in my years in ministry i have never been a part of a 1st grade Bible sunday. today was my first. 🙂 i was so excited to continue in this important tradition of giving 1st graders their very own copy of God’s Word and challenging them to seek it out for His life-changing truths! little did i know what joy it would bring me to hand out Bibles and watch those sweet little hands grip them with pride. i thought to myself, do i hold as tightly to God’s Word each day? am i as thrilled to pick up my very own BIble (of which i have many translations) as these children were to receive their first copy? their fresh eyes and eager hearts were a sweet sight to my soul today. so, i thought i would share some pictures of some of my favorite parts of the morning.
dr. fenton had the 1st graders hold their Bibles high as he shared with them that there is no other book like the one they are holding.at our family celebration lunch, two middle schoolers (one boy and one girl) shared testimonies about how their first grade Bible helped God’s word become a part of their daily lives. they were amazing.families spent time sharing and laughing using group publishing’s gabbit.families prayed over and for their 1st grader!of course we had pictures made with the pastor. look how proud this 1st grader is of his new Bible.1st graders left with goody bags that included a gabbit, a seeds family worship cd (this includes songs made up of only scripture), and a special bookmark that has all the favorite scriptures of the ministers at dawson and their 1st grade teachers.
tap. tap. tap. who knows how long my tire had been making that sound. with my blaring music or loud mouth on the phone, i usually can’t hear the sounds from outside my car. thankfully, today i was sitting in silence and heard the dreadful sound coming from my front right tire. i don’t care for the quiet, but today it allowed me to hear the warning signs from my tire’s damage. i just wish i had been quiet enough to listen earlier, because i ended up with a flat tire in my hair dresser’s parking lot. (don’t worry ladies, of course the tire was put on hold for a much needed color treatment.)
all this led me to think through the effects of the drowning sounds of programs, events, and weekly stresses in ministry. are we heading into a flat or is there an area that is so slowly losing life we will be caught off guard when it can no longer move forward effectively?
there are plenty of “sounds” and busyness that can keep me from hearing the warning signs of ineffective ministry, weary volunteers, concerned parents, or hurting kids. the motions of ministry can become so second nature that stillness must be scheduled to evaluate and seek God’s direction.
i am thrilled and honestly relieved to begin the first of three carved out times of quiet reflection and vision casting with a group of kidmin parents this sunday evening. this is not another meeting, but an intentional time to slow down and seek God’s best for dawson kids. in the first month we will honestly evaluate all areas of the ministry. the second month brings a time of vision casting and formulating a ministry signature that will act as a filter and compass for the road ahead. the third and final phase will include mapping out future ministry opportunies and matching parents to champion each cause that supports our new ministry signature. (the signature comes in step two.)
my time with this group does not end after three meetings. i need these “parent champions” to hold me accountable, to partner with me in ministry, and listen closely to the warning sounds of trouble. hopefully together we can embrace some quiet moments, intentionally be still, avoid flats, and safely stay on God’s directed route.
as i sit in the tire repair shop i can’t help but think that my tire oversight is costing me only money. what a greater cost we pay in ministry if we refuse scheduled stillness and silence to listen for the warning signs.
in less than a month, thousands of those serving in children’s ministry (and many of my favorite people on earth) will descend on chicago for group’s KidMin conference. i couldn’t be more excited. these four short days pack in so much encouragement, inspiration, challenges, laughs and connections for me with my children’s ministry colleges.
this year, i also have the privilege in leading a pre-con and two workshops. (see below) as i have prayed and prepared, i have been so humbled to dive into these topics with those whose hearts beat wildly for kids to know Jesus. i am certain that i will be the one to leave richer for having the opportunity to share and learn from others in the trenches in KidMin.
Branding A Christ-centered KidMin – Pre-Con Why does your children’s ministry exist? If everyone on your team isn’t sure, it’s time for a new direction. In this session, discover your ministry’s unique strengths, weaknesses—and opportunities. Dream, plan,and develop your master blueprint for ministry. We’ll help you strategically brand and cast vision for your ministry so you can inspire, recruit, and retain passionate volunteers and parents. Great for your entire team!
Broken, Burned Out, or Bored in Kidmin – Workshop This is time specifically carved out for you to bring your burdens to Jesus. Together we’ll reflect, release, receive, and rejoice in the midst of our personal/ministry struggles. Through interactive experiences, encouragement from others, and time with our Savior, you’ll leave recharged.
Helping Kids Build a Friendship With Jesus – Workshop We’ll explore ways to be intentional in facilitating a child’s spiritual formation. Experience and explore REAL (Relational, Experiential, Applicable, and Learner-Based) ways to take kids beyond learning to genuine relationship with Jesus.
if you are coming to KidMIn, i would love to connect and chat with you. i also encourage you to plug into a connect group. these meet daily (friday, saturday, and sunday) from 4:45-5:45p.m. information will be posted on the connect group board. we have great groups with some amazing leaders. here are the groups you have to choose from: large church, first two years in ministry, men in CM, bivocational ministry, student of CM, special needs, small church, urban ministry, women in CM, married to a CM, early childhood, family ministry, burned out in children’s ministry, multi-site ministry, volunteers in children’s ministry, canadian children’s ministers, senior pastors, preteen ministry, rural children’s ministry, children’s ministry veteran, and thriving in transition.
