Posts Tagged ‘Tuesday’

Posted on September 22, 2009 - by rfrank

Tuesday Talk: Jerry Meadows

Tuesday Talk is a weekly feature on my 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:
Jerry Meadows answers the question, “How can children be involved in world-wide missions?”

Traditionally, there has been one mission question and one answer: “Whom shall I send?” “Here am I, send me”.  We must broaden the idea of missions involvement and make sure every believer, regardless of age, has a strategic answer to, “how are you involved in missions?”.  Here’s 5 avenues of involvement you can pave with your own creativity.

1. Prayer: An 11 year old boy in the Dominican Republic who is wheel chair bound due to severe scoliosis and brittle bone disease rolled up to his caregiver and declared that he wanted to die. His life would never be worthwhile. His caregiver put her face near his and said, “you can help change nations if you learn to pray. Can I teach you?” He has become a mighty warrior and is involved in missions.  We must challenge our children with the same passion.

2. Correspondence: Through emails, skype, blogging…your children can learn about culture, felt needs, and real life around the world in real time.

3. Gift in Kind: When your kids give some thing to meet a legitimate need they will be energized to do more. I’m convinced that kids despise cute projects with grandiose tag lines. What they really want is to meet a need.

4. Offering: Yep, good ol’ cash. Challenge them to give their own money not their parents. When they relate to the project you will see 5^th graders willing to give their birthday cash and 2^nd graders ready to do neighborhood chores to earn money.

5. Visits: Encourage your missionaries to come and share their personal stories. Consider children/family mission trips and involve your whole ministry as senders.

Jerry Meadows has served the local church for over 20 years. He is the Global Outreach Director for CURE International and coordinates with CURE’s Spiritual Directors doing children’s evangelism in 10 countries. His family (wife, Michelle and daughter, Chelsea) live in Mechanicsburg PA and have served on many short term mission trips. He enjoys speaking engagements, golfing and vacation time in Northern Michigan.

Posted on September 17, 2009 - by rfrank

Thursday Talk: Dienna Goscha

Tuesday Talk is a weekly feature on my 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, I’m running a little behind. So it’s Thursday Talk. Please forgive me.

This week on Tuesday Talk:
Dienna Goscha answers the question, “How can a children’s ministry improve their special needs ministry?”

The majority of churches are smaller churches without the means to run a separate special needs ministry. These churches, however, can effectively minister to special needs kids.

Parents want to know that the church cares about their kids. Simply taking the time to sit down with the parents and find out what that child specifically needs speaks volumes about the love the church has for the child.

Also, research the particular need the child has. Visit national websites and personal blogs that shed light on the child’s challenges. Be creative in your own particular environment with the knowledge that you have gained to maximize the chlid’s experience. Make sure that all teachers involved with the child understand the special challenges the child faces and is equipped with specific solutions to these challenges that they can implement. If a child needs one-on-one attention, find volunteers and schedule them to be the child’s “buddy.” Be sure to stay in contact with the parents as the needs of the child will change.

Most importantly, surround the child and the family with love and compassion so they know that they are not alone.

Dienna Goscha, co-founder of River’s Edge Curriculum, has a passion for creating an environment where children can connect with Christ in fun, relevant ways. She has twenty years of experience leading children’s ministries in churches. She believes that church should never be boring because knowing and loving God is the most exciting thing a child can do. Her creativity is the cornerstone for developing and writing children’s church curriculum.

Posted on September 8, 2009 - by rfrank

Tuesday Talk: Ryan Wolfe

Tuesday Talk is a weekly feature on my 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:
Ryan Wolfe answers the question, “What are five ways that a video camera can enhance your children’s ministry?”

Using video in ministry is a necessity. I probably don’t have to sell that point. What some people may not realize is that something as simple as a video camera can breathe new life into your ministry. It can…

Take your ministry beyond the walls of your church. We filmed our children signing worship songs and our leaders teaching VBS style lessons. These DVDs were handed out to families along with craft kits and, bingo, we had a Backyard VBS in 12 different neighborhoods totaling over 200 kids.

