Kids Spot

Social Media and Kidmin

2012-02-20T11:59:00.003-06:00

These days, kids are on social media all the time, even as young as preschool aged kids! We have kids in our children's ministry with their own iPads, laptops, and cell phones. And we have a responsibility to help kids learn to use media safely, and help them know proper boundaries about using social media.

Here are a few things we do to help kids and parents:

Teach kids internet safety and guidelines and personal boundaries for TV/Movies, Video games (I have a whole lesson series I lead on this, probably every year or every other year. If anyone wants to see my notes, email me and I can send you a copy)
No TECH Policy: To help make sure kids are paying attention and staying focused during church, we do not allow kids to use their cell phone or iPads during church. We do think it's cool that some of them have their Bibles on iPhones, but we also want to teach kids to look up Scripture verses in an actual Bible. The kind with pages. We have recently begun enforcing this policy, and it has been a great thing.
Twitter & Facebook for Parents and Volunteers: We do encourage parents and volunteers to interact with each other and our children's ministry leaders through social networking. We have an active children's ministry Twitter account and Facebook group. We keep parents and volunteers connected and informed through these, and other, forms of social media.
0 Interaction Adults + Kids Policy: Our policy about adults and kids interacting online or through cell phones = we do not allow it for any reason. Kids are not allowed to send private emails to their adult volunteer leaders, and adults are not allowed to have private text or phone conversations with kids from the children's ministry. We do not allow any adult volunteers to be Twitter or Facebook friends with any kids in the children's ministry. This may seem extreme, but these policies are in place to protect the children and adults involved in our ministry.

What are some other issues about social media and children's ministry that you are thinking about?

-Lynne

2012 Semester Kick-Off

2012-01-20T15:49:00.004-06:00

We have had a great kick-off to the 2012 Midweek Ministry semester! We have had record attendance, and we are so happy to welcome the new faces of children and volunteers joining us this semester!

Here are some pics...

Evaulation

2011-12-12T09:56:00.004-06:00

One key to success in ministry is constant evaluation. If you want to get better at something, you have to be asking the right questions, be honest about it, and be ready to make changes. If people don't evaluate, it can be so easy to become stagnant and stuck in a routine, and do it over and over, even if it is ineffective, just because you don't want to change.

One thing we do as a church is evaluate. After every big event, we talk about the event; what went well, what didn't go well, and how we could change it or make it better. We look at how the event carries out our mission and how it connects with our vision as a church. We ask if it accomplished its intended purpose. And we are not afraid of change, if it is needed.

Our children's ministry is looking at better ways of doing VBS to make it more effective. We are looking at our Wednesday night program, our Sunday School program, our Fall Outreach event, and our big Easter event, to see what can make them even better. Our leaders are not afraid to brainstorm and try something new.

Sometimes, a certain event needs to be ended, if it is not accomplishing the mission of the church. It can be painful to end something, but good leaders aren't afraid to do something just because it might be hard.

One good thing I like to do with my children's ministry leaders is ask them after a regular Sunday service, "What went great?" We want to celebrate our wins together. Then, we ask what didn't go well, and we talk about how we can make it better. Good leaders are always looking for ways to improve, even when something is going well! I always like to ask different people for their input, because I can get different views from parents, kids, and different groups of volunteers. It is very helpful to get people's feedback and ideas for how to make things better.

We have made several changes in our children's ministry in the last few years, but all of the changes were purposeful and strategic, to help carry out the mission God has given us to reach more people for Him!

-Lynne

What a Great Semester!

2011-12-06T13:08:00.002-06:00

We have had a great semester during Fall 2011! We are looking forward to more excitement and growth next semester (and NEXT YEAR, 2012)!

Here is a video that recaps some of our favorite memories from this past semester.

Thanks to all our wonderful volunteers and leaders.

I am constantly reminded that the true children's ministers are the volunteers. They are the ones investing in relationships with the kids and speaking truth into their lives, pour out God's love to them, praying with them, influencing them and pointing them to God. What a great opportunity we are given to do God's work in children's ministry!

Family Advent Ideas

2011-11-30T13:38:00.003-06:00

Here are some ideas to celebrate Advent together as a family...

Download the First Wesleyan Church Family Advent Devotions for 2011.

Every week (or every day), read the Scripture passage together as a family; study the memory verse; pray together, and discuss the discussion questions.

Make or buy an advent calendar. Click here to see a free one. Here are some great ideas to make your own. More ideas to make advent calendars.

Have a "Happy Birthday, Jesus" party. Make a cake, or cupcakes, together as a family, and sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus.

Make or buy a nativity scene and set it up as a central focus in your home.

Sing a different hymn/worship song every night as a family. Click here for some ideas.

Do a family service project together. Here are some ideas: make Christmas cookies for neighbors or service workers (policemen, firemen, etc) and deliver them together; make Christmas cards for people in hospital or nursing home and deliver them; serve together in your church nursery on Christmas day; buy Christmas presents for families in need (Salvation Army angel tree, Toys for Tots, etc); volunteer to ring the bell for the Salvation Army, etc.

Give gifts that help people. Go to the World Vision or Compassion. You can give monetary donations to buy items to help people in other countries. For example: $25 buys two chickens; $75 buys a goat, etc.

Following the tradition of the gifts of the magi (Frankincense, gold, and myrrh), only give your children 3 gifts for Christmas this year (limiting gifts also helps take the focus off of the gifts, and helps them keep focus on Christ).

Make or buy an advent wreath (need 3 purple candles, one pink candle, and one white candle). Light one candle every Sunday leading up to Christmas, and one on Christmas day.

Watch the movie The Nativity Story together.

What else does your family do to celebrate Advent?

Interview with a Homeschooling Mom

2011-11-17T13:05:00.002-06:00

We have several families in our church who have chosen to homeschool. Homeschooling is not for everyone, but it can be a great choice, for several reasons! Whether or not a family decides to homeschool their children, it is important to remember that for all children, the home is their number one place of learning where their values with be formed, their faith will take root and grow, and their foundation will be built that will last them the rest of their lives. Parents are always the most important teachers in kids' lives.

Here is part of an interview with two homeschooling moms from our church; #1 and #2.

Why did you choose to home school your children?

#1 I read an article once that sort of makes clear what we thought, but didn't quite know how to put into words. The goal of parents is for our children to be mature, responsible, kind…When the children are at home, the people they see most are the parents who are modeling good traits.

#2 We started homeschooling because the school options in our area … weren't great. We have kept homeschooling for many reasons! We love the flexibility it provides us with our schedule.

What are a few of the rewarding parts of homeschooling?

#1 It is very rewarding to see your child succeed at lessons you have taught, as well as knowing our time is our own. We can choose hours, days, months, etc.... that enable us to do other things we love.

It's our schedule. I also have help with chores and younger kids during the day, so we are able to do more sports and extra curricular things than we would if I had to handle all housework by myself.

#2 Being able to cater what & how our kids are learning is great, too. Helping the kids overcome educational challenges is very rewarding!

What are the most challenging parts of homeschooling?

#1 It is tough to ALWAYS have the kids at home. The house is never empty or quiet. I sort of dream of having it to myself every once in a while. It is a big responsibility to hold your child's education in your hands, on top of their spiritual, physical, emotional, financial, etc.... The biggest issue I face is exhaustion. I hear so much about social concerns, but we've never had an issue. The kids have enough friends through church, sports, and other homeschoolers that our bigger concern is holding social obligations in check.

#2 One of the most challenging parts of homeschooling is making choices. There are so many great curriculum and extracurricular options out there, it's easy to become overwhelmed.

Setting boundaries and saying 'no' to some great opportunities is necessary to keep our schedule & sanity in check.

What is something you have learned since you have started homeschooling?

#1 I've learned that it's not as scary as I thought it was when I started out. There are enough resources to get us through subjects we are not comfortable with….God has a plan for each child, and they are all unique. They learn differently, and have different strengths. And that's OK.

#2 It's so hard to do sometimes! One thing I've learned since homeschooling is that homeschoolers come in all forms. Some are very structured, others are flexible. Some are worksheet workers, others do hands-on building projects. The point? Stop comparing! The Lord gave me unique kids and He'll help lead the way when it comes to their education. Boy, am I thankful for that!

What questions do you have about homeschooling? Have you thought about homeschooling your children?

Recent Pics from the Kids Spot

2011-11-10T10:51:00.006-06:00

We had a great time at Family Fun Night! Kids got to dress up, get their faces painted, get free food and prizes, dance to live music from a band, and see a magic show!

The kids had fun at Family Fun Night

Getting balloon animals at Family Fun Night

Enjoying Pajama Night at church!

Pajama Night in the nursery!

Cathy Dockery, Midweek Director, leading the kids on stage.

This is our Green Team (1st/2nd Graders) with their leaders, Holly and Tiffany!

Our great Preteen Ministry leaders, putting together a yummy treat for the kids!

They made these cute Pintrist-inspired snacks for the kids!

Playing fun games in the gym

Pastor Scott, trying to make his daughter crack a smile. She was a tough cookie!

Pastor Scott trying to make his wife smile...didn't work on her either! They were good!

Mrs. Mitzi, one of the sweetest, kindest, ladies who helps in the nursery! She loves the babies, and we love her!

Lots of fun on Pajama Night a few weeks ago! The kids had a BLAST.

Just hanging out....at church...in our PAJAMAS!

Enjoying Pajama Night!

Playing fun games on Pajama Night!

Brushing our friends' teeth

When Kids Pray...

2011-11-01T14:21:00.003-05:00

I love listening to kids' prayers. It is a window into their heart, and a chance to see what is important to them and how they relate to God. Kids really do have a childlike, sincere and expectant faith. We encourage kids to pray as a way to connect with God, not just rattle off a list of things we want Him to do for us.

We want to teach kids that prayer is not just something we do before a meal or before bed, but it is just us talking with God, and listening to God. We want to teach kids that it is something we can do any time in the day. Next time you are around kids, and one of them shares a problem or a worry, ask the child if you can stop right then and pray together. The more kids pray with faith, the more they will see God at work in their lives and answering their prayers.

We teach kids that when they pray, it is a time to talk and listen to their closest friend, our Lord. Let's model this kind of prayer relationship, and encourage kids to have a close relationship with God.

