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Christmas, Fun, Uncategorized
December 16, 2020

Front Porch Secret Santa

By Kids Ministry 101

By Ravin McKelvy

For many of us, we have found ourselves having to get creative with our Christmas traditions. With COVID numbers rising and the weather getting cooler, it can be difficult to find new ways to connect with our kids. While there are many things that may not happen, we can still make this a special time filled with good memories. One way your ministry can do this is by having a front porch Secret Santa.

You may not be able to do an in-person Secret Santa, so this is the perfect way to let your kids know you’re thinking of them. Here’s how you do it:

Pull together some fun, small gifts. These can be stuffed animals, fidget spinners, etc. You could also include a pocket Bible or meaningful book.
Wrap your gifts and include a note that says something like, “Merry Christmas from your Secret Santa at [insert church/ministry name].” It may be fun to also add a memory verse or the verse from that week’s sunday school lesson.
Drop the gifts on the front porch of the kids in your class. Be sure not to be seen when you’re dropping them off. You can ring the doorbell or simply leave the gift on the porch to be found.

Although this season may not look like what we’re used to, we can still create special memories for our kids ministries. Have fun with this front porch Secret Santa and reminding kids about the true gift of this season.

Christmas, Evangelism, Uncategorized
December 14, 2020

A Greater Gift: Talking with Kids About the Meaning of Christmas in a Materialistic World

By Kids Ministry 101

by Alyssa Jones

As I worked from the table in the formal-dining-room-turned-pandemic-home-office, I spied my daughter tiptoe into the kitchen. She had paper, glue sticks, and safety scissors we picked up from her preschool teacher in a drive-through procession, and the 2020 Walmart toy catalog. Nearly an hour later, she came to me.

“Mommy, I want these. All of them,” she said, presenting three pages of pictures she cut out from products related to animals, the color pink, and/or baby dolls.

As the weather cools and leaves change, my 4- and 6-year-olds have both had Christmas on their minds. They frequently tell me what they want on their wish lists.

“Hey, you guys,” I stopped them one day. “Christmas isn’t all about presents. Do you remember why we celebrate Christmas?”

My first-grade son stared at me blankly. My daughter shouted, “No! It is about PRESENTS!”

OK, this is not looking good for someone who has spent the last decade writing resources for teaching children about Jesus. In my defense, they are not ignorant to the story of the nativity. Every year since they were born, we’ve talked about the true meaning of Christmas. But this important message is easily lost in a materialistic world. Here’s how I’m planning to help reorient my own kids this year. Maybe these ideas will help you too.

  1. Use repetition.
    Kids learn best from repetition. If my kids see a commercial for a toy, they decide they want it—even more so if they see it multiple times. The world is sending them messages about what is most important, so I want to guide and point them to the most important message of all: Jesus saves sinners. God came into the world as a baby. He is the reason we celebrate. We will talk about this as we make dinner, as we pick up toys, as we get ready for bed. I want them to know that Jesus is my greatest treasure, and I hope they will come to know Him as theirs as well.
  2. Observe Advent.
    Waiting is hard for kids, but we use Lifeway Kids’ Advent Guide leading up to Christmas as a daily reminder of why we celebrate. We prepare our home and our hearts to remember Jesus’ birth and its glorious implications for our lives. We have a small paper Advent tree for hanging ornaments and set aside a special time after dinner for reading the Bible, answering our kids’ questions, and anticipating Christmas.
  3. Give.
    When my daughter finished her three-page wish list, my husband gently suggested, “Wow, those are some neat toys. Do you see any on there we could buy to give to someone else? What gifts do you think your cousins would like?” We talk a lot in our house about thinking of others. “Why are you fighting with your sister? Are you thinking of her or yourself right now?” Every person’s natural bent as a sinner is an inward one, and selflessness must be practiced and learned. We readily see it in our children, but it’s a struggle for us as adults too. Make generosity a family priority and remind kids of our generous God who sent His Son for us.

We give good gifts to our children, remembering that God has given us the greatest gift in Jesus. We will intentionally talk with our kids about the meaning of Christmas in a materialistic world that tells them Christmas is all about family, presents, food, or decorations. At just the right time, God sent His Son into the world. (See Galatians 4:4.) This is good news of peace and joy for a world that so desperately needs it. I’m praying for your kids—and my own—to hear about, remember, and treasure Jesus above all else. He is God with us.

