Category: Wisdom for Children’s Ministry

Wisdom for Children’s Ministry is a collection of blogs containing wisdom gained over many years in Christian ministry to children.

Posted on by

Seeing God’s Signs

Seeing God’s Signs

1 Chronicles 12:32 From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take. (New Living Translation)

Recently the kids outreach ministry which I am doing at the local church in my neighbourhood had really dwindled down to a small number of children and I was beginning to think that maybe God was moving me on or that it was the closing of a door or something and yet in my heart I didn’t really feel that way.  Just when I was beginning to think that maybe this was the end, on that very next week a whole bunch of new neighborhood children came and  as a sign, it re-inforced to me that God isn’t done with it yet and I should keep going.

How wonderful it is when God shows us those signs.  As long as we are open to hear what the spirit is saying, like those sons in the bible, and have our eyes open to see the signs of his hand in our lives, that is all that matters isn’t it.  That is all that matters.

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

Posted on by

Keith Green

Inspiration from Keith Green

I just finished reading the book written by Melody Green about the life story of her late husband, Keith Green.   The book is called “No Compromise”.

Keith Green was very popular during my teenage years.  As I have been giving thought to his life and to my life, I see how God has worked so differently in each of our lives.  In my life most things have happened LATER than most other people.  I received children in my 40’s.  I started to cartoon the bible when I was 38.  I took up viola lessons at 50 and also now in my 50’s I also feel called to write songs.  So I am doing it.  Whereas, Keith Green by the time he was 28 when he died, he had already been married, had 4 children and had numerous albums and had done much ministry – a great burst of energy.  The moral of the story is that you do what God puts on your heart when he puts it in your heart.  Don’t delay.  Start working toward what God is putting on your heart.

You might be like be my friend who has so many really good ideas (even to write an opera) but she feels that during this stage of her life since her children are competitive volley ball players and she spends so much time driving them around to games and sitting in tournaments, that this is something that is going to have to be done way off in the future.  I reminded her that with today’s technology and even if you don’t have smart phones, you can still jot down notes, that every time an idea comes to her she should grab her phone and record the idea.  As these ideas bubble up, and they will bubble up, because as soon as we are relaxed all these ideas come to us, RECORD them.  It is just the way it is.  You have to have a way to catch those ideas.  As long as you have caught them, then at some time in the future when you have time to sit down begin the project you will have all of those ideas to work with.

Work towards that thing that God is putting in your heart.  Don’t delay.  Take action, even small actions.

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

Posted on by

EQUIPPING CHILDREN LEADERS

EQUIPPING CHILDREN LEADERS

GOOD LEADERS MAKE GOOD LEADERS (A Blog by Rev. Grace Verrier)

A few years ago I assisted in ministry within a church whose adults had lost their vision for teaching children.  I did try to recruit workers and offered to fully equip and train them.  However, no adults were willing.  (My style of teaching is an open format requiring a minimum of three teachers with some extra for “crowd control” as the number of children increases.)  My husband who was traveling at the time offered his assistance sporadically and I honed my curriculum so that the lessons I taught could be taught by myself and my husband when he was available.

The children’s church began to grow and I was quickly running out of lessons that could be adapted to one or two teachers.    It was then (out of desperation) that I discovered that older children were quite capable of teaching those younger than themselves.  I had a meeting during class time and asked who would be willing to help me.  If you work with children, then you will know that every hand in the class went up.  The next few Sundays were spent “equipping the (younger) saints for the work of the ministry”.  I did puppetry workshops for those who wanted to use them to teach.  I gave acting lessons to those who wanted to do the teaching skits.  I gave lessons on teaching the memory verse in fun and active ways.  Children were taught to reinforce the solemnity requirement for the altar calls.  Some children wanted to actually stand before the group and teach the lesson I provided them  the lesson the week before so they could learn it.  Some children offered to do the “crowd control” in an adult style respecting the other children and thereby earning respect from their peers.

When I finished that church assignment I received one of the greatest confirmations of my ministry.   A twelve year old girl (who was the pastor’s daughter) said, “I now understand how and why we teach the younger saints.  I will become a Children’s Pastor.”

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources

Posted on by

Why do we sing Children’s Worship Songs

Why do we sing Children’s Worship Songs

Here is a instructional video for kids teaching the basics of why we sing Children’s Worship Songs.

Praise and Worship 1

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

 

Posted on by

William Booth

William Booth – The Power of Saving Child

 

I just read a short biography of William Booth.  Did you know he received the Lord at 14?  I didn’t.

Here is a clip from the article.

When he was criticized for using secular tunes to attract crowds, he replied, “Secular music, do you say, belongs to the devil? Does it? Well, if it did I would plunder him for it, for he has no right to a single note of the whole seven.”