september 28th can’t get here soon enough. are we there yet?
for 13 years i have stood on the safe side of change and talked to group after group of 6th graders that were entering a pivotal point of transition in their lives. tonight is different. tonight i stand before a group of kids that i’ve shared 95% of their children’s ministry time with, but left two and a half months shy of their 6th grade graduation. tonight as i speak to them about their new season in life, i stand waist deep in mine. tonight, i am not full of answers, quick fixes, perky cliches, or empty promises. the only thing i am full of tonight is peace.
tonight as i share, i don’t want to recount the past or even dwell on this colorful cast of characters. what i can share with them tonight is that no matter what is written in the next chapter of their stories, if their Salvation is in Christ each stroke is written by a mighty Author.
when they begin to experience that change is hard, they can know that the One who holds the pen has a strong, secure hand.
Hebrews 6: 18-19 “God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,”
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
when they start to feel alone in the newness, i can assure them of a Savior that will never leave them or forsake them. (whether it “feels” like it at the time or not.)
Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
when their new adventure begins to take them to new heights that can often be scary, i can remind them that their Creator is the strength in their feet.
Habakuk 3:19 “The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.”
when the world seems to win and they become weary, i can remind them our God is faithful to give them a safe place to rest.
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
in a world full of faces causing them to just long to be known, i can confidently say their Creator knows them better than they know themselves.
Psalm 138:13-16 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
and when it all may feel like it is not worth it, the snares are many, and the goal line distant, i can challenge us all to continue the fight. because, when we see Jesus, this vapored life will be a no more.
Hebrews 12:1- 3 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
we all have a story, and it is in the time of transition i believe we are tested to see the level of our trust. may we each seek to become less, so that the Author of Life, Jesus Christ receives all the glory. oh how i want a story worth sharing even between chapters.
YUC XIV 2011-2012blessed to have done ministry with these sweet friends.
last may i was overwhelmed with a personal sense of urgency when i read anne graham lotz’s newsletter challenging believers to “live like they were going to see Jesus.” this truth i know in my mind, but struggle daily beholding it in my heart and actions. fast forward a year, and i was challenged again last week when reminded from a friend that our time is short. this statement coupled with “live like you are going to see Jesus” struck a chord in the children’s minister in me. we don’t have much time. days are fleeting and the fraction of the week we get with the children is minimal. oh how we must be solely devoted not only with our personal walk, but with the precious time we are given to minister to children.
so, as i was wading through all we do in kidmin and how it barely fits into the time we are given, i was struck afresh at how our goal should be nothing less than the Gospel. not events, not moral truths, not just fun and relationships; our job as those privileged to minister to children is to point them to the Gospel. you can’t stumble into this. you can’t hope it happens. plain and simple, we have to be intentional.
i brought this challenge to our dawson kids investor training this past week. as i shared with them, i also asked them to help me infiltrate this goal into all aspects of our kidmin. as we grappled with this challenge, we started to flesh it out a bit. i divided the room into eight groups, each taking a slice of what makes up dawson kids ministry. their questions was, “what would the Gospel being the goal look like in the area of:” large groups, small groups, week before preparation, class prayer time, seeing kids in the hall, music – kids worship – cooperate worship, early arrival time, and seeing kids around town. with this one goal came only two rules: 1) no sunday school answers, and 2) don’t write down anything you are not willing to do.
their honest answers allowed me to see the hearts of this volunteer team i am just beginning to get to know. they so long for children to see and experience Jesus. how excited i am to see all God will do through such a dedicated team this year. i have shared their lists below and hope to hold our team (starting with me) accountable this year to making the Gospel the goal. what ideas could you add to helping make the Gospel the goal in all areas of kidmin?
week before preparation
-pray for each child by name
-don’t put off preparation
-study the lesson all week (meditate on it daily)
-think of ways to introduce the Gospel
-be friendly to the children
-learn their names
-be ready to take late children and make them feel welcome
-be early to the classroom
seeing kids in the church hallway
-remember names and speak
-build relationships by asking about them
-maintain past relationships
-smile and tell them how glad you are to see them
early arrival
-ask, what has God done in your life this week? what did you learn about God this week?
-remove distractions (toys brought, if they seem upset talk to them about it)
-friendly welcome, by name. ask something specific to what the child cares about
-be early so that you are able to greet the children
large group time
-make connections between the bIble and their lives
-tie each lesson back to Jesus
-help them like sunday school
-make every child feel accepted
small group time
-tie the activity/craft into the lesson
-enforce scripture reading
-engage each child (eye contact, names)
-contact outside of church
class prayer time
-voice sentence prayers
-talk about each prayer request
-have children lead in prayer
-follow-up on requests
-positional prayers
-an open line – any time
-learn verses to help children with learning how to pray
children’s church, music, coorperate worship -use music that hides God’s truth in their hearts
-participate with kids in music. be an example
-use the Bible on their level. make it meaningful, applicable, and personable
seeing kids outside of church
-know their name and recognize something about them
-stop and take time to speak to them
-speak to the parent about them/brag on them
-try to attend an event they are involved in
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