The document outlines effective strategies for ministry targeting children and families to enhance church growth. It emphasizes the importance of reaching out to the 5-12 age group, as they are most receptive to the gospel, and provides practical steps for selecting target populations, creating engagement activities, and extending invitations. The approach focuses on developing strong community ties, utilizing creative methods to attract and connect with families, and fostering a nurturing environment for spiritual development.

1. 1
“I missed the
entire ocean”
George Barna
DOUBLE THE FUTURE!
6 Simple Saint-Making Success Strategies
JOE NOLAND
>
The Salvation Army, Camp Homelani, North Shore, Oahu

2. THINK DOUBLY BIG!
Our fi rst two appointments were corps (church) plants, having been thrust
into these communities with nary a clue on how or where to begin. This was
pre-Church Growth Movement days, no books, tapes, seminars or Fuller
church growth guru types pointing the way. We were flying by the seat of our
pants.
Where to begin? Find a storefront in town (minimal parking), spruce it up,
tack a big sign on the building and place a creative ad on the church page of
the local newspaper. Not! We did and nobody came. Panic! What now?
I’d heard about a Nazarene Minister who claimed he could double your
Sunday School in a week. We called. He came. “Focus on the children,” he
said. We did. “Location, Location, Location!” He said.
We found a Middle-School auditorium on one side of town (ours on
weekends for a $50 janitorial fee) and a Community Center on the other side,
ours whenever we wanted it - two congregations instead of one. This before
anyone had thought of using borrowed or rented public facilities; we had our
pick of the lot - parking galore.

3. “Think big,” he said. We did, shooting for 300 in attendance on the following
Sunday. “Visit, visit, visit!” he prompted. Did we ever, handing out invitation
flyers aimed at the children living in those homes. We knocked until we
dropped, literally. “Work, work, work!” he admonished.
He taught, and out of that teaching came an outreach acrostic that we have
modeled and retaught throughout the years, passionately:
•Selection: Select the population (TARGET) / 6
•Attention: Get their attention (HOOK) / 10
•Invitation: Give the invitation (COMPEL) / 15
•Need: Meet their need (LOVE) / 21
•Tenacity: Follow up (PERSIST) / 26
•Saturate: (PERCENTAGES) / 29

4. We have followed this plan consistently, adapting where necessary to each
situation and community, with attendances on those Sundays ranging
anywhere from 300 to 1000. Out of those fi rst-time Sunday visitors, a
percentage became the core of our corps (congregation), including parents,
siblings, friends and relatives, and it all began by fi rst reaching out to the
children.
Listen to what George Barna had to say in his book, Transforming Children
into Spiritual Champions:
I didn’t just miss the boat, I missed the entire ocean! If the family is central to a
healthy society and a strong church, shouldn’t we invest our resources
predominantly in the adults who lead those units?
He (God) changed my mind… I’d been seduced into believing the great myth of
modern ministry: Adults are where the Kingdom action is… Upon reprioritizing
ministry to children, my perspective on ministry in its entirety has been
revolutionized.

5. This group (children in the 5-to 12-year old age range), some 31 million strong,
represents nearly half of the under-18-year-olds in the country… it is during
these crucial eight years that lifelong habits, values, beliefs and attitudes are
formed.
We discovered that the probability of someone embracing Jesus as his or her
Savior was 32 percent for those between the ages of 5 and 12; 4 percent for those
in the 13 to 18-age range; and 6 percent for people 19 or older.
Every year, tens of thousands of parents are brought to faith in Christ because
one of their children was so changed by his or her own relationship with the
Lord that the parent could not ignore the power of Christ any longer… peer
evangelism… is one of the most prolific and effective means of evangelism…
Among those who have children in tow, the largest share who get involved in
congregational life select their church because of the quality of the children’s
ministry.
Wow! It can’t be said any clearer than this. If you want to attract the entire
family, begin with their children. In other words, to think big you must first...
Think Smaller
Click Here

6. THINK SELECTION
(The Target Population)
1
Least Likely
Before we can do children’s ministry we must first find the children. Outreach
is an art form in and of itself. It is my contention that The Salvation Army was
raised up, in part, to reach children-at-risk, those living on the edge. And we
should continue to lead the way in this realm.
Think about it. Who did Jesus select as his target audience? He reached out to
the “least likely,” didn’t he? And in the most least likely of places!
‘Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of
the tracks. (Luke 14:13 TM).
‘What kind of example is this from your teacher, acting cozy with crooks and
riffraff?’ (Matthew 9:11) ‘I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders,’ said
Jesus. (Matthew 9:13)

7. Matthew Henry in his commentary on these verses writes:
“Many times the gospel has the greatest success among those that are least
likely to have the benefit of it, and whose submission to it was least expected.
The publicans and harlots went into the kingdom of God before the scribes
and Pharisees; so the last shall be fi rst, and the fi rst last. Let us not be
confident concerning those that are most forward, nor despair of those that
are least promising.”
God’s Pocket
Kake is a small fishing village in Southeast Alaska with a strong Salvation
Army presence. Fishing is their livelihood, and when the fish are scarce the
villagers turn their boats toward “God’s Pocket,” named for a body of water
close by where the catch is always plentiful. In essence, when necessary, they
cast their nets “on the other side of the boat.”
The time for, “when necessary,” has come. Statistically speaking, we’re casting
our nets on the wrong side of the boat. Jesus is telling us, in this parable, to
find God’s Pocket within our communities and cast our nets there. “Invite
some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the
tracks.”

8. Because of George Barna’s research and surveys, we now know that children
are most receptive to the gospel. It was during that “crucial eight year” period,
when at 9-years of age, I was invited to Sunday School at The Salvation Army
by neighbor kids who lived down the street. It was there that I became an
important statistic – one of the 32 percent, along with my brothers, sister,
cousins, mother and dozens of friends. Since then two succeeding generations
have now been added to the statistical Book of Life (Saint-making), including
an unknown number directly and indirectly influenced otherwise.
Think of this age group (5-12) as one of God’s most prolific and productive
pockets. Target this age group and your “catch” numbers will soar. Target this
age group in “at risk” neighborhoods—“misfits from the other side of the
tracks”—and the “catch” percentages will soar even higher. And you will do
your part in shaping the future for God and His church.
When you think about God’s pocket, think about low-income neighborhoods,
housing projects, children who are frequenting our daycare centers, youth
centers, social service programs, hospitality houses, day camps, and summer
camps. These pockets are often overlooked. In other words, don’t wait for
them to come to you; take the Gospel to where they already are.

9. Location, Location, Location!
Tips for establishing Children’s Pocket Ministry locations in your community:
√ Drive your neighborhoods when children are at play.
√ On a map, target those locations that fit your “pocket” parameters
√ Pinpoint facilities that might be available for use one afternoon a week, i.e.
schools, community centers, churches, lodges, homes, etc. You’d be surprised!
Another denomination once let us use space in their church for a mid-week
Sunday School. In one community a Salvation Army Thrift Store was used on
Sunday afternoons for Club 3:16 (not opened on Sundays). Ever think about
McDonalds as a perfect space? Let the imagination soar.
√ Read succeeding chapters for tips on where to go from here.
Prayer: “Lord, help me to see the ‘least likely’ of faces and places
in my community.

10. THINK ATTENTION
(Set the Hook)
2
Jesus said, “Compel them to come” (Luke 14:23 NIV). iDictionary offers this
definition: “Compelling: evoking interest, or admiration in a powerfully,
irresistible way.” Do whatever it takes to get their attention. Find the ‘hook’
that will attract them. We need to think of ways that will make our children’s
ministries powerfully irresistible! We’re facing fierce competition out there.
After deciding upon a location(s), it’s now time to get their attention. What
will compel the children to want to get involved? And how do we reach them
in a way that is captivating? We have found that a well-designed flyer, with an
irresistible hook, works every time.
Creating the Hook
Following is a sampling of “hooks” that have worked for us. These are shared
to whet the appetite. Let your imagination take over from here. Google the
Internet and you will find a Cyberspace full of innovative ideas.

11. √ Lucky Number, Lucky Seat and Lucky Penny Day, or any variation
thereof, is guaranteed to evoke interest. Design the flyer accordingly. Select
the numbers, seats and penny dates in advance, with a prize for those
selected. Be generous.
√ Be An Artist Day. Create a flyer with a Bible character on it. Ask them to
color the drawing, artistically, and bring it for judging. Let the children select
the winners, but everyone gets a prize. The Bible Story will also be the
theme of your program. Go to:
http://www.free-coloring-pages.com/bible.html. Here you will find 100
free printable Bible Coloring pages.
√ Connect the Dots Day. Select a Bible story and create numbered dots
around the drawing for them to connect. For example, go to:
http://puzzles.about.com/od/familyfun/a/KidsBible_4.htm. Here you will
find a host of “connect the dot” Bible designs. Again, reward them all.

