Leadership Archives - Page 2 of 66

Encouragement, Kids Ministry, Leadership

October 22, 2018

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

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.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Training

October 15, 2018

What About Kids Ministry?

By Bill Emeott

I knew God called me to ministry. I knew He had placed a burden in my heart specifically for kids ministry, and I realized that He had gifted me with talents that would help me in the role I’d just been chosen to fill. But the truth was, I didn’t know what I was doing. I’d had formal education for which I’m thankful, but I needed quick answers to the everyday questions, issues, and ministry struggles that I now faced and for which I didn’t feel equipped.

I was immediately enrolled in the school of hard knocks and began seeking and reading and studying other ministries I thought could give me direction. I was blessed with ministry leaders in my community who had pity on me, perhaps saw potential, and jumped in to give direction and serve as mentors and friends. I will forever be grateful to Margaret Rogers, Susie Webb, Clara Mae Van Brink, Kim Harris, and Bill Young. The first year wasn’t easy. But with my calling secure, my support system in place, and the Holy Spirit empowering me, I made it through.

I’ve often wished there had been a resource that would have quickly answered my questions. I needed a one-stop resource that I could reference and trust. It is in the hopes of offering that resource to others that What About Kids Ministry? was created.

I couldn’t have been the only minister who needed help and answers, and I’m pretty sure there are still many today who are experiencing the same feelings of inadequacy and need for direction and assurance. So, I sat with ministry colleagues here at LifeWay and began to seek practical answers to questions relevant to today’s KidMin leaders.

I am thankful for the answer compiled in this book by ministry experts with vast and varied backgrounds. I’m thankful for their ministry to children and their families. I’m most thankful to God who loves kids, families, and those of us who are trying hard to honor Him as we minister. To God be the glory! Great things He has done and will do through each of you.

Our prayer is that What About Kids Ministry? will help to anchor your ministry, equip you in Kingdom work, empower you to lead kids to spiritual transformation, and encourage you to disciple boys and girls to become culture shapers in our world today.

Bill Emeott serves as Lead Ministry Specialist for LifeWay Kids. He is a graduate of Mercer University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Bill has served in Kids Ministry for almost 30 years and currently teaches 3rd Grade Bible study at his home church in Nashville, TN.

Bible Study, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Worship

October 12, 2018

3 Tips for an Awesome KidMin Large Group

By Micheal Walley

As a kid, I connected best and “got it” when all the kids at church would gather in the gym to sing, play interactive games, and learn from God’s Word during our weekly large group worship. I loved being with more kids than just those in my small group Bible Study class, and I loved that I got to see kids, both younger and older than me, in the same room worshipping.

As an adult and volunteer, I still love large group worship experiences and believe that a weekly large group experience for kids can be extremely impactful in the spiritual life of a kid. Whether your large group time is simply gathering in a classroom or a full-scale media production, consider these three tips as you make the message of Jesus clear to kids through worship.

Make a plan and recruit the right volunteers.

Like anything in ministry, a good plan is vital for success. Start by enlisting people who are passionate about the things you want to incorporate in your large group experience. Look for people who are good at communicating to a large group of kids, people who lead songs and motions well, folks who enjoy performing skits, or running media. These people may or may not already be serving in your ministry so intentionally cast the ministry vision wide. Share where you see your large group worship experience going then Invite these volunteers to plan alongside you. Equip and empower them to lead. Having a solid gameplan, schedule, and prepared volunteers are key to any successful large group time.

Make it kid-friendly and engaging.

A kids ministry large group experience is a great chance to create worship specifically geared for kids. As you plan, be sure to select curriculum, worship songs, and games that are age appropriate and engaging for the kids you plan to reach. If you’re unsure, do some research. Seek help from seasoned leaders. Take the time to notice what songs and activities get kids “pumped up” and which ones make them groan. No one likes to be bored and leading kids in a boring worship experience is just wrong.

Make it different.

Effective large group time can take what kids have learned in small group Bible study to the next level, so intentionally make it different. If your small group takes place in chairs around tables, consider moving to a different room and sitting on the floor. If your small group time is mostly focused on learning the facts of the Bible content, then focus large group on worship that results from those learned Bible truths with songs and a life application challenge or message.

Ultimately, effective large group worship roots everything in Scripture, seeks guidance and direction from the Holy Spirit, and then works hard to engage kids and help them grow closer to through the experience.

Micheal Walley serves as the LifeWay Kids Event Producer. He is a graduate of Mississippi College and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Micheal has been serving in Kids Ministry from the moment he was “promoted” out of kids ministry himself. He loves coffee, leadership, all things creative, and his wife, Anne Marie.

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.”

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 thee adorable grandbabies.

CentriKid, Kids Ministry, Leadership, StudentLife for Kids

October 5, 2018

5 Not-So-Hidden Benefits of Serving on Camp Staff

By Jeremy Echols

Summer camps begin recruiting for their summer staffing roles every year in the fall. Who do you know that would do an awesome job serving at a camp? Take an opportunity to recommend someone you know, and their life will be changed forever!

Any former camp staffer knows about the hard work and the blessing of working camp and we want everyone to know these five not-so-hidden benefits of serving on camp staff:

Character-Building, Not Just Resume-Building – when students work at a camp, they gain work experience by having to get up on time, show up prepared, and do a job. This is great work experience early in their career.
Eternal Impact, Plus Get Paid – serving at a Christian summer camp makes a kingdom impact and it is way more than just a job. Every role at camp has a purpose that goes way beyond just flipping burgers or mopping floors.
Growth as a Leader – so many camp staffers enter the summer and expect to grow in their work ethic, but one of the most amazing things is when a Camp Director sees leadership potential in a a staffer with less experience and begins to invest. This doesn’t happen by accident, it is part of the design!
Ministry Experience Beyond What is on Paper – a two month summer job doesn’t look amazing on paper, but serving churches at camp gives a ton of exposure to a variety of ministry contexts. The opportunity to connect with church leaders from so many different settings really does provide “seasoning” that goes beyond the tasks.
Life-Long Relationships – the bonds formed by working in close proximity all summer will create incredible friendships and lasting relationships. There were camp friends who were in my wedding and whose kids play with my child even today!

The summer will be here before you know it, so who do you know that would be an asset to a camp team and would benefit from serving in this way? For all the LifeWay Camps, the summer staff applications can be found here. But of course, we recommend serving at Kids Camp!

Please share this post with someone who serves in your ministry and offers to be a reference. Help them get started with applying for CentriKid Camps or Student Life For Kids.

Jeremy Echols leads the CentriKid Camps team and manages the LifeWay Kids events. He, his wife Emily, and their precious daughter love their church, their neighborhood, and spending time together. Jeremy loves to read, watch sports, and grill burgers.

Family, Kids Ministry, Leadership

October 3, 2018

FORTNITE: Your Son’s Latest Obsession

By Kids Ministry 101

A special thanks to ParentLife writer David Thomas for permission to post this blog. Read more about his counseling ministry, meet Sissy Goff and Melissa Trevathan (the rest of the team), order their books, or join the blog for Technology Tuesday each week at www.raisingboysandgirls.com.

A day doesn’t go by where I don’t hear something about Fortnite. It’s the game the majority of boys (of all ages) seem to be talking about these days. It was something completely different a year ago, and chances are good it will be something completely different a year from now. But for today, it’s Fortnite. Though it’s rated “T” for Teen, many parents of younger boys are allowing boys to explore it.

Many parents have compromised because of its cartoonish nature or the lack of profanity or blood. There are sites and commentaries arguing the advantages of strategic thinking, teamwork, and creativity. Equally so, there are sites and commentaries arguing it’s still violent and how the online nature still exposes younger players to the offensive language of other players.

Wherever you land in your decision on Fortnite … or Minecraft … or Call of Duty … or whatever game takes the boy world by storm next, let me encourage you to make sure your son spends more time in reality than in virtual activity. Make sure he spends more time kicking a real soccer ball than playing FIFA 2018. Make sure he spends more time having real conversations that don’t involve wearing a headset and do involve reading nonverbal communication and making eye contact. Make sure he spends more time talking with real people than texting.

Make certain he has a context like scouting or playing sports, being a part of a robotics team or a climbing club, a book club or youth group, student government or volunteering … places where he experiences real teamwork, human interaction, strategic thinking, creativity and practicing empathy.

Absolutely let him have time to enjoy video games (with limitations) as a means of practicing regulation. I talked with a single mom recently that told her 14-year-old son she has three rules for gaming.

You gain 5 extra minutes the following day for turning it off without arguing. You lose 15 minutes the next day for battling me when it’s time to shut it down.
I can’t control what you hear when you have the headset on. But if I hear you repeat something profane or disrespectful, the headset is put up for a week.
Every time you turn the system off, you owe me 20 minutes of physical activity to counter the effects of sitting still and being plugged in.

