Reviews:

talk: To encourage volunteers to rise up in children’s ministry

After doing a training course entitled “how to run a successful Sunday morning in children’s ministry” at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, I was contacted by the Empowered Christian Church to possibly speak with their Children’s Ministry volunteers.

However, when I met with their engaging Pastor he relayed that it was probably best to start at the beginning, which was to speak to the whole church congregation to encourage more volunteers to “step up” and work alongside the children. It was extremely satisfying to be given the opportunity to relay my passion for teaching children the Word of God and try to pass that passion on.

Here is the copy of an email that I was sent by the very kind Steve Hammond, Senior Leadership Team, Empowered Christian Church South Campus.

“I had the pleasure of meeting Cheryl Jervis and her lovely husband, Jonathan very recently at our Church service where Cheryl was invited to share her experience and expertise in Children’s Church ministry.”

 As part of the Church leadership group, I have the privilege of hearing people from diverse ministries speak to our congregation and providing my thoughts to the Senior Leadership as to the relevance and efficacy of their ministry.

 I have to be honest, and am a little ashamed to admit, when I heard that we were having someone share about Children’s Church I thought, “This is going to be boring! We’re going to hear about structure, methodology, and how, in the majority of Churches, Children’s ministries are relegated to a relatively unimportant, necessary-but-bothersome status”.

 Forty-eight (which felt more like twenty) minutes later, I confess, that opinion had been proven entirely wrong.”

“ Cheryl delivered, engagingly, with humour, and, most certainly, passion, some of the most relevant things that any Church that wishes to see lives touched for Jesus and to connect with their community could (and should) hear. ”

Her love for God, His people, and for children shone throughout her entire presentation. She didn’t tell us how to, she didn’t reprimand the Body of Christ at large for its inattention to the importance of children’s ministry, and she didn’t put herself out there as the foremost speaker on such things (although she may well be). She connected us with our kids, with the special place they hold in God’s heart, and the need to lovingly encourage and equip our children to walk closely with the Saviour and to minister in His Name.

 A move of the Spirit is coming and, if I heard Cheryl rightly, the children are going to be on the evangelical and ministerial front line when it happens.

 Thank you, Cheryl. You certainly opened my eyes to something I hadn’t seen before and I feel challenged to do whatever I can do to support our children become all they can be in Christ.

 The service Cheryl and Jonathan attended was recorded. I will be listening to her again.”

empowered Christian Church
Marion, SA

Children’s ministry training at

redeemed Christian Church
Marion, SA

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Pastor Abi from the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Marion, South Australia who was keen for me to meet with his Children’s Pastor Angela Agwu.

Angela efficiently organised for me to come and speak at their church to all the Children’s Ministry Volunteers both in the room and from around different Australian Campus’ via Zoom.

We had a two-hour session which was entitled “How to run a successful Sunday Morning Programme in Children’s Ministry”.  We went through the structure of the morning, the activities, the teaching, the crafts, the songs, the safety, working with volunteers, and the necessity of sticking to a routine.  We had a great question and answer session at the end and here I would like to share some feedback given to us from Angela.

We asked Angela;

1.     What is the most important thing your children’s ministry needs to get right in the next six months?

“Consistency in delivering the curriculum through activities. Alongside being flexible enough to use what we have around us which includes volunteers.”

2.     Did the session with Cheryl from threetosix help towards that end?

“Yes, it did as it gave us insights on various activities and ways to make it work in our children’s ministry.”

3.     What was the highlight of the session?

“Accepting that you need to work with whatever volunteers can offer to you.”

4.     Is there anything you know you are going to do differently at church or something new you will try to do since the training session?

“To add more flexibility and use what volunteers are offering, and to join in with big church for some of the praise and worship session to teach children that we are one church.”