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