PREPOSAL FOR THE SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND DISTRICT

OF THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

Southern New England District

Spiritual Formation
Network
Educate
Develop

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY NETWORK

S PIRITUAL FORMATION

Retreats:

 District Children’s Pastor Retreat

o The district does this each year. However, it tends to take a strong emphasis on
equipping and misses spiritual development and refreshing. We could do so
much more for the encouragement and refreshing of leaders.
o I suggest the spring 2009 retreat take place on the New Campus of Zion and we
network with the many ministries available for worship, media, faculty etc.

 Weekend Sabbaticals:
o I propose we emphasize the importance of the spiritual life of the children’s
pastor by providing some place where once a year ministers of children could go
for a weekend of reflection, prayer and renewal. Perhaps the campus at Zion or
some other alternative.

N ETWORK:

Our District:

 With the national office by sending representation to the national office for children’s
ministry.
 With our local Bible College more deliberately for training in modular classes, online courses
and short term development seminars.
 With our children ministers who are not all licensed or ordained but are contributing to the
development or our future as a movement.

Our Children Pastors and Workers:

 Within the Assemblies of God

o As a district similar to our adult structure with sectional and district leadership.
o As a Denomination With other sections and the national office.
o Pen-Del Sectional leadership that has just undergone the emphasis proposed.
 Outside of the Assemblies of God
o With organizations like the International Network of Children’s ministry and CPC.
 o Bethel Seminary in St. Paul MN who has a mentoring program for children’s pastors.
In the field and MA students in the Children and Family ministry tract.

Our Children:

 With sectional events.

o Kids Convention (Takes place during CMC convention)
o Summer camp.
o RR and Missionette events.
o PK Events.
o New Programs:

 Fun Arts: Institute a concept growing around the nation, Fun Arts, a fine
arts festival for children that recognizes, inspires and develops their talents
and gifts the same way Fine Arts Festival does for teens.

 Winter Camp: Consider a winter event that builds momentum and

excitement as a district.
 With national events.
o In connecting our children’s ministers sectionally and as a district we gain the ability
to increase greater exposure and opportunity for national event participation.

E DUCATE:

Our Senior Pastors:

o Through an online resource with articles and blogs

o What is available for their children workers development
o What is the part they can play in placing ministry and educating our children in the
local church?
o Resourcing to Pastors:
o Offering resources such as how to interview a children’s worker, evaluation
of the current programming and suggestions for transformation.
o Partnering with the hiring of new children pastors through the network of
SNED, Zion and the A.G.
o Dialog with what our needs are in children’s ministry as a district and
nation.

o Grant this department a platform at district counsel to educate Senior Pastors on

what is available to their children ministry department but also inform them of the
crucial value of children’s ministry as it relates to shaping the future of the church
today.
Our Current children Pastors and Volunteers:

o Ongoing training in the filed

o Life Learning Courses: Ongoing education not only in children’s ministry but
biblical literacy and spiritual formation as well.
o Modular courses: College credit and life learning courses offered to the
public in the SNED Network.
o CMC: Offering a children and family ministry tract at the CMC so all
churches
o C.P.R. Retreats
o Sectional training sessions.
o National Children’s Pastors Convention

o Long term training towards full time ministry:

o Zion Bible College: Offer Modular and eventually online courses for SNED
Workers seeking development or even possible degree pursuits.
o Valley Forge: Children’s Ministry University.

D EVELOP:

Cycle of Training and Spiritual development:

 Through sectional, district and national events proposed.

 Other ideas yet to be considered.

Strategic planning for family ministry in SNED:

 Develop a small committee of core, qualified and interested people in the field in
partnership with the district superintendent and their leadership.
 United outreach projects as a district in areas children’s ministry is crucial or needed
such as church plants.

Sectional & District leadership representation:

 Grant a platform of representation on the sectional level to keep sectional pastors

updated and growing in awareness of what we are doing.
 Grant a platform at district council to keep sectional pastors updated and growing in
awareness of what we are doing.
 Appoint sectional leaders (Or initially state wide leaders) who report to a sectional rep.
sharing the work and expanding the sphere of influence.

Future Ministers from current church volunteers

 Offering a partnership with Zion through modular and eventually online courses that
could progress into a degree program, or at least college credit.
 Increase the recognition of ministry to children by the Senior Pastors and encouraging
their workers toward licensing and ordination since they acknowledge children’s
ministry as a legitimate calling.