Children's Ministry Essentials 8: Contexts of mission and ministry with children

About this course

Nothing happens in isolation and the children you are engaged with are already part of a community simply because they live where they live. It might be a tightly knit, thriving community, or it might be a fragmented struggling community. The children might be happily engaged in all sorts of extra-curricular activities, or they might be looking for something to do other than hang around in the park or stare at screens. This module encourages you to think about the wider context of your mission and ministry, and the impact this context has on the children you are working with. Time is given to thinking about how you can work better with organisations in your neighbourhood, and ‘join up’ engagement in school with the church and home context. The module is part of the Children's Ministry Essentials programme, read more below.

About Children's Ministry Essentials

Children's Ministry Essentials logo. Text in purple reads 'Children's Ministry Essentials' in the top left quadrant. The top right quadrant is shaped like a speech bubble and the outline is both yellow and purple. The bottom two quadrants have yellow outline of rounded-edged squares. The bottom right quadrant has the Children's Ministry Network logo within the yellow outline.'Contexts of mission and ministry with children' is the eighth of 10 modules of learning offered by Children's Ministry Network as part of their 'Children's Ministry Essentials' programme. You can take this course as a stand-alone module or as part of the whole programme. If you're ready to begin this as a stand-alone module, sign up by clicking the 'enrol' button on this page and make payment securely online. If you're wanting to sign up for all 10 modules, please go to the programme page to buy all ten modules as a package at a discounted price find out more on the 'programme' page. Some members churches and organisations of the Children's Ministry Network may be offering 'facilitated delivery' in groups, please see the organisation's marketing for information about it. Whether you're going to be taking Children's Ministry Essentials online at your own pace or as part of a facilitated group you'll need to purchase your access to the materials through TheologyX.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I take this course?

You can take this course in two ways
  1. Online self-paced on TheologyX
  2. In person/online through a facilitated delivery

Can I start this today?

Enrolment opens on 1st October 2024, from this date you'll be able to sign up for this module and begin your engagement at any time after 6th January 2025 as the official launch date. As the online self-paced option allows you to learn at your own pace, you can work through all the material in one sitting, or engage over a period of time that works for you. TheologyX will save your progress and when you return to it, TheologyX will return you to the last place you viewed in the course.

Is 'online self-paced' or 'in person facilitated delivery' better?

However you take this course you'll engage with great learning to help you understand the contexts of mission and ministry with children better. Children's Ministry Network and its member organisations and denominations offers two ways to engage because people enjoy learning in different ways. Some people love learning online with a freedom of engaging with material at their own pace and at a time that works for them. Others may enjoy learning as part of a group and having a dedicated time to attend a session. One might be 'better' for you, but you'll get the same great teaching whichever you choose.

When can I take this course?

Children's Ministry Network offers 'contexts of mission and ministry with children' as a self-paced course for you to take at anytime. Once you have clicked the 'enrol' button and paid for the course you'll immediately be able to begin learning by locating the course listed on your 'dashboard'.

Can I take this course with a facilitator guiding me through it?

The member organisations and denominations of Children's Ministry Network may run facilitated sessions for the whole of 'Children's Ministry Essentials'. Get in touch with your organisation to enquire about how you could be part of the next facilitated delivery.

What is 'facilitated delivery'?

Facilitated delivery means that you will join a group of other participants to specifically journey through the 'Children's Ministry Essentials' programme of courses or 'modules' and a leader(s) will lead you through the material. This may be offered via a video conference platform such as 'Zoom' or it may be delivered in a physical venue such as a church meeting room. You will still use TheologyX to log your learning and find your resources for the sessions but you will be guided through it by a person.

Will I have other participants to engage with if I take the course online self-paced?

Mostly you will be able to reflect and engage with the learning on your own. You may find some discussion forums or the option to share your responses and read those of others in exchange as you work through the course material.

What do I do if I get stuck on the online self paced option?

This course is written with instructions on how to use the course activities and guidance added in for what to do and when. If you get a technical issue and can't resolved it on your own send the TheologyX team a message via the 'contact us' page and they may be able to assist if you provide details of what you're experiencing and where within the course.

I signed up for module 8 and now want to pursue the Children's Ministry Essentials programme, will the fee I've already paid be acknowledged?

Yes. When you click 'pursue the program' button on the programme page, it will take you through to the payment system and automatically deducts the cost of any courses in the programme that you've already purchased from the total left to pay. You can add the discount code to get the whole programme at the bundled price of £80.
Flexible training in the essentials to equip and support everyone working with children: insights, skills and discipleship.
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