The Little Things

2011-10-13T13:10:00.002-05:00

One of our nursery leaders tells me that on Wednesday nights, which are fairly late nights for kids (we get out at 8PM), she asks the parents to bring pajamas with them to church. The nursery leader then makes sure all the babies are changed into a clean diaper and then changes them all into their pajamas and gets them all ready for bed, so that they can fall asleep on the way home, and their parents can put them right into bed. The nursery leader doesn't HAVE to do that, it is not one of our policies. That is going the extra mile to help parents and serve families.

It's not something that is really huge or will even make that big of a difference, but sometimes the little things make a big difference because they show compassion and kindness.

What are some other things a church can do to go the extra mile to help parents and serve families?

-Lynne

God's Agenda

2011-10-05T15:48:00.002-05:00

Last week, I stopped one of our children's ministry leaders in the hall to let her know that her lesson she was teaching her Sunday School class was great. She told me that she had worked all week on her lesson, and she has worked so hard to make it perfect...and then, God interfered! She told me that God changed her lesson at the last minute, and after all that work she had done, she realized that was HER agenda, and that God's agenda for what He wanted her to speak to the kids about what different. She was obedient, and the lesson she taught was straight from God, to penetrate the hearts of the kids that morning. God knew ahead of time what kids would be in the class that morning, and what they would need to hear from Him. God was preparing their hearts AND the heart of the leader who taught, to seek Him above all else, even in preparation for teaching in children's ministry.

How often do we go into ministry situations with OUR agenda in mind? Our own ideas of what we are going to teach, and what the kids are going to get out of it? I know I am guilty of this! I write detailed lesson plans and curriculum, and I sum it all up with one sentence of a take-away that the kids will get from it, and the objectives for how this will apply to and change their lives... well this conversation with this leader was just one more reminder for me that we need to always be open to God's agenda for what He wants to do in and through our ministry.

Sometimes, God will change the lesson plan at the last minute. Sometimes, kids will walk away with an "ah-ha!" moment in their relationship with God that I didn't even plan or pray for. Sometimes, their lives will be changed or they will be inspired by something God says or does in ways I don't even know! Let's be obedient to the Lord and His agenda for the children's ministry, and not be too tied to our own.

-Lynne

Fall Family Fun Night

2011-09-28T12:30:00.001-05:00

Coming up soon...

Family Fun Night

Oct. 29, 2011

5PM- 6:30PM

It's going to be great! Click here for more info.

Volunteer Spotlight: Jaime

2011-09-26T11:45:00.000-05:00

This week, we want to introduce you to one of our amazing volunteers, Jaime. Jaime is a college student, and she has been serving in the children's ministry for several years, since she was a student in the youth group!

She is a 3rd/4th grade small group leader for our Midweek Ministry, and she is always willing to serve wherever we need her-- sometimes in the preschool room, as a Sunday School teacher, working with the pre-teens with music, drama, and more.

Jaime is an inspirational person, because she has a heart eager to serve others in any way she can. She always has a smile on her face, and her smile lights up the room, radiant with the love of Christ.

She goes above and beyond to make all the kids in her group feel so special! They know that she truly cares about them, and that God cares about them. Recently, made a card for some kids in her group, and sent it to them in the mail! How special they must have felt getting an encouraging card from their group leader in the mail!

A parent told me last week that Miss Jaime came to her daughter's school and had lunch with her, and that the little girl felt so special, and couldn't stop talking about it! Jaime is a wonderful servant of God, and our children's ministry is so blessed to have her on the team!

There are no "bad kids"

2011-09-12T13:10:00.000-05:00

One thing we want to instill in all the kids in our children's ministry is that they are all precious and special to God. That was part of our lesson last Wednesday night, and I want to repeat it, because it CANNOT BE REINFORCED TOO MUCH. Kids can never hear too much that they are valuable. Some of them might not believe it, because the actions of others have told them the opposite. Some kids have been told that they were an "accident" or "mistake" or that they are bad kids, or troublemakers, or that they are not smart, or too hyper.

Kids these days are constantly being criticized, corrected, punished, bribed, bullied, or pushed down. Our job is not to point out their mistakes, but to lift them up and give them grace. We want to remind them that they are loved. They are the apple of God's eye. They are HIS special children, who belong to Him. They are heirs to His kingdom, and important vessels to carry His message. They were fearfully and wonderfully made. They are part of the Body of Christ. They are unique and they are all beautiful.

Even the "troublemakers" or the kids who come in with entirely too much energy and not enough focus! The kids who can't seem to listen, or act out to try and get attention. There are no bad kids.

We want to wrap the kids in loving arms and show them that not only do their leaders love and value them, but that God loves them.

We don't want to gloss over the fact that all humans are born sinners, who need God's grace and forgiveness, but we want kids to first of all know that God loves them enough to GIVE them forgiveness and an opportunity to have a relationship with them. If they don't grasp that, then grace and forgiveness won't even make sense.

My prayer this week is that every child would get a small sense of how much God loves them, and we adults would take advantage of every opportunity to love kids and show them God's love and grace.

-Lynne

First Night of Midweek

2011-09-06T10:36:00.000-05:00

Our first night of Midweek Ministry was great! We had a ton of kids and leaders, and since it was Spirit Night, everyone dressed up in their favorite team's colors! We talked about being on God's team, because His team always wins! Here are some pics.

Our Midweek leader, Cathy, doing a great job leading the kids.

Playing fun games, like "Eat Grapes, Wearing a Foam Finger"

Our preteens had a blast at Club 56, and got free pizza!

Some of the kids really got into spirit night! It was so fun.

Two of our great leaders.

Even the babies had a fun time at church. We love our babies.

The preschoolers, hearing a lesson about the Israelites crossing the red sea.

The preschoolers like Mr. David. We have great leaders.

The purple team showing us their team cheer.

I think this was the orange team doing their cheer.

And the Kindergarten team, who had a great cheer and two great leaders.

The green team, getting pumped up!

The blue team, working on their team cheer...and enjoying the pom poms.

Get in the game! Get on God's team!

What a great night. So thankful for everyone who made it happen. We are looking forward to an awesome semester.

-Lynne

These volunteers get it...

2011-08-29T11:47:00.000-05:00

I love it when I hear our volunteers say these words, "Is it ok if I move up to the next grade level this year-- I just loved my small group so much!!" My answer? YES, it is more than ok...it is great! I know that these volunteers get it. They know that the best ministry happens when volunteers are investing in real relationships with the kids. The time I don't like hearing that statement....when our kids move to youth group. =)

I am so looking forward to this semester! We have the greatest volunteers ever, and I LOVE seeing them love the kids. This is what children's ministry is about. At our volunteer meeting last week, I gave all our volunteers a notebook to bring with them every week to write down kids' prayer requests and anything they wanted to remember to ask the kids about or pray for them about, to help build these relationships.

-Lynne

PS: I'm not knocking the volunteers who love one particular age group. We've got some amazing volunteers who never get tired of babies or preschoolers. Those people are blessings. Thank God for making people who love and are committed to these age groups.

Father Daughter Date Night

2011-08-23T17:11:00.000-05:00

We had a great time at our Father Daughter Date night! It was such a sweet time for daddies and their little girls to enjoy each other. I pray that God will continue to equip the dads as the spiritual leaders in their homes, to raise daughters who know that not only their earthly father loves them and values them; but that their Heavenly Father loves and values them.

HERE ARE SOME PICS

We had a cupcake decorating contest! Jason might have thought it was a cupcake EATING contest. Haha. Trying to teach his daughter how to eat a cupcake in one bite...

She was not impressed...

Cupcake eating...

Beautiful girls; beautiful cupcakes.

These two pretty sisters shared sweet stories about their wonderful father.

We also heard the testimony from an awesome dad, who says of his step-daughter... "In our family, we don't have the word 'step.' She is not my 'step-daughter.' She is my daughter." It was a powerful testimony of a father's love.

We also heard a testimony from a 15 year old and her father, who shared how God worked in miraculous ways in their family, and how He drew them closer to each other and to Him. Very neat to hear!

We had a great turnout!

This was our youngest daughter; first date with daddy at 11 months old! So cute.

We had a fun game to see how well our fathers and daughters knew each other!

Sweet moment.

Fathers enjoyed talking and laughing with their daughters.

Team Spirit!

How fathers shape their daughters’ hearts (3 Ways)

· 1. Fathers teach them what kind of women they will become. Girls want to be treasured; they need to feel valued by the most important man in their lives)

· 2. Fathers teach them how males should treat them

· 3. Fathers teach them what God is like and how He loves them (discipline is important; love, grace, unconditional acceptance is vital…forgive often)

Things for Fathers to Remember...

1. Don’t Rush; Enjoy each stage

Each age goes by quickly; don’t be too eager to move on to the next one… enjoy each one!

2. Be present in the moment

Actually LISTEN to them when they talk; enjoy playing with them, on THEIR level; look for opportunities to make memories with them. Girls bond through talking; so take the time to really listen to them and GET TO KNOW THEM.

3. Be intentional as a spiritual leader

Fathers are given a special role by God as spiritual leaders in their homes; initiate faith conversations; pray for and with your daughters; look for teaching moments in everyday life; don’t leave spiritual development of your kids to their mom alone, or to the church! As the leader, you set the tone for your household.)

4. Your actions speak louder than words

You will teach them more by how you live than what you say; make sure you live out your faith; let them see you pray; let them see you ask for forgiveness

*Most dads feel inadequate at the job of raising God-fearing daughters, but our biggest job is to point them to their HEAVENLY FATHER, so He can shape them and mold them.

One more thing....we gave all the fathers some blank notecards so they could take them home and write letters of encouragement and blessing to their daughters. Dads can never encourage their daughters TOO much! They need it to hear they are special and beautiful, and they need to hear it from their fathers! We also gave the daughters blank notecards to write their dads a card telling them how much they appreciate them.

Our speaker, Tony Ledbetter, did a great job inspiring and encouraging dads in their journey of raising daughters!! He has raised two wonderful, beautiful daughters who are now godly women.

Dads, I hope this is just the beginning. Don't stop taking your daughter out on dates. Take her out for some special time, and really listen to her. Cherish her and pour encouragement onto her. Check out this great book, called "Daddy Dates" by Greg Wright, who writes about his experiences raising and dating his four daughters. A very sweet and encouraging book.

August Memory Verses

2011-08-08T16:00:00.000-05:00

In a few weeks, we will have a MEMORY VERSE CHALLENGE, to see how many verses our kids can memorize! We have been adding verses month by month, and our goal is not just for kids to regurgitate verses, but to internalize them and keep them in their hearts.

Our memory verses for the month of August are...

Mark 10:14

When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Preschool Version

Mark 10:14

“Let the little children come to Jesus, for God’s kingdom belongs to them.”

Jeremiah 29:11

“I know the plans I have for you,’ says God.”

Club 56 Purity Retreat

2011-08-03T10:56:00.001-05:00

Kids are exposed to the world's view of how they should live at such a young age, and their minds and hearts are constantly in a battle, and we will not sit by idly-- we will fight for them and with them for purity! This is what our purity retreat was about; teaching them to live God's way, even though that is against what culture is telling them is best.

We had a great time with a great group of preteens! We rented out a camp for the weekend, and took a group of 5th/6th graders and their parents on our first annual purity retreat. Here are some pics of it...

S'mores.

Enjoying the bonfire and s'mores.

Our group at the Club 56 Purity Retreat (minus a few kids, who had already left)

We had a special "Girl Time" with two great women, Tiffany and Rebecca, leading and teaching the girls about real beauty and teaching them about makeup. It was so fun!

Kendra, an awesome college student, shared a testimony with the kids, and helped out at the retreat. What a great example she is for the kids.

The kids and their parents made play-dough sculptures that described them....

What a cool sculpture...too bad they all got smashed....!

Working ont he play-dough sculptures...

We were so thankful to have many parents join us for this event.

Lynne shared a lesson on God's plan for our purity.... "Fearfully and wonderfully made, and set apart for God's purposes."

Eating yummy ice cream sundaes.

Cathy was great!

Mr. Mikey and Mrs. Brenda, two wonderful parents and leaders in our preteen ministry.

Parker and his parents enjoying the ice cream sundaes.

(Left) Mrs. Lynn, leader of our preteen ministry; and Pam and Rill, our great food directors at the retreat!!

Beautiful girls.

YES, lots of sugar and ice cream!

Played a fun game of sand volleyball.

Playing and learning.

Teambuilding activities. The kids' challenge was to get an egg to fall from 5 feet, and not break! The boys, unfortunately, lost the challenge (they broke 2 of their 3 eggs, while fighting over them! Boys!)

The girls DID WIN the challenge! They were so creative with how they kept the egg from breaking. We learned about how fragile our hearts and our purity is...

Boys working together on the team building activity. Two kids were "blind" and one was "mute" and one couldn't use hands.

We had a great time at our first annual purity retreat. The main goal was to start the conversation, because we know that purity is not a one-time lesson, but an on-going conversation that is constantly being reinforced. We talked about so many things, and it was awesome to have the kids open up and share their hearts. We had many of our kids make a commitment to purity, sign a Purity Pledge, and order purity rings, which their parents will give them.

We were so thankful to have parents be a part of this retreat, because our goal is to partner with parents to help them keep reinforcing the purity message with their kids. Parental communication and involvement is key in their kids' purity.

We taught the kids that they are all fearfully and wonderfully made, and that as children of God, He has a purpose and plan for them, that includes them being set apart, holy and pure for Him. Once kids can truly grasp the fact that their identity comes from God, and not from the world, they will be chasing after Him, and not after worldly pleasures. This is a lesson we will continually be teaching the kids, and we praise God for the ways He worked in their hearts during this retreat! We strengthened relationships between kids and God, kids and parents, kids and their peers, and with our leaders!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: PRESCHOOL TEACHERS

2011-07-27T10:04:00.000-05:00

Some people say that preschool volunteers are the most difficult to recruit, but don't tell THESE people that, because they LOVE preschoolers! I am SO THANKFUL for all our awesome preschool leaders, but today I want to highlight our July Preschool ministry leaders and tell you a little more about them and why I'm thankful for them.

This is Margaret (above, left). She is an awesome grandma, who fiercely loves her grandbabies. She loves all children, and goes above and beyond in anything she does. She is the kind of person that when she has the opportunity to serve; she will give 110%. She and her co-teacher, Leah, are the only volunteers I have who ask for the curriculum sometimes over a month in advance, just so they can read through all the lessons and be completely prepared! They work ahead more than most full time children's pastors! They impress me with their diligence and dedication to serving and doing it with excellence.

Leah is also a preschool teacher (above, right), but she also volunteers for our Midweek program, and she and her husband are regulars on our security team. They are up for anything, and always willing to jump in last minute if we need help somewhere. Leah is so good with the children, and she impresses me with her willingness to come up with great ideas to make the Bible stories come alive for the kids! She works on her lessons at home throughout the week and makes samples of all the crafts, and does a great job helping the kids feel welcomed and loved.

The Davis family (not pictured...yet!) is leading our preschool room during the church hour, and they are so fun! I am thrilled to have Ken as a teacher, because he is one of our only lead teachers who is male, and that is so good for the kids! Preschool kids sometimes listen to men better than women (not sure why?), but he is so fun. Every time I look in the room, Ken is laughing with the children, and he always looks like he's having fun! That makes church fun for the kids. His wife, Lenita, and his daughters, are awesome too!

Our children's ministry is so blessed to have some of the best volunteers ever. I just wanted to take a moment to brag on this month's wonderful preschool ministers, and let them know that they are appreciated. Thank God for people to care for and love on children, just as Jesus does, and commands us to do also.

-Lynne

Why is Family Worship Important?

2011-07-26T16:48:00.000-05:00

As a children's pastor, I strongly affirm the benefits of kid-friendly worship services, for many reasons! I believe it is valuable and vital to teach kids the Gospel and Gospel truths at THEIR level, investing in them in age-appropriate ways.

However, I also believe in the importance of family worship. Every once in a while.

At our church, we do "Family Worship" (all kids in big church with their parents) a few times a year. I do think there are benefits to having family worship. Here is a list of reasons family worship is important.

1. Kids get to feel a part of the Church body.

They get to see a bigger picture of the church they are a part of; they get to connect with people of all ages.

2. It keeps families together.

It gives them something they can all talk about together after church. Kids didn't understand a part of the sermon? Talk with Mom and Dad about it on the way home. So many times, families split up as soon as they walk into the church doors, and they don't get to experience anything together.

3. Kids get to worship with their parents.

This is so important! This will help shape kids' faith so much, to see their parents worship, to pray together as a family, to learn by their example. Sunday School teachers will never have the influence on their kids' faith that Mom and Dad do, and that is the way it should be! Worshipping as a family can be a powerful experience.

4. It lets the congregation see the kids.

I think sometimes, congregations need a reminder that, "Oh, yeah, we DO have kids at our church." Especially since at our church, the children's ministry area is practically in another zip code. It's good for the elderly people to see how adorable our children are, and for the congregation to get a taste of them! Yes, I realize sometimes they can be noisy, but should that really bother us? If our hearts are pointed in the right direction, a little noise from God's precious children will not be a problem.

5. It teaches kids how to sit through a church service.

Big church is like children's church, except, without the games, science experiments, competitions, funny video clips, discussion time, crafts....ok, Big church is not really just like children's church. And I believe it is good for kids to learn how to sit through a church service. Why? Because they physically CAN sit through it (despite what parents might think; I've actually had a parent tell me that their child CANNOT physically sit through the whole church service...Yes, they can.) and because one day when kids "graduate" out of the children's ministry, they will be in big church every Sunday. It's good to give them an idea of what to expect.

6. It teaches kids reverence and respect.

They may not get everything out of the sermon that adults get out of it, but they learn other things in big church. They learn from the other adults in the service.

7. It gives our volunteers a break (AND the CHILDREN'S PASTOR)

It's nice to take a break (I don't take off very much on Sundays) and I love getting to be a part of "big church" and worship in person with my church family.

After all that, would I do Family Worship every Sunday?

Not a chance. I see its importance every now and then, but I also strongly believe in the importance of helping kids grow in their faith AT THEIR LEVEL. Everything we do in kids' church is geared just for kids, to help them worship, learn, and grow in relationship with God and others. We do a lot of the same things they do in big church, just in age-appropriate ways. I LOVE getting to worship with kids, and am so thankful for the opportunity to help them connect with God. Also, thankful I get to worship with my church family this Sunday, because we're having a FAMILY WORSHIP Sunday!

-Lynne

MISSION MINDED: Caring for Orphans

2011-07-20T12:49:00.000-05:00

God says we are to "care for the orphans and the widows," (James 1:27), and that is not just a suggestion; it is a commandment! How are you caring for orphans? This is an opportunity to teach children about what it means to care for others, to pray for people they don't know who are hurting and in need of God's love, to help them see what it means to give cheerfully and sacrificially.

Manto Coahuilia Children's Home in Acuna, Mexico, is a wonderful, Christ-centered home for orphaned, abused, and abandoned children. Children are loved and cared for a family-style home, where they eat together, play together, work and learn together, and hear how much God loves them. Right now, they have more than 14 children (from infants-teens) in the home.

How can you help and partner in this awesome ministry?
They need our prayers! Please pray for the children and ministers, for God's strength and blessings. This is a great thing to do with your children, to teach them the power and importance of prayer! It is also great for kids to see names and faces to put with their prayers. To see the children and leaders of this home, click here.

Another way you can help is by donating financially. Our children's ministry raised $250 last semester to purchase a trampoline for this children's home. We received word that the kids were overjoyed to get this trampoline, and that they jumped and jumped! Their leaders said that not only is it great entertainment for the children, but that it is great exercise and it wears them out! They send big THANK YOU to the children of First Wesleyan Church! We also sent some outdoor play toys! Right now, the home has some major needs for additions in order to keep it running, and they need financial support. Giving money is a great lesson for kids. Will you donate, either as a monthly partner, or as a gift donation?

To go to the website to donate, click here.

Can you commit to helping partner in this ministry? We have set up a web site where our church people can donate online through their credit cards (it is a secure website), OR you can help your kids save their money and bring it to church on Sundays (this is a GREAT thing for kids to do!) and we will collect money in the offering every Sunday to donate.

Our kids need to know what it means to serve the least, the last and the lost, and this is one tangible way for us to teach them and model this to them. Thank you for your support!!

Teaching Kids Selflessness

2011-07-20T11:13:00.000-05:00

Being ego-centric and self-centered might sound very bad to us adults, but to kids, it is very natural. Kids are born with a natural self-centeredness that makes it very difficult for them to be empathetic and think of others' feelings.

