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Backyard Evangelism for Children's Ministry

An exciting form of outreach in the perfect location for reaching kids.

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Make recruiting fun while you purposefully involve your volunteers in the process.

The Big Picture

This is an object lesson or a group activity which will help explain that God sometimes has a different perspective than we do. Isaiah 55:9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Family Fun Devotions: Reminder Rocks

Exciting family fun night with devotional on Joshua 4.

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Use interactive elements to engage your preteens and hold their attention.

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Kids are encouraged to meet with God first thing in the morning to ask for encouragement for their day ahead.

May 2012 Premium Download: Drive! VBS from TruthQuest

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Review: Spiritual Parenting & BIG GOD!

Karl Bastian reviews Michelle Anthony's books, Spiritual Parenting and The Big God Story.

Keepin' It Simple

Karl talks about ways to Keep It S.I.M.P.L.E. in your ministry when you are starting to feel overwhelmed (Post includes an MP3)

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Preteen Boys/Girls Focused Study

I want to do a an overnight with my 5th-6th graders (split boys/girls) with a focused study before they move up to the Student Ministry. Anyone have ...

CDL is it worth it?

Thanks a bunch, that is exactly what I was looking for!...

Kidmin Talk #31 - The Art of Kidmin War

Military strategy is quite fascinating, how is it that rather equipped armies can make fatal errors yet small forces sometimes conquer impossible odds...

Kidmin Talk #31 - The Art of Kidmin War

Military strategy is quite fascinating, how is it that rather equipped armies can make fatal errors yet small forces sometimes conquer impossible odds...

Class teaching evaluation

There is a "successful" talk in my church asking if the materials we choose to teach kids achieve the objectives we set out to do.  Is ther...

#204 NT Overview: Lessons 11-20

Does this have any Curriculum in it? ...

Kidmin Talk #31 - The Art of Kidmin War

I am reading that book right now, as well as No Man Left Behind!Art...

CDL is it worth it?

MinisterJoel,  I am a Children's Minister and have just recently went through the same ordeal.  However, I pursued and obtained my CDL in th...

discipline in church

I just accepted a children's pastorate at a good sized church.  Today was the first Sunday.  I have lots of cm experience and have never had discipli...

Kidmin Talk #31 - The Art of Kidmin War

Very excited to have Joel host the show this week, I leave Thursday for Yosemite Summit! I should probably explain Joel's reference to me giving him t...


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The sixth episode of "The Kids Church Cooking Show", a training video for The Kids Church Cookbook, takes a look at the many ways you can use games to enhance your teaching in children's church.


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From The Kidologist, Karl Bastian

 

Rough First Sunday in Kid's Church...

Someone posted in the Kidology.org Forums about a really tough first Sunday as kids pastor with discipline in their first Sunday's Kids Church. We've all been there, haven't we? I wanted to post my answer here, and encourage others to jump on over and share their words of advice and encouragement as well:

Their Post:

I just accepted a children's pastorate at a good sized church. Today was the first Sunday. I have lots of cm experience and have never had discipline issues with kids. These kids walked in and read to tear the person leading limb by limb. I didn't know the names so I could call their names (even though we made name tag), and I was fully prepared. I am going to find a smaller venue to hold kid's church. Seems that the larger room (gym) kids just want to run loose. I asked what they really liked to do in kid's church for future planning and they said playing games in the back (foosball, etc) They are only in kids church maybe 30 min. It was a rough first Sunday. Any feedback?
My Answer:
First of all, (I hate sounding like a sales plug, so if you can't afford it, e-mail support and we'll send it to you for free - but consider getting The Kids Church Cookbook - the whole sh'bang - it will help you from planning, recruiting, creative teaching, and using kids on your team - TONS of help, over 270 pages and 7 training videos. While I hate "selling" - helping folks like you is why I wrote/created it, after teaching over 1000 kids church services I've learned a few things, as I was once where you are. [:s] It will help you turn things around, and save me from writing a book in this post. [:o] Like I said, if you sincerely need it free, just ask for it. My gift to you! I want you to have it if you can't buy it. But I do know people tend to use what they invest in. So if you have a budget, invest in yourself.
Sounds like you need help, get helpers so you aren't correcting kids from the front, that is a joy-killer and makes the tone negative. You need to the positive one, and get others to do the correcting. And I can't encourage you enough to start a kids krew (My K.C. Krew) turn those trouble makers into your helpers! When kids are involved, they can't criticize. Of course, its not overnight, but it makes a huge difference. Even if you have to cancel children's church while you get ready, so they sit in "Big Church" for awhile to realize it is a privilege to be there.
If things are really bad, you may need to establish control quickly with some clear rules -
1) Stay in Your Seat.
2) Raise Hands to Speak.
3) Follow Directions.
4) Have FUN!
(Let them know #4 can only happen when 1-3 are being followed.)
Then you have a three warning system per child, and after three warnings, they get a week out of kids church. You'll gain control really fast when they aren't allowed in Kids Church. You have to gently, kindly, soft voice but with tough love just say, "I'm not sure how things were before, but this is how I'm doing things now. I won't have that."
A verse I will share with you that you CANT share with a parent (!!!!) is Jesus said not to toss pearls before swine. What they meant was you can't let the rest of the kids suffer because of a few. You love those few, but it is OK to get rid of them for the sake of the rest. They will be back, and they will start to respect you. I have stepped into really bad situations and instituted control and rules and within 6 weeks I had order and obedience because while I had creative and fun teaching - that is not enough. The kids have to know I will not tolerate disorder and craziness. (Unless it is under my direction, of course!)
You are NEVER mean, you don't raise your voice, your face is always kind and your voice loving and soft, but you simply have rules, and they are enforced, with grace and understanding, but you are not walked on by kids. Period. They are not used to that. I've had inner city project kids who will obey me at church, who would not obey at home or school, and their parents are baffled. They ask, "I don't get it, why do they obey you and not me?" And my simple (gentle) answer is, "Well, its because I expect it."
So, my answer is (so much for short) you need help, and you need to set standards, and you need to enforce them, and within 6-8 weeks you can have control of a classroom. But you can't do it alone. AND at the same time, the quality of the program must be improving, but they must be happening at the same time.
Please get the Kids Church Cookbook, even if I must give it to you, it has the answers and tools you need for success!
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