kidmin | dandibell

In kidmin

recruiting you can’t do

February 1, 2017 No Comments

sometimes we simply can’t communicate the gut level honesty of service like a volunteer. that is why when i received a copy of this email at the end of our kidlife (vbs) last summer, i knew i wanted to use it as a recruitment tool for this summer. i don’t think i have ever heard a more beautiful description of serving with children. i took her precious words and added pictures and the video below is the final product. may God use it to stir many to serve, but also to reveal Himself to those that step out in faith.

https://vimeo.com/202071552

In kidmin

looking back to look forward to 2017 vbs

January 26, 2017 No Comments

this week is the week we reveal dawson’s 2017 kidlife theme. while we have been working behind the scenes for months, our vbs leadership team will hear the theme and daily truths for the first time. before coming to dawson i thought i never wanted to write and craft my own vbs. why would i, there are so many great vbs publishers out there? here it is a tradition, as is calling vbs “kidlife”, and while it has challenged and stretched me, i have to say i love formulating a plan and theme for our culture and community.

so before we dive in to this year’s theme (which so excites me because the 1st-5th grade daily themes are based on the Gospel project’s, the gospel God’s plan for me) i thought i would look back to my 3 biggest takeaways from last year’s vbs.

staff involvement – i serve with an amazing staff and i was blown away by all the ways they made our 2016 kidlife a greater experience for all the kids that came. (i blogged about that here and here.) we want to make sure to build on that concept from last year, so we brainstormed this year’s theme with staff back in december. i am thrilled about some fun things we have up our sleeves for them. (some of them don’t have a clue what is coming for them, but they are amazing servants that jump in and become a part of kidlife.)
the mascot – we love champ and our friendly lion was a great addition to kidlife 2016. from the very moment the kids stepped on our property, champ was there with a high five, a hug or some bling. we can’t wait to take champ to the next level this year since he already has so many friends. last year he was an athlete at the kidlife olympics, this year he has another important job.
intentional Gospel and visitor follow-up – before our kidlife week ever begins we have written, copied and ready to mail letter for guests, kids that want to know more about what it means to become a Christian, and kids that give their life to Christ. we want to build the bridge from the week of vbs to their home. i also love how our ministerial staff are on call each day to be paired up to talk with a child that wants to know what it means to be a Christian. i am a big fan of one-on-one conversation (out in the open of course) with children ready to make this decision. we want to make sure they understand the truth and we are there to guide them through this important time. our ministerial staff also take time to go meet and email the parents of each child that doesn’t mark a church home on their registration form. it excites me to know that new families not only hear from the kidmin staff, but also another minister ready to help them with any questions.

check out our kidlife recap video below:

my thre

In kidmin

recipe for family worship – #kidminsummit

January 21, 2017 2 Comments

i was so excited to be invited back to a great event my friend nate holder puts on for his association each year – the etowah baptist association kidmin and stumin summit. one of my breakouts for this year is on family worship. below are my notes for this workshop.

before you think this post is all about adding another worship service or event to your already busy kidmin calendar, think again. as we explore this topic i am going to ask three things of you:

think out of the box. family worship doesn’t just have to be a time of worship with families.
how can you apply these principles to events/program you already have in place in your ministry?
quality verses quantity – families are busy. make sure the times you plan areprayed through and well crafted. offer less that is better than a whole lot of more.

now i believe in simple steps so i can focus on what is most important – Jesus. so this is my checklist, or recipe if you will, for family worship experience.

after i shared the recipe we experienced this model in six different activities.

[tabs slidertype=”top tabs”] [tabcontainer] [tabtext]Creator play-dough[/tabtext] [tabtext]sin stinks[/tabtext] [tabtext]salvation stairs[/tabtext] [tabtext]sin isn’t a secret[/tabtext] [tabtext]heaven blocks[/tabtext] [tabtext]God’s Word and me[/tabtext] [/tabcontainer] [tabcontent]

read colossians 1:16-17 God created everything. God is in charge. God is Holy and the boss of us. give families a jar of play-dough. allow them to decide what they should make with their play-dough. as the families shape their play-dough, pretend the play-dough is speaking to you and says it is not happy with the shapes they have decided and it wants to be something else. give them another shape to form. say the play-dough wants to change shapes several more times. (you will hear the groans.) families discuss: should the play-dough decide what it should be made into? how is this like us trying to tell our Creator what to do? families take home the play-dough.

read romans 3:23. share that we can’t ignore sin. ask who is hungry for a snack. bring out very burned popcorn and share it with the class. (remember smell is a great sense to make an impact.) tell the families you are going to just pretend the popcorn isn’t burnt and they should just eat it. after they look at you strangely, explain that you will just pick off all the burned parts and surely they will eat it. of course, no one wants the popcorn. you can’t pretend it isn’t burnt. discuss as families: how is this sin like our bag of popcorn? families take a snack bag of popcorn home.

