They’re Here! Now What? Connecting School and ECM Families to Your Church, Cindi Holman

Presentation Description

They’re here! They’re coming! Now what?

In recent years, interest in private education has skyrocketed. Many of our Lutheran schools and early childhood ministries (ECMs) have welcomed a significant number of new families. Large numbers of these families have little or no connection to a church. What an opportunity this has provided for mission work in our own backyard!

However, connecting to these prospect families and then connecting them with the Word takes intensive effort. Without that effort, most of these families will be content to have a purely transactional relationship with your congregation. They give you money; you give their child a good education. They want nothing more. It will not cross these parents’ mind to consider having their household join your church. They do not see the benefit. Thus, the Word proclaimed to the children in the classroom is not echoed in the home.

In this presentation, we will discuss strategies that help build relationships with those prospect families, relationships that can lead to opportunities to share the gospel with both the children and their parents. This is our goal: “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD” (Psalm 78:4).

This presentation is for any congregation that has or is considering an elementary school or early childhood ministry. These strategies have roles for everyone in congregational leadership: pastors, principals, ECM directors, church leaders, teachers, and supportive church members.

Speaker Bio

Cindi Holman

Cindi Holman serves as the WELS National Coordinator for Early Childhood Ministries. Her role includes supporting and encouraging congregations who have or are considering an early childhood ministry and those who serve in them. Cindi has a masters degree in early childhood education and a passion for young children and for helping schools and early childhood ministries share the gospel. One of her favorite responsibilities is assisting with the Telling the Next Generation: Utilizing Our Schools for Outreach workshops.