Remember last month's article when I posed the challenge to evaluate your nursery, to write down your ideas and expectations? Well, that was just the first step!  For the next few months, I want to give you ideas and resources to make your Nursery Ministry more effective.  I recommend a book called, Volunteers That Stick, by Jim Wideman.  I went through an extensive leadership training this past year and this book was the basis of the training.  The ideas I want to share with you are an extention of this book and many ideas in this book have been implemented at my local church ministry.  I suggest completing each step, monthly, in the order that they are offered.  Each step is the foundation to the next step to a more effective nursery! If you run into any problems, or need help, please contact me and I would be happy to assist you.  Now let's get started! 

Last month in review: Step 1:  Evaluate your nursery.  What do you want the children to gain from their experience in your nursery? What do you want parents to experience and expect? What do you expect from your staff?

This month: Step 2:  Develop a vision and mission statement for your nursery.  A vision statement is a description of where you want see your nursery in the future.  It sets your direction.  It tells other's what you're about!    A mission statement tells others what you want to do.  It states your purpose. It should answer the question, "Why do we exist?"  Make sure your vision and mission statement align with your church's vision and keep them simple. Use your answers to the questions from last month to start working on your statements. You can gather input from your nursery staff and pastor.   Here are some examples to help get you started:

Examples of Vision Statements:  "Our nursery ministry will serve and gloify God by encouraging the Christian growth of Children."

"Our ministry will work alongside parents in helping children establish a strong, Biblical foundation from which to build their lives upon.""

"Our ministry will work with parents to guid children in their Christian walk, strenghthen their knowledge of God's Word and encourage them to become more Christ-like in their words and actions.

Examples of Mission Statements:  "We will present the gospel to children and help them know, love, and follow Jesus." 

"We want to help your child begin to associate God with their feelings of wonder, love, and happiness."

"We want your child to come to understand that Jesus loves him and others."

**Safety or Sanitation tip:  Purchase a plastic, wipable changing table pad.  This way you can make sure to sanitize the pad after each diaper change by using Clorox Disenfecting wipes. This will reduce the exchange of germs from one child to another after diapering. Check with you local child care resource and referal agency to purchase a changing pad.

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