romans 3:23 and romans 6:23 go to a stairwell and get all the children to stand at the bottom of the stairs and the parents stand at the top. ask one of the dads to play the part of Jesus in this experience. turn tot he children and ask what is separating them from Jesus. (the stairs) explain the the stairs are hot, hot lava. the kids can’t touch the stairs, the rail, the walls, or leave the stairwell. ask them how they will get to Jesus. allow kids to think of fun ways. (i.e. try to fly, try to jump, etc.) families discuss: what was our problem on the stairs? how do the stairs represent our spiritual problem? families take home lava rocks.

as a family read romans 5:12. the family member closest birthday gets wrapped in cling wrap. families discuss: how is this cling wrap and crepe paper like sin? families read: John 8:34. families discuss: what does it mean to be a slave? family activity – stand in a circle and include the person that is wrapped in cling wrap. tell them their goal is to pass the ballon quickly around the circle five times and everyone has to take their time passing the balloon. families discuss: how does being a slave to sin affect those around us? as a family read: 1 john 1:8. families discuss: what if the person at the just tried to pretend they weren’t wrapped in saran wrap? how is this like us pretending we do not sin? family read 1 john 1:9. families discuss: what does 1 John 1:9 tell us about our sin? now take off your family member’s sin. families leave with cling wrap.

give all family members a yellow lego. read revelation 21 aloud. as this chapter is read instruct family members to write on their block the one thing that excites them about heaven the most. families then are instructed to build something out of their blocks and share everything they wrote. families leave with their lego structure and are instructed to put it in the middle of their family table.

this is done during our 1st grade Bible lunch. families are given take out boxes with lots of spiritual discussion starters. next we read a deuteronomy prayer. family member share when they got their first Bible. kids leave with a devotional book and a bookmark with staff and 1st grade teacher’s favorite scriptures.

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In kidmin

praying the names of God

December 10, 2016 No Comments

let’s face it, praying can be hard. then, when we are faced with trials, storms, circumstances, and struggles we don’t really know how or what we should pray. if it is hard for us adults, it can be equally hard for kids. that is why when i teach a prayer series to kids, i always end with teaching them how to pray God’s character back to Him in their tough situations. this can be quite an abstract concept so that is why i make it as concrete as possible so they see it in black and white, literally.

we begin with children spread out around black (or dark) butcher paper with colored chalk. i tell them to take some time to think of some struggles in their lives and in other’s lives that need prayer. then i give them time to draw. they are encouraged to use symbols or words, but only enough that they feel conformable sharing and that also gives them a little privacy. i try to encourage them to fill up their space. many are slow to start, but sadly have quite a few drawings when time is up.

as we sit and look at their prayers drawn before them, we talk about how many times it can be hard to know exactly what to pray. that’s when i give them a sheet of the names of God. (my examples below) i tell them to quietly read through these names and allow God reveal which of His names speaks to their situation. we discuss how while praying the names of God doesn’t remind God of who He is, He has not forgotten, praying His name reminds us of who He is.

after they have found some names, i then have them switch their color chalk to white chalk. i instruct them to write the names of God boldly over their symbols and situations. (again, i encourage them to fill up their space.) sometimes i play a song like “praise you in this storm” or “come to Jesus” during this time. after they are finished, we look back at the dark butcher paper. what was once full drawings representing needs is now covered in the names of God. we discuss how sometimes we get so fixated on our situations, we can’t see anything but them. that is when we need to be reminded who our mighty God is and see all our prayers through the mighty lens of who He is.

i know for me it is always a reminder that there is nothing i can carry, draw, mourn or worry about that the God of our universe can’t handle. my hope and prayer is that these kids begin to understand this as well and are constantly encouraged to bring whatever they have, big or small, to His feet in prayer and leave it in His capable hands.

below are downloads to two different names sheets i have used. i found these online many years ago.
100 names of Jesus
names of God – source: christianity.about.com by mary fairchild

In kidmin

making the Gospel the center in every spiritual marker

October 11, 2016 No Comments

there are many spiritual markers that dot the timeline during the 18 years a child is in the family’s immediate care. in a recent breakout at #etch16 we discovered how to be intentional about applying a Gospel-centered approach during special times from birth to high school graduation.

in a Bible study i am taking it describes john as a man that had Jesus as the very core of his existence. this really got me thinking about all we do in ministry. let’s not look at these spiritual marker celebration times as programs or events, but a chance to make the Gospel the core of their existence.

Gospel-centered spiritual markers – the whys:
– the goal is the Gospel. without it we have just another event.
– celebrations don’t change lives, the Gospel does.
– these spiritual markers bring many non-believers and/or family members together.

