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Kids Ministry, Leadership
May 1, 2018

Five Thoughts to Spark Spiritual Conversation at Home

By Jeff Land

There are teachable moments everywhere you look in your daily life.

One opportunity came for me as I unloaded groceries into the back of our van. My wife and kids sat waiting for me to hop back into the driver’s seat when I realized I’d forgotten to pay for a $3 case of water in the bottom of my cart.

I ran back inside to pay. At first, my boys were scared I would be arrested, but after assuring them I wouldn’t be, they asked why I would pay for the water. As I arrived back to the car, my wife and I took the opportunity to teach our kids about temptation. We talked about Jesus’ temptation and his resistance. One of my boys remembered the verse that says, “Do not steal.” The conversation continued and our grocery trip turned into a moment of family discipleship.

Here are a few ideas you can use to spark conversations when teachable moments present themselves.

  1. Explain the Why.

Your kids have insecurities. Think about times in your life that you can relate to your kids. If your child says she is afraid of the dark, respond with “One time when I was afraid of the dark, I prayed and God reminded me that He was with me.” Help your child think about how God can help her when she is afraid. Remind her of Scripture passages you use when you are afraid. Kids need to know why they have these insecurities. Remind kids that when God created the world, it was perfect. He knew, though, after sin, that people would have troubles. The devil tempts us through our insecurities, but God sent Jesus to give us hope.

  1. Ask the How.

There will be times when you and your children witness someone being unkind. If you find yourself witnessing a situation such as a customer berating a waitress for bringing him the wrong order, use this moment to teach your kids. Ask them: “How do you think you would act if someone brought you the wrong order? How could you honor Jesus in this situation?” Help your children think about how Christians should respond in these situations.

  1. Explore the What.

I love the show “What Would You Do?”. Recently we were dropping items at the elementary school and running late for soccer practice when we noticed a parent whose car wouldn’t start. I rolled down my window and asked if I could use my only car repair skill: jump-starting her car. My oldest son was not thrilled with the idea of being late for practice and began to complain. It was a great time to remind the boys of the parable of the Good Samaritan. We talked about what to do when people need our help and how we can show our love for God by helping others.

  1. Look out for the When.

Develop a habit of looking for a time when you can turn an everyday conversation into a gospel-centered one. My kids love to sing worship songs in the car. Sometimes they don’t even realize they are worshiping. I like to ask them what the song means or how that song describes who Jesus is. Use teachable moments every day to point your kids toward Christ.

  1. Focus on the Who.

For most Christian parents, there is a certain pride that takes over when one of their children attributes some portion of creation or some good event as being from Jesus. Make Jesus a common subject in your house. Talk about Him with your kids. Show your kids that you depend on Him—Jesus, only Jesus.

Jeff Land is Publishing Team Leader for Bible Studies For Life: Kids. He holds a BSW from Mississippi College and a MACE from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jeff has served as children’s pastor and currently teaches second graders each week at his church. Jeff, his wife Abbey, and their four sons live in Coopertown, Tennessee.

Kids Ministry, Leadership
March 28, 2018

What’s Missing In Your Kids Ministry Library?

By Jeff Land

One of the things I love most about working at LifeWay is that our mission is to Serve the Church in Her Mission of Making Disciples. We do that in a variety of ways in the LifeWay Kids area. Through training and providing excellent resources that are rooted in Scripture, we are constantly working to provide top quality resources.

When I visit with children’s ministry leaders in their offices, I’m always quickly trying to survey their bookshelves to see if there are any books that I need to add to my own library. One of our goals over the next year in LifeWay Kids is to provide more books that are full of practical, must-have activities and ideas for ministry.

Thinking about your own ministry and your own experiences, what are some events, times in ministry, or just regular ministry areas where you feel like you would love to have more ideas or more resources? Please comment here or on our LifeWay Kids FaceBook page and tell us what’s missing in your library!

Jeff Land is a Publishing Team Leader for LifeWay Kids. He holds a BSW from Mississippi College and a MACE from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jeff has served as children’s pastor and currently teaches second graders each week at his church. Jeff, his wife Abbey, and their four sons live in Coopertown, TN.

