Attracting Families with your Children's Program
Your children’s ministry is one of the busiest ministries in your church. It will, at some point, touch almost every family in your ministry. It is also one of the most important factors a visitor will consider before returning to your church. Even families who don’t attend church regularly may have strong feelings about sending their kids to your children’s program. Accordingly, it is critical that your children’s ministry not just be quality, but be perceived as quality.
One of the keys to raising the profile of your children’s ministry is through a coordinated visual image. Give the department a vibrant look and style all its own.
1) VISUAL IDENTITY
Give your children’s ministry an exciting name and logo. This "identity" makes children feel like they are entering their own special world. On communication pieces, it helps parents identify important mail coming from the children’s ministry.
2) INVITING GREETER/REGISTRATION AREA
Create a bright and inviting entrance to your children’s ministry. Even if your church handles check-in at each class, a cheerful area with informational brochures, visitor registration and a greeter, demonstrate that your children’s program is important, high quality and fun!
Balloons, colorful cutouts, bright signs and other exciting visuals say "welcome" to kids and their families. Four-color InfoBrochures from Outreach are available in a variety of designs and are ready to imprint with specific information about your children’s program, nursery procedures, upcoming activities and more! Inexpensive and compatible with most laser printers and photocopiers, InfoBrochures are a great way to communicate with impact about your children’s ministry.
3) USER-FRIENDLY SIGNS
Make sure all of your children’s classes are identified with attractive, consistent signage. Also, remember to include easy-to-follow directional signs to classes, restrooms and back to your main auditorium. These all help your children recognize their "special place," and makes visitors feel more comfortable.
4) QUALITY CONNECTION TOOLS
Parent letters, "thanks for visiting" and "we’ve missed you" cards, event flyers and promotion – these are all important ways to stay connected to the little people God has already brought to your ministry. Give these important tools the same high-quality and consistent look as your other brochures and signs. Outreach offers high-quality, four-color, mini-postcards (ImpactMailers) for just these kinds of applications. Available in packs of 200, you can imprint them on most laser printers and photocopiers, or Outreach can design and print the reverse side for you.
5) CONSIDER OUTREACH
Did you know that a children’s ministry event can be an exciting and effective outreach channel for your church? Whether it’s VBS, AWANA, a children’s concert, puppet show or community carnival, many parents in your area are looking for children’s activities that reinforce Christian values (whether they are church attenders or not!) In conjunction with your next children’s event, or even your fall Sunday School kick-off, consider large banners or direct mail for your community. Outreach offers a great selection of postcards, door hangers and small personal invitations that can be personalized, and both indoor and outdoor banners to promote your children’s activity or program.
By creating a vibrant, coordinated and professional image for your children’s ministry you will give both your regular church attenders and visitors a sense of the excitement and fun that comes with growing together in God.