Naming your ministry
Posted on 26. Oct, 2009 by Kenny in Fresh Ideas
I’ve been thinking a lot about ministry names lately.
Currently the name of Gateway’s Children’s Ministry is Kid’s Quest. Kid’s Quest was well branded here, but I feel a new name and new look is just around the corner for us, maybe launching a new look near the end of 2010.
Here’s what I’ve been thinking about. It seems like 5-10 years ago, it was a lot more common to find ministries with unique names. Now it seems it’s a lot more common for the Children’s Ministry to have some iteration of the church’s name. This makes total sense to me as you’re furthering the brand of the church through your ministry.
I’ve been a part of a few churches where we’ve renamed the ministry to sync up with the church’s name such as CT Kids (Cross Timbers), Anchor Kids (Anchor Church) and GBC Kids (Graceland Baptist Church). Even when I look around, I see other leading churches that do this as well: LifeKids (Life Church), KidSpring (NewSpring), Kids on the Move (Church on the Move) and so many others (Although there are still plenty of big and influential churches that don’t follow this thought).
So, what are you thoughts on this?
24 Responses to “Naming your ministry”
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
-
-
October 28, 2009
[...] Maybe it’s time to think about naming Your Children’s Ministry. [...]
Leave a Reply
jonathan
26. Oct, 2009
I’ve stuck myself with an inherited name, because it was so identified by families within the church. I think if I changed it, people would still call it the old name.
The only comment I have is to “respect the Z.”
.-= jonathan´s last blog ..Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-10-25 =-.
Spencer Click
26. Oct, 2009
If you can change the name of your Children’s ministry to be a reflection of your church’s name I think it’s great. You save yourself from having to put a tag line on everything. “The children’s ministry of…”
It’s where we’re heading…right now the CM is called KidsWorld – in the spring we’ll be changing to Bethel Kids. We will become instantly identified with our church…
Rebekah
26. Oct, 2009
We have done the same thing at Oak Leaf Church. We were KidVenture for nearly 3 years. This August we launched a new curriculum and a new name, Oak Leaf Kids. What spurred the re-branding was when we chose to change the name of our student ministry from Fuel to Oak Leaf Students. Through many conversations about students and why so many teens are committed to their youth group and not the church, we have been emphasizing that they are a part of Oak Leaf Church. Since then, we have had students rise up as leaders and serve with Oak Leaf Kids with such passion.
it’s just a name, but changing our focus with the name has made great strides for us as a church.
Sarah
26. Oct, 2009
We changed our name when our whole church re branded last year.
I think it’s really good to have a name that ties in with the church name – partly for the un-churched community so that they can make connection.
It’s also good for the kids and parents – a name that’s connected to the church shows that the kids ministry is connected. We’re building the house of God, not the house next door.
David Wakerley
27. Oct, 2009
So we went with the simple Church inspired – Hillsong Kids kinda naming idea.
My thinking is that with five age groups (Cubbyhouse, Ark, Fun House, All Stars and Voltage) parents don’t really care or don’t need to care about more names within a ministry. If there was a way to get rid of age group names I would.
Keep it strong and simple is my thoughts.
Dave
.-= David Wakerley´s last blog ..Top Ten =-.
collin
27. Oct, 2009
I inherited ‘Kids on the Rock’ and my wife hated it. So finally we’re changing/rebranding to C4 Kids. Our church’s strategy is C4 (Connecting to God, Connecting to Others, Ministry, and the World) so we’re jumping on board with that. Plus, we can get creative with C4, huh? Can you say Explosive Children’s Ministry?!
Kendra Golden
27. Oct, 2009
I think Rebekah struck on something that is key. Renaming the same old thing is tough to create momentum around and can lead to confusion. Tying the change to a real difference (like curriculum or age groups or a remodel or church branding) is way better.
We recently had to rename our 5th and 6th experience from FUSE (which I loved) to THE LOOP (which I think is silly) after only a year because another church wouldn’t grant us permission to use the name (Since we give away curriculum with the branding. Weird, huh?). People are struggling to get what happened, especially since the Fuse name was only a year old itself. It occurred with a real difference though, a change from a 4th-5th room to a 5th-6th room.
To David, I think room names for age groups are important. If I’m in the kdg room and move to the first grade room, that’s pretty boring. But the names create mystique and anticipation. Especially ones like David’s which are each cooler and more exciting as you move up. If I were in any one of his rooms as a kid, I would be totally stoked to move up to the next.
Cheryl
18. Nov, 2009
I have just been thinking about this! So glad I ran across your article. Our church is Liberty Hill General Baptist Church. (quite a mouthful) And to date, our children’s ministry has simply been Liberty Hill General Baptist Church Children’s Ministry. (an even bigger mouthful!) Our Youth is not necessarily called “The Hub”, but that is their location or where they meet within our church. It is called this because we are a growing rural church in the middle of several area communties, which is frankly, pretty awesome and I love the name and the idea that we are “the hub”. I think the youth simply choose to be Liberty Hill Youth.
We use several different “named” curriculum within our children’s ministry and I don’t want to name our ministry to follow this, I would like a unique name. I like the idea of syncing with the church name and have even thought of “Freedom Kids” to go along with “Liberty Hill”, but am not necessarily fond of using all that one would think should accompany a name like this, ie…stars, stripes, red, white and blue…. Anyone else have a cool thought?
