Archivo de la categoría: KIDMIN

Family Friendly vs. Family Ministry

Many churches seek to provide ministries to families and venture out to do new programs and activities. However, there is a difference between being family friendly and a family ministry. Here are three identifiers of Family Friendly churches vs. Family Ministry churches:

 

1. Family Friendly churches offer activities for all ages / Family Ministry churches offer activities for families to do together.

If your church is family friendly, you will offer classes and programs for each age to attend. However, most of the time these activities and classes will be totally separate of one another and often times conflict with each other on the calendar. Churches with family ministries will coordinate their calendars to work together with families and provide activities and classes for all ages to attend together. While this may not ALWAYS be possible, it is a good idea to include family activities and classes as much as you can.

2. Family Friendly churches are available to parents / Family Ministry churches partner with the parents.

Chances are, if you are in a family friendly church, your parents will know they can come to you with any questions or concerns they have and you will help them find a solution. This is great in theory, but many times parents will not be “brave” enough to admit they cannot figure out something on their own. Churches that provide true family ministries will actively pursue the parents to provide them with information and solutions to problems BEFORE the question or concern arises. You may not always answer ever question but the more prepared the parents are, the better off they will be.

3. Family Friendly churches teach children about Jesus / Family Ministry churches teach parents to teach their children about Jesus.

Teaching children about Jesus is certainly an important task for the church and something that every church should be doing. However the difference between family friendly churches and family ministry churches on this one is night and day. Family friendly churches often times share the gospel with children and disciple them in the classrooms, without ever breathing a word to parents on how they can continue the discipleship at home. Many times parents may feel inadequate to do the job and rely on the church to complete the task for them. A child, at best, will be in a church setting 4 or 5 hours a week. Compare this to the many hours they are with their parents each and every day. Discipleship would be much better done by parents who are with their children many more hours in a week and have a much closer bond with the children than any children’s worker or minister ever would. We must teach parents to disciple their children to most effectively reach out to them.

 

Children’s ministers need to decide which model works best for your church. While the newest trend is the family ministry model, the trend swings like a pendulum from one model to the next. The facts however are that God believes using families to minister to children is important (Deuteronomy 6) and a parent’s influence upon their child will certainly never go away. If God’s way is the family way, we should definitely consider joining together with families to reach the next generation.

Lesson Series: Be a Mirror

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 07:09 AM PDT

Week 1
Reflect Jesus’ Love
Jesus heals and forgives a paralyzed man- Mark 2:1-12
Main point: We should show compassion to others, just like Jesus did when he healed the paralyzed man.

Week 2
Reflect Jesus’ Servanthood
Jesus feeds the 5,000-Matthew 14:13-21
Main point: We should serve others, just like Jesus did when he fed the 5,000.

Week 3
Reflect Jesus’ Witness
Jesus and the woman at the well- John 4:1-49
Main point: We should tell others about Jesus, just like Jesus did to the woman at the well.

Week 4
Reflect Jesus’ Power Over Death
Jesus rises from the dead- Matthew 28:1-6
Main point: Just like Jesus lives forever, we can live forever if we put our faith and trust in him.

Teaching tips: Bring in a big mirror for this series and remind children each week how we are to be like mirrors.

Mirrors show an exact replica of something. We should show an exact replica of Jesus to others. It is very easy to add to this series or change something. Feel free to make it your own!

Visitas: 3

Calling All “F.A.T. C.A.T.S.”

Calling All “F.A.T. C.A.T.S.”

 

Once you have made the choice to do ministry as a team, you need to make sure you choose the right kind of people to be your Kidmin team members. It’s not about just “getting a warm body to sit in this classroom with these kids.” You want your team to be remarkable. You want a bunch of F.A.T. C.A.T.S.!

F – Faithful

When you assemble your ministry team, look for those who are faithful. Faithful people show up when they say they will, they serve with excellence, and they are reliable in every situation. Remind your team that all of us want to one day enter heaven and hear these words:

‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.’” – Matthew 25:19

A – Available

As I mentioned, you don’t just want to find any warm body to serve in Children’s Ministry. Being available is not about “not having anything else to do.” “Available” is an attitude that says, “I am willing to serve in whatever capacity will advance the Kingdom of God.” When assembling your team, recruit people who are available to serve wherever needed because they have a passion to reach kids, not people with the “I don’t do windows” mentality.

T – Teachable

I’ve been in Children’s Ministry for nearly twenty years, and I STILL have so much to learn. A teachable spirit is something a person must possess if they are going to be effective in ministry. The more you learn, the more you find out just how much there is you still don’t know. A ministry team will only grow to the point that its leader is willing to grow. No matter how much we may know, there is so much more to learn if we want our ministry to flourish.

C – Committed

In society today, commitment is a value that seems to be waning in importance. Whether it is commitment to a career, a marriage, or church, finding an everyday American that is wholeheartedly committed to something is difficult. Being committed means a person will “stick with it” no matter how difficult the conditions become.

A – Accountable

Accountability is something we often want from others, but rarely want to give to others. In a ministry team, accountability is a key factor for things to run smoothly. When you are building your ministry team, don’t look for those who refuse to submit themselves to authority. Look for those who are willing to be accountable to you as their leader.

T – Transparent

Too often we try to hide our real self and put on a front for others. We don’t want to admit our faults, our weaknesses, or our failures. On a ministry team, this works against the goal of “working together.” When you can’t share your feelings, fears, or failures with someone, there’s no real trust there. Without trust, every team will falter. Oftentimes, we project a false version of ourselves for others to see. Rather than be genuine and authentic we are pretentious and fake. Rather than be transparent, we find ourselves putting up walls between ourselves and our fellow team members.

Transparency is a quality that each member of your ministry team should possess. Really, transparency is about integrity and is powerful in bonding relationships on a team. It builds trust and breaks down walls. Ephesians 4:15 says, “Let our lives lovingly express the truth in all things–speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly.” That’s being transparent.

S – Serving

Dwight L. Moody once said, “The measure of a man is not how many servants he has, but how many men he serves.” One of the greatest traits of anyone in ministry is having a heart for serving others. What is ministry all about? It’s about serving others. As we ministry to children, there are many times when we are going to be required to do things that are out of our comfort zone (crazy characters, pies-in-the-face, and lock-ins just to name a few). We must seek to display a heart of service that says, “Whatever I have to do to reach these kids, I will do it!”

Jesus said, “Anyone who wants to be the first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else (Mark 9:35).”

 

There are so many children to reach and so little time to reach them. We need to partner with those who are faithful, available, teachable, committed, accountable, transparent, and serving in order to accomplish this Great Commission. It’s time to get some F.A.T. C.A.T.S. on your Kid’s Ministry team!

Visitas: 4

Volunteer Recruitment: Make it personal

 Volunteer Recruitment: Make it personal

Help Wanted

Most children’s ministry leaders are always at their wits end about how to drum up more volunteers. And I will tell you that I have a solution for you. It’s not easy, but it is effective.

First, start with prayer. OK, don’t stop reading. I know this may seem so elementary and obvious that you might be saying, “Really, that’s your advice.” And my answer would be “Absolutely!” Because I think for most of us, that is not where we start. We start with a new book or resource, we start with ideas from other children’s ministry leaders, we start with designing our next catchy recruitment campaign.

Although those things are not inherently bad, you put the cart before the horse when you start there. Children are a harvest field. And God already knows what it takes to labor in that field. He already knows that we are striving each Sunday and mid-week to make sure classes are covered, to make sure our ratios are balanced. But let me tell you something else He knows. He knows that you cannot bring in all the volunteers that you need. And even more so, He knows who you need and who will answer the call.

So do yourself a favor and start by going to the One who already knows. He says to us clearly in Matthew 9:38. “So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Our situation with volunteers (laborers) is not unique. From the time of Christ and I would dare say before that time as well, ministry coordinators have been struggling to fill slots on a roster.

So pray fervently. And I’m not talking about a perfunctory one prayer before you kick off your recruitment campaign. I’m talking about some intense time when you talk to God about what you need and about your vision. But even more importantly, take time to ask God for His vision. Then not only pray yourself, but have your children’s ministry team or staff also commit to a season of prayer. Then engage some of your faithful prayer warriors.

And although I know it is out of context, but God says, “Test me in this and see if I don’t open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams.” Yes Malachi 3:10 refers to tithes and offerings, but I believe God is true to His Word in all situations. And if He tells us to pray and ask Him for more workers, then what is our response: “ASK HIM!”

But second, is the follow up. I think the how to getting more volunteers is to get to know people. Get to know the parents in your church, get to know the children you serve, get to know the youth, get to know the seniors. It takes time, it takes a personal investment. And again, don’t get it twisted that you set out to “get to know people” with an agenda where it becomes about staffing a program more so than knowing people.

The more you interact and engage with people, the more you get to share your vision, the more they get to share their gifts, their passions, their abilities. And what you will discover is that folks are equipped by God to serve in children’s ministry but because that gift is not teaching, and sometimes it is not even children, they have never volunteered.

