It’s hard to imagine a church without any children. But this is exactly the picture of many churches today, an unavoidable consequence of the pandemic.

As part of giving back to its loyal clients, Church Strengthening Ministry, Inc. (CSM Publishing) recently offered a free Children’s Ministry Consultation for churches. From June 22-24, 2022, around 87 participants from 46 churches visited and listened to CSM’s certified children’s ministry trainers.

“We need to look at our children as our next generation not only of church leaders, but of believers,” trainer Millie Espino said. “Hindi po daycare ang ating children’s ministry. If we do not take care and disciple our children, mamamatay ang church. Our pastors and leaders need to incorporate children into the vision and planning if the church is to survive and grow.”

Unfortunately, many churches are still unable to bring children back due to the uncertainty brought about by the pandemic. This, however, should not prevent churches and ministries from doing their mission. “If we can’t bring our kids to church, then let’s do what we can to bring the church to them,” trainer Sharon Alfonso said.

In many cases, though, there is a shortage not of kids, but of workers, most of whom are made to oversee a ministry that they love but have no idea how to manage. Many of the participants shared stories of trying their best to simply cope after the loss of workers and ministry heads either to employment, sickness, or death due to the pandemic. In response, the CSM trainers offered ways for these workers to be mentored, to receive training, or to look to other sources of help so that they can share the burden of the ministry.  

Other CSM trainers who participated in the three-day consultation are Pastor Buboy Espino, Liza Ocampo, Raquel Lomugdang, and Cheska Peñaflor. They discussed other issues related to children’s ministry such as finances, church involvement, classroom discipline, and qualifications of workers for ministry. At the end of each consultation session, the trainers prayed for and encouraged the participants to not give up and persevere for their kids.

Pastor Buboy summed up and challenged workers with his final encouragement: “Children’s ministry never stops. Hangga’t may bata, may children’s ministry.”

Need help, advice, inspiration, or encouragement for your children’s ministry?

Join the CSM Training Community (https://www.facebook.com/groups/csmtrainingcommunity) to learn from and be encouraged by fellow workers and CSM trainers.

Children’s Ministry Consultation Day 1 trainers in action, from top: Pastor Buboy Espino, Millie Espino, and Liza Ocampo.

Children’s Ministry Consultation Day 2 resource persons include, from top: Sharon Alfonso, Cheska Peñaflor, and Raquel Lomugdang.

CSM staff also helped meet the overflow of workers seeking consultation from the trainers’ sessions. Top picture, from right: CSM Editorial Manager Daffodil Dedel is supported by Training Assistant Cat Santos in advising the workers. Above: Pastor Mon Santos explains CSM curriculum materials to ministry workers on Day 3 of the consultations.

CSM Marketing Specialist Melou Resuena opens the consultation sessions with a briefing and overview of the event.

Top picture: Visitors and participants to the three-day consultation take advantage of the Salamat, Suki! sale to shop for affordable resources for their respective churches and ministries. Above: Training OIC Pastor Reuel Alfonso with two of the several churches that received free ministry materials from CSM.