Landry Holmes, Author at Kids Ministry

October 23, 2019

What I’ve Learned From Teaching Toddlers

When the Preschool Minister at my church asked me to teach toddlers during our second teaching hour, I was cautiously optimistic about this new opportunity. I had been teaching pre-kindergarteners for several years and was excited about the change. Of course, adding to the excitement was the fact that I would be teaching one of my grandchildren! Here are some things I’ve learned during the past year:

There will be crying. And, I’m not talking just about the parents. Seriously, if you can get through a session without at least one child crying, write a book because you obviously have made a monumental discovery. One- and two-year-olds will cry. That’s one important way in which they communicate their feelings, needs, and wants. Compassionately comfort the child, even when she may seem inconsolable. In doing so, you are conveying the message that church can be a happy place and teachers can be trusted.

Cleanliness matters. I will admit, I grow wearing of disinfecting every toy and wiping up drool from the floor. However, part of our job is to protect one- and two-year olds. We can’t completely prevent the spreading of germs, but we can minimize children’s exposure to contagions. Besides, if your entire class gets sick, they’ll miss coming to church to learn about Jesus.

Curriculum materials are your friend. Some parents just want to know that their child’s physical needs will be met in a safe and secure environment at church. While that is important and something we must provide, we can exceed parents’ expectations by following a proven teaching plan. When we use and adapt a proven teaching plan, we can make sure learning is taking place. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t sign up to babysit. I volunteer every week because I want even the youngest child to know that Jesus loves him.

Not everyone will understand your intentions. We know from various studies that toddlers are capable of learning more than we think. When you bring sand or water into a classroom of children who just learned to walk last week, you may be viewed as a crazy person. However, we know that toddlers are tactile learners. They need opportunities to touch a variety of objects and materials, as you talk to them about Jesus’ experiences on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Toddlers will go off script. This past weekend, a certain one-year-old girl decided I was her best friend. She followed me around the room and let me know she was ready for a snack. After I fed her more than one mother-approved snack food, I read what was on the check-in form: ONE SNACK. Oops. I told Mom that her first-born enjoyed one, prolonged snack. Toddlers also will go off script by pooping seconds before her parents arrive, or by deciding blocks are for chewing and markers are for body art. Even though Toddlers don’t always follow your well-thought-out teaching plan, they can hear you convey God’s truth while they’re playing.

I’ve been teaching preschoolers and children at church for three decades, and I’m still learning. I am more convinced now than ever before that teaching toddlers the Bible is of utmost importance. In fact the tedious preparation, the smelly poop, and the incessant crying are definitely worth it.

Landry Holmes is the Manager of LifeWay Kids Ministry Publishing. A graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Landry served on church staffs before joining LifeWay Kids. He is a church leader, writer, workshop facilitator, and publisher. Landry also teaches children at his church in Middle Tennessee. He and his wife Janetta are the parents of two adult sons and two daughters-in-law, and the grandparents of four adorable grandchildren

Vacation Bible School

September 4, 2019

Communicating VBS is Worth It

By Landry Holmes

Since you’re reading this, I assume that you have concluded Vacation Bible School is truly worth it. Worth the long hours of making and tearing down decorations, consoling upset children, rejoicing with new believers, learning new Bible truths, preparing to teach and lead, and singing the theme song 5,539 times.

You don’t have to be persuaded of the eternal significance of intentional evangelism and discipleship that occurs during the concentrated time we devote to VBS. Moreover, you probably want to convince others in your church family the value of VBS or a VBS-like experience. So, how do you go about that task without the annoyance of a pesky gnat. After all, who wants fellow church members to disappear around the corner of the hallway when they see you coming? Perhaps you’ll find these suggestions helpful on your quest to tout the importance of VBS:

Start with your pastor. Your pastor is busy and is bombarded continuously with requests to support a new or legacy ministry. Encourage your pastor and pray for him. You’re both on the same page of evangelism and discipleship. Give your pastor a copy of the book It’s Worth It.
Meet with other decisions makers. Ask your pastor if there are others in your church who might benefit from a conversation regarding the “why” behind VBS. He may invite you to talk with the church staff or council, the deacons or elders, and the finance committee. Again, you don’t want to be like a pest, so be sure to balance persistence with grace.
Point to the research. Many people want to see evidence that proves the value of VBS in the life of the local church. In addition to sharing information from the book It’s Worth It, consider using this presentation pack. Included are presentation slides, a one-hour or less facilitation plan, and a reproducible handout. You also may choose to use the pack to present research findings and conclusions with next year’s VBS teachers and leaders.

