New Year, New Goals!

Some time in the new year and near future, I will share some age specific goals that we use in our local children's department. It helps us stay on track and see what we are accomplishing in each class/age group. We have a plan and direction that we follow. Each class and each year builds on each other. We are not aimlessly wandering, we are going somewhere! 

Until then, have a Happy New Year...and a free lesson! :)

Attached (at the bottom of this post) is a lesson we came up with and taught at my church, Souls Harbor, last year. It served as a great way to kick off the new year. The whole basis surrounds Moses and the excuses he used on God. The lesson is about getting over the excuses and just doing what God wants us to do. That's exactly what we need to do in this new year. Get over the excuses and just do it! Just live for God! Serve Him and Work for Him! He has an incredible plan for each of us, if we will just get the excuses out of the way.

Also attached, is a goal worksheet that goes with this lesson. We have used this to help kids stay on track with their goals for the new year. *Here's a hint, grown-ups can use this too! ;) 

In your personal goal setting, make sure your goals are SMART!

Lesson- No Excuses!

Goal Worksheet

Make A Right Turn

        

        Being in ministry means we are all about serving and working with people. One thing I have learned from serving as a children’s pastor, is that my job entails a lot more than just working with kids. A big part of my job is keeping and maintaining excitement and good relationships with the other teachers and leaders that work in the children’s department. My belief is that if I will effectively lead the leaders, they will effectively lead the children. There has been many times when I have selected the person I deemed to be the “best” to lead a specific age group or to lead a certain event, but I quickly discovered that the best person for the job is not always the right person for the job. I’m not necessarily looking for the most talented or most educated person; I’m not even looking for the most gifted speakers. I’m looking for the person who has a burden for children’s ministry, and who is willing to work in unity with myself and the rest of the staff. I want someone who is willing to give up their own methods to help us achieve the overall goal of our department. Find the right person for the job, not just the best or most talented one. If you are going to have and maintain revival in your department, then you are going to need some help. Of course we want the most gifted and talented people on our team, but we must understand that the success of our department is not dependent on the gifts and talents of a few, but rather the unity and teamwork of many. As leadership guru John Maxwell says, “Teamwork makes the dream work.”

            

        Before the Holy Ghost was first poured out in the book of Acts, we find that the people were of one mind and one accord. The people were in unity. The disciples did not allow personal squabbles and problems to get in the way of their relationships. They had a greater goal in mind and they would not let anything get in the way of that. We must be the same way. We must be willing to sacrifice our own feelings for the success of the group. This is why it is important to find team players, not hot shots.  Look for individuals that can be in unity with you and work hand in hand with you. Those that are willing to do whatever it takes to bring about revival with you. Once you establish a team of people that you trust and that you know will work with you and not against you, make sure you spend time with them. I don’t mean five minutes before kids arrive on Sunday morning; I mean make plans to eat together or meet once a month. This way you can invest in their lives and they can invest in yours. Your core team should be willing to do anything to help each other. Make sure your team members know you care about them. People do not want to be used and abused. They want to know that they matter and that they are cared for. Take notice and be helpful if things are going on in a team member’s personal life. Pray for them on a daily basis and pray with them in the altar. They need to know you are not just using them as a tool to accomplish your own desires. Take time to write a card, thanking team members for their friendship and hard work that they contribute week in and week out. Like I previously stated, if you will effectively care for and lead your leaders, they will effectively lead the kids.

     

        Again, make the decision to invest in the lives of your team members and other key leaders. Help build them up and do not allow yourself to feel threatened by those that are more gifted than you in certain areas. Remember: Do not look for the best people, look for the right ones. 

*This is a segment from my book- From Sunday School to Children's Ministry

A Gift Fit For A King

   

   
     With all the money that you are having to spend around Christmas time, I figured we would save you a few dollars. Merry Christmas! If you've been looking around for a specific Christmas lesson/message to share with your students this year, please feel free to use this resource that we have used and is very effective. Attached is the PDF of a Christmas lesson written by Theresa May (We call her Momma T and you can find her on Facebook if you have any questions regarding the lesson). It's called A Gift Fit For A King. This is a simple and powerful resource using the story of the Wise Men. It includes a short craft, game & lesson. Feel free to pass this along to your friends in Children's Ministry. I pray it helps you and your students EXPERIENCE the reason for the season! 

A Gift Fit For A King

The Ultimate Children's Minister

This is a salute to the ultimate Children's Ministers- Mom & Dad!

Children's ministry is of utmost importance. It is an essential ministry to a growing, thriving church. I believe we need to make sure our content is solid, our programs are fun and our staff is capable. The Children's Department of the Church only has (at the most) a few short hours to positively impact the kids in your church. We must do our best to make sure we are good stewards of every minute. At the same time, I think we need to change our approach and understand that children's ministry can take place every day. We just have to get creative and figure out how to get God's Word in their hearts on Mondays as well as on Sundays.

This is where the ultimate children's ministers come in. Parents have the opportunity to be a much more effective kids minister than I am. Compared to my short 2 hours with their children each week, mom and dad get the opportunity to spend hours with their children every day.

Deut 6:4-9
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Rather than seeing ourselves in competition with parents, kids and youth ministry need to partner with parents. I'm not here to replace the parents influence and take away their God-given responsibility. Parents are the ultimate instructor and leader in their child's life. I am here to assist them. I am here to be that breath of fresh air on Sunday morning. I am here to provide a fresh shot of inspiration in kids church. I am here to provide the tools parents need to continually maintain their child's faith throughout the week. The church and the home are not in competition with each other. We work together.

