It can be so easy to be so caught up in trying to be sure you have your "bases covered" by having enough volunteers, you end up thinking you do not even have time to focus on supporting the volunteers you have. But, if you do not provide the support volunteers need, you will probably find you are always recruiting because you will not be able to keep the volunteers you have. Consider the following -
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
The Things You Might Forget
Your Fall ministries are about to begin and along with the things you have in store for the children, you likely have evaluated the curriculum you plan to use and have already trained your volunteers. You may have planned out the special events you want to hold throughout the year . . . or at least have an idea of what you want to do. But, have you planned a specific time for meeting with the parents and grandparents? If we really believe they are supposed to be the primary spiritual teachers of their children, then we need to be sure they are "on board" with the things we are teaching and trying to do in the Children's Ministry. Consider the following -
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Treasure Your Volunteers . . . Plan A Special Event!
Monday, August 28, 2023
Teach the "Whys" with Anchored
Over the many, many years where churches have had intentional Children's Ministries, we have done a good job when it comes to teaching the "whats" - what the Bible says and therefore what we believe. But for some reason we never focused on teaching the "whys" - why we are able to believe what we believe. While we absolutely must teach the "whats" we also must teach the "whys" - when we do not, we end up with the results we are seeing in families throughout our churches - where young people are turning away from their faith and many of them are turning to atheism (as Barna's research shows), and growing numbers of people are saying they do not believe the Bible is true (as Gallup's research shows.) If we are going to stop these trends, we must start teaching the "whys" with as much intentionality as we show when we teach the "whats".
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Take the Time - and Make the Time - to Know Your Volunteers!
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Treasure Your Volunteers . . . "Notice"!
Do you treasure your volunteers? Volunteers are a gift from the hand of God . . . it is completely appropriate for us to appreciate these "gifts". Today I want to focus on some things we might do to "notice" our volunteers so they know - beyond a shadow of a doubt - they are most sincerely appreciated! Consider the following ideas -
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Treasure Your Volunteers . . . Do They Really Feel Treasured?
Monday, August 21, 2023
Cherish Your Volunteers!
In just a few weeks our Fall ministries will be starting . . . while there are a number of things which are crucial to the success of your Fall ministries, none are more essential than your volunteer staff . . . it would be very difficult to accomplish the things you want to do this year without them. So, as your new year of ministry begins, make the commitment to truly cherish your volunteers! Consider the following ways to help them feel like the most cherished people on earth -
Friday, August 18, 2023
Hand Down Confident Faith with the little answer book for children
As you have likely noticed, from time to time I write about Barna's and Gallup's recent polls - for a very important reason . . . because we must stand up and take action to stop the loss of the ones we love. If someone does not speak up and ask others to join them, how will grandparents, parents, and church leaders know there is a way to stop what is happening?
Why Are You Afraid?
Thursday, August 17, 2023
No Cookie-Cutter Children's Ministries Now Available
Do NOT Gossip
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
How Do You Measure the "Success" of Your Children's Ministry?
"Anchored Helps Kids Uncover 'Why' We Believe, Not Just 'What' We Believe"
I have been sharing with you about the new supplemental curriculum - Anchored. Today I want to share with you what Joani Schultz (from Group Publishing) says about it . . .
“Anchored takes a boatload of faith questions deep for kids. This curriculum lets children we love (By the way, I love this leadership reference to kids!) wonder, explore, and discover key faith foundations. By exploring unique animals, engaging in science experiments, and delving into fun family activities, Anchored helps uncover 'why' we believe—not just 'what' we believe. The curriculum welcomes discovery so kids can own and solidify their Christian faith."
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Results from Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research Show People Do Not Believe the Bible - Use Anchored to Help Children & Families have a Confident Faith
I often refer to the study from Barna which shows Gen Z is turning away from their faith to atheism at double the rate of any previous generation - you will find it at this link and a couple months ago I shared the new Gallup Poll which shows fewer people in the USA now see the Bible as the literal Word of God as only 20% of people believe the Bible is the literal Word of God - you will find it at this link.