We tend to advocate for those things about which we feel strongly. Before you can effectively communicate the evangelistic and discipleship value of VBS, you must be personally passionate about this ministry. Then, your enthusiasm will be natural and sincere. And remember, VBS is definitely worth it!

Vacation Bible School

August 21, 2019

VBS . . . Was It Worth It?

By Landry Holmes

The final day of VBS had come too soon, even though earlier in the week I had wondered if it would come soon enough. (Be honest, you felt that way too!) The week I spent with pre-kindergartners was rewarding, fun, and exhausting. But, it was Friday and soon I’d be saying goodbye to my young friends. Then, while the kids were in one of their rotations, I was made aware of a work crisis that diverted my attention. I was able to finish the morning strong, but I found focusing 100% on the children difficult.

We said our goodbyes, gobbled some pizza, and began tearing down and resetting our rooms for Sunday. My wife and I were in more of a rush than usual because we were scheduled to fly to Texas in a few hours for a family reunion that my brothers and I were hosting.

On the way to the airport I continued to deal with the work situation, while my daughter-in-law drove. In that moment I could have very easily questioned if VBS is worth it. Was it worth getting up early every morning to make sure I was ready to teach and then rushing to the office in the afternoon, while swallowing my sack lunch whole, and staying up late preparing for the next day at VBS?

You may have a similar story and possibly have asked yourself if VBS is worth it. To help answer that question objectively, let’s reframe the six myths about VBS identified in the book, It’s Worth It, and use them as an evaluation tool:

Did families use us primarily for free child care? If they did, probably only few did. Name the children who came to VBS for that express purpose. Did they hear the gospel? Then, it was worth it.

Did you have enough volunteers? Probably not, but name a few of the volunteers you did have and visualize the relationships they developed with children or the gospel conversations they had. Perhaps you observed a volunteer grasp the importance of kids ministry.

Did no one come to your VBS because every church in town promoted the same VBS theme you used? I’m going to guess children did come. If LifeWay’s research is accurate you heard few complaints from parents and kids about the theme, Bible content, and music being repeated from another church’s VBS. And, your VBS was unique to your context.

Was VBS too expensive and you had to buy too much stuff? Evaluate how much money you did spend and divide it by the number of children who attended. How much did you spend per child? Was it worth the gospel impact your church had on each child?

Were the only kids who came your church’s kids? If so, are they regular attenders or do they only come a few times a year? Among my group of preschoolers was a child who doesn’t attend any church, but his mother was very positive about his and his brother’s experiences at VBS. That one connection made VBS worth it for me.

Were all the kids who attended already Christians? Probably not, but even if they were all Christ followers, was the gospel reinforced? Did kids have opportunities to bring their unchurched friends to VBS? Were children discipled as they studied God’s Word and interacted with other believers?

I cannot answer for you but as I worked through the six questions above, God reminded me that VBS is definitely worth it. And, by the time next summer arrives I will have forgotten about the lost sleep and stressful situations. Just remember, “Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

Landry Holmes is the Manager of LifeWay Kids Ministry Publishing, Nashville, TN. A graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Landry served on church staffs before coming to LifeWay. He is a church leader, writer, workshop facilitator, and publisher. Landry also teaches children at his church in Middle Tennessee. He and his wife Janetta are the grandparents of three adorable grandbabies.

Discipleship, Kids Ministry, Leadership

July 15, 2019

Whom Are You Discipling?

By Landry Holmes

Ministry is time-consuming. There are so many details to handle, and daily interruptions often distract us. Yet, Jesus reminds us in Matthew 28:19-20 that our primary purpose is to “make disciples.” As KidMin leaders we have the opportunity to be disciple-makers of at least four groups.

Preschoolers: A true disciple is a follower of Christ, so how can preschoolers become disciples before they receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior? They can’t, but they can learn about who Jesus is and how Jesus wants us to live. When we allow God to use us to build these spiritual foundations in the lives of preschoolers, we are preparing young children for a life of discipleship.
Elementary Kids: Similar to preschoolers who are not yet believers, we can teach kids the foundations of the faith. Once a child becomes a Christian, we have the responsibility of helping them grow in their faith by developing healthy spiritual habits such as Bible reading and prayer.
Parents: One of the ways we can disciple parents is by providing them with resources to disciple their own children. Also, we can encourage parents to develop their own personal spiritual habits. Remember, however, that some parents may not be believers. Part of the disciple-making process includes sharing the gospel with them.
Volunteers: God calls us to equip volunteers, which we do with resources, training, and encouragement. But, what about discipling volunteers? We can do this one-on-one and in group settings when we talk about what God is doing in our church and in our kids ministry. Also, we can encourage volunteers to develop healthy spiritual habits, including studying the Bible and worshipping with other adult believers. You might even consider starting a small group just for preschool and children’s teachers in your church.

