Counting the days til Sunday

As You Are

2011-12-12T21:51:00.003-06:00

I'm reading Brennan Manning's memoir All is Grace. He is known for saying, "God loves you as you are, not as you should be." What a great reminder for my people-pleasing, perfectionist, worry-wart self!

God loves Christy as she is! He won't love me MORE if I have a cleaner house, if I have better behaved children, if I lose 40 pounds, if I accomplish more at church, if I get my office decorated cute, if I make 12 different kinds of Christmas cookies, if I get my Christmas cards out on time, if I find the perfect gifts for everyone on my list and so on...

Oh how deep His love!

Helping Kids Say Wow to God

2010-06-16T16:29:00.007-05:00

Receiving this message during VBS inspired me. What a perfect way to articulate our purpose in ministry!

My grandson loved being in the preschool group this morning. Music was a highlight, as was the playground. I'm not sure what the spiritual focus was, but when I was tucking him in for his nap he told me that Jesus just lives and lives and lives. Then he asked, "How many people are with God?" I told him lots and lots. He said "5?" I said, "No, hundreds and hundreds and thousands and millions." He was quiet for a moment, then in a hushed voice he said "wow." It doesn't get any better than that.

You've chosen well to devote your time and energy to helping little ones say "Wow."

2010-06-16T16:08:00.003-05:00

It's VBS week. Before I left the house yesterday, I jotted down a few specific prayer requests to drop in the VBS Prayer Room. Not knowing what the day would hold, I wrote "Please pray for unity among the volunteers. Pray that we would be gracious to one another. Pray that any conflict would be resolved in a healthy way."

Once the day got started, I dealt with a series of mini-crises that didn't end. Many of them were interpersonal conflicts between volunteers. This is untypical for us, so I was perplexed as to why it would happen on a day that we specifically prayed in this way. Was this a case of "be careful what you pray for?"

Perhaps the conflicts would have been even more yucky without prayer. Perhaps the conflicts would not have come out in the open without prayer. Perhaps the issues would have remained internalized and the problems would have festered without prayer. Perhaps God was just growing me in an area that I need growth. Whatever the case, God certainly was at work!

And I definitely think that is worth noticing!

The Funny Thing About Blessings

2009-02-24T09:13:00.002-06:00

A colleague of mine recently said, "You know the funny thing for me is that I go to church to be a blessing and I always leave blessed!" Last Wednesday night I was reminded of how true this is. The evening had an unusual amount of hugs and tears, but the highlight of the night was when a 4th grade girl told my red-headed self , "When you stand under the light, your hair looks like GOLD!"

I often pray that God will give our volunteers a sense of reward for what they are doing. That night, he answered the prayer for me!

The small group difference

2008-12-18T20:06:00.004-06:00

In a classroom, students sit on folding chairs around tables.
In a small group, kids sit on rugs, beanbags, pillows, or comfy chairs.

In a classroom, the children are called "students."I
n a small group, the children are called "kids."

In a classroom, the adult is "the sage on the stage."
In a small group, the adult is "the guide on the side."

In a classroom, the teacher knows everything and passes that information to the students.
In a small group, the kids and leaders study and discuss the Bible, working together to discover the answers.

In a classroom, there is competition between students.
In a small group, there is cooperation, community and fellowship.

In a classroom, the teacher is concerned with controlling the behavior of the students.
In a small group, the leader is concerned about seeing the kids' lives transformed through their relationship with God and with others.

In a classroom, the teacher talks and the students listen.
In a small group, everyone has opportunity to speak, listen and be heard.

Sadness to Joy

2008-12-17T23:09:00.003-06:00

At the end of tonight's club program, I noticed a first grade girl was crying. Her small group had held a gift exchange and she ended up with a giant candy cane. She sobbed, "There was something else that I wanted, and my mom doesn't let me eat candy so she'll just throw this away!" She was so sad!

Thanks to some quick thinking, I ran to our prize stash and pulled out a few Beanie Babies. I told her that I'd trade her candy cane for a stuffed animal of her choice. She picked a cute little kitty cat and then gave me the tightest squeeze of a hug I have ever gotten from a kid.

I wanted to say to the girl, "Oh honey, this was nothing! You should see the way that Jesus turns sadness to joy. Follow Him and He will!" This is one simple way we can be like Jesus - by bringing some joy to those who are sad. And if we turn to Jesus, He will give us joy too. Are you willing to let Him turn your sadness to joy?

Thanking volunteers at Christmas

2008-11-30T22:15:00.000-06:00

We have traditionally done our volunteer appreciation gift at Christmas. This year our budget is very tight, so we had to be creative. Tomorrow our team is meeting to make cocoa cones for our volunteers. The cost is a very budget friendly forty cents per gift! These cute little concoctions sell for five or six dollars at gift shops. Our volunteers have responded very positively in the past to our gifts, but they especially seem to appreciate the homemade gifts! I look forward to a fun evening with my co-workers assembling these little cuties.

The cone bags were purchased in bulk at a local cake and candy supply store. Each bag gets 1/2 cup of cocoa mix, 1/4 cup of marshmallows, and 1/4 cup of chocolate chips. We'll tie the bags with raffia and attach a card with a greeting and instructions for "cocoa for 2."

Worship anywhere!

2008-11-30T16:23:00.000-06:00

Today was a holiday weekend, so we took a planned pause in our elementary kids programming. Many of our volunteers are out of town, as are our kids and their families. I took the opportunity to sleep late on this Sunday morning - it was heavenly! Then, because one of the kids had a birthday party to attend at 11, we had church at home. It was a first for us, so I wasn't sure how it would go.

I asked each kid to choose something from the Bible to share. All of them went off on their own to select their reading. We alternated their readings with some worship from the Hillsong Kids DVD. We ended by writing prayer requests on slips of paper. We spread the slips of paper on the floor and did "popcorn" prayers.

Some highlights of the morning:

1. Justin, our soon-to-be 10 year old, read John 3:16.
2. Emily, our 8 year old, asked where to find the story of the plagues. I told her that was a really long story, and probably too long for our purposes. She said, "I'll just choose my favorite plague!" Again, I wasn't sure how that would go. When she finished, we asked, "What can we learn about God from that story?" Right away, the kids started talking about God's power and how He uses people to do His work.
3. Lindsey, our first grader, did a nice job reading the Creation story from a Bible story book.
4. Praying together for a neighbor with cancer, our missionary friends, homeless people and an upcoming birthday.
5. Our new puppy, Ginger, got to go to church this week! She nibbled on the Bible storybook when we weren't paying attention.
6. The kids saw that we can worship anywhere.

I'm just waiting for next Sunday morning, wondering if the kids will say, "Can we PLEASE do church at home again today?" We won't be dropping out of church anytime soon, but this just might be the start of a new family experience for us!

2008-09-26T21:13:00.001-05:00

This week I learned that a former 3rd grade student of mine had been killed by her boyfriend. I was shocked and saddened. Then I got to thinking... would I have interacted with her differently if I had known she was going to be murdered at age 19? How would I have interacted with her parents?

I'm not limited to my role as a Children's ministry person or a former teacher in this thinking. As a human being who comes into contact with other human beings on a daily basis, it causes me to think about how I interact with those I meet. A long life isn't promised to any of us. Is my interaction with others life-giving? Do my interactions with others point them to Jesus?

It's a good lesson to learn from a tragic, painful situation.

New from GO FISH

2008-08-16T18:38:00.000-05:00

I just checked out Jamie Statema's (Go Fish) blog. The Go Fish guys are writing a VBS curriculum for 2009. I look forward to seeing what they come up with! Someday I'd like to see them produce resources for kids worship. Their music is great, but for some reason we don't end up using it in our kids worship time.

Makes me laugh!

2008-06-05T08:18:00.000-05:00

I have been smiling, chuckling and forwarding links all morning after reading Marko's reference to a new blog. It's called "Stuff Christians Like" and it does a fantastic job of humorously analyzing the cliches and trends in the Church. It is irreverent but easy-to-relate-to. Through the sarcasm, you can see the author's heart for God and for authentic Christianity.

For Kids Ministry people, there are several insightful and hilarious VBS entries! Here is an excerpt...

I can't prove this, but I secretly think some VBS teachers try to send the kids home as messy as possible. They do crafts like "make a picture with pine sap" or just give kids tubes of glue and say "go." And if the craft doesn't get them
sticky enough, they often give them snacks that involve peanut butter and honey.
Do you know how long it takes to get a honey and peanut butter mixture out of a
kid's hair? Roughly 19 months or 19 seconds if you use the scissors and just cut
the hair right off. I'm just saying, that's an option too.

Looking ahead...Way ahead!

2008-06-02T16:14:00.001-05:00

We're two weeks away from the start of Vacation Bible School. We've got some incredible volunteers working with our paid staff on the leadership team. Up until this week I've felt really good about the planning. But this week panic set in. Will all the little details come together? Will plenty of kids come? What are we forgetting? Will the decorating be cool enough? Et cetera, et cetera.

As the panic has set in, this little thought has crept into my head ---- "I don't know if I can do this another year."

But today... Group Publishing released the first clue for their VBS 2009 theme. The message boards at Group VBS are buzzing as people try to figure it out. I was surprised to find myself getting excited too. A whole new theme, a new outlet for creativity and ideas! What could it be? More clues are coming with the theme announcement scheduled for next week. I can't wait. Maybe I will do this again next year!

Kids and Presidential Politics

2008-04-16T15:53:00.001-05:00

I had my nine year old son and his friend in the van the other day as we drove to the first baseball practice of the season. Listening to their conversations is always a hoot. That night their talk turned to presidential politics. My son begged me not to vote for McCain, but he wasn't able to give me a reason. Both boys like Obama. They think it would be cool to have the first African American president. They don't like Hillary. My son said it was because of her big nose. His friend said that he didn't like her because she lies too much.

I suggested that external appearances shouldn't matter when selecting leaders, but character does matter a lot. My son agreed, recalling a tv show in which a kid got elected class president because he had good hair!

It amazes me how perceptive kids are and how, even in the arena of world events and politics, they are influenced by parents, peers and media.

New curriculum for Easter

2008-03-24T12:15:00.000-05:00

It's the day after Easter. What a great day, week and month it was! We used a new curriculum resource called Truthopolis for the month of March. We were impressed with the content of the lessons as well as the "family study page" that was included for each lesson. We thought there were good visuals and object lessons, but it definitely stretched our kids who had just come off of a video series from Elevate.

We made an effort to have kids really use their Bibles in large group time. It was encouraging to see their eagerness to get their hands on God's Word. I was pleased with the skills that I saw as well as the attitudes the kids displayed.

We're going back to another video series from Elevate this week. The "hands-on Bible" stuff will move back to small group time. I hope that we modeled some good stuff for the small group leaders, so that they can continue to uphold our value of having kids reading the Bible for themselves.

Some new things I experienced this month:

1. With the help of this curriculum, we did a really thorough job of teaching about Christ's last week, his death and his resurrection. It was 5 weeks worth of material rather than just one. This was positive!

2. Having kids programming on Easter Sunday. For the past several years we haven't had classes for kids and have encouraged families to "worship together." Our kid numbers were down a bit, but we saw a lot of new faces and some that we hadn't seen in a long time. For the sake of those kids, I am glad that we had a great hour planned for them. They would have had a very different experience sitting in big church with mom and dad!

3. Teaching about Communion. After a huge, mind-stretching lesson on passover, Old Testament sacrifice and Christ's Last Supper, we taught about how our church celebrates communion. Then we brought the kids up to the worship center to observe it being served. This made a big impact on kids and adults! And I was thrilled to work in partnership with the worship staff so that it could happen.

4. The reality of spiritual warfare. Boy, were there times this month when I felt under attack. I'm not sure what to make of this and it surprises me. But I think there is a lot for me to process!

Something for Everyone

2008-03-21T18:00:00.000-05:00

"Something for Everyone" was a trend that I noticed during our teams's fall visit to the Mall of America.

Many of the stores at the mall cater to the entire family. H&M, a trendy clothing retailer, has departments for men, women and children. This is nothing new for clothing retailers, but to see a store as hip as H&M doing it made me take another look.

The Apple Store had a little area in the back, just for kids. A kid sized table with funky little chairs and 6 computer stations with kids software. Something for mom, something for dad and something for junior!

Lego does this well too with toys for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, school agers, teenagers, my 35 year old husband, boys AND girls.

All of these places serve family units with their unique brand or product. They are creating generational layers of consumer loyalty which will keep them in business for years to come. The baby that wears GAP clothing grows into a child that wears GAP clothing which grows into a teen that wears GAP clothing which grows into an adult that wears GAP clothing which grows into a parent that buys GAP clothing for their baby.

I think kids ministry can learn a lot from this. It encourages me to think more about whether what I am doing with elementary kids has correlation to what the adults do in big church and to the larger church's vision. It makes me think about cooperating more with other age division within Kids Ministry to have more unity. It reminds me that some of the new initiatives (like ORANGE) to see birth through high school as one unit have a lot of validity. It causes me to consider the importance of creating loyalty in those who use our programs so that they will stick with the church over a long span of time.

