Interesting question. We actually had a bit of this experience lately while my wife was on maternity leave from her job at our church and we visited several other churches. The most important things were community based, and I would say we would value a church that supports families of young children, but gives them opportunities to expose their kids to the needs of the community at large in a thoughtful manner over time. Those things are ultimately more important than the type of music or the style of preaching.
But what are the logistics? Do you call beforehand and ask questions? What questions? Do you hand off your children at the door to someone you never met?
Sorry for the slow response. Most churches should have a website that answers your questions. If a church has family integrated services that means the kids sit in the service with their parents, and if they don't provide something to keep kids occupied you might want to bring something, but often times they will have clipboards with activity sheets and crayons or pencils.
If a church has a children's ministry, most of them will be using a system like 'Planning Center' that keeps track of who belongs to who. There should be someone there to explain and walk you through the process, show you where your kids will be and who is watching them. Usually they take your name, phone number, and address, and print out name tags for your kids, with a unique code. You get a sticker with the same code to pick them up, and if you lose it they will ask for an ID to verify your identity. Sometimes this code will be displayed on the screens in the church if there is a problem and you need to come get your kid. Churches are supposed to do background checks on all volunteers who work with kids. Our church is fairly small (between 100-200 people) but we still use this system, and we have CCTV screens showing what's going on in the classrooms right outside the hallway that parents can check on.
Churches also usually have some security measures in place and if you are concerned about any issues they should be able to explain them to you.
If you aren't comfortable dropping your kids off at first, if you fill out a visitor card most churches will contact you at some point during the week to touch base and try to establish a relationship, and answer any questions you might have.
If a church is serious about making newcomers feel welcome and safe, they should have all those resources and info available to you quite readily. If not, I would try a different church.
You are a husband and father. What would it look like if your family decided to look for a new church as a husband and father?
Interesting question. We actually had a bit of this experience lately while my wife was on maternity leave from her job at our church and we visited several other churches. The most important things were community based, and I would say we would value a church that supports families of young children, but gives them opportunities to expose their kids to the needs of the community at large in a thoughtful manner over time. Those things are ultimately more important than the type of music or the style of preaching.
But what are the logistics? Do you call beforehand and ask questions? What questions? Do you hand off your children at the door to someone you never met?
Sorry for the slow response. Most churches should have a website that answers your questions. If a church has family integrated services that means the kids sit in the service with their parents, and if they don't provide something to keep kids occupied you might want to bring something, but often times they will have clipboards with activity sheets and crayons or pencils.
If a church has a children's ministry, most of them will be using a system like 'Planning Center' that keeps track of who belongs to who. There should be someone there to explain and walk you through the process, show you where your kids will be and who is watching them. Usually they take your name, phone number, and address, and print out name tags for your kids, with a unique code. You get a sticker with the same code to pick them up, and if you lose it they will ask for an ID to verify your identity. Sometimes this code will be displayed on the screens in the church if there is a problem and you need to come get your kid. Churches are supposed to do background checks on all volunteers who work with kids. Our church is fairly small (between 100-200 people) but we still use this system, and we have CCTV screens showing what's going on in the classrooms right outside the hallway that parents can check on.
Churches also usually have some security measures in place and if you are concerned about any issues they should be able to explain them to you.
If you aren't comfortable dropping your kids off at first, if you fill out a visitor card most churches will contact you at some point during the week to touch base and try to establish a relationship, and answer any questions you might have.
If a church is serious about making newcomers feel welcome and safe, they should have all those resources and info available to you quite readily. If not, I would try a different church.
Thank you sir. I didn't know churches had visitor cards.