Increase Bible memorization. Let me go one step beyond that. It can make Bible memorization fun! We teach our monthly Bible verse in sign language every Sunday on DVD. Kids are learning God’s words in 2 languages.

Make training meetings successful. What is more frustrating that having no one show up to a training meeting? Film your trainings and send them home on DVD with your Team Members or post them online.

Make your praise time come to life. Do you feel like your kids are zombies during praise time? Put a video camera on them and tell them you are making music videos. Then actually use those videos for praise time the following week.

Increase retention for vital announcements. Kids often “misremember” critical announcements because we don’t always have their attention. Film a child or a teen giving the announcement like it is an infomercial. Your kids will be glued and will not forget those important announcements.

Ryan Wolfe:
Married to a Superhero (Melissa)
Father to 2 of God’s finest creations (Rocco & Zoe)
Family Pastor at First Christian Church in Canton, OH for the past 7 years
He’s blessed to work with 500+ children every week
Where else could he go to get paid to be a big kid?
Training kids and equipping parents is his passion

Posted on September 1, 2009 - by edoyle

Tuesday Talk: Len Banks

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:
Len Banks answers the question, “What are some tips you can share for branding your children’s ministry?”

I think the first thing you should know about branding your ministry is that you don’t have to be an artist! It is about being consistent with a theme, keeping your eye out for using items in a different way, making every activity or event represent it, and anchor on colors and logos. We are Surf’s Up, a surfing theme, and all my age groups are named based on that; tide pools (nursery), boogie boards (preschool), short boards (grades K-2), and long boards (grades 3-5). Our logo is blue, orange and white and those colors show up all over our room, print materials…everywhere! I have place mats from IKEA as wall decorations, color tissue paper varnished on the walls for color blocks, a surf board as a basketball back board and another one as a hanging light shelf, and 50 pair of flip flops walking the walls from the lobby to the main room. The last four years of VBS curriculum all were ocean, island, water themes (the outer space one may be better but it doesn’t fit our culture and branding so I just tweak, if necessary, the one that does). I also think it is important to pick a brand that fits your culture more than it just being a cool “Christian” name. We live in Half Moon Bay, CA home of the Mavericks surfing contest, so Surf’s Up fits us. If agriculture or baseball or mountains are your regional culture or environment – then key off of that. That creates immediate relevance, identification and ownership. It just feels right. Have Fun!

Len Banks has been a minister for over 20 years now working in all areas from youth to lead pastor, music to mens.  Currently he is the Associate pastor at Mariners Church in Half Moon Bay, CA with areas of responsibility as executive pastor, children’s pastor, and all arts, media, and web.  He has been married to Diane for 23 years and has a 15 year old daughter, Nikki.  Together they love travel and all things Disney.  His current obsessions are Starbucks Venti Americanos, his Apple MacBook Pro and his Mini Cooper S.   You can connect with him on Facebook or his church site MarinersCC.org.

Posted on August 11, 2009 - by edoyle

Tuesday Talk: Kenny Conley

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:
Kenny Conley answers the question, “How do you manage children’s ministry in a multi-site church?”

This question is a can of worms. There are as many versions of multi-site as there are denominations, so execution will vary by strategy. However, two words come to mind in regard to multi-site, both as the person leading and those participating.

Collaboration and compromise.

Multi-site offers the unique opportunity for teamwork to impact different audiences. This type of collaboration allows a team to get more done with less people. The positive side of this is that since you have a team helping you get things done programmatically and administratively, it gives you more time to lead your teams and pastor kids and families. The down side is compromise. Although you have a voice collaboratively, compromise is a part of the whole team (multiple sites) heading down a road, maybe one you weren’t in favor of.

I communicate this clearly to new people coming on staff. There’s no room for lone rangers here. For those already on the team, encourage them to find ways to take advantage of the collaborative team and spend more time leading and pastoring and less time behind the laptop.