12. √ Ronald McDonald Day. Th is was one of our most popular hooks.
McDonald’s is happy to make Ronald available to you because it’s good
publicity for them. They will even give you free gift certificates to pass out.
Think of other costumed characters you might invite. The possibilities are
limitless.
√ Contests will work wonders. A “Bible Bucks Contest” worked best for us.
Give the child so many bucks for bringing a new person, attendance, double
Bible Buck days, etc. At the end of a 10-week period, have a Bible Buck’s
Auction or Carnival where they can spend their bucks. Following is a free
template for creating your own unique bucks:
http://www.kidsmoneyfarm.com/biblebucks-2.htm
Bible Detective is another variation of this contest:
http://www.kidssundayschool.com/Gradeschool/Activities/
BibleDetective/1activity26.php
√ Build each program around a theme and then creatively decide upon the
“hook” for that day. Let the imagination flow.

13. Delivering the Hook
The hook has been selected and the flyer created. Now, how do you get it out
to the children in a selected location? The following is a sampling of ideas. Let
your imagination run.
√ Use children who live in that community to help deliver the flyers door-to-
door and distribute to their friends. They love to do this, especially if there is
a treat awaiting them at the fi nish. Friend or peer evangelism is the most
productive of strategies. A “Bring your Friend’s Day” theme will prove
extremely productive.
√ Find where children and their parents are congregating, a playground, park,
McDonald’s or other similar location. Give them a flyer, along with a verbal
invitation. Believe me, they will be responsive. Free babysitting, are you
kidding?
√ I know of one ministry that waited at school bus drop off stops, with flyers
in hand. In this instance they offered tutoring help with homework, followed
by games and a Bible Story. When they arrived back at the corps (church)
building, the phone was ringing off the hook. Free tutoring, are you kidding!

14. To my mind, Google is the 8th Wonder of the World. And to think that we
were doing this before the Internet even existed. In a way it’s pretty
miraculous. Who needs imagination any more; someone, somewhere has
already thought it up. Take full advantage of the unlimited resources out there.
“Get Their Attention!” and your children’s ministries will prosper.
Prayer: Lord, free up our imagination in order to make your
Gospel compelling!

15. THINK INVITATION!
3
(Make Contact)
Boldly and broadly extend the invitation. Notice that Jesus couples the
invitation with the inducement (meal). This is the hook in His parable; it is
the attention getter. These people are hungry. His parable doesn’t instruct
them to hang out a sign or to send out fancy invitations. It instructs them to
go out into the city streets, alleys and country roads. Go! “Visit.” Compel.
Induce. Invite. Create a buzz!
“Invite: to offer an incentive or inducement, to increase the likelihood of, to
urge politely” – Webster’s Dictionary.
Evangelism is a contact sport
A well-designed flyer left in a screen door is better than nothing; a flyer
coupled with a polite, personal invitation (emphasizing the inducement)
increases the odds of acceptance a-hundred-fold.

16. It’s a long story, but when our boys were young we inherited a Basset Hound,
Geraldine. They loved that droopy, sad-eyed dog, jumping on her mercilessly,
and pulling her ears ruthlessly as she lay there supinely, or perhaps stupidly, as
I was so inclined to believe.
One day we returned home and the wind had blown the gate wide open.
Geraldine was gone. The boys wailed and Doris cried, whilst I grinned ear-to-
ear. (Inwardly!) My prayers were answered. But, to keep peace in the family,
something had to be done.
I called the local newspaper and ran an ad in the Classifieds that read,
“Geraldine, come home!” From there it was into the basement where I built a
doghouse, painted it white with red trim, the name “Geraldine” lettered above
its door. I placed it out in the front yard, went upstairs, sat in my easy chair,
TV clicker in hand, and waited for Geraldine to come sauntering home.
Yeah, sure! Not! We had attractive flyers made, announcing a reward with a
picture of Geraldine predominantly displayed thereupon. Then we distributed
them broadly, boldly and personally.

17. out into the highways and byways, ringing doorbells, talking to everyone we
could find, the postman, and newspaper delivery boy, those waiting at the bus
stop, the whosoever, creating a buzz.
The following day there was a knock at our door. On the other side was a
petite little girl, flyer in hand. She asked, “Did you lose your dog?” “Yes,” we
answered. “I think I have her,” she pouted. “Where do you live,” I asked.
“Right across the street,” she said, pointing. Geraldine was lost and now is
found, the Noland clan rejoicing happily (Save one)!
Extend the Invitation
What is the moral of this little happy-ending story? Create a buzz. Extend the
invitation broadly, boldly, personally, compellingly and the lost will be found.
Lost and Found!