Encouragement, Family, Kids Ministry, Preteen, Resources
January 23, 2018

The Bully Situation: Bully or Bullied

By Jeff Land

I’ve never been popular. In fact, I would probably say that I’m more liked now than I ever was as a child. I had a few friends, but I just wasn’t the most popular kid. I was an easy target. I wasn’t athletic and I did pretty well in school. I didn’t hit a growth spurt until I was in my late teens. At times, I was bullied. Probably due to certain personality traits, I was able to endure bullying with relative ease.

My situation is not true for everyone. Many kids really struggle with bullying and I totally understand why. Having your peers attack your worth as a human being is demeaning and crippling.

As I have gotten older, I feel like I’ve come to understand bullying from different angles. I can think back to situations where I was clearly bullied, but also I am ashamed to admit I can think of times where I was a bully.

If you think about it, there are probably those situations for you in your life. I think that we all have some level of bully in us, and if we are willing to admit it, there have been times that we have felt bullied. The smart person can bully the person who understands things more slowly. The athletic person can bully the person who just isn’t interested in sports. The theologian can bully the a person of opposing views.

We would love to introduce you to  “Bully or Bullied” by FLYTE. It’s a great resource for helping your preteens understand the impact of bullying in hopes that they will be more able to cope with bullying in the future. Using solid biblical teaching, preteens will learn about people in the Bible who were both bullies and bullied. This resource is available digitally and can be downloaded today!

Jeff Land is Publishing Team Leader for Bible Studies For Life: Kids. He holds a BSW from Mississippi College and a MACE from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jeff has served as children’s pastor and currently teaches second graders each week at his church. Jeff, his wife Abbey, and their four sons live in Coopertown, TN.

Encouragement, Family, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Ministry
January 22, 2018

4 Things Not to Say to Parents of Children with ADD/ADHD

By Jeff Land

We could not figure it out. Out of four of our sons, two definitely were struggling. A pleaser and very calm child, despite his best efforts, one of our sons could not succeed at his schoolwork. No matter what we tried, it wouldn’t work. Nothing made a difference and we couldn’t find an answer. One of our other sons did not really misbehave but flittered around from place to place, room to room, toy to toy with an unbelievable amount of inability to focus. We began talking to our friends and medical professionals to try to determine the source of the issue. While the presenting issue was different for both children, it was suggested and determined that they might both have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). On the advice of our pediatrician, we chose a medicine that would help our sons focus. Our decision wasn’t made blindly and we really agonized over it. That’s why it’s quite hurtful when a stranger or even a friend makes a comment about children who have ADD. I’ve decided to list a few so that hopefully you can share with your ministry volunteers so that they don’t accidentally alienate a family from your church.

  • I could never medicate my kids. You know, there was a time I might have said the same thing. Parents who choose to give their children ADD medicines are often at a point of helplessness. It’s not a decision that they made quickly. In fact, many struggle even after they have begun the medicine. Choose to respect every parent’s decision to do what they feel is best for their own children.
  • In my day, they fixed it with discipline. If you’ve been around any length of time, you’ve probably heard someone state that the cure for inappropriate behavior is discipline. It’s true that discipline is important. God commanded Christian parents to discipline their children. It has to be understood, however, that there are some times that no amount of discipline would work. It wasn’t that my son didn’t want to do well in school, he tried desperately, but he couldn’t. I’ve heard adult men and women say “I’m not smart” or “I didn’t do well in school.” I wonder how many of those people would have a different opinion of their intelligence if they had only been given the tool to help them focus and learn in the way they needed to.
  • Have you tried _______? People are often quick to offer their suggestions and desperate parents will try anything. We had private tutors coming to our home after school, we bought essential oils said to aid in focus, we changed dietary habits, and more. For some, those are enough efforts, but for our family and many others, they don’t treat the root of the problem.
  • Your child was so bad this morning. OK, so I really hope that no one has told any parents in your church the preceding statement, but any time a parent is made aware of a behavioral issue, no matter how kindly it is stated, the parent hears “your child was bad!” Recognize that the child wasn’t bad, his behavior was not appropriate. Try your best to avoid having to tell the parents. The child and the parents hear it enough in other places. They do not need to hear it at church. And quite honestly, there are just days that parents forget to give their children their medicine and then they are riddled with guilt.