Blog buzz about Easter lesson

2008-03-19T22:30:00.000-05:00

In my blog reading tonight, I ran across this really interesting discussion about the way one curriculum company (First Look) is handling Easter with preschoolers. The comments that follow go into an interesting philosophical conversation about the validity of using secular cognitive psychology in Christian education. I sense that this blogger comes from a pretty conservative position, but it is an interesting discussion on many levels.

When a kid surprises you

2008-03-19T10:32:00.000-05:00

My nine year old son has been causing me a lot of worry and frustration this winter. He is negative, moody, emotional, and sensitive. He calls school "jail" and hates to have babysitters at home. Now this is also my oldest child, so I know that I tend to over react to everything that happens with him. Sometimes I see the same behaviors in my other kids and it doesn't concern me nearly as much!

Last night at bedtime we were doing devotions using a Holy Week devotional we had gotten at church. We were in the girls bedroom and my 7 year old (a spiritual champion already) was using her Bible. Justin surprised me by running to his room, grabbing his Bible and finding the passage. He said, "Emily, you read the first five verses and I'll read the last five." He followed along and jumped right in when it was his turn.

What's up with that? My sullen grumpy kid, who goofs off through Sunday School and refuses to go to midweek clubs, is choosing to participate and take leadership in family devotions? "There's hope," I whispered to my husband!

It's spring break this week. This morning we are watching some extra kids. Justin has gone out of his way to be sweet, helpful and kind to the visiting three year old. He helped her with the craft project we were working on. He helped her pick a Princess movie and put it in the dvd player. He's always been gentle and good with little ones, but to see it in action with someone outside of our family made me say, "There's hope!"

How many times do we feel like giving up on a kid in our ministry or in our family? A kid who is so tough to get through to, a kid who doesn't respond to anything we try? The lesson for me today is, "Keep trying. There's hope! God isn't done with this kid yet!"

Oh no, gotta go! He just hit his sister in the head...

Guest Blogger on Disney vacations and things spiritual

2008-01-28T10:47:00.000-06:00

We just got back from a week in Florida with both sets of grandparents. My dad, who was with us for 2 days in Disney World, wrote this about our time there. He agreed to let me share it here! He writes a regular commentary for Moody radio in his position as VP for Broadcasting at Moody. Yep, I'm pretty proud of him!

My thoughts on vacationing with children and things spiritual later this week. But for now, here is good old Dad!

Moody Radio Commentary
1/30/08

Last week I joined our grandchildren (and their parents) at
Disneyworld. We had been in Florida on business. Our kids happened
to be at Disney at the same time and asked us to join them for a couple
days.

I’d been to Disney with our daughters when they were
little. After they grew up, my wife, Norma and I went as a couple: 2
adults. I’m sure our children thought we must be miserable there just the
two of us without our children. Not so much!

Being there with
grandkids was different. We helped with the little ones, but it was harder
to say no to the “I want that” statements from grandkids than it was years ago
to our own kids.

And, when there were meltdowns with the kids, we
had to quietly fade into the background while parents took the parental
discipline duties.

I got philosophical on this trip.
After one of the attractions, I browsed the ever-present gift shops and was
reading (not buying) inscriptions on some of the items.

For
example:

“There’s no journey like the journey into
imagination.” That made me think about my faith. And what the Bible
says that God is able to do immeasurably MORE than we can ask or
imagine.

Or take this one:

“Where dreams come
true” Disney is about dreams coming true and wishing upon a star. We
can wish all we want, but we know that not all dreams come true. However,
I do know that “with God, all things are possible to him who believes.”

And this one made me pause:

“Where everyone is happy,
no matter what your name.” Even with all the fun and amusements, even with
food and delights of every kind, I noticed not everyone is happy. Like the
mother at the cash register screaming loudly at her son who was running out the
door to the next adventure.

Or the dad saying, “We spend all this
money on you and all you do is complain.”

Or the little girl who
got frightened by an overly-aggressive Prince Charming

Or
the kid with a major melt-down from miles of walking, hours of attractions, and
a long day of stimulus overload.

Disney does a great job of
providing a day of Fantasy. But life goes on. Paying 72 dollar
admission doesn’t buy joy, peace, love and fulfillment of all your
dreams.

And then we have to adjust back to reality. After
Disney, our daughter’s family spent a couple days at the beach. She and
our 3 year old grandson were fascinated by the waves cascading on the
shore. She asked little Jacob “who made the waves?” Jacob responded:
“Mickey Mouse.” I guess they have a little theological re-adjusting
to do after the Magic Kingdom.

Year ago, Jay Kessler wrote a
Christian book he titled: “I Never Promised you a Disneyland.” The premise
of the book was that God never said all our dreams would come true. We
have no promise that life will be magical and fun. There’s no pixie dust
that will take us out of difficult situations.

In the real
adventureland of life, there are trials, disappointments, times of
unhappiness. But God promises to be there with us…with the result that we
will grow in patience and in virtue.

And it won’t cost you $74.00
to experience it.

For Moody Radio, I’m Wayne Pederson

When a lesson hits home

2008-01-15T08:49:00.000-06:00

Our main point for this week's lessons was "Disciples of Jesus help others even if it costs them." The story was the Good Samaritan. The video skit from Elevate's Winter Extreme series illustrated the point really well. In small groups the kids made candy filled Valentine treat bags for area Children's Pastors who will be at our church this week for a network meeting. They weren't allowed to eat any of the candy as they worked in order to get across the point.

When I got home I started to think about the main point. Disciples of Jesus help others EVEN IF IT COSTS THEM. It was a good lesson for me. So much of my life right now is about parenting our young kids. They are an intensive, 24/7 kind of job. On Sunday morning in particular I was grumbling a bit because my 5 year old and 7 year old daughters were up at 6:30 am, ready to go in to church with me. They love to come with me at the early hour rather than coming in later with dad. My church job has in some ways been a break from the rest of my life. It gets me out of the house, thinking of things other than diapers and bottles and tying shoes and solving sibling conflicts. But now they want to go with me! Grumble I might, but today I heard that "Disciples of Jesus help others (even their own kids) even if it costs them." Even if there is no reward. Even if there is no thank you. Even if it is inconvenient. Even if it cuts into my "me-time."

The same thing can be said of the volunteers in our ministry. We do thank them often. I frequently pray that God will give them a sense of reward for their work. But showing up every week to work with kids COSTS them. They rearrange family schedules, they get up early, they may miss out on some adult education opportunities. They don't always see the difference they are making in the lives of their kids. They sometimes leave with a headache. But, they do it because they are disciples of Jesus. And Disciples of Jesus help others EVEN IF IT COSTS THEM.

It was a good attitude adjustment for me. So today when I am carrying a clinging, whining toddler through the grocery store I will remember that this is what disciples of Jesus do. They help, they love, they serve even when it isn't easy. I think that the teacher may have learned more than the students this week!

Ear to the ground

2008-01-03T11:50:00.001-06:00

Over Christmas break I spent a lot of time in the van with my kids and their friends. These rides offered valuable glimpses into their worlds as I listened to their chatter.

One consistent theme in their conversations was comparison and one-upmanship. Maybe this was especially obvious because we just got done with the gift-giving frenzy that is Christmas. I heard it among 9 year old boys and 5 year old girls alike. Who got what, who has the better video game system, whose video game system cost the most, whose dad has the most money, whose grandpa has the biggest house, who is going on the best vacation, and on and on.

It hit me! By having my ear to the ground, I uncovered a real-life, relevant issue that kids are facing. How can we show kids what the Bible has to say about contentment, materialism, selfishness and bragging? How can we help them become more like Jesus by applying His teachings to a situation like this?

Keeping up on pop-culture and technology is important. But if we really want to affect kids in significant ways, we need to keep up with the issues that they are facing while they are driving in carpools, playing at recess and interacting with their siblings.

Do you have places where you can get your ear to the ground to hear what kids are facing? Get yourself near a group of kids. Listen. Don't interrupt. Don't ask questions. Don't direct the conversation. Listen to their words and listen between the lines.

Happy New Year

2007-12-31T22:28:00.000-06:00

I'm sitting in my messy house enjoying the dying fire. Tonight we had a crazy New Years Eve party with two other families from church. We started out the evening with sledding. Then we had dinner at our house. First we served kid-fare to the 11 little ones, then the adults ate. The kids were dying to get started on dessert with the chocolate fountain I got for Christmas. By the time we got dessert ready, it was time for our early countdown complete with noisemakers, hats, confetti and toasts. Everyone headed home by 9:30 to get their kids to bed. We had games and a time of sharing on our agenda, but that didn't happen tonight. Tonight it was all about the kids. And they had a great time!

This is our small group. We began meeting about a year and a half ago with the desire to intentionally include the kids in a meaningful way. We were looking for something that had been missing from other small group experiences. In a lot of ways this new experience has been successful. But I always feel a little frustrated that our meetings are somewhat disjointed and not all that focused with the inclusion of the kids. It was one thing to SAY that we wanted to include the kids, but it is another thing to DO it.

Tonight was no exception. I was disappointed that we didn't get to have any significant, spiritual sharing time. But when I was able to connect with the kids over cups of confetti, when I saw the kids' friendships with one another developing, when I felt a longing for everyone to stay another hour or two, I knew that we had made another step in the right direction.

Happy New Year. May 2008 bring families together for shared spiritual experiences that result in following Jesus more closely.

This year's top reads

2007-12-27T22:11:00.000-06:00

I read a lot of books this year based on recommendations of other bloggers so most of these won't be a big surprise to anyone, but this is what I liked this year...

Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath: I'm not quite through this one but it is great. I'd love to take a class from the authors and complete assignments to put their principles into practice.

Seven Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Lane Jones, and Reggie Joiner by Andy Stanley. Our team read this together and it definitely lived up to the hype. It was perfect for where our team was this year: a new leader, several new staff members, and a newly articulated church-wide vision.

A Life of Faith Collection by Martha Finley and Kersten Hamilton. Historical fiction for girls with a heavy emphasis on principles of Christian living. I read this with a lot of skepticism since it was billed as a "Christian American Girls" series. We love the American Girls series at our house and I bristled at the thought of Christians trying to do their own version of it. It turns out that these stories pre-date American Girls. The characters Elsie, Violet, Millie, Laylie got under my skin (in a good way). They are really sweet and have great spiritual lessons for girls. I read them all and can't wait to share them with my girls in the next couple of years.

Revolutionary Parenting: What the Research Shows Really Works by George Barna. I blogged about this earlier this year. This follow up to his Spiritual Champions books was fantastic. Huge ministry application as well as a challenge to work harder in my own parenting!

The Big Idea: Focus the Message-multiply the Impact by Dave Ferguson, Eric Bramlett, and Jon Ferguson. I'm a big fan of the ministry of these guys at Community Christian Church in Illinois. Their kids ministry director has a blog about multi-site that has taught me a lot. I was challenged by their premise about picking one key idea to communicate each week. Plan ahead, share resources, reach all groups within the church with the same message. Very cool. I loved peeking into their creative process!

The Fabulous Reinvention of Sunday School: Transformational Techniques for Reaching and Teaching Kids by Aaron Reynolds. Just some really practical stuff that can be put into practice immediately to improve the quality of large group programming. I'm so excited that he's coming to Minneapolis in January. I'm making the across-town drive to hear him!

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jago. This is an incredible kids Bible story book that points to our need for a savior and God's plan to send a rescuer in every story. The language is fresh and kid-friendly. The illustrations are fresh too - not cutesy and not old-fashioned either. We read this as a family and I loved it as much as the kids did! I can see using this as curriculum in a kids worship setting!

Questions for 2008

2007-12-27T19:06:00.000-06:00

As this year comes to an end, it is time to look forward to a new one. Here are some questions that I will take into 2008.

1. How can our take-home papers be improved so that parents are compelled to take them home and read them?

2. How can our Sunday program and our Wednesday program complement one another? How can we maximize the impact we have on the kids who attend both?

3. How can we improve the quality of our large group programming? How can we bring in more volunteers who have skills and passions in the area of music, communication and technology? How can we help people see that Kids Min is an area where those gifts can be used?

4. How can we get to deeper discussion, closer community and more authentic reflection in our small group times with kids?

Reward

2007-10-21T18:12:00.003-05:00

Today I heard a 4th grader tell her small group leader, "You are the best teacher in the whole world!" I could see that the leader was touched. When I saw the girl later I told her that I often pray for God to give our volunteers a sense of reward for what they do. Her eyes lit up when I said, "Your kind words were an answer to my prayers!"

Also this morning a child brought me a drawing. She said, "This is for Mr. Mike." Mike isn't even her own leader, but he does teach large group occasionally. I told her that I would mail it to him on Monday. Later she returned to our area and asked for her picture back. She had seen Mr. Mike in the lobby and wanted to personally deliver her gift.

Thanks Lord for giving our leaders a sense of reward for what they are doing in the lives of kids! Ministry isn't easy or glamorous. It's a sacrifice as well as a privilege. I know we'll be rewarded in heaven for our work, but these earthly rewards from our kids mean a lot!

Thinking creatively at Mall of America

2007-10-16T19:25:00.001-05:00

Our team has been STUCK for several months on the task of developing a new name and image for our ministry. The topic always seems to get tacked onto the end of an already too long meeting agenda. This week we devoted the entire meeting to the topic of renaming the ministry with a field trip to the Mall of America.

