Do you have kids who are dropping off due to sports?
Here are three ideas for engaging with those kids even if they aren't attending church / Awana:
1. Ask for a schedule and try to attend games / practices.
If they are in Awana, encourage them to bring their handbook and you can listen to their verse before warm-ups start. Showing up to these activities shows these kids how much they matter to you. If you can't be there in person, set up a time (with the parents!) to chat over Facetime or Zoom so they can recite verses, discuss the lesson, and pray for them. There are so many ways to stay in communication with families, and a 5-10 minute chat can make a meaningful difference in the discipleship of that child.
2. Bring them FOOD!
You appreciate adults with a paycheck, you appreciate kids with food! Ask the family if you can provide a meal for them one evening and bring it to their home or the athletic venue where they are that night. These families are busy running from one place to the next, so not worrying about a meal could be a huge blessing. Another idea is to find out where they like to eat and provide a gift card.
3. Let them know you are praying for them and ask for prayer requests.
Stay in touch with kids, even if you aren't seeing them regularly. Make sure you're still inviting them to your spring events at the church. Sometimes games / practices get rained out, and if families know what you have going on, they might be able to make it. But even if they don't, reaching out still communicates that they matter and are missed. You can also ask them if they have had an opportunity to share their faith with teammates. They may not see their sports team as an evangelism opportunity, but if we provide help and encouragement, they can be a witness to the kids on their teams!
Here are three ideas for engaging with those kids even if they aren't attending church / Awana:
1. Ask for a schedule and try to attend games / practices.
If they are in Awana, encourage them to bring their handbook and you can listen to their verse before warm-ups start. Showing up to these activities shows these kids how much they matter to you. If you can't be there in person, set up a time (with the parents!) to chat over Facetime or Zoom so they can recite verses, discuss the lesson, and pray for them. There are so many ways to stay in communication with families, and a 5-10 minute chat can make a meaningful difference in the discipleship of that child.
2. Bring them FOOD!
You appreciate adults with a paycheck, you appreciate kids with food! Ask the family if you can provide a meal for them one evening and bring it to their home or the athletic venue where they are that night. These families are busy running from one place to the next, so not worrying about a meal could be a huge blessing. Another idea is to find out where they like to eat and provide a gift card.
3. Let them know you are praying for them and ask for prayer requests.
Stay in touch with kids, even if you aren't seeing them regularly. Make sure you're still inviting them to your spring events at the church. Sometimes games / practices get rained out, and if families know what you have going on, they might be able to make it. But even if they don't, reaching out still communicates that they matter and are missed. You can also ask them if they have had an opportunity to share their faith with teammates. They may not see their sports team as an evangelism opportunity, but if we provide help and encouragement, they can be a witness to the kids on their teams!
The Formational Home Event Kit provides everything you need for a four-week small group event in which parents will gain insight and tools to help them develop confidence in discipling their children. This would be an excellent Bible study or Sunday school class!
This kit is available as a digital download for only $99 at https://childdiscipleship.com/discipleship-event-kits/event-kits/.
It includes conversation guides, participant handouts, PowerPoint slides, and lots of hands-on activities to help any parent make at-home discipleship more attainable!
This kit is available as a digital download for only $99 at https://childdiscipleship.com/discipleship-event-kits/event-kits/.
It includes conversation guides, participant handouts, PowerPoint slides, and lots of hands-on activities to help any parent make at-home discipleship more attainable!
See a Winter 2025 Africa Schools update at https://www.awana.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/acsi-winter-2025.pdf