Now, for the good news. Our children are thriving with their newfound ability to focus on their tasks. They have a great medicine and we work closely with our doctor to monitor it to the lowest possible dose. Our son who struggled so much to read is now on the honor roll and loves to read. Our other son is able to focus and have real, meaningful conversations. Choosing to use medicines for ADD in our home was a difficult one, but it is one that we feel was right for our family. Encourage your kids ministry leadership to consider this as they speak with parents of children who may have ADD.

Jeff Land is Publishing Team Leader for Bible Studies For Life: Kids. He holds a BSW from Mississippi College and a MACE from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jeff has served as children’s pastor and currently teaches second graders each week at his church. Jeff, his wife Abbey, and their four sons live in Coopertown, TN.

Uncategorized
January 9, 2018

The Way They Learn Best: Using The Levels of Biblical Learning

By Jeff Land

“Daddy, I wish that we were in Mama’s Corvette,” my nine-year-old Nash said. I was caught off guard and quickly shot back, “Do what?” “The Corvette. I wish that we were in Mom’s Corvette,” he replied.

As fun as I think it would be, our family of six does not, in fact, have a Corvette. We do, however, have a well-used Acadia. Somewhere, somehow Nash had gotten the names mixed up.

This misconception led me to think about how we get things mixed up in life and how important it is that we clearly teach our kids in words and ways that they can understand best. That’s exactly why LifeWay developed the Levels of Biblical Learning. It’s intentional in its plan and its terminology for helping parents and teachers disciple the kids God has entrusted to their care.

We wouldn’t expect a first grader to have a developed sense of the Trinity, but we do want him to understand that God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This concept is part of a deeper foundation that is laid even as the child is a baby and we teach him that God made me (Father), Jesus told people about God (Son), and God helps me (Holy Spirit).

With each passing year, a child’s ability to understand more about who God is increasing. With the proper foundation, kids will take each year of learning and build upon that to reach a greater understanding of how much God loves them.

Just as I have work to do teaching my son, Nash, the difference between an expensive sports car and our family-sized SUV, we all have work to do teaching the kids in our ministries about who God is. By providing them with age-appropriate learning concepts through the Levels of Biblical Learning, you can be sure that you are teaching kids the way they learn best!

Sign up to receive an email download of 5 free Levels of Biblical Learning posters to hang in your classrooms.

Jeff Land is Publishing Team Leader for Bible Studies For Life: Kids. He holds a BSW from Mississippi College and a MACE from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jeff has served as children’s pastor and currently teaches second graders each week at his church. Jeff, his wife Abbey, and their four sons live in Coopertown, TN.

Christmas, Encouragement, Family, Kids Ministry, Leadership
December 8, 2017

Ministering to Your Family at Christmas

By Jeff Land

I remember the first Christmas that I was on church staff in Tennessee. All of our family was back in Mississippi and it also just happened to be a Christmas that fell on Sunday. We were young and had only been married a few years. We didn’t have any children at the time, but it was very lonely. Abbey and I love Christmas and it was hard being away from family. Most of our friends had things to do with their families.

I almost can remember counting the seconds until the invitation time came that Sunday morning and we quickly left once all of the kids had been picked up from Extended Care. We began our 7-hour long trek to Mississippi starving as no restaurants were open. We finally found a fast food restaurant we both loathe and we begrudgingly ate our hamburgers. We knew things would be even more difficult when we had children.

For many of you, your family is far from the location in which God has called you to serve. Here are some ideas I would encourage you to consider as celebrate this Christmas season and feel the pull between your family and your ministry.

