Tag: children’s church lessons

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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

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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

 

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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

 

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Let Kids Use Their Talents | Children’s Ministry

Let Kids Use Their Talents in Children’s Ministry

I attach to a link to a blog article detailing all the children who have won and done very well in the America’s Got Talent competition.

Kids Dominate America

In my years leading children’s ministry I have found that developing the kids talents always paid off.  I have made children’s music bands as soon as I could.  I encourage parents to enroll their children in music lesson and let them perform their songs as soon as they are willing.   The best puppet plays have been when kids do parts.  (Usually it is helpful to have an adult behind the puppet stage to guide them.)  If you write your own Christmas plays, recruit kids to co-write with you.  You will be amazed at the good ideas that come out.

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

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Highly Sensitive Kids

Attached is an article from Focus on the Family.  I hope you will read it to the end.  It is actually written for parents but I think there is some good advice in there for children’s ministry workers too.  This is what I took away from the article.

  1. Having a set routine in your services HELPS highly sensitive kids.  All kids but especially the sensitive ones like the predictability of a set routine.
  2. Keep good order in the class.  Don’t let the kids get “rowdy”.  Make sure there is some consequence for disruption and follow through, even if it means from time to time a child has to go and sit with their parents.
  3. Make sure the worship time engages the kids.  This is why we come to church – to engage with God.  Ask the kids what they perceived God was saying to them.  You may be surprised what they tell you.

https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/understanding-highly-sensitive-children

Click here for Children’s Church Resources

 

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THANKSGIVING PUPPET SHOW

Here is a puppet show for Thanksgiving on Thankfulness

Thankfulness From Curriculum Life of Christ 02  Lesson 1

(Characters:  Stinky and Sally)

Stinky:  I hate my nose!  It’s an ugly nose.

Sally:  I think you have a cute little nose.  Why aren’t you thankful for your nose?

Stinky:  Cause it’s a puppet nose!  That’s why!

Sally:  Would you rather have an elephant nose?

Stinky:  No.  And I hate my poofy hair.  I can’t do anything with it!  Every day is a bad hair day!

Sally:  Why aren’t you thankful for your hair?  Some people I know, who shall remain nameless, don’t hardly have any hair!

Stinky:  Cause it’s puppet hair!  That’s why!  And my long floppy legs, I hate em!

Sally:  Now that’s it Stinky!  I have heard enough of your ungrateful attitude.  Look at me.  I don’t even have any legs!

Stinky:  That’s cause you’re a puppet Sally!

Sally:  So?

Stinky:  I’m a puppet!  Can you believe it?  I’m a puppet!  I always thought I was a real boy.  But Blue Bob, told me that I’m a puppet!

Sally:  (with attitude) And what’s wrong with being a puppet?  I’m thankful to be a puppet.

Stinky:  You always knew you were a puppet and you didn’t tell me I was a puppet?  You just let me think I was a real boy!

Sally:  I thought you always knew you were a puppet.  There’s nothing wrong with being a puppet.  You have lots to be thankful for.

Stinky:  What do I have to be thankful for?

Sally:  You get to come to kids church pretty much every week.  Lots of the puppets backstage never get to come to kids church.  Some puppets have only come to kids church one time in six years, but they don’t have the stinking ungrateful attitude you have.

Stinky:   I’ve never thought about it that way before.

Sally:  God uses us puppets.  We are VIP’s, very important puppets.  We get to give messages to kids.  Kids can learn things from us.

Stinky:  You’re right Sally.  I’m sorry I have been so unthankful.  (to the kids)  Is it okay kids if I’m a puppet and not a real boy?

(Let kids respond.)

Stinky:  I like my nose.  It’s a cute nose.

Sally:  Very cute.

Stinky:  I like my hair.

Sally:   You should!

Stinky:   I like my long skinny legs.  Sorry you don’t have any legs Sally.

Sally:  I’m still thankful.  At least I have hair and 2 eyes and 2 arms.

Stinky:  You have a good attitude Sally.  Will you marry me?

Sally:   Nope.

Stinky:  How come?

Sally:  Cause I don’t like boys.

Stinky:  But I’m not a real boy.  I’m a puppet.

Sally:  It’s all the same to me.

(Sally exits.)

Stinky:  Girls!

(Stinky exits.)

 

Click here for more Children’s Ministry Resources.

