commercialization of children’s ministry. We’ve created an entire industry around flashy curriculum packages, elaborate stage designs, and high-production value experiences. While these resources aren’t inherently problematic, they can sometimes obscure our true purpose.
I was talking with a kids ministry volunteer recently about music. I love to use the Wee Sing music I grew up on. While I could still play it on a cassette tape (child of the 80s), I use a CD. She told me she thought it was silly to use a CD. Where she volunteers, all of the teachers use their phones and play the “new music” because it is more interactive and fun. As we debated the songs she prefers to use to mine, we both agreed the old school songs I use teach Bible stories or verses, and the kids I’m teaching them to love them!
When we focus exclusively on entertainment value or keeping pace with secular children’s programming, we risk losing sight of what matters most: creating space for authentic encounters with God. The measure of successful children’s ministry isn’t how many bells and whistles we incorporate, but whether children are genuinely experiencing God’s presence and love.
I heard Angela Marks speak on a Podcast recently. Her words made me wonder how often kids ministry teachers get so focused on what the curriculum tells them to teach that they forget to stop and ask God, “What do you want me to give your kids while I’m putting on this program (or teaching this lesson)?”
Carrying Light to a Generation Seeking
Marks also shared these words, “We carry God’s light, Word, and compassion and love for a generation that is calling out for Him but that doesn’t really know how to be led to Him.”
This is the heart of children’s ministry – recognizing that even our youngest church members are spiritually hungry. They’re seeking meaning, purpose, and connection with their Creator, even if they lack the vocabulary to express it the same way adults do. Our role isn’t to distract them until the “real worship” ends but to guide them into authentic worship experiences of their own.
The Power of a Single Opportunity
Marks also gave a reminder of the profound significance of each interaction with a child: “If I miss this one opportunity, I never know who that one child had the opportunity to affect. I don’t want to miss that opportunity.”
When we view children’s ministry as mere childcare, we fail to recognize these divine appointments. Every Sunday or Wednesday, every Bible story, every prayer circle, represents an opportunity to plant seeds that might flourish in ways we’ll never fully witness. The child sitting in your classroom today might be tomorrow’s missionary, pastor, or simply a faithful disciple whose life touches countless others.
Shifting Our Perspective
So how do we shift from a childcare mindset to true children’s ministry? It begins with asking the question Angela Marks suggests: “Ask God, ‘What do you want me to give your kids while I’m putting on this program?'”
This simple but profound shift in perspective changes everything. These aren’t “our programs” but they are our opportunity to teach God’s children. We’re not merely entertaining them; we’re entrusted with their spiritual formation. Each activity becomes an opportunity to communicate God’s love and who He is, not just fill time.
Imagining the Future
Marks challenges us to envision the future: “Where do you want to see children in the church in the next five years? Now imagine it.”
Too often, children’s ministry operates week-to-week, Sunday-to-Sunday, without a compelling vision of spiritual formation. What if we began with the end in mind? What if we could clearly articulate what we hope our children will understand about God’s character, their identity in Christ, and their place in God’s story by the time they transition to youth ministry?
When we have a clear vision, we’re less likely to settle for mere babysitting. We recognize that each moment matters in the spiritual journey of a child.
Creating Space for Divine Encounters
The most important element of children’s ministry isn’t fancy curriculum or elaborate decorations—it’s creating space for children to genuinely encounter God. These encounters don’t require expensive resources; they require attentive adults who recognize and honor children’s spiritual capacity.
Children can experience God through:
- Guided prayer experiences that engage their imagination
- Age-appropriate worship that invites their participation
- Biblical storytelling that connects God’s story to their lives
- Service opportunities that allow them to be the hands and feet of Jesus
- Community experiences that help them feel belonging in God’s family
When Church Becomes Drop-Off Daycare
Another increasingly common phenomenon deserves our attention: parents who drop their children off for church programs but don’t attend services themselves. While we should certainly welcome every child with open arms regardless of their parents’ choices, this practice unintentionally communicates powerful messages to children about the value of faith community.
Children learn by watching more than by listening. When parents treat church programs as convenient childcare while they run errands or enjoy alone time, they’re teaching their children that spiritual growth is for kids, not adults. They miss the opportunity to model that faith formation is a lifelong journey, that adults still need to learn about God, and that church attendance isn’t just about education but about being part of a community that worships, serves, and grows together.
Church isn’t a children’s activity that we outgrow—it’s a family commitment that demonstrates our ongoing need for God and His people. When children see their parents prioritizing church attendance, they absorb the unspoken message that faith matters at every stage of life, not just during childhood.
From Childcare to Kingdom Care
The next time you see “Childcare Provided” on a church invitation, I hope you’ll pause and consider what message we’re sending. Are we communicating that children are peripheral to church life, or that they’re valued members of our faith community?
Let’s move from childcare to what I call “Kingdom care” – the intentional nurturing of children’s faith as they discover their place in God’s kingdom. This isn’t babysitting; it’s discipleship. It’s not crowd control; it’s spiritual formation.
And it matters more than we can possibly imagine.
What shifts have you seen in children’s ministry in your context? How are you creating space for authentic faith formation among the youngest members of your church community?