For example: once in Sunday School a while back, I asked a child to share the worst thing that happened to him/her over the weekend (I knew that the child's close family member had been diagnosed with a serious disease, and the child knew about it), and the child said the worst thing that happened that weekend was a lost toy. It's not that the child did not care about the family member's horrible health problems; kids have a hard time thinking of others' feelings and pain before their own (and this is normal!). Another example is a child taking a toy from another child, not trying to be mean, but just not able to think about anything other than, "I want that toy now." Yes, sometimes children do this in a mean-spirited way, but many times, it is just difficult for them to put themselves in another child's shoes and think about how it would feel to have a toy grabbed from your hands.

Kids are not easily able to think of others. How can we help kids with this?

1. We can model empathy.

As adults, we can show kids how to help others, pray for others, encourage others. Have your kids ever seen you stop to pray with someone? Do your kids see you empathizing with others? They will learn best by your example. We adults can always be looking for opportunities to serve others and think of the feelings of others, and this will go a long way in helping kids learn empathy and selflessness! Also- they can sense the motive, so we should serve others with cheerfulness, not complaining!

2. We can help them recognize others' feelings.

When a child takes a toy from another child, instead of just taking it back and saying, "That was mean," we can stop and ask the child, "How would you feel if someone took a toy out of your hands?" Look for opportunities often to ask kids, "How do you think that person feels?" or "How would that make you feel?" to help them think about others.

3. We can help them practice serving and encouraging others.

Some kids are much more natural at this than others, but all kids can develop the habit of serving and encouraging others! Give them lots of praise when they do something kind for someone else and tell them that it was kind. Help them develop verbal skills to express feelings and emotions by using words to describe feelings, such as, "You made that person so happy when you did that nice thing!" Kids can draw pictures or make cards for others, they can say nice things to others, give people hugs, share a toy. These are all things that will help kids develop selflessness and empathy, the ability to feel for others and think of their feelings.

Teaching kids to be servant-hearted and selfless is not a one-time lesson, it is an on-going life lesson that can be taught in everyday teachable moments. Remember also that just because kids might seem ego-centric, it doesn't mean they are bad or mean-- it is very normal for kids! They need our help to think of others, and the best teachers are parents!

-Lynne

QUESTION: What do you do to teach kids about being selfless and servant-hearted?

28 Family Fun Activities this Summer

2011-06-30T09:48:00.000-05:00

During summer, kids have lots of energy, and it's a great time to make fun family memories! Take a day each week and have family fun day, taking your kids on an adventure! Lots of times, if you can keep it a surprise, kids will LOVE the excitement of adventure in not knowing where they are going. Here are some ideas... add your own too!

Here are 28 ideas for family fun in and around Tuscaloosa, AL. Some of them are free!

1. Zoo (click on the link for info on the Birmingham Zoo click HERE )

2. Alabama Adventure (water park and amusement park! CLICK HERE )

3. Free Summer Movies at the Cobb theater -- Every Tuesday, Wed., and Thursday morning. Click HERE for the summer movie schedule)

4. CHOM!!! Children's Hands On Museum (right here in Tuscaloosa). I have heard so many good things about this place! They have fun activities for kids and special, fun things going on every day! Click here for their upcoming event calendar and click here for their website.

5. Free Building workshops at Lowes and Home Depot. This is cool- your kids can learn how to build and they get to make their own cool things! Lowes has a workshop every other Saturday at 10AM; and Home Depot is the first Saturday of the month at 9AM

6. Go to the Farmers' Market! Every Saturday from 6AM-NOON and Tuesday mornings too. Also, there is another farmers' market near campus on Thursdays. Click here for more info

7. Lake day! Go to Lake Tuscaloosa for boating and swimming, or Lake Lurleen for a cookout or walk around the beach (they also have boating and swimming on a mini-beach)

8. Family Movie night! Go rent a movie (or show an old classic, like SandLot) and cuddle up on the couch together; make your own pizzas or tacos, and make rootbeer floats.

9. Library Trip! Our public library offers lots of activities and weekly story times for kids of all ages. Click here to get the schedule and more info

10. Go rollerblading in the park! Strap on your rollerblades or skateboards, or bikes, and go to the park (The Park at Manderson Landing is great)

11. Get crafty! PARA offers painting classes. click here for more info. Also, I (Lynne) have a friend who is an artist who teaches personal art classes to kids (let me know if you're interested, and I'll put you in touch with her)

12. FREE Movie at the Hughes Center (near Shelton); free movies on Monday mornings at 10AM

13. McWane Center children's museum in Birmingham - I've heard lots of good things about this museum; kids will love it! Click HERE for more info.

14. Visit the Tuscaloosa Barnyard ($10 per person!) and enjoy petting lots of cool animals Click HERE

15. Visit the Northport Train Depot (25th Ave. in Northport) and let kids look at model trains and climb in a real train! Every Saturday morning from 9AM-NOON. Click HERE

16. Get Free Food at Chick-Fil-A; we have three of them here in town, and they all have different activities and free food events for kids! Here is the website for the Midtown (drive-thru) one and the Northport Chick-Fil-A has KIDS NIGHT every Tuesday night from 5-7PM, where they have crafts and a visit from the cow! Cool Here's their site

17. Pool party and cookout! Get together with friends and family and bring out the grills and have a fun time in the pool! If you don't know anyone who has a pool, there are a number of pools you can get access to: Bowers Park; McAbee Center; University Pool, etc.

18. Have a picnic or a bonfire! Get outside and eat in a park; or make a bonfire and roast s'mores!

19. Take your kids to Sharktooth Creek, where they can wade in a river and hunt for shark teeth! (they can also go fishing, camping, and canoeing...but this one is a bit pricy)

20. Go on a family scavenger hunt, or a picture scavenger hunt. Write a list of things to find and take a picture of (a statue; a yellow car; a pink flower bush; a motorcycle; etc), and walk or drive around town trying to find those things. To make it more exciting, compete against another team and have a race to see which team can complete the list first!

21. Go to the park, get some friends together, and play a family game of touch football, or frisbee golf, or kickball...or make up your own game to play.

22. Play in the hose, or the sprinkler, or have a squirt gun fight outside! Or make your own slip'n'slide using plastic, dish soap, and a hose (and a hill, if you have one).

23. Tuscaloosa Tumblebus! This is a cool little gum on wheels! Check it out here

24. Free Bowling for kids at Bama Lanes all summer! Click here to learn more.

25. PICK Your Own blueberries, or visit other farms where you can buy or pick fresh veggies and fruit. Click here for info about local farms.

26. SERVE Together. Get together and do something nice for someone else. Find someone in the church (a single mom, a widow, an elderly couple, new parents) and bring them dinner, or do yard work for them, or ask what you can do for them. Visit a nursing home with your kids. Find ways to bless others together! SERVE in your church nursery or preschool room, as it is always more difficult to get enough volunteers in the summer time, because many volunteers are on vacation!! For more information about serving, contact Lynne Payne. Serving together is a great activity for families to do together, and it teaches the children about serving God and being selfless!

27. Prayer walk and nature walk! Go to the trails at Sokol park (or any other park) and ask you walk, thank God for His beautiful creation, and pray for whatever is on your heart. Look for as many different plants as you can find. Bring a plant guide and try to name them all. Look for different animals.

28. Come to SUMMER SPLASH, at Kentuck Park, on Saturday, July 9, a fun FREE event for kids and families! We will have free drinks and snow cones for everyone, inflatables and water slides, prizes, music, and more! For more info, click here.

29. One last thing: Plan your out-of-town vacations around Sundays, so you don't miss the great stuff happening at First Wesleyan Church on Sunday mornings!

The important thing is taking time to make memories and enjoy your kids!

-Lynne

What else are you doing that's fun this summer?

Interested in serving?

2011-06-27T15:53:00.001-05:00

Serving in the children's ministry is the coolest, most fun place to serve! Our volunteers are a vital part of the ministry that happens here-- they are the hands and feet of Jesus! We also have fun together as we serve on teams. Join our team!

Here's how we make it easy:

1. First Step: Write on your Connection Card, email the children's pastor (lynne.payne@firstwesleyan.com), call the church, or FaceBook us.

2. We will send you an information binder with all our children's ministry policies, expectations for leaders, and information about serving in the children's ministry. Just read it. Then you can keep it, or turn it back in.

3. Meet with the children's pastor. All volunteers need to have a one-on-one meeting with the children's pastor, but don't worry- it's informal and fun! I'll take you to lunch, coffee, or whatever is most convenient for you.

4. Fill out an application. Turn in the application we send you. You will fill out a form for a background check (a requirement for all our children's ministry volunteers). Also, if you don't know your Spiritual Gifts, I will give you a Spiritual Gifts evaluation to fill out (this is for yourself; you don't have to turn it in; but we do want to know your Spiritual Gifts, so we can help you use them as you serve!)

5. Find the right fit. Throughout this process, we will work together to find the best fit for you to serve in our ministry. You are never tied down to one job for life; if you want to try one job and it doesn't fit; you can try a different job! You can try out some jobs with no strings attached and just observe for a while.

6. Training. We do have an annual required training period in the fall (two Wednesday nights in August) for all our volunteers, but we know that the best way to do training is hands-on. All our new volunteers are paired with experienced volunteers to learn.

During all of this; we are always evaluating and trying to make sure everything is going smoothly-- we want it to be a smooth and seamless process for all our volunteers! We appreciate feedback and input from all our volunteers, and we value every person who serves in the children's ministry!

Memory Verses: How to help kids internalize God's Word

2011-06-27T10:25:00.000-05:00

Psalm 119:11 says "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

It is so important for kids to keep God's word in their heart, but how do we do that? Sometimes we go for the buffet style Scripture memory, where we cater a large selection of Bible verses to kids and let them chew on all of them for a short while, only to be forgotten shortly.

So many times, kids have so many things to remember, and we throw in 2-3 different memory verses a week, it's no wonder kids are confused, and can't remember their memory verses! One great thing we have started doing in the last 6 months, is consolidate all our memory verses and give all the kids in our children's ministry just TWO memory verses per month. That does not sound like a lot, but the simplicity and repetition is key for them to stick with it and really internalize those verses!

We train kids to know the importance of looking at the verses and reviewing them often. Now, here is the secret to helping kids memorize their verses: practice them every day. That's the big secret! If parents think kids can only learn them at church every week (or every other week, for some kids), that is not the way to get the verses to really stick in their heads and their hearts. Parents are a big part in this, as they help their children learn and remember verses every day. We sometimes give the kids CDs with the memory verses in song format. We teach them motions to go with the verses. We talk about what they MEAN. We play games to help them remember. Creativity is also good in helping kids remember verses. But doing it regularly and having lots of repetition is key for kids. They need to see the verse, hear the verse, write the verse, and say the verse!

1. Repetition (do it every day)

2. Simplicity (only two verses per month)

3. Creativity

When you put all these ingredients together, this will help the kids internalize memory verses, but it is all pointless without the 4th ingredient for helping kids with memory verses...

4. Application

Kids need to know what the verse MEANS and how it changes their lives NOW. They need to be able to explain the verse in their own words. They need to know what it says about GOD. They need to hide the verse in their heart and allow God to use it to help them, and they need to let it lay a foundation for shaping their faith.

How can you help kids understand this? Ask them questions. Tell them stories. Let them explain the verse to you. We believe that it is so important to get God's Word not only in kids' heads, but in their hearts.

June's Memory Verses are

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Mathew 5:16 “Let your shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

We try to go over our memory verses every week in kids' church. Our preschoolers have condensed versions (although we have actually found that some preschoolers don't need condensed versions-- they're smarter than you think!!) This is what we do:

We start by showing the kids the verse on the big screens (visual learning). Then we say it together and repeat often (auditory). Then we might act it out or put motions to it (kinesthetic). Then sometimes the kids write it out, or we might play a game to help them understand it or remember it. We sing a song with the memory verse. Then we talk about what it means. We give the kids magnets to take home so they can keep remembering the verse every day at home. This is where Mom and Dad come in! Keep this up daily!

Also, we review the memory verses from previous months.

Childlike Excitement

2011-05-31T17:31:00.000-05:00

One thing I love about children's ministry is that kids are always teaching me something! I love learning from them! I love learning about their childlike faith and their uninhibited passion and excitement. Just this past weekend, I noticed that kids are MUCH more eager to pray in public than adults are. Just try this sometime: go into a room full of adults and ask, "Who wants to pray?" and see how many adults are fighting over who gets to pray first...probably none! Then go into one of our Sunday School classes and ask the same question. You're likely to get 90% of the class saying, "Me, Me, Me!" What happens to eagerness and earnest excitement? What happens to that childlike spirit, and when does it go away.

My theory is that this childlike faith and eagerness to pray and serve and be passionate is something that kids have that we (adults) quench and suffocate until it disappears. To me, that is so sad! We can learn from and be inspired by the faith of children. We also have a responsibility to affirm and encourage kids! We have a responsibility to allow them to pray aloud when they want to, dance around when they worship, serve others when and how they want, get excited about God, and be passionate and creative.

We have a responsibility to encourage and affirm them, without worrying about giving them a big head. Kids need to hear encouraging and affirming words from adults! They need to know that it's ok to be excited and passionate and childlike. We are never too busy to stop and listen to a child or pray with a child. And we adults can remember that we are never too old to learn from and be inspired by a child.

-Lynne

Go the Extra Mile

2011-04-26T15:40:00.000-05:00

As a church, let us be known for excellence in hospitality, in helping people feel welcome, and in going the extra mile to love people. Yes, it takes more time to come early to get things set up, or stay late to talk with someone. It takes effort to talk to people we don't know, and it feels unnatural. It takes effort to walk someone to their classroom or remember someone's name after meeting them. But let's make the effort to go the extra mile, to love people in tangible ways. Let's show people the selfless kind of love and grace that Jesus shows us.

Go out of your way to show someone you care. Ask questions, and stop to really listen. When someone asks for prayer, stop and pray with them on the spot. When you see someone alone, make an effort to help that person feel welcomed. When a child comes through the church doors, don't let that child walk out of the doors without knowing that someone cares.

It's so easy to get caught up in all the things we need to do, that we unintentionally miss opportunities to serve others and go out of our way to show them Jesus' love. Be willing to go the extra mile, even if it means you have to get up and walk.

-Lynne

It's All About the Relationships

2011-04-19T16:32:00.000-05:00

The most important lesson kids will learn about God will not be from a Sunday School class, but it will be from people they know and love who are living out the Gospel daily. Parents can sometimes get so caught up in trying to make sure their kids know the right things, and shelter them from the wrong things, that they forget that the most important way to help kids in life is to let them see God through their parents. Parents, let your kids see you pray. Let your kids see you ask for forgiveness. Let your kids see your vulnerability. Let your kids see you spend time with God. Let your kids see that the Lord is your top priority. Let your kids see you serve others. Let your kids see you make hard decisions. All of those things will teach your kids so much more than a curriculum or a lesson.

We adults need to always remind ourselves that building relationships with kids and shepherding their hearts to the Lord are much more important than cramming knowledge into them or keeping them sheltered from the world.

Parents, let yourselves off the hook for trying to create perfect kids. Only God can change their hearts. Instead of trying to make sure they behave perfectly, focus on creating opportunities for them to experience God and worship Him. Look for teachable moments in daily life, and always be willing to live out your faith. Especially to kids, actions speak louder than words. We should be more focused on cultivating intimacy with God and with children than on making sure they are DOING the right things and NOT doing the wrong things.

It's not about knowing the right things or doing the right things; it's all about the relationships.

-Lynne

What goes on in our midweek ministry?

2011-04-12T16:37:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered what goes on in our Midweek Ministry at First Wesleyan Church? Here are some pics to give you a glimpse at our Midweek Children's Ministry...

We have a blast and we learn God's word! We start the night with a Bible story and skit, an intro game, and then sing some worship songs and learn memory verses.

We learn and play together.

Kids love coming to church at the Kids Spot!

We talk about God's Word with our group leaders. This is David, one of our 3rd/4th grade small group leaders.

We have small group time with our small group leaders. This is the Kindergarten small group with Mr. John.

Our preteens learn about God's Word and have fun in Club 56! FREE PIZZA the first Wed. of every month.

Club 56 has fun theme nights, such as Wacky Hair night.

Our K-1st grade small group meets with Mrs. Emily and talks about the night's Bible story and how it applies to their lives. They pray together.

Our preteens hang out, learn in small groups, and see the Bible come alive with engaging and relevant object lessons and activities.

Our nurseries are staffed with loving volunteers and workers who care for the babies.

1st-2nd grade small group leaders lead small group time.

Our babies get snack time too!

Our Midweek toddler class enjoys snack time.

Our nursery leaders love the babies.

We play fun, energetic games.

We have snack time, where we help reinforce the night's Bible story, and leaders pray over kids.

Our preschool class gets to run around, sing, dance, and play as they learn about the Bible.

Singing and dancing with the preschool class.

We play fun games.

Our preteens develop deeper relationships with each other and engage in fun games to build fellowship.

WACKY Hair night at Club 56!

Mrs. Cathy, our Midweek Director, has great ears for listening, and a great heart for the Lord and for children's ministry!

Leader SPOTLIGHT: XANDRA

2011-03-29T14:36:00.000-05:00

This is Xandra. She is a cool girl! She is 15 years old, and has known for several years that God has called her to be a children's pastor. She is passionate about God and about serving Him, especially in the area of children's ministry!

She currently does a lot of things in the children's ministry: she teaches a 1st/2nd grade Sunday School class; she serves as an assistant in the preschool class; she leads worship in kids' church; she teaches Bible lessons and leads games and activities in our large group time in kids' church; she helps in the nurseries, and does a lot of other stuff! She is great, and definitely has a gift for leading and ministry.

Not only that, but she is also cool because her family does foster care, only for babies with special needs. Her parents are very selfless and loving, and so is Xandra. She has told me that she loves all the babies that come into her life, because she knows how special they are, and she truly loves them with the love of Christ. She is a servant at home, and wherever she is, this girl is always looking to help others. She is a blessing.

Some people may say that teens today are out of control, but there are teens who have it together, and Xandra is proof of the great things God can do through teens who are surrendered to Him and passionate about serving Him. She is a great role model, not just for kids, and not just for other teens, but for everyone-- an example of someone who loves God and loves kids!

We are so blessed to have a great group of teens who serve in the children's ministry, and they are truly amazing. I thank God for them, for their passion and creativity, and willingness to be a part of something so valuable! It is hard to choose just one teen who is making a difference in our children's ministry, because they all are.

Some Recent Pics

2011-03-17T11:53:00.001-05:00

Intentionality Part II

2011-03-10T12:06:00.000-06:00

The last post talked about intentionality in carrying out God's vision for a church and a ministry, knowing that God created us for a specific purpose and we need to do everything we can to pursue that purpose and that mission. Parents, have you ever thought about God's vision for your family and your children? Have you ever asked God to reveal to you His purpose for your children? God has given everyone a purpose, and He has a vision for our lives, and parents can communicate that vision to their children. Here are some ways to do it...

Pray. Ask God to reveal His vision and purpose for your family and your children.

Be intentional with your time. Spend your time on things that matter to God, things that are a part of God's vision. If there are too many distractions, get rid of the distractions. Use the time God has given you for His purposes, and teach your kids to do the same.

Be intentional with your words. Speak God's truth and promises to your children. Have you ever told them that God has a plan for their lives? Have you ever told them that you believe in them, and that they can do great things for God?

Be intentional in your parenting. You and your spouse know you want to raise, godly kids who love the Lord, but have you ever talked about HOW you are going to do that? How will you play with your kids, discipline your kids, teach your kids, pray with your kids, to help them love God and put them in His path? Come up with a family mission statement, and pray over it with your spouse, then filter your parenting through that mission.

Be intentional in setting an example. One of the most important ways kids learn is by the example of others. Kids are sponges that soak up what they see and hear. Be an example of living out God's vision and purpose. If your purpose in life is to Love God and serve His Kingdom, then let that be a reigning priority for your kids to see and experience. Invite them into the adventure of living God's way- living to serve and honor Him.

One thing is for sure, raising kids with God's vision in mind won't happen by accident- it won't just "fall into place" on its own, because it takes intentionality. It takes commitment, prayer, and God's power. And He will equip you with everything you need for the job He calls you to.

Lynne

Intentionality, Part I

2011-03-08T11:39:00.000-06:00

A church has a vision and a mission statement so it can be intentional in reaching certain goals and accomplishing its God-given mission. If you know what your purpose is as a church, then you can filter everything you do through that vision. You can align all your programs with your mission, and be specific and intentional in carrying out your mission. Our church's mission statement is: Reaching Up, Reaching Out, Reaching In...

