Leadership – Page 5

May 27, 2019

Does Children’s Ministry Matter? Part 1

The quick answer, YES!!!

Children’s ministry matters and, in case you’re wondering, children’s ministry is the most important ministry in your church!!! (Did you really expect me to say anything else?)

I’ve often been asked to give a defense for children’s ministry. The question sometimes comes as blunt as the title of this post. So, I want to take the opportunity to officially answer. For me, if I can focus on these five things and not be consumed with the noise that often gets my attention, I’m a better KidMin leader. I hope it’s helpful to you, too.

#1: Children’s Ministry Matters Because Children Matter.

Here’s the thing. KidMin leaders get this, but not everyone else gets this. And guess what, they find themselves in pretty good company because Jesus’ disciples didn’t get this either.

When parents brought their children to Jesus for him to bless, the disciples tried to prevent them from having that encounter. But what did Jesus do? The Bible says that He was indignant (pretty angry) with His disciples and said one of my favorite passages in all the Bible, “Let the children come to me! Don’t try to stop them. People who are like these little children belong to the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14).

Jesus made sure all of history knew His position on children. Jesus made time to minister to them and modeled for us that children matter.

Because children matter we need to advocate for them.

Do the kids in your church have the very best space or have they been relegated to the “leftover” space no one else wants?
Is Kids Ministry represented on your church’s calendar? Are there opportunities to love on and lean into kids?
Does your church’s budget reflect that the church cares about kids? I believe that God will pour out His blessings on a church that invests in reaching and discipling children.
What about worship? Is your church’s commitment to children reflected in congregational worship? Are their worship needs being met and cultivated?
Is your KidMin leadership the “cream of the crop” or the “bottom of the barrel?”

These are just a few questions that can answer the question, does children’s ministry matter at your church.

Children’s Ministry Matters Because CHILDREN MATTER!

Join me tomorrow for the next part of this series.

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.

Kids Camp, Kids Ministry, Leadership

May 13, 2019

Tips for Kids Hesitant to Stay Overnight at Camp

By Jeremy Echols

Camp is one of THE BEST WEEKS of the summer, but some kids have never been away from home. We hear from kids ministry leaders who ask about helping young campers get ready for their first time away at overnight camp.

One leader wrote to me and asked:

“I am having kind of a difficult time recruiting because this is the first time a group has gone, our ministry is relatively small right now, and we have a lot of younger children that are hesitant to leave home for a week. If you have any tips, I would greatly appreciate it!”

As a leader recruiting kids (and parents) for the first time, you need to provide as many answers to questions as possible. Anticipate questions and concerns that parents or kids may ask and hold a meeting to talk through it all. An “interest meeting” or “Q&A session” can be a way to discuss camp without parents feeling the pressure of having to sign up or commit to going just by coming to the meeting.

Consider getting parents to go with kids who are nervous about the first time away. I know for some groups that could be problematic to have too many parents, but for other groups that is a key to helping kids feel less nervous and a way to get the needed adult sponsors or chaperones that you need.

With young campers who just haven’t been away from mom and dad before, a test-run might help prepare the families for overnight camp. Encourage parents to find a safe/trusted place for kids to have an overnight (away from home) experience. It might be a couple of nights with grandparents, or possibly some families may want to group up and have a sleepover with some of the girls from the group and another with some of the boys … this could be the type of thing that helps kids have a good time, enjoy their friends, and realize they will survive a night away from home.

More than anything … don’t force it. Take whoever is willing to attend this year and then those who go will come back and help sell it to the other kids for next year. Better to have a smaller group Year 1 than to have a bunch of kids you coerced into going, and they end up having a shaky start to their camp experience.

For more about talking with parents about sending their kids to camp, read “Camp Creates Courageous Parents”

Jeremy Echols leads the camps area for Lifeway Kids. He, his wife Emily, and their precious daughter love their church, their neighborhood, and spending time together. Jeremy enjoys reading, watching sports, and all of his daughter’s after-school activities.