Here at my local church, we TRY our best to keep parents in the loop with what's happening in the kids department. Emphasis on TRY because it's a learning process and no one's perfect. We are doing our best to connect with parents so they know we are on the same team. Now we do not try to overload them with all kinds of extra projects and events that will make them feel overwhelmed with their already full calendar. We look for simple things, simple tools to help parents in their task of raising kids that love the Lord with all their heart, soul and strength.

One such tool we have used is the Family Home Activity Guide. This is a simple idea that could make a big difference in your church...AND IT'S FREE!!! All it takes is a little bit of thinking ahead and a short amount of time to prepare. Attached is a PDF example of the one we use from time to time. This is an idea I found somewhere and tweaked for our programming.  There are 5 columns or categories one for each day of the week (Monday-Friday). It's nothing complicated and only takes a few minutes for each. This tool provides parents with the information that was covered that Sunday in the Kids Department and gives them ways to keep that message/lesson in their thoughts all throughout the week. This is a great way to 1) Keep parents in the loop to the happenings of your department and 2) Provides the kids ministry with a way to keep the message alive all week long. This is a great retention tool! Attached is a free PDF example of one of our home guides. If you would like the publisher version so you can edit and adjust for your department, simply comment or email and I will send it to you. 

Thank God for moms, dads, guardians and grandparents who are striving to raise up the next generation of Christians! We are here to help make the job a little bit easier and maybe a little more entertaining. Children's Ministry is here to share that burden. Together, lets CARRY ON!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2rROna3TrBoUVAxTk42X2dXVEE/view?usp=sharing

Be the Bridge

       

  

       There is a story I read a while back about a bridge disaster. A ship passing under the bridge hit part of the supporting structure, causing a portion of the bridge to collapse. Several drivers, who were unaware of this accident, continued to travel along the bridge. Because of poor weather conditions, they did not see that it had collapsed in front of them. Several of vehicles drove off the edge, plummeting to their deaths. I’m sure the drivers and passengers didn’t think twice about the conditions of the bridge as they drove that day. I’m sure they took the bridge for granted as they drove over it day after day.

       

      It is usually not until something serious and tragic happens that we think of how important something like a bridge is. You, as a children’s minister, are the bridge between the children you serve and Jesus Christ. If you are not there to help lead, carry and direct the children toward Jesus, they will plummet into this world and all of the mess and trouble the devil has planned for them. It is time to be the bridge. It’s time to bridge the gap.

    

    Someone must be willing to step up and be the bridge between our kids and Jesus. Ezek 22:30-And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. God is looking for someone to bridge the gap. Maybe your church is looking for someone to bridge the gap in the 4 & 5 year Sunday school class? Let your response be like Isaiah’s,  “ Here am I, send me!” Maybe your pastor has been looking for someone to bridge the gap in Children’s Church. “Here am I, send me!” Whatever the gap might currently be in the Children’s Department, let your response be, “Here am I, send me!”

Sometimes it might feel like a thankless job and that, just like a bridge, you are getting walked all over. It’s ok, that’s what you are there for! To be the bridge and to bridge the gap. To connect the students in your church to Jesus. Gal 6:9 says,  “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”  KJV

Maybe you’re not seeing a lot of results right now and have bee feeling like disconnecting. Don't give up, don't pull away. Kid ministry is important. What you are doing to serve the children and families of your church matters. What would we do without the bridge?  Keep at it and you will see results!

     

        

Focus in Church & Worship Notes for Kids

Greetings KidMin leaders!

     At one of the last events I was speaking at, I was asked several questions regarding the same basic topic- At what age should children start paying attention in church. Basically meaning, when do you take away the iPad, skittles & GI Joe and expect them to engage in the service. I believe if a child is old enough to attend school where they are expected to sit still and pay attention multiple hours a day, I think they are ready to actively participate in a worship service.

     This will take some planning and training. If the children in your church are not used to this, it will take some time. At the time of this writing, we have had 12 children receive the Holy Ghost in the last 2-3 months in our local church. At least 4 of these received it in adult worship services. This would not have happened if these children were mentally checked out on the back row playing fruit ninja and chewing bubble gum. Our kids staff and parents have worked hard to create an atmosphere where kids are encouraged and expected to participate in worship services. You can begin to train your kids to worship just like you train them in every other area of their life. Before my daughter, Maley, could even talk we had taught her to raise her hands and close her eyes when we told her to in middle of church. Granted, her focus wasn't going to last for 30 minutes straight at the age of one, but we were beginning to show her what we do when we are in church services.

     Your children's ministry can stretch beyond what you do on Sunday morning. It goes beyond the Sunday School class and the Children's Church service. What happens in regular church services is so important. Begin to teach your students that when it's time for the altar call and prayer, we all go up front to pray. Let them know even if the pastor is teaching on marriage, you want them to go pray. You are teaching them a response. We respond when the Word has been preached. One of the tools that we utilize from time to time is Worship Notes for Kids. This is not an original idea of mine. I saw this somewhere and tweaked it for our own church and students. This is a tool to help kids stay engaged throughout a church service. It asks them things like: songs we sang, what scriptures were used, draw a picture about the sermon, etc. This is a fun and simple way for kids to be able to play during church yet at the same time, they are having to pay attention to what's happening during service. This is something that we do for about a month of services or so, then we take them away for awhile just so it doesn't become old and boring for the kids.

     I have attached a pdf of the Worship Notes below. Feel free to use it in your church or take the idea and adapt it to fit your church format. We must teach our kids that church is fun and enjoyable. The Worship Notes is one idea to help you with this. Just remember- if we want our students to respond in worship, we must engage their attention. Have a great week and be blessed as you begin to think of ways to BOOST your kids ministry.

Worship Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2rROna3TrBoN3FSX01GSlBBMjA/view?usp=sharing