So much information, so little time!

2011-12-11T20:40:00.001-08:00

Hi Kids Staff!
Just wanted to share this with you all...thank you so much for everything you do!!!

From Robin Deitch: "I am so impressed by the detail at which my grandaughters leave church and share the bible stories to us on the way home! I am so thankful for the childrens ministry at Freedom Valley. Having served for 8 years or more in childrens ministry I PRAISE YOU MUCH for what you are doing in bringing the word of God into the childrens hearts. [My granddaughters] have went through a lot in the past year. God and church have been the one stable thing in their lives."

Thanks for serving with me and helping kids see Jesus through you!!

Candace

Effective Evangelism

2011-09-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

Hi Kids Staff!
I am starting a new CMUO.com (Children's Ministry University Online) class today, called "Evangelizing Children", and hope to be updating this blog more often with everything I'm learning! I hope to bring you all alongside me, so that we can learn and grow together as a team!

Today was the very first day of class, and I'm already learning so much! One nugget, from George Barna, really hit me though: "The most effective evangelists are the most obedient and committed Christians.". Here's what I know to be true: you cannot fully convince anyone - much less a kid - of something that you are not fully convinced of yourself! So, the most important thing to remember about teaching children is not really about teaching children at all! It's about you. Your personal life between you and Jesus. It affects your teaching, it affect the kids, it affects everything!

So, here's the reminder for the week: Spend time with Jesus! Get into the Word, find some quiet time with Him. Isaiah 55:11 says, "It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." In other words, NOTHING bad could possibly come from reading the word! It always produces fruit! What do you have to lose?

Preschool Teachers!

2011-02-03T15:51:00.000-08:00

Along the same lines as my last post, there is another critical window of time in a child's life. A time that we have the change to influence for good! The preschool years are also VERY important! According to Hohmann's book, Kids Making A Difference, crucial attitudes are developed in these years that are very hard to change once the child gets older. "These attitudes include how a child feels about God, the church, and authority."

Our relationships with the kids make the difference! You can try teach them facts about God and the Bible all day long, but if you don't KNOW that child, they are less likely to receive from you. We need to love those kids like crazy for the short amounts of time that they are with us! We are their models of God, authority, and the church! That's a big responsibility that we shouldn't take lightly!

56ers especially, but for all teachers!

2011-02-03T15:04:00.001-08:00

Hey 56ers teachers!

I am going through a "Kids In Ministry" course right now through Valley Forge, and I'm learning so much great stuff! One thing I am learning is how important it is to train kids to DO ministry, not just be ministered TO. It's especially important with the age group that you are working with this very weekend! The follow excerpts are from a book called Kids Making a Difference, by Pete Hohmann.

"The preteen years (ages 10-12) are our second critical window.... They are no longer little children, but not quite teenagers. You probably noticed that the flannel graph stories and secret code word searches in Sunday School just don't seem to have the same impacts as they did with the younger children. In fact, many of the age group have grown bored with Christianity and are just going through the motions of memorizing material, only to quickly forget it the following week."

"Because of this boredom...many are lost at the age, even though their parents may faithfully bring them to church each Sunday.... Could it be that they are bored with Christianity because they have not been given opportunities to personally prove that the promises of God are true? Their ideas and beliefs remain untested, and therefore are not integrated into their own faith in a meaningful way."

"Children of all ages in the Millennial Generation want to make a difference, but it is CRITICAL that PRETEEN Millennials be given opportunities to ministry to others!"

In light of this information, I'd like you to hit hard a few things with the kids this weekend. Whether it has ANYTHING to do with the lesson or not, emphasize the fact that giving back is important, and ministry to others is what Jesus called us to do, and they are not too young to do it! Let them know that we have a Jr. Helpers program that they can get involved in (I'll make sure to have applications ready for you this weekend), and we have a Kids Worship Band that they can get involved in! Ask them how we could make Kids Connect better, and what their gifts and talents are that they could be using! Write down their ideas (with names!) and make sure that information gets to me, and that you follow up with them the next time you see them as well!

Challenge them to get involved and to use their gifts and talents for God! That's the only way we're going to keep their hearts and their faith through their teenage years!

Thank you all!

Leading Kids Worship

2010-12-08T12:39:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!
I came across this awesome how-to video for leading kids worship! I really think that it can apply across the board, however, because the principles Priscilla Tan shares can be applied to teaching as well! Watch it and see what you think!

1 Corinthians 14

2010-10-21T05:58:00.000-07:00

I've written about this before, but I've been thinking about it a lot lately again. 1 Corinthians 14:3 says that prophecy is "strengthening, encouragement, comfort"! My post from April 23rd, talks about how people have been drawn to Freedom Valley in the past because they got strengthened, encouraged, and comforted within the walls of the church, from church people, like they never got anywhere before in their lives.

I would venture to say that kids are even more drawn to someone who strengthens, encourages, and comforts them than adults! I think that is why some teachers in Kids Ministry are loved and met with with exclamations in the hallways! They LOVE the kids! They put the time in to ask them questions, and remember their name, and ask how their week is going! Kids know when you are genuinely listening and when you're just humoring them. They know when someone really cares, and when they're just going through the motions. You can be an expert at teaching or classroom management or discipline...but if you don't LOVE the kids...if you don't encourage them, and comfort them, and strengthen them, they won't care. They probably won't learn much either.

