Children's Ministries
This end-of-term report outlines the vision, key priorities, initiatives and outcomes of Children’s Ministries within the British Union Conference for 2021-2026. It covers developments in curriculum, leadership training, spirituality, evangelism, mental health support, resourcing and local church engagement, set within the wider context of family discipleship and the Church’s mission. The report also reflects on challenges encountered, particularly those impacting family worship and children’s wellbeing, and sets strategic priorities for the next five years to transition from activity-based to outcome-focused ministry, affirming parents’ roles and empowering leaders and children.
Children’s Sabbath School
Children’s Sabbath School is transitioning from the GraceLink Curriculum to Alive in Jesus through a phased roll-out from 2025 to 2028. While GraceLink has served the church well for 25 years, Alive in Jesus offers enhanced teaching and resourcing. Training has shifted from GraceLink to Alive in Jesus, which equips parents, caregivers, teachers and leaders to nurture their own spiritual growth while fostering children’s relationship with Jesus.
Children’s Spirituality
According to the Global Church Membership Survey (a comparative analysis of 2018 and 2023 family worship practices across the world church), fewer children are growing up in homes where family worship is a regular occurrence. The General Conference initiative, ‘Back to the Altar’, seeks to reverse this trend by intentionally seekingto restore personal and family worship as the primary context for spiritual formation. Our department has promoted the initiative, provided training, and signposted resources.
In line with the BUC strategic goal to involve Adventist members in daily Bible study, BUC Family Ministries and Children’s Ministries have created a resource to help families experience consistent, biblically based, creative, relevant and age-appropriate family worship. The Family Circle worship guides are designed to be tools to assist parents and guardians in leading interactive, relational worship with their children.
Seminars and workshops have been held across the Union, providing a rationale for family worship based on the Bible and Ellen White’s counsel.
Children’s Ministries Leadership Training
Throughout the quinquennium, this department has supported Children’s Ministries leaders by delivering in-person and online training in foundational areas of ministry to children, focusing on such subjects as bullying prevention; growing a vision for Children’s Ministries; nurturing Christian values in children; involving children in ministry and service; leading the hearts of children; loving with limits; family worship; raising children in a digital world; raising emotionally healthy children; self-worth and self-respect; storytelling; suicide prevention for teens and youth; and the spiritual child.
Evangelism to and by Children
Barna Group research indicates that ministry to children is the most effective form of evangelism we can engage in. Recognising parenting as a form of evangelism, the Children’s Ministries Department has sought to affirm and strengthen families as the primary discipling unit for our children.
In addition to the Alive in Jesus curriculum, which not only fosters spiritual growth, but also encourages children to share their faith, the Children’s Ministries Department has provided training and promoted and signposted a number of initiatives and resources to equip children to do so.
Downloadable resources were also made available for running holiday Bible schools. These initiatives have long been an effective way to combine spiritual instruction and wholesome entertainment that not only caters for Adventist children, but is an excellent way to introduce children of no faith to the Gospel.
Children’s Mental Health
A growing body of research indicates that we are in the midst of a global mental health crisis in which a staggering one in five of the world’s children and adolescents has a mental health condition. Emphasis in training and programming has been placed on raising awareness, creating emotionally safe environments for children, and integrating social and emotional learning within Bible-based teaching and activities.
Resources
The Children’s Ministries pages on the BUC website have been utilised to provide a variety of downloadable resources to support local church leaders.
The January 10 Days of Prayer initiative and the November Week of Prayer both offer opportunities for children to participate in activities alongside the adult programme. GC resources for these programmes were distributed and signposted.
Supporting Local Congregations/Initiatives
It has been a great privilege to minister in our local churches. Through sermons, seminars, workshops and weekend retreats we have communicated the goals of the Children’s Ministries Department and provided information to support the development of healthy relationships.
The annual Christian Home and Marriage Week and the Family Togetherness Week have provided opportunities to spend extended periods working with local churches and to address relational themes. These series of meetings have been designed to be accessible both to Christians and those with no faith experience, providing an ‘entering wedge’ for the Gospel.
Moving Forwards
Building on strong resource provision, Children’s Ministries will prioritise measuring impact through simple evaluation tools and clear indicators, enabling a shift from activity-based reporting to outcome-focused leadership that strengthens accountability, credibility and strategic direction.
Children’s Ministries will affirm parents as primary disciplers through a clearly defined pathway, integrated initiatives and cross-departmental collaboration, helping families move from awareness to sustained, life-shaping faith practice.
Over the next five years, Children’s Ministries will adopt a proactive, trauma-informed approach to mental health. Priorities include building resilience, improving leader training, and establishing deeper partnerships to ensure children’s sustained wellbeing and recovery.
To strengthen child-led evangelism, Children’s Ministries will assist leaders in facilitating spiritual gift discovery and nurture, developing visible mission opportunities, and introducing simple service projects. These actions will affirm children as active participants in God’s mission.
Strengthening communication over the next five years will mean moving beyond resource distribution to clearer vision sharing, annual impact summaries and regular family testimonies, increasing visibility and trust while helping churches engage more confidently with Children’s Ministries priorities across the quinquennium.
Building on strong digital communication, Children’s Ministries will intentionally develop digital discipleship through purposeful use of targeted platforms, interactive resources and pathway-aligned planning. This approach will foster deeper engagement, greater clarity and more formative impact, moving beyond passive content consumption.
Appreciation
I am grateful to all my colleagues in the conferences and missions for the support we have given each other. I also pay tribute to all the local volunteer leaders who have given their time and energy to support families.
The department has benefited from the professionalism, expertise and commitment of our administrative assistants, Abigail Wright-Stephenson and Kathleen Hanson.
Thanks be to God for the opportunity to be a co-worker with Him in the work of supporting families.