LifeWay

Kids Ministry

Dedicated to helping Kids Ministry leaders in their mission of making disciples

Christmas, Kids Ministry, Leadership

Appreciating Volunteers During the Christmas Season

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It’s the Christmas season. That time of year we go nonstop. We have parties and events to attend, tasks to complete, gifts to buy, and most importantly our Savior’s birth to celebrate. You may have already decided on ways to honor your teachers, or you may not have had the chance to think about it. As church budgets can be tight, more and more kids ministers are looking for creative ways to say “thank you” to teachers. Consider using one of the following ideas to honor teachers this Christmas.

  1. Provide a breakfast one Sunday morning in December. Invite teachers to come early, eat breakfast, and enjoy time fellowshipping with other teachers. It’s a small way to say we remember you and appreciate you.
  2. Send a Christmas card with a handwritten note. Write a personal note in the card sharing a genuine, specific reason you appreciate them. While this may not seem much, reading a personal encouraging note can affirm teachers.
  3. Purchase classroom Bibles in honor of your leaders. There’s no more impactful gift than the Word of God. Purchasing these gifts for the classroom will not only benefit the children but the teachers, too. Find a way to let the teachers know these are being purchased in honor of them and their service.
  4. Consider giving in another way that impacts lives for the gospel such as the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering through the International Mission Board or another ministry your church supports in the community. Make sure to communicate with the teachers about the gift given in their honor.

Can you think of any other ways you can recognize your teachers this Christmas? Remember it’s important to honor them, their time, and remind them of the opportunity they have to teach boys and girls about the most important baby ever born: Jesus! Enjoy the Christmas season!

Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with LifeWay Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.

Encouragement, Kids Ministry, Leadership

Leaving a Legacy: Lessons I learned from my Children’s Minister.

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In kids ministry, many times much energy and time goes into planning and executing big events. While those events are important, recently I was reminded of the significance of day-to-day ministry. Miss Libby Reynolds was the Director of the Primary Division (what we would call a Children’s Minister today) at my home church for over four decades. With her recent passing, I began to reflect on how her commitment to the day-to-day ministry impacted my life and lessons I learned from her ministry.

Keep the focus on Jesus. Miss Libby was a servant who reflected Christ in everything she did. Her relationship with Christ and following His will was most important in her life. As a result, she pointed everyone she met to Him. She saw the importance of providing a biblical and spiritual foundation for kids. Jesus was the focus of every ministry and event.

Make time for People. Miss Libby cared about people. She knew their names. She deeply loved them. She took time to visit with each and every person. 

Miss Libby visited families in their time of need. 

Additionally, she made a priority to visit with each child after he or she became a Christian.

When I was in third grade, I invited Miss Libby to a party I was having for kids in my neighborhood (the day before Easter.) Miss Libby came and even brought a beautiful cake for all of us to enjoy. 

Now as an adult and a children’s ministry leader, I realize the sacrifice she made to minister to me and my friends on one of the most important and busiest weekends of the year. She understood the importance of relationships in ministry.

Be a leader worth following. People loved to serve under Miss Libby’s leadership. She saw the potential in teachers and saw the importance of developing leaders. She was organized and continually reminded them of the vision. Teachers not only knew the how but understood the why. She invested, appreciated, and empowered leaders.

I am confident the Lord used Miss Libby to help develop His call in my life, just as He is using you to develop His call in children’s lives. Future children’s ministers, pastors, parents, missionaries, and other church leaders are in your ministry. What legacy are you leaving for the children under your leadership?

Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with LifeWay Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.

Family Ministry, Kids Ministry, Leadership

When Grandparents are the Spiritual Parents

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Many people recognize September as the beginning of fall. September is also the month we celebrate grandparents. National Grandparents’ Day is September 9. For the last few years, I’ve noticed a trend of more and more grandparents bringing their grandchildren to church. We as kids ministry leaders have the opportunity to minister to grandparents as they have taken on this responsibility. The following ideas can be used to minister to the grandparents in your kids ministry.

