Story telling

So you are preparing for Sunday morning, or Wednesday night and you want to make sure the story is exciting for the kids. What do you do? Now there are many ways to capture a child's attention as you relay a story from the Bible and how it applies to their lives. There are object lessons, power points, videos, felt boards, and the list goes on. One great way to teach kids is through story telling! This is after all one way that Jesus taught. There are many parables such as the prodigal son, the wise and foolish builder, and the mustard seed are just a few. But I'm not just talking about having them sit and listen.

Instead, step out of the norm and put a new twist on story telling. This could be done by getting some of the kids to help you act out the story. This is a great way to keep the kids interacting and engaged. It also probably makes them feel special. Not only are they getting to help teach the story for the day but they also get put up on stage in front of their friends.

Using children to tell the story also ensures for a lively time. Just this night I had kids up on stage helping me act out the three little pigs. Now yes this is a simple story that preschool kids learn. But even my sixth graders were excited and engaged. Of course having a little girl be the big bad wolf can be fairly entertaining. So can seeing your adult leaders crumble as the house gets blown down too. The point is using kids can produce some funny visuals as you have them act out different events.

So next time your looking to change up how you teach the kids. Try using them to help act out your story. It is a great visual and can keep the kids engaged as they are thrown into the story. No matter what you choose, just don't be afraid to try something new.

Summer Camp

So this year I changed up our summer camp at the church I am currently serving in. For the past several years the kids group has gone to a "big" camp. Now before I continue please understand I am not in any way bashing these big camps. In the right in the right situation, with God's leading, they can be very helpful to a church. Instead though I felt God leading us to go on our own camp. It was definitely a great decision. We doubled our attendance for camp from the previous year. All the kids had fun. We got to do a shaving cream/water balloon war, giant soap and slide, and much more. But these aren't the benefits of doing your own camp. Rather the benefits are so much more. Below are just a few reason I believe God led me to choosing our own camp this year.

1) Your own camp allows you and your adults to connect with the kids.

By being the only church there it allows your kids to focus on you and you to focus solely on your kids. This is a great time to build and strengthen relationships with them. Because you are going from a couple hours a week to being around the kids 24/7 for several days.

2) Your own camp allows for the speaker to connect with the kids more.

This past week at camp, one thing that blessed my heart, was seeing our camp speaker interact with the kids. Now yes this was done during the service, as he spoke and called kids up to help. But he also was there during meals, games, crafts, and more. The kids actually got to know our speaker. He wasn't just someone, who preached to them, but was real and his walk with Christ was evident outside of the pulpit.

3) Your own camp allows you to tailor the week for your group.

By having your own camp you, their children's minister, can tailor the camp to help fit exactly where your children's group is. Do you have a lot of unchurched kids? kids who haven't made a profession of faith? Kids, who are already on their walk with Christ? Younger kids? Older Kids? Of course the answer, is different for every group and could even change from year to year. By knowing where your group is overall, the camp can be tailored to their stage of life. If you have a lot of kids, who haven't accepted Christ, then the gospel should be a constant focus in crafts, services, and more. Perhaps this means also doing more group Bible study so that an adult is clearly relaying the Bible message. If you have kids, who have already accepted Christ, then perhaps doing more small group discussion or personal devotion time would be a good choice. But its your choice, and responsibility to tailor the camp.

Of course, I would urge any children's minister to consider taking your kids to a camp of their own. There are so many positives to it in my mind. But ultimately there is really only one thing that matters and I was reminded of that this week. Are we reaching kids for Christ through the camp. Whether it is your own camp or a big commercial camp, if the gospel isn't being presented, if kids aren't growing deeper in their walk with Christ. Then something needs to change and a serious evaluation should be made. Yes, camp should be packed with fun, but even more so camp should be packed with Christ!

Keeping the Vision

You are at a new place in ministry. Maybe it’s a different church, state, even age group focus. So what do you do? One of the first and most critical aspects of beginning a new ministry, I feel, is establishing an overall vision for the ministry you are put in charge of. Now sometimes this may be done for you generically, as the whole church operates under a certain vision from the head pastor. But perhaps not. Maybe you have come into a situation where you’re responsible for the vision of the ministry. So you pray and seek God’s guidance and develop a vision, mission statement, a plan of attack or ministry strategy, if you will. It sounds great, looks great, and you can’t wait to implement it into the ministry.