Our team of 10 paired off randomly. Each pair got twenty bucks and 45 minutes to wander the mall looking for inspiration. At 7:30 we met at Tucci Benucc for dinner and to share ideas, observations and purchases. Two and half hours later we left, having had a great discussion, a fun time of fellowship and most importantly WE CAME UP WITH A GREAT CONCEPT which everyone is excited about.

Getting out of the office made a huge difference for us. We had fun together and looked to the world-of-kids for inspiration and creativity. We need to do this more often!

Jesus A to Z Quilt

2007-08-18T11:45:00.000-05:00

As part of our Bible 'n' Books series, which I am loving and want to bring back every August, we have an art response in small group time. The day we did Jesus A to Z, the kids made this quilt. At our fall kick-off, we will have an art show to display all their work.

Kids at Camp

2007-08-09T09:36:00.001-05:00

Our first grader and second grader just got back from a 3 night camp experience at Trout Lake Camp which is owned and operated by our denomination. They had a good time and want to go back next summer for a whole week. A few things that surprised me about this new adventure...

1. No one prepared me for the post-camp meltdown. Almost immediately after camp concluded the meltdowns began. For one kid it was a major tantrum stemming from extreme fatigue and several days of working hard to control emotions like a 'big girl.' For our other kid it was total intolerance and frustration with his sister's tantrum. Fortunately this all passed pretty quickly.

2. I didn't cry when we dropped them off, although I was a little nervous. I didn't cry when they were gone, although I did frequently think about them. But when the entire group of campers came running and screaming into the closing program on the last day, I cried.

3. I saw lots of older kids from our church. Those kids were there for the whole week, so they still had a few days left when I saw them. I told several of them I'd tell their moms I saw them. I asked if they had any messages for me to deliver. None of them did! But when I called the moms with my report, they were all delighted to hear that all was well with their kids at camp.

4. Camp bathrooms are scary to kids? My seven year old daughter informed me that she only used the bathroom ONCE the whole time she was at camp. (Sunday at 5 until Wednesday at 10.) Oh my...

Lots to think about now. What can the local church do to follow up on a kid's camp experience? Next year I will make an effort to send letters or e-mails to the kids from our church. It would be great if the kids pastor would even visit camp for lunch one day. Just knowing the camp's theme and some of the favorite songs could be a useful way to reach our kids when they get back home. I also would like to find out what kinds of spiritual decisions and commitments were made by our kids.

Jesus A to Z

2007-08-05T21:26:00.000-05:00

Today we did a lesson called "Jesus A to Z" in our Bible 'n' Books series. Using an alphabet book by the same name, we asked kids to think of words that described Jesus. We wrote them alphabetically on a chart, attempting to find a word for each letter of the alphabet. The responses of the kids ranged from culturally hip lingo - "sweet" and "amazing" - to the deeply theological - "Holy," "Jehovah" and "Sovereign". But the most memorable response was the little girl who said, "D for Democrat!" I loved watching the teacher handle that one!

Quality children's literature

2007-07-13T00:16:00.000-05:00

We're in the midst of writing a series called The Bible 'n' Books. Our intent is to use quality children's literature and student art responses to teach favorite portions of scripture. It is going to be a refreshing change from our typical high-energy, multi-media programming. I hope that we can connect kids to the Bible in a fresh way. Perhaps we'll grab some kids who haven't gotten into it previously.

The first challenge was to find quality children's literature. I began my search at a leading online Christian bookstore. Then I went to Amazon. It was difficult to even know which search words to use to pinpoint what I was looking for. After much browsing, I ordered a bunch of books.

While we were awaiting the Amazon order, my colleague and I went to our local Christian bookstore. We were disappointed to find very little quality kids lit. We went on to Borders and Barnes and Noble. Again, we didn't find much. We found the Noah's Ark books by Peter Spiers and Jan Brett - those definitely fit our criteria and were familiar to us as former grade school teachers. But the best find of the day was the Jesus Storybook Bible: Every story whispers his name by Sally Lloyd-Jones. It's newly published and has fantastic kid-friendly, but not-too-babyish language. We loved the way it told the story of the Lord's Prayer.

With that we nailed down our four lessons and themes. Noah's Ark, Psalm 23, The Lord's Prayer, and Jesus A to Z.

Then two days later the package from Amazon arrived. I was delighted to find some fantastic, beautiful books. Now we definitely have options for doing The Bible 'n' Books again next year. Here are some of my favorites:

At Break of Day by Nikki Grimes This is the story of creation showing the conversation that Jesus and God the Father may have had as they worked together to create the world.

To Every Thing there is a Season by Leo Dillon a beautiful book featuring art from cultures around the world illustrating the familiar passage in Ecclesiastes.

Jesus the Word by Mark Botuzzi-Jones covers John 1:1, the Trinity, and the Incarnation in an artful and poetic manner.

A few more pictures

2007-07-06T15:48:00.000-05:00

For the first time 5th graders were included in the week. Even they got into the western theme by dressing up!

A lemonade stand to raise money for the VBS missions project.

Minda and Rowdy, our hosts for the Sing and Play Stampede.

Small group time

I am thankful for our creative and artistic volunteers who made a great visual environment.

Vacation Bible School

2007-07-06T15:26:00.001-05:00

Vacation Bible School is two weeks behind us and I am still on the high! We used Group's Avalanche Ranch curriculum two consecutive weeks at the two campuses. Sharing the planning, the workload and the resources was a wonderful new thing for us.

This was the first year that we had a VBS planning committee. In the past one volunteer has directed the entire week. A group of 5 from each campus worked together and shared this year's load. The committee had a mix of paid staff and volunteers. I can't imagine getting it done without a group of creative and committed people. Last year's director (who stepped aside this year) wants to join the committee for next year. Now that says a lot!

There were some amazing God moments during the VBS where we saw His provision and His protection. There were also some gripping moments where we saw the enemy trying his hardest to put an end to what was happening.

I'm sort of a new fan of VBS. As a weekend program person, I always saw VBS as a big drain of time, money and people for just a one week event. There is a glamour surrounding a week like VBS that you just don't have during the year-round schedule of Sundays and Wednesdays! I think I was partly jealous of that. I also felt that the outreach mindset of VBS was a farce as the huge majority of attenders were from within the church.

BUT NOW...I know that having our own church kids for an intensive week is a huge asset to our ministry goals. We can get things done that just don't happen during an hour on Sunday or Wednesday. I saw that my own children were significantly spiritually impacted by their experience.

And I think that the best way to really make this an outreach is to train our people to be inviters. Signs, flyers and newspaper ads cannot surpass the potential of our own people bringing unchurched friends. That will be a goal for next year!

There's a lot more to say about VBS, but summer is halfway over and we've got a fall to prepare for!

Cool decor idea

2007-05-29T13:44:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about what I can do to add some pizazz to the stage area in our Children's Center. Aaron Reynold's book "The Fabulous Reinvention of Sunday School" challenged me to find something generic rather than thematic. He suggests targeting the oldest boys in the room, looking to places like Old Navy for color trends, and using repetition to make a visual impact.

When I ran across a little article in TIME about Wall Pops, I knew I'd hit upon a possible solution. Wall pops are repositionable vinyl stickers in geometric shapes. Many fun colors and patterns are available. The prices are reasonable and you can use an interactive tool on the website to create your own design.

Church with kids

2007-05-27T14:44:00.000-05:00

Because of Memorial Day weekend, we had a 'planned pause' in kids ministry. Our school year team finished up last week and our summer team begins next week. Today we encouraged families to worship together in big church.

Driving to church together as a family was wonderful change from my usual pre-dawn solo Sunday commute. We dropped the little ones off in the early childhood area and headed to the worship center with our two grade schoolers. Justin was immediately disappointed when he realized that he'd have to sit in big church - "It's boring!" he said.

When the music began, Emily looked at me and said "We sing this one in Sunday School!" She was right, but something was missing without the fun motions and dancing!

Then my husband pointed to the sermon outline. The topic for the morning: HELL. Fortunately the kids picked up their pads of paper and occupied themselves with drawing during the message. Later, over lunch, I asked the kids if they knew what the pastor talked about at church. Justin spelled the answer: "H -- E -- L -- L," as if he were afraid he'd get in trouble for saying a naughty word.

Oh boy! The joys of 'worshiping together as a family!' This is what I'm chewing on after this experience:

1. Families need to have shared spiritual experiences. Simply sitting together in an adult service doesn't necessarily create the opportunities for springboard conversations throughout the week. This service was just over-their-heads. Perhaps a family discussion guide stuffed inside a kids bulletin would be a useful tool.

2. Familiarity is a good thing. When the band played music that my kids knew, they perked up and were able to engage. If we do this in the future let's coordinate with the worship staff so that they can select some songs that kids will recognize. Better yet, let's get some kids up front to help lead worship.

3. When family worship is a once-in-a-while thing, we need to be more intentional about preparing kids, families, and staff for it. I can't just look at it as a break for me and my volunteers. I need to continue to advocate for kids, looking out for their spiritual formation.

Chuck E Church

2007-05-23T08:20:00.001-05:00

Marko from Youth Specialties blogged today about perceptions of an attractional kids ministry. Some of the terminology he uses is interesting! He called one such ministry a "Children's Show" and later he uses the term "Chuck E. Church." It's a good reminder that we need to be sure that our fun, kid-friendly environments are backed up with solid teaching, good theology, and a biblical vision for spiritual formation!

Things that made me smile today

2007-05-20T22:39:00.000-05:00

It was the last day of our school year Sunday School program. Next week we begin our summer schedule with a new team of volunteers. Here are some of the things that made me smile today...

1. All of the small group leaders showed up today with little gifts or handwritten notes for the kids in their groups. What a great way to say, "I've loved being your leader this year. You are a super kid!"

2. Several volunteers brought up the topic of 'next year'. Yay! Many are planning to return and most of them want to bump up to the next grade level so they can follow their kids.

3. A couple of volunteers brought ME thank you cards and gifts. Imagine that - volunteers saying thanks for letting them serve!

4. A VBS volunteer told me that when I asked her to try out a new area of ministry, the drama team, I confirmed something that God had been speaking to her.

5. A long nap in the afternoon.

6. A backyard bonfire with my family and the neighbor kids.

I'm so thankful for the sense of reward God gave me today. It's just what I need to take on what's ahead!

2007-04-23T12:56:00.000-05:00

Church Marketing Sucks is an interesting website with a provocative name. I rarely find anything there that pertains specifically to kids ministry, but today I ran across this article about using mascots in Children's Ministry programs. The comments that follow are as interesting as the article!

Barna, Parenting, and the Church

2007-04-22T22:07:00.000-05:00

Barna's previous book, "Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions" really puffed me up as a kids ministry person. He made a strong case for the importance of reaching children for Christ before they reach the age of 13. He said that children's ministry was the most important ministry in the church. Wow, did that make me feel validated in my work!

I've just finished his new book "Revolutionary Parenting." This new book deflated me pretty quickly! He maintains the importance of reaching kids before age 13, but he says that it is parents that will do it - not the church. He says that parents need to stop relying on the church to do all the spiritual training of kids. He says that the church needs to focus on adults - nurturing and equipping them so that they can build into their kids spiritually.

What's a kids ministry person to do with this? I read on, looking for the answer.

1. Barna says that parents who raise spiritual champions view the church as an invaluable partner, but not the end-all-and-be-all, in nurturing the faith of their children.

2. Families who raise spiritual champions look to the church for emotional support in difficult times, relationships with others who share their values, and spiritual nurture and challenge.

3. These parents expect the church to reinforce what they are teaching and modeling at home. "Amplification of biblical principles and lifestyle choices - coming from both home and church - becomes a powerful one-two punch in the parents' assault on the world's alternatives."

4. Churches are valued because of their ability to to connect kids with friends who are more likely to have biblical values and parents who are committed to their faith.

5. Churches are valued for the worship and service opportunities they provide.

What a great book! It challenged me to think more about defining and communicating the roles of kids ministry programs and of parents. It is encouraging me to find effective ways to inform families of the learning experiences that are happening at church. It has helped me to see the vital connection between the church's adult ministries and kids ministries. And it has sharpened my focus on the priority of relationships, community, fellowship experiences and worship experiences.

Do numbers matter?

2007-04-15T13:45:00.000-05:00

Here's a youth ministry guy with an interesting take on using numbers as a measure of our ministry success. I like what he has to say. We don't hear this side of the story often enough!

Barna's new book

2007-04-14T16:24:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I got Barna's new book Revolutionary Parenting. Only through the introduction and the first chapter, I'm compelled to read on. I remember some of this stuff from his earlier book on raising spiritual champions, but this is a good review! Some things that jumped out at me...

1. Because of the importance of childhood in faith development, children's ministry is "the single most influencial ministry a church engages in."

2. "Churches alone do not and cannot have much influence on children. In fact, the greatest influence a church may have in affecting children is by impacting the parents."

3. "I have become convinced that the spiritual war ocurring in individual lives is pretty much won or lost by the age 13."

