When we think of stewardship, often two things come to mind: money and adults. What else is there? How can all ages participate?

Stewardship for All Ages

There are many words used for stewardship campaigns: commitment, pledging, faithfulness, finances, etc. Traditionally, congregations have a stewardship emphasis in the fall to prepare for the next year’s budget. Whatever your congregation calls this time of year, there are several ways to involve more than just money and adults.

Stewardship is the practice of responsibly caring for and sharing the time, talents, and treasures God has given us.

Rather than focusing on church budgets or adult fundraising, children’s stewardship introduces young minds to the joy of generosity and gratitude in a multitude of ways. One of the ways we can accomplish this is to allow ourselves to be led by the children in our midst. It has been my experience through years of ministry with children and youth that kids tend to ask questions that get to the heart of what it means to live with sharing as a foundational principle. Listen to our children!

Time

The Stewardship of Time: Timeis a valuable gift from God for which each of us is responsible. Time is a precious thing, isn’t it?  Once used, it’s gone and you can’t get it back.  It’s different from other things that we steward.

• Bring the whole family along to local food pantries or community projects so they can be part of and witness the positive impact of generosity.
• Spend time as a family visiting or calling grandparents or elderly neighbors who may feel lonely.
• Give up an hour of screen time to spend quality time with a sibling or family or neighbors.
• Plan a family “serve day” where everyone gives time and energy to bless others.
• Plan to attend worship as a family.
• Set aside five minutes as a family every day to:
  • List things that you are grateful for.
  • Think about each person that you love.
  • Pray for yourself, others and the world.
  • Wonder in the beauty around you.
  • Find a way each day to be kind to someone.

Talent

Stewardship of Talents invites us to notice and nurture the gifts God has placed within each person. Our skills, abilities, experiences, and acts of kindness can bless the community and support the church’s mission. Children, too, have gifts to offer, and they can be gently encouraged to share what brings them joy, whether through music, art, helping hands, or simple kindness.

Every child carries gifts that can bless others. Some may sing, play an instrument, compose music, draw, paint, make films, or sculpt. Others may share their gifts through sports, writing, acting, speaking, leadership, technology, or creative ideas. As caring adults, we can help children name these gifts, celebrate them, and discover loving ways to offer them in service to God and neighbor.

• Invite children with musical gifts to lead worship or share songs that bring comfort and joy to residents at a local nursing home or shelter.
• Encourage young artists to create cards, drawings, or artwork that remind others they are seen, loved, and prayed for.
•  Organize children to decorate offering envelopes and hand them out to everyone.
• Help children use athletic gifts to practice encouragement, teamwork, inclusion, and care for younger children.
• Nurture children’s interests—such as animals, baking, technology, or other passions—and wonder together how those joys might serve others.
• Create handmade gifts as a family to practice thoughtfulness, gratitude, and generous care.
• Ask children to draw or name three things they do well, then help them imagine how those gifts could bring kindness, encouragement, or help to someone else.

Treasure

Stewardship of Treasure is also an important gift to share. How do children define their treasure? Depending on their age, it could be money, toys, food, or beautiful rocks or pinecones. How can children share what they think is treasure? Here are some ideas to do as a family or in Sunday school classrooms:

• Sort through toys to donate gently used items to families in need.
• Collect coins in a big cook pot or metal bucket as a “noisy offering.”
• Divide allowance or gift money into jars to give, save, and spend.
• Use labeled containers as “giving jars” so that children can physically see a portion of their money going back to God or a charity.
• Tithe or give a portion of their allowance to the church or a ministry they care about.
• Set up a “blessing box” in your home where family members can drop off small items, notes, or gifts to give away to someone in need or to brighten a neighbor’s day.

Pledge

The other word frequently used during this time is pledge. A pledge is a promise or commitment to follow through on your estimate of giving of time, talent, and treasure. Almost all ages understand what a promise is and the effort to fulfill that promise.

Children, like adults, can be invited to make an annual commitment to the church in an age-appropriate way. Since many gifts are now given online and out of sight, children may not see giving modeled firsthand. In whatever ways your community asks for pledges, make a children’s card/paper/digital pledge that looks similar but is a different color.

SAMPLE OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH PLEDGE CARD (Editable & PDF)

SAMPLE OF YOUNG CHILD PLEDGE CARD (Editable & PDF)

Children and youth can return their pledge cards in the same way adults do.

Let the children among us lead the way. In my years of ministry with children and youth, I have seen that they often understand stewardship as deeply as adults—and sometimes even more clearly. Listen to our children.

Remember to pray. Remember to breathe.

Grace & Peace

Kirsten Patterson

About the Writer

Kirsten is an educational professional with 30 years of experience in communities of faith, skilled in motivating, teaching, and team building. She has demonstrated expertise in building an arc of faith formation and educational opportunities from age 2 through adult. This has included fellowship, outreach, and intergenerational and age-specific classes. With Spirit & Truth Publishing, Kirsten is happily employed as a writer and collaborator.

This blog post is part of a monthly series of practical advice for faith formation leaders by faith formation and education professionals. Summaries of these posts are sent in a monthly email to email subscribers. Subscribe today!