Reaching Up

We joyfully praise God

with our lives and our lips

Reaching Out

We compassionately share God's love

with our city and the world

Reaching In

We intentionally grow in God's grace

through fellowship and discipleship

Everything we do is to help people do those things. We literally filter all our programming through the lens of those three purposes God has given us. Our children's ministry stands behind our church's mission 100%.

Our children's ministry exists to help kids Reach Up, Reach Out, and Reach In. And more specifically, our children's ministry's vision is to see kids connecting with God.

Knowing God's purpose, and doing everything you can to accomplish it.

That is intentionality.

Stay tuned for Part 2 "Intentionality in raising Kids" about how we can be intentional about discovering God's vision in parenting and raising kids.

-Lynne

Consistency

2011-03-01T17:18:00.000-06:00

Consistency is huge to children- that's why we believe in the importance of the same leaders discipling children on a regular basis. One of the best feelings in the world is when a child runs through the church doors and into your arms! If you don't know what that feels like, get invested in a child's life, and you will see how special and valuable those relationships can be!

Discipleship isn't just teaching or talking at kids, it's developing relationships, investing in their lives, praying with them, making that personal contact to let the child know that he/she is special to you and to God, having a relationship with that child and being someone the child can look up to as a role model. That is why consistency is important. We believe in that so much, that we ask all our leaders to sign up to serve on a regular basis- even in the nursery we have leaders who have committed to being there every week, just for this purpose.

We want children to know that they are more than just a crowd of kids, but they are special and valuable individually; and our children's ministry is more than just fun and programming, it's developing kids into fully committed followers of Jesus.

-Lynne

Jim and Lori Rice

2011-02-22T16:38:00.000-06:00

Last week, we had the privilege of hearing from special guest speakers, Jim and Lori Rice, who are two missionaries from our church. Jim and Lori were recently commissioned with Global Partners, our Wesleyan missions organization, and are in the process of becoming full time missionaries to Ecuador. They are amazing examples of Christ and what it looks like to serve God with lives sold out to Him. They shared with the kids about what it means to fulfill the Great Commission and how kids can be involved in missions through prayer support, financial support, and building relationships with missionaries and with others. It wonderful to have Jim and Lori share- what great role models for us all, especially the kids to see!

We will be praying for their ministry in Ecuador. They should begin their ministry there full time in August.

We are doing a month-long missions focus as we help kids see the global picture of Christianity and serving Christ. We are also helping them see that being a missionary doesn't have to be overseas, or when you grow up as an adult, it can be loving the people God has placed in your life right now.

For more information about Jim and Lori, check out their website.

LEADER SPOTLIGHT: CHRIS & LESLIE BEAN

2011-02-15T14:53:00.000-06:00

I wish every church could have a Chris & Leslie Bean, and their precious children too, but I'm sorry other churches, because they are at First Wesleyan Church and they are amazing leaders and godly people.

Chris and Leslie have served in children's ministry for many years, and they have served in many different roles. Currently, Leslie leads our snack time in our midweek program and Chris does that, and Sunday School in our preteens program. They also help out in children's church and do anything else that needs to be done. They bring with them the spirit of God wherever they are, and His love is so evident to the children through them. They love children, they love people, and most importantly, they love the Lord and that is evident to all. Their love for the Lord and children impacts the lives of all the kids in their neighborhood, as they always show up to church with a bunch of other children from their neighborhood. They are always telling people about Jesus, and they are always willing to help others and invest in people's lives. They are amazing people, but they would never say that, they would say God is amazing.

Thank you to Chris and Leslie for loving children and helping them love God. Thank you for teaching them to love the Bible, and for teaching them to boldly share Jesus with others.

They have been an encouragement to me personally, and many others!

Here is a short video clip that gives a quick peek into Chris and Leslie serving in ministry.

5 GREAT BOOKS for Parents

2011-02-07T11:53:00.000-06:00

I try to always be checking out the latest books for parents, and have come up with a list of 5 awesome books I recommend. Stay tuned for more posts in the future with great books I recommend. I'm always reading books and looking for great resources for parents, and there are more to come.

-Lynne

1. Spiritual Parenting, by Michelle Anthony

This is one of my favorite books, and I think all parents should read it! This is part of the product description on amazon.com

It’s hard enough to train kids to behave, but good behavior isn’t what

Jesus calls for in the Bible. He wants hearts and souls that are

shaped in vibrant faith and love toward God and others.

How can parents cultivate this in their children?

In this book Dr. Michelle Anthony shares practical

examples and biblical insight on the spiritual role of parenting.

This book is not about how to raise perfect kids, or how to be a perfect parents, it's about helping your kids know and love Jesus so He can change them and use them. If you have kids, no matter what their age, this is a great book for you.

2. So, You're About to Become a Teenager, by Dennis & Barbera Rainey

This is a GREAT book for parents of preteens. It's full of good discussion questions for parents to talk through with their kids, Bible verses and godly wisdom about friends, peer pressure, love and dating, sex, faith, and more. One of the best things parents can do for their preteens and teens is to talk with them and develop a solid relationship with mutual respect. This book will help with that.

The only concern I have is that some of the topics may be too "adult" for some preteens, and I would recommend parents read this book BEFORE giving it to their 10/11 year olds. It contains two chapters called "For Girls Only" and "For Boys Only," that talk about bodily changes. Some of the more "adult" topics of the book include sex, pornography, masturbation, drugs/alcohol, abortion. Parents should read the book first and talk about what topics their kids are ready to talk about. There's a lot of good info and discussion starters in this book, which I think will be helpful for parents.

3. Spiritual Growth of Children, Helping your child develop a personal faith; by Focus on the Family

First of all, I am a big fan of Focus on the Family. Their website is full of great resources for parents and kids of all ages. This book is awesome. It helps parents understand their role as spiritual leaders in their home. It also gives an age-by-age description of stages kids are in from birth-adolescence to help you think through and plan for spiritual development. It has a big section with practical advice, questions and answers, and ideas for planing spiritual growth and formation in kids. This will be a great resource for all parents.

4. Heaven is For Real, by Todd Burpo

This book doesn't have anything to do with parenting; per se, but it is an amazing book for all parents to read. It's a true story about a Wesleyan pastor whose son had a near-death experience as an almost-4 year old, and went to heaven, then told his parents all about it in great detail. This is an awesome, life-changing book that I highly recommend. It's a quick and easy read as well. It helps remind us that we can always learn from children, and that God has a special love for children and can use them as His messengers and vessels even now.

5. The Big God Story, by Michelle Anthony

This is an awesome book to help kids understand their place in God's big story! So many times, we read kids a Bible story from Genesis, and then the next day one from Acts, and then one from Matthew, and then another random story, and it doesn't seem to fit together. Kids couldn't say (and adults too!) where the chronology of Moses and Saul/Paul fit together, or how Jesus fits into the story of Adam and Eve. In fact, not just kids, but this book is great to help adults understand the big picture! It takes the big story of God, starting with Adam and Eve, and connects everything together to help us not only see God's big picture of the Bible, but where WE fit into it too. This is one you will read with your kids over and over. Great for age 3 and up.

**These are just my opinions- read the books and leave a comment below with your feedback or ideas!

-Lynne

Our Rules

2011-01-24T21:50:00.001-06:00

Doing some online research, I just happened across a children's ministry blog that stated the 3 rules for their children's church:

1. Sit up Straight

2. No Talking

3. No going to the restroom during children's church

Are you serious? No going to the restroom?! I'm not going to name where I saw these rules, and I am trying not to criticize their children's ministry leaders, but in our church, if a child needs to go to the restroom, that child is allowed to go to the restroom. Also do not sit in straight rows... in fact, we're only sitting about half the time! The other half, we're dancing, running around, playing games, acting out motions, and more. As for talking: we definitely encourage talking, at the right times, that is. We don't believe in kids sitting and listening to someone else talk the whole time. Our services are very interactive- kids answer questions, share testimonies, participate in small group discussions, read Scripture, act out stories, and more!

Our rules reflect our vision of ministry to help kids grow in Christ, in a fun, kid-friendly atmosphere.

Here are our 4 rules.

1. Respect your leader.

2. Respect your friends.

3. Respect your church property.

4. HAVE FUN!!!

We go over the rules and their implications often, and I tell the kids almost every week that if they follow the first 3 rules, then they get to do the last rule, which is.... (this is where we all yell together and go crazy) HAVE FUN! We talk about the importance of respecting people with our words and respecting our leaders by listening to them. We also talk about the importance of respecting our church, because it is God's house. We intentionally made the rules POSITIVE statements, rather than "don't"s or "no"s, because it is better to encourage good behavior and have high expectations than to punish bad behavior and have negative imperatives.

Those are our 4 rules in our children's church.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: LYNN MORRISON

2011-01-24T16:42:00.000-06:00

The only pics I could find right off the bat were these goofy ones, but it does show that Lynn is always willing to dress up, be goofy, or go the extra mile, whatever she can do to help kids have fun and feel loved. She and her family dressed up for Halloween and helped teach a lesson.

She's normally not this green...

Besides sharing my name, Lynn Morrison is amazing for many reasons. She is one of those volunteers I get the privilege to serve with, and thank God for her often. She has been involved in children's ministry for many years, and has a true servant's heart.

Not only is she a do-er and a servant, she is a leader as well. God has given her the gift of leading, influencing, and drawing others closer to Him. Every time you talk with her, you get a sense of God's presence and heart.

She has a passion for reaching people for Jesus. She is passionate also about serving the least and last, and about helping preteens know and grow closer to the Lord. She has served in all kinds of roles in children's ministry, but currently leads the preteen ministry, which we call Club 56. She is a great actor and teacher as well, and is always coming up with great ideas and thinking of ways to do ministry better, help the kids learn more, or make things more fun and effective. She pours herself into this ministry. Oftentimes, she comes early to pray and get things ready before any of the kids or parents arrive. She also stays late. She puts in many hours at home, cooking and baking for the children or the other volunteers, or prepping lessons, or coming up with fun outings or outreach ideas. Throughout the week, she calls the kids in her ministry to check on them and pray with them, or if they don't come for awhile, she calls to let them know she misses them. And she really does. She cares about every child in the preteen ministry, and they know it.

A few years ago, a few of the children's ministry leaders and I sat around my pool at my apartment and dreamed and prayed about what God wanted for the children' ministry. That was when Lynn said, "I'll do the preteen ministry." And from then, our preteen ministry exploded! We named it Club 56. Lynn cast the vision God gave her, recruited the leaders and trained them, and God brought the kids! Lynn and her team have worked so hard at planning the lessons and events, outreach projects, lock-ins, and more. They started a puppet/drama ministry and the preteens have put on shows to over a hundred other kids and parents. Lynn wrote the script and material for their shows. Her creativity, passion, and commitment have been so valuable in making this ministry, but she will be the first to tell you it was God who worked through her and the other leaders.

Interesting tidbit: Lynn's husband is also named Lynn; Mr. Lynn and Mrs. Lynn; me- Miss Lynne. How fun is that!?

It is awesome to see how God works through Lynn and the other leaders in our children's ministry, and I am thankful to get to be a part of the team with them. Thank you, God, for leaders who are dedicated to serving, who are and gifted and passionate about children's ministry. I know that before they are dedicated to and passionate about children's ministry, they are dedicated to God and passionate about Him.

The Power of Encouraging Words

2011-01-18T15:34:00.000-06:00

Ephesians 4:29 says "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful in building others up, that it may benefit those who listen."

What would happen if your every word was recorded for the next 2 days, and played in front of the entire church? The words you exchange with your family members in private, the words you speak when you're angry, the words you speak without even think about their importance... would they line up with Ephesians 4:29? Our world is so full of complaining and cynicism, negativity, criticism, gossip, anger, and unwholesome speech. Kids are constantly criticized and chastised. People frequently speak ill of others behind their backs. What our world needs is encouragement! You can never encourage others too much! Kids need to hear it over and over.

We might think, "I don't want to give kids a big head," but genuine encouragement and affirmation (rather than shallow flattery) will not give kids a big head, it will give them a healthy, positive confidence. It will help kids feel valued and secure, 2 things that are very important in children's lives. The words of adults mean so much to the children in our lives. May they never hear hurtful or derogatory words about them come from our mouths.

We adults even have the power to change kids' behavior by our words! Even if a child is acting in an unsatisfactory way, we can speak with such positive reinforcement as to encourage the child to live up to our words. I have found this to be an excellent way to reduce discipline and behavior problems! If a child starts acting up, I often will brag (with the child listening) about how wonderful that child is and how glad I am that he/she is here, and how I know he/she is such a great leader. This almost always causes the child to act in ways that live up to my words.

Our leaders, co-workers, bosses, and friends also need to hear encouragement every day. Our family members deserve our uplifting words, not our griping and complaining. May we always build others up with our words, and may we be full of grace and encouragement, with wholesome and god-honoring speech.

Make it your prayer and your goal to speak words of life and healing instead of criticism, mercy and grace instead of negativity and gossip. Children are torn down and belittled so much, and they need encouragement; they need to be built up!

Instead of blurting things out, may we weigh our words and be slow to speak and quick to listen and quick to speak words of affirmation to others.

-Lynne

Life Transformation... what it's all about

2011-01-10T14:43:00.000-06:00

Over the past few weeks, God has reminded me that this ministry is not about me, it's not about Sunday School lessons or cool worship songs. It's not about numbers and attendance, or having enough volunteers. It's not MY ministry; it's God's ministry. And its purpose is life transformation by Him. The fruit of a great children's ministry is not happy kids or happy parents. It is changed lives. People experiencing God, loving God, serving God. Lost people coming to relationship with God. If that is not happening, the rest of it is worthless. That sounds harsh, but it's true. My prayer for 2011 is that we would keep our focus on God's purposes, which are much greater than any one person or program. May everything we do be for God, and not for people. May lost ones come to know Him, and many lives be changed.

God has given me a new vision for lost kids' lives being transformed by God's grace and the gospel reaching families and parents through their kids and through our church. I will commit to pray daily for this vision to come to fruition, and that this ministry would truly be for His glory and purposes. Our children's ministry leadership team is praying as well. If you are reading this, please pray with us for life transformation, for stories of changed lives and God's radical work and power experienced in new ways.

-Lynne

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: CATHY DOCKERY

2010-11-30T17:57:00.000-06:00

Cathy is an amazing children's ministry leader! She is passionate about kids, and helping them grow closer to the God, and making the Bible come alive for them! She is dedicated and does everything with excellence! She is always willing to serve and do anything. She has the gift of teaching and leading from the stage- which is a very rare thing! She can truly capture kids' attention and makes learning the Bible exciting!

Cathy has served in the children's ministry for many years, and has had just about every role. She is currently the Midweek Director and stage leader. She has acted in many skits, has been the music leader, many different character roles and has lead at several VBSes, she is a registered nurse and has been the Camp Nurse at our kids' camp several years, and much more! She is a team player, and a very valuable part of our team! She inspires and encourages others, and she is an amazing children's ministry volunteer and a wonderful, beautiful person. Thank you, Cathy!

Meet Oscar

2010-11-03T14:20:00.000-05:00

The man talking to the kids is Oscar. Oscar is retired and doesn't have much money. The money he received from Social Security is barely enough to pay his minimum bills and keep gas in his car, and he can't afford food. He lives in Tuscaloosa. He drives to the soup kitchen every day to get a meal, and that meal usually his only food for that day. He depends on it, and is thankful for the countless people who sacrifice and serve to help him and people like him.

Our 5th and 6th graders got a great lesson in serving, sharing, and loving others when they volunteered at The Community Soup Bowl, one of Tuscaloosa's soup kitchens. The thing that impressed me was that they were so eager to serve and help. They didn't complain, because they weren't thinking about themselves. We weren't able to help serve food, so we brought rakes and raked and swept their outside area, we trimmed the bushes, cleaned up the area, and cleaned the windows. The kids wished they could do even more!

Our group that day consisted of 10 kids and 7 adults.

While we were there, Will, the guy who runs the soup kitchen, shared with the group about the soup kitchen, its mission and its purpose. He shared about the some of the people who come to eat. He said that the location is in the middle of a drug-infested community where people don't have a lot of money and their lives are really messed up. He said some of the people who come are families with kids, and for many of the people, that meal is their only food that day. They serve a meal every day, 365 days a year. They serve hundreds of meals a day, and they rely completely on donations and lots of volunteers.

Oscar also inspired the group when he thanked the kids for serving and being selfless. He told them about himself, but he also told them that when he saw them serving him, it gave him hope and inspiration. That they were making a difference, and that it can really impact lives and inspire other people.

The kids got to talk with and interact with some of the people at the soup kitchen, and it was a great lesson in realizing that people in need are very different from them, but also very special and valuable to God. They are different, but they are real people with stories and feelings and value. The kids also learned lessons in selflessness that I pray will overflow into their lives and worldview. We can get so caught up in wanting MORE and MORE and MORE things, and forget to be thankful for what we have and give away as much as we can to others who need it.

When we got back to the church, the kids talked with each other and shared their own ideas about how they can serve others and make a difference in our community. They had some amazing ideas about serving others and continuing to serve at the soup kitchen. The kids are seeing the importance of serving others and sacrificing for others, and that is a great lesson, no matter your age!

Whoever Welcomes a Child in My Name...

2010-10-20T22:29:00.000-05:00

I love the quote of Jesus, "Whoever welcomes a child in my name, welcomes me..."
And tonight I was reminded of that when one of our wonderful preschool volunteers told me after the service that a little girl who was newer to our church had been coming in every Wednesday night scared and upset... she would cry the whole night and wouldn't participate in anything! She did this for probably 3 weeks straight, and each time, this volunteer would reach out to her and let her know that she cared about her.

Tonight was the first time this little girl ran into the room and went straight to the volunteer and hugged her, with a big smile on her face! She was so glad to see this woman who had cared for her and shown her week after week that she was welcomed and valued. Tonight, the volunteer told me this little girl participated in everything and enjoyed the evening, not one tear was shed! A relationship had been built, and it started with a volunteer welcoming a child. When we welcome children in Jesus' name, we are welcoming Him. We are ushering them into His presence and His kingdom and allowing them to feel a glimpse of the love and compassion He has for them.

Thank you to everyone who welcomes children in the name of Jesus.

-Lynne

Questions for Jesus

2010-10-18T17:53:00.000-05:00

I asked the kids this past Sunday, if they could sit down with Jesus and ask Him any questions, what would they ask? Here are a few of the questions they wrote down:

Why do children get sick?
Why do mommies and daddies get divorced?
Jesus, what is my future?
Is my dog coming back?
Are we going to get a dog?
Will I ever move to a different school?
How do you make the world?
How do you make miracles?
How do you heal people?
How do you make the birds?
Do you know me?
How can I have the word of God?

Wow. Good questions.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: WAYNE AND SUE

2010-10-18T16:56:00.001-05:00

Wayne and Sue have been volunteering in the children's ministry for many years. They have done just about everything, from teaching Sunday School, to security, to check-in, and for the past I-don't-know-how-many years have been leaders in the nursery. They come every single week and serve in the nursery. They are some of the most dependable, caring people in the world. They have a true love and passion for babies, but not just babies, for the parents as well. Their number one passion is serving others. They look at serving in the nursery as ministry to help parents get ministered to in the church service.

Wayne and Sue are an inspiration. They have said that not only do we not need to pay them for coming, we would have to pay them NOT to come, because they can't stay away, because they love the babies that much!

They buy donuts every week (with their own money) and bring donuts JUST for the other volunteers and the kids! The kids actually call Wayne the "Donut Man" and run up to him when they see him.

It is not uncommon to see little babies, even as young as only a few months old, recognize Wayne and Sue and smile as they are welcomed by them every Sunday. This is a great way for babies to feel comfortable at church, knowing they will be with the same, consistent, loving people every week.

Wayne and Sue also go above and beyond in all they do. They are 2 of the people on my leadership team for the nursery and early childhood ministry, and they are always willing to do whatever it takes to make this ministry excellent. They have brilliant ideas, and always go above and beyond to serve and help babies and parents feel comfortable.

