9 Things They Didn't Teach Me in College about Children's Ministry

9 Things They Didn't Teach Me in College about Children's Ministry reads like a children's ministry survival guide! It's something you could keep in your back pocket (literally, because of it's size) and refer to as questions come up in your mind about leading a healthy children's ministry.

After reading this short and insightful book chock full of leadership insights, I felt like I just left a one day children's ministry basics conference! What I found to be most powerful about this quick and easy read is the way Ryan Frank prioritizes and presents his thoughts. He takes a new leader down a path that creates a firm foundation and a seasoned veteran on a journey of reflection and evaluation that includes a little head nodding and amen!

My top five 9 Things insights:

• The million-dollar question in children's ministry leadership is not about a program, model, or leadership style. It's about this: are kids being changed to become like Jesus?
• Effective leaders do everything possible to make volunteers feel valued and appreciated.
• Get your senior pastor on your team, and be on his team.
• Before the close of each week, ask yourself: With whom did I connect this week to expand my network? Whom did I encourage? With whom did I share some creative ideas?
• Get a prayer team together and ask God to show you what he wants to do in your church. After all, you work for him.

So, are you now ready to read this book? Standard Publishing blessed me with two copies, one to review and one to give away. To win your copy, leave a comment or Tweet this; "Check out @kidminupdate's review of @r_frank's new book and win a copy for yourself here http://bit.ly/iejuY0"

I will pick a winner on Monday.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Awkward...

I recently had one of those tough and awkward conversations with a parent, one that you never actually think you will have and then, bam!!

As this parent was picking up her preschooler, she overheard the kidmin team member singing "Jesus loves the little children" and she was offended.

Offended? Why?

Her concern was the use of colors in the song to represent different ethnicities; "red and yellow, black and white." Her explanation was valid. She is raising her child to view everyone as equal and this song represents a negative connotation to a persons heritage.

Well then, okay! Although I have not been presented with this view before, it gave me something to think about. I assured her that the point of the song goes along her thought pattern that everyone is equal, or "precious in His sight." I also told her that as a leadership team we would discuss her concerns.

My personal thought is that the song itself is just fine, it's simple, straight forward, and has a positive point. It's unfortunate that there is extra baggage added to the words used.

Your thoughts?

Go ahead, ask!

We just recently sold our house, praise the Lord! All the paperwork is so foreign to me, it's overwhelming! I don't sell a house everyday you know! :) We had several people involved to help us through the process. This made me start thinking about people who have never volunteered in children's ministry before. I wonder if serving kids seems foreign to them? If the thought of serving makes them feel overwhelmed because they don't know where to start, or "how to fill out the paperwork."

Do you know people like that? What about your friends who aren't serving, have you ever considered inviting them to watch what you do? I am thinking it might not seem so overwhelming to minister to three year olds if there are people there to help them through the process.

I know you are thinking of someone right now, give them a call! Ask them to shadow you as you serve this weekend! Most people are very willing to help, it's just hard to get started sometimes. Go ahead, ASK!!

Can't wait to see you (and your friends) this weekend!

Faith, Hope and Love

moment of truth

How often do you train your kidmin leaders?

I like to think of it as a "every time I see them" sort of thing. My cup is definitely half full, so I encourage leaders every chance I get. As I encourage them, I try to train them as well. This past weekend, I watched a leader check a family in and immediately after the family walked towards the children's area I said, "Great job greeting the "Smiths" I loved the way you gave them directions, feel free to take them to their classroom as well!" His response was such a blessing!! "I didn't know I could do that!" Viola! He didn't know he could leave his post (so to say) to help a family and now he does, I would consider that part of our training.

When you uphold your values, policies and procedures as you interact with volunteers, it's contagious! As we know, people are busy and it's tough to get everyone to a monthly/quarterly training, we have to take advantage of the time we do have them in front of us!

As we think about how to train leaders a comment one my amazing team members said keeps coming to mind. He said; "Each time we volunteer, it's a moment of truth for the church." Wow, does that hit me right between the eyes! We represent our Savior each time we serve, with that in mind, I am challenged to make sure equipping every leader is my highest priority!

music to my ears and my heart

This past weekend my husband and I were sitting in service listening to a great message about embracing grace. One of the verses used was Ephesians 2:8. Almost immediately my husband looked at me and said "Isn't this on one of the Seeds CD's?" This made my heart leap and then of course I started singing the song! Seed's CD's are found at your local christian book store or you can buy them online at www.seedsmusicstore.com.

They describe their music like this;

It's a Scripture-memory tool -- It's a CD full of fabulous music. It's both! Seeds combines songs that use Scripture for lyrics with strongly produced music that is varied in style to create a sound the whole family will love. Each song helps a child (and any adults in the vicinity) memorize one or more Bible verses from the NIV.

I totally dig these CD's, they are a great tool!!

Music is one of those amazingly powerful resources for children's ministry!

What great music have you found for kidmin??

a weapon in church?

A couple of weeks ago, the kids created a "mold" of their face with aluminum foil. There were specific instructions about reaffirming children that they are fearfully and wonderfully made, in fact the instructions were so specific they even said to remind the children not to fold up the aluminum foil into a weapon. Wow, that's pretty detailed!

In one small group though, the aluminum foil was not the weapon.....

As the kids were making face molds with their foil, one first grader struggled to get the foil around his glasses. He tried and tried and tried, and then, the unthinkable happened! A leader from another grade saw him looking at his attempt at a mold and snatched it from his hands saying, "We told you not to create a weapon." The little boy was crushed! His small group leader was crushed, but tried very hard to salvage the situation by telling the little one the other leader just made a mistake, and all people make mistakes right?!?

Our words are so powerful! This little one was convinced he should cover his face, he thought it was a weapon, all because of the powerful words one assuming leader spoke. This is nothing new, Proverbs 12:18 says; "The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

I pray that this weekend we all choose to leave our weapons at home as we minister to His children. Let's all be wise and use our words for healing!

Faith, Hope & Love

wonder and awe

“Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe. And they praised God, saying over and over again, ‘We have seen amazing things today.’” –Luke 5:26 NLT

“Have you ever seen the face of a child when she received a present she wasn’t expecting? Have you ever seen the face of a child when she receives a present she was expecting? It’s the same face: bright eyes, bubbly smile, slight gasps of oohs and aahs, surprise, astonishment, and amazement.

Children teach us mischief and fun. They teach us to appreciate even the tiniest miracles around us. They refuse to allow complacency. They approach every part of life with wonder. I don’t think Jesus ever wants us to lose that way of engaging the world. Have you ever lost your sense of wonder and awe? Misplaced your sense of amazement and surprise? Have you drifted into a rut or redundant routine? Many of us have. The good news is that we’re serving children, and children are the best teachers about wonder and awe in the universe. Learn from your kids this week!”

What a great reminder for me as a volunteer and also as a mom of three amazing children. I need to always be mindful of the wonder and awe God places right before our eyes every day!

Thanks so much for serving God by serving His church, and don't forget to learn from your kids this week!!