Digital ministry gives opportunities to inspire families to spend time together with God
As I step into my new role as Assistant National Leader for New Wine Kids, I pray for God’s guidance, wisdom and creativity as we strive to equip and enable children to know and follow Jesus. Here’s 3 lessons I’ve learned from doing digital kids ministry:
1) Equip parents/carers to become the leaders
We have a wonderful opportunity to enable, equip and model ways in which parents/carers can journey alongside their children; having the joy of introducing children to Jesus and walking with them as they encounter God and spend time in his presence. Digital ministry is an incredible platform for modelling online and then inviting families to engage with God together in their own homes. Whether it is leading a session of ‘chat and catch’ (praying) or ‘soaking’ in God’s Spirit or even undertaking ‘prophetic art’, digital ministry opens up opportunities to support, encourage and inspire families to spend time together with God and see how simple and achievable it can be.
2) Keep it moving
Our desire is to motivate, engage and interact with children as we learn more of God together. Therefore, rather than providing passive learning, we encourage engagement and interaction through inviting families to chat together, be creative, pray using whole bodies and to undertake a weekly challenge. We ensure that our online content is concise, changes in pace and follows a simple pattern. It is fun and engaging but at all times reinforcing the key teaching of the session whether through a funny skit, game, biblical storytelling or ministry response, we are constantly keeping it moving!
3) S.M.I.L.E.
For those involved in creating and producing content for digital ministry, I have found this practical advice helpful!
Smile — at the camera as much as possible! It is important to build a relationship with those watching. Even if the subject you are talking about is serious, there should still opportunities to smile, maybe at the start, middle and end.
Movements — keep your head, shoulders and arms in view at all times. When gesticulating, keep your elbows ‘stuck’ to you ribs, that way, your hands and actions will always be in shot (if sitting).
Interact — have opportunities for the viewers to interact — whether it be to chat to the families around them, to feedback directly to you (i.e. through live chat) or to have the opportunity for time to interact with God through led ministry time. When filming, imagine who it is that you are talking to and trust that they are talking back to you (especially if they are under 6!).
Lighting — ensure that your face is well lit, avoiding a light behind you. Preferably, have a light source (e.g. a Halo light) or window in front of you. Please note: if you wear glasses, have a light at either side of the camera rather than directly in front so as to prevent glare reflecting from your glasses!
Eye contact — ensure that you look directly at the camera and not at yourself! Keeping eye-contact is imperative for children to recognise that you are talking to them. Try to refrain from reading verbatim — maybe have a few notes (written on a Post-it note beside the camera works well) or even learn what you are going to say off by heart!
Jude Barber is Lead Pastor for Children, Young People & Families at Christ Church Purley, London and is stepping into a new role as Assistant National Leader for New Wine Kids.
If you’re a kids ministry leader who’d like to be part of the New Wine Kids Network sign up to emails here.
Join us for our online Leadership Conference: Beyond the Storm, 15–17 March. Each afternoon we’ll be looking at the shifts we have seen in all things kids ministry — from supporting parents to being even more creative with our digital ministry. Find out more & book your place.
