Check out all the SRE Good News from the April edition of our SRE Impact Newsletter.

If God appeared to you in a dream and said he would give you whatever you asked in your role as a minister of the gospel, what would you ask for?

Charisma? Better teaching skills? Evangelistic boldness? Creativity in ministry? Or perhaps some of your more pragmatic needs like more money, better spaces, more quality resources and leaders?

Why share good news stories? Because they help people to not only hear how God is at work but to also see God at work.

When we share the good news stories from our ministries, we encourage and strengthen our leaders, promote ministry, invite partnership and build unity.

I have a younger brother called Ben, who is kind and caring. He was born with an intellectual disability, Downs Syndrome. Ben enjoys being around people, so his ministry in his church is one of love and care for other people— helping them feel welcome and that they belong.

How can your church recognise the gifts that people with disability contribute and put them to use?

As an SRE Coordinator there are many joys to the role – you get to see the impact that SRE is having on students across many classes and often, across many schools. However, there are also aspects of the coordinator role that can be challenging. One of these is negotiating effectively with schools, especially when they propose scheduling changes.

Our Christian brothers and sisters in the global south often humble me with their enthusiasm and their deep devotion to Christ. At the same time, they often lack the opportunity to study the Bible deeply and so to grow in the knowledge of God’s word.

How different is our situation. We have the facilities for study and for training in ministry at places like Youthworks College, which allows those who minister to and train youth and children to deepen their knowledge of God through his word, which is essential for the task.

Think back to the best training experience you’ve ever had. Was it in a big room buzzing with energy and ideas? Or was it in a small circle where you had time to talk, try, and get feedback?

The size of the group strongly shapes what is possible, what works well, and what simply won’t land. Great trainers don’t fight against the size of the room—they design intentionally for it. Let’s explore the differences between training various sized groups and how to make the most of these differences.

At its heart, reflective practice is the disciplined habit of thinking carefully about our experiences, attitudes, and actions in order to learn, grow, adapt, and change.

Reflective practice is not just a professional tool. For the Christian teacher or ministry leader, it is a discipline — one that helps us listen to God, learn from experience, and grow in wisdom.

The end of the year is fast approaching – and many SRE teachers are thinking about what small gift can help families remember Jesus at Christmas time.

Here is a selection of Christmas booklets and items that are approved for use in SRE and would make great gifts for SRE students.

What are the most important things in your children’s ministry? If you had to strip away everything else, what are the indispensable elements of a faithful ministry to children? And are these the things that are given the most time and attention?

Here’s what I believe are the top three non-negotiables of any faithful children’s ministry.

As another year of SRE draws to a close, I’ve been particularly encouraged by two SRE teachers whose stories give us a glimpse into the ministry that happens in our public schools. Their examples remind us that God delights to use ordinary faithfulness for his purposes.

Running an after-school kids program was definitely a highlight of my first ministry role. A growing leadership team was also a joy but working out how to train and support them was an area I never felt confident in. Here are three things I wish I’d known back then about training children’s ministry leaders.

Along with the struggle to be authentic, post-modern culture and young people are suspicious of institutions and people who have any kind of power, which can be used to silence or oppress minorities and stop them expressing their authentic selves. I am sure many of you have had the experience of teaching about these issues and sensing that the listeners think you are being judgmental and oppressive.

Kids’ Holiday Clubs are often where it all comes together for children.  Over a few days, they grasp precious gospel truths and form deep connections with their local church.

Here are a few gems and resources shared by various churches - maybe these could help you with your next holiday club?

For many neurodivergent young people, life can sometimes be overwhelming, unpredictable, and hard to contain the strong feelings bubbling inside. Certain situations can lead to an eventual explosion that’s often misinterpreted as simply disruptive behaviour.

So how can leaders in youth and kids’ ministry lead more thoughtfully and inclusively?

Your Story is a visionary research project featuring stories from over 400 Australian young people. The project explores questions around who and what has, and is, shaping their faith in their childhood, adolescence, and the present, by listening to young people narrate their faith story.

Here are four key findings from this research, and their implications for ministry.

The childhood years are foundational for a young person’s spiritual development. Yet children’s ministry is too often carried out in isolation from the families to whom these children belong.

When the church and home are aligned in purpose, vision, and strategy the discipleship and spiritual formation of children flourish. So, what does meaningful partnership between the church and the home look like—both theologically and practically?

When life feels full and comfortable, why would anyone think they need Jesus? The “I’m fine, thanks” fallacy is one I’ve encountered time and time again. Young people often don’t perceive their need for Jesus because life feels good, and they don’t see themselves as "bad people."

Here are three approaches to help young people see their need for Jesus, even when they don’t feel it.

Low and irregular attendance at church is a concerning trend for leaders today. As someone particularly concerned with the discipleship of children, sporadic attendance is discouraging, so we can’t ignore the impact this will have on children.

Here’s one area I think children’s ministry leaders need to consider - fostering in our young people a sense of belonging at church.

Church websites are a very helpful tool to share with your local community about your ministries and gatherings. For a visitor to your church who has disability or is neurodivergent, up-to-date information on your website about accessibility, what happens during a service, and what to expect is essential.

Here are three tips for enhancing your church website to help all people find out more about your church, so they feel included and welcome.