Vacation Bible School

Encouragement, Fun, Leadership, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School

May 11, 2012

Kids Ministry Heroes: Amber Sugg

Amber Sugg is my Kids Ministry hero. And I can hear her right now saying, “What EVER, Katie DeCillo.” She always calls me by my full name. In fact, she recently sent me a package addressed to Katherine Rosemary DeCillo… but I digress.

Amber is the director of preschool and children’s ministry at First Baptist Church in Murray, KY. She is wife to Micah and mom to the adorable and hilarious Madelyn and Allie. She graciously allowed me to serve as her intern and taught me many valuable things about ministry life in the short amount of time I was under her wing.

Here are some fun facts about Amber:

She wore rain boots with a dress once…to service. And taught in them…from stage.
She LOVES Jesus, balloons and inflatables.
She uses hashtags (a tool created for sorting and identifying things on Twitter) in normal communication–email, text messages, Facebook wall posts. For example: ”Teaching Maddie Cunningham 90′s rap songs #jumpjump.”
She coined the phrase “fun at church”–more often read, #funatchurch. ”Katie DeCillo…they’re kids. They need to have fun at church.” And it’s true, kids do need to have fun while they learn about Jesus.
She likes pranks. Her most recent endeavor was the posting of this really awesome picture of pastor Sam Rainer on FBC’s heritage wall. (See below)

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But those things aren’t what make Amber my hero. Those things are just frosting on the cupcake.

Amber invests in her relationships. She invests in the way that Christ calls us to when he says to make disciples. Whether you’re 3 or 30, she can be a source of encouragement, spiritual wisdom, and accountability. (Though she’ll tell you she’d rather hang out with kids than adults!) She has guided me through some difficult and hilarious conversations alike that have spurred me on to seek more and more truth in my life. Best of all, Amber is not afraid to teach the difficult truths of Scripture, and does it in a way that is applicable and full of God’s love and grace.

Today, the Gold Star goes to YOU, Amber Sugg!

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Tell me about YOUR kids ministry hero!

Encouragement, Preteen, Resources, Sunday School, Training, Vacation Bible School

May 4, 2012

Ministering to Kids with a Sick Parent.

By mrsruther

Normally, childhood experiences do not include finding out that one of your parents has cancer and spending lots of time at this place: the Cancer Center… so how do you minister to the kids in your church when that is the case?

I’ve been there. Not only have I been the children’s minister searching for the right words to say, but I have been that kid. My dad was diagnosed with cancer when I was eight. The next four years of my life I was in and out of cancer centers with my dad often. I can’t say I knew how to respond to cancer, but I’m pretty sure no one else around me knew how to either.

I am still searching for the right words to say during these times. I’m not sure there really are “right words,” but I can speak from what really made a difference in my life:

Others that encouraged my parents. This blessed me because I love my parents.
Hand-written cards, especially when I got one specifically addressed to me.
My dad’s best friend, my pastor, spending lots of quality time with my dad/family.
My parents being honest with me and allowing me to ask questions about cancer.
Hugs. It sounds silly, but sometimes words just aren’t necessary.
Events like father-daughter dinners to build sweet memories.
Adults who let me ask the hard questions. These were big ones for me: Why does God let this happen to people who love Him? What did I do? Did I make God mad? Why MY dad? Why do I pray to God to heal my dad and nothing happens? They didn’t have to know the answer. I just wanted them to listen.

Sickness is hard, and there’s no formula for ministering to families dealing with it.

Just be available. Just encourage. And just love.

*This post is the third in a week-long series by author Mary Carlisle from the CentriKid blog about ministering to different kinds of kids. You can read the rest of her posts in the archives.

Encouragement, Preteen, Resources, Sunday School, Training, Vacation Bible School

May 3, 2012

Ministering to Kids in a Divorce.

By Katie DeCillo

The statistics on divorce in our country are staggering. Upwards of 50% of marriages will end in divorce and sadly the church is not immune to that statistic. As the body of Christ, how do we minister to kids whose stories have always included divorce or are just recently experiencing it?

The challenging part is that every kid’s story is unique. They have grown up in different environments; they have been exposed to the Gospel in varying amounts and the reasoning behind their parents’ divorce differs from case to case. Regardless of the differences, I think there are some basic ways that we can all minister to these kids.