Monday, August 14, 2023
illustrate my own Books ARE for You!
Please share with the grandparents and parents in your ministry - If you are not an artist, or artistic person, when you see a book which you need to provide the illustrations for, you may think it is not the book for you. But, in this case with the illustrate my own Known Bible Hero, illustrate my own Unknown Bible Hero, and the new illustrate my own Important Things Jesus Wants Me to Know books, nothing could be farther from the truth!
Take the Blinders Off!
Friday, August 11, 2023
Make Your Children's Ministry "More"
Thursday, August 10, 2023
illustrate my own - Known Bible Heroes - Noah, Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah, and Ruth
Notice the Children Who Are Only There IF They Want to Be There
I recently wrote about how to know if you are actually really effective in your ministry to children - by keeping track of the children who are part of your ministry - only IF they choose to be there. Today I want to share why it matters so much for us to have a ministry which pays attention to the children who are only part of your ministry IF they choose to be there.
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
illustrate my own - Known Bible Heroes - Jonah, Elijah, & Joseph
Take Time to Listen . . . To Children, Grandparents/Parents & Volunteers
Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Some Facts About Grandparents and How They Impact Your Children's Ministry
Monday, August 7, 2023
Don't Give Up on the Children Who Are There Only IF They Choose to Be There
It is essential for us to measure whether we are successful in our Children's Ministry by the children who attend IF they choose to do so and not by the children who are there because their parents say they have to be there (basically the "church kids".) Today I want to remind you why this matters and encourage you to reach out to those children in your ministry - and those who used to be in your ministry - who only attend IF they choose to do so.
Friday, August 4, 2023
illustrate my own - Unknown Bible Heroes - Enoch, Jehoshaphat, and Moses
What Message are You Sending?
When it comes to your Children's Ministry, do you believe your Sunday school is an important part of what you do? Would you firmly say it is worth the time of the children and families for children to be there on Sundays? If so, what message are you sending if you stop offering Sunday school in the Summer? If it is something you are able to cancel for the Summer - or some part of the Summer, and it is acceptable for children to not participate in Sunday school during those times, why is not not acceptable for them to just write it off and stay in bed the rest of the year?
Thursday, August 3, 2023
illustrate my own - Check Out this New Series
Please share with the parents and grandparents in your ministry - Quite a few years ago I wrote a series of books for children about Bible people. I was motivated to do so because when you see books about Bible people, they are usually about just a few Bible people and there are so many more people in the Bible with fantastic accounts of how they were able to know and walk with God. I enjoyed writing the Bible stories, but am not an artist, so I thought maybe it would be fun to write a series of books with an "illustrate my own" "twist" - the children - and/or families - could illustrate their own books!
What Will You Do to Make a Difference So We Stop Losing the Next Generation?
For several years I have been writing about Barna's studies which show Gen Z is turning away from their faith to atheism at double the rate of previous generations. Today, I want to share a study from Pew which shows the same thing and says the Christian majority in the US will drop below 50% by 2070 - just over forty years in the future - you will find the article at this link.
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Give the Gift of Understanding & Creativity with illustrate my own - Known Bible Hero book series
Children Are Leaving - What Are You Doing?
More and more families in your church are leaving the church, and their faith. This means more and more children are leaving your ministry. Now, some of these children are able to continue to go to church with their grandparents IF the children want to go. This is a big IF. Sadly, more and more children are deciding they do not want to be part of a church's Children's Ministry, so they do not go any longer. What do you do when this happens?
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Don't Forget the Most Important Back-to-School Supply - Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children
Deeper In for Children AND Anchored will Provide the Tools You Need to Equip Children with a Confident Faith!
Those who serve in Children's Ministry do so because they want to help children learn what the Bible says and how they are able to know and walk with Jesus. Most churches tend to do an acceptable job of teaching children the Bible accounts, but do not always do a strong job of teaching children what difference it makes in their lives to know what the Bible says. It is essential for children to learn what the Bible says AND learn what the difference is it makes in their lives to know these things. We must teach both.