18. √ Broadly: Plan for the invitation to go out far and
wide. Focus on the children, fi rst, and parents,
relatives and friends will be influenced by the
influence. In other words, provide a positive
experience for the children, and the result will be
telegraphed far and wide.
√ Boldly: Give the invitation confidently, knowing
that you are the messenger; God is the Message! He
is extending the invitation through you: “Now to
Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of
His] power that is at work within us, is able to
[carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly,
far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think
[infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires,
thoughts, hopes, or dreams]” (Amplified Bible).

19. √ Personally. Where possible, the invitation must
be extended personally. The hesitation comes
because we fear rejection. Th is is the beauty of
focusing on the children, because they are less likely
to reject the invitation. For example, when
approaching parents for the first time they are likely
to be suspicious of your offering. That’s why it’s
important to extend the invitation with the children
present. Our experience has been that, if presented
properly, they will always respond something like
this: “Mommy, can we go? Please! Please! Mommy,
please let us go!” Once the hook is taken, and the
program right, it won’t be long before Mommy
answers the invitation as well.

20. √ Compellingly: With children, especially, the
initial inducement must be intentioned to get their
attention. Once they have experienced the power of
the Gospel in a loving, caring environment, this will
compellingly become the everlasting incentive.
Prayer: “Lord, embolden me to create a buzz by personally
extending the invitation broadly and compellingly!”
Create A Buzz!

21. THINK NEED
4
(Compassion In Action!)
For our purposes, need is broken down into 4 parts: physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual. Three are temporal; the fourth is eternal. In order to
get their attention, initially, we focus on the temporal by appealing to physical,
mental and emotional needs. Children want and need to be entertained,
especially in this fast-paced, visually oriented, digital age. The competition is
great out there and the church must be creative and inventive enough to keep
up with it, otherwise we will be left behind.
A Compelling Curriculum
An entertaining and compelling curriculum will attract and hold children
temporarily. Th is is necessary and represents a window of opportunity,
opening the way for things eternal.

22. There is no need today to purchase an expensive curriculum program, nor is
there a need to create your own, unless you are particularly gifted and driven
in that direction. Cyberspace is filled with every resource needed, expensively
created yet free for the using, by and large. And it is visually oriented.
I’m going to share here a couple of Internet resources that appeal to me, but
please do your own search. The first is:
http://ministry-to-children.com/
This site also has a page for searching other websites. On the Home page click
on “More” in the upper right hand corner, and then on “Sunday School
Lessons.” Scroll down to “Search Other Websites.” One example:
Another appealing site:
http://www.smileofachildtv.org/.

23. These may or may not be applicable in your part of the world, but the Internet
is full of imaginative resources that will meet your individual needs. Editing
each site before use is recommended.
First, we must appeal to their temporal needs, physically and mentally. And we
do this entertainingly with a variety of incentives and inducements.
More Important Than the Curriculum
Second, we must appeal to their emotional needs. Make them feel important.
Love them. The care (compassion) is more important than the curriculum.
The inducement gets their attention. The invitation gets them there. The
entertainment holds them there, temporarily. Love will keep them there.
I think of Mrs. McFadden, who was one of a number of Sunday School
teachers I had. She was not well educated and her teaching skills were
inherited from the dark ages. We would take turns around the circle reading
the portion of the lesson assigned. I knew that my turn was coming and
concentrated on making sure I had all the words right. I was as oblivious to
what the other kids were reading as they were to me when my turn came. As a
teacher, on a scale of 1 to 10, Mrs. McFadden was probably a 1. Her classes
were dull and boring.

24. But she was the finest Sunday School teacher I ever had. She made me feel
important. She took a personal interest in me. When I missed a Sunday,
there was a post card reminder in the mail followed by a telephone call and
finally a visit to my home. She prayed for me, and I knew it. She
remembered my birthday and other special occasions. She invited me to her
Oceanside home during one summer vacation. She knew how to make me
feel important and special. She went out of her way to take a special interest
in me when I needed it most. There were not many who did during those
days. I wouldn’t have put up with me. She cared and it came across loud and
clear!
A Thin Line
There is a thin line between compassion and eternity. God is love. Modeling
this love – Compassion in Action – transcends that line. If we meet their
spiritual need, they will last forever!

25. What did Jesus say? “You’ll be—and experience—a blessing. They won’t be
able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be
returned—at the resurrection of God’s people.’”
Prayer: Lord, teach me to emulate you in children’s ministry:
“Compassion in Action!”
Be A Blessing!