My parents were divorced by the time I was seven and up until that point I had never stepped foot in a church. It wasn’t until after my parents’ divorce that I was even exposed to Jesus and to this day, I don’t know the exact reason why they got divorced. So, I speak out of my own personal experience in the way that my church ministered to my own heart as a young child.

Love on these kids unconditionally. Hug them. Write them notes telling them how much you care about them. Celebrate them.
Ask them tough questions and allow them to ask you tough questions. So often, we don’t want to overstep our boundaries but not asking the questions, and we allow the child to navigate through it by themselves. Sadly, this is worse than becoming a bit uncomfortably by asking the tough questions. Kids need to know that they have a safe place to hash out their feelings regarding their parents’ divorce.
Be an active part of their life. Divorce can leave kids with either a varying amount of parental involvement in their life or none at all, and this can be devastating. Go to soccer games or ballet recitals or go eat lunch with them at school. All of these things will show them that they matter to someone.
Remind them of the nature of God. God is good. God works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). God will use their hardship for His glory. It’s critical that you love the child but it is also crucial to remind them how great a love our God has for them.

Bottom line, there is no easy fix for divorce. There is nothing that anyone can say or do that is going to make it all right. But, we have an opportunity to love on kids that might not get the love they deserve and we have a chance to show them a little bit of who Jesus is. These are opportunities that I know I surely do not want to miss out on. I hope you will join me on the journey of ministering to kids of divorce.

Tori Einstein is a CentriKid staffer, Art Studio leader and Production leader who loves to invest in kids. She uses her own experience with divorce to help kids at camp open up about what they’re going through. In the off season, Tori attends the University of Arizona.

Encouragement, Preteen, Resources, Sunday School, Training, Vacation Bible School

May 2, 2012

Ministering to the Kid who Doesn’t Want to be There.

By Katie DeCillo

Every Tuesday, I get the opportunity to volunteer at an inner city ministry here in Nashville, and every week there is at least one kid there who just doesn’t want to be there. They don’t want to work on their homework; they don’t want to listen to the devotional, and they certainly don’t want to sing.

Ever been there? You have that kid that has no desire to listen to what you have to say and doesn’t think that your activities are fun. They want nothing to do with this Jesus you are talking about and have no idea why their parents force them to come to your class.

Here are some tips I’ve learned teaching at church and working with kids each Tuesday:

1. Don’t take it personally.

Kids will be kids, and some days, kids just don’t like what they have to do. They may leave and even come back next week with the same attitude, and that is ok. The Word of the Lord doesn’t return void. They may not seem to be listening or to get it, but they may.

2. Don’t get angry.

Normally, kids who say they don’t want to be in your class will warm up to you after a while if you continue to love on them and talk to them like they are an adult. Ask them lots of questions and really invest in them. Raising your voice will make them feel like you don’t really care.

3. Don’t leave boundaries undefined.

In many cases, kids will push you until they know exactly where the boundaries are. They crave them. Boundaries make kids feel safe. Set up rules at the beginning of class. Re-emphasize as you go. One of my favorites that I have learned volunteering is “raise a quiet hand to tell me …” Also, the kids know that they don’t want to be sitting along the wall because they won’t get to play capture the flag. Rewarding good behavior and participation is great.

Again, don’t be upset if you are not able to be the catalyst that makes this kid love coming to Sunday School. Sometimes, they will still not want to be involved. They may want to sit at a separate table or on the floor, and that’s ok. Try to keep their attention and make class way too much fun to want to miss! They’ll come around. It may take time, but the more they know you care the more interested they will be.

*This post is the third in a series of posts about ministering to different types of kids written by Mary Carlise, from our CentriKid blog.

Encouragement, Fun, Resources, Sunday School, Training, Vacation Bible School

May 1, 2012

Ministering to the Creative Kid.

By Katie DeCillo

How do you connect with the kids in your ministry who would rather doodle than listen to your stories about burning bushes, the ark, or the cross?

I was that kid. Craft time at VBS was my favorite and I LOVED when my teachers used big posters with lots of colors… and I loved it even more when I got to write or draw on the poster…and Playdoh- Playdoh is God’s gift to the creative child. It’s fabulous!

A large majority of creative people, kids included, learn by seeing things and by having a hand in them. They need a visual. Teach with posters, pictures, etc and use illustrations that they can visualize so that these kids can really connect and learn. If these kids are like I was when I was little, I thought in pictures, and still do to a large extent. I connect with pictures more than text.