Kenny
18. Nov, 2009
I love Liberty Hill Kids! It’s got a great fell. Freedom Kids is cool too, but then you’ve got that separate name from the rest of the church you have to wrestle with it being ok or not. Just my opinion, but I’d run from “Liberty Hill General Baptist Church Children’s Ministry” as fast as you can.That’s just painful.
Kenny
Name (required)
12. Jan, 2010
We started a new church “New Beginnings Worship Center” do you have any comments to youth and children’s ministry names? Of course, ultimately it will be birthed through prayer.
KJ Coupland
14. Apr, 2010
I am in the middle of planning a total rebranding.
My thoughts are along the lines of a University theme
Baby U
Toddler U
Junior U
Big Kid U
this will keep it pretty easy for parents to keep track of where their child should be…. I hope
what do you guys think?
lighting gal
12. Aug, 2010
How about trying an acranname
Beth
04. Sep, 2010
I’ve loved reading your comments. I would love any thoughts you would have for me. We are a new church start and Orchard Path is our name. I was thinking something like OPC Kidz (or s) but have also like suggestions I’ve seen other places like naming the kids ministry The GROVE. Any thoughts?
Kenny
04. Sep, 2010
Honestly, I like Orchard Kids. OPC Kids is okay… kind of a mouthful. The grove is a cool name for a Children’s Ministry, and it’s cool when you see it in relation to the church name… but the only thing I don’t like is that it’s different enough from the church name that if you were communicating it separate from the church, you’d have to explain that it’s a part of OPC. Just my opinion though. Last comment. Stay away from the Z. This is the disease of Children’s Ministry. Again… just my opinion… but one of my quests in life is to influence Children’s Pastors to stop using a Z instead of an S.
Scott Huggins
09. Sep, 2010
Alright Peeps.
I moved to Costa Rica 3 months ago and found a church to serve at as CM Leader. Let me hear your votes:
Name Suggestions for Beach Community Church Children’s Ministry
Son, Surf and Sand
Coconut Hut
PowerZone
KidZone
Surf Club
KidzBlitz
KWAM (kids with a mission)
The Beach
SonZone
The Rock
PowerKidz
BCC Kids
BeachKids
BeachZone
Thanks in advance. Peace in HIM!
Kenny
11. Sep, 2010
Personally, I vote BeachKids or BCC Kids. I tend to go with simplicity, clarity and broad appeal. Both of these names can fit with any age group and kids of any age could identify with it. You could always name specific age areas that are age specific… But your overarching name needs to not single any age group out.
Also, both of these names clarify that they belong to Beach Community Church. No ambiguity there.
Last of all, it’s really simple. You can “fun it up” with a logo or brand… But it’s just too easy.
Those are my thoughts though.
Also… For the love of all that is holy.. Stay away from the “z!”
franklin santhosh
26. Oct, 2010
Till now we called our church children’s ministry as SUNDAYSCHOOL.Now we desired to replace this name based on our church theme(RAISING LEADERS FOR CHRIST)..
CAN YOU HELP US TO NAME OUR CHIDRED’S MINISTRY?
from:I.C.R.M.WISDOM CHURCH MANJOOR,NILGIRIS,TAMILNADU,INDIA
benjamin.A
04. Jan, 2011
Iam starting children ministry in Bangalore , India i wanted some funky and good name for my ministry please help me out in this
Tim Johnson
05. Apr, 2011
I just renamed our Children’s Ministry Crown of Life Kids which used to be Kid’s Korner. Now i am trying to come up with some age group names. birth-2 yrs, 3-5 yrs, and 6-12 yrs. Anyone got any ideas for me? Our church is Crown of Life Lutheran Church. Thanks!
Kaydee
14. Apr, 2011
I like names that have something to do with the church if you are a part of a church. However, I am starting up a ministry for 4th and 5th grade girls, unaffiliated. Some ideas I’ve either come up with or seen in my search for name ideas:
Fuel
Base 45
The Summit
SHINE (Seek Him IN Everything)
Blaze
ACE (Always in Christ’s Embrace)
BLAST (Building Lives Around Scriptural Truth)
ATTIC (Always Trusting Together In Christ)
The Forge
Pulse
SWAT (Students With A Testimony)
Tag (stolen from New Life Church’s old youth group name in Colorado Springs)
I liked Collin’s “C4″ posted on this page
And I liked Kendra’s old name “FUSE”
I can’t believe how hard it is to name a group for 9-11 year old girls! Any other ideas or comments anyone??
Chris
21. Apr, 2011
This discussion has been very insightful. Any comments on using the “church branding” approach with a First Baptist Church? FirstKids sounds fine, but then there’s the “which First Baptist?” question (there are several small towns around and each has a First Baptist Church). If the prevailing thought is for our own kids to grasp identity with our ministry and church and not worry about others wondering which FBC we’re from, then FirstKids works fine. But if we’re promoting our church and children’s ministry through T-shirts, posters, postcards, etc., then what is a catchy way to fine-tune “FirstKids?”
Valerie Sowers
26. May, 2011
I am looking for a new name for our children’s church. We are moving into a bigger area of the church which we just added and all will be new. I am searching for a new name which would include our church name, Grace Fellowship Family Worship Center. Also, looking for a new theme for the room. We have been called Sonforce kids and had a space theme. Wanna change it up for the new space and make it new and exciting. Any ideas?
Thank you.
Jen
09. Jun, 2011
Rebranding. Need a name that reflects a connection between church and home.
Words reflecting on…connecting, sync, bridging, linking,…