Look back over the list. You may already be doing some of these things as part of your ministry. If not, consider making a few adjustments to reclaim your purpose as a disciple-maker.

Encouragement, Kids Ministry, Leadership

July 8, 2019

When Leadership is Followership

By Landry Holmes

Are you a leader or a follower? The correct answer is, “Yes.” Sometimes God calls us to lead, and at other times God calls us to follow. Knowing the difference is key to being an effective preschool and/or children’s ministry leader.

Recognize that everyone has a leader. You may lead a paid staff and/or a group of volunteers. However, your immediate supervisor is your leader whether you’re a volunteer or on the church payroll. And your supervisor is under the authority of his/her leader. To take this concept to its logical conclusion the only church leader not under the authority of someone else is Jesus, the head of the church. (See Ephesians 4:15-16).
Adapt your role to the situation. When you’re in a church staff meeting you are probably a follower unless you’re the senior or executive pastor. You will want to yield to the authority over you, and when you disagree you can do so with love and Christlike deference to your leader. (See Romans 12:3-8,10).
Step back and let others lead. As a leader of people, I have to remind myself that I don’t always have to be in charge. I learned this from a colleague who models followership. When he asks someone to coordinate the setup and take-down of an event, my friend places himself under the authority of that individual. If you assign a volunteer to coordinate a KidMin event at church, then empower that person to tell you what to do. This simple, yet difficult act is what Jesus instructed us to do when He washed His disciples’ feet. (See John 13:13-15.)

Young children are prone to exclaim, “You’re not the boss of me!” Sometimes as adults we think the same thing. Nevertheless, in reality, every KidMin leader is a follower. Whom are you following? Are you modeling followership to the people you lead?

The Bible says to “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5) Volunteers will more likely continue to follow a leader who is also a humble follower than someone who acts like the boss of everyone.

Kids Ministry, Leadership

April 3, 2019

4 Tips for Focusing on Both People and Results in KidMin

By Landry Holmes

In a previous blog post, I posed the question, “Should KidMin leaders focus on people or results?” The conclusion was that Jesus’s love for us and others drives us to serve Him to the glory of God. When we do that, God will use us to accomplish His results.

In other words, when we as KidMin leaders follow Jesus, God will direct us to focus on both people and ministry results. So, what are some practical ways to achieve that balance? Here are some suggestions:

Focus on Jesus. Okay, I know that sounds like the church answer, but I believe it’s true. One way we focus on Jesus is by staying in God’s Word. By doing so we “trust in the Lord with all” our “heart, and do not rely” on our “own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Prayer is another way we focus on Jesus. The Bible is clear that we are to “pray constantly.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) How can we expect God to work through us for His glory if we’re not in communication with Him, through His Son Jesus? Moreover, when we pray for others, God often guides us to minister to them. When we focus on Jesus God will certainly accomplish His will through us, including ministering to people and achieving ministry results.
Know your purpose. What is God calling you to do in the context of your church and community? Not sure? Start with what Jesus has already told us to do: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Out of that should come all our goals and plans. Otherwise, our plans are just that, our plans.
Work through others. As I mentioned in that other post, Jethro helped Moses see the value of working through others, using common sense organizational skills. When we do so, we empower and equip people to accomplish the work God has called them to do. (See Ephesians 4:12.)
Keep working. Paul reminds us to “not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:9) Sometimes we may not achieve the results we think we should; however, ultimately God is responsible for the outcome. Our job is to be faithful.

The ideas above are not exhaustive, nor are they four easy steps to guaranteed success. However, I do believe that these tips represent biblical principles. And I think that obedience to God’s Word, through a personal relationship with Jesus, is how we achieve a balance of focusing on both God’s people and God’s results.

Bible Study, Kids Ministry, Leadership

March 20, 2019

Should KidMin Leaders Focus on People or Results?

By Landry Holmes

According to Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson in their ground-breaking work, The One Minute Manager, “Effective managers manage themselves and the people they work with so that both the organization and the people profit from their presence.” Some leaders seem more interested in results than people, while other leaders focus on people over results. As in most situations, what is needed is balance. Leaders would do well to focus on both people and results.

As ministry-minded people, I think we often err on the side of caring for people rather than focusing on results. However, the Bible teaches that both are important. Look at Moses, for example. When Moses’ father-in-law Jethro came for a visit, he decided to go to the office with Moses to see what his son-in-law did all day. What Jethro observed prompted him to give Moses some management advice.