Last Sunday, I peeked into the nursery (which is probably one of my favorite places in the church!) and I saw Sue greeting a young mom, explaining how the nursery works, and welcoming the mother and baby with great care and attention. She took the time to go above and beyond and write down the parent and baby's needs so she could care for them very specifically (this isn't even one of our policies, Sue loves caring for people and helping them feel comfortable), and I looked in and saw several babies laughing and smiling and playing with Wayne in the nursery. The light and joy of Christ truly shines through these two servants of God. Nobody makes them serve others. They are passionate. They are the hands and feet of Jesus.

What Curriculum do you use?

2010-09-29T22:37:00.001-05:00

I read this forum where lots of different children's pastors answered that question, and a running theme I saw in almost everyone's answer was this:

Sunday School: Curriculum #1

Kids' Church: Curriculum #2

Midweek: Curriculum #3

Nursery and/or Preschool: Curriculum #4 and/or #5

So many different curricula for each church! That's crazy! Here's what we are currently using:

Sunday School: Buzz (from Group Publishing) for more info, click here.

Kids' Church: The Kitchen (my favorite!) (published by KidzMatter) for more info, click here.

Midweek: Faithweaver Friends (published by Group) for more info, click here.

Nursery: Sunlight Kids (published by Gospel Publishing)

Preschool: Lil 'K (published by Kidmo) click here.

Preteens: PreteenMinistry.net and our teachers write their own

That's 6 different things we keep up with, order, prepare, and teach! That's a lot! I have to say, we've tried a lot of different stuff, and we really aren't completely happy with several of the curricula we're using, but we work hard to make it work. I'm looking for new Sunday School curriculum. I don't think we'll use Buzz anymore, because it seems to be over the kids' heads. Our midweek curriculum doesn't seem to interest the kids much and the leaders have to change a lot every week. I realize that no curriculum is perfect, and that's why we're trying to tweak and change things to make them work for us.

But wouldn't it be nice if one company could publish high-quality, exciting and well-written curriculum for Sunday School, Kids' Church, Midweek, nursery, preschool, and preteen?! That would be awesome. And it could focus in on the same Bible story, or at least the same theme every week for each age group, in age-appropriate ways, so that the kids wouldn't be learning so many different Bible stories! Maybe someday it will happen. Until then, we will continue to try different things and work hard to teach the kids Bible truths and help the Bible come alive to them!

-Lynne

Volunteer Spotlight: TOM GILBERT

2010-09-23T16:16:00.000-05:00

Not to brag or anything... well, Ok, YES, I'm definitely bragging. Our children's ministry has some wonderful, amazing, Godly leaders. And I love bragging on them! I'm going to do a spotlight every week to share about our amazing leaders. And no, I'm not doing the spotlights in any particular order, so this doesn't mean these people are my favorites. I would love to be able to brag on ALL of our volunteers, and hopefully I will get to! I believe each volunteer is a children's minister, and they have the potential to impact kids for eternity! Being a children's ministry volunteer is far more than just a hobby or an obligation (that's why we don't require parents to serve), it's a passion!

Tom Gilbert has a heart of gold-- a true servant and follower of Jesus. He had been serving in the youth ministry for years, and about a year ago, felt God leading him in a different direction. He went to the youth pastor and went to me and said he felt like God was calling him to serve in the children's ministry. And from there- things took off. Tom helped start a brand new preteen ministry called Club 56, that started with a small handful, and now has over 30-40 kids involved regularly!

Tom is an amazing leader and role model, and especially the young boys look up to him as a mentor. He knows that discipleship means investing in the kids' lives, so he does it with great commitment and dedication to the kids. He comes every Sunday and Wednesday to invest in the lives of the preteens. He is always on time (early!) and prepared, because his heart is in his ministry. He does everything with excellence. He is a great teacher, and a great leader. He has the ability to influence others and disciple them to greater depth in their relationship with Jesus.

Thank you, Tom, for your service and leadership in the children's ministry!

Volunteer Spotlight -- HOLLY GANN

2010-09-23T15:48:00.000-05:00

Holly Gann has been serving in the children's ministry for many years. She has served in a variety of roles, and she is any children's pastor's dream, for several reasons: She is dedicated and committed; and she serves willingly and joyfully, in what I would say is a true servant's spirit.

Holly puts her heart into everything she does. She loves children, and when she leads them, she does it with passion. She never does anything half-heartedly.

Holly is our current 1st/2nd Grade Small Group leader AND our 1st/2nd grade Sunday School teacher. We don't normally "re-use" our leaders from Wednesdays and Sundays, but Holly saw the need, and jumped in with a wonderful, can-do spirit.

She always shows up on time, and she goes above and beyond when working with the children. She plans extra special activities for them. Every holiday, she buys (with her own money) gifts and prizes for the kids in her group to let them know how much she cares about them. One of the parents of a child in her Sunday School class told me that her child loves Sunday School and that Ms. Holly gets them special surprises and gifts every Sunday!

Holly is one of those special people that adds so much to our children's ministry, and there are lots of kids who will grow up knowing that Holly did so much more than just lead them in Sunday School-- she leads them to Jesus.

Thank you, Holly, for serving in the children's ministry!

New Pictures

2010-09-21T11:42:00.000-05:00

Teaching kids to love God's word.

What a sweetie!

Mr. Bobby, helping out in the toddlers' class

So adorable!

Miss Jaime with a beautiful group of 3rd/4th grade girls

Mr. Chris has such a heart for children.

Miss Ashlyn leading song time with the sweet preschoolers!

Club 56 has so much fun! Playing Minute to Win It games.

Having a blast hangin out in Club56

Fall Kick-Off

2010-09-14T16:31:00.000-05:00

We recently launched our Fall Kick-off for a great semester of Sunday School, Kids' Church, and Midweek!! We're stoked about all the awesome things happening at the Kids Spot!!

Check out some pics, and stay tuned to hear stories of how God is working and moving in this ministry and how lives are being changed!

Praise God for the blessing of a wonderful team of leaders!

Ms. Cathy, our Midweek Director, getting the kids excited about the Bible story!

Yes, I'd be covering my ears too, if I was sitting next to two girls. =) Loving snack time where we help reinforce our Bible stories!

Looks like everyone's paying attention to the Bible story and engrossed in it!

Sweet, adorable children!

Ben, rockin the drums!

These are two gorgeous ladies! Tiffany, a greeter, and small group leader for 1st/2nd grade and her sweet daughter.

Trent, our Media Director

Mr. John with the awesome Kindergarten group, and... it looks like SOMEONE isn't paying attention!

Jaime playing fun games with the 3rd/4th graders during game time!

Lydia, the amazing music leader, teaching the kids worship songs and Scripture during Music time!

Aren't these preschoolers cute?! Look at the crowns they made!

Kids having a blast learning songs with Lydia!

The kids loved acting out the drama to help with the Bible story!

Pastor John came to kids' church to teach the kids about anointing, and led an anointing service with the kids. It was so powerful! The kids were so excited to be anointed!

Our worship team rocked! Ben, Dusten, and April-- the kids loved it!

Kids enjoying our kick-off Sunday for kids' church in our newly remodeled room!

The worship team rocked

Miss Emily, the beautiful 3rd/4th grade Sunday School teacher and some sweet girls

The kids loved the room and the cool logo on the wall!

Jordan, one of our awesome preschool teachers, having fun teaching the preschoolers a Sunday School lesson.

Kids' Quotes

2010-08-16T12:12:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday, I gave all the kids a candy, Gobstoppers, during children's church, as a part of the lesson. Before I gave them the candy, I explained that it is a hard candy, and they need to be careful when eating it not to try to swallow it whole right away or run around with it in their mouths, because it is a choking hazard.

At the end of children's church, I gave the kids another piece of the candy, and one boy left with one in his mouth. His mother asked him what he was eating. He replied, "A choking hazard."

-Lynne

When work is worship...

2010-08-09T17:14:00.000-05:00

A quote from our volunteer Project Coordinator for our remodeling project in the children's ministry: "Working and serving is how I worship." -Cindy Jensen

Cindy devoted countless hours to the children's ministry to help make our children's ministry space look amazing. She is passionate about what she does, and never once complained or had a negative attitude, even though there were challenges, she was probably tired, there were probably other things she could or should have been doing, and she spent many hours every day working tirelessly to make it look fantastic. She is a true example of a servant, and I believe this is the kind of servant Jesus wants us to be.

After all, Jesus said he came not to be served, but to serve. He wasn't sitting on the sidelines letting everyone else wait on him hand and foot, or making others do the dirty work. He didn't complain and say that he would rather sit at home and relax than help others, or that he was too tired to serve. He knew that His purpose was not for himself, but to give his time and his life for others. He was the True Servant, the example of how we should be and how we should serve.

We should all look for opportunities to serve others whenever possible, and let us never make up excuses for why we can't give of ourselves. After all, our purpose is not to serve ourselves, but to look for the interests of others. It is not always easy, convenient, or comfortable, to put the interests of others above your own, but it is what God wants for us. When work becomes less of a chore, an obligation, or a favor, and more a way of worship and sharing the gospel, then we are following in Jesus' footsteps. Then we will hear the words, "Well done; my good and faithful servant."

-Lynne

Kids' Camp

2010-08-04T12:09:00.000-05:00

We had a blast at Hang Ten Kids' Camp 2010!

Here's what we did at camp: played lots of fun games, swam in the lake, had a little friendly pranking war between the guys and the girls, had team competitions, a talent show, scavenger hunt, sang silly songs and worshipped God with an awesome worship band, made new friends, got messy, got a little sleep, had a bonfire, threw a counselor into the lake, had a slip'n'slide with a banana split, learned Bible stories and verses, made cool crafts, had 5 kids accept Christ and others make commitments to God, saw God change lives, and learned how to "dive in" to a deep relationship with Him! What a great week! Here are some pics.

Kids' Remodel AFTER Pics

2010-08-04T11:56:00.000-05:00

Remodel is almost finished!

2010-08-01T18:24:00.001-05:00

More Remodeling Pics

2010-07-22T14:14:00.001-05:00

We have had an group of dedicated, wonderful volunteers who have worked so hard on this project! It is looking great! Here are some pics...

Check out all the saw dust in the air....

The media booth.

THANK YOU TO THE AMAZING VOLUNTEERS!!

The Latest...

2010-07-22T07:46:00.000-05:00

The latest remodel pics! We can't wait until the finished product is ready!! It won't be too much longer!!

Walkthrough Rendering of New Children's Area

2010-07-20T12:48:00.000-05:00

Kids Area Remodel!

2010-07-20T09:52:00.000-05:00