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Bible Skills, Discipleship, Kids Ministry
December 26, 2019

New Year Journals

By Kids Ministry 101

As the new year approaches, we (adults) often get ready to start a new Bible reading plan. While 89% of households own a Bible, only 19% of protestant churchgoers read the Bible daily.*  Yikes!

We also know that the most influential factor in a child developing a lifelong faith is regularly reading their Bible while growing up.* This year, why not help kids start the new year off developing the discipline of daily Bible reading.

One of the easiest ways to help kids develop the spiritual discipline of Bible reading is to allow them to create a Bible Reading Journal.

Here’s what you need: blank books, washi tape in colorful patterns, duct tape in colorful patterns, permanent markers, and pencils. Give each kid a blank book and encourage them to use the various tapes and markers to create a cover for their new Bible Reading Journal.

After kids create their journals, ask kids to write on the first page these prompts to use while they are reading their Bibles.

  1. Who is this passage about?
  2. What was God doing in this passage?
  3. Is there a command in this passage I should obey? What is that command?
  4. Do I have a question about the passage? Write them down.

Challenge kids to start with the Book of Mark. Each day they should read one section or chapter of the book and use their journals to record what they are learning.

*Statistics quoted from Nothing Less: Engaging Kids in a Lifetime of Faith by Jane Magruder.

Kids Ministry, Volunteers
December 23, 2019

What I Learned Teaching Kids

By Kids Ministry 101

It is an honor to work in Kids Ministry. Those of you who devote your lives and careers to it are my heroes. In my church, I am simply a church member, but I want all church members to know how incredible it is to volunteer in the kids ministry. It is an incredible honor to serve the kids in my church on a weekly basis and here are just a few things I have learned as a KidMin volunteer. 

Kids are always listening.

You may think that you aren’t getting through to the kids that you are teaching, but they hear you and they are taking in a lot more than you realize. Maybe they are drawing while you are reading a Bible story or maybe they won’t make eye contact with you as you talk to them. But they are hearing you. Kids don’t miss much—and your words and tone matter. 

Kids love to tell you what is going on in their lives.

I love to ask kids what was their favorite thing that happened in the past week or what they are looking forward to the next week. This helps you get to know what they enjoy and what their lives are like. Kids love it when they find out that you like some of the same things that they like or that you have done some of the same things that they have done. If you haven’t been around kids much you might think that it is hard to connect with them, but get them talking about their favorite book, show, or activity and you can have the most fun conversation. 

Kids will surprise you. 

Every single week I am blown away by the kids in my church. They are so kind and helpful. Some of the kids I teach are learning Latin, some kids are playing sports, but all of them have great ideas and want to learn. One Sunday as I was teaching about Abraham and Sarah the girls in my class asked if they could throw a baby shower for Baby Isaac. We had the most fun creating a fun welcome for Isaac as we talked about God’s promises. Let kids ask questions and throw out suggestions—they will always surprise you. 

Kids want to be loved.

Kids like to play tough sometimes, but they all want to be loved. I teach girls right now, so they love to run up and give me hugs when they see me and I always want them to know how much I care about them. We talk a lot about how much Jesus loves us and wants what is best for us, but even if they haven’t grasped how much Jesus loves them, I can make sure that they know how much I love them.

Podcasts
December 19, 2019

Kids Ministry from a Pastors Prospective

By Kids Ministry 101

https://media.blubrry.com/lifewaykids/p/s3.amazonaws.com/ministrysites/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2019/12/03171336/Fran-Trascritti-11.13.19-Final-.mp3

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Fran Trascritti joins the podcast to discuss helpful tips on how to communicate with your pastor and the prospective from both Kids Minister and Pastor.

Fran Trascritti is an experienced Senior Pastor and professor with a demonstrated history of working in churches and higher education. Skilled in Theology, Coaching, Discipleship, Volunteer Management, Training, and Public Speaking. Has a Doctorate of Philosophy focused in Leadership from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Podcasts
December 12, 2019

Finding Your Voice at the Leadership Table

By Kids Ministry 101

https://media.blubrry.com/lifewaykids/p/s3.amazonaws.com/ministrysites/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2019/12/03164925/Jana-M-11.7.19-Final.mp3

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Jana Magruder joins the podcast to discuss ways to find your voice at the leadership table in your church. Check out tips from Jana HERE.