This mom is choosing to let his engagement with gaming serve as a vehicle for strengthening his ability to regulate himself.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, StudentLife for Kids

September 28, 2018

Why Fall is the Best Time to Plan Summer Camp

By Logan Meek

It’s officially fall! Leaves are turning, the weather is starting to cool off, and all the best snack foods have released a limited edition pumpkin spice flavor. It may feel like a long time until summer will be back again, but fall is actually the best time to start planning summer camp for your Kids Ministry. Grab some candy corn and check out these three reasons why.

1 – Plan Now to Make Camp Part of Your Year-Round Discipleship Plan

The theme is a huge part of camp, and we hope it goes home with you. In 2019 our theme at Student Life For Kids is “Transformed” (2 Cor 5:17). We’re excited to talk about the way God makes us totally new when he changes our hearts. You’ll be able to get the most out of your camp experience when you can spend a week before camp to prepare kids for the theme and a week after camp to debrief.2 – Plan Now to Get the Camp Date You Want

Summer camp is a transformational experience, so space at camp can fill up quickly! There’s a limited amount of space every summer, and signing up in the fall is the best way to ensure your group is able to be at camp when it works best for you. To make it easy for you to plan, LifeWay Kids allows you to reserve space at camp and pay deposits later (in the spring).

3 – Plan Now to Help Parents Plan

It may seem crazy to share summer camp plans with your church in the fall, but it’s a great way to help parents plan. When you get to camp next summer, you’ll want to have as many kids (and parents) with you as possible. You can help families avoid conflicts with the family vacation and make summer camp part of their plans by letting them know early.

A week at summer camp can make an eternal impact in the life of a kid, and it can be a catalyst for your ministry. Many kids will only get one week to be at summer camp, so now is the best time to start planning. Take some time to check out Student Life For Kids or CentriKid, and make camp part of your discipleship plan next summer!

Logan Meek leads the Student Life for Kids team. Logan joined the Student Life For Kids team in 2014 after spending two years as a Sixth Grade teacher with Teach For America. He believes in the importance of strong kids ministry to help kids build strong spiritual foundations.

Family Ministry, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Teaching Kids

September 26, 2018

One Big Story

By Jeremy Carroll

Few would argue that storytelling is a highly useful tool when working with or teaching kids. The availability of hundreds of thousands of children’s books gives testimony to the commonly understood reality that kids connect with stories. In fact, it’s not just kids. Storytelling is a powerful means of communicating with just about everyone. Whether you are 9 months old, 9 years old, 39 years old, or 90 years old, nearly everyone loves a good story.

Of course, there are stories, and then there is The Story—that is, God’s one big story. While we should be very careful not to place the stories of the Bible next to fictional stories of many children’s books, we can redeem the craft of storytelling for helping children begin to see and understand the most important story of all. It is to the next generation’s advantage that we lead children to begin understanding the Bible as one story with Jesus as its central figure. We must see the Bible as God’s story with a beginning, middle, and end. There is one focus throughout the narrative. His name is Jesus.

In Gospel Centered Kids Ministry, Brian Dembowczyk notes, “Jesus interpreted Scripture, not as a collection of random stories but as one big story about Him.” (p. 34) And just as Jesus began “with Moses and all the Prophets … [interpreting] … the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures,” we should too. (Luke 24:27) Jesus was communicating to the disciples of Luke 24 that it is only by understanding the whole story that we can truly understand His work on our behalf. In his article “4 Reasons to teach the Bible’s Storyline,” Trevin Wax put it this way: “The story of the Bible gives context to the gospel message about Jesus.”(1) To begin to grasp the fullness of our salvation, we must understand—and help the kids and families we serve to understand—that every story points to the One, making the Bible one big story about Jesus.

When we see the Bible as Jesus’ story, we are freed from implying (or outright expressing) kids carry an unrealistic, unhealthy, and impossible burden of being more courageous or more faithful or even more obedient on their own. We will begin to see God’s immeasurable grace radiate off every page as we look to His Son who loves us, took the punishment we deserve, and now empowers us to live holy lives for His glory. We will see that God is faithful to carry on what He began in the garden to its completion in the new heavens and the new earth—creation’s final restoration.

Toward this goal, we want to help kids ministry leaders and parents have a framework by which to read the Bible this way, as one big story. We have included a section in our new resource Big Picture Questions and Answers for Kids called “Seeing Jesus in the Bible.” In this resource, we have included six “lenses” that can help us when studying individual stories of the Bible. Each lens gives readers a way to understand both Old Testament and New Testament stories in light of the gospel. We pray this resource will be another tool your ministry toolbox as you point your kids to Jesus.

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.