Moses was trying to take care of the people all by himself, giving the impression that he placed people over results. Jethro said, as only a good father-in-law could, “What you’re doing is not good . . . You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people.” (Exodus 18:17-18) Jethro proceeded to instruct Moses on a better way to do his job, and Jethro predicted that the results would be endurance for Moses as the leader and satisfaction for the people. (See Exodus 18:23.)

In his attempt to put people ahead of results, Moses ultimately put both people and results at risk. Jethro’s solution, on the other hand, provided for the needs of people while achieving a desirable outcome—the resolution of the people’s disputes.

Another biblical example is that of Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark. Paul was ticked that John Mark had abandoned him on the annual church mission trip, so it was one-and-done as far as Paul was concerned. Barnabas, however, wanted to give John Mark a second chance. In His sovereignty, God used Paul and Barnabas’ dispute to spread the gospel, while redeeming John Mark. Again, we see results and people in balance. (See Acts 15:36–41.)

As KidMin leaders we want to strive for that kind of balance. A word of warning though. When we invest in people sometimes they will let us down, just as John Mark disappointed Paul. Furthermore, like Moses, Jethro, Paul, and Barnabas can attest, investing in people takes emotional energy.

No one knew this better than Jesus. Jesus declared that He came “to seek and save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) However, not everyone welcomed Jesus. He was “despised and rejected.” (Isaiah 53:3) Jesus performed miracles for God’s glory and showed people He cared while focusing on His mission to the point of exhaustion.

Jesus’s love for people drove the intended result of redemption. (See John 3:16; 15:13; Romans 5:8.) And, as KidMin leaders, isn’t Jesus’s love for us and others what drives us to serve Him to the glory of God? When we do that, God will use us to accomplish His results.

Kids Ministry, Leadership

January 14, 2019

It’s December 31, 2019. What Does Your Kids Ministry Look Like?

By Landry Holmes

I’m not sure who initially stated this truism, “Plan with the end in mind,” and I’m not always good at following that advice. However, as we begin 2019 (it’s still January, so I’m assuming we’re at the start of 2019 although most of us already feel behind), we would be wise to imagine what the year will look like in retrospect.

Let’s pretend we’re in our last staff meeting of the year and are evaluating our respective ministry areas. Here are some questions we might want to answer:

What was our biggest ministry accomplishment? To answer this question, we’ll need to know what “ministry accomplishment” looks like. In other words, do we measure accomplishment by weekly attendance, how many big events we hosted, accolades from parents, number of resulting baptisms? In order to know if we accomplished anything, we need to set goals before we begin.
What actions did we take each quarter to reach families with the gospel? Again, without advance planning, we often are not very intentional with the primary purpose of our ministry’s existence.
How many new volunteers did we recruit? Often, we are in survival mode week-to-week and don’t have a strategy of enlisting and developing new kids ministry leaders. Instead, we wait until there’s a vacancy and then scramble to get a warm body in a room of preschoolers or elementary children.
How many new and experienced leaders did we train? Training events give us the opportunity to show appreciation to our volunteers, as well as provide inspiration and education. We should all be learning continuously. However, like with almost everything else, if we don’t plan training opportunities they most likely won’t happen.
What is one thing we stopped doing this year? Most of us are not good at killing programs or events. However, what worked well for us in the past is not necessarily what we need to keep doing in perpetuity.
What is one new thing we did this year? I’ve heard that before we hang new clothes in our closet, we should donate an equal number of garments already taking up space in our wardrobe. We need to be doing new things in our ministry in order to keep reaching families. Nevertheless, unless we stop doing some things we have little room in our volunteer “closet” for anything new.

I’m excited about what God wants to do in and through us this year. And, I know that we cannot plan for everything that God has in store for our ministries. However, I do believe that we honor God when we take time now to set goals, make plans, and set in motion ways to implement those plans. After all God’s Word tells us, “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord.” (Colossians 3:23)

Bible Study, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Preschoolers

October 9, 2018

Help! What Do I Do with Preschoolers in Large Group?

By Landry Holmes

Chaos. Pandemonium. Loud. Hectic. Anxiety-inducing. Do these words surface like an enemy submarine when you think about leading preschoolers in a large-group experience? If so, keep reading. If not, go drink some hot tea or coffee and pray for the rest of us.

Most of us experience some level of anxiety, at least occasionally, when faced with the prospect of teaching preschoolers in a setting that requires squirming little bodies to “sit and listen” as a group. Perhaps armed with a better understanding of our purpose and recognizing how preschoolers learn best, we can thrive the next time we’re in front of eager faces.

