The children/youth best relate to their teacher when a lesson becomes inter-personal and relevant. Using the multimedia tools only enhances that relationship.

Building that relationship is crucial in leading a young life to Christ. I have used video clips, video lessons, video action music at my summer camps to lead children to Christ, to teach them, and to lead them into Christian service.

In one small VBS setting, we’ve grown from 25 families to 200 families in just 4 years; the youth have now started outreach showing (CIA) Christian In Action by serving at a local gospel mission and children’s hospital.

Since I also choose to serve in the room that I create curriculum for, I see the influence I’m able to add because of being a natural teacher (I taught for 11 years in public schools before joining my church staff). I spend time at every break reinforcing the lesson, checking for understanding, and making sure kids are getting it.

About a year or so ago, we also changed our line-up to add small group discussion time. I think we realized that some kids were leaving without ever having an adult talk to them or ask them what they were thinking about what they heard. We’ve had great responses from leaders with this. They love getting that face time with the kids.

Right now, we are in really high-level methodology talks about our entire curriculum from pre-school to high-school. I already see a shift from creating curriculum that any old warm body can pull off to an environment that only works if the right called and trained volunteers are in the room.