The preschool years are tough on parents — it’s a time when kids are questioning everything, forming their own opinions, and strengthening their willpower. And while it can sometimes leave parents wishing for the season to be over, it’s also a time of great discovery and a wonderful opportunity to teach kids the true character of God.
On episode 25 of the Think Orange Podcast, our guests, Brittany Compton-Robertson, Director of Preschool Strategy at Orange, and Cass Brannan, minister to preschool at Calvary Baptist Church, talk about the important role your church’s preschool ministry plays in laying the foundation of a big faith in God.
Topic Timeline:
Ashley introduces today’s guests, Brittany Compton Robertson, Director of Preschool Strategy at Orange, who has more than a decade of experience working with preschoolers, and Cass Brannan, minister to preschool at Calvary Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (2:03)
Ashley shares how the preschool ministry team at churches are often the unsung heroes of the church (3:03)
The biggest age group in a church are parents with young kids (3:21)
Cass says sometimes we have to step back and evaluate everything we have to do on our lists and make a strategic plan for those action items (4:51)
It’s important to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses in ministry (5:36)
When we focus on our weakness, we forget what we’re good at (6:10)
Your lack of skill does not eliminate your responsibility, so it’s important to invite people into our circle to help (7:11)
Know what you’re good at and find people to fill in the gaps (8:04)
Cass talks about his start in preschool ministry 11 years ago (8:25)
You’re either a people person or a production person (9:10)
One of the most important things you can do is support the family and help them win at home (10:00)
It’s really important you build a place of trust, otherwise, parents won’t leave their children with you (12:21)
Cass shares a story about a family with twin girls. One of the girls had a feeding tube and was wheelchair-bound. Their mother trusted them with her daughter’s’ care (13:05)
Orange is about a partnership between the church and the home (14:10)
Dave introduces Brittany (16:44)
What Brittany loves about preschoolers (17:35)
The preschool ministry is the most important ministry of the church — it’s their first gateway into the church. You are laying the foundation of what church is (17:47)
As a preschool person, you have to be comfortable getting messy, having fun, and getting down on their level (18:50)
Brittany discusses the importance of consistency (20:14)
If parents wait later in life to take their kids to church, they miss out on those key years that teach kids that God loves them (21:25)
People who aren’t necessarily the type to get down on the kids’ level would be better served in the resource room (22:00)
Brittany talks about the importance of recruiting consistent volunteers (23:13)
Morals and values are in place for every child by age nine (24:10)
Brittany shares advice on how to navigate the difficult preschool years (24:42)
Dave discusses the importance of thinking with the end in mind (26:40)
How would a preschool ministry leader get their leadership to value the preschool ministry more? (27:18)
Brittany shares what she would say to encourage a preschool ministry leader (28:05)
Brittany talks about how she would encourage a preschool ministry leader to partner with parents (28:18)
How to talk to someone who thinks preschool ministry is just babysitting (29:33)
Brittany shares best practices in a preschool ministry (30:22)
How young should a student be to volunteer with preschoolers? (32:30)
How much alignment does the preschool ministry have to have with elementary and high school ministries? (33:20)
What are the biggest stumbling blocks in preschool ministry? (33:51)
How to combat the loneliness one can experience in preschool ministry (35:44)
How Brittany got started in preschool ministry (37:05)
Dave shares how he didn’t realize the impact his kids’ preschool ministry leaders had on their lives until they were older (39:05)
Ashley shares her personal experience with a preschooler (40:25)
Dave gives closing remarks (41:38)
