We live in a changing world. Nothing has changed more in the last few decades than the structure of families. Many families and children cannot cope with these changes. If you want to help the children, you have to help the families of those children.

This course examines the Biblical and practical aspects of pastoral ministry to children and families. Biblical examples as well as contemporary models of pastoral work will be explored.

The emphasis will be on the role the Children's pastor and leader has in promoting pastoral, counseling, follow up and educational strategies and programs in order to promote the spiritual growth and well-being of children and families within the church. The course also looks at different family types present in contemporary society and what issues arise and how the children's pastor can best help them.

Most or all of the following topics will be addressed:

• The role of the Children's and Family Pastor.
• Different models of pastoral care to children.
• Pastoral Leadership
• Pastoral leadership that facilitates spiritual growth in a children's congregation.
• Connecting with children and families.
• Leading and managing a team of workers.
• Getting the best out of both volunteer and paid workers.
• Working with families
• Different family types and being competent to help.
• Family dynamics.
• Social influences that affect children, both inside and outside their family, including peer pressure and emotional abuse.
• Data Base: How to keep good records and produce helpful reports.
• Baby dedications, water baptisms and funerals
• Helping children and families in crisis.

COURSE OUTCOMES

This course examines the Biblical and practical aspects of pastoral ministry to children and families in order to equip those in pastoral ministry in particular those in ministry to families and/or children.

On successful completion of this module, the student will be able to:

• Define the role of the ‘Children‘s (and Family) Pastor'
  • Demonstrate an understanding of Biblical teaching concerning the pastor's qualifications and role.
  • Evaluate and critique different models of pastoral care to children.
  • Design a workable model of pastoral care in their own ministry.
• Provide Pastoral Leadership
  • Provide pastoral leadership that facilitates spiritual growth in a children's congregation.
  • Build rapport and ‘connect' with children and families.
  • Lead and manage a team of workers, both volunteer and paid.
• Work with families
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the unique spiritual needs of family and children.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of different family types and be competent to help.
  • Recognise how tensions in family can affect family dynamics and how each member deals with crisis.
  • Identify social influences that affect children, both inside and out side their family. These include the negative influences of peer pressure and emotional abuse.
• Use practical skills
  • Use a computer database of records that will help facilitate pastoral care within a children's ministry.
  • Conduct with a measure of competence the various kinds of services and ceremonies expected of a children's and family pastor. These include assisting with baby dedications, water baptisms and funerals.
• Deal with Children and Families in crisis
  • Be competent to deal with situations of violence and abuse within the family in particular where children are victims or are at risk.
  • Provide pastoral care to children and their families in grief.
  • Recognise children with serious emotional problems.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of their own pastoral limits and how to deal with situations that require more help than the children's pastor can provide and how to establish working relationships with heath and welfare professionals that can better meet the pastoral needs of children.

This week long (Monday am to Friday noon) course is hosted bt David Goodwin. David's the International Director of Kidsreach and is is a leading children's pastor who ministers in leaders seminars and conferences in different countries of the world - across many denominations - more about David here.

David has a passion to motivate your church and workers to see the importance of reaching children. If you want to save the world, you have to save the children.