I discovered people with all sorts of gifts just by taking the time. For example, I found one retired grandmother who had awesome administrative skills. We brought her on and she organized my supply closets and kept all the curriculum copied and distributed, plus she handled all of the mailings. That took a huge load off of me to focus on other areas of ministry. The key is finding what people are passionate about, and help them see how they can use that gift for the kingdom.

Invest yourself, make it personal. And believe God for the increase.

Visitas: 5

7 sure fire ways to make kids feel welcome in church.

Here are 7 things I often tell our uptown volunteers to do to make kids feel welcome in Uptown. If we are not consistently thinking about what we can proactively do to help kids feel welcome we won’t do it.

7 sure fire ways to make kids feel welcome in church.

  1. Talk to them how they talk to you – If they are shy you need to be shy, if they are outgoing be outgoing.
  2. Make fun of your self -If you can make funny faces or do funny voices that’s always a plus
  3. Always stoop down to their level.
  4. Stay up on kid culture – Don’t ask them about “the littles or Ducktails” ask them about Pheinous and Ferb
  5. Give them things – stickers, candy, Bible bucks
  6. Learn their names and their parents names
  7. ALWAYS greet the kids before the parents

Visitas: 2

A Faith Checkup

A Faith Checkup

 

Sometimes, it is the simplest Bible truths that we need to revisit. I cannot think of any Bible truth so relevant to children’s ministry than Matthew 19:14-15, “But Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.’ And He placed His hands on their heads and blessed them before He left.”

These verses are so important to children because it teaches them that God loves them so much that Jesus even reprimanded His own disciples. In their minds, children were just in the way, they were just an afterthought. It doesn’t appear that the disciples even considered that children might have hearts that would be open to Christ’s message.

I believe that Jesus drew the children to Him because of their incredible faith. Even after years of serving children in ministry, I am still awed at the total faith of a child to believe the impossible. The Gospel message is simple and children receive it as such without all of the trappings we adults want to attach to it.

It is easy for a child to believe that God could be born as a baby and live on this earth. It is easy to believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that Jesus, who was dead, could come back to life again. It is easy for them to believe that there is a place called Heaven for those who accept God’s gift of salvation, and an equally horrible place where God does not live called Hell for those who reject Him.

Kids understand about punishment for the bad things we do, asking for forgiveness, do overs, and second chances. Jesus knew what kids were about. He made them. He is God. And He loved them enough to make time for them, to say to those children on that day, “You are important to me.” Jesus even took the time to place His hands on their heads and bless them.

I hope this familiar passage will minister to you today, and be an impetus for a quick spiritual inventory. Sometimes we serve God for many years and we slip into complacency, forgetting our First Love.

Do you still have the faith of child to believe God for the impossible? Do you believe the truth of all of God’s Word, or do you simply live the parts that are easiest for you to follow? Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins? Or do you live your life in a way that says you think you are good enough all by yourself to get to heaven? Do you believe Jesus, who was dead, could come back to life again? If you do, is that same power evident in your life?

I have been in church long enough to know not to assume that everyone who serves in ministry believes the Gospel. That may sound shocking, but many years ago, I was shocked when I learned that a Sunday School teacher I served with did not fully believe in the existence of God herself. So, sometimes we just need to be reminded that the message of the Gospel is simple. God is REAL. God loves us. God sent His Son to save us. Those who believe in Christ will live forever with God.

It is not our service that pleases God, it is our faith. And just like Christ blessed those children, He is ready to bless those who believe.

Visitas: 3

The Anointing Doesn’t Make Up for Lack of Preparation

The Anointing Doesn’t Make Up for Lack of Preparation

I heard the statement a number of years ago “The anointing doesn’t make up for a lack of preparation”. Yikes….why are there so many ministries, leaders, pastors and even children’s ministries that are flying by the seat of their pants? I mean don’t they know that learning a new song in the car on the way to church on Sunday morning is not going to be very effective. I’ve seen the data of children’s ministry resources that are bought on Saturday and even Sunday mornings. Why do some people feel that if they plan ahead and actually schedule things, have all necessary props and resources that they aren’t being led by the Spirit for what their group needs that day? Honestly, I think that’s foolish. Planning at the last second and then trying to cover it in a prayer hoping that it will plug all the holes In our sinking boat is just so backwards with the way I believe God would want us to lead and minister.