Add activities like illustrating a story, painting the names of God, or building a Tower of Babel with paper. Tap into the competive nature of some of your kids by making this a race, a contest, or a group mural, and always display the art or let them take it home. Let creative kids know that you value their creativity…and encourage them to continue to develop it. Let them illustrate the story on a dry erase board as another kid reads the story and a few more act it out. When ministering to lots of different kids, lots of different types of activities are the secret weapon of success.

How do you minister to your creative kids?

*This post is the second in a week-long series of guest blogs from CentriKid blog writer Mary Carlise. You can read her other posts in our archives.

Encouragement, Fun, Resources, Sunday School, Training, Vacation Bible School

April 30, 2012

Ministering to Smart Kids

By Katie DeCillo

Hey there! This is the first post in a series of five, borrowed from our friend Mary Carlisle over at the CentriKid blog. We’ll feature 5 different kinds of kids and how to minister especially to them!

If I only had one word to describe ministering to the smart kids in your ministry, it would be CHALLENGE.These types of learners need to grasp the idea, but may be able to do so in a variety of ways. They may "get it" simply by hearing it, seeing it, or being involved and participating in it. They are the kids that think it through and ask the tough questions.

They come in all shapes and sizes… some will be shy and keep to themselves, only asking questions after the lesson is over and they are one-on-one with their teacher, while others may be intensely competitive, desiring to prove their knowledge of the story by answering every question…probably before you finish asking it….and some will be at other point on the spectrum inbetween.

To challenge a smart kid, ask them to memorize the verse for next week or let them be your helper by allowing them to tell the story. Breaking up into small groups to read portions of a passage of Scripture and then talk about it can really be the connecting force for smart kids in your church. Also, always give them a little extra attention by answering their questions and even asking them questions to get them thinking. Talking out ideas will make them concrete and will help them own their beliefs.

How do you minister to your smart kids?

Leadership, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School

April 4, 2012

Incorporating Missions

By Jerry Vogel

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At one time, missions education in the local church was a critical element in church programming. Usually on Wednesday or Sunday nights kids in most churches would gather and be immersed in activities helping them to understand the importance of reaching people groups around the world with the gospel. Pretty much, that day has come and gone. Missions education and even missions awareness is in danger of extinction.

Should churches go back to the way it used to be? I don’t think so. Not that learning about missions is no longer important, it’s just that with the changes in culture and church practice, the things that worked with kids 10-20 years ago just don’t play out the way they once did. Do I continue to feel the need for helping kids understand that we don’t keep the gospel a secret? ABSOLUTELY! The question becomes "How can we do it differently?"

What about these suggestions:

Since families are only going to give the local church a limited number of hours per week, why not incorporate missions into current ongoing church practice? Plan for and provide information related to missions/mission projects to Sunday morning Bible study teachers, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening kids discipleship and events’ teachers.
Develop a strategy for including missions awareness in several aspects of children’s ministry. Share that strategy with parents, leaders and kids. Help all of those in your ministry understand the meaning of "missional."
Include missions awareness and mission projects at kids camps, during VBS, and even offer projects for Sunday morning programs.
Consider planning for "family" mission projects. Provide a way for entire families to reach out to the community and world with the gospel and missions efforts.
Evaluate current church mission projects to see how kids might be included in some aspect of that project. Examples: Room in the Inn ministry to the homeless; gathering for and preparing food baskets during seasonal emphases; deacon ministry to nursing homes; etc.
Consider planning for Backyard Bible clubs in addition to a "main campus" VBS.

The ideas are limitless. Make a commitment now to put a new face on missions!

How do you incorporate missions into your teaching?

Leadership, Vacation Bible School

July 6, 2011

5 Action Steps for the Day After VBS

By Courtney Baker

This guest post is from Tony Kummer at Ministry-To-Children.com

You feel tired and your feet hurt.

Your ears are still ringing.

You’re feeling a little sad it’s over, but it’s to move on.

Wait-wait, it’s not over yet! We have a few details to cover before the VBS books are closed. These last five tasks matter just as much as all the work you’ve already done. Simply print off this list and cross the finish line with a smile.

1. Pray through your attendance and volunteer rosters.

Don’t forget to thank God for the children and adults who showed up. Pray for each of them by name and look for where God is working. This is the time to discern where you should focus your outreach efforts.