Fast forward several years, possibly months, and a question should arise. Are we still following the vision? You know it is easy to make sure the vision is followed at first. It is fresh, new, and exciting. But keep going down the road and it becomes more of an afterthought at times than a driving force.

Of course from time to time you may see the vision adjusting and need to change it some but I believe that one key to being successful in ministry is sticking to the vision God has laid out to you for the ministry. This is not an easy thing to accomplish though. It takes perseverance and focus. Constantly, reminding all of the workers of the goal. Doug Fields, In Purpose Driven Youth Ministry, suggest that you at least remind people of the vision or purpose of the ministry every twenty-six days.[1] This may sound very repetitive but it drives the purpose into the forefront of thought. It keeps focus in the ministry. It keeps organization and a general unity amongst the workers.

So the question is simple. Are you focusing on your ministry vision? If not why? Perhaps you have simply gotten busy and distracted from the vision. I encourage you to return to it as soon as possible. By focusing on the purpose your ministry can be more effective, unified and focused. The challenge is not to lose sight of the vision.

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[1] Doug Fields. Purpose Driven Youth Ministry. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998.

The Redneck Olypmics

 

Looking for a fun, new event to do this summer with the kids? Try the Redneck Olympics. This combines the wonderful Olympic events with a down home southern twist for the kids at your church. These could be coupled with many different verses to show how God’s word applies to our lives. One that comes to mind though is 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 which discusses the need for Christians to submit to training ourselves spiritually so we might run the race of life for Christ to the best of our ability. Just as real athletes prepare and train for their races so they can perform to their best. Along with being able to relate this themed event back to God’s word, these make for some fun and sometimes funny games.

1) Toilet seat toss

This game is kind of like throwing a discus. Kids will grab a toilet seat. Give it a whirl and see how far the seat flies. Of course the farther the better. I wouldn’t advise having a “used” toilet seat, although you may get some funny reactions.

2) Shoot em’

Rednecks likes to shoot stuff. Whether it be hunting, paintball, fireworks or simply a good Nerf gun war. This game is simple. Just grab some nerf guns (or BB guns if you’re outside and brave), set up some targets and see who has the best marksmanship in the group.

3) Chug it

Everyone knows that sweet tea is the drink of the South. This game requires a bit more setting up. You do have to brew the tea after all. But give every kid a glass and see who can chug it the fastest! Try not to laugh though it might come out of your nose.

4) Skiing across the farm

This game is similar to the Olympics cross country skiing. Get some plungers, to use as ski sticks. For the actual skis, you could cut pool noodles and use duct tape (a rednecks best friend) to make foot straps. On the sound of “GO” kids will be sliding their way across the finish line.

5) Redneck Biathlon

The redneck Biathlon combines the redneck skis with shoot em’. Just give the kids a track to race around, a shooting station, and possibly something crazy to do if they miss a shot. Line the kids up into teams and make this a team relay race.

6) Bologna Toss

Now I’m personally not a fan of Bologna but Rednecks aren’t picky. Give each kid a slice and see who can hurl this mystery meat the farthest. Just make sure no one starts eating before they toss it.

7) Don’t drop that egg

This partner game will see who has soft hands. Partners toss the egg back and forth until only one couple is left standing. To make it more difficult, for every successful catch have the pair take one step back.

8) Duct Tape Ball

This game is similar to hand ball. Teams will hold a ball of duct tape, and attempt to pass it back and forth down the field and throw it into a goal. To make sure players pass the ball instead of just take it and run, only allow them to take so many steps before they have to pass.

9) Cricket Spittin’

Everyone loves a good cricket spittin’. Just grab a cricket, and let them fly. But beware if he sit in your mouth to long he may start jumping. You or an adult volunteer may have to do this one first to show that its harmless for the kids.

I’m sure there are many more that people have done. If you know of any good redneck Olympic game please share it to the comments below.

