When You're Too Old For Children's Ministries...

I had a conversation with a youth pastor today that made me think. He asked if I would ever do anything other than children's pastoring in the future. I've been asked and thought about it many times before. But we had just ended a conversation about my father. He's a former children's pastor of almost 30 years and currently the lead pastor of a small church. My youth pastor asked if my dad would ever want to be a children's pastor again.

I cannot speak for my father, but he is an example of several that I know that moved from children's ministry to another ministry when they got older. Will I ever be too old for Children's Ministries? Some move on because they receive directive from God to do something different. Some do it because of physical limitations. But some do it because they feel they have ceased to be relevant to an ever changing culture of new children flowing in to their ministry. To this last group I reply, "Hogwash."

Several teachers in my ministry still serve and teach children in their 70s and they are still doing an amazing job. I remember people who made a difference in my life when I was a child that wouldn't have recognized a single TV show, toy, or video game I liked. They loved. That's all. They loved me and taught me the Bible. You don't need cool illustration videos, flashing lights, and a large VBS to reach kids. As the song says, "All you need is love."

A person does have to pour quality and energy into what they present to kids, but love far outweighs the latest ministry trends. If you do flannel graphs and object lessons well enough, any child will still listen to you if you're giving them a good healthy dose of love. It's not the method that captures a child's attention, it's the deliverer. Anyone who still loves kids and can communicate with quality is still qualified to work with kids no matter how far out of touch they are with current trends. This doesn't diminish the value of such trends and technology as useful additional tools to help you minister effectively, it just means that these are not essentials in order to make a valuable impact.

So someone over 50 please read this and serve in your children's ministry. And to my future self: Please remember what got you into this thing in the first place. Serve the kids. They're more important than the communication methods you choose. You're never too old.

Object Lesson: How Much Is God Worth?

How Much Is God Worth?

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew 13:44

OBJECTS:  Remote control, nice watch or ring, sports ball, and a Bible.

MAIN POINT: God is worth our time, our money, our energy, and even our injury.  He is worth everything we have.

Hello boys and girls.  Do you see this watch?  Pretty nice isn’t it?  What do you think this watch is worth?  Seventy-five dollars perhaps?  I could find the receipt and tell you how much money was spent to purchase it, but what if it was a gift from someone I love?  That would make it worth more to me than just $75.  It would have “sentimental” value.  I would have an emotional attachment to it.  So, this watch is worth $75 plus my sentimental attachment. 

            This is a TV remote control.  This remote control and I have spent a lot of time together watching TV.  What would you say your TV is worth?  A couple of hundred dollars perhaps?  Well, it’s certainly worth more than that.  You spend hours upon hours in front of it.  You probably spend more time watching TV than you do on homework and eating combined.  That means that the TV is worth not only money but also your time.  By watching your TV for hours on end, you show that it is worth investing your time into it.

            This is a football.  How many of you play sports?  What would you say your sports or hobbies are worth?  Well you obviously spend time on them.  You also invest your energy.  TV takes your time, but sports are worth more than just time, they are worth time, effort, practice, energy, and sometimes even injury.  If athletes gets hurt, do they quit and never play again?  No, they keep working to recovery and get back into the game, They show that their sport is worth injury. 

            What is God worth?  Is he worth your time?  Is He worth your money?  Is He worth your energy?  What if you get made fun of or even hurt because of your love for God?  Is He worth injury?  God created the universe, he created you, He gave you life, a home, a family, food, clothing, and if you’ve asked him to lead your life, He’s even forgiven you of your sins and given you eternal life!  When it’s time to give your tithes and offerings do you give joyfully, or would you rather spend the money on a watch?  When it’s time to pray and read your bible do you do it joyfully, or would you rather spend the time in front of the TV?  When it’s time to sing, dance, clap, and shout in worship do you do it joyfully, or would you rather spend your time and energy on sports?  God is worth so much more than a watch, TV, and sports.  Jesus told a parable that told how much God’s kingdom is worth.  Let me read it to you.  (Read Matthew 13:44) So you see, God is worth everything we have.  Give him all he deserves, He’s worth it.

Kidz Matter Pro

Okay, I've been testing this site out for a few months and I think it's definitely worth the investment. KidzMatterPro.com is a resource site for children's ministries that includes networking, videos, games, and more. I've found that it pays for itself in the video clips alone. Sign up for an annual subscription and you have access to anything they provide for an entire year.

Kids And Tragedy

In my opinion as a Children’s Pastor, I believe the number one thing North American children struggle with is fear.  Sometimes they don’t even know what they’re afraid of or how to articulate how they feel.  When tragedies occur, we adults can sometimes fuel the fear without knowing it just by the way we speak around the children.  When violence or disaster strikes, we panic and wonder how we are going to discuss it with our children.