Think back to your favorite teacher growing up...was it the most educated one? Was it the most prepared? The funniest? My guess is, for most people, it was the one that took the time to get to know you. The one that invested some time into you.

There are plenty of churches out there with gorgeous, pristine, perfect facilities. There are churches out there that have the most expensive and cutting edge curriculum on the market today. There are churches that paid top-dollar for the most experienced Kids Ministry Team available. All of that is good, and helpful, I'm sure...but none of it means anything, without love. (See 1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Help me communicate Jesus' love to the kids that come through our ministry. Help me ask them what their favorite color is, and how their week went, and what's new in their lives! Don't let them walk out the doors of your classroom without the knowledge that at church, they are loved. That idea will be what makes them beg their parents to come back every Sunday morning. That idea will carry them through the rest of their lives.

Discipline

2010-07-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

Hello Freedom Valley Kids Staff!
Harvest Cry is under our belts for the year, it went AMAZINGLY well, definitely a home run for us, but coming out of that, I had some questions about our discipline policy at Freedom Valley Kids! It hasn't been made clear lately, and I'll be reinforcing it with you all over the next month or so.

Until you get that information, it would be awesome for you to hear the latest Children's Ministry Talk podcast! This is a podcast I listen to on a regular basis, because it always has great, relevant information for me! You can read all about Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode on that website, they have some great ideas and proven techniques they use in their own Kids Ministries! Episode 40, the latest episode, came out June 8th, and the first topic they cover is...you guessed it: Discipline!

You can listen to that podcast here: http://www.childrensministrytalk.com/.

Thank you all for partnering with me this year, ministering to our precious little ones! It's going to be an amazing summer!

Johannes' teaching on the NEXT GENERATION!

2010-06-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

Freedom Valley Kids Staff!!

Our good friend and world-wide evangelist, Johannes Amritzer, did an amazing leadership training this morning on the next generation and why youth and children are SO important!

I will list my notes from the teaching below (sorry they are a little scattered, but you can see all the scripture references in there somewhere and see his points and follow along), but please go here to either listen to it or watch it! http://freedomvalley.org/audio-video. It's called "Friday Morning Young Leaders"

27% of the worlds population is under 15 years old.

Hebrews 11:20-22

1. We need to be a church that lives for & blesses the next generation!

PASSION communicates!
don't try to act like something you are not! (i.e. a "big kid")
Psalm 8:2 - children should be in the front ranks! They have POWER in their innocence!

2. We need to be a church that's young and aggressive!

Psalm 110:1-3
plan 10 years in the future. LIVE now and in the future, but NEVER in the past.

3. We need to be a church that prepares for a young army from all nations to arise in the US!

WHY YOUNG LEADERS ARE SO IMPORTANT:

1. Youth have a certain power & strength.

Job 20:11
1 John 2:14

2. Youth have visions & ambitions for the future.

Acts 2:17 - It's important that we listen to the young!

3. Youth are creative & they are trendsetters!

1 Timothy 4:12 - (LOVE this verse!!!)

4. Youth have a certain joy and inspiration!

Ecc 11:9-10

5. Youth are given special visions & tasks.

Luke 1:26

Teaching the Bible to Kids: Making the Bible History Instead of Stories

2010-06-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

Check out this great article about Teaching the Bible to kids! I've been really fascinated lately by the concept of a Biblical Worldview and how to teach it to children. This article helps a little and even has more links that open up the WHOLE world of the reliability of the Bible!

Teaching the Bible to Kids: Making the Bible History Instead of Stories

Ideas for Talking to Kids

2010-05-28T18:14:00.000-07:00

I found an awesome article on Ministry-to-Children.com by Wayne Stocks about talking to kids that lists ideas for conversation starters!

Check it out here: http://ministry-to-children.com/100-conversation-starters/

How Babies Learn!

2010-05-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

I'm currently looking into a very simple curriculum for the infant nursery, but I came across this, to help get us started! Nursery Staff, please read!

How Babies Learn

Babies have to be physically comfortable before they can learn.
If babies are hungry, sleepy, in pain, sick, they cannot pay attention to any learning activity. Watch for babies who seem content. Then take a safe activity to them that matches their level of ability. Offer the activity, using a duplicate toy in a way similar to what you want the baby to learn to do--eventually. Wait to see what happens.

Babies learn through repetition.
Rather than changing the lesson every time the babies come to church, repeat lesson ideas and activities. These little ones need the repetition to give them time to respond to the activity. For this reason, consider making lesson activities, complete with instructions, that can be stored in and taught in the baby room during every service for a month, several months, or permanently.

Babies are dependent on adults.
Generally, nursery helpers will need to be sensitive to babies' needs to move to new positions, to have toys within reach, to have interesting pictures or objects to see.

Babies learn through their senses.
Seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling--all add to what babies are learning. Babies like to handle and mouth everything. So every nursery toy needs to be safe and cleanable. After one baby finishes with a toy that has been in his mouth, teachers should remove it until it can be washed and disinfected.

Babies learn from imitation.
If a teacher shakes a bell or moves a toy in a way related to a Bible story, eventually babies will probably imitate that part of the lesson.

