There are a lot of choices when it comes to content, but not all of it is equal. Some are designed for large group formats, while others focus on a more traditional setting. There is content out there with workbooks, activity sheets, and exercises, while others ask you to build and create sets. It can get overwhelming and even expensive if you do not know what you are doing. Before you commit and spend your church’s money, make sure you:
While our scripture and church teaching is 100% inspired by God, it’s not 100% relevant to the teens, kids, and families you are trying to reach. If you want to pick content and curriculum that reaches people in the community, you need to know:
You want this information to pick out the right content for your audience. The answers you get from these questions will tell you what is important to the lives of your audience at this moment. These questions will enable you to pick, create, and craft content that is not only relevant but engaging.
You could have the best content in the world; but, it will not matter if your team does not know how to use it well. Parishes should spend the majority of their time training, equipping, and empowering their leaders. They need to make sure they are catechized and have a full understanding of relational ministry.
Before you pick out content or curriculum, make sure it’s easy for your team to pick up and use. Give your team plenty of time to review it but also make sure you teach them the best practices of accompanying the next generation and their families. Check-in throughout the year and make sure you are helping them overcome any obstacles or roadblocks. The more equipped your team, the more confident they will be with sharing their faith and the content you’ve given them.
There is more that ministry requires then what you teach in the youth and children’s programs. The big question you need to answer is, “What does it look like for a child or teen to be actively involved in the life of the parish?” This means focusing on areas where teens and kids aren’t typically present like:
These are formation opportunities we sometimes overlook because they aren’t as clear cut as a textbook or manual. This involves empowering older generations to reach out and younger generations to step up. It means training adults who aren’t on the roster for your programs. When you show the entire church how to accompany and mentor the next generation in and outside of programs, you create a more holistic and engaging ministry for kids, teens, and their parents.
Content is vital, but the context in which it is shared matters just as much. Look at who you are trying to reach and then discover new ways of sharing a faith we know is priceless. Before you place a payment, look at the content, and answer the following questions:
Don’t just settle for the latest trend or the method that feels more comfortable. Take time this summer to do the research, and equip your team so that you can continue to lead kids and teens closer to the God that loves them.