This is part of a blog post from Perry Noble:

Here are three convictions I have about children’s ministry…

#1 – If you want to reach kids…then you’ve got to spend money on them.  It BLOWS me away that church world always seems to be scratching our heads and wondering why kids FLOCK to Disney (even the Baptist ones) but they don’t flock to church.  MAYBE it’s because Disney spends “squillions” of dollars on them…and many churches have more money in their graveyard fund than they do their children’s budget.  We will spend money on what is important…and I think children’s (and student) ministry is THE most important mission field in the church.

#2 – If you want to reach kids…they’ve got to have fun.  When I was growing up “fun” and “church” were never used in the same sentence; therefore, as soon as my mother died and I didn’t have to go to church anymore…I didn’t.  Kids are not growing closer to Jesus by being forced to sit and listen…or by coloring (with crayons provided by their parents).  They should want to come to church, should look forward to coming to church…and so we unapologetically go all out every week to make sure these kids have a GREAT time.

#3 – If you want to reach kids…they’ve got to learn something. I’ve told our children’s ministry that when parents come pick up their kids that they will ask two questions – the first will be “did you have fun,” and the second will be, “what did you learn?”  I think told our children’s team…make sure kids can answer both in a positive way…and THAT’S a win.  (BTW…a “WIN” is when the parents and the kids actually talk about what the child learned!  When parents and the church work together…its an awesome team!