I really like this guy.  Interesting how Christians are still talking about secular music.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/activists/william-booth.html

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

Posted on by

Children’s Ministry Volunteer Training

Children’s Ministry Volunteer Training

Most of us have full time jobs and volunteer as children’s ministers. Here is a children’s ministry training video especially for volunteers.

The Four Hour Pastor

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources

Posted on by

Apologetics

Teaching Kids Apologetics

I came across this article on the importance of asking the kids the “hard questions” and helping them to answer them.

It brings to mind when Jesus was in the temple at age 12 asking the bible scholars questions so hard they could not answer them.  Then he the 12 year old gave them the answers.

Here is a quote from the article.

“Like never before, it’s critical that we teach kids apologetics.  We must help them see why we believe what we believe.  We must ask the hard questions now and let them grapple with it.  It will be too late if they’re left to fend for themselves in high school or college with no deep Biblical foundation to stand on.”

Let us make sure our kids are prepared to meet the world.

http://www.relevantchildrensministry.com/2016/10/why-we-must-teach-kids-apologetics-or.html

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

Posted on by

Hillsongs Master Class Training

Hillsongs Master Class Children’s Ministry Training

Never stop learning.  Hone your skills by watching this Children’s Ministry training video.

Hillsongs Master Class

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

 

Posted on by

Protecting Children from Sex-Trafficking

Protecting Children from Sex-Trafficking

I am attaching a link to  the first article in a series from Focus on the Family.   I found the story about Ryan made me shutter.

When my son was just beginning to play online video games, he announced he wanted to play with his friend on-line.  I had to run out to do something for a half hour and I thought surely he will be okay until I get back and then I will talk to him about online safety.

Wow what a shock when I returned and found out that someone had asked for his name and what school he attended.

As a children’s minister, you can never warn the kids too much about the dangers in the world.  Most of all they need to learn to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/family/sex-trafficking-victims/sex-trafficking-a-parents-guide-to-protecting-your-child

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

Posted on by

Purpose Part 1

Purpose

Recently I read a daily devotional by Charles Swindoll about finding your true purpose and “being real”.  The link to the full article is below.  Here is a quote from the article.

“Perhaps that’s what the Boston superstar was trying to say. He had everything imaginable—fame, possessions, job security, a strong body, lots of bucks—but maybe at that moment in his life he lacked something far more important. Something like a sense of purpose and inner fulfillment. Something which basketball and all its benefits could never provide. An inner itch that can’t be scratched by achievement or people or things or activities. To scratch it requires a great deal of internal searching, which the athlete felt he couldn’t do and still keep pace with the maddening NBA schedule.

To “find yourself” requires that you take time to look. It’s essential if you want to be a whole person, real to the core.”

Sometimes children look up so much to sports heroes and those who appear to be outwardly successful that they plan to build their lives like their hero.  What they don’t see is the inner turmoil those heroes experience when the Lord is not the center of their being.  As children’s ministers we need to repeatedly remind them that true joy in life comes from always “being real” with God, having him as the center of all of your plans.

https://www.insight.org/resources/daily-devotional/individual/being-real-part-one

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

Posted on by

Millennials Abandoning the Church as it is today

Millennials Abandoning Faith

Below are a couple of quotes from an article from Focus on the Family.  I think this article is SO very relevant today – a must read for churches.

“Millennials are more likely to ask what the church is doing for the poor than whether there is a specific Bible study available on Thursday nights. There is a growing desire to be part of a cause rather than to simply attend a church with convenient meeting times, facilities or location. A Millennial is likely to pass five megachurches to attend a new startup with 20 friends who really care about his or her life.”

“Many Millennials have distaste for how rigid church has become. They do prefer a church with structure, but not one so rigidly traditional that they don’t have a say. Much of the feedback we have gotten from Millennials about growing up in church was that it didn’t feel natural to them. They were told it was a place to be free and open, but generally Millennials never fully engaged. They kept to themselves.”

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/citizen-magazine/abandoning-the-faith

This sound like a negative message, but I believe it is a wake-up call for the church to start caring about every generation.  Worship needs to be such that every generation engages.

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

Posted on by

3 Ways to Disciple Children

3 Ways to Disciple Children

I came across this article and really enjoyed it.  Here is a quote from the article:

“A pastor’s primary job is, not to preach, but to prepare God’s people for works of service. In other words, a pastor’s primary responsibility is to disciple his congregation to do ministry. If that’s true, then a children’s pastor’s primary responsibility is to disciple or prepare children to do ministry.”

The 3 emphasis are Prayer, Evangelism and Service.and you would do well to read the entire article.  I especially liked the idea of the coloured bracelet.  What a great tool for evangelism.

3 Ways to Disciple Children

 

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES