Its no secret that times have changed since I was a wee little lad, things have changed: music, video games, tv shows, so much has changed; and if we as Children's Pastors and leaders we must adapt and create a fun and relevant ministry for kids. It's important for us to know what music is popular, what video games are hot, and what style of clothing is in. I am not saying we have to or need to condone certain things, I am just saying we need to stay current and fresh and know what the 411 is (not sure I even used that correctly). So how do we stay relevant?
We need to stay on top of the latest music.
I generally pop into iTunes and look at the top albums and songs that have been downloaded because chances are some if not most of the kids in my church have heard or downloaded the song themselves. So look to give away christian CD's, ones that you know the kids will get into and love.
Stay on top of the latest TV shows.
A great way to know and get inside the life of a kid is watch the tv shows they watch, check them out, see what they are teaching kids. Who knows you might get a new teaching series idea! Kids enjoy when you talk about their favorite TV show with them. Stay current stay hip (don't say hip in front of kids, they will make fun of you). Remember they all are not watching only disney and nickolodian.
We need to make a conscious effort and stay on top of kid culture and know whats going on. If you don't know where to start, ask the kids, trust me they will tell you what they like to watch and listen to. Once you are current use it to your advantage create a fun and relevant ministry your kids cant wait to come to. Never waiver on making your ministry biblically sound but you must make it appealing.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Monday, February 2, 2015
Evaluating your Ministry to Kids
Each week we work hard and put in many hours to build and invest in the lives of Children. We have team members in our ministry who put the same passion and effort into seeing kids develop a relationship with Jesus. The question is How are we doing? How do we evaluate or better yet measure our ministry?
First of all lets look and realize that Christ commissioned the Church with one task, he gave the church one BIG task and that is it - "to make disciples". Making disciples is the MOST important thing a church can provide, the same is true about Children;s ministry that our one BIG task is to make disciples, if we are not doing that then its time to revamp. So how do we measure our ministry we we use the measuring tape Christ gave us of making disciples, if we fall short of that then I would say we did not measure very well (evaluating a ministry is not to make us feel bad or think we are not doing our job, but to simply show us areas we can improve and if you are like me then A LOT needs to improve).
Not sure how others evaluate but here are 3 categories if you will I use to determine as I feel are part of the discipleship process. I call it the Know, Love, Serve process.
1. KNOWLEDGE: (know) Do we see kids coming to KNOW Christ more and more. Are we seeing grow as they memorize scripture and learn to apply Gods Word to their life.
2. CHARACTER: (Love) Do we see the Character of the kids change? Becoming more Christ like? If our goal is to make disciples then we should desire to see kids display Christlike character in every area of life.
3. CONDUCT: (Serve) Do we spend the time showing kids the importance of service? Do we show them that even as kids we can can serve that we can demonstrate faithful conduct that honors God and helps people.
First of all lets look and realize that Christ commissioned the Church with one task, he gave the church one BIG task and that is it - "to make disciples". Making disciples is the MOST important thing a church can provide, the same is true about Children;s ministry that our one BIG task is to make disciples, if we are not doing that then its time to revamp. So how do we measure our ministry we we use the measuring tape Christ gave us of making disciples, if we fall short of that then I would say we did not measure very well (evaluating a ministry is not to make us feel bad or think we are not doing our job, but to simply show us areas we can improve and if you are like me then A LOT needs to improve).
Not sure how others evaluate but here are 3 categories if you will I use to determine as I feel are part of the discipleship process. I call it the Know, Love, Serve process.
1. KNOWLEDGE: (know) Do we see kids coming to KNOW Christ more and more. Are we seeing grow as they memorize scripture and learn to apply Gods Word to their life.
2. CHARACTER: (Love) Do we see the Character of the kids change? Becoming more Christ like? If our goal is to make disciples then we should desire to see kids display Christlike character in every area of life.
3. CONDUCT: (Serve) Do we spend the time showing kids the importance of service? Do we show them that even as kids we can can serve that we can demonstrate faithful conduct that honors God and helps people.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Kids bringing their bibles to church
One thing that I have notices and while talking to other local Kid Pastors is that less and less kids are bringing their bibles to church. But why? Do we make it easier for them not to by having the scripture of the screens or maybe not even using a bible ourselves? I think it is highly important for kids (and adults) to bring their bible to church. Here are a few ideas that might help if you seem to find your self in a similar situation.
1. Make a game out of the memory verse where they need their bible to compete!
We do something on Sunday called a bible dash, some might call it differently, but the idea is to have the kids use their bible. We throw a reference on the screen like John 3:16 and when you here the buzzer you begin first to find the verse gets to read and always gets a prize. This is just a fun simple solution to get kids to bring their bible, after all if we put an importance on bringing they will bring their bible.
2. Reward them!
You can also reward them for bringing their bible, maybe not all the time but every now and then (after all we shouldn't bring our bible just because we get a prize). We have a system set up in Kids Church to where kids can earn tickets that can be cashed in at the prize store. On any given Sunday I will reward those who brought their bibles with tickets. I usually make it 5 tickets per child, enough to make them excited. We have seen more kids bring their bible, most probably because they want tickets but I like to pretend otherwise :).
3. Put an importance on bringing your bible!
Lets make it a priority in bringing our bibles to church, I mean you wouldn't show up to class at school without your books (well some might). One way to show an importance is for them to see your bible as you teach. I always make it a point for the kids to see my bible during the teaching portion of Kids Church, but don't just show them, use it, read from it. They will imitate what they see. If we show them its a big deal they will make it a big deal!
1. Make a game out of the memory verse where they need their bible to compete!
We do something on Sunday called a bible dash, some might call it differently, but the idea is to have the kids use their bible. We throw a reference on the screen like John 3:16 and when you here the buzzer you begin first to find the verse gets to read and always gets a prize. This is just a fun simple solution to get kids to bring their bible, after all if we put an importance on bringing they will bring their bible.
2. Reward them!
You can also reward them for bringing their bible, maybe not all the time but every now and then (after all we shouldn't bring our bible just because we get a prize). We have a system set up in Kids Church to where kids can earn tickets that can be cashed in at the prize store. On any given Sunday I will reward those who brought their bibles with tickets. I usually make it 5 tickets per child, enough to make them excited. We have seen more kids bring their bible, most probably because they want tickets but I like to pretend otherwise :).
3. Put an importance on bringing your bible!
Lets make it a priority in bringing our bibles to church, I mean you wouldn't show up to class at school without your books (well some might). One way to show an importance is for them to see your bible as you teach. I always make it a point for the kids to see my bible during the teaching portion of Kids Church, but don't just show them, use it, read from it. They will imitate what they see. If we show them its a big deal they will make it a big deal!
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Keys to being an effective leader
I have learned the hard way over my short few years in Children's ministry that doing the job alone does not work like ever work. When I first got into ministry I did not realize what leadership is and was nor do I still get it :). I am someone who says I will do it myself because well nobody can do it the way i picture it. After all I am the Children's Pastor so no once could teach or do ministry the way I do. Well my friends it did not take me long at all to realize that I was really wrong with this way of thinking. I needed a team, I needed folks to come on board and use the tools and gifts that God have them. I needed to learn to delegate (still a big weakness for me at times). So here are a few keys if you will that I have learned over the past few years of what it takes to be an effective leader.
1. Look at what you need to be doing.
Its important to learn to delegate and pass responsibly down to others, and the first step is to know what you need to be doing. As important as delegating is there are just some things that we need to be doing, but we don't need to do everything! Which leads me in to the next key.
2. Look at what others can do and let them do it.
Again this is still a hard thing for me but I am learning to do more of this. How many times do I find myself doing the little details here and there while there is something more important I need to do, not saying little details are not important because they are. Some one once told me "if someone else can do it then let them do it". If there is something some else can do as well, let them take that and run with it. Figure out what you need to do and delegate the rest out.
3. Paint a clear picture on how you want it done.
People are not a mind reader, when we delegate we need to be clear what is needed to be done or how it might look. When we define what we want done I have found it usually gets done just as described.
4. Be Relational!
Someone once told me 'if your not building relationships then your not ministering". We should be intentional in building relationships with our leaders and workers. Building relationships is a big key in leadership. When they get to know you as not just the Kids Pastor but the person, it makes it easier to get behind the vision and direction of the ministry.
5. Encourage. Encourage. Encourage
We all know it can be easy to get burned out with in comes to the duties and work of the church, same goes with leaders and volunteers. They to can be burned out or loose focus, as Kid Pastors we should be their biggest fan. Encourage them, recognize publicly the great works they have been doing. Let em know how much you appreciate all they do. We should look to encourage and build up those who work and lead in our ministries.
Just a few leadership lessons I have learned through out he years and many more to come I am sure!! :)
1. Look at what you need to be doing.
Its important to learn to delegate and pass responsibly down to others, and the first step is to know what you need to be doing. As important as delegating is there are just some things that we need to be doing, but we don't need to do everything! Which leads me in to the next key.