Babies learn to talk when they hear talk.
The more often a baby enjoys eye-to-eye "talks" with adults, the more quickly she learned to understand and communicate. At first babies will begin moving their mouths, then making coos, then jabbering, and finally repeating a word or two.

Babies need to be protected from one another.
Crawling babies may climb over other babies in their path. Babies need help to learn to go around, not over, other babies. Teachers can help babies learn to use gentle touches. Teachers can also distract babies from exploring one another to exploring interesting books or toys.

Babies are learning to trust and love.
When babies receive tender, loving care during the first year of their lives, they learn to love other and to trust that their needs will be met. Learning to love and trust adults, whom they can see, can be the first step in learning to love and trust God, whom they can't see.

First Impressions

2010-05-03T15:15:00.000-07:00

I've been catching up on my http://www.childrensministrytalk.com/ podcasts lately, and I came across one about First Impressions that caught my eye. One of the speakers was saying that you have 10 minutes, when a family first walks onto your campus to make them go "Wow!" If they don't, you've already lost them. 10 minutes! It's got to be about 2 minutes for a child, and even less than that for a preschool or toddler. Here's what he had to say about his experience:

"When my son Tim was 3 years old, we walked into a church and checked him into the 3-year-old class, and boy, the lady at the door was friendly, welcoming, used his name several times when she opened the door to let him in. He looked in the room and saw the kids having fun, playing with play dough, building with blocks, playing with cars on the floor, he ran in, no problem!

"I went to a friend of mine's church the next weekend, a large church, church with a brand new facility, we went to check him into the 3-year-old classroom, and the lady didn't talk to him at all, she only talked to us (my wife and I), he looked in, and grabbed my leg and starting crying. Why? Because kids were sitting on a tape line on the floor. They were waiting for class to begin. There were bins full of fun toys to play with, but they didn't have any of them out yet. Kids that age, boy, if you don't impress them in the first 5-10 seconds, you have a problem with a kid crying the whole service, wanting his parents. With elementary kids, you can have up to a couple minutes, when they walk in to check out Children's Church. You gotta have kids welcoming kids, something for them to do! Appeal to the child, to that culture, IMMEDIATELY when they walk in the room."

Good word for all of us to get a hold of! Please help make families and children feel comfortable and happy! I can only do so much with the environment and classrooms, I need your help, FV Kids Staff, to do the welcoming!

How To: Response Time With Kids

2010-04-23T14:51:00.001-07:00

Hey Kids Connect, 56ers, & Explorers Teachers!

In the past, we haven't done a whole lot of response time to our lessons, but I think it is vitally important that we do some! Kids should know that they have a responsibility to DO something when hearing the Word of God, and they NEED to respond in some way in their daily lives. The Team Leader can't always be the one to offer this response time in Kids Connect, because of other outside-the-classroom responsibilities, but I really need you to help me offer one of these options in some way, shape, or form for every lesson you teach. Please use simple words, easy to understand, and please end every lesson with prayer and response.

I have discovered that children don't need dim lights and soft music to respond to Jesus! When they want to, they aren't ashamed! And they almost always want to! We just need to give them the opportunity. I'd also like the names of the children you lead to the Lord. I will send their parents a letter or e-mail with information for them.

Below are listed some options for you to consider when asking the children for a response (taken from a book by Dick Gruber, called, Focus on Children: A Handbook for Teachers):

Altar Call

An altar call is the traditional approach. Have the children close their eyes and think about the theme of the day. Sometimes I just tell them to close their eyes and think about Jesus. Those that wish to respond to today's lesson raise a hand. After the hand is raised, encourage them to stand and step to the front of the room. When up front either lead the children in a prayer or urge them to pray in their own words or in their own way.

Altar Service

An altar service is more of a group activity. Invite the children to gather at one point in your classroom. Typically, the front of the room is used as an altar area. In the altar service, children are encouraged to worship and pray as a group. The class can kneel, stand, or even sit together. Children may even pray one for another.

Group Prayer

Divide your class into smaller groups. If you have four children, make two groups of two. In the larger class, groups of three or four is effective. Assign a location i nyour room for each group. children in each group should pray one for another. Sometimes they may even hold hands and pray.

Prayer At the Chair

When beginning the response time, ask the children to turn and kneel at their seats. Those wishing prayer for specific needs are asked to raise a hand. Circulate through oyur class praying for those with special needs.

Prayer Circle

The entire class stands and makes a circle around the room. Children may or may not hold hands in this circle. Take turns going around the circle with each person praying out loud. If a person does not know what to pray, they may pass to the next. Have them pass by speaking a key phrase such as, "I love you Jesus," or "Thank you God."

Prayer Partners

Have the children pair off with one or two friends. The prayer partners spend time sharing and praying for each other in the classroom. The children may then exchange phone numbers and call one another for special prayer throughout the week.

Written Requests

Children are given paper and pencil. Ask them to write down their specific needs. Papers may be collected and prayed over. In one church I visited, children pinned these requests on a cardboard cross in the front of the room. After requests are written out and prayed over, keep a record of the answers that God provides. You may want to begin a prayer notebook. Lists of prayers and answers can be kept and read occasionally as an encouragement to the children.

Prophecy = Easy Recruiting

2010-04-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

I just read a list of the top ten obstacles to recruiting for a Christian Education Ministry. Number one was obvious, a lack of prayer! We don't have because we don't ask!

But it was the last one that really got me: "People's lack of confidence in themselves." Recently, we've had a few different people join our church (I didn't ask them if I could share this, so I'll leave their names out), and when asked why they they joined, why they decided to keep coming, they said that it was because of the encouragement they felt when they were around! They had never been encouraged like that in their entire lives! They said that it was no one person in particular, but that it came from every side, all the time. They got addicted to it! They loved being around the church and started to get really involved, because for the first time in their lives, people weren't condemning them all the time, telling them everything they were doing wrong, being negative about their lives! They were surrounded by people who built them up, and told them what a great job they were doing! Therefore, they got more involved, and more involved.

That's called Prophecy!! 1 Corinthians 14:1-3, says that prophecy is "strengthening, encouragement, comfort"!! When the American church gets a hold of that concept, the church will explode! What a contrast between God's people and the world! If we become a ministry that can prophecy over everyone that walks through our doors, we will never lack for volunteers.

I need your help to do this! I need you to see your job as a Children's Ministry worker, not only to minister to the children in your care, but to every parent, every helper, everyone you come into contact with. Prophecy over them by strengthening, encouraging, comforting. People won't be able to stay away!

Note to Self:

2010-04-21T11:29:00.000-07:00

Really great article from March/April 2010 K! Magainze by Dr. Tim Elmore:

Three kinds of kids (leaders):

1. Drivers. These are strong-willed students. They're often stubborn. They want to be in charge. They are natural leaders, but they must learn specific qualities that are not intuitive for them, like patience, people skills and planning. As an adult, you must be direct with a "driver" since they have strong ideas of their own.

2. Diplomats. They are the opposites of the drivers. Diplomats are harmonious, cooperative, and value peacemaking. They're relational and make marvelous leaders as everyone loves them. However, they must learn to stand for their convictions and gain their own vision. To lead them, simply seek cooperation.

3. Dreamers. These are the most misunderstood students. They are creative, reflective and imaginative, and often are quickly diagnosed as ADHD if they can't sit still. They will lead as visionaries, but must harness their own energy and ideas. To lead them well, offer them as many options as possible.

CULTIVATE HEALTHY HABITUDES INSIDE OF THEM:

1. Play chess not checkers. Checkers all look alike and move alike, so you treat the pieces all alike. In chess, however, the only way you can win is to know the strengths of each piece. Mediocre leaders play checkers with their people and get average results. Great leaders play chess and connect with others at the point of their uniqueness.

2. Build thermostats not thermometers. Both of these instruments have to do with temperature. One merely reflects the climate; the other sets the climate. We must cultivate kids who don't just mirror culture, but who set the spiritual tone for their peers.

3. Be a river not a flood. Floods are water going in every direction. Rivers flow in one direction. You must flow, not flood. You must become focused, not fuzzy. You can do anything in your ministry bu you can't do everything. Narrow and clarify your focus.

The Difference Between Arts and Crafts

2010-04-18T07:10:00.001-07:00

I thought this was interesting!

The Difference Between Arts and Crafts

What I Learned: Unit 6

2010-04-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how to adapt the following into something that makes sense for everyone NOT in my Christian Education class, so I'll just leave it as is. This is my "I Learned" post from Unit 6. It has some really great nuggets in it from my textbook, by Michael J. Anthony.

I loved this unit! I am constantly trying to find creative and different ways to teach concepts, and love on kids! Going through all the different learning styles I could identify people in my life that are Visual/Spatial learners for example, and Musical/Rhythmic learners (my husband!). I loved the ideas about how to get ideas across in different ways. For example, on page 144 of the book it says, "...after studying the relationship between God and Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, students listen to nature sounds while recording a journal entry of Adam's or Eve's thoughts." Cool! Never would have thought of that, but what a great idea!

Another thought-provoking statement was on page 144, "It has been said that your weakest teaching method is the one you use the most." I think that I teach from my own learning style. I talk a lot, because language is my thing. I also like to use videos to reinforce a story or idea. But I never even though of the fact that kids need to MOVE to learn...I mean, other than the fact that they get fidgety and need to move for that reason. To move in order to learn is a new concept to me. The only examples I can think of for that would be like...acting out a Bible story as we learn it, but that's only the kids that get picked to act it out. Or, maybe...passing around something that the kids can see and touch and feel, while telling the story. Can anyone else think of anything that can help incorporate movement in a Sunday School environment?

There was one other thing that really struck me from the book. Page 145 says, "We noticed that we learned as much from failure as from success. In fact, the way one learns from success is predictable and leads to repetition, but the way one learns from failure is always different and surprising, rich with nuances to be mined at a later date." I love that! I consider myself to be creative in certain ways. I'm not an artist by any means, I'm not a musician. But I do try new things all the time with kids...like, I'll think of a game on the spot, and go ahead right then and try it! If it works, great! If not, we'll move on. I do tend to keep doing things that work, however, and I should probably try to mix that up a bit. Keep the kids learning by keeping them guessing!

