​"Planting Seeds for Future Ministry”

Planning for our youth & children

We value the children of our church, and we are committed to building sustainable youth and children’s ministries that are going to have a deep impact. That’s why we are developing a game plan together.

We have invited Ministry Architects to partner with us. They will be leading an assessment of our ministries August 16-23. (Learn more about them at www.ministryarchitects.com.) Ministry Architects will spend the majority of their time listening to a variety of groups within the church through focused listening groups. We hope to see participation in those groups from a broad spectrum of parents, volunteers, staff and people who just love our young people. We want your insights, your frustrations and your dreams to be heard.

After spending 2 days in these listening groups (and taking copious notes), the Ministry Architects team will hunker down to write a report, sharing with us what they’ve heard about the youth and children’s ministries – including assets, challenges, and how we compare to children’s ministries around the country – and where it seems that God might be taking us next.

On Sunday, August 23 at 11:30 AM, the report will be presented to the congregation via Zoom, laying out specific recommendations and a blueprint for how to move forward. If you would like to be part of this process and have your voice heard, please contact Molly Blackwell, St Margaret’s Children and Family Faith Formation Director, [email protected] or (225) 773-9659.

Sunday, August 16
11:30A-12:15P Open Group
12:30P-1:15P Parents of Elementary Kids
1:30P-2:15P Parents of Babies
2:30P-3:15P Older Children and Youth

Monday, August 17
5:30P-6:45P Children’s Ministry Volunteers
7:00P-7:45P Vestry

With love and gratitude,

Ministry Architects is coming to St. Margaret’s

Why Ministry Architects?
At Ministry Architects (MA), we believe there is a better way, a better way than one-size-fits-all training events and quick-fix searches for superstar staffers. It all starts with building intentionally. So like architects, we don't tell churches what they want to build. We start by listening and then show them a blueprint of exactly how they can move from where they are to where they want to be. And then we walk alongside them as to make sure that they build the kind of infrastructure they will need to create the children and youth ministries they dream of having. We have made it our mission to help churches establish sustainable, deep-impact children and youth ministries, one church at a time.

What is going to happen when MA is with us via Zoom?
MA will spend the majority of their time listening to a variety of groups within the church through focused listening groups. After spending 2 days in these listening groups via Zoom (and taking copious notes), the MA team will hunker down to write a report, sharing with the church what they’ve heard about the children and youth programs and where they hear that the church wants to go. After that, the report will be presented to the congregation laying out a blueprint for how to move forward.

As a parent, why should I attend?
As a parent, you have the strongest influence on your child’s spiritual development, and you are the center of faith formation in your family. MA wants to hear your hopes, dreams and concerns about the children and youth ministries. Parents can give feedback on how the children and youth ministries are helping their child/teen to grow into the person that God created them to be. Parents are a vital piece to the Christian nurture of their children and MA wants them to be invested in the process of building a strong foundation.

As a youth volunteer or Sunday school teacher, why should I attend?
Volunteers obviously care about the children and youth ministries through their commitment of time, energy, and love. You can give perspective to how you see the ministry affecting the lives of the children and youth because you are on the “front lines”. You can see what the strengths & challenges are and can bring about change and improvement to the ministry in which they are serving. Your feedback is invaluable.

As a Vestry member who is not a part of the children or youth ministries, why should I attend?
Faith formation is a community effort – it takes many folks to model the Christian life to young people. Members of the church set the example to children and youth on how to worship, how to live a Christ-like life, and how to serve Christ in others. As a member of the Vestry, your feedback is significant in moving the children and youth ministries forward in a sustainable model. As Christians, we are called to nurture faith in our young people. Investing your time in a listening group shows the care that members of the Vestry have for its children and youth. MA values the “outside” view that you can give.

What will the report look like?
The Assessment Report will start by reflecting back to the church what the MA team heard people saying about the children and youth ministries. We compare your church to norms across the country. We will point out the assets of the programs – the things to protect and keep. We will also share the challenges that we see – the things that are roadblocks to the ministries moving strategically forward. We then lay out a blueprint for how to strategically move the children and youth ministries from where they are now to where you want them to be. These recommendations include a detailed timeline laying out the process month by month.