Bible Study, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Teaching Kids

May 9, 2019

5 Ps for Productive Planning: Part 4

By Jeremy Carroll

So far we’ve looked at the first three of our 5 Ps for productive planning. If you haven’t read parts 1, Pray about the Upcoming Session, 2, Prepare your Heart for the Session, and 3, Plan the Session be sure to read those posts to catch up. Let’s jump in for the final 2 phases:

Play Out the Session

We can see from the previous phases that our session really begins before whatever our scheduled session time is. This section of our conversation will be shorter since these are posts about planning. In this phase, we are putting all of our preparation and planning into action.

A few thoughts about the actual session though may be helpful. Remember to arrive early, whenever possible. Many KidMin leaders ask their teachers to be ready to receive kids 15 minutes before the scheduled session start time. This is a great habit. Not just to put a smile on the face of the ministry leader, but also for that first child who arrives. Being prepped and ready when the first child arrives communicates to that first child and her family that you are excited to teach the important truths of the Gospel. It coveys that the children are valued and that you believe the time spent in Bible study is important. Use this time wisely and get to know your kids and allow your kids to get to know each other. This is a great time for building relationships.

Everything we have talked about up to this point demonstrates that having a plan is strategically important. So have a plan, but be flexible and sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s movement in your group. You’ve been praying for God to move in the lives of your kids throughout the planning process, so don’t miss an opportunity for the Spirit of God to work because you’re stuck in your plan.

Pursue Session Follow Up

Finally, just as the session begins before the scheduled start time, follow-up may continue the session beyond the time the last child is picked up. In our Plan the Session phase, we made a plan for follow-up. Now is the time to work that plan.

Even in our digital age, kids love to get cards in the mail. Mail cards to your class regularly. This may not be every week, but determi9ne a strategy. Here is one card strategy to consider:

First-time Visitors receive cards early during the week following their first visit.
Regular attenders receive cards once a month and on their birthdays. Don’t wait for a faithful attender to be absent before she receives mail.
Absentees receive cards.
Parents receive cards once a quarter.

Another part of follow-up includes the parents of the kids in your group. Many parents are longing for resources to continue their kids’ learning at home and to help disciple their children. Regularly including parents would be a great part of your strategy for follow-up.

Bonus “P”

Pray again. Hopefully your whole planning process has been saturated with prayer. As a bookend, remember to whisper a prayer of thanksgiving after your session ends to thank God for working in you and through you to reach the kids in your church and community. What a privilege we have of serving the next generation of God’s Kingdom.

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.

Bible Study, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Teaching Kids

May 8, 2019

5 Ps for Productive Planning: Part 3

By Jeremy Carroll

So far we’ve looked at the first two of our 5 Ps for productive planning. If you haven’t read parts 1, Pray about the Upcoming Session and 2, Prepare your Heart for the Session be sure to read those posts to catch up. Let’s jump in with phase 3:

Plan the Session

After you’ve become familiar with the Bible story and key ideas and sifted through the activities for the ones you believe will work with your group, move on to choosing the activities you will use and in which order you will do them. If you’ve starred any activities, start by going back to those first. Note: curriculum will often have a suggested order for activities and flow, but don’t feel obligated to follow that flow if it doesn’t fit your church schedule or if you believe another flow of activities will work better for your group.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget “early arrival” activities. Teaching begins when the first child arrives. Try to have meaningful ways for kids to be engaged as soon as they enter your room.

Also, consider transitions from activity to activity. Having a plan for how you move from one activity to another will put you at ease during the session. Consider the timing of each activity within the session. The big idea here: Don’t leave these to chance. Have a plan before your session begins.

If possible, use this phase of preparation to gather and organize any needed supplies or, at least, make a plan for when you will gather supplies. It may be to gather supplies later in the week or arrive early on the day of your session. The point is to go ahead and think about it early so it doesn’t sneak up on you later on.

Next, practice telling the Bible story. And practice out loud. I cannot stress the importance of this too much. The Bible story is one of, if not THE most important part of each session, so practice telling the story. The first time you read or tell the story out loud should not be on a Sunday morning in a room full of kids. By spending time practicing telling the Bible story aloud, you will have greater confidence during your session to communicate the truth of Scripture to your kids. In addition, the more you practice telling the story, you will find the best rhythms and tone of voice for different parts of the story.

I know it can be awkward. But practice. Practice while looking in a mirror. Practice sitting in your car on a lunch break at work. Practice telling the Bible story to your spouse, grandkids, or the cat. Just verbalize it and practice. Then, during your session with a group of onlooking kids, you will be more comfortable and your passion for God’s Word will be more clearly heard through the clarity of your storytelling.

Finally, plan follow-up. Follow-up with attendees, parents, visitors, and absentees. More on this later, but if at all possible, lead out on follow-up. Relationships built through activities and reading the Bible together will be a great avenue for meaningful gospel conversations. The kids we serve find deeper appreciation, even if they don’t know how to communicate it if we as their teachers take ownership of follow up instead of leaving that to paid church staff.

Come back tomorrow for the next “P” for productive planning.

Bible Study, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Teaching Kids

May 7, 2019

5 Ps for Productive Planning: Part 2

By Jeremy Carroll

Last time we looked at the first of our 5 Ps for productive planning, Pray about the Upcoming Session. If you haven’t read part 1, be sure to catch up on that first phase. Let’s jump in with phase two:

Prepare (Your Heart) for the Session

As noted before, the Holy Spirit stands ready to help us understand God’s Word and apply it to our lives. Before you begin thinking through the logistics of planning your session, begin with a personal reflection on the passage of Scripture you will be teaching. Read the Bible Story. Read it early. If you are preparing for a Sunday session, I would encourage you to consider to start this phase of preparation at the beginning of the week, maybe Monday morning during your personal devotional time. Note that this is not the time to start considering “how to teach.” Here, all we want to do is let God’s Word speak to our hearts.

Beginning reading the Bible, not with the mindset of teaching but for personal edification. Spend time preparing our own heart for what God is saying in the focus passage, allowing the Spirit of God to move in you first. This will also give you context for the other parts of preparation as you move into the leader guide.

After you’ve spent time with God and allowed Him to speak into your heart and you have context for what you’ll be teaching during the session, start working through the leader guide, familiarize yourself with the main points of your upcoming session. (Note: this is still not the time for planning specific activities or logistics. Let the key ideas resonate in your heart first.)

Many curricula begin with a summary section containing the big ideas to be covered during that session. Familiarize yourself with these big ideas to help you know where you’ll be going throughout the session. Then skim through activity choices, noting which ones stand out to you, but don’t get bogged down in the details yet. I like to put a star by any activity I want to come back to and explore further.

Some ministry trainers/advisors recommend memorizing the Bible story, transitions, and activity instructions word-for-word. While it can be helpful, word-for-word memorization is not necessary, as long as you are familiar enough with the session content that you are not constantly worrying about what you’ll say next and how you will say it. This level of familiarity reduces stress and allows you to focus on other things happening in the room, such as a child’s understanding of the gospel and movement of the Holy Spirit. It’s hard to recognize those things when you’re not comfortable with the content, timings, and transitions. However, If you are going to work on memorizing part of the teaching session, this is the stage in which memorization should begin.

Remember: this phase is mostly about preparing your own heart and letting God teach you first. By allowing the Word of God to speak first to your heart first, you will have a much deeper understanding of the biblical truths of the session and will be able to teach from the overflow of what God has already taught you.

Come back tomorrow for the next “P” for productive planning.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Teaching Kids

May 6, 2019

5 Ps for Productive Planning: Part 1

By Jeremy Carroll

Does putting together a Sunday School or small/large group lesson seem intimidating? Does it ever feel like your leader guide just isn’t exactly what you need, but you don’t know how to modify it? How can you break down this overwhelming task to manageable bite-size chunks?

If we met for a soda one day and I asked you “what is the most important part of your ministry role?” our conversation would likely end up somewhere around the opportunity to teach kids. Many of us are in KidMin roles because we love to teach kids the gospel and biblical truth. But if you are like me, and I really pray you are not, preparation time for my teaching sessions can be the first and easiest thing on which to compromise.

I have found that just because I say the time I am teaching kids is important, doesn’t mean that core belief always translates to my active priorities. Below are the first two of “5 Ps” for breaking down your planning strategy into easy-to-handle phases.

Pray about the Upcoming Session

Paul says “pray constantly.” (1 Thess 5:17) We need to remind ourselves that prayer must not be neglected. Doing so may undercut the spiritual impact of our teaching.

In James 1:5, we are instructed to ask for wisdom if we lack it. I can’t speak for you, but there are many times, and often while I’m preparing to teach, I find that I am lacking the wisdom I need. And therefore, I need to pray and ask God for wisdom. He has promised to give it generously.

One of my favorite recorded prayers in Scripture is found in Psalm 25:4-5. David asks God: “Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me.” I find that praying this prayer when I am preparing to teach leads me to a posture of humility and strategically positioning me to hear from God’s Word.

Part of the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives is to help us understand God’s Word (John 16:12-14). We must not take this for granted. We are doing spiritual work, and we must make spiritual preparation. Prayer is not limited to just before planning. No, prayer should permeate each of your preparation phases. It should be the current that carries us along as the Holy Spirit uses us to help kids fall in love with Jesus and His Word.

Here are a few specific prayers I have found helpful to pray as I begin to prepare for a session:

To prepare my own heart to receive God’s Word
That I would rightly understand and handle God’s Word
That I would be able to prepare and plan well and be able to clearly communicate the truth from God’s Word
That the Holy Spirit would prepare the hearts of the children who will be in my group this week to be ready to hear and receive God’s Word (pray by name whenever possible)
That this session’s biblical truth would take deep root in each child’s heart
That I would be sensitive to the movement of the Holy Spirit for when to follow my plan and when to adjust our course if needed (more on this later)

ETCH Family Ministry Conference, Family Ministry, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Uncategorized

May 3, 2019

ETCH 2019 – October 7-9 – Nashville, TN

By Micheal Walley

In the past year or so, my wife has started calling me the “crazy plant man” because our little apartment is full of plants of all shapes and sizes. She would also be the first to point out that I’m not exactly good at keeping all of these plants alive. I haven’t figured out the right balance of light, soil, water, and words of affirmation quite yet. I need to help my plants go beyond barely surviving, and learn how to make them thrive.

As a ministry leader, you might sometimes feel like my houseplants. In ministry, you are constantly pouring out: giving your attention to kids, families, volunteers, and your ongoing to-do list. You might even feel like a plant that has been left in the scorching sun or one that has been deprived of water and nutrients. You might feel burned or you might feel wilted. How can you go beyond barely surviving and learn to thrive in ministry?

That’s our goal for the ETCH Family Ministry Conference 2019: we want to help you THRIVE.

ETCH stands for “Equipping the Church and Home,” and it’s designed to excite and inspire your whole family ministry team. ETCH 2019 will feature inspiring main sessions, practical breakouts, times of connection with other ministry leaders, and fun in order to help you focus on the things that can help you thrive in ministry, and in turn, help others thrive as well.

Make plans now for your entire ministry team (preschool, kids, preteen, middle school, high school, and even leadership) to join us October 7-9, 2019 in downtown Nashville. Check out the incredible line-up for the main session below.

As ministry leaders, we can truly THRIVE when our ministry teams THRIVE, when families THRIVE, and ultimately when the kids & students in our ministries THRIVE.

Find out more at ETCHConference.com. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at etchconference@lifeway.com.