Before reading further, recall your favorite Bible verse or passage on the subject of worship. Do you have one in mind? Moses often reminded the obstinate Israelites to worship God: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all his ways, to love him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul?” (Deuteronomy 10:12)

God doesn’t just want us to worship Him. God requires us to worship Him. Moreover, as believers, our desire to worship God comes not from obligation but from a natural response to what Jesus has done for us through His life, death, burial, and resurrection. Think about that. You and I are invited to worship the Creator of all there is. And, we are expected to teach children to love and worship God.

So, what does that look like with a group of preschoolers? Let’s start with what to avoid:

Expecting preschoolers to act like miniature adults
Being too rigid
Being too random
Forcing preschoolers to do activities beyond their abilities
Creating a miniature adult worship service
Ignoring the opportunity to prepare preschoolers for intergenerational worship experiences
Preventing yourself from worshiping with the preschoolers

Instead of attempting to lead preschoolers to worship the One True God like teenagers and adults, try doing this:

Building in predictability and structure, and allowing for flexibility of that structure
Providing for a variety of learning approaches
Alternating sedentary activities with activities that incorporate gross motor skills
Listening to background music
Singing
Praying
Listening to a Bible story
Giving an offering
Learning a Bible verse
Learning a Bible truth
Learning about missions
Playing games
Alternating small-group activities with large-group activities

Now, you may be asking how a preschooler who is not a Christian can worship God. I don’t know the complete answer, but this I do know: God has “prepared praise from the mouths of infants and nursing babies.” (Matt 21:16) So, the next time you dread leading preschoolers in a large-group environment, give thanks to God that He allows you to help facilitate “praise from the mouths of infants and nursing babies.”

Bible Skills, Bible Study, Bibles, Kids Ministry, Leadership

September 12, 2018

Don’t Take My Word for It

By Landry Holmes

Ironic, isn’t it? We have access to more information than the generations that came before us, yet we distrust that information with increasing cynicism. There was a time when we believed what we read or heard until the information was proven false. Now, we assume most of the things we read on the Internet are suspect until authenticated.

This is the world in which our kids are living. However, there is one source of information that is absolutely true all the time—God’s Word. Our challenge is to teach kids the Bible is authoritative. It’s the one book we can trust and not question. Congruous to that challenge, is the need to guide children to accept as truth only that which they can verify for themselves in Scripture. Such was the case for people from Josiah to Timothy.

Kids need their own copy of the Bible. During a dark period of church history, common people were denied access to the Scriptures. What they knew of God’s Word was limited to whatever the professional clergy chose to tell them. People were not allowed to question what they heard, and they had no personal access to the Bible. This, however, was never God’s plan, as illustrated by both Josiah and Ezra’s public reading of the Scriptures. (See 2 Kings 23 and Nehemiah 8.) God intends for kids to hear and read the actual words of the Bible for themselves.
Kids can trust the historicity of the Bible. If you are like I am, you often may skip over the introductory matter of some Bible books. Doing so when reading the gospel of Luke can cause you to miss an important insight. God inspired Luke to write his gospel based on “carefully investigated” truth, in order for Theophilus to “know the certainty of the things about which” he had “been instructed.” (Luke 1:3-4) Every historical fact in the Bible is true, and many are based on eyewitness accounts.
Kids should learn Bible skills. One of my favorite, obscure Bible stories is the one of the Bereans in Acts 17. These synagogue-goers did not accept at face value what Paul and his companions taught. They refused to be gullible. Instead, the Bereans “examined the Scriptures daily” to make sure Paul’s teachings were true. (Acts 17:11) When we provide kids with practical Bible skills, they will be equipped for the rest of their lives to test what they hear against the truth of God’s Word.
We must teach kids the Bible. Paul gives a clear, yet indirect, mandate to teach kids the Bible while they are still young. What a gracious reminder Paul provides Timothy when he says, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim 3:14-15) Don’t miss that last part. God’s Word points us to Jesus. The same Jesus who wants to rescue the kids you teach.

Ultimately, the reason you and I are called to guide kids to explore the Bible and understand the truths of God’s Word for themselves is so that they can meet and know the God of the Bible through His Son Jesus. We can and must accept this challenge. But, as in the closing words of that children’s television program, Reading Rainbow, “You don’t have to take my word for it.”

What I’ve Learned From Teaching Toddlers

Communicating VBS is Worth It

VBS . . . Was It Worth It?

Whom Are You Discipling?

When Leadership is Followership

4 Tips for Focusing on Both People and Results in KidMin

Should KidMin Leaders Focus on People or Results?

It’s December 31, 2019. What Does Your Kids Ministry Look Like?

Help! What Do I Do with Preschoolers in Large Group?

Don’t Take My Word for It

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