Kenny Conley is the Next Gen Pastor at Gateway Church in Austin, TX.  Kenny brings 11 years of Children’s Ministry experience in leading multi-age ministries (cradle to college) with a multi-site strategy.  He lives in NW Austin with his beautiful wife Sara of ten years (this July) and his ruggedly handsome two year old son Titus (this June). Kenny avidly blogs at www.childrensministryonline.com.

Posted on July 21, 2009 - by rfrank

Tuesday Talk: Dale VonSeggen

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:
Dale VonSeggen answers the question, “How can children’s pastors help grandparents in the church?”

1. Include grandparents in your communications to parents regarding activities, issues, volunteers needed, and general information.
2. Don’t underestimate the spiritual influence grandparents can have on grandchildren (Example: Timothy in the Bible)
3. Plan some children’s ministry or seasonal events specifically to include grandparents and children.
4. Tap the abilities, strengths, and experiences of grandparents that are still very capable and active.
5. Organize an “Adopt-a-Grandparent” program to connect grandparents who have no grandchildren close by with children who have no grandparents near.
6. Celebrate and honor grandparents with a “Grandparents’ Day” or even possibly a “Grandparent of the Year” or “Grandparent of the Month” emphasis.
7. Facilitate service projects that can connect children with grandparents…visiting homes, raking leaves, pet shows, bake-outs, talent shows, rock-a-thons, or any such activity that promotes acquaintances and mutual respect and appreciation.

Dale VonSeggen received his BA in mathematics from Olivet Nazarene University and his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University. Dale and his wife Liz’s family ministry One Way Street became a full time job for Dale in 1987. He devoted all his time to writing, publishing a wide variety of children’s ministry resources, and founding many regional, national, and international training events for workers with children and youth.  Dale’s hobbies include traveling, reading, collecting camels, attending sporting events, and spending time with his grandchildren. Dale and Liz reside near Denver, CO.

Posted on July 7, 2009 - by edoyle

Tuesday Talk: Sam Luce

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:
Sam Luce answers the question, “How can you use Twitter to enhance your Children’s ministry?”

1. Communicate with volunteers.
I have started the process of using twitter with my volunteers. I created multiple accounts. One is for Small group leaders, another for Logistics (the check in security crowd), a large group one for our producers and communicators, and a preschool one. At a campus level I created one for each campus for updates on a broader scale that would be helpful for parents and volunteers.

2. Communicate with parents.
This year I plan on communicating from camp primarily though twitter updates. Praise requests, fun quotes from kids, kids saying Hi to mom and dad. I hope to use it as something we can build from year to year.

3. Communicate vision, values and best practices.
As more of our volunteers get on twitter I will use it as a reminder of our vision and how they can practically put to action our vision and values through small practical tips. Another thing that is great is the ability to send links that point volunteers to blog posts and videos that will help train them to be more effective in what they do. Again making ministry specific twitter user names is essential to keep people zoned in on only the twitters that pertain to them.

4. Communicate with loads of kids pastors.
As a kids pastor if you are not leveraging Twitter to connect with and learn from other kids pastors you are nuts. Twitter is by far the best place to get instant feedback to know if an idea is good or stupid. To find out what other kids pastors are doing that is working. Also if you are using Fellowship One or 252basics there are many others that are doing the same so twitter can be leveraged in a huge way to collaborate with others doing ministry in with many of the same tools you are.

5. Communicate with Ryan!
Lastly through the power of Twitter you can learn that Ryan (@r_frank) likes hot dogs.  (Editors note: Because we always knew you cared!)

See you in the Twitterverse!

Sam Luce has been the children’s Pastor at Mt. Zion Ministries Church in Utica, NY for 11 years. He is passionate about reaching kids and equipping families. Sam is married to his beautiful wife Sandra they have two boys and their first girl. For more info about Sam (and his brief stint as a Twitter fugitive) go to www.samluce.com.

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.