ecently, I hosted an event at our church called “Parents’ Night Out,” and let me tell you—it was a blast. The idea came from my belief that family ministry should serve not just kids, but the whole family. Whether it's a two-parent home, a single mom, or grandparents raising little ones, families need space to breathe. So, I thought, what if we gave parents three hours—kid-free—to invest in their marriage, friendships, or even just themselves? That’s how this project got its wings.
Parents dropped off their kids (ages potty-trained through fifth grade) from 5 to 8 p.m. We kept the little ones entertained with crafts, games, a puppet show, dinner (chicken nuggets and tater tots, of course), and even a showing of "The Toy That Saved Christmas". The best part? I had an amazing team of 14 volunteers who helped make the night run smoothly.
The results were beautiful. We had 25 kids and heard countless stories of how impactful this simple evening was. A single mom went to connect with a friend she hadn’t seen in over a year. Another couple went on a double date. One mom used her free time to wrap Christmas gifts in peace. Grandparents finally got a much-needed break. Watching their joy as they dropped off their kids made it all worth it.
Were there challenges? Sure. Wrangling 25 “feral” kids on a Friday night after school is no picnic. One even tried to shimmy up a pole! But my volunteers handled it with such grace and energy, making sure every child had fun.
This event wasn’t just another program; it was a ministry—to parents, to kids, and even to us volunteers. It reminded us how important it is to support families, especially during the busy (and sometimes overwhelming) Christmas season.
