Growing Younger: Welcoming Families into the Local ChurchFor many local churches the big question is ‘how can we attract families to our church?’ Nationally child attendance is in decline, and the average age of our congregations is rising. This book is the result not just of the author's own experience in ministry but of wide-ranging consultation all over the UK, and it includes many stories from churches which have found the key to growth. Drawing on his previous background in management consultancy, Roger Morgan identifies a number of simple steps that can be taken by any church wishing to grow younger. |
Contents
Introduction | 5 |
Safeguarding children | 12 |
Start from where you are | 13 |
Time for something new | 17 |
Listen | 19 |
Decide on a leader | 22 |
Form a core team | 27 |
A period of research and experimentation | 31 |
Launching the new programme | 74 |
All age services | 76 |
Sunday schools | 84 |
Outreach events for families | 88 |
Small groups for parents | 97 |
Social action projects | 100 |
Ministry to young adults without children | 103 |
Ministry to Dads | 107 |
Targeting | 34 |
Team meetings | 39 |
The new programme | 41 |
A proposal for the church council | 48 |
Times and places | 50 |
Identifying founder members | 60 |
Baptisms | 62 |
Church schools | 67 |
Primary schools which are not church schools | 72 |
Ministry to primary age children | 110 |
Ministry to secondary age children Years 69 | 112 |
Ministry to secondary age children Years 1013 | 116 |
Ministry to mothers of preschool children | 119 |
Ministry to mothers with primary age children | 123 |
How to renew the church community | 124 |
Useful books | 132 |
Common terms and phrases
advertise age group age service age worship Alpha course baptism become beginning Bible Cherhill choose Christian church community church council church leader church school commitment congregation Corby core team dads decided disciples of Jesus discipleship Droylsden enquiry group faith family ministry family service founder members friends God’s gospel Hampton Wick happen headteacher Hilperton invite involved join launch lead leadership learned Leicester listen lives Mark and Rebecca Mark’s church Messy Church ministry to families monthly mother and toddler numbers Oakington once opportunity outreach events parents parish pastoral team person pray prayer primary schools programme reach ReSource Roger Morgan share small groups social action project someone Somerset Spirit St Austell starting story Sunday school target group team meeting team members teenagers theme things toddler club unchurched vicar vision Warning week whole families worship event young adults