Ryan Frank

Archive for the ‘Chat’ Category

Posted on June 23, 2009 - by rfrank

Tuesday Talk: Patrick Snow

Tuesday Talk is a weekly feature on Ryan Frank’s blog.  Each week, I interview one children’s ministry expert and ask for their answer to a question.  Check back every Tuesday for a new interview.

This week on Tuesday Talk:
Patrick Snow answers the question, “What are some ways children’s pastors can make the message stick with preteens?”

One way to make the message stick with preteens is to be interactive. Involving them in the lesson works great because preteen students are instantly attracted to what’s being taught when they are actively a part of the teaching. They love being involved and they love watching their peers be involved. This can be accomplished by including just one preteen or the whole group.
Building active elements into the message is another way of helping the message stick. Active elements are anything that gets them up and moving such as a game or a dance. The body of a preteen is constantly changing. As it grows, it builds up energy. When that energy is released it can be very distracting. Using these elements not only helps preteens to release that energy during the parts of the lesson that are appropriate, but it also uses it in a way that is beneficial to their learning.
Finally, it helps to bring the message down to one point, and repeat that one point multiple times during the lesson. Repetition is an important part of the learning process. Most preteens need to hear something more than once before they can grasp it.

Patrick Snow sworks at Christ In Youth where he is the Director of SuperStart!, a national-touring weekend event for preteens. Since graduating from Johnson Bible College in 1999, he has been involved with preteen and children’s ministries for more than ten years.  Patrick is the author of the book, Leading Preteens.  He lives in Joplin, MO with his wife, Samantha.

Posted on June 16, 2009 - by rfrank

Tuesday Talk: Larry Fowler

Tuesday Talk is a weekly feature on Ryan Frank’s blog.  Each week, I interview one children’s ministry expert and ask for their answer to a question.  Check back every Tuesday for a new interview.

This week on Tuesday Talk:
Larry Fowler answers the question, “How can a ministry help parents raise modern-day Josephs?”

Wow–there could be so many responses, so let me mention three that I think are key:
1. Don’t let them off the hook.  In other words, never stop talking about the fact that, Biblically speaking, parents are first responsible for spiritual training.  Keep reminding them in every communication that you do, but of course in a loving, encouraging way.

2. Work on motivating parents.  We do a pretty good job of making parents feel guilty, but what do we do to help them to want to raise their kids spiritually?  Use both extrinsic and intrinsic–recognize, reward, celebrate, personally commend, challenge, and whatever else might motivate.  I believe this is the missing piece; the Biblical pattern is clear, and there are certainly enough tools available.  So why don’t parents use them?  They’re not motivated.

3. Give them a target.  Parents are so motivated when they have a target; just let them hear that their soccer player could star on a club team with more practice, and watch them respond.  That’s why I talk about a modern-day Joseph so much: because the Old Testament Joseph story so beautifully portrays what we would like our kids to turn out to be once they leave home.  Then, add intermediate targets–what children should know and become at two- to four-year intervals throughout their growing up years.  Celebrate with and honor the parents who work with their children to reach those targets.

Larry Fowler serves as executive director of global training for Awana, an international organization committed to helping churches and parents raise children and youth to know, love and serve Jesus Christ. He is an author of two books and a speaker to audiences worldwide both inside and outside of Awana. Larry and his wife, Diane, have two grown children and seven grandchildren. The Fowlers reside in suburban Chicago.

Posted on June 1, 2009 - by rfrank

Tuesday Talk: Brent Weber

Tuesday Talk is a weekly feature on Ryan Frank’s blog.  Each week, I interview one children’s ministry expert and ask for their answer to a question.  Check back every Tuesday for a new interview.

This week on Tuesday Talk:
Brent Weber answers the question, “How do you make worship something kids look forward to instead of something they dread?”

I do everything the exact opposite as I remember as a child!  I’m actually not kidding.

We live in an age of Disney, Nickelodeon, and Gaming systems that emulates perfection, professionalism, and quality.  Our kids today are fed and bred in this mainstream culture, and unfortunately that will not change. However, knowing the facts actually provide the answers.  We as Children’s Leaders need to understand that we too should give our best and do all things with excellence.  This is an article needing more explination I know, but in it’s simpliest form, kids deserve our 100% best efforts.  Too often the mentality of ‘it’s just kids’ rears it’s ugly head from some of us and even our volunteers.  That is a poor beginning and often times excuse.  Our true beginning is accepting that we will die giving our best for our kids!

Once accepting this call, we can then move on to programming, variety, attention limits, personal capabilities, worship, and spirit lead opportunities.  God does amazing things through those who give their all!

Brent Weber is the Children’s Worship Pastor at Perimeter Church in Duluth, Georgia.  With 17 years of Children’s Ministry experience Brent is known for his creative passion for kids and families experiencing Christ in exciting and life transforming ways.  He lives in Cumming, GA with his wife Renae, and their three children: Sky, Brody, and their little princess Kalee.