  • Involve your children as much as possible, but don’t exhaust them. It’s a common task for the children’s minister to arrange childcare during this season. Some are just required to arrange childcare for the extra services, some have to find childcare for the extra services AND the extra choir rehearsals, but there are even some who have to arrange childcare for the adult Sunday School parties! If you find these responsibilities to be a part of your job, you know how difficult this task is. If you have to be at all of these services, plan ways to involve your kids without making them resentful. Try to find a way for your kids to be able to stay home some and not have to be at the church for hours. If you have to bring your kids with you, try to set up a fun room where just they can hang out. And always stop at McDonald’s on the way and get them a happy meal. Show them that they are special to you.
  • Plan a Christmas outing just for them. I know, I’m suggesting that you plan yet another event. This one is different. It is just for your family. Make it as special as you have time and money. One of my fears for kids of ministers is that they will begin to resent some of the most sacred times in the church because of the required work that their parents have to do. Maybe rent a limo and take your family to look at Christmas lights. Give them an early gift. Help them to know that amidst all of the hustle and bustle of ministry, that you recognize their sacrifice.
  • Take time off. If you are like me, as much as you love Christmas, you are ready to get it all put away after Christmas. It’s tempting to go into the office on those slow days after Christmas and get all reset for the New Year. If your church offices are open the week following Christmas, I would highly encourage you to take vacation time. Don’t go into the office. Don’t check emails. Be present for your family. It will all be OK, I promise.
  • Enjoy Christmas Festivities. After weeks of planning childcare and being at the church, it might be tempting to just duck out to your office during the choir performances, candlelight carols, and hot cocoa parties. Make an effort to enjoy these events with your family. Be a church member.

Jeff Land is Publishing Team Leader for Bible Studies For Life: Kids. He holds a BSW from Mississippi College and a MACE from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jeff has served as children’s pastor and currently teaches second graders each week at his church. Jeff, his wife Abbey, and their four sons live in Coopertown, TN.

Advent, Christmas, Devotional, Family, Kids Ministry, Leadership
November 15, 2017

Family Advent Guide

By Jeff Land

I love Christmas. In fact, the only playlist that I’ve ever created on my Spotify® channel is a Christmas station. I’m not trying to be overly spiritual with this statement, but I’m just not a huge fan of secular Christmas music. I mean, if you want a hippopotamus for Christmas, who am I to judge, but that’s just not my thing. I love the songs of Christmas that remind me of our precious Savior!

Sometimes we become overwhelmed by the commercialization of Christmas, and the LifeWay Kids team wants to help you bring families back to the reason for the season. Our 2017 Family Advent Guide is an excellent way for you to help the families in your church connect with each other. Each week, families can read, discuss, and participate in a meaningful Christ-centered devotional and activity.

We hope you enjoy this devotional and the LifeWay Kids team hopes to be one of the first to wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Click HERE to access your Free Family Advent Guide

 

Encouragement, Kids Ministry, Leadership
October 18, 2017

The Lighter Side of Ministry: KidMin Memes

By Jeff Land

I wanted to take a break from all of the serious posts and really get down to some Kids Ministry business. You know that if you have served in Kids Ministry for 30 years or 1 day there are definitely some things that you have to laugh at.

We all know that pain don’t we? At our church, on Sunday mornings, second grade and younger has to be picked up by their parents. I teach second grade Sunday School and some days I’m certain I look like that camel!

We have to make this face often in Kids Ministry, right? Especially when the parents ask the little one if he was “good” in Sunday School and you know the truth!

Everyone be honest, how many of you really call it something other than “Big Church”?

Don’t you wish you could use your Bible bucks at Wal-Mart?I think we all have this moment … once or twice per day.

What’s the oldest VBS song you have stuck in your head? For me, I think it’s “It’s a ramblin’ road trip …”

I think we can all agree that there is a time when you’ve taken your decorations too far.

I teach preteens every year in VBX and every year I say that I’m going to demote myself to a younger grade.

Enjoy life. Have fun. Lead kids to Jesus.

Jeff Land is Publishing Team Leader for Bible Studies For Life: Kids. He holds a BSW from Mississippi College and a MACE from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jeff has served as children’s pastor and currently teaches second graders each week at his church. Jeff, his wife Abbey, and their four sons live in Coopertown, TN.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Teacher Appreciation
September 20, 2017

Happy Fall, Y’all! Teacher Appreciation

By Jeff Land

It’s finally cooling off after a rather mild summer here in Tennessee. The air is cooling off, our Saturday’s are filled with soccer games, and the thought of soup after church brings a comforting feeling. Regardless of where you live, fall brings certain memories or feelings.