Preschool Potential: Tuned In

2010-04-12T16:55:00.000-07:00

Here is an excerpt from K! Magazine, by Karen Apple for all you EXPLORERS teachers!:

In an effort to discover the cause of my sincere dislike for school, my mother began a "mom reconnaissance mission." She climbed the schoolhouse stairs, peered in the window, then suddenly burst through the classroom door. "BOYS AND GIRLS," she demanded. The stunned children climbed off desktops and jumped down from the chalk rails. Bending over the crying reacher she whispered, "You're the adult here. I'll teach you how to keep the children tuned in and excited about learning." A super hero in a "mom suit" rescued me from frightening chaos! The secrets to her success were her leadership skills and a plan to help children learn self-control.

Tools as simple as a definition, a plan, and an environment can make all the difference.

A Definition
Discipline - Training that develops a child's self-control. Children who learn to listen to loving leaders will find it much easier to obey God's Word.

A Plan
Set the guidelines and explain them to leaders and kids. Then, point out the rule to the child who forgets, ignores or disobeys it. Children need clear and age-appropriate boundaries to feel safe and to know they can succeed. make guidelines fit into simple categories: Leader, Others, Me. These categories provide guidelines for hands, ears, voice, and feet. Repeat, review, and reinforce the guidelines often in loud, soft, wacky and fun ways.

Give clear and specific instructions. Kids will be less likely to run in the hall if, as each child leaves the room, you whisper the secret in each child's ear, "Walk in the hall." Ensure a direct path to large group by clapping a beat as you repeat, "Walk, sit, criss-cross applesauce. You can do it, yes you can."

Define the consequences. Give one warning and follow through. If the consequences are fair and consistent, the children know what to expect. There's nothing more confusing to a child than having the anvil fall on him when the other guy got a pass. Continually reinforce the concept that following the guidelines makes life so much more pleasant. "You can sit next to your friend when you keep your hands in your personal space."

Reward good choices. Something as small as a touch, a wink or a nod can communicate volumes to a child looking for approval. But if you want to send a child over the moon, sing his name in a song. Sing "Jason is a good helper, he puts the toys away," and all the children will fall all over each other gathering toys. Sit a small plush puppet on a child's shoulder saying, "Amanda, you are one amazing and kind friend!" This puppet's favorite word is "amazing".

An Environment
The environment you create helps kids stay tuned in and excited about learning.

Preparation and Relationship
A leader who is completely prepared with crafts, games, toys, activities, and lesson can be involved with the children. A child's relationship with his leader is one of the most important motivators to good behavior. When a child feels loved, encouraged and accepted, he wants to please his leader. A child gets a picture of pleasing God when he succeeds at pleasing his classroom shepherd.

Organization
No dead air. Be so organized that there is no lag time during worship and story time. Make your goal to move seamlessly between activities.

Kids love to do what they're currently ready to learn. They're ready to learn categorizing, color and symbol recognition, scanning from left to right and so much more. Toys placed in color coded and picture labeled bins make it easy for kids to put toys away without anything more than a "toys away" song and some team effort. Use a song: "Toys away, don't delay. Help your leader have a happy day." (Any tune will do.) Turn car tubs on the side. Kids can gather cars and "drive" them into the "garages". Post a leader or a very savvy child at the toy shelves to put the tubs away by category from left to right.

Vary the schedule
Alternate active and quiet activities and songs to help children learn how to reign themselves in.

Transitions and Cues
Help children learn to control themselves by using transitions and cues. Parents tell me their children use those fun tools at home with their friends and family. Start an "imaginathon" and your leaders will develop their own "T's & Q's" (transitions and cues). When used consistently, the following activities are golden!

How old are the children? That's how many commands they can remember.
"Don't do ANYTHING until I say GO."
"Quietly stand up, push in your chair, sit on a carpet square."
Repeat pointing to a finger with each instruction.
Hestitate, "GO!"
"Today the number is 6. By the time I count to six, all the toys must be in the tubs." Slowly count to the number, occasionally reminding kids about the goal.

Key words

Occasionally remind kids what the key words mean and be sure all the leaders use the same words: control, personal space, banner is at the door, lock (be sure you tell them to unlock mouths), kitty cat slippers, wiggle, freeze!

Create ways to make key words more fun. Use a flexible, plastic shower hose to whisper the key word into each child's ear. Silence reigns as each child waits to hear his personal message.

A parent told a leader who provided a fun, yet controlled environment that his generally out of control son was very upset when he announced they were skipping church. "I have to go to church," he sobbed. "My teacher will miss me. She just loves me." We learned later that church was the first place where the boy could control himself.

A remarkable leader has a plan and creates an environment in which each child can succeed, have fun, listen and grow.

Developing Storytelling Techniques

2010-04-08T19:03:00.000-07:00

Another excerpt from my Intro To Christian Education Textbook, Christian Education, Foundations for the Twenty-first Century: (pg. 123)

"Within the art of teaching, nothing is more engaging than effective storytelling. Though some people naturally do it better than others, anyone can learn to do it better. Several guidelines are worth considering.

