March 27, 2020
Dear Children’s Ministries Leaders:
Re: Children’s Ministries in the Age of Social Distancing
I trust that you are fine. With the closing of schools and churches because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are provided with new opportunities to reach our children. Below are some suggestions that you may want to take advantage of:
1. Make available to parents and leaders of children the online resources which were created for them. Here are some links:
- https://www.childmin.org. This is the NAD Children’s Ministries website.
- https://www.childmin.org/kmimagazine/2020/3/16/online-churches-what-does-that-mean-for-the-children. This webpage has many activities including virtual zoos.
- https://children.adventist.org/adventist-mission-tv. This website has many wonderful mission videos for children.
- https://children.adventist.org/gods-treasure-chest. These are radio spots with children asking questions and finding answers.
- https://www.revelationmedia.com/watchpilgrims/?_source_code=PilgrimsW This website has the animated version of the Pilgrim’s Progress.
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEpaK8GLkH2beVbXq8KEIjw. This is the Center for Youth Evangelism YouTube channel link. Here children can look at the drama from “Chosen” and “Faith on Fire” International Camporees. Ask the children to share these links with their friends.
- http://primarytreasure.com/. These resources include videos for children 6-9 years old. Children can submit their prayer requests online at this website.
- http://guidemagazine.org/. These resources include videos for children 10-14 years old.
- http://primarytreasure.com/free-issues-while-churches-are-closed/ These resources include videos for children 0-5 years old.
2. Create a prayer forum or prayer line for children using social networking or the telephone. Set times when you can connect with the children and pray for them. Ask the children to invite their friends to these times of prayer.
3. Use networking services, such as: Zoom, YouTube, Group Facetime, Skype, and Facebook to conduct Children’s Ministries. These services can be used to create virtual meetings. The Ontario Conference Church Growth and Evangelism Department has made available to every church and company, the sum of $200.00 for pastors to purchase Zoom for videoconferencing (please check with your pastor).
4. Ask the Children’s Division leaders to use social media to connect with parents and children weekly.
5. Reach out to all children in your neighbourhood via social networking with the good news that Jesus cares.
6. Every Friday evening the NAD Children’s Ministries Department will present a story via video on its website. The link is: https://www.instagram.com/p/B97BadSD0TL/
Even though, this may appear as a challenging time for ministry, remember God invites us to call upon Him. Psalm 50:15 says, “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”
Maranatha!
Yours in Christ,