Gospel-centered filter – five question to ask when planning/evaluating spiritual marker events/celebrations.
– is the Gospel at the core of this spiritual marker celebration?
– does it create an opportunity for life-change?
– how is it different than worldly celebration? (is Jesus the takeaway?)
– is the Word of God the backbone of the celebration?
– how will you help families apply these truths beyond the walls of the church?

ideas:

pre birth
– intentionally share Gospel with expecting parents – because so many coming to the church or back to the church in this
season.as this time
– expecting parents have an assigned prayer partner and encourager.
– testimony from Christ-centered, seasoned parents
– challenge families to look ahead with eternal perspective -in the end what matters most?

birth
– hospital visits include intentional conversation and prayer.
– gifts for new parents: prayer book, Bible with babies name, magazines, books

baby dedication
– family mission statement (what kind of 18 year old you want)
– life verse
– letter from pastor sharing the Gospel for kids to open when they are older (8, 13, etc.)
– church challenged to pray and support family
– challenge to families to share Gospel with family through this celebration

new Bible
– God’s Words is how kids learn the Gospel
– highlight verses that outline the Gospel (roman road – Gospel God’s plan for me)
– teacher and staff scriptures to get kids into God’s Word

seeking Jesus
– involve family in this – Gospel class with parents
– share the God’s truth based on scripture
– allow families to experience truth
– kids discuss truth with parents

– family worship
– Creator
– the fall
– redemption
– restoration

new believer & baptism – build on foundation of the Gospel
– new Christian’s class
– how to grow – what’s next (devotional)
– how to study God’s Word family class – help them own their faith.
– Gospel testimony during baptism (whether written or on video).

tween transition
– lesson plan of basic Bible truths taught by church leaders.
– secret prayer partner (a vetted adult in the church that they write letters back and forth with each month. adults are given a topic to write about.) this means there is another adult praying for and investing in that child.
– parents write and read aloud a letter to their child as they transition to student ministry. (important for child to hear the words said not just read.)

middle school
– 3 year discipleship plan
apologetics, spiritual gifts, spiritual disciplines
– mentors patiently pouring the Gospel into middle school
– free standing coffee gift card to talk

purity
– purity commitment service (purity not just to wait, but purity for kingdom purposes)
– coupons to pass or ask to talk

high school graduation
– lead in worship – share testimony of life-change
– special Sunday commissioning them from pulpit
– assign church prayer partner for first year in college
– college Bible and devotion

during this breakout at #etch16, we had participants share ideas they had about celebrating spiritual markers. they were a wealth of great stuff. here are some things they shared:

home dedications – this helps include families that start coming to church when children are older, or for adopted children.
pink and blue party – invite expecting parents and baby room workers and tour the preschool area
testimonies form seasoned parents – structured and Gospel-centered
make a new mom devotional book complete with devotions written by season parents in the church.
parents write letter to child including verses.
senior adults make wooden treasure boxes for baby’s dedication. these boxes hold memories form their spiritual journey.
mentors for new parents
a parent “commissioning” service
home visit after birth and a two week meal schedule
required classes for parents along with milestones (i.e. baby dedication)
personalize baby dedication (fewer vs bunches)
bring new parents to staff or seasoned parents house to partake in a family devotional.
online classes & orientation of the Gospel before dedication
weekend trip with teen – share testimony, Biblical man/womanhood, rite of passage
mother/daughter and father/son events
spiritual gifts assessment to help them feel a part of the body of Christ and begin to serve
take classes of kids to church to observe and take communion after a class on the Lord’s Supper
transition retreat with kidmin and student ministry leaders
parents present Bible to child in new Bible class/sunday
intergenerational service on sunday mornings
high schoolers serving in middle school small groups
high school graduation dinner with staff
for seniors – get a 4×6 photo album. adults write notes and verses on cards. cards and pictures are added to each students album.

About Me

Danielle has over 25 years of kidmin experience and she possesses a great fervor for sharing, discipling, and shepherding children and families with the message of Jesus Christ. Danielle is a well-respected leader and trainer in the area of Children's Ministry and has spoken regionally at local churches and nationally at children’s ministry conferences. She is a curriculum writer for Gospel Project Kids. and Awana brite. She has also written the following resources: “God’s Brave Girl” Leader and Student Guides (Lifeway), “The Gospel God’s Plan for Me” Leader and Student Guides (Lifeway), and the Younger KidMin chapter for “Children’s Ministry Volunteer Handbook” (Outreach). Danielle is the lead instructor for the Children's Ministry Certificate at beadisciple.com. In 2010, Danielle was named by “Children’s Ministry Magazine” as one of the top 20 Children’s Ministry Leaders to watch. Danielle’s blog, dandibell.com, is one of the top 100 kid’s ministry blogs.
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The posts on this site are my own personal opinions. These posts do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the companies I write for or my church.