Feel the events of the story. Much of what we read in a Bible story, for example, describes real events concerning real people. While Jesus told some fictitious stories (parables), even in such cases he showed a careful concern for reality. Understanding these principles will help you become a better storyteller:

Real people have real feelings (emotions), not just disembodied information systems called brains. Thus, thinking always occurs within some combination of emotional colorations.
Various people's reactions and feelings about a certain situation are reasonably similar. Few difference occur simply because of the passage time. The disciples' reactions to Jesus' declaration that "one of you will betray me" must have produced the same sort of shock, dismay, and suspicion among the disciples then as it would in our times.
Learn to find central purpose in any basic story. Telling Bible stories give excellent practice and appropriate illustrations of this skill. The entertainment value is secondary to the purpose revealed in the content. Imagine the reality of the story by personalizing it. Adopt the voice and the "lines" of one or more characters in the story. How does it feel to be there?
Learn to tell the story simply and clearly. Make it your own experience as you tell it. For example, in the central story of John 4, one apparent conclusion is that the Samaritan woman of Sychar became the first large scale community evangelist. Discover and draw out the emotions and feelings of the situations described.
Learn to interpret a story well. This ability depends on being able to relate faithfully to both information and feelings."

Principles of Jesus' Teaching

2010-04-08T06:56:00.000-07:00

Here are five principles found in Christian Education, Foundations for the Twenty-first Century of Jesus' teaching practice that can guide our own practice:

Jesus' teaching was authoritative. Jesus taught as one who had authority (Mark 1:27), a fact demonstrated by his actions and words. His authority was authenticated by the content of his teaching and by who he was as a person. the content of his teaching was the revelation of God, ,for he spoke with the words of god the Father (John 14:23-24). In addition, Jesus' life and ministry authenticated the authority of his teaching.
Jesus' teaching was not authoritarian. While being authoritative, Jesus' teaching was not forced or imposed upon his hearers (John 6:60-69). Jesus specified the costs and demands of discipleship and encouraged his followers to make personal commitments of their choosing. Once having delivered the message, he allowed the individual to confront the truth and come to his or her own conclusions.
Jesus' teaching encouraged people to think. Jesus stimulated serious thought and reflection in his teaching content. He expected his hearers to carefully consider their response to many inquiries, he did not provide simple, ready-made answers to life's problems. Jesus expected his students to search their minds and hearts in relation to his teachings and to consider the realities of life. In encouraging others to think for themselves, Jesus posed questions and allowed for questioning.
Jesus lived what he taught. Jesus incarnated his message faithfully in his life and ministry. Before commanding his disciples to serve and love one another as he had loved them (John 13:12-17, 34-35), Jesus demonstrated the full extent of his love by washing his disciples' feet. He then further demonstrated his love by laying down his life for his friends (John 15:12-13). No one had ever personified or embodied instructional content as much as Jesus.
Jesus had a love for those he taught. Jesus loved his students, his disciples, in a way that indicated the deep longings of every heart for an intimate relationship with another person and with God. This relationship of love with Jesus was also characterized by an equal concern for truth as the Master Teacher communicated it.

Jesus: The Master Teacher

2010-04-08T06:44:00.000-07:00

The Content Of Jesus' Teaching.
Below is an excerpt from Jesus The Teacher: Examining His Expertise in Education. Jesus taught in many, many different ways. Here is a list of observations about Jesus' teaching (I bolded and colored ones that I think particularly apply to children's ministry):

The teaching situation is complex, though it may easily be resolved into its essential elements: teacher, student, lesson, aim of the teacher, method of teaching, and environment
The conversation of Jesus with the women of Samaria is an object lesson in teaching in all these respects.
Jesus began by winning attention through openers that centered students' interests; then he established some point of contact with his hearers on the physical or spiritual plane.
As a teacher, he was not only a tactician with methods but also a strategist with objectives. His greatest objective was to share with people that sense of union with the Father that he enjoyed.
Jesus based his teaching on the vital problems in the lives of his students.
Though he was not a Greek, he was ready to converse in a profitable way as was Socrates, and he led a more public life, though shorter, than did Socrates.
He asked and answered questions to stimulate self-expression, desiring conviction rather than persuasion on the part of his followers. His questions are better than those of Socrates because they are mostly of a kind other than leading.
He used discourse at many different times before many different groups on many different themes, but always in a more or less informal way.
He told stories with a point, the parables, which his listeners did not always understand but which always made them think and led the spiritually minded to inquire into their meaning.
He knew and used the Old Testament Scriptures, both for the needs of his own soul and as a common meeting ground with the religious minds of his day.
He never let an occasion slip but utilized it as it arose to clarify thought and to guide life.
The principle of true learning is recognized in his words: "He who has ears, let him hear," and all his parables present the less familiar in terms of the familiar. Even so, he was often misunderstood.
He used the principle of contrast to make real the portrayal of truth, concrete examples to bring the abstract near, symbols to make, if possible, difficult meanings plain, and wonderful imagery to enhance to appeal to the imagination and so to lead people to conviction.
He cared more for individuals than for crowds, though he would often minister to crowds, perhaps with a view to reaching individuals.
He trained his disciples as witnesses of him, by personal association, individualizing instruction, and meeting the needs of each one.
The work accomplished by Jesus and through others, under his tutelage, was based on high motivation because of the awakening spiritual and altruistic impulses rather than those of personal advancement.
In a most interesting way, Jesus probed the depths of human nature and touched on most of the innate reactions of man, though some, like rivalry, he did not conspicuously appeal to, and some, like sex, he sublimated.
All the methods of impression he used were but means to expression. Jesus was far more pragmatic than either idealistic or mystic.
Jesus appreciated childhood and made its characteristics identical with those of membership in the kingdom.
In a way not surprising but confirming our previous impressions, Jesus embodies those qualities of the teacher commonly set up as ideal.
As we followed these discussions, we doubtless discovered repeatedly that the problems of teaching that we ourselves face are similar to those that Jesus faced and that the solutions he found will greatly assist us in our work.