 

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Education

EDUCATION

 

“Education is not a head full of facts, but knowing how and where to find the facts.” (E.C. McKenzie, 1800 Quotable Quotes)

 

It is important as children’s ministers to teach kids how to find things in God’s word and also how to listen to God.  There are some things that can’t be taught.  You have to actually spend time in God’s presence.  Encourage the children to keep their inner ear tuned into the Spirit of God.  Remind the kids constantly to keep an inner conversation going with the Lord and listen to his nudging.

 

Recently my daughter was looking for a graduation dress and I watched how the Lord led her to the most perfect dress for her.  We did not want to spend a fortune and we had looked in several stores.  There was a store where we least expected to find anything nice and she said, ”I just feel it inside, that I should look in this store.”  Sure enough, there it was!

 

There is nothing more exciting that seeing the children we minister to be led by the Lord.  Have times when the kids can share how they were led by God.

Click here for more Children’s Ministry Resources.

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BEING A DOER OF GOD’S WORD

BEING A DOER OF GOD’S WORD

 

“Knowledge comes by taking things apart but Wisdom comes by putting things together.”  (E. C. McKenzie, 1800 Quotable Quotes)

So often when it comes to God’s word, people can read it and feel that they know all about God and they know all about the Christian way but really  we only truly understand and gain an appreciation for God’s wisdom when we become a doer of the Word, not just a hearer.

Encourage the kids that we are not here just to get knowledge but to actually do the things that they learn, then they will grow in wisdom.  Then they will see that God’s way is the best way.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

 

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Cost of Children’s Ministry

COST OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

“The bird with the largest bill isn’t the pelican – it’s the stork.”  (E.C. McKenzie, 1800 Quotable Quotes)

 

Of course, this is a play on words, the bill being the cost of something.  In this blog I want to talk about the cost of children’s ministry.

Churches who want to thrive in years to come should put a lot of their budget towards children’s ministry.  Many years ago I heard statistics that said that 80% of the people in the church said they had received the Lord Jesus as savior when they were under the age of 20 years old.

 

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Create What You Love | 7 Habits of a Good Artist | Andrew Price

Create What You Love | 7 Habits of a Good Artist | Based on Blender Foundation Speech by Andrew Price (view full speech on youtube.com)

Habit # 7 Create what you Love

 

As people who are serving the Lord we have a strong sense that we are called to something unique and special for us.  We are not called to do everything.  It is clear in the scriptures that God has given out gifts and not all of us have the same gifts.

 

Andrew says, “You have intrinsic motivation when you are doing something that you love. ”

 

How this related to me in drawing the cartoons is that I have always loved teaching the word of God in children’s church because I know his word will never return void.  It might take my life time to get this project done but I will never stop because it is what I LOVE to do.

 

Find out what you love and start doing it.  Even if it takes you your whole life time to complete, take encouragement that you will always have something to wake up in the morning for.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

 

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Feedback | 7 Habits of a Good Artist | Andrew Price

Feedback | 7 Habits of a Good Artist | Based on Blender Foundation speech given by Andrew Price (view video on youtube.com)

Habit #6 Get feedback

 

Andrew says, “You want true honest feedback.”

 

In my efforts to cartoon the bible, I found the kids I am reading the stories to, to give me the best true and honest feedback.  I would ask them questions after the story and I could tell whether they were getting the point or if they were confused.

 

I have been really pleased with how many times they would correct me and see inconsistencies in the cartoons or the story.  I would realize from their feedback that I needed to go and do some rewriting.

 

Feedback is pure gold. A humble heart is always looking to do better, especially when we are working for the Lord.  Never take feedback as negative.  Don’t be oversensitive about it.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

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Stealing | 7 Habits of a Good Artist | Andrew Price

Stealing | 7 Habits of a Good Artist |  Based on Blender Foundation Speech by Andrew Price (video series can be viewed on youtube.com)

Habit 3 – Get good at stealing

Andrew says that we build on the stuff we have learned from others.  Find your idols, copy the stuff you love and put them into a file.

He says, “If you steal from one person you are plagiarizing but if you are stealing ideas from 100 people you are not doing plagiarism.”

When I was first learning to cartoon for the bible stories, I had very little background knowledge to draw from.  I had enjoyed the Saturday morning cartoons I watched on television as a child and I drew inspiration from them.  I also started to look at the cartoon section of our local newspaper and even advertising flyers that came in my daily mail.  My eyes were suddenly open to all the cartoons that were around me.

I started to recognize that there are certain styles of cartoons that I like and I started to try to copy them.  My limited drawing experience required me to rely on reference material.  I would cut out from the newspaper all of the cartoons with unusual facial expressions and make files of various things I felt I might need to use as inspiration.  Now of course with the internet, you have it all at your fingertips.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.