I’ve walked on stage knowing I didn’t know a song well enough. It’s flat out scary and way too nerve wrecking…honestly it usually ends in an on stage train wreck. I’m way more effective at what I do when it’s planned. I’ve studied, rehearsed, planned what I’m going to say, etc., etc.. etc. I like to say it like this “There’s freedom in preparation”.  A couple years ago I was at a conference and a girl came up to me and said If you could only tell me one thing about leading worship what would it be? I thought for about three seconds and responded with “Be prepared”. If you asked me the same question today I would tell you to “be prepared.”

Visitas: 5

The Anointing Doesn’t Make Up for Lack of Preparation

The Anointing Doesn’t Make Up for Lack of Preparation

I heard the statement a number of years ago “The anointing doesn’t make up for a lack of preparation”. Yikes….why are there so many ministries, leaders, pastors and even children’s ministries that are flying by the seat of their pants? I mean don’t they know that learning a new song in the car on the way to church on Sunday morning is not going to be very effective. I’ve seen the data of children’s ministry resources that are bought on Saturday and even Sunday mornings. Why do some people feel that if they plan ahead and actually schedule things, have all necessary props and resources that they aren’t being led by the Spirit for what their group needs that day? Honestly, I think that’s foolish. Planning at the last second and then trying to cover it in a prayer hoping that it will plug all the holes In our sinking boat is just so backwards with the way I believe God would want us to lead and minister.

I’ve walked on stage knowing I didn’t know a song well enough. It’s flat out scary and way too nerve wrecking…honestly it usually ends in an on stage train wreck. I’m way more effective at what I do when it’s planned. I’ve studied, rehearsed, planned what I’m going to say, etc., etc.. etc. I like to say it like this “There’s freedom in preparation”.  A couple years ago I was at a conference and a girl came up to me and said If you could only tell me one thing about leading worship what would it be? I thought for about three seconds and responded with “Be prepared”. If you asked me the same question today I would tell you to “be prepared.”

Visitas: 4

Creative Ways to Reach Out to Parents

Creative Ways to Reach Out to Parents

 

As a KIDMIN Leader, you know the importance of parent’s discussing with children the concepts they have learned at church. You also know that handing out “take-home” papers and sheets with discussion questions usually won’t work…unless the paper airplane that the child made somehow flies into the parent’s hands. Here are some tech-savy ways to get this information to your parents:

1. Send out mass text messages.

Statistics say that something like 98% of people will read a text message. Use a service such as clubtexting.com, mobomix.com, or eztexting.com to create groups to send mass text messages to. They each have certain fees, but in the end it just may be worth it. Imagine this…you bring your child to a new church where you have to fill out your information at the check-in point to drop him or her off. After service, you pick your child up and within 10 minutes you receive a text message telling you what your child learned that day and giving you some ideas on how to discuss it with him or her even further. Impressive.

2. Create a blog with discussion questions.

You like blogs. Your parents would like them too. Create a blog with parenting tips and ideas, but also post this week’s discussion questions on there. You can give them the direct link or to be even more tech-savy, put a QR code in Sunday’s bulletin or post it on the wall outside of the classroom door. A QR code is kind of like a barcode, but it can be scanned with a smart phone and link people directly to whatever you would like, including your blog post with discussion questions.

3. Make an audio CD.

I’m a firm believer that KIDMIN Leaders should work ahead. Plan out your Kids’ Church services for 2 or 3 months in advance. If you use curriculum, it has already done that for you. Take a few minutes before the beginning of a month or series and create audio tracks (no more than 5 minutes) for your parents to listen to on their way to lunch after the service. On these tracks you may include a brief summary of the day’s lesson, discussion questions, and some announcements for your ministry. Burn that month’s or series’ tracks on to 1 CD and place a label with your logo and a date on it. Hand it out for that month to every parent and encourage them to listen to it when they get in the car each Sunday.

4. Create a podcast.

Another option would be to take your audio tracks and make a podcast out of them for your parents. You could link to them with a QR code or simply tell parents what to search in the iTunes store to find you and subscribe. You can find instructions on how to make a podcast here.

5. Use Facebook and Twitter.

Create a Facebook page/group or Twitter profile for your children’s ministry. You can use apps, such as HootSuite to schedule a future post to both of them. Pre-program your Twitter and Facebook account to post discussion questions about 10 minutes after your service ends. This way parents will receive the information when it is fresh on their minds and you will impress them with your timeliness. You can also include a link to your podcast and blog, mentioned above.

 

Communication is key in working with families. If something you are doing isn’t working, find another way to accomplish it. Can you come up with any more creative ideas to get your message out? Post them to the comments below.

 

 

Visitas: 8