I think I am going to be challenged by this book in my own parenting as well in my ministry to kids. Again the question is raised: How do we work together with families to see that kids grow up to be spiritual champions? I hope he has some good ideas!

The reluctant storyteller

2007-04-13T14:37:00.000-05:00

I found it a thrill to talk through the story of Christ's death and resurrection with my kids last week. It shocked me to learn that not all parents feel that way.

The day before Easter I had breakfast with some old friends. One said, "On Friday we drove past a big church near our house. There were about 60 kids and families marching outside with a big wooden cross. My five and a half year old asked what they were doing. I thought 'oh no; here we go.' So I had to get into the whole story about how they nailed Jesus to the cross." She rolled her eyes and said it with disdain, as if she was sorry that her little girl had to be burdened with the knowledge of this story.

This was such a great reminder to me that the kids in our church aren't necessarily getting a biblical foundation in their homes. This raises the stakes for me as I program for kids. I realized that I tend to err on the side of assuming that they've heard it all before.

It also showed me that we need to continue looking for ways to provide families with tools to help them talk about spiritual things with their kids. This year we sent an Easter basket home with each child on Palm Sunday. The basket was filled with a modified Resurrection Egg set and had an accompanying daily devotional for the family. In our house it worked really well. And I heard great comments from other families as well.

As we go through the rest of the year, what kinds of things can we do to help kids continue their learning and their thinking about spiritual things when they are in their homes? What resources can we give parents so that it is fun, accessible and non-threatening to have positive spiritual influence on their kids?

Ripples of Faithfulness

2007-04-05T22:25:00.001-05:00

Bob and Shirley are a retired couple who bring several kids to church each week. When the kids can't make it to church, Shirley still comes by the kids area to pick up papers and verse cards for them. She always has an encouraging word for me!

It started about ten years ago with Leah, the daughter of Shirley's former student whom she had kept in touch with. Then quite a few years later Leah's two little sisters began attending. Soon after that a pair of cousins joined them. Most recently we met cousins of the cousins, from the other side of the family. We're talking three different families and eight kids!

We've had some sweet moments with their bunch. We've given the kids Bibles. We've been there when they've chosen to accept Christ. We've provided discipleship materials for Shirley to use with the kids. We've been honored to minister to the kids in some special ways - praying with them about their sick dog, delivering precious lost Heelies to their home!

I don't know where their parents are spiritually. We don't see much of them. In fact when Bob and Shirley go south for the winter, we don't see the kids either. But something changed this year. This year we're beginning to see some more ripple effects of Bob and Shirley's faithfulness.

This winter, one of the moms decided that she would get the kids to our club program on Wednesdays. She picks up the kids from their Catholic religious education class, then brings them to our church for Kids Club. She's there every week for drop off and pick up, so I've been able to get to know her a bit.

It all started with the faithfulness of one couple. A couple who isn't even biologically related to any of them! I can't wait to see how God uses the actions of Bob and Shirley to create further ripple effects in the lives of these kids and their families.

Deal or No Deal

2007-02-15T21:51:00.000-06:00

We did a fun review game in small groups this week based on NBC's hit game show DEAL or NO DEAL.

Prepare envelopes or file folders to be the "suitcases" by labeling the outsides with numbers 1-15. Randomly fill each suitcase with a number from 1-15. Prepare a chart with a list of the numbers 1-15.

The numbers inside the suitcases represent pieces of candy that can be won. The case that remains at the end of the game will be opened to determine how many candies each child will get.

One at a time ask kids review questions. Upon answering the question correctly, the child may pick a suitcase to open and eliminate. When the number inside is revealed, cross it off the chart.

When only one suitcase remains, open it to see how many pieces of candy each child will win.

There's no banker, no deals and no beautiful models. But it was a hit with plenty of tension, drama, squealing and laughter.

Nasty Spam

2007-02-15T21:49:00.000-06:00

It just feels wrong to open your church e-mail account and see a nasty four letter word in a subject line. I hate spam!

2 Extremes on Kids Ministry Spectrum

2007-02-15T21:25:00.000-06:00

In Blogworld I've run across two extreme views on the kids ministry spectrum.

This guy does not allow children in the service at his church. His rationale is that kids can be distracting to worshipers and that church can be boring to kids. He doesn't want kids to grow up hating church so they provide a cool, fun and exciting program specifically for them. He claims that he does this not out of a disdain for children or a devaluing of them. He says that the way to truly value kids and minister to them is to create great programs just for them. But still, to say you DO NOT ALLOW kids in the service just seems harsh and rubs me the wrong way.

This woman, and I know there are many others in her camp, thinks that separate kids programs are detrimental to families and to the church. If it were up to her there would be no more Sunday Schools and Children's Churches. Kids and youth would worship together with their families. I don't agree with this extreme either. In fact she makes the last guy sound like he's the one who is getting it right.

So what do you think? Do kids have a place in 'big church'? Are there other ways to welcome and include them in the church body while running age specific programs? Can't we just have our cake and eat it too?

A record is set!

2007-02-06T21:49:00.000-06:00

As a small time blogger I just love it when I get comments on my posts. I just got one that gets the prize for 'lengthiest comment on Christy's little blog.' Actually the post got quite a few comments, but the 4th one was the longest ever! It's oddly flattering to think that someone would take so much time to respond point-by-point to my writing. Don't worry - I won't get a big head over it!

Now that basketball is over...

2007-02-05T18:06:00.000-06:00

I was pretty green as a youth sports parent when I wrote this. Now that the season is over I can say that it wasn't all roses and sunshine. All in all it was a great experience for my kids and our whole family. But we did see some ugly stuff too:

1. Parents who enjoyed complaining continually about the other teams' coaches.
2. Parents who called their kids off the bench to give them game tips or play critiques.
3. Parents who made their kids cry.
4. A dad who sat on the sideline playing with this Blackberry while 'watching' the game.

Is there any correlation to kids ministry? I'll try! There are difficult people wherever you go. Every organization has its bad apples. The negativity of a few does not necessarily affect the whole program.

Baseball and soccer are up next. I wonder what lessons they will hold?

Bible Sunday

2007-02-04T20:19:00.000-06:00

Today we gave Bibles to our first graders. We did it a little differently this year with direction from our new Children's Pastor. In the past we presented the Bibles in "big church." Today we held a separate program for first graders and their families. It allowed us time to do some teaching for the kids and parents. It brought all the first grade families together in good community. It felt more intimate and personal. And we were able to serve donuts and juice! For the most part the change was good and well received.

It is such a fun day when we give the kids their Bibles. I am always amazed at how excited each kid is and how they treasure their new book. The majority of our kids are from churchy families with plenty of financial resources. Still, these kids just glow with giddiness when they see their shiny new NIV Adventure Bibles, inscribed with their names.

I have a first grader in my house. Tonight she used her new Bible to complete her "homework" from our midweek club program. She reads very well, but when she got to John 3:14, she read, "Moses lifted the snack up in the dessert."

These 1st graders have their Bibles, now they just need the Holy Spirit to help them understand it!

A place where the most desperate win

2007-01-24T08:19:00.000-06:00

Where else in the world do the most desperate seem to win? It happens all the time in church ministry. Many departments compete for the same people to serve within their ministries. Sometimes it's a race: which ministry leader asked first? Sometimes it's a beauty contest: which ministry is most glamorous? But oftentimes it is a case of "the most desperate wins."

Today I received an e-mail from a parent I'd asked to serve as a small group leader. He declined because he was already serving two or three times a month (at both services) in another department. His perception of his role was that 'they have a really hard time finding people to do this.'

It's happened within our own kids ministries department too. This fall I had two talented individuals lined up to teach large group, but then they heard about the 'desperate situation' in early childhood and decided to serve there.

Maybe I need to be more desperate! Actually, I refuse to play the desperation card. We need to figure out a better way to work together as a church so that all volunteer needs are known. We need to lose the competitive mindset when it comes to staffing programs. We need to recognize that people serve best when they are in their areas of passion and giftedness.

The only place I want to be desperate is before God. He will supply all my needs!

God's Math is Different Than Ours

2007-01-19T21:42:00.000-06:00

We live and do ministry in a culture where size is everything. Success is measured in terms of attendance, dollars and growth. This can be discouraging to those of us who serve in average sized congregations. Our church has actually seen a decline in attendance over the last two years due to some significant transition issues. We easily get hung up on this and feel like we are failing.

Should we continue running programs that only serve a small number of kids? This question inevitably comes up in our growth obsessed era. I visited one such small program this week and came away with fresh perspective.

No, there weren't hundreds of kids there. But the 20 kids that were present had a place at church to call their own. They had leaders who were building into their lives. They had a great spot to bring their unchurched friends. They were learning about following Jesus.

The leader of the program also gets discouraged by the number thing. I was trying to offer her some words of encouragement, telling her that I saw wonderful things happening for the kids who were there. I found myself saying, "God's math is different than ours!" And it's true! Just look at some of these examples from the Bible...

He created the world in just 6 days.
He populated the entire earth with just 1 man and 1 woman.
He destroyed the earth with a flood and started over with Noah, his family and an arkful of animals.
He promised Abraham a nation, but didn't give him an heir until he was 100 years old - then he asked him to give his son up at Moriah.
He offered to spare Sodom and Gomorrah is only 10 righteous people were found.
He allowed the Hebrews to multiply rapidly despite cruelty and oppression in Egypt.
He told Gideon that his army was too large to defeat the Midianites. Twice he reduced the size of the army for his own glory.
He used the tiny mustard seed to illustrate the kingdom of heaven.
He fed 5000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes.
He values the 1 lost sheep even he has 99 others.
He said the poor widow gave more than all the others..

Yes, God's math is different than ours. He doesn't see things the way we do. He doesn't value large attendance, big budgets, and growth the way our culture does. And thank goodness for that!

Let's keep our eyes on what's important - helping kids, whether there are 20 or 200 or 2000, choose to follow Jesus each day of their lives.

Concrete Much?

2007-01-18T16:48:00.000-06:00

Last night I sat in on the teaching time at one of our club programs. I was acutely reminded of just how concrete kids are in their thinking.

The teacher was using a road trip as an analogy for one's spiritual life. He talked about maps, GPS systems, clues a la AMAZING RACE and road signs.

At one point he asked, "What are the road signs in our spiritual lives?"

SILENCE!

He went on to suggest to the answerless kids, "Maybe if you find that you aren't lying as much anymore, that could be a road sign that you are going in the right direction."

A little girl said, "What? Why would there be a road sign about lying?"

He clarified, "We're talking about the road of LIFE."

A lightbulb went on and she said excitedly, "Oh, LIFE! I love that game!"

Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist and learning theorist, suggested that kids aged seven through eleven are in the "concrete operational" stage of development. Kids in this stage need to have experience with the concrete before they can make sense of new concepts. And those concrete experiences need to tie more closely to a kid's reality than to that of an adult.

This was a great reminder to me. When it comes to communicating with the 7-11 set, I want to speak plainly, use concrete terms and examples, and evaluate my presentation by listening to their responses.

Jesus, Happy Meal Toys and Salvation

2007-01-08T22:39:00.000-06:00

Last week I overheard an interesting conversation coming from the backseat of the minivan. My four year old asked her eight year old brother if he was following Jesus. My son said, "Well, that's sort of up to Jesus to decide. He will decide if I'm following Him good enough to get to heaven."

Uh oh - time for a little theological correction!

This kid of mine is a real thinker. In the past he's responded to the gospel with "I need to think about it. I need to read my Bible more to learn more about God." I always like hearing what's going on in his head!

So I inserted myself into the conversation for a review of sin, grace, atonement, and salvation. But it wasn't until the next day that the Happy Meal story came to mind - and I knew it would be the perfect way to clarify the concept of grace and the free gift of salvation. I found my boy and told him the story.

Remember that day a couple years back? You and I weren't getting along. You were being crabby and mean and disobedient. Nothing I did was making a difference in your behavior. Finally in desparation I said, "Okay buddy, no Happy Meal for you when we go to lunch. You'll just get a cheeseburger and a drink - no toy!"

When we got to McDonalds, your sisters got Happy Meals with toys while you very sadly ate your burger. I don't remember if you cried or fussed, but somehow one of the employees noticed your sadness. He brought a toy over to our table and gave it to you.

You didn't deserve the toy. But in his kind-heartedness he brought you one. All you had to do was take it and it would be yours.

That's kind of how it is with God. Even though we don't deserve to go to heaven, he makes the free gift available to us. All we have to do is take it!

He remembered the incident clearly and it helped him make sense of a big theological concept. The thing that made this incident so memorable was that the Hispanic employee's name was 'Jesus' - but to my very white, very suburban kids, his nametag read JESUS.

A Lesson in Humility

2006-12-13T22:56:00.000-06:00

I'd heard that our custodial team had some new help in the form of a volunteer, but I didn't give it much thought until I found out who it was.

I had a really cumbersome, heavy box from Ikea in my van. I needed assistance to unload it and get it downstairs. I found one of our full time custodians having coffee with the new volunteer custodian. To my surprise he was a former college professor of mine!

I took two Bible classes from this man while in college. The classes stand out to me as memorable and life-impacting in ways that other classes were not. This man is highly academic and has traveled the world extensively. Yet now, retired, he is serving as a church custodian.