2. Look at what others can do and let them do it.
Again this is still a hard thing for me but I am learning to do more of this. How many times do I find myself doing the little details here and there while there is something more important I need to do, not saying little details are not important because they are. Some one once told me "if someone else can do it then let them do it". If there is something some else can do as well, let them take that and run with it. Figure out what you need to do and delegate the rest out.
3. Paint a clear picture on how you want it done.
People are not a mind reader, when we delegate we need to be clear what is needed to be done or how it might look. When we define what we want done I have found it usually gets done just as described.
4. Be Relational!
Someone once told me 'if your not building relationships then your not ministering". We should be intentional in building relationships with our leaders and workers. Building relationships is a big key in leadership. When they get to know you as not just the Kids Pastor but the person, it makes it easier to get behind the vision and direction of the ministry.
5. Encourage. Encourage. Encourage
We all know it can be easy to get burned out with in comes to the duties and work of the church, same goes with leaders and volunteers. They to can be burned out or loose focus, as Kid Pastors we should be their biggest fan. Encourage them, recognize publicly the great works they have been doing. Let em know how much you appreciate all they do. We should look to encourage and build up those who work and lead in our ministries.
Just a few leadership lessons I have learned through out he years and many more to come I am sure!! :)
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Social Media... Get on Board
Whether you check your Facebook page five times a day or have never heard of Twitter, there's no denying it: we now live in a digital age. Social media and technology define not only the way we communicate but the way we live. In matter of fact many of the Kids in our ministry use social media, whether its facebook, twitter, instagram, snap chat, or any other of the many forms of social media. If we want to be more effective in ministry we can not ignore this trend of social media. Just think of how many of the parents that are on social media, whether you like social media or use it or don't we need to get on board and use this to our advantage. How often are we quick to pull out our phone and check our social media networks because we are board and well its there and easy. Here are a few ideas about how we can use social media to our advantage. 1. Create a page just for you ministry. Create a facebook, twitter, and instagram just for your ministry. Create an account that is all about the Children's ministry in your church. Then you can have parents like and follow these pages and you can use it to your advantage to get the word out! 2. We can advertise like crazy! Do you have a big or small event coming up, well create an event of facebook and send it to all the parents and boom quick advertisement. Got a flyer made for the event, post it on instagram or twitter and encourage folks to retweet it. 3. Post scripture, a devotion, or even what is going on in Kids Church. A great way to keep paretns informed of what their kids are learning about is to tweet it!!! Tweet our the verse for the week, or the bible lesson that is taught for the week, you can even tweet a link to a devotion or to your ministry webpage. 4. Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!....Instagram Of course with parent permission, post pictures. Post pictures of events from VBS, to camp, to messy games, to even the kids worshiping. Parents love to see pictures of what their kids are doing. Social media is not going to slow down anytime soon, so why not take advantage of it and use it to be more effective in ministry. |
Monday, August 11, 2014
Min-to-win it
I am not sure how many of you are familiar with the game show "Minute to Win It", is a game show that contestants will compete at to win money, the games well just like the title says they have one minute to compete the task or it could result in elimination. I love watching the game show, not just because it is entertaining but the games they play are just perfect for Children's Ministry. Almost every game we do in Kids Church is some form or adaptation of a game on Min to Win it.
Minute to Win it Games are usually pretty easy to set up and play. Min to Win games are a great resource for Kid Min and leaders. Check out some of the games right here!
Minute to Win it Games are usually pretty easy to set up and play. Min to Win games are a great resource for Kid Min and leaders. Check out some of the games right here!
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Take a look its in a book...Kid Ministry Books
As a Kids Pastor its important that we never stop growing and learning, to be a student of the ministry if you will. Its important to stay on top of new trends, fresh ideas, and to learn from others who have done this way longer than I have! We can do this by reading (i know what your thinking, Chad you can read!) books related to Children's Ministry. Here is a short list of books I believe that every Kids Pastor should have on his/her shelf.
1. Children's Ministry that works - by various authers
2. Children's Ministry leadership -by Jim Wideman
3. Making Children's Ministry the best hour of every kids week
4. I Blew it - By Brian Dollar
5. How to Lead a Child to Christ - By Daniel Smith
These are just a few books that I would recommend, although there are 100's of books out there that are just as good these are just some of my favorites.
You can find them all on Amazon for cheap :)
What books do you recommend?
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