Jesus is the master teacher. Have we made him ours?

Understanding Learning Styles

2010-03-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

This little except from Teaching Kid Authentic Worship, by Kathleen Chapman, is extremely important for all of us to hear as ministers and teachers to kids! I'll definitely try to read back over this now and then to remind myself!

"Do we know what our children are spiritually grasping on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis? Can we teach so the message will stick in their hearts? Will they get it when we teach the meaning of worship from God's Word?

"Children have diverse learning styles that affect how or what they hear. There are many opinions on how many learning styles actually exist, but the four basic ones that I've found valuable in teaching theater are visual, kinetic, language, and logical.

Visual learners need to see things. They like to see colors and objects, and they learn through images. For example, they love to watch Bible stories being acted out.
Kinetic learners process knowledge through physical sensations. They commicate with body language and gestrues. They like to participate in musical choreography and actually do, rather than watch, the acting in dramas.
Language-oriented learners think in words and verbalize concepts. They are great tellers of Bible stories.
Logical learners think conceptually. They are the "wonderers" who ask all the questions.

"Spiritual giftedness, personalities, and various temperaments also have an impact on how kids learn and respond to learning. If you teach the same lesson to ten kids at the same time, each will digest the material differently!

"Six-year-olds will not get the same meaning from a lesson as nine-year-olds. Consider the following: Two sisters had the same teacher for children's church. The lesson was about the feeding of the five thousand from Luke 9. The six-year-old told her folks their lesson was about a little boy who shared his lunch and how we should learn that Jesus wants us to share. Her nine-year-old sister said their lesson was about Jesus performing miracles. They had the same teacher and the same lesson, but they arrived at a different understand.

"Have you ever heard of a sermon that every adult in the congregation processed exactly the same way? A senior pastor has staggering odds against him. During a year's worth of sermons, parishioners hear only haf the intended messages (and personally apply even fewer of those), though they faithfully sit through every service.

"Look at a few of the variables involved in an audience of one hundred adults: age, economic and educational differences, spiritual maturity, gender, stress levels, fatigue, and health. Different people hear the same sermon in very different ways. The best way to know if a person understands a message is to ask follow-up questions. The pastor is at a disadvantage because he lacks question-and-answer time.

"The same variables and true for an audience of children, but we can ask questions. Where children are involved, so much is at stake! If we don't reach kids for Jesus by the age of twelve, the likelihood of ever doing so is slim.

"When I think of all the 'lessons' our kids hear in age-appropriate church classes without having a clue what they mean, I shudder. Imagine what they don't grasp sitting in an adult church service! We assume far too much when it comes to children's interpretation of spiritual and biblical language.

"Recently, a seven-year-old girl announced to her parents that she wasn't going to pray anymore! Surprised, since prayer had been a big part of their everyday family life, her parents asked why she would say such a thing. She explained, 'Why should I talk to God when He never talks to me?'

"She assumed God spoke aloud to her mom and dad. All other adults in her life referred to things God had told them, but she had never once heard Him talk. She had tried her best to hear God speak but had failed to hear His voice. So she decided to quit talking to Him.

"Many children get lost in adult vocabulary. Their maturing in the Lord stops the moment they accept Jesus.

"We waste so many valuable years because kids don't comprehend what we say in church. My Christian experience was only somewhat important to me as a child. I liked going to my classes at church, and unlike some of my friends, I never rebelled against attending. It was a nice, social, predictable part of my existence.

"When I was six years old, I accepted Jesus, asking Him to 'come into my heart.' I really understood it because my parents painstakingly explained it to me. (However, one of my friends was frightened at the thought of someone cutting her chest open to get into her heart!)

"I remember having the act of baptism carefully explained to me as well. The same ritual ensued when I wanted to take part in communion. Those three areas had clarity.

"The majority of the other 'Christianese' spoken by my parents and church leaders lost a lot in the translation on the way from my ears to my brain.

"We are, as teachers and parents, interpreters of God's Word, translating it into a child's language. We are dictionaries defining things and encyclopedias explaining things to help children know God better--enabling them to worsihp Him.

"We may have to repeat and vary the process many times. Every child is different. Each one grasps information at his or her level of understanding. Therefore, in talking about spiritual truths, we need to turn around immediately and ask each child what was just said."

Living a life of WORSHIP

2010-03-22T20:07:00.000-07:00

I just found the new focus of my week, month, year, LIFE! WORSHIPing God. I am a veteran Christian, a life-long believer. Since I could believe, I was believing in God!! Prayers were practically the first words upon my lips. And yet, I never took this particular concept about worshiping God to heart. Worship is about GOD. Not about me. Not even about things God is doing for me. Worship is about HIM. Therefore, even saying, "I love you so much, God", isn't worship. It's not focused on him, it's focused on me. It could be praise! Praise is about us--our response to what God has done for us, thanking Him, serving Him, but worship is about God and the actual things that he has done!