The major fall holiday is one that reminds us to be thankful. We are thankful for our faith, our family, our friends, and our homes. Those of us in ministry are also thankful for our volunteers. Here are a few fall-friendly ideas that you can use to thank your volunteers.

Thank You Towels:

Everyone can use a good kitchen towel and I found these fall-themed towels at Walmart for only 88¢. Simply print THIS LABEL  and tape to the tag and BOOM!!! Instant thanks!

Blooming Thanks:

Mums are the go-to flower of fall. I found these miniature mums at Walmart for $1 each. Print THIS LABEL  and attach to the care-instructions. To make it a little more decorative, I wrapped the black plastic pot with a piece of colored construction paper.

No MITTstake:

It’s a lot easier to take that hot apple pie out of the oven with a good oven mitt. These fall-oriented oven mitts were 88¢ at Walmart. Print THIS LABEL, attach to the tag, and your thanks is red-hot!

Jeff Land is Publishing Team Leader for Bible Studies For Life: Kids. He holds a BSW from Mississippi College and a MACE from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jeff has served as children’s pastor and currently teaches second graders each week at his church. Jeff, his wife Abbey, and their four sons live in Coopertown, TN.

CentriKid, Events, Kids Ministry, Leadership
August 14, 2017

5 Tips I Learned at Camp this Summer

By Jeff Land

One of my favorite parts of summer is camp. I love CentriKid camps! I’ve been to CentriKid in Mississippi, Texas, Kentucky, and Tennessee. I love that they are consistent, safe, and fun. For the past three years, I’ve been to CentriKid as camp pastor and have been able to quietly (or not so quietly) observe a few things that I think would make your experience even better.

  1. Plan shirts for your church every day. At almost every camp I’ve ever been to, several churches have the kids wear a specific shirt for each day of camp. This helps everyone! The adults find their kids more easily, the kids find the adults more easily, and it even helps the staffers learn the church name as well. Assuming your church kids will wear the free CentriKid camps shirt on the last day of camp, that’s only 4 shirts. Each person could easily be supplied with a shirt for less than $20 per person. Just add that onto the cost of camp if your church can’t swing it. This also helps for kids who didn’t pack enough or may be embarrassed by what they have to wear.
  2. Camp Isn’t a Vacation for Chaperones. While that might sound obvious, I think that it bears mentioning. CentriKid camps makes it super easy for chaperones to have time for themselves and for fellowship. This makes great opportunities for chaperones to build relationships with kids. Set expectations for your chaperones that they will attend adult gatherings and volunteer to help with rec and track times. Don’t expect volunteers to just “sit it out.” Encourage them to build relationships with the kids!
  3. Your staffers are TIRED! I can’t begin to explain how amazing I believe the staffers are at camp. They work so hard and whether they really feel like it or not, they turn it on and give every kid and every camp their best! Imagine a full summer of sandwiches, cafeteria food, and little sleep. Before you go to camp, plan a way to show staffers you appreciate them. Some ideas include: a basket of snacks, pizza night for staffers, encouraging notes, a cooler full of cold gatorade after OMC!, and more. Oh and don’t forget to pray for the staffers, they love to be prayed for.
  4. Bring Lots of Orange! Everyone loves OMC and the kids enjoy it even more when their staffers get into it. I’ve seen one chaperone get a perm to look like Richard Simmons during Club Fit. This year one church had moose antlers for all of their adult chaperones during Adventure Awaits. Next year is Blueprint. What can you do?
  5. Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick. I’ve seen many groups with a huge sign that makes the group leader easily identifiable so that groups can stay together. One of my favorites was this year with a stuffed Santa dressed in camo. The leader had him attached to a stick and everywhere they went the kids knew to follow him. Make it easy for your kids to find you. Many kids go to camp with anxiety. Anything you can do to make them feel more secure is helpful!

Jeff Land is Publishing Team Leader for Bible Studies For Life: Kids. He holds a BSW from Mississippi College and a MACE from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jeff has served as children’s pastor and currently teaches second graders each week at his church. Jeff, his wife Abbey, and their four sons live in Coopertown, TN.

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