  • Encourage. Many grandparents may lack confidence in their ability to connect with their grandchildren. It can be as simple as listening to and encouraging them as they have taken on the role of spiritual parents to their grandchildren.
  • Communicate. Communicate with grandparents as you would with parents. Be mindful some grandparents would prefer a paper copy of a newsletter rather than an electronic version.
  • Pray. Ask grandparents how you can pray for them. They may have some of the same needs as other parents. They may also share prayer requests for their adult children.
  • Partner. Partner with the Adult and Senior Adult ministry in your church. Introduce yourself. Let them know you are a point of contact and resource for them. They are more likely to come to you when a need arises if you’ve established a relationship. One possible need may be scholarships for kids ministry events.

During this special month of celebrating grandparents, make sure to recognize them. Celebrate them. Encourage them. Communicate with them. Pray with them. Partner with them. Love them. You never know how God will use you in their life, as they seek to be the spiritual parents to their grandchildren.

Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with LifeWay Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.

Kids Ministry, Leadership

Ways Teachers Can Connect with Kids and Their Families

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A new ministry year can mean new classes, new students, and new teachers. For me, this new ministry year includes teaching new students and a new age group. I’m looking forward to connecting with my new students in my class and their families in the following ways:

  • Send a welcome letter. In the letter introduce each teacher. Share your testimony. Through my experience, parents begin to trust you sooner, by learning your story. As a bonus, they are more open to sharing their story with you.
  • Greet each child at the door. The way you greet parents at the classroom door can set the tone for the morning and provide opportunities to connect with them. Specific ideas for greeting children can be found HERE.
  • Contact the families in your class regularly. This can be through phone calls, emails, or text. A simple hello or “How can I pray for you today?” can communicate care to parents. I’ve found relationships are built through these intentional contacts made through the year.
  • Send the suggested weekly email found on the curriculum enhanced CD as a follow-up to each week’s lesson. Each of LifeWay’s ongoing curriculums (Bible Studies for Life, Explore the Bible, and The Gospel Project) offer a sample email to send to parents. The emails share important parts of the weekly Bible story and give a suggested activity for parents to reinforce the lesson.
  • Write and send a postcard to each child. Kids love to receive mail. They may rarely receive a note addressed to them. Writing a short quick note with a few sentences communicates to parents and kids they are special.
  • Be intentional to greet families when outside of the classroom. Children love to talk to their teachers when they see them outside the classroom. They’re excited to recognize someone they know and who cares for them. Make an extra effort and be aware to speak to your students you may see around the church or in the community.

Connecting with families builds trust with the parents. It allows you an opportunity to more effectively minister to them. What other ways would you choose to connect with kids and their families this year?

Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with LifeWay Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.

Kids Ministry, Leadership

4 Tips for the New Ministry Year

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It seems the summer months are busy, filled with meaningful events like Vacation Bible School and camp. At the same time, as a kids ministry leader, you’re planning and preparing for the new ministry year. Below are four tips to help you as you prepare:

  • Pray. Make prayer a priority and be spiritually prepared. As kids ministry leaders, we can’t neglect our prayer life and spiritual growth. It helps us set our priorities in our lives and the ministry we lead. It helps us focus on His will and direction. When you pray, do you pray “believing” God hears your prayers and will answer them? Pray with confidence. Involve others in praying for the kids ministry. Consider enlisting a prayer team. Ask them to prayer walk the kids space on Sunday mornings. There may be members of your church who are unable to serve in the kids ministry but would be honored to pray. Ask them to be a part of this team.
  • Invite current teachers to help enlist potential teachers. When it comes to enlisting volunteers, you may reach the point where you no longer have names of people to ask. Your current volunteer team knows other church members you may not know. Why not include them in the process of enlisting teachers? Ask teachers to pray about someone who can teach with them in the upcoming year. When you talk with the potential volunteers, make sure to communicate the church’s criteria for teachers.
  • Refresh and restock supplies in the classrooms and resource room. With all the different responsibilities of the summer and beginning a new ministry year, ordering supplies may not be a priority. Take time or enlist someone to find out what supplies need to be restocked in the classrooms and resource rooms. Are the markers and glue sticks dried out? Is there enough construction paper? The list goes on and on. This may seem not important to some, but I’ve found it’s the little things like making sure resources are ready and available for teachers that make a difference. We want teachers to be able to focus on teaching and connecting with families.
  • Plan trainings for the year. Update and communicate safety and security plans. Make training an integral part of the ministry. Plan how your teachers will receive training during the year. Consider offering live or video trainings, sharing blog articles, and podcasts. Kidsministry101.com is a great resource to find information for these trainings. Additionally, review your policies and procedures for the kids ministry. Update any if needed. Communicate to the volunteers any changes made.

As you begin the new ministry year, celebrate what the Lord is doing. Be intentional to take time each week to thank the Lord for His faithfulness and the many ways He’s working in and through the kids ministry leaders. Share the stories with the church staff and other leaders in the ministry. We all need to be encouraged and remember what a blessing it is to serve the Lord through kids ministry.

Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with LifeWay Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.

Bible Skills, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Preschoolers

Bible Teaching Activity: Craft Stick Bible Verse

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As teachers, we’ve all experienced the need for an additional activity during a teaching session. Maybe you needed an additional early arrival activity, the children finished the other activities faster than you had planned, a child preferred to work alone for an activity, or the class was longer than usual. Bible verse activities can fill that need. Prepare the activity below to teach or review any Bible verse any time you teach preschoolers.

Supplies Needed:

  • Bible
  • Craft sticks
  • Washable markers
  • Plastic ziplock bag

Prepare:

  1. Gather craft sticks. Consider the age of children you teach when deciding how many craft sticks to use. For instance, with older preschoolers, use 4-6 craft sticks. Additionally, larger craft sticks will be easier for the child to handle.
  2. Write the Bible phrase/verse for the teaching session on the craft sticks horizontally, writing one or two words on each craft stick.
  3. Place the craft sticks in order of the Bible verse horizontally.
  4. Beginning with the first stick, use a marker to make a circle on the right end of the stick. Then, using the same color of marker make a circle on the left end of the next stick.  
  5. Continue this process for each of the sticks, using a different color for each pair of
    matching circles. Remember to select colors a preschooler can easily recognize and distinguish from other colors. 
  6. Then, write the Bible phrase/verse on a blank craft stick to use as a Bible marker. Place it in the Bible at the reference.

Teach:

  1. Place the Bible with Bible marker on a table.
  2. As you talk about the Bible story for the day, encourage the child to put the verse in order side-by-side by matching the colored circles on the end of the craft sticks.
  3. When the child has placed the verse in order, say the verse aloud, pointing to each word of the Bible verse.
  4. Invite the preschooler to open the Bible to the Bible marker and read the verse from the Bible.
  5. Store the puzzle in a ziplock bag.

Optional Activity: For older preschoolers that need a more challenging activity, place blank craft sticks next to each other, side-by-side. Place a small piece of tape joining each craft stick.

Then, turn the group of taped craft sticks over and write the Bible verse using a washable marker. Next, remove the tape from the craft sticks. Encourage the children to put together the Bible verse puzzle. It may be helpful to write the verse on a notecard and place beside the puzzle for some children. This will allow the child to refer to the verse as he puts it together.

Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with LifeWay Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.

Kids Ministry, Leadership

Ministering in Times of Transition

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Transitions are inevitable. We all experience some type of transition at different points in our life. We go through them as church leaders. Families in our churches experience them, too. Transitions can be positive and challenging. For some, it may be adding to their family by birth or adoption. Others may be relocating to a new city. Some families may receive a diagnosis of a health illness or learning difference. These are just a few of the many transitions the families under your leadership may experience. Through my years in ministry, I’ve observed these general commonalities in many families experiencing transitions:

  • People have an opportunity for growth.
  • People may experience grief.
  • People may be more sensitive to everyday situations.
  • People may experience anxiety.

Although I’ve observed some probable characteristics, I’ve also noted many unique points as well. We must seek to understand each family and their situation in order to best minister to them. Below are practical ways to minister to families during transitions:

  • Remember to give grace to others. More than likely, you aren’t aware of all the family is going through and the details of their situation.
  • Pray for and with them. It’s encouraging to know people are praying for you. It’s even a bigger blessing to hear them praying aloud for you.
  • Provide in tangible ways if needed. Ask families, “What needs to be done?” rather than, “Let me know if I can help.”
  • Provide practical help. Some may need help beyond your expertise. Connect them with a professional in that particular field. Share blog articles, books and podcasts to help them in their situation.
  • Listen. Ask questions to help them process. Many times, people just need someone to listen to them as they process what they’re experiencing. Also, some people process differently and may not want to talk about the situation. Honor their request.
  • Ask the family if they would like you to connect with others who have experienced a similar situation.

During times of transitions, we as church leaders can set an example of ministering to others. What additional ways would you add to the list to minister to families?

Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with LifeWay Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.

Games, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Preschool, Preschoolers, Sunday School

Bible Teaching Activity: Bible Teaching Picture Puzzles

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Puzzles are a helpful teaching tool to keep preschoolers engaged in learning. Many children enjoy puzzles, especially reflective, visual, and logical learners. Use the activity below to teach and review any Bible story with preschoolers.

Supplies Needed:

  • Bible
  • 2 Matching Bible Teaching pictures (save teaching pictures from the leader pack each quarter)
  • Scissors
  • Glue or glue stick
  • File folder
  • A piece of Velcro®
  • Plastic zipper bag

Prepare:

  1. Open a file folder horizontally.
  2. Attach one teaching picture to the right side of the file folder with glue or a glue stick.
  3. Then, cut the matching teaching picture into the number of pieces developmentally appropriate for the children in your class.
  4. For storage of the puzzle pieces, attach a plastic storage bag with Velcro® inside the folder and left of the picture.
  5. For durability, consider laminating or covering the teaching picture puzzle.

Teach:

  1. Open a Bible to the Bible story and place the puzzle (folder open showing the Bible picture and the cut puzzle pieces beside it) on a table.
  2. Invite a child to put the puzzle together. Encourage him to place the pieces over the completed picture. (To make the activity more challenging, guide a child to put the puzzle together beside the teaching picture.)
  3. As the child works, share the Bible story.
  4. Review the Bible story with him, asking questions and referring to the picture in the puzzle.
  5.  Help him discover ways he can apply the Bible story to his life.

Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with LifeWay Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.

Devotional, Encouraging, Family, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Parent Helps, Parenting

9 Tips for Family Devotions

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Family Devotions are a time of worship. They look different for each family. One family’s devotion time may look different than another family’s devotion time. The family’s schedule, number of children, and age of children are some of the factors impacting what the family devotion looks like. Typically, a family devotion time includes, reading a Bible story from the Bible, singing songs, and praying, Use the nine tips below for beginning and maintaining a regular family devotion time:

  1. Intentionally Schedule Devotions. Make this time a priority by writing it on your calendar. While looking at the calendar, select a time that works best for your family, such as at breakfast, in the evening, or during the day.
  2. Be Realistic. Keep in mind the ages and developmental stages of your children. Devotions with young preschoolers will look very different than families with school-age children. Family devotions can range from a few minutes up to 15 minutes.
  3. Plan your time together. Consider using your child’s activity pages from church as a starting point. Select a Bible story to read and review. Choose a Bible verse to learn together as a family. Write down worship songs your family can sing together.
  4. Be Flexible. Family devotions will not always go according to plan. The important point to remember is that your family is spending time with God.
  5. Give Yourself Grace. If you miss the family devotion one day, give yourself grace. Start back fresh the next day to help establish the routine.
  6. Be Creative. If a family member isn’t able to be present due to travel or schedule, use technology to include him/her in the family devotion time. Technology can also be used to include grandparents and other out of town family and friends from time to time.
  7. Keep Devotions Fresh. Include variety in your family devotions. After reading the Bible story, incorporate activities such as making a Bible marker or playing a game to review the Bible verse.
  8. Focus on the Bible. The Bible is central to the family devotion. Use a Bible translation your child can understand. Allow him to hold the Bible, and to help find and read the Bible passage.
  9. Reinforce Lessons During Daily Activities. As opportunities arise throughout the day, remind your child of what you have been talking about and learned during family devotions.

Helpful resources to use in Family Devotions:

Read to Me Bible:  Use the prepared Bible stories to read to your preschooler.

The Big Picture Interactive Bible:  Use the downloadable free app to scan the illustration to watch and hear the Bible story come to life visually and audibly.

Bible Skills for Kids and Levels of Biblical Learning:  Resources to help parents understand age-appropriate biblical skills and concepts.

LifeWay Kids Curriculum App:  This free app includes games, puzzles, and content to help reinforce kids’ Sunday School lessons at home.

In Deuteronomy 6:4-7, the Bible shares that parents are to teach their children about God. They are the primary spiritual leaders of their family. Parents have the most significant influence on a child’s life and development. When parents make family devotions a priority, children learn to love the Lord their God with their heart, their soul, and their strength. What other ways can we as kids ministry leaders support and equip parents?

Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with LifeWay Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.

Christmas, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Parent Helps, Preschool, Preschoolers

Christmas Bible Learning Activities for Babies

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The Christmas Season is full of opportunities to teach babies about the Birth of Jesus. Use the following activities to teach babies at church and at home.:

Flip Through a Book:

Gather poster board, clear contact plastic, hole punch, ribbon or yarn, Christmas cards with pictures of the angel, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and the shepherds.

  • Mount Christmas card pictures on pieces of poster board. Laminate or cover with clear contact plastic. Make holes on the side of each page and bind them together with ribbon or yarn.
  • Show the baby how to turn the pages. As you look at each page, talk about the pictures.
  • Say: “Mary had a special baby named Jesus. He was born in Bethlehem. You are a baby and have a special family.”
  • Alternate Option: Take apart the book and lay the pages on the floor (taped together) to make a manger scene mat. Place the Bible near the manger scene mat. Encourage the baby to crawl to the mat.

Shake and Hear Sounds:

Gather a Bible, large jingle bells, clear plastic bottle, glue

  • Place different colors of large jingle bells in a clear plastic bottle. Use glue to securely seal the cap to the bottle.
  • Shake the bottle allowing the baby to hear the sounds of the bells jingling. Help the baby shake the bottle.
  • Open the Bible to Luke 2:11 and say the Bible phrase,  “Jesus was born.” Continue to notice sounds the baby hears and remind the baby that Mary heard she would be Jesus’ mother.
  • Talk to a baby: “Do you hear the bells? Mary heard from the angel that she would be Jesus’ mother.”

Wrap a Baby Doll:

Gather a Bible, soft doll (no parts that could poke), soft blanket

  • Wrap a doll loosely in a soft blanket. When the baby crawls to you, allow him to see the baby doll, reach to touch and hold the baby doll.
  • Say: “Jesus was born. Mary wrapped Him in soft cloths. She laid Him in a manger.”

During this Christmas season, be intentional to teach babies in your life about the Good News of Jesus’ Birth.

Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with LifeWay Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.

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