I'm reading a book right now that is really opening up this whole new world to me, and teaching me how to teach it to children! Teaching Kids Authentic Worship. It's amazing! I highly recommend reading it!!

This research came from a desire for a great worship curriculum to teach to our new Kids Worship Band. We started it with 6 great kids this past Wednesday, March 17th, and we'll be teaching the kids a short worship lesson every week! I'm so excited to really delve into God's Word with these kids, and worship God with them!

Social Media Advertising!

2010-03-22T19:26:00.000-07:00

Social Media is no doubt rising in influence in our daily lives. Some of you may not feel it, but in the world of ministry, it is necessary that we take steps to get involved in the conversation. Children and teens ARE spending an increasing amount of time on the internet and in front of the tv, and we need to be a part! The following articles may help you understand this point of view, I know they did for me!

Facebook Approaching World Dominance

Media in the lives of 8- to 18-year olds

Cool church with a Facebook service!

How Do I Teach Students Who Seem to Know It All?

2010-03-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

How Do I Teach Students Who Seem to Know It All?

Here is a helpful little reminder about how to teach children the same old, same old but with a fresh attitude and heart! I believe even lessons you've never taught before should included these principles. There's a quote I love from a writer named Frank A. Clark that I think about a lot in Kids Ministry. Mr. Clark said, "There's nothing that can help you understand your beliefs more than trying to explain them to an inquisitive child." Please click the link above, read, and enjoy!

Toddler Learning Styles

2010-02-02T20:34:00.000-08:00

I just stumbled upon this awesome article about Toddler Learning Styles put out by this month's Gospel Publishing House e-mail newsletter! Click here to view.

Toddler Nursery Teachers & Helpers, please read! I love great insights into the world of children! So interesting. While we're talking about little ones, here's another article/video teaching about how to minister in the nursery setting. Click here to view.

Thank you all!! You're amazing!

India Missions!

2010-01-31T07:40:00.000-08:00

I am leaving for India in just 8 short days...so much to do in those 8 days! Please keep the team in your prayers, so many of you have donated your time and money into helping with this project, I am just so humbled and grateful for everything you've done!

For those of you going on a missions trip in the future, just trust God!! I've been on 8 missions trips (India will be 9!), and I can tell you, it's a little nerve wracking sometimes, but God ALWAYS brings the money in. When you put your trust in Him, He follows through for you. Thank you all!!

Prayer Partners Schedule – India Team 2010
            India is 10 ½ hours ahead

Monday, February 8    Travel
                              9:00 am – meet in Stroudsburg to pack & tag suitcases
                              12:00 noon – leave for airport
            6:10 pm – Fly out to India
Tuesday, February 9                Travel
Wednesday, February 10  Orientation
                               1:15 am (India time) – arrive in New Delhi
Thursday, February 11       Child Visits
Friday, February 12        Women’s Conference – Hope Center
Saturday, February 13  Children’s Conferences – Carmel Center (rental)
Sunday, February 14    Church ministries – Grace Karuna & Carmel
Monday, February 15   Children’s Conferences – Hope Center
Tuesday, February 16   Pastors & Wives Conference – Central Bible College
Wednesday, February 17  Team trips – Taj Mahal or Shopping
Thursday, February 18  Travel
                              Leave for US -9:50 am (India) – arrive 6:40 pm (US)

Pray for:
Safety of our team
Health of our team
Rest and strength of our team
Spiritual impact on everyone we minister to
Healings to take place
Miracles to happen
People will receive the message of salvation
People will be set free from bondage
Pastors, wives, and children will be encouraged and filled to overflowing
Revival will begin in India

Explaining baptism to kids!

2010-01-16T11:21:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!

We are having a baptism at Freedom Valley on February 6th! Only a few short weeks away, so those of you who teach or minister to young children, may get some questions. You are always welcome to refer them to me, however, I've found some really great information online from other Children's Minister's who have found some awesome ways of explaining it! Here's the link: http://www.cmconnect.org/forum/topics/explaining-baptism. This site, called CMConnect.org, has TONS of great information about Kids Ministry on it! When you are done reading the comments and posts about baptism, please feel free to peruse the rest of the site for valuable tips and insights into the world of teaching children about God!

Thank you all for serving with me!

Candace

First and Foremost.

2010-01-07T12:55:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone!

This is a secret blog of sorts...only for my Freedom Valley Kids Staff Members and anyone wanting to learn more! Kids Ministry is hot right now in the church world, but you may not realize that if you aren't in the loop, so here is your chance to get in! I will be posting articles and links and notes from conferences, and anything that I've learned from, so that you can learn along with me!

So here's how you can get updates: First, I'll send the link to a new post to everyone that has an e-mail listed on our CCB site and is a part of our Kids Staff Group. If you've served in Kids Ministry recently, you should already be a part of this group. If you don't know if your e-mail is listed, please log onto freedomvalley.org, and click the tiny little sign up button at the bottom of the left and add in on our new online church database! Second, I'll post links on my facebook and twitter, so search for me on either of those sites, and you can get your updates that way as well. You can always return to read old posts anytime at ffreedomvalleykids.blogspot.com.

This blog will also be used as a training blog! From time to time, I may post video trainings or podcasts. I'll update you every time though, so you won't miss a thing.

Thank you all for doing such a great job with our Freedom Valley Kids!

Candace Pringle