Jana Magruder serves as the Director of Lifeway Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of Kids Ministry that Nourishes and Life Verse Creative Journal, which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.

Podcasts
December 5, 2019

Mentoring New Leaders

By Kids Ministry 101

https://media.blubrry.com/lifewaykids/p/s3.amazonaws.com/ministrysites/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2019/12/03164900/Jeremy-Carrol-11.7.19-FINAL.mp3

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Jeremy Carroll joins the podcast to discuss who will you be leading, what will you be passing on. Check out the tips they talked about HERE

Jeremy Carroll  is the team leader for Lifeway Kids Discipleship Resources. Before coming to Lifeway, he has been active in local church ministry for nearly 20 years in TN, TX, and AL. Jeremy earned a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. A Middle Tennessee native, he and his family live in Murfreesboro, TN. 

Uncategorized
December 4, 2019

Part-Time Kids Director – Full-Time Ministry

By Kids Ministry 101

Leading a children’s ministry is no small task, but so many times it is the person in a part-time role having to fulfill those full-time duties. Working as a part-time kids director at different churches, I have found three different places that I need to devote my time to be sure that I am creating a healthy ministry environment for myself as well as my team. 

Personal Growth—No matter your position in ministry, personal growth in Christ is the first place you need to devote your time. Tim Keller states that in ministry you must “watch your heart with far more diligence than you would have otherwise.” In the hustle of getting your checklist done it can be easy to put the needs of others ahead of your personal relationship with Christ. So many times we (or maybe just me) rationalize skipping our quiet time by preparing our large group message or writing a devotional for the prayer booklet. Yes, God has spoken to me through material that was meant for a 3rd grader, but setting a time to pray and read on your own will benefit not only you but your ministry. Remember, a branch attached to the vine can reach much further. 

Invest in volunteers—Having a great team can make or break a ministry. Find a few leaders that you can spend time investing in. I have been very blessed to have had a handful of volunteers that I knew I could depend on no matter what. Invest in those people! Every ministry has volunteers that only show up when they feel like it or never reply to service requests, I know that. But find those gems of leaders that are there every week and make them feel valued. One of my friends in ministry does this so well by writing notes to all of her volunteers at least once a semester. If it is possible, add a $5 giftcard to these little notes. These notes of encouragement go so far because I know that she values me as a volunteer not because I am filling a hole on her list but because of the role I am playing in making the Gospel known to kids.

Take care of the details—Fall festivals, Christmas concerts, and Vacation Bible Schools take lots of planning! In the rush to take care of the next big thing, be sure not to miss the small details that will make your ministry thrive week-to-week. Send out a message every week to your leaders with encouragement and any updates. Have everything prepared for your teachers for Sunday morning so that they can focus on the kids rather than supplies. These little details will eat up time quickly so create a schedule so that your volunteers know what to expect and you will be in a healthier state of mind knowing what is coming next.

It is difficult to have a “playbook” when it feels like you are always running out of time but the biggest thing that I have learned is to rely on God. You hear it a lot for a reason. I have seen the impossible happen and broken lives come back to Him, not because I was doing something right, but because we serve a big God!

Podcasts
November 28, 2019

Equipping Parents to Minister at Home

By Kids Ministry 101

https://media.blubrry.com/lifewaykids/p/s3.amazonaws.com/ministrysites/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2019/11/28011009/William-Sumney-11.13.19-11-14-19-7.05-AM.mp3

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William Summey joins the podcast to discuss how one of the biggest impacts to a child’s journey is as home and the importance to teach kids according to their age. Learn more about the Levels of Biblical Learning.

William Summey is the Publishing Team Leader for Bible Studies for Life: Kids. He is a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Vanderbilt University. William lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Christy, and their two sons.