26. THINK TENACITY
5
(Persistence)
The evangelist in the parable said (and I paraphrase), “I went out and extended
the invitation just as you had commanded and there is still room.” Jesus said,
“Well, go out again. I want my house full. Keep going out until it is filled.”
Tenacious: “tending to hold fast” – “persistent in maintaining or adhering to
something valued as habitual.”
Follow Up Tenaciously
Two things are implied here. Keep going out and getting new converts. Follow
up on the converts you already have so that they will keep coming back.
Follow up tenaciously. Love tenaciously. Care tenaciously. Follow up! Follow
up!
Follow Up!

27. Again, there are multiple forces out there competing for the attention of our
children. David Myers, in his book, The American Paradox, writes: “All told,
television beams its electromagnetic waves into children’s eyeballs for more
growing-up hours than they spend in school. More hours, in fact, than they
spend in any other waking activity.” And this was written before the exploding
digital revolution.
The invitation must be creatively extended again and again until they are
hooked. For Sunday School, we visited every home on Saturdays with a “Last
Minute Reminder.” Th is reminder always included a creative, compelling
hook in order to get their attention again and again.
Today you will be better served doing children’s ministry after school, rather
than competing with the weekend entertainment industry, TV fare included.
Today you can also visit tenaciously from the comfort of your home through
Twitter, Facebook and text messaging (always secondary to personal contact,
however).

28. √ Follow up visit a day or two before the weekly
event. Children already in your program make good
visitors. Split into teams.
√ Personally plan to visit every home at least once a
month. This way, parents and other family members
get to know and trust you, many of them eventually
getting involved.
√ Leave them with a “Last Minute Reminder” flyer,
incentive (Hook) clearly communicated.
Prayer: Lord, help us open wide the gates of Heaven by
extending your invitation again and again!

29. THINK SATURATE
6
(Play the Percentages)
Jesus said (paraphrase) “Go anywhere, everywhere and collect all you can find
– saturate the city with invitations. The more invitations you give, the more
who will visit. The more who visit, the more who will bridge into the body.
The more you follow up, the higher the percentage of those who will stick. The
more who stick, the more His Kingdom will increase. The “Some” will be
joining us “at the resurrection of God’s people.” “I am all things to all men so
that by all means I might Save Some” (1 Cor. 9:22).
The invitation is extended to many. Out of the many, “some” will respond. The
more the “many,” the greater the response. Let’s play the percentages!
Prayer: Lord, help us saturate our communities by extending
your invitation again and again!

30. THINK “MORE!”
It Was More Than Programs
Junior Soldier (member) Jenna Gleason sums up the “Saints-making” process
in her “Welcome Speech” to new denominational leaders:
It is my privilege to represent the junior soldiers of the Western Territory in
welcoming you to the West as our new leaders, at the start of a most important
year—the Year for Children and Youth.
I was first acquainted with The Salvation Army about eight years ago through
summer day camp and then invited to join Sunbeams and singing company. I
enjoyed the activities, but it was more than the programs that kept me coming
back—it was the people in the Army, the youth leaders who reached out to me—
they accepted me, listened to me, encouraged me, and most of all they loved me.
Today kids are basically the same as we’ve always been, but there are more things
than ever before vying for our attention—more activities for us to do. It used to
be that young people came to The Salvation Army through Sunday school, but
statistics show Sunday school attendance is down. What can the Army do?

31. In a world of increasing technology, maybe it’s the human interest that’s
important. It was, after all, the humanity of Jesus, and his love, that brought
people to God over 2,000 years ago.
Jesus believed in children; the gospels report that he told those who would turn
children away to “let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for
the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14 NIV)
So, while we do need programs that will first grab our interest, what’s even more
important are the leaders who serve in these programs. Give us leaders who will
acknowledge us, listen to us, model for us and mentor us, encourage us, pray for
us, and empower and equip us to meet the challenges ahead, fully in the arms of
Jesus, surrounded and shielded by the light of God.
We need to feel the love of Jesus through our leaders. With this guidance, we will
be able to discover and realize God’s purpose for our lives. Thank you and God
bless you.

32. And Jenna’s mother, Karen, has been added to the Saint-making “some” total.
She is now editor of the denominational publication, New Frontier – “It won’t
be long before mommy answers the invitation as well.”
•Selection: Select the population (TARGET)
•Attention: Get their attention (HOOK)
•Invitation: Give the invitation (COMPEL)
•Need: Meet their need (LOVE)
•Tenacity: Follow up (PERSIST)
•Saturate: (PERCENTAGES)
Think 32%!(Just like the number of pages in this eBook)
32