Why I Said No to Volunteering

By Klista Storts

As a former Preschool Minister, I know how vital volunteers are. I remember saying that if I ever left the local church ministry, I’d be one of the best volunteers ever and I would be ready to step up to the plate to serve.

I was wrong.

I’ve been reminded how hard volunteering can be and that, indeed, there are times I don’t want to join a team. This has been eye-opening, on a personal as well as a ministry basis. I wonder what I might have been guilty of during my ministry and where my heart is now that I’m not being paid to be at church every Sunday.

There really are some legitimate reasons for not volunteering. Sometimes it’s the minister’s fault, sometimes the volunteer’s, and other times it’s nobody’s fault. Here are a few of the reasons that have come to mind.

Track Record of Leader Asking. If the minister has a reputation of having no vision, a lack of passion for ministry, being ungrateful, and disorganized, volunteers are not going to be knocking down the door to serve.

Be sure that you share your vision and how it fits into the overall mission of the church. Show appreciation often to your volunteers. Drop by the classroom and say hi on Sunday mornings or send them a note every now and then. Everything counts! And very important—do your best not to complain! (At least not publicly!)

Lack of Training Offered. Have you ever been thrown into a classroom with no direction? I have. It’s not fun.

The days of weekly or even monthly training meetings are long gone. With today’s busy schedules, find unique ways to train your leaders. Consider alternative methods of training. Use technology—Media Grid, social media, email, links to podcasts, blogs, and the like can fill the gap in getting your teachers trained.

Feeling Overused and Burned Out. We’ve all done it. We find a fantastic volunteer and we ask them to do everything. But if you start asking people to serve in areas outside their giftedness, they’ll burn out and won’t want to do anything. Discover the passion of your volunteer and keep them in that lane. Ensure that your leaders have opportunities to worship and attend small group activities of their own.

Personal obligations. And then, sometimes, people just can’t serve. Try not to take it personally. Life gets in the way. Things happen. And it’s not really a no – it’s just “not now.” Give your volunteers a break when needed. When they have a passion for ministry, they’ll come back. And be even better when they do!

So, if you’re struggling with your volunteer base, know that you’re not alone. Take a look, make some changes, and keep up the good fight. Remember God’s promise in Philippians 4:19: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Blessings friends!

Klista Storts serves as an Editor for LifeWay Kids. Before coming to LifeWay, she served as the Weekday and Preschool Specialist at the Tennessee Baptist Convention and as Director of Preschool Ministries at churches in Oklahoma and Tennessee. Klista has a passion for equipping leaders to share the love of Christ and lay foundations for conversion in the lives of kids.

CentriKid, Kids Ministry, Leadership

September 21, 2018

CentriKid: Taking the Summer Key Verse Into the Fall

By Lydia McMillan

Every year at CentriKid we have a key verse. This verse guides the spiritual direction for our time together. Our key verse from this summer was Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” Each day, we focused on how we are God’s design and how we can learn more about who we are in Jesus.

Day 1: We are His workmanship.
Day 2: We are created in His image.
Day 3: We are truly loved.
Day 4: We are completely forgiven.
Day 5: We are prepared for a purpose.

I was able to talk to one staffer, Holly Wade, who unpacked how Ephesians 2:10 is still making a difference in her life after camp: “Ephesians 2:10 has become one of my favorite verses because of what it taught me this summer. As I came back home and back to school, this verse gave me more confidence because of who I am in Christ. Being a triplet, I have always compared myself to my siblings, especially in college. This semester I have a different mindset because I am reminded that I am God’s workmanship and created for a different purpose from my twins, I am unique and special to God. He has a different blueprint for my life compared to my twins and that’s okay. I had the opportunity to meet many twins and triplets at camp over the summer, and I got to portray this message to them. I reminded them of their uniqueness and their individual talents and traits gifted by God. I ended up teaching myself the same thing, I carry that mindset into this school year as I look at my future, instead of comparing or worrying what someone else is doing, I trust that God has a purpose for my life, because He already knew it before I was born and He is faithful to His promises.”

It is so exciting to see how, not just kids, but staff as well, are able to apply the key verse in everyday life.

Next summer the CentriKid Camps theme is “All Access” and our key verse is John 17:3. “This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent-Jesus Christ.” Take a look HERE to see our 2019 theme teaser!

We are so excited to see how God will change lives not only in the lives of the kids but also in the adults and even the CentriKid staff as well. Looking forward to seeing what God does at camp in 2019. Contact us with any questions about camp at centrikid@lifeway.com!

Lydia McMillan works on the CentriKid Camps team. She manages social media, produces videos, works with actors, and leads production elements. She is married to Joshua and they have two kiddos who keep them very busy.