The answer is that you don’t have to say anything. You simply pray for the people affected and move on.  If the kids bring up the subject, which they probably won’t, you can just help them understand that no matter what terrible things happen to us or around us, God will always take care of us. The bigger of a deal we make out of it, the more we feed the fear. The kids don’t need to worry about such things unless they bring up questions. In which case we simply remind them of Gods promises and move on.

We don’t have to avoid or sugar coat the truth, but violence and sin are not new problems in our world and have been happening every day for thousands of years in every country in the world.  But God’s promises are just as true when we see the tragedies as when we’re not noticing them. 

Philippians 4:6-8

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Welcome To My World 6

Frog Sunday School

Object Lesson: Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

SCRIPTURES: Luke 2:10-11

OBJECTS: Wrapped present, Christmas ornament, Christmas music, Christmas cookie (enough to share if you wish), a baby Jesus from a nativity set, and a Bible.

MAIN POINT: The best part of Christmas is Christ coming to save the world. 

(Start playing Christmas music as you enter) Merry Christmas everyone!  Don’t you love Christmas?  Everyone loves Christmas.  It’s the most wonderful time of the year.  Everyone seems to get along better, everyone walks around humming Christmas carols.  (display the ornament) Some people’s favorite part of the season is the decorations.  Who doesn’t like hanging ornaments on the tree, stringing lights on the gutters, and putting the wreath on the door.  Some people just drive around the neighborhoods for the sole reason of looking at the lights and decorations people put up.  (display the cookie and distribute to kids if you wish) Then there’s the food.  Christmas eating is some of the best all year.  Deserts rule the season with candy canes, cookies, fruitcakes, and pies.  How many of you have a favorite Christmas treat?  But of course, everyone knows the real favorite part of Christmas.  You’ve probably already told your wish list to your grandparents.  (display the present) It’s the presents!  Waking up Christmas morning to see all those packages under the tree is one of life’s greatest joys.  All the pretty wrapping and bows enticing you to tear them apart and litter the living room rug.  Everyone loves opening that new game, outfit, or toy and tearing apart the package to use it the first time.  Then you get to see your family’s face light up as they open the presents you got them.  What fun.

All these things are the favorite parts of Christmas that make it such a wonderful time of year.  These are the things that take up most of our time, our attention, and even our love.  You spend a month Decorating, shopping, baking, and singing.  There’s nothing wrong at all with these joy-filled traditions.  But, there is one more part to Christmas that seems to take a back seat to all the fun traditions.  There’s one more part that we kind of try to remember or fit in somewhere between the lights and wrapping, but it never gets our full attention.  (display baby Jesus). 

I think you know what this is.  It’s a baby Jesus from a nativity set.  Presents, decorations, music, and food are wonderful.  But Jesus should be the first thing we celebrate, not the last.  Jesus should be the most important thing we remember, not the presents.  Jesus is the best, most wonderful, most joyful news this world has ever gotten.  God, sent to earth to save the world.  (Read Luke 2:10-11)  Did you hear that?  For ALL PEOPLE.  The people of the world were dying in their own sins and God sent us a rescuer, a hero, to die in our place.  No part of Christmas traditions can ever be better than this news.

We honestly don’t know when Jesus was born.  It probably wasn’t in December.  But this is the day we’ve chosen to celebrate the birth of our Lord.  This is the day we set aside to remember his miracle.  Let Jesus be the focus of your decorations.  Celebrate Jesus in your meals and treats.  Give and receive gifts with the love of Jesus.  Sing songs that glorify Jesus.  And most of all, like the angels, spread the good news that Jesus came for all people as the savior to rescue us from our sins.  That’s the best part of Christmas.  

Welcome To My World 5

Teacher Tips 10 "Make It Spiritual"

Lots of what we teach the kids is not from the "stage" but in our conversations "off stage." By that I mean, lessons taught when you're not in presentation mode are sometimes the most important.  So make it spiritual.  When a kid comes to you feeling sick, don't just get them water; heal them in the name of Jesus.  When a child tells you of trouble they're having with a bully, don't just give them advice; ask them how they can love and minister to the bully.  When they are misbehaving, don't just correct the behavior; direct them toward a desire to please God with their decisions.  Every part of life is spiritual.  We need to remember that.  We especially need to remember that when talking with the kids of stage.

Stairs or Slide?

I believe these should be installed in every stairway in every church.  Bet it would end up being more often used by the Children & Youth Pastors than it would be by the kids.