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, Teaching Kids

May 1, 2019

6 Things Kids Leaders Should Know about Curriculum: Part 5

By Brian Dembowczyk

When people ask me what I do for a living, I tell them that I help produce Bible study curriculum. But, of course it is so much more than the way I feed my family—it is a passion and a privilege, one I seek to steward well. With that deep care for curriculum in mind, I want to share six things that I wish every kids leader knew about curriculum. Knowing these things, I believe, can transform a ministry, which more importantly, can transform lives.

So far we have covered:

Next up …

The best teaching experiences include activities and group interaction.

Since I already stepped on some toes in the last post, I may as well go ahead and stomp on some more in this one. Here goes. The worst teaching we can do is lecturing. That’s not my opinion; it’s supported by research. Kids learn the least by just hearing. So the best teaching actually occurs as we, as leaders, talk less, not more. That doesn’t mean we should say nothing of course. We have an important role to play and we have to talk to explain God’s Word and lead discussion. But our goal needs to be to keep that to a minimum.

This is why a good curriculum will feature a variety of interactive learning techniques, no matter what age it is designed for—babies through adults. Those discussion questions aren’t filler; they are essential. Those activities are not merely ways to pass the time to fill an hour; they are designed to help kids learn.

As teachers, we need to be sure to guard time for interaction and guard against pride. Pride is what often drives us to want to lecture—we believe people need to hear what we have to say. And again to a degree, that is true—if you have taken the time to work at what you are teaching and being led by the Holy Spirit. But our kids don’t need to hear just from us. They need to hear from one another and they need to share themselves as well. They need to hear, see, write, and do. The more learning styles you can include, the better.

One final word of note deserves mentioning here. No matter what age group you lead, be sure to build in time for rabbit chasing. It’s ok to go “off script” at times. Sometimes those moments are the most important ones your group will experience. They can be divine appointments. Now, we always need to be careful about venturing down frivolous rabbit trails but don’t barricade the good ones too. A sincere question often deserves a sincere response. And one kid’s question is often not unique.

Brian Dembowczyk is the managing editor for The Gospel Project. He served in local church ministry for over 16 years before coming to Lifeway. Brian earned an M.Div. from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his family live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Missions

April 22, 2019

World Bean Game

By Jeremy Echols

The World Bean Game is an activity designed to provide kids an experience that makes the challenges of global hunger and the need for missions more tangible. Download the free PDF with game background, setup instructions, and rules for the kids.

This game was used at CentriKid Camps in 2007 during an evening “party” activity—but we still get requests for the instructions and content from church leaders, and it was over a decade ago since we used the game at camp.

QUICK DESCRIPTION:

Players must purchase supplies for their basic needs. By distributing different numbers of beans to players from different groups, you’ll create a situation where some players have plenty and many who don’t have nearly enough.

GOALS / OUTCOMES

After the game, plan for time to discuss the experience. You’ll see some kids who are competitive and frustrated by the experience, but hopefully, all kids realize the physical needs that exist around the world and opportunities missionaries have to help meet physical needs and share the gospel.

Ask questions like:

Was the game fair?
What made the game easy or difficult?
Was it easy to recognize the missionaries?
What if everyone had the same amount of beans?

SUPPLIES NEEDED

Supplies are pretty simple, but setup takes a little bit of preparation. You’ll need lots of beans, baggies for each player to hold their beans, and some cards and signs for gameplay. Everything you need for the game from background explanations, setup instructions, supplies, and rules for the kids can be found in the free PDF download of World Bean Game.

Surprisingly the clean-up after the game is not too crazy because kids are working hard to collect beans as currency, they tend to drop very few of them.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Teaching Kids

April 15, 2019

Tips for Teaching Gen Z

By Bill Emeott

Recently I was asked to teach a breakout session titled “Understanding and Teaching Gen Z.” Gen Z represents college kids (born after 1995) to older preschoolers (born before 2015ish). I use “ish” because there seems to be a debate regarding the exact years.

That’s a new topic for me, so I began to do the research on this youngest identified generation with hopes of educating myself and finding ways to share with others how to be successful with this new generation. I searched for, ordered, and read several books by authors I trust. Then I searched the internet and read many, many articles and blogs (some I trust and some I’m not so sure about). What I found was a lot of information about trends, practices, and characteristics of the older side of Gen Z but not so much on the younger kids; the ones we teach. The implications were there but I was looking for some practical tips.

