Elevator Speech

Here's an interesting question from Kay Williams. How would you answer it?

"I have to come up with a brief, but loaded statement about children's ministry. The challenge is to pretend you just stepped on an elevator with someone and they ask you about your children's ministry, what would you say by the time you get to your floor, that would entice them to get involved?"

Comments

[Chris Yount Jones]

No takers yet? It is tough! Here's what I emailed to Kay...

Whoa! This is a huge challenge!

I think I would tell a specific story about a child and how an adult had made a difference in that child's life. Then follow up with that's not even unique in our ministry. That's happening all the time that men and women are impacting children in simple ways so they'll follow Jesus for a lifetime.

I read an article that people are "giving fatigued"...they don't respond to stats and generalities, but more to specific children and specific stories.

Hope that helps!

Let me know what you come up with!

[Glen Alan Woods]

Christine,

I think you are on to something very important. People relate to personal narrative. They do not relate as easily to stats or mission statements.

So, in my situation, I would say something like, "Hey did you hear that we are developing relationships with several families from the apartment complex across the street, all of whom do not attend church? It's so cool. The children and their parents come running out every Wednesday evening when I arrive to gather the kids. Lots of languages. Lots of cultures. Lots of smiles as we build mutual trust. Two of the children are in a Muslim home so their Mom won't let them come. But they ask questions anyway every time I arrive. Also, some of the parents are asking whether they can come to worship too! Wouldn't you like to be a part of that?"

[Chris Yount Jones]

Glen,
I would definitely sign up! Your narrative gave me goosebumps!

I think the other thing that telling these stories does is it focuses on a fullness instead of "what's missing." I've heard that men, especially, want to join a winning team (ala fullness and celebration) rather than a losing team (ala whining and "we need help.")
Love it!
Chris

[Lisa Burney]

This sounds like a sales pitch exercise I did when I was in Real Estate marketing. The challenge was to grab your prospect's attention by describing your service in less than 30 seconds. It is a powerful way to get someone's attention as well as help you clarify and articulate the ministry vision and goals. I think this exercise would be very helpful for my directors.

[Jason Pauli]

I'd ask them if I could treat them to lunch sometime soon to talk about it.

[Henry Zonio]

Yes, personal narrative... and I would add to that a good dash of vision casting. I always get asked what we're teaching the kids, and until this past weekend, I really didn't have a "pat answer" for that that I could give to all my volunteers. I do now!

Anyway, if I were in an elevator and had someone ask me about our CM and I was going to try and get them involved, it'd go something like this:

"At Redwood Kids we want kids to connect with the God of the universe and have a dynamic relationship with him. We do that by teaching kids about who God is, how much he loves them, how they can best follow him to have the best life ever, and how they can change the world around them as they follow God. We're inviting kids to be a part of the best adventure out there. We have amazing volunteers who connect with the kids from week to week in the nursery all the way through grade 6. Kids are so excited to come back from week to week. One parent told me how there was this time when her children had been puking all night but they still wanted to come to church the following morning! They were really bummed they couldn't. I hear stories like that all the time! We have an amazing opportunity at these ages to be a part of influencing the lives of children to commit their lives to Christ so that they can change the world around them and keep on doing it as they journey through life and into adulthood. We'd love to have you be a part of that. We've got opportunities all over the place: working directly with children or being behind the scenes and helping us get ready from week to week. If you're interested let's talk some more. What's your number? Can we meet for lunch? When would be good to talk?"

Oh yeah, in addition to narrative and vision casting... there does need to be a huge dose of passion!

[Chris Yount Jones]

Wow! All great ideas!

And I agree...without passion and follow-up, it doesn't matter what we say! (and a good dose of prayer!)

[Larry Shallenberger]

Jason would take them to Moe's Southwest Grill, where he is spotted on a daily basis.

;)

[Adam]

I'd ask the person in the elevator what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Then I'd tell them that my job, for every kid in Faith Kids, is to make that happen.

(People forget that God calls people at a pretty young age...and we lose sight of what God's plan is along the way. How many people do you know who's childhood dreams of becoming a teacher, a doctor, a singer, are never realized???)

[Dot Norman]

I was just surfing through the CM blogs, looking for some ideas, seeing what ministry leaders are up to. Wow! Thank you.. all for the comments, the narratives.. what an inspiration you have been to me.Our KidZone cm in a little southeastern Ohio town will benefit from this.
Thank you for loving kids for Jesus!

[Chris Yount Jones]

Dot,
As someone from a little town in Oklahoma, that blesses my heart! I love the little church!
Chris