Teacher Tips 9 "The Dreaded Paper"

Ooh.  Few things tell the children that you are nervous or unprepared more than "the dreaded paper." But the pastor gave you a lesson and you've got to do everything it says or you might mess it up or forget something.  you think You need the organized thoughts of "the paper" to stay on track.  But the truth is, "the paper" is holding you back.  Sure, you might hit more details if you read it, but you'll lose the kids' attention.  It's okay to have it with you, but don't use it to teach.  Reading from a page cuts off your audience because you lose eye contact.  When you worry about missing details, you'll start hesitating, pausing, and checking the paper.  All that does is give little minds time to wander.  The key is to simply understand the basic point and how it applies to your object or character.  The paper is nothing more than a starting point.  Kids would rather listen to what YOU think than what the paper says.  I suggest simply reading your lesson through a few times at the beginning of the week and then put it away and digest it for a while.  Then when you get in front of the kids, it's YOUR lesson.  You won't remember every detail from the paper, but you'll be connecting with the kids.

Welcome To My World 4

Children's Ministry Deals

Children’s Ministry Deals is an “Everything in one place” super site.   They’ve got deals on tons of great resources.  They always have giveaways, curriculum, games, graphics, leadetship tools, preschool stuff, elementary stuff, youth stuff, lessons, videos, worship, and more.  At the very least it’s worth your visit.  They might be giving away the very thing you need.  Just click the logo above or go to www.childrens-ministry-deals.com.

Let The Trail Carve Your Path

I just had an amazing conversation with Pastor Ray Noah, lead pastor at Portland Christian Center.  I've been digesting it all week.  We were discussing possible changes we wanted to make in our church to alter some patterns that had historically hindered some ministries.  I voiced my opinions about what needed to change and why, then he thought about it and shared this story.

A while ago, Pastor Noah was a pastor at a different church.  They were having building and construction issues that necessitated the pastoral staff offices to be inside a detached outbuilding.  Before the staff relocated, it was requested that a sidewalk or path be put in to allow the staff to get to the offices without walking through the grass and dirt.  A path was immediately put in that led from one particular parking lot to the offices.  As time progressed, most of the staff found that it was more convenient to park elsewhere and walk up to the building from another direction, which became their regular pattern despite the fact that there was no path.  The walkway was seldom used.

A while later, different building and construction issues necessitated the congregation to park in a new location and walk around the building to enter via the main doors.  Pastor Noah notice all these people having to walk through the grass and dirt to enter.  He asked Bryan the building manager to put in a walkway so that people had a nicer and safer place to walk.  A few weeks went by and nothing was done.  Pastor Noah spoke with Bryan and asked if he had forgotten the request for a walkway.  The building manager replied that he had not forgotten, but he was waiting to see where the path formed so he could lay in the walkway where people were already traveling.  Sure enough, a little path began to form where foot traffic was heaviest and a nice winding walkway was placed under the feet of the churchgoers.

As pastors, leaders, and teachers, we have the responsibility for prayerfully seeking God's vision and plan for the people we lead.  We have the responsibility to cast that vision to people and lead them into executing the plan we believe will best attain the goal.  Sometimes we get overambitious and begin to lay the path in front of people without first stopping to consider where they are already walking.  People seldom change their patterns to accommodate the plans of others.  When casing new vision or planning the future of your ministry, make sure you aren't trying to force people into a mold that doesn't fit where they are and what they're already doing.  It's true that sometimes major changes are necessary to get where God wants to lead us and sometimes that means people will not be willing or able to change to follow where God is leading.  Don't be afraid to follow through on big changes just because people don't want to follow you.  But, don't assume you need to change the culture or patterns of your church just so you can make your church or program run the way you want it to.  Watch and listen to people and find out where they are in life.  What do they need?  What are you planning that they perhaps don't need?  What other parts of their lives are demanding their attention?  Watch where the path forms before laying the walkway.

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Teacher Tip #8 "You Can Fake Energy"

You can’t fake the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  You can’t fake a heart of worship. You can’t fake love.  Don’t ever try.  But you CAN fake energy!  There have been countless times I’ve gotten up in front of the kids to lead worship or teach and I’m tired, sick, sad, or flat out don’t want to do whatever it is I’m doing.  Although you cannot manufacture something spiritual to give the kids, you are allowed to manufacture enthusiasm for their sake.  They learn by your example, so whether you feel like it or not raise your hands and dance.  They are drawn to your energy when you preach and teach, so suck it up, smile, and pretend you’re excited.  It’s not okay to fake who you are or what you believe, but it’s almost essential to fake the get-up-and-go liveliness and enthusiasm kids need to connect with you or the subject mater.  We can manage it for the 10 minutes we’re on the stage.