2. Send a simple (paper) thank you note to every volunteer.

Keep it simple and just write a few honest lines. “Thanks so much for serving in our Vacation Bible School. There are no small jobs in the Kingdom of God. I hope this week inspired your faith and helped you grow closer to Jesus.” If you’re busy, or the list is too long, get help addressing the envelops.

3. Send follow-up letters to guest families.

Now is the time to carry out the final stages of your outreach plan. At a minimum, send a basic letter saying thanks for coming and letting them know about other ministry offerings. If you’ve posted VBS pictures or video online, let them know where they can find that too.

4. Gather and dispose of VBS materials.

Don’t let those items sit idle for weeks and months after the program. Seek out other churches that are using the same VBS theme. Arrange for the transfer as early as possible. Anything not passed on, or saved for reuse, needs to be in the dumpster by Tuesday. Clutter is your enemy.

5. Debrief and evaluate improvements for next year.

Take a few minutes to write down obvious strong points and failures in your VBS plan. Think through each station and brainstorm what to improve. At this point, lay aside any ego and just figure out what worked and what was broken. Ask a few trusted volunteers or your leadership team to do the same. File all this away in the file for next summer’s Vacation Bible School.

If you’ve enjoyed this post, come see Tony at the 2011 Lifeway Kids Ministry Conference.

Preteen, Training, Vacation Bible School

June 16, 2011

FLYTE Training

By Bill Emeott

I’m sure you’ve heard of Lifeway’s new Preteen Bible study, FLYTE. It’s GREAT! Jeff Land and I decided it was time for a little FLYTE Training and headed to the studio to tape these four sessions. You’ll heard about FLYTE from beginning to end and many of your questions will be answered as we talk about the when, where, and how’s of FLYTE.

We would be honored if you chose to use these videos to train your FLYTE instructors as they prepare for FLYTE takeoff at your church. Direct teachers to this post or use the videos directly from our Lifeway Kids Vimeo account. Get creative and have a "virtual" training by emailing your team the links and then setting up a chat time to discuss each session.

Regardless of how you train, we encourage you to help prepare your leadership for an incredible time with Preteens. We’re pretty sure that FLYTE will help you achieve that goal.

FLYTE Training Session 1 from Lifeway Kids on Vimeo.

FLYTE Training Session 2 from Lifeway Kids on Vimeo.

FLYTE Training Session 3 from Lifeway Kids on Vimeo.

FLYTE Training Session 4 from Lifeway Kids on Vimeo.

Vacation Bible School

June 1, 2011

The Great Reveal – VBS 2012

By Jerry Wooley

In case you have not already joined the fever-pitched scramble to uncover the mystery of Lifeway’s VBS 2012 here is your first clue:

Clue #16 Great Trip from Lifeway Kids on Vimeo.

In case this short video is not enough check out Lifeway’s VBS Blog at lifewayvbs.wordpress.com

In addition to this clue and those found on Lifeway’s VBS Blog we have hidden little bites of information throughout Lifeway’s presence on the World Wide Web. Take some time to surf – you’ll have a great trip! You will also discover information about our VBS 2012 Sampler Sweepstakes!

Once you have collected all your clues join us for The Great Reveal which takes place live at 1:00 p.m. (CST) Monday, June 6. You don’t want to miss it! We’ll provide you with the solution to each clue, introduce the VBS 2012 theme and theme song, and disclose a one-day only promotional offer for our VBS 2012 Preview Events in January and February.

I didn’t mean to let it slip but you read it correctly – a Preview in February! And wait til you hear the location — SUNNY FLORIDA!! For those of you looking for a way to escape winter’s cold you will want to book your flight today (actually you might want to wait until after June 6 when we reveal the dates and exact location).

Don’t forget – Monday, June 6, 1:00 p.m. (CST). Keep your eyes peeled to Lifeway’s VBS Blog for more information.

Kids Ministry Heroes: Amber Sugg

Ministering to Kids with a Sick Parent.

Ministering to Kids in a Divorce.

Ministering to the Kid who Doesn’t Want to be There.

Ministering to the Creative Kid.

Ministering to Smart Kids

Incorporating Missions

5 Action Steps for the Day After VBS

FLYTE Training

The Great Reveal – VBS 2012

All Ministry Sites

Digital Resources

Lifeway Network