Alyssa Jones worships and serves with her husband at Refuge Franklin, a church plant outside of Nashville, Tennessee. They have three children.

Christmas
December 11, 2020

Fun Friday: Christmas Gift Tag Download

By Kids Ministry 101

Use the tags below to add a little touch of Christmas cheer to all your presents. Download and print on card stock, then attach to gifts using twine or ribbon. Merry Christmas! Download tags here.

Podcasts
December 10, 2020

Christmas From Anywhere

By Kids Ministry 101

https://media.blubrry.com/lifewaykids/p/kidsministry.lifeway.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/12/Christman-From-anywhere_Final.mp3

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Jana Magruder joins the podcast to discuss different ways to do Christmas in our ministry from anywhere.

lifeway.com/kmfa

Crafts
December 4, 2020

Fun Friday: Paper Plate Snowman Craft

By Kids Ministry 101

This fun winter craft only requires a few supplies! Download the instructions here.

Podcasts
December 3, 2020

Say YES to VBS! Talking VBS Previews & Duel Themes

By Kids Ministry 101

https://media.blubrry.com/lifewaykids/p/kidsministry.lifeway.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/12/Say-YES-to-VBS-Talking-VBS-Previews-Dual-Themes_Final.mp3

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Melita Thomas joins the podcast to discuss the importance of doing vbs and what VBS Previews will look like in January.

Kids Ministry
November 25, 2020

3 Things to Look for in an Online Teaching Platform

By Kids Ministry 101

Today we’re going to discuss online teaching platforms, or delivery mechanisms.  There are so many great options available, but there are three key things you’ll want to look for when deciding how you are going to teach online. 

1. Capabilities and features

The first thing to keep in mind is the platforms capabilities and features. They’re not all the same. Some will give you extra features that are really helpful. For example, some platforms will enable you to have breakout rooms. You could start with a live large group teaching environment and then each of your kids’ small group leaders could host their own breakout room to do small groups. This would work especially well if you do a large group/small group environment as your normal ministry context because you can copy that format in the online platform. Now, not all platforms offer this capability, so you’ll want to be sure you are finding the option that provides the features that will be best for your ministry.

2. Security

The second thing to look for, is security measures. We heard a lot about security when churches really started to gather online and there were some issues with security. Pretty much all that has been figured out by now, but you still want to keep your eyes out and make sure the platform is secure.

3. Access

Finally, you’ll want a platform that is easy for your families to access and easy for them to use. 

Kids Ministry
November 23, 2020

3 Options for Online Teaching

By Kids Ministry 101

You have three options for online teaching. For most of us, it will be Sunday morning. Or, you can pick a new time, or you can go with anytime. Let’s take a closer look at each option as you think about your “why” and “how” behind your online ministry. If you missed that post, you can check it out here.

Option 1: Traditional 

The traditional time slot of Sunday morning has a lot of wins to it. Your families are probably used to that time. If you are only providing online worship, this could be a good, familiar time for your families to block out. It’s easy to build a kids experience that is either before or after the worship gathering that is online. However, there are reasons why you may want to consider a different time—which leads us to the next option.

Option 2: Pick a new time

Maybe the traditional time is harder for your families to meet online. Maybe you know there’s a time midweek that would be a bigger encouragement to your kids and families. Maybe there’s an easier time for them to gather. Think outside the box! Online teaching frees you up to be unconventional in your ministry approach. For example, if a Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. works best for you and your families, go after that time instead of the Sunday mornings. 

Option 3: Anytime

The third option is anytime. This loosens things up even more. The win is not to gather all at the same time to watch a pre-recorded video, but to post the video and encourage families to find a time that works best for them in their context during the week and watch it anytime. The anytime option gives your families total flexibility, but you’ll want to coach them to guard some time during the week, whatever it may be, for their online experience.

Choose the time that’s going to work best for your families and be most strategic for your ministry.

Volunteers
November 20, 2020

Fun Friday: Sweet As Pie Volunteer Appreciation

By Kids Ministry 101

Here’s a delicious way to say thank you to volunteers this fall. Download the instructions and tags here.

Podcasts
November 19, 2020

Preteens

By Kids Ministry 101

https://media.blubrry.com/lifewaykids/p/kidsministry.lifeway.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/11/Preteens_Final.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Tim Pollard joins the podcast to discuss a more in depth look into preteens, what they go through and how to walk through things with them.

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