Develop a Discipleship System
Children's Ministry and COVID-19
By Kevin Johnson
Children's ministry leaders, we are praying for you and the church you serve as we make our way through the difficulties of the COVID-19 virus outbreak. As you continue to monitor and make preparations for a response in your particular church context, remind the most vulnerable in your community to protect their health through effective communication. This includes the children. For example, you may want to announce the measures you have in place to protect the children of the church from infection as part of your Safe Sanctuary policy.
Our Michigan Conference of the UMC has published an excellent resource raising awareness in children's ministry areas in the life of the church. Here is a link to discover more about measures your church can take to protect children from infection:
Children’s Ministry and COVID-19
Rev. Kathy Pittenger is an ordained deacon who serves in the Michigan Conference of the UMC as Children's Initiatives Coordinator.
Finally, this is an opportunity for us to be the church for our communities. Be in prayer for those who are ill. Pray with the children for those that are sick. Extend Christian compassion and love to those who are experiencing illness. Lead your children and families and respond to the virus by demonstrating Christ-like care in all that you say and do.
Rev. Kevin Johnson is the Director, Children’s Ministries for Congregational Vitality & Intentional Discipleship at Discipleship Ministries. Kevin’s hero Fred Rogers suggests that we, “listen to the children, learn about them, learn from them. Think of the children first.” This quote defines Rev. Kev’s approach to ministry. Kevin, an ordained elder of the Kentucky Annual Conference, has over fifteen years of ministry experience in which he has thought of the children first. Prior to ministry, Kevin worked with children in the hospital setting and in group homes for emotionally and physically abused children.
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