Tim Elmore has always caught my attention. He not only shares statistics about the youngest generations, he genuinely loves and desires to help them be successful. His books and lectures offer hope and encouragement for those of us who lead and teach. Tim will soon release a new book (yet to be titled) on Gen Z but his last book, “Marching off the Map: Inspire Students to Navigate a Brand New World” was very helpful as I learned and prepared.

In chapter 3, “Who are Today’s New Natives?” Dr. Elmore shares tips for connecting with and leading Gen Z. I want to share six of his tips and expand on the implications for teaching in the older preschool and elementary classroom. The seventh tip wasn’t listed in this chapter but certainly is implied (and stated) throughout the book.

Keep it Short. Today’s kids have short attention spans. That doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t able to concentrate because they can. However, within seconds kids decide if what you’ve got to say is worth their attention. If you miss that window you’ll have to work hard to regain their trust. Engage quickly and deliberately. Be ready the moment a child enters the room. This requires preparation and intentionality. Be on time (early). Be prepared. Be engaging.
Make it Visual. We know that kids are visual learners. They learn best when there are images that support the content you’re teaching. Use pictures, maps, and other visuals (even screens) to engage and maintain their interest.
Feed their Curiosity. We also know that kids are naturally curious so as teachers, we should use that to our advantage. Whet their appetite then lead them to discover more as your session progresses.
Give them Ownership. I’ve talked about this for years when I help teachers understand guiding behavior. It’s been my experience that when kids choose what they’re going to do, they tend to work harder to see that succeed. What choices do the kids in your class get to make or is the entire session prescribed to them? And then, once choices are made, allow them to have ownership. It can be our tendency to “do it for them” but we’d be better off to “help them do it.”
Make it Interactive. This generation is more connected than any other generation in history, yet statistics tell us that loneliness is at epidemic proportions. The kids I know desperately need more face-to-face socialization but in our classrooms, we often tell them to sit down, listen, and don’t talk or interrupt. Allow groups to work together. Allow time for discussion and interaction. If you want retention, foster interaction.
Gamify your Content. It’s no secret that kids today love gaming. Boys and girls alike are spending hours each day playing on their favorite gaming stations and online phone/tablet game apps. So, if you can’t beat ‘em (and we can’t) then join ‘em (at least at some level). I’m not talking about filling our classrooms with gaming stations and iPads. I’m talking about positioning kids in their natural habitat and using the familiar concepts of points, competition (in moderation), badges, and levels to engage them in learning. I think it would be fun to talk to your favorite kid and ask him/her about her favorite games and then see if application could be made to your Bible teaching sessions.
Build Relationships. Nothing can (nor should) replace healthy, loving relationships with kids and their teachers. It’s an old adage but it’s still true today and maybe even more so with this generation than any before: “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Everything we do should be umbrellaed by love; a genuine love for them and our desire for them to know the genuine love of Jesus who gave himself so that they might have a right relationship with the Father and spend an eternity with Him in heaven. There is no greater love. There is no greater relationship. Model that for your students.

So, there you go. The first of what I’m sure will be many conversations in this blog on this subject. As we learn more, we’ll share more. I’d love to know your thoughts, your experiences, and your discoveries on teaching the youngest members of Gen Z.

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Does Children’s Ministry Matter? Part 1

Children’s Ministry Matters Because CHILDREN MATTER!

Tips for Kids Hesitant to Stay Overnight at Camp

5 Ps for Productive Planning: Part 4

5 Ps for Productive Planning: Part 3

5 Ps for Productive Planning: Part 2

5 Ps for Productive Planning: Part 1

ETCH 2019 – October 7-9 – Nashville, TN

6 Things Kids Leaders Should Know about Curriculum: Part 5

World Bean Game

Tips for Teaching Gen Z

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