Not just speaking flattery, I told the professor about my positive memories of his classes and the impact they had on me. His response was filled with humility and grace.

As he helped transport this big load, he took time to speak some kind words to my tag-along four year old. He said that he didn't want to "toot his own horn," but if asked he would consider teaching at church. In words and in actions he exemplified Christ-like humility.

What a lesson! It is far more common to hear people talking about "what big thing" they can "do for God." It is rare and sweet to see someone who once was doing the big things, now just simply serving.

Lord let me learn from the Professor. Give me humility so that I may serve You with a pure, unselfish heart!

Amplifying Our Teachers

2006-12-11T13:49:00.000-06:00

I recently heard a discussion on talk radio about the use of sound systems in public school classrooms. It seems that more and more school teachers are using microphones to aid their instruction and classroom climate. Here's what a December 4, 2006 article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune had to say...

It's read-aloud time and Johanna Tweit's second-graders at Normandale Hills Elementary in Bloomington sit in a cluster at her feet.
Despite that closeness, Tweit wears a wireless microphone around her neck, and before long it comes in handy.

A girl gets up to examine a large stuffed character at the edge of the group, but when Tweit whispers "Lydia" into the mike the wanderer hears and returns to the fold. The lesson continues uninterrupted.

Whether because of poor acoustics, hearing impairments or students learning English as a second language, the use of amplified classrooms is spreading across Minnesota and the nation.

Educators mindful of the need to boost test scores are finding that when kids hear better they can learn more effectively.

Improved audio will become as standard in schools as effective lighting, says Jeff Anderson, president of a leading audio supplier. He said sales at Utah-based Audio Enhancement have grown substantially since the federal No Child Left Behind law was passed in 2002.

Normandale Hills Principal Thomas Lee can't prove that the investment is improving scores, but he cites increasing anecdotal evidence.

"It makes a big difference in how much [students] engage" in class discussion, he said. "It's like adults. If we don't hear, we begin to fidget."

Lee patched together enough money in the past three years to equip 14 classrooms with infrared wireless microphones, amplifiers and speakers. Cost: about $1,500 apiece -- "basically the price of a computer," he said. He has equipped kindergarten to fourth-grade classes so far and has about six rooms to go.

Hans Olson, a Normandale fourth-grade teacher, said his amplified voice makes enunciation clear so that kids "can hear sounds better." He said that has improved performance on spelling tests.

Although "I'm a loud person" even without a mike, the equipment lets him command a youngster's attention without raising his voice.

"It's not rude," he said. "It's a nice little gesture."

The soft-spoken Tweit agrees.

"I don't think I could go back to teaching without it," she said. "We talk all day long and there's less wear and tear on my voice. I don't have to repeat, and the kids say it feels as though I'm talking right to them."

Normandale's teachers also pass around a hand-held mike that helps students feel a bit important while they recite or answer questions.

Fourth-grade teacher Melinda Chau said that makes it "kind of a classroom-management piece. ...

"I'm calmer. I don't have to talk above the kids," she said.

Kindergarten teacher Allison Ludgate said the infrared technology allows her to walk all around her large classroom and still be heard easily.

Barriers to hearing

Audio specialists say that hearing loss is the leading disability among newborns and that about 15 percent of school children have slight hearing impairment.

Normandale's Lee said that young children's frequent ear infections also can reduce their ability to learn "phonemes," the sounds of words.

Students who speak a different language at home often do better when they can hear a teacher's exact pronunciation regardless of background noise, Lee said.

Anderson of Audio Enhancement estimated at least 80 Minnesota districts are using his firm's products. That makes the state the eighth largest among his clients, which range from Florida to California.

Leslie Glaze, former president of the Minnesota Speech-Language-Hearing Association, said the Legislature last session passed a guideline that all new classroom construction take account of acoustic standards.

The Hermantown district near Duluth has fitted nearly all 36 of its K-3 classrooms with wireless amplification and gradually is extending it to upper grades. Superintendent Brad Johnson said that as word spreads, parents with hearing-impaired children in other districts are enrolling them in Hermantown schools under the state's open-enrollment law.

About half of Hopkins' elementary classrooms have enhanced audio, and the Robbinsdale district has ordered equipment for 14 classrooms, said spokesman Jeff Dehler.

While enthusiastic about the audio systems, Lee said it's frustrating when they don't work. One classroom's installation has been so troublesome that the teacher has turned it off until it's fixed.

Sometimes Tweit turns off her system when she asks students to talk during morning class meetings, to make sure kids don't get too used to it.

The new technology has introduced new opportunities for high jinks but not from the kids.

Olson has learned that when he walks through the halls with his mike turned on, his words get picked up by amplifiers in classrooms along the way. Sometimes he playfully chants "Fee, fie, fo, fum."It does scare me sometimes," Tweit said. "He sees me jump."

We are a very medium sized kids ministry. We have between 30 and 75 kids in each of our large group gatherings. When on the lower end of that range, we don't mike our teachers. But this article has caused me to rethink the use of microphones in groups of that size. Many of our large group presenters and worship leaders are reticent to wear a mic - they don't like them or they don't think it is needed. I think it is time to bring the mics back out and do some experimenting.

Will kids engage better when the leader is amplified?
Will distractions be minimized with a teacher miked?
Can we create more positive and focused engergy by using the sound system?

Report on experiment will follow!

The ones who "get it"

2006-12-03T21:46:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday one of our small group leaders told me it would be her last week with her group. It wasn't working out for a number of reasons. Unfortunately she didn't let the girls in her group know she was leaving. She didn't have closure or say any goodbyes. This made me sad, but I think it was me that failed by not clearly conveying the importance of relational ministry.

Two of our other groups have pairs of sisters as leaders. Before I began looking for a replacement small group leader, I approached each of the sisters about taking on a new group. The first girl I asked, a senior in high school, said "I love my kids. I really don't want to leave them!" Now she really "gets it". She understands the importance of relational ministry and is enjoying the results of her investment. Her comment shouldn't have surprised me. I see this in her actions and attitudes every week as she interacts with "her kids". But to hear it verbalized was a huge blessing to me!

What can Kids Ministry learn from youth sports?

2006-12-02T20:53:00.000-06:00

I've always been a little bitter about youth sports. It rubs me the wrong way when families can't come to church because of sports schedules. It irks me when parents can't volunteer in ministry because they are coaching their kids teams. But now we are on the other side of this: my own kids are playing basketball this season. It only took until the second week of the season to begin seeing the value of youth sports. And today, sitting at our second game of the day, I began to wonder, "What can kids ministry learn from youth sports?"

1. A place to belong. Team sports provide kids with a positive identity. They are placed on a team and assigned a coach. This group stays together for the whole season, building relationships based on the common goal of developing ball skills and winning games. Everything down to the uniforms they wear points to the fact that they are in this together. Wouldn't it be great if we could provide the same sense of belonging and team for kids when they are at church?

2. Parental buy-in. After signing their kids up for youth sports, parents are fully dedicated to getting them to practice and to games. They arrange the rest of the family calendar (including church sometimes!) around their child's sport schedule. Parents are a visible and audible presence on the sidelines, cheering their kids and their teammates on to victory. What can churches do to help parents "buy-in" to the importance of the spiritual development of their kids? How can we get parents to be visible, cheering their kids on as they learn to follow Jesus?

3. Don't just teach - coach! Watching the coaches has been a huge lesson in how to lead kids. They do teach skills and run drills. But what impresses me most is the way they constantly provide individual feedback to the kids during the games. "Justin - hands up, hands up, get in his face!" "Emily - stay between your girl and the basket!" "Justin - get open...take the shot" "Good shot Emily" "Way to get the rebound Justin." What if we could take the same approach to the spiritual formation of our kids? What if we went beyond teaching the lessons? What if we could give them individual feedback and encouragement as they walk through life?

There are more questions than answers here. But the season has just gotten started -I've got two more months to sit on the sidelines, cheer for my kids and think about what Kids Ministry can learn from youth sports!

Ministry friends in need

2006-11-18T22:27:00.000-06:00

I love to talk kids ministry: it's what prompted me to do this blog thing in the first place. When I meet someone in kids ministry, I just can't get enough of the shop talk! This summer I met a great woman who is the volunteer director of Children's Ministry at a small urban church plant. Sharing ideas, resources and stories with one another has been a huge encouragement to me. I hadn't heard from her in quite a while when a message from her popped into my e-mail box. Her situation tugged at my heart. I certainly can relate to her challenges. With her permission, here is an excerpt from her e-mail.

Hi Christy!
How is it going? Well, I'm still trying to figure out this whole thing. I had enough teachers for about two weeks, then one gal resigned because it "wasn't her thing", and a couple of weeks ago another teacher, my best teacher, decided to leave the church ( a nightmare situation - It's been like a soap opera). I have asked nearly everybody I can think of, any everyone has turned me down! Can you believe it! Does this happen at xxxxxx? I've got a call out to one guy now, and I'm considering asking a girl that I've never met and whose totally new!

Anyway, I've really feel like I need to keep the teachers I have extremely happy. What do you do for your teachers around Christmas? Do you get them a gift certificate or something?

I let it sit in my inbox for a while, then I felt compelled to respond with this:

Good to hear from you. I'm sorry that you are facing so many challenges right now! I think that your job as the director of kids ministries is to help people see the value of serving children. Paint a picture of the importance of, the need for and the excitement in teaching kids about the most important subject in the world: Jesus. I still am learning that I am not asking someone for a personal favor when I ask them to serve. A NO is not to be taken personally, nor do I owe anything to those who say yes.

Keep the vision in front of your people. Help your pastor to see it too and ask him to teach it from the pulpit.

Don't worry about keeping your volunteers happy - ministry is a sacrifice, but one with huge eternal rewards. Rather, equip them so that they can serve efficiently and successfully. Minister to them so that they can be filled up enough to give back to the kids.

No matter how desperate you feel, don't paint a picture of desparation. We don't want people serving in children's ministries out of guilt. We need to find the right people who can get excited about reaching kids for Jesus. The more of these that you get on your side, the more momentum your ministry will gain.

This is all easier said than done - and no we don't have it all figured out. We have similar struggles here!

I'll be praying for you, your kids and your church!

Christy

Unfortunately it's easier to spout this stuff off than to actually live it out in my own setting. What advice would you seasoned ministry people offer her?

Review: Too Small To Ignore

2006-11-10T13:05:00.000-06:00

This summer I picked up Wess Stafford's book Too Small To Ignore: Why Children Are The Next Big Thing. Stafford is the President of Compassion International. While not a kids ministry book in the traditional sense, this is a must read for anyone who works with kids.

Stafford advocates for the cause of children around the world drawing on his experiences growing up as a missionary kid in a remote and primitive African village. The stories he tells of his boyhood adventure are heartwarming and entertaining. I read several portions aloud to my own kids over breakfast one morning. The idyllic village life was in sharp contrast to the horrific abuse he suffered later in a missionary boarding school. These stories were moving, and far too horrible to share with my little ones.

Stafford, in his role with Compassion, obviously has a heart for poor children around the world. But his championing for children isn't limited to those in 3rd world countries. His words challenged me to take more seriously my call to invest in, care for and minister to the children in my little corner of the world.

Bloom: Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation

2006-11-09T13:54:00.000-06:00

I want to finish up with the final three items in Bloom's Taxonomy. I think the take away for me, after looking at this and reading some of the comments here, is that Knowledge is important and necessary - everything else builds off of it. But it is not the end all and be all of learning. On the other hand, we can't ignore the KNOWLEDGE piece which will involve some info regurgitation and memorization, and just jump to the higher levels. Kids can't apply and integrate what they don't know. As always, striving for balance and looking at the big picture is key.

ANALYSIS
subdividing something to show how it is put together;
finding the underlying structure of a communication;
identifying motives;
separation of a whole into component parts
What are the parts or features of...?
Classify...according to...
Outline/diagram...
How does...compare/contrast with...?
What evidence can you list for...?

SYNTHESIS
creating a unique, original product that may be in verbal form or may be a physical object;
combination of ideas to form a new whole
What would you predict/infer from...?
What ideas can you add to...?
How would you create/design a new...?
What might happen if you combined...?
What solutions would you suggest for...?

EVALUATION
making value decisions about issues;
resolving controversies or differences of opinion;
development of opinions, judgements or decisions
Do you agree...?
What do you think about...?
What is the most important...?
Place the following in order of priority...
How would you decide about...?
What criteria would you use to assess...?

Some helpful links on this stuff:

Bloom Question Types
Applying Bloom's Taxonomy
Bloom and Bible Teaching

Knowledge: 2 case studies

2006-11-06T13:28:00.000-06:00

I've been thinking about how we evaluate the success of our programs. Often we think that we have it made when a kid knows all the answers and has all the bible verses memorized. Bloom's Taxonomy has showed us that knowledge is just the beginning. There is a lot more to accomplish before we can be assured that kids have internalized truth and are living it out every day.

Recently we challenged kids to memorize the books of the New Testament. We offered "giant candy bars" as a reward. We were really excited by the response we saw from the kids. Memorizing is something that falls into Bloom's KNOWLEDGE category. The following stories will illustrate that we can't stop there. We can't pat ourselves on the backs just because kids have memorized what was assigned or can answer the lesson review questions.

Case study 1:

Child A and Child B are fourth graders. I was sitting in for their small group leader on the week that they recited their books of the Bible. They got their candy bars and left happy. The next week these kids were back. I noticed that when they left class, they had giant sized candy bars. I questioned them and they said that they said their books of the bible to another leader, so they got another reward. These kids showed no remorse, they made no apology, nor did they offer restitution - they had already bitten into the chocolate. To make matters worse, these kids go to a Christian school and already had memorized the books of the Bible as a school assignment.

Case study 2:

Child C has tried and tried to learn the books of the NT. She gets little support at home from her non English speaking parents. She has watched all of the girls in her small group achieve what she hasn't. Yet this week she dropped a ten dollar bill into the offering plate. She wanted to share what she had with God.

We need to look beyond head knowledge when we are evaluating our success with kids. We need to look for life evidence that kids are learning about God's ways and choosing to follow Him. And when we see that evidence, we need to commend them for it. Giant candy bar anyone?

Bloom's Taxonomy: Application

2006-11-05T22:48:00.000-06:00

"Application" is a term that we throw around a lot in kids ministry. We want kids to take what they've learned and apply it to their lives. I find it interesting that Bloom considers questions of application to fall in the middle of his hierarchy. There are several steps beyond application that push learners toward full internalization and understanding. But now let's stop and look at how APPLICATION looks in this model.

Bloom says that APPLICATION is...
problem solving;
applying information to produce some result;
use of facts, rules and principles

Dalton and Smith flesh it out this way...

Useful Verbs
solve
show
use
illustrate
construct
complete
examine
classify

Sample question stems
Do you know another instance where...?
Could this have happened in...?
Can you group by characteristics such as...?
What factors would you change if...?
Can you apply the method used to some experience of your own...?
What questions would you ask of...?
From the information given, can you develop a set of instructions about...?
Would this information be useful if you had a ...?

Potential projects and activities
Construct a model to demonstrate how it will work.
Make a diorama to illustrate an important event.
Make a scrapbook about the areas of study.
Make a paper-mache map to include relevant information about an event.
Take a collection of photographs to demonstrate a particular point.
Make up a puzzle game suing the ideas from the study area.
Make a clay model of an item in the material.
Design a market strategy for your product using a known strategy as a model.
Dress a doll in national costume.
Paint a mural using the same materials.
Write a textbook about... for others.

2006-11-03T17:19:00.000-06:00

Over the years I've run into many people marketing their own home businesses. From some I've bought product: baskets, kitchen gadgets, scrapbooking supplies. But I've never considered becoming a consultant. About a year and a half ago someone approached me with an "exciting business opportunity" to sell Swiss Skin Care products. Immediately I turned her down without even a twinge of desire to join. Since then, Arbonne has caught on big time. The woman who called me is now making big money and driving the coveted white Mercedes, as are several other women I know. I finally tried the product this week when a consultant friend lent me a sample kit. I liked it, and the allure of making easy money was drawing me in. I surprised myself with this response. I returned home from my friend's house without the kit, wondering what I should do. I headed to the internet and spent way too many hours online reading about the company and Multi Level Marketing in general. I'm over it now. My head is clear. Now I know it was only greed that was fueling my interest.

What does this have to do with ministry to kids? In the words of a very sensible and godly man in my small group, "The only thing I want to sell to my friends is JESUS." These people talk constantly, to anyone who will listen,, about their business. They aren't afraid of offending. They aren't afraid of hearing "no". They move on to their next prospect undeterred. Wouldn't it be amazing if those who are so evangelistic about their products and their businesses would be equally as passionate and outspoken about Christ? Think how we could impact people's lives and God's kingdom by being bold, persistent and totally sold on Jesus.

I don't want my life to be driven by greed. I don't want to be motivated by dollar signs, fancy cars, or youthful skin. I'd rather spend my life serving the King and introducing others to Him. It's now clear to me what really matters and how easy it is to get trapped by greed.

Bloom's Taxonomy: Comprehension

2006-11-02T22:23:00.000-06:00

We want to do more than get information into kids' heads. We can't be satisfied with kids who can merely regurgitate facts that have been presented to them. Building on the "knowledge" level, let's step up to "comprehension" on Bloom's Taxonomy.

Bloom describes it this way: COMPREHENSION is...
interpreting;
translating from one medium to another;
describing in one's own words;
organization and selection of facts and ideas

Dalton and Smith flesh it out this way:
Useful Verbs
explain
interpret
outline
discuss
distinguish
predict
restate
translate
compare
describe

Sample question stems
Can you write in your own words...?
Can you write a brief outline...?
What do you think could of happened next...?
Who do you think...?
What was the main idea...?
Who was the key character...?
Can you distinguish between...?
What differences exist between...?
Can you provide an example of what you mean...?
Can you provide a definition for...?

Potential activities and products
Cut out or draw pictures to show a particular event.
Illustrate what you think the main idea was.
Make a cartoon strip showing the sequence of events.
Write and perform a play based on the story.
Retell the story in your words.
Paint a picture of some aspect you like.
Write a summary report of an event.
Prepare a flow chart to illustrate the sequence of events.
Make a colouring book.

Alternative to Halloween alternatives

2006-11-01T21:54:00.000-06:00

I've always felt like a bit of an outsider at church when it comes to Halloween. We go all out to do a big event called "Pumpkin Patch Party" as an alternative to Halloween. It is a great event; it is well attended and well loved. I have two problems with it. First, I want to be in my neighborhood on Halloween. I want to pass out candy to the kids that come to my door. I want to connect with the other parents as our kids race from house to house. Secondly, it is no longer a "halloween alternative." Rather it is an addition to an already busy night. Many of the families who attend the church event ALSO go trick-or-treating on their streets.

Anyway, I've always felt a bit guilty about this "bah humbug" attitude of mine. But today I've run across several like minded people in internet land. Here are their thoughts...

A long, funny and spot-on rant from Gary Lamb, Ridge Stone Church in Canton, Georgia

A Children's Pastor on why he does not do a fall festival

And finally a discussion at CM Pros Yahoo group with this quote from Craig Wilson at Venture Christian Church.

"With so many churches doing halloween alternatives at their church. We're tringa different approach. Knowing that there are some people that will never setfoot at the church event, because they want to trick or treat or dont want to do a "Church event" We set up an event in a neighborhood culdesac with lots of foot traffic. Essentially, lots of inflatables, games and activities, a lounge area with coffee and goodies for adults. Lots of poeple stopped by, hung out and had coffee while their kids plyed around. We did give aways through cake walks etc. We got great response from people who seemed pleased that the church brought this to them and their neighborhood. We started doing more events in the community because we were forced to, being a church plant and having no building. We now have a building, but we have seen success with taking it to the people, so we are choosing not to do these events at our building."

Questions of knowledge

2006-10-30T22:59:00.000-06:00

This week I am working through Bloom's Taxonomy in an effort deepen student understanding and bring about life change. I'm taking last week's lesson, God Provides Manna and Quail for the Hebrews in the Wilderness (Exodus 15-17), with me as I work through Bloom's hierarchy.

The first and most basic category is KNOWLEDGE. Bloom says that 80-90 percent of what teachers do falls into this category. You will see that it is pretty descriptive of what we traditionally do in Sunday School: ask kids to answer questions to demonstrate that they've listened to the lesson. Reviews, drills, and memory work all fall into this category.

KNOWLEDGE is...
remembering,memorizing,recognizing,recalling,identification and
recall of information, describing
(Bloom et al 1956)

Someone else fleshed it out this way:

Useful Verbs
tell
list
describe
relate
locate
write
find
state
name

Sample question stems
What happened after...?
How many...?
Who was it that...?
Can you name the...?
Describe what happened at...?
Who spoke to...?
Can you tell why...?
Find the meaning of...?
What is...?
Which is true or false...?

Potential Activities or Projects
Make a list of the main events..
Make a timeline of events.
Make a facts chart.
Write a list of any pieces of information you can remember.
List all the .... in the story.
Make a chart showing...
Make an acrostic.
Recite a poem.

(Dalton, J. & Smith, D. (1986) ÂExtending ChildrenÂs Special Abilities Â Strategies for primary classroomsÂ pp36-7)

We definitely covered the KNOWLEDGE level in our Exodus lesson. We asked kids:
What were the Israelites doing when they were hungry and thirsty? (complaining and whining)
What did Moses do when the Israelites were hungry and thirsty? (Prayed and asked God for help.)
How did God give the Israelites water?
How did God provide food for the Israelites?
Why did God provide manna and quail in a miraculous way rather than having them hunt and farm?
Memorize today's bible verse (Philippians 4:6)

There was more to the lesson than this, but it is very apparent that we have no problem getting information into kids heads. But is that where we want to put our efforts? Don't we want to go beyond filling up their heads with stories and facts and history and names and places? Knowledge alone doesn't translate to life change. But knowledge is easily observable - and everyone likes easy!

Next we'll look at COMPREHENSION, which will take us from knowing to understanding.

Evaluating superficially

2006-10-26T22:46:00.000-05:00

In evaluating our effectiveness in Kids Ministry, there are two things that I most frequently hear. In fact, you've heard many of them here from me!

1. "The kids are having fun. They like being here. We must be doing something right."

2. "Every kid in my small group knew all the answers during review time. Wow - they really get it!"

Now both of these observations indicate that good things are happening. We want kids to make positive associations with their church experience. We want the Bible stories to be heard and remembered.

But if we are striving for life transformation, if we want to help kids choose to follow Jesus each day of their lives, then we need to raise the bar above these superficial indicators of program success.

In thinking about this over the past couple of weeks, good old Bloom's Taxonomy came to mind. It's been awhile since my college days, so I did some research to help bring it back. Benjamin Bloom identified a hierarchy of thinking skills with each skill on the hierarchy being a prerequisite to the one listed after it. Here are the levels that he identified.
*knowledge,
*comprehension,
*application,
*analysis,
*synthesis, and
*evaluation.

We're pretty darned good at asking kids questions at the KNOWLEDGE level. Then we feel so good when they get all the answers right. But we've got to go further if we want kids to really internalize the truths that we are teaching.

I don't know how much is possible in the hour per week we have kids. But just to exercise my mind a bit, I am going to spend the next couple of posts working through Bloom's levels with our current lesson content. While I do this, I will further explain each of the levels - all in an attempt to better understand it myself.

Yesterday and tomorrow

2006-10-20T21:24:00.000-05:00

It was Tuesday and I kept referring to Sunday as "yesterday". It seems like Sunday is always yesterday and tomorrow for me! I guess that makes counting the days til Sunday much easier - or more necessary!

Sunday highlights

2006-10-15T21:05:00.000-05:00

The kids are all in bed. The house is still in its Sunday state - messy. Before I tackle the mess and get ready for Monday morning, I'm feeling content thinking about some of today's ministry highlights.

1. Short a large group teacher at the first service, one of our small group leaders offered to try his hand at large group next week.

2. I ran out of giant candy bars, rewards for kids who have memorized the books of the New Testament. I forget what sponges kids are until I assign a memory challenge. Even my four year old almost has them memorized just from listening to her brother and sister work on it!

3. Fully staffed at the late service, I was able to sit through the entire worship service with my husband.

4. Prompt parents picked up their 3rd grade boy only to hear, "Mom, no way - I am not going home this early!"

5. 4th grade boys laughing heartily at the appropriate times during the large group skit.

6. 2 girls each brought a friend. The 2 regular attenders didn't know each other, but the visitors greeted eachother with a hug because they are on the same hockey team.

7. A newish volunteer showed up for his duty even though his wife and son were at football practice.

8. A 5th grader ran powerpoint, video and sound flawlessly.

9. Small group leaders hanging around beyond their required time commitment just to be with the kids and each other.

Yep, it was a good day!

I finally heard it!

2006-10-09T13:48:00.000-05:00

The title of this little blog is "Counting the days til Sunday." That pretty much describes my life as it centers around kids ministry. My desire is to see kids, families and volunteers thinking this way too - knowing that Sundays bring an amazing time of fellowship, teaching, worship and growth. Well it finally happened - I finally heard those very words from the lips of a 2nd grade girl. Her dad and grandparents were standing over her shoulder as she played with playdough in the activity room. They were waiting, somewhat patiently, for her to finish up so they could leave and go to lunch. She was having a delightful time visiting with her friends, making play dough critters. She looked up at her dad and said, "How many days until it's Sunday again?" And I heard it! Those little things make my day!

Thank you God for giving me a taste of reward this week!

2006-10-07T08:33:00.000-05:00

I love finding new blogs about kids ministry. This one had a great nugget about what ministry is. Too often in this brave new world of Children's Ministries we gloss over the reality that serving requires sacrifice. Instead we paint a picture of easy volunteerism, happy children and parents, slick and glitzy programming, and instant reward. Then disappointment reigns as the unrealistic expecations are not met, when ministry is hard work, and when we don't even feel like showing up.

MINISTRY IS...giving when you feel like keeping,
praying for others when you need to be prayed for,
feeding others when your own soul is hungry,
living truth before people even when you can’t see results,
hurting with other people even when your own hurt can’t be spoken,
keeping your word even when it is not convenient,
it is being faithful when your flesh wants to run away.
(author unknown)

Could Jesus have felt this way when He was on earth? I'll bet it wasn't always easy and fun for Him. Let's follow His example and serve with selflessness. Our reward will come later.

Comparing translations with kids in mind

2006-10-05T22:17:00.000-05:00

The passage that really brought this to the forefront for me was I Corinthians 10. We read it in the NIV as part of a kids daily devotional. The first few verses were about Israel's history of idolatry and sexual immorality. Those are fun ones to explain to kids! The final verse in the passage (v13) brought things to a practical level for the kids. You know the familiar passage on temptation. It was practical, applicable and relevant. But the way that it was phrased in the NIV required lots of explanation to my first grade daughter and second grade son.

After seeing the reading levels of different translations, I thought I'd use I Corinthians 10:13 to test the theory that reading level may be a key factor in helping with understanding.

NIV (reading level - grade 7.8)
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

NIrV (reading level - grade 2.86)
You are tempted in the same way all other human beings are. God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted any more than you can take. But when you are tempted, God will give you a way out so that you can stand up under it.

The Message (reading level - grade 5.36)
No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.

CEV (reading level - grade 4.7)
You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and hewill show you how to escape from your temptations.

I'd like to do more of this with other passages. But for now I think I know what I need to do for our family!

Kids and their Bibles

2006-10-05T21:15:00.000-05:00

When it is your own kids, things sometimes look different. At church we tell kids they should be reading their Bibles every day. We've given kids Bibles as baby gifts, when they turn 2, and when they are in first grade. We must be doing something right, because my own children really want to read the Bible at home. Now comes the problem: sometimes I don't want them too!

It's not how it sounds. This is what I mean. The first hurdle is that when we get the Bibles out, we have to figure out what to read. Where to begin? We tried to solve this by getting a kids devotional book which assigned specific portions of scripture to be read each day of the year. This is where the next hurdle emerges. More often than not, the text seems to be conceptually too difficult for my first and second grader to understand.

I love that my kids have a desire to read God's Word. It excites me to see that they understand that the Bible will help them learn more about God. But I don't want that tenderness to be lost due to frustration when they don't understand or see the relevance of what they are reading.

I need to figure this out. For my kids and for the kids that we minister to at church. A simple bible reading plan would be a good starting point. It could be very general or it could correspond with the content being taught in Sunday School. Investigating other translations, with more simplified language, is also on my to-do list. This list identifies the approximate graded reading level of common Bible translations. The key may lie within this list!

NIrV 2.86
ERV 3.87
CEV 4.70
Message 5.36
NLT 5.61
TEV 7.29
NIV 7.80
LB 8.33
NRSV 8.39
RSV 10.40
NASB 11.32
KJV 12.00

Off to Amazon!

When kids misbehave

2006-10-04T17:36:00.000-05:00

Sunday School teachers have a huge challenge. We get kids one hour each week - and maybe even less if the family doesn't attend super regularly. In that hour we want to teach important truths and build significant relationships. Sometimes those two goals almost seem counter productive. In order to build those relationships we need to be fun, have fun and be a friend to kids. But in order to instill those important spiritual truths, we need to be structured, disciplined, and a teacher to the kids. Can these two seemingly distinct roles mesh?

School teachers are at an advantage. They have kids five days a week for six or seven hours. The classroom community is stable - it's the same group of kids every day. In that time and within that climate, teachers are able to set expections, build rapport, follow through with consequences, and have an accountability system with administration and parents. They have the luxury of time, and that time allows them to both build relationships and teach their content.

What's a Sunday School teacher to do? Those who are also moms and dads have an advantage over our younger volunteers. Younger volunteers are more susceptible to wanting to be liked, to want to be a friend to the kids. They also are more easily taken advantage of by kids. Parents are masters of "the look" and often have an air of authority.

But I do believe it is possible to achieve both goals, even in our short time frame. Here are the principles...

1. Rules rule! Establishing expectations with kids is a priority. Kids need to know the rules. And they need to know that you know the rules! Our behavior expecations are simple but they cover all the bases.

2. We have consequences for a reason! If kids don't meet our expectations for behavior, then the whole group is affected. The leader gets frustrated and feels dissatisfied with the experience. The other kids in the group are not able to gain fully from the experience. Applying the predetermined consequences with consistency and swiftness can be very effective in nipping problem behaviors in the bud! Don't pussy-foot aorund here: a couple of instances of firmness and accountability can buy year-long small group bliss!

3. Know kids. Familiarize yourself with general developmental characteristics of the kids you're working with. Once you understand how first graders are wired developmentally, you will be able to reach them better. You probably can't expect angelic behavior from first graders who are expected to sit still and be quiet for the entire session. You are setting yourself up for disaster if you expect fourth graders to do things that are not age appropriate.

4. Seek help. Don't let frustration set in! Talk to parents for ideas and advice. Let them know what kind of behavior you are seeing. Parent - Teacher communication can go a long way in solving problems. If you don't want to go it alone, ask your program director for support.

And wrap it all in prayer! God knows ours kids. He knows what they are struggling with, what bugs them, and why they misbehave. Ask Him for patience and wisdom. He is in control of it all!

Tunnel vision off! Radar on!

2006-09-21T15:29:00.000-05:00

I am guilty of having tunnel vision when it comes to ministry. I get overly focused on the logistics, the staffing, the schedule, the details. And I forget to see the reason that I am doing this in the first place - to see kids choosing to follow Jesus each day of their lives.

Today my colleague told me about the great things that are happening in her program. A mom called her after club night and said, "I don't know what's happening in your program, but my daughter came home saying, 'I don't want to read Junie B. Jones books anymore - I want to read the Bible!'"

I want to keep my radar on for evidence of kids' changed lives. I want to think more about life transformation than program details! Let's create a culture where we are constantly tuned in to the stories of kids lives - and let's generously share those stories to encourage one another!

Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Colossians 3:2 (The Message)

More on Boys: The Importance of Male Role Models

2006-09-14T10:19:00.000-05:00

I raised the question about boys and church a couple of weeks ago. One of my key ideas for reaching boys is to make sure we've got good male role models serving in our program. Here's some research that sheds some light on gender and learning!

(HT to Keith Johnson at www.childrenministryandculture.wordpress.com)

Boys Learn More From Men and girls learn more from women. Stanford University scholar Thomas Dee drew this conclusion from a national study of 8th graders. Today roughly 80% of U.S. public school teachers are women, the highest ratio in 40 years. The study found switching teachers can narrow gender achievement gaps, but one gains at the expense of the other. Gender also influences attitudes. With a female teacher, boys are more likely to be seen as disruptive while girls are less likely to be considered inattentive or disorderly. If taught by a man, girls are more likely to say the subject is not useful for their future and are less likely to look forward to the class or to ask questions. Not surprising, the National Education Association takes issue with Dee’s findings. Dee says his research raises valid questions such as; Should teachers get more training about the learning styles of boys and girls? Should they be taught to combat biases in what they expect of boys and girls? (USA Today 8/28/06)

Fall season kicks off well!

2006-09-12T14:13:00.000-05:00

I promised the team a recap of our first weekend, so here we go!

We started off our new season with a full staff! Seeing the way God worked to bring all the right players together gave me such confidence in His power and His role in what we're doing. He really does care!

Fresh paint, some new furniture and decorations made the classrooms fun and inviting. I am thankful for the resources that the church's leadership has allocated to kids ministries. So much of what we do with kids is affective - and good looking rooms make a big impact.

Worship time was high energy and LOUD! One of the new first graders who just joined the Kids Worship Team got her parents out of bed on Sunday, telling them "I have to be at church at 9!" She got her whole sleepy family there because of her excitement about worship. Five high school students (including 2 guys!) helped lead at the second hour. They added a ton of fun and energy to what is usually a quiet, low-key hour.

The bible lesson was excellent. Promiseland writes so creatively and skillfully. I love the repetition of the key concept. I'll bet all of the kids took the main points home with them. Karolyn made her teaching debut at the second hour and was absolutely fabulous! Special thanks to Mike for bringing Rhyming Simon to life with his funny little accent. I usually am not a big fan of puppets, but Mike's performance made me a believer!

Small groups met and began getting to know one another. Group sizes were great and will be very appropriate for developing the kinds of relationships we want to see.

All in all it was a great morning. I felt like I was floating on air the rest of the day! I hope that everyone on the team felt similarly positive about the first week. Sure there are things to tweak and issues to address, but we are off to a great start! Thanks to you all and most importantly to the Lord!

Top-of-my-head Tuesday

2006-09-04T22:51:00.000-05:00

It's almost Tuesday and I'm making an off-the-top-of-my-head list about how to lead a great small group. Please comment with your additions!

How to Lead a Great Small Group

1. Sit knee to knee. Sit on the floor with legs folded pretzel-style. Each child's knees should be almost touching the knees of someone else. This close physical positioning allows for good eye contact also gives leaders the chance to use positive touch to get a distracted kid's attention or to make a point.

2. Be prepared! Look at the lesson early in the week. Let the concepts and objectives roll around in your head for several days. Think about how it applies to the kids in your group. Think about how it applies to you. Be ready to share appropriate personal stories with the kids.

3. Wait time. I learned this term in my elementary education college days. Pause strategically after asking a question, allowing kids to think and process. It's usually one or two bright, chatty kids who want to answer questions immediately. Wait time gives everyone a chance to think and respond.

4. Attention please! With kindess, demand the attention of the kids. Wait until everyone is listening before going into discussions. Ask kids for eye contact and quiet when you are speaking, or when another group member is speaking. You could say, "Would everyone please look at Susie while she shares with us?"

5. Pray. Pray with your kids and for your kids. Find out what is going on in their lives. Make a point of praying for each child by name sometime during the week.

6. Go beyond Sundays. Show the kids that you genuinely care by connecting with them outside of church on Sundays. Send cards, show up at their soccer game or musical, bring little gifts at holidays, buy a box of Girl Scout cookies from them.

7. Know the parents. Introduce yourself to the parents. Knowing a kid's parents helps you understand a kid so much better. Parents want to know the adults that are investing in their kids lives. We are more effective when we partner!

Well God, It's up to you now!

2006-08-31T14:43:00.000-05:00

I'm getting close to panic mode. We are 10 days from the fall kick-off and we still have several key roles to fill! I've made countless phonecalls, written oodles of e-mails, and had numerous face-to-face conversations with potential volunteers. I don't have anyone left to ask. I'm out of ideas. This is the time of year when I always say, "Well God, it's up to you now!" (As if it hasn't always been up to him!)

I know, I know. I should start every recruiting season with that prayer: "Well God, it's up to you now!" But somehow I forget to get on my knees and submit myself until I am close to panic mode.

God still moves though! On Sunday a couple approached me and told me that they were ready to serve in Kids Ministry. I've called this talented couple every recruiting season for the past 5 years and have been turned down. This year I didn't call them, but God was at work and they responded to His call!

A high school boy showed up at our volunteer training event with friends who are on the Kids Worship Team. I said to him, "We have been praying for some guys to join Kids Worship Team so that kids know worship isn't just for girls!" Later I found out that he came to the meeting just to hang out with his friends. But God used my comment to touch his heart and compel him to serve. His words: "Except for my parents, no one has ever told me that I was an answer to prayer."

Keep moving God! I know this is Your ministry, not mine. I trust You to bring the right people to reach kids with Your love.

Welcome Team!

2006-08-26T23:15:00.000-05:00

This year I am inviting our volunteer team to join me here for information and interaction. So, Welcome Team! If you are new to the world of blogs, well - so am I! The great thing about blogs is that they provide a place for us to dialogue. For us that means that we can engage one another about the thing that has brought us together - reaching kids for Christ! You can bookmark this page and check it regularly for updates. Or if you read other blogs, you can add it to your blogroll. There is a button on the lower right side of this page which will take you to Bloglines, where you can subscribe to this blog's feed and be notified when there are new posts.

Interaction is one of the things I like best about blogging, so please use the comment feature to chime in with your thoughts and ideas!

The countdown has begun - 14 days until the fall kicks off! I'm so grateful for each of you who has signed on to invest in kids this year. God has brought together a great (and almost complete) team. I'm excited to see how this year unfolds.

Boys in church

2006-08-19T00:07:00.001-05:00

Have you noticed all of the books out there about men and church? Here are a few titles:

Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow

No More Christian Nice Guy: When Being Nice--Instead of Good--Hurts Men, Women And Children by Paul T. Coughlin

The Church Impotent: The Feminization of Christianity by Leon J. Podles

I haven't read these books (although I have No More Christian Nice Guy on my shelf), but I'd like to. I'm wondering how this stuff about men and church trickles down to boys.

It bothers me when I see the older boys in our program hanging in the back during singing time. Some stand with their arms crossed, some kick the floor, others exchange elbow jabs and jokes with their buddies. Whatever they are doing, they are often not engaged or participating in the worship time.

It bothers me that when a small group leader comes to me with behavior concerns, it almost always involves boys. The boys aren't listening. The boys are goofing around. They boys won't sit still. They boys won't get serious about discussion.