Starting a new school year

Well it's hard to believe but summer is actually starting to wind down. To me it seems like summer just started. Maybe your preparing for the last "big" event of the summer. Perhaps your just trying to make sure programs get through the summer or your recovering from the summer already. Either way this can be an important time in ministry. Here are a couple things to help you transition into the fall.

First, finish well. After all summer isn't over yet. There is no need to throw in the towel or enter cruising mode. There are still events and programs in the summer that need to be done. But not just thrown together. These need to be carried out with excellence, just like the rest of your children's ministry. Make sure that you finish the summer as strong as it began. 

Secondly, look forward. The fall is coming so what's happening in your ministry? Fall festival, family nights, maybe a big children's event. Start looking ahead and planning now. That way your not scrambling last minute. 

Thirdly, get involved. Schools soon will be back in session, so how could you get involved? Maybe it's first priority, eating lunch with the kids, helping one of the ball teams, or even just bringing some snacks for the teachers. Anyway you can meet with the kids outside of church is a plus. 

 

Do I really need to be prepared?

Weeks sure are busy aren't they? You have to prepare for all the programs and events. Look ahead to keep the calendar moving. Of course there are weekly meetings as well. Sometimes things are just so busy that part of the ministry gets neglected or not done as much. I think that often times the aspect that is first neglected is preparing beforehand for those weekly activities or events that seem to repeat every year. This is in part because they have been done before. You know the typical order of your children's church service or Sunday School lesson. So is it really all that important for you or a Sunday School teacher, or any other volunteer in your children's ministry to come in prepared? Absolutely, and here are just a few reasons why.

1. Being prepared allows you to connect with the kids before hand.

One of the best times to connect with the kids in your ministry, on a personal level, is by going around and talking to them before your weekly programs. This cannot be done though when you aren't properly prepared for the day. Make sure your prepared before instead of running around looking at your lesson plan or trying to set up a game. Just a few minutes of talking to a child could create a personal relationship, enabling them to listen to the gospel your about to present.

2. Being prepared shows the kids they are important.

Now I know what your thinking, and I've even had another minister tell me, the kids won't know we are winging it. But I must admit, I disagree. Kids can tell when your not prepared or coming up with things on the fly. And it shows them that its not important enough to take time before hand. Not to mention that kids are going to be more likely to bring a friend if your program is exciting and well planned, instead of thrown together at the last minute.

3. Being prepared allows you to connect with your workers.

Yes, before an event or program you should be visiting and connecting with the kids. But also make sure to stop by your volunteers. Let them know how much you appreciate them or just simply get to know them. A volunteer, who is invested in, is much more likely to stay in the long run. Which allows you to train and develop positive, strong leadership.

4. Being prepared allows you to include others.

If you are throwing together a lesson plan, or service order it is a lot harder to include others because everything is last minute. Instead by preparing, you can include other workers in leading a game, craft, music, etc. This helps develop solid workers, and ensures the program will be well ran when your on vacation, or a conference.

Expanding your horizons

So what is one thing kids love? Yes, they love candy. And yes, video games, sports, and the disney channel are very popular. But one thing I see kids always getting excited about is something new! It really doesn't matter what it is, if it's new that brings excitement, and anticipation into their lives. 

Yet, often times I've also seen ministries and ministry workers get into a rut of doing things the way they have always been done. Now this isn't all bad. It provides structure and a sense of what to expect for the children. But if every once in a while we, as children's ministry volunteers and ministers, would expand our horizons, step out of our comfort zones and try to do something new, the way kids view our ministry, events, teaching, and even us could drastically change. By changing a teaching style Sunday school can go from normal to exciting, especially for the child that is not just a verbal learner. Learning a new skill could take your children's church to a level of awesomeness not yet reached. But it takes time, effort, and a willingness to try something new.   

This is something recently I've been faced with in my ministry. But not because things have become typical or old news but rather because of God's leading. I have begun to attempt learning to juggle and use a diablo (Chinese yo-yo). To me this is something drastically new and will take a long time to form a "routine" and get comfortable with it. But when the kids at my church see a Chinese yo-yo in a object lesson, I bet they listen because it's something new and exciting. 

 

The question for you is what new skill or trick could you learn? Maybe it's a magic trick, using art, or utilizing the kids to tell a story. The possibilities are almost limitless.