Podcasts
November 21, 2019

Teaching Kids to Pray through the Hurts and Hallelujahs

By Kids Ministry 101

https://media.blubrry.com/lifewaykids/p/s3.amazonaws.com/ministrysites/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2019/11/20223823/Karen-Kennemur-FINAL.mp3

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Karen Kennemur joins the podcast to discuss how anxiety levels of children is on the rise! Let’s discuss ways to help children pray through the hurts and hallelujahs and make the most of their prayer lives.

Karen teaches children’s ministry classes on the undergrad, masters, and doctoral level at Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX. She also works with churches throughout Texas as the Children’s Ministry Associate with the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention.

Family, Parent Helps, Thanksgiving
November 18, 2019

Helping Families Give Thanks This Thanksgiving

By Kids Ministry 101

The family feast is coming, and I’m looking forward to it as much as anyone. My normal contribution to the spread each year includes a few pies and a side dish or two. These goodies are a fun part of the annual Thanksgiving festivities, and items that we’re all grateful to have. But, other than wolfing down another slice of pumpkin pie, do you ever stop to count your other blessings, “naming them one-by-one” as the old hymn suggests?

When we think of our blessings broken down in this way, we have so much to be thankful for! But before we become proud in thinking this has anything to do with our own goodness, we need to keep some things in mind: God is the provider of all good things in our lives. In Psalm 121:1-2 we read: “Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

As a reminder, things in life as we know them can disappear so quickly! We must change our mindset to one of thankfulness each day — not just in November. So, after we get this “attitude of gratitude” drilled down into our thinking, how can we enhance and pass on this philosophy to our kids early in their lives?

Through the Senses

Help your child with hands-on projects to show thankfulness for what she has by sharing with others. Use sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell to get a start with these outreach projects.

  • Preschoolers can create a watercolor picture as a Thanksgiving “card” for an elderly neighbor.
  • A simple fall-scented candle would make a great gift for a friend of any age.
  • Record a cheerful message from your child(ren) on your phone and then text it to relatives and friends who live too far away to visit in person.
  • Share your homemade goodies with some international students who are “stuck alone” on campus over the holiday.

Through Relationships

When you hear of a friend or family member experiencing a challenging situation, take note of it. Find ways to include your kids in reaching out as a way of showing gratitude for the ability to help during this difficult time.

  • Take some food to a friend or family member who recently lost a job.
  • Buy additional baby items (diapers, bottles, formula, pacifiers) for a young family you know who may be a little tight over the holidays.
  • Provide a “free” night of childcare for someone with young kids, knowing they are typically stretched financially.
  • Invite a single adult from church or work to your home for the holiday mealtime fun if they don’t have a place to go to for the day.

Through the Community & World

Keep yourself updated on needs in your community and (for older kids) the world. When you see a way your family might help, discuss a plan for meeting some of those needs.

  • A project such as Operation Christmas Child® is a great way to enlarge your child’s focus toward people outside his immediate circle of family and friends.
  • Check community boards at local gyms and churches for tangible ways to help in surrounding neighborhoods with service projects, or provision of clothing or food items.

Always remember to verbally express your own thankfulness for God’s goodness when interacting with your family members. Your children especially will enjoy hearing your excitement as you recount God’s blessings in your life.

Dixie Walker has been in childhood ministry with families and teachers for the past 20 years. She and her family reside in the metro Atlanta area.

This article first appeared in the November 2017 issue of ParentLife.

Podcasts
November 14, 2019

Special Needs Ministry: Where To Start

By Kids Ministry 101

https://media.blubrry.com/lifewaykids/p/s3.amazonaws.com/ministrysites/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2019/11/11110921/Heidi-Hensley-Final.mp3

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Heidi Hensley joins the podcast to discuss diagnoses of special needs are at an all time high. As the church, we need to be prepared to minister to these families and kids. In this session we will look at where to start, no matter your church size, and how to develop a program and team to love this very under resourced population.

Heidi M. Hensley has been a Children’s Pastor for the past 24 years. She is passionate about leadership and ministry, and developing more leaders who love to minister to children. Heidi has a Master’s Degree from Southern California Seminary, and lives in San Diego where she leads the Children’s Ministry area at Shadow Mountain Community Church

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