We can't lose our boys! We need to challenge them, engage them and connect with them so that they will worship, learn and be transformed by Christ.

Bedtime theology

2006-08-10T21:39:00.000-05:00

Tonight I was in my daughters' bedroom, tucking them into bed. Right before we prayed, the four year old said, "God is always awake, right?" I agreed, "yes, He never sleeps!" Then she went on, "because he doesn't have a bed, right?" It's amazing how at one moment kids can say something so insightful, impressive and full of understanding - only to follow up with something completely four-year-oldish!

Our bedtime prayers tend to get rote-like. It's usually my fault because I'm so tired and just want to get on to my own bedtime. But tonight I added "Thank you God that you never sleep. Thank you for always being able to watch over us and hear us when we call. You are so powerful!" When I finished, my little one smiled at me and said, "That was a good one."

In Kathleen Chapman's book Teaching Kids Authentic Worship, she says that kids are capable of authentic worship when they understand who God is. I think we had a moment like that tonight at bedtime!

Growing our own

2006-08-09T11:34:00.001-05:00

We've always struggled to find the right volunteers to lead kids worship. We've got a great key leader who has been serving with us for several years. But finding enough musicians to join her to form a full band has been a challenge.

Last year we changed our approach. We invited kids to join the Kids Worship Team. Each child got a cd with our songs for the season, they met monthly to rehearse, then they led their peers in worship on Sunday mornings. We had a great response - it was one of the highlights of the year.

Just recently I met with our kids worship coordinator to make plans for fall. She asked if the kids going into 7th grade could be on the team again. Sadly I said no, because they are now in the youth ministry program. But then a lightbulb went on: they can't be participants any longer, but they can be leaders!

So now, after a long worship volunteer drought, we've got a bunch of motivated youth who are trained, experienced, talented and ready to serve! Maybe growing our own volunteers is the way to go! I can't wait to apply this approach to other areas of our ministry.

Another blogger in the family

2006-08-07T17:13:00.000-05:00

My sister just started blogging about her life as a mom and a pastor's wife. She just started last week and is cranking out great posts like mad. She's inspired me to write more! I'm proud of her - she and her husband have a fantastic ministry in rural Minnesota, she's a great writer, a good mom and a fun sister. Check her out at http://www.mommymissionary.blogspot.com

What a relief!

2006-06-19T21:15:00.000-05:00

The trend in the world of kids ministries is to create breathtakingly amazing spaces and experiences for kids in church: spaces that rival Chuck E. Cheese and experiences that are amazing as Nickelodeon and Disney. Now that's pressure! I'd love to be able to do it. I cruise the internet looking at other kids ministries that are bigger and flashier than ours. And I tend to get jealous and discontent!

This article was written by a Children's Pastor in South Africa. His blog entry challenges the idea of competing with the razzle and dazzle of kid culture. He asserts that it isn't necessary or even healthy to focus on the flash factor. What a relief! I've been challenged to free my mind up for concentrating on what's really important: building relationships that point kids to Christ.

Summer Sundays kick-off

2006-06-05T16:12:00.000-05:00

We kicked off Summer on Kidstreet this weekend with a special presentation by Critters and Company. Greg and Diane Olson brought in a great show featuring a cockatoo, a macaw, a huge turtle (or tortoise?), a snake and their adorable Springer Spaniels. The kids were enthralled with the awesome animals - and the adults were equally impressed with the spiritual message that went along with the presentation.

We've been so frugal in our kids programming over the past couple of years. We have plenty of money in the budget, but we've been afraid to spend it. Afraid to even ask to spend it. It costs quite a bit to bring in special presenter - we really weighed whether or not we should spend the money on this one. But the results were great: Engaged kids, happy volunteers, impressed parents, a feeling of 'there's something good happening here'.

Is it possible that our ministries suffer when we don't invest the resources that are required to keep things fresh, fun and interesting? I hope that's not the result of our "frugal period." The question is, How do we balance funding our programs to achieve our goals and practicing good stewardship?

2006-05-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

Scot McKnight at Jesus Creed regularly posts prayers from The Book of Common Prayer. This one is fitting for those of us in Kids Ministry! I'll be praying it with my team this weekend.

O Lord my God, to you and to your service I devote myself, body, soul, and spirit.

Fill my memory with the record of your mighty works;
enlighten my understanding with the light of your Holy Spirit;
and may all the desires of my heart and will center in what you would have me do.

Make me an instrument of your salvation for the people entrusted to my care, and grant that by my life and teaching I may set forth your true and living Word. Be always with me in carrying out the duties of my faith.

In prayer, quicken my devotion;
in praises, heighten my love and gratitude;
in conversation give me readiness of thought and expression;
and grant that, by the clearness and brightness of your holy Word, all the world may be drawn into your blessed kingdom.

All this I ask for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Top Ten Issues Facing Families

2006-05-10T16:21:00.000-05:00

Monday Morning Insight quoted a study by Lifeway, identifying the top ten issues facing families.

1. Anti-Christian culture;
2. Divorce;
3. Busyness;
4. Absent father figure;
5. Lack of discipline;
6. Financial pressures;
7. Lack of communication;
8. Negative media influences;
9. Balance of work and family;
10. Materialism.

Too often when I look at appearances - the smiling faces of the kids, the well dressed parents, the "we've got it all together" demeanors - I miss this other stuff that is more under-the-surface. Wow! We say that we want to help kids choose to follow Jesus each day of their lives. This gives me a much clearer picture of what their lives really look like.

Lord, help us to see the needs of our kids and their families. Help us to show them You as they face life's busyness and pressures.

Kids as the church of tomorrow?

2006-04-27T09:11:00.000-05:00

It was a pet peeve of our former Children's Pastor when she heard people say, "Kids are the future of the church." She asserted that it devalued kids and their importance in the present. Perry Noble, pastor of NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC had this to say about it...

"And finally--I AM TIRED of hearing church leaders who say, "We need those youth in here--they are the church of tomorrow!" WRONG NSWER! If you have ever said that then please apologize to God for not thinking before you speak. They are NOT the church of tomorrow...they are the church of TODAY! They matter TODAY! They need Jesus TODAY! They need to be involved TODAY! The church that says they
are the church of tomorrow will wait until "tomorrow" to reach them...and by then it will be too late!"

For me, kids are my target audience. I want to challenge them, equip them and nurture them to follow Jesus every day of their lives: at home, at school, on the ball field, and with their friends. Yes, the choices they make as kids will impact the future of the church, but more importantly they will impact their world today!

Where a kid can be a kid - workshop

2006-04-17T16:25:00.001-05:00

This is from a description of a workshop at Granger Community Church. It sounds great - and it's a fantastic explanation of why kids ministry should be fun, engaging, relevant and relational.

So, how do you develop a children’s ministry that is better than any other church’s? You don’t. Other churches are not your competition. Your competition is Chuck E. Cheese. And Nickelodeon. And Xbox. Kids today are conditioned to need high stimulation, to be fully engaged – if we’re going to grab and sustain their attention. Whether they’re surfing the Internet for cheat codes to the latest Lord of the Rings PS2 game or checking out your kids’ program, what they find had better be fun and interesting. Because boring or intimidating just doesn’t cut it.
In a world where our society pushes adults to have and achieve more, parents have been known to extend that mindset into their parenting practices. So the last thing your children’s program should be to an “overscheduled” child is this: another obligation. How can they come to know how much Jesus loves them if they don’t even want to be there? Right, you say. And precisely how do we avoid the boring and intimidating syndrome? Glad you asked.
First, think like a child. (And by this we mean: not like an adult who has reconceived notions of what’s “proper.”) If you can’t spend a service in one of your kids’ classes (and we use that term loosely) without saying, “Man, I wish church had been like this when I was a kid!” then something is seriously missing.
Second, think like a parent. (As in, needing a major break from your kids – while knowing that not only are they in good hands, they will quite possibly be leaving in a better mood than the one they arrived with.) As precious as children are to us, their parents are even more so. Because it all rolls downhill. So if we hit it out of the park with the parents, their children will benefit in huge ways.
Third, think like a volunteer. (And by this we mean: Yikes! Children!) Even the most maternal (or paternal) of volunteers will get frustrated if there is no leadership and there are no systems in place to make their tasks easier. And burnt out if they’re so overscheduled that they never get a weekend off.
Fourth, think like a newbie. Is your children’s center an inviting place? A place that takes guests a bit by surprise? It doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, you know. Bright, fun colors and themed rooms are more conducive to kids’ learning than “institutional looking” rooms.Plus, there’s a side benefit to these creative kids’ spaces. According to Stevens and Morgan in Simply Strategic Growth: “Volunteers are more likely to better serve children in a room that is fun, engaging, interactive and exciting.” Why? “Because they don’t feel like they have to bring all the fun and excitement with them; it’s already built into the environment. They can just offer themselves.” And what kid couldn’t use a little more interaction with an adult who considers him a masterpiece of God?

Trying to Believe

2006-04-15T23:23:00.000-05:00

My oldest son is in first grade. I've been doing Kids Ministry since before he was born, so it is really fun to finally have him in my program. Seeing both sides of the equation, church and family, has been eye opening.

This year we've had several lessons with a salvation message. The gospel has been clearly presented and an invitation to accept Christ has been given. My son's response was that he needed to think about it more. Later he confirmed this by telling me, "I need to read the Bible more so I can learn more about it." Sure enough, a few nights later I found him in his room reading his Bible.

A few weeks later, we asked the kids at church to complete the sentence "If Jesus were here today..." My boy answered this way: "If Jesus were here today I'd try to be a believer." It seems like he is struggling to understand it all. I want him to choose to follow Jesus, but I really want him to have a high level of understanding too. I think he is headed in that direction.

Tonight when I said goodnight to him he said, "I put my middle finger up today, but I asked God to forgive me." He didn't want to talk about the incident any further, but he agreed when I said, "That's why Jesus died on the cross - so that our sins could be forgiven."

Happy Easter! May we keep Christ's resurrection in mind all through the year as we help kids "try to be believers."

Activity Time - best of games

2006-03-16T23:02:00.000-06:00

In the games department, these are the things that have been fun for the kids this year: HopScotch Rug (from Creative KidStuff), Foam 4-Square mat, magnetic darts, gNipgNop, Blokus, Toss Across, Bulls-Eye Ball, DanceMat, Connect 4, Jumbo Checkers.

Activity Time - best of arts and crafts

2006-03-16T18:19:00.000-06:00

Here are the things that have caused a buzz among kids at the arts and crafts area this year...

Klutz - Pop Bead Critters

Dot Art Painters

SCRATCH ART

Color your own fuzzy anythings (from Oriental Trading Company)

Watercolor paints

Beading

Craft punches and crazy scissors

Play-do and modeling clay

Kids, do you have any other suggestions?

Activity Time

2006-03-16T08:53:00.000-06:00

To support our values of "fun" and "relational," we have Activity Time as kids arrive on Sunday mornings. Our activity room has a wide variety of options from which kids can choose: arts and crafts, cozy reading corner, board games, manipulatives, and active games. Kids love this time because of all the fun things they can do. We think it is great because it gives us a chance to connect with kids on their level, over an activity that is of interest to them. It is not uncommon to see Don, a six-plus foot small group leader, sitting on the floor building legos with kids...or Annie, a high-school senior, reading animal books with kids in the book corner...or college students, Kelly and Christa, sitting at the art table , chatting with girls over their creative projects. Parents also find this room a welcoming and inviting place. When parents pick up their kids at the end of the hour, we are back in the Activity Room. Many parents enjoy hanging out with their kids over a game of giant checkers or Blokus, or just visiting with other parents as their kids play for a few more minutes. So much of what we do in Kids Ministries is affective, developing positive attitudes and experiences about being at church. Activity Time is a powerful way to make that happen.

Don't let them forget

2006-03-14T15:23:00.000-06:00

If it is true that we remember only 5% of what we hear, what can we do to make sure that kids don't forget the life-changing truths of the Bible? I read a great article Pop the Red Pill by Mark Batterson of National Community Church in Washington DC about this. We obviously need to get beyond lecturing kids. Even with adding an audio-visual component we are only upping retention to 20%. If we want kids to really retain what we are presenting, we need to give them opportunities to discuss, practice and teach others. In our ministry we strive to teach with creativity and relevance. But we don't stop there! Kids also spend time in small groups to discuss and practice what they've heard. They go home with a written summary of what they learned with further questions to discuss and tasks to complete with their families. It's a challenge we take seriously - reach kids on a level deep enough to see lasting life change.

Counting the days til Sunday

2006-03-14T11:19:00.000-06:00

I direct an elementary Sunday School program. I am passionate about seeing kids choose to follow Christ each day of their lives through teaching that is biblical, creative, relevant, and fun and through relationships with caring adults.

As a paid kids ministry professional, it seems that my life revolves around Sundays. It all comes down to, "How many days until Sunday?" It is my desire to create a place where kids, families and volunteers ask the same question, anticipating an incredible time of worship, fellowship, learning and growth.

As I count the days until Sunday each week, I pray that God will work mightily in my life, in the lives of the kids, and in the lives of the volunteers who serve in our program.