Ricardo Miller, Fort Worth's Children's Ministry Guru

[Ricardo Miller Ministries]

Ricardo Miller, Fort Worth's Children's Ministry Guru
August 26, 2:24 PM Fort Worth Evangelical Examiner Emily Youree


Fort Worth is known for cowboys and cattle, and as the front door to the west, but it also boasts a pioneer of a different sort--children's ministry expert, Mr. Ricardo Miller. As founder and president of Ricardo Miller Children's Ministries, Inc., Miller parlays his passion for and experience in effective ministry into tools, tips, and training for churches and individuals committed to reaching kids for Christ. He is the author of two books: Wisdom Keys for Children's Ministry and 141 Good Habits for Young People.

In 1996, just out of Bible college, Ricardo Miller started the Words at Work children's ministry in Nassau, Bahamas. The Saturday programs quickly grew into after-school meetings at area public schools. The ministry's success warranted him opportunities to write for newspapers and to speak at many events. In 1998, the government awarded Miller with the Fastest Growing Children's Organization Award for the islands. And in 1999, he earned the Most Distinguished Youth Leaders in the Country honor. The year 2000 found Miller at the alter, marrying a Texas native. In 2001, the ministry headquarters moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where Ricardo Miller Children's Ministries launched.

Now based in Fort Worth, Ricardo Miller Children's Ministries is the one-stop-shop for churches and religious organizations seeking to learn more about building a successful children's ministry. Miller conducts training workshops and speaks at conferences around the country, both for spotlight leaders like Dr. Tony Evans and denominations such as the Full Gospel Fellowship. He also offers consulting services--meeting with individual churches to offer help anywhere from leading a vacation Bible school or summer camp to providing training in the building of an effective children's department. In this role, Miller sees himself as the "pediatrician of the Kingdom."

Ricardo Miller Children's Ministries not only reaches out to children through speaking engagements and events, but also targets parents and children's workers within the church. He believes proper training for church staff to teach students, as well as equipping parents to disciple at home, is key to the healthy spiritual growth of children and the Church at large.

In the coming months, Ricardo Miller is expanding his vision and ministry offerings. First out the door is the Children's Ministry Fellowship, a monthly luncheon for area children's ministers to encourage and network with one another. (For scheduled dates or to attend, email [e-mail].) A national children's ministers fellowship is coming soon, as well. This will be an online network for children's workers to connect, discussing success, frustrations, and new developments church work. The third program Miller is fine-tuning is a School of Children's Ministry--a three-day, training workshop led by DFW pastors covering all aspects of children's ministry, such as: Classroom management, proper use of curriculum, event planning, volunteer recruiting, etc.

Churches, ministry groups, religious organizations, or denominations interested in the services offered by Ricardo Children's Ministries can complete a booking information form on the ministry's Web site or phone [phone]. Volunteer opportunities are also available. Ricardo Miller can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace.