Unique, Fun and Easy Family Scrabble Craft!

If you are looking for an activity for families to work on together, one which they can all work on and one which they will actually want to hang on their wall, try this craft at your next family event!

Supplies -

• a Scrabble game - look at yard sales or check your game closet for an unused game - let the people in your church know you are looking for old Scrabble games and ask families to bring one with them - be sure to have extras for anyone who didn't have one and for visiting families
• clear Liquid Nails - or other quick drying, clear, strong glue

Directions -

• have families lay their last name on their game boards
• figure out how to add the names of each family member
• glue each tile in place
• spell out, family, heritage, faith and love on the four tile trays
• glue tiles to tile trays
• center tile trays on the four sides of the game board, glue in place
• hang however you like

This is a craft you even the youngest family members will be able to help make - just help them with the glue and with placing the tiles in the appropriate places! As you make this craft have families talk about what their names mean and how God knows their names and loves them so very much!

Put Feet to Their Faith With a Project Through Samaritan's Purse to Provide Mosquito Nets for Families!

Children always look forward to summer - warmer temperatures and all the activities they can do once again outside! Along with the joys of being outside, come the "pests" . . . mosquitoes. Children everywhere know what it is to be bothered by a mosquito. Sadly in many places in the world mosquitoes are more than just a "bother". They can spread a deadly disease, malaria. More than a million people die world-wide each year from malaria - most of these are children.

As you work with the children in your ministry this summer, consider involving them in projects to raise money for bed nets treated with natural insecticide to kill mosquitoes and keep children safe and healthy. Just $10 provides one of these nets, and sends people who share the good news of Jesus with the people who receive the nets! This is a project the children in your ministry can understand - they all have dealt with mosquitoes - and once they understand how these nets can save lives, you will have children who are engaged and empowered to make a difference!

Along with involving your children in projects to raise money for mosquito nets, involve them in praying for the children and families who receive these nets so they will learn about Jesus and his great love and forgiveness!

I'm Giving Away "The Story NIV"!

I'm very happy to announce I'm giving away one copy of The Story, NIV the Bible as one continuing Story on Friday, August 5th! I love The Story - it gives us the opportunity to experience the Bible like we never have before! As Zondervan says, "'The Greatest Story Ever Told' is more than just a cliché. God goes to great lengths to rescue lost and hurting people. That is what The Story is all about—the story of the Bible, God’s great love affair with humanity. Condensed into 31 accessible chapters, The Story sweeps you into the unfolding progression of Bible characters and events from Genesis to Revelation. Using the clear, accurate, and easy-to-understand text of the NIV Bible, it allows the stories, poems, and teachings of the Bible to read like a novel. And like any good story, The Story is filled with intrigue, drama, conflict, romance, and redemption—and this story's true!"

I - like many of you - have read through the Bible many times, but the Story gave me the opportunity to see the Bible in a chronological sweep of the Story of God, His love, grace and mercy and how He went to incredible lengths to provide a way for me to know and walk with Him . . . which is the point of the Bible. The Story, just makes it easier for us to see this! The Story is available in this NIV edition, an editor for Teens - which I will be giving away at another time - and in two editions for children . . . check my other blog, grandma's cookie jar for info on my drawing for the children's editions of the Story!


Zondervan sent me the Story for review and they sent an additional copy for me to give away! If you have "liked" About the Children's Department using the tab in the "find us on facebook box", then you are entered in the drawing for the Story! If you have not "liked" us yet, please take a moment to do so and you will be entered in my give-away! Please share/repost this so your friends and family can learn about About the Children's Department and get in on all my great give-aways! 

I Have A Winner In My Second-Chance Illustrated Bible New Testament CD Give-Away!

I'm happy to announce Joan Salisbury is the winner in my second-chance Illustrated Bible New Testament CD give-away! The Illustrated Bible New Testament is a treasure trove of a resource you may use at home and at church and provides a wonderful tool to get children reading God's Word! Thank you Joan for reading About the Children's Department and thank you Illustrated Bible for sending a New Testament CD for my review and for making one available for give-away! You can all access, download and print out parts of the Illustrated Bible New Testament for FREE! Check this link for more information!

I Have Two Winners In My Noodle Your IQ Puzzle Give-Away!

I'm happy to announce I have two winners in my Noodle Your IQ Puzzle give-away . . . Debbie Allard and Shanae Williams! Noodle Your IQ Puzzles are fun for the entire family and are great for small groups - be sure to ask important questions about "puzzles/difficulties" in your children's lives and how we can turn to God for help in solving our "puzzles/difficulties"! Thank you Debbie and Shanae for reading About the Children's Department and thank You Discovery Bay Games for sending these puzzles for my review and for making some available for give-away!

"Then Jesus Beat Them Up!" Are You Sure Your Kids Accurately Remember God's Word?

I'd like to share a video clip of an interview with a three year old . . . take a moment to watch it and then consider the following questions.

• Do we really do a good job of accurately presenting God's Word so little ones will remember and understand God's Word?
• Do we ask enough questions after we teach God's Word to be sure what the kids "heard" is what God's Word really says?
• Do we help children with the understanding and living part of teaching them God's Word, or do we leave it up to them to figure out what God's Word means - if anything - to their real, everyday lives?

I once substituted for a sick teacher and taught four year olds about when Moses went up on the mountain, received God's Word and went back to the people to teach them what God said. He told the people to go home and clean their houses, wash their clothes and take a bath because in three days, God was going to talk to them. I taught the lesson, the kids did their work sheets, were involved in activities, had their snack and went home. The next morning I got a phone call from a little girl's mom. She had been visiting the previous day and was in my class. When she got home she insisted they had to clean their house every day for three days! They had to wash all their clothes every day for three days! They had to take baths every day for three days because, in three days God was coming to their house to talk to them! Their mom was concerned they had visited a strange church! I explained the lesson - the family ended up becoming part of our church - and I learned an important lesson. Just because I "taught" a Bible lesson, it didn't mean the children "heard" what I "taught"! Follow-up questions matter - for all ages of children!


What do you do to be sure the children "heard" what you "taught"?

Look What We Will Be Talking About This Week on About the Children's Department!

This week I'll be talking about a variety of things related to children's ministry including considering what we do to be sure the children in our ministries are accurately understanding God's Word! On Friday I'll have another drawing - this time for the Noodle Your IQ Puzzles and will be announcing another give-away! Please join in the conversation this week on About the Children's Department!

Put Feet to Their Faith With a Project Through Samaritan's Purse to Provide Mosquito Nets for Families!

What do you enjoy the most about summer? Is it the warm weather? Is it swimming? Picnics? Gatherings with family? The warmer weather often brings many opportunities for us to enjoy special times with family and friends, but it also brings some things we do not enjoy . . . namely pests such as mosquitoes. For most of us mosquitoes are a pest, but for many people mosquitoes are far more than just a "pest". In many places around the world mosquitoes bring with them malaria killing a million people world-wide each year . . . mostly children.


You can involve the children in your ministry in a project to raise money which you could send to Samaritan's Purse so they are able to provide families with life-saving mosquito nets. Just $10 pays for one treated net and saves a life! Most importantly, as Samaritan's Purse gives mosquito nets to families in need they also share the Good News of Jesus with these families, so not only could you save a physical life, but you could have a part in saving a soul!


What can you do to involve the children in your ministry in this project?

New Give-Away!!! Family Pick - Noodle Your IQ CAGED and RINGED!

I'm happy to announce a special Family Pick - Noodle Your IQ CAGED and RINGED from Discovery Bay Games!  These bent metal puzzles are great fun for families to work on and solve together as well as provide a unique "tool" for use as a conversation starter in small groups at church! Noodle Your IQ CAGED is rated as a medium challenge at level 3 for ages 8+. The challenge is to find a way to remove the spiked metal ball from it's "cage"! Noodle Your IQ Ringed is also rated a medium at level 4 for ages 8+ and it's challenge is to find a way to fit four connected metal rings into one combined ring . . . I found RINGED significantly more challenging than CAGED! 


As your family or small group works to solve these puzzles talk with them about the "puzzles" in their life and how God's Word helps us find the answers we need! Noodle Your IQ puzzles are a lot of fun and are an unexpected way to start important conversations!


I'm happy to say Discovery Bay Games sent a Noodle Your IQ CAGED and a Noodle Your IQ RINGED for my review and are making another of each puzzle available for me to give away! If you have "liked" About the Children's Department using the tab in the "find us on facebook" box ON THE BLOG, then you are entered in my drawing! If you have not "liked" this blog yet, please take a moment to do so and you will be entered in my give-away! It is this simple! Please share About the Children's Department with the people you know so they can be entered in my give-aways, too!  

I Have A Winner In My Robert Pierre "I'm All In" CD Give-Away!

I'm happy to announce Ramel Ranoco's name was drawn in my Robert Pierre "I'm All In"I'm All In" CD give-away! Thank you Ramel for reading About the Children's Department and thank you Robert Pierre for sending your CD for review and for making another available for give-away! Robert's CD releases in four days - on July 26th - and it is one you - and your teens - are sure to enjoy!

Robert Pierre - I'm All In . . . I'm Giving One CD Away On Friday!

On July 26th - one week from today - Robert Pierre's new CD, I'm All In, releases and it is filled with songs communicating a strong message of trusting God, taking a stand and making solid choices. Robert wrote 10 of the 11 songs on this CD giving us a pretty good glimpse into the heart of this young man. Check out these lyrics to the song, "Light The Way" and you will see a young man - he just graduated from high school - who wants to follow where God leads and who is trusting God to "Light the Way"!


When we're lost inside the darkness - Afraid of what the future holds - You have promised not to leave us -You will never let us go (So now)

When I can't see my next step - Your love will light the way - When the path I'm on is all but gone - Your love will light the way

We're out there searching for tomorrow - And barely hanging on today - And though we're overcome with questions - You have answered us with faith (So now)

When I can't see my next step - Your love will light the way - When the path I'm on is all but gone - Your love will light the way

Your ways are higher - Your ways are greater - Your ways are not our own - Your ways are higher - Your ways are greater - Your ways will lead us home - Your way will lead me home


The lyrics for all Robert's songs are filled with the messages you want your kids to hear and while this makes "I'm All In" an excellent choice for your kids, you'll find you also enjoy the music of Robert Pierre!


I'm very happy to be giving one "I'm All In" CD away - if you have "liked" About the Children's Department using the tab in the "find us on facebook" box ON THE BLOG, then you are entered in my drawing! If you have not "liked" this blog yet, please take a moment to do so and you will be entered in the drawing! It is this simple. Thank you Robert Pierre for sending a CD from my review and for making another available for give-away!

Check This Clip . . . It Will Brighten Your Day! :^)

As you go about your work for this day, please take a few moments to enjoy this clip of a three year old's "take" on the account of Adam and Eve!

I'll be posting next week about the things we can do to help the children in our ministries remember God's Word - accurately!

Please share this clip with your friends and family . . . we'd love to see if it can go viral! :^)

Look What We Will Be Talking About This Week on About the Children's Department!

How do you treat your volunteers? What is it like to be a volunteer in your ministry? How can you make being a part of your children's ministry one of the highlights of a person's life? This week I'll be looking at a variety of issues related to how we treat our volunteers. Please join in the conversation!

So, How Can You Help The Children in Your Ministry Raise Money for Mosquito Nets?

My Put Feet to Their Faith ministry focus for the month of July is Samaritan's Purse's project to provide mosquito nets for children and families around the world where malaria is a real and deadly problem. Children understand how mosquitoes are a real pest in the summer . . . they will be able to understand how these "pests" are an even bigger problem in many places around the world and when they learn children die from malaria after being bitten by mosquitoes, they will want to do something to help. For every $10 your children raise, Samaritan's Purse is able to "provide a bed net treated with natural insecticide to kill mosquitoes and keep children safe and healthy. As local Christians hand out these nets, God gives them opportunities to tell families the message of eternal life."

So what can you do to help your children raise money for this project? Consider the following -

Family Pick - Robert Pierre's "I'm All In" CD!

I'm happy to announce I'm giving away one of Robert Pierre's new CD, "I'm All In"! This CD releases July 26th and it is a CD your entire family will enjoy! I really appreciate the strong message in each song on the CD . . . it is the kind of music you want your kids to listen to . . . and the best part is, they will WANT to listen to it! 


You can download some of his songs for free, just follow this link and click on the Robert Pierre EP image for four of his songs, Jesus, You Hold Me Now, Breaking My Heart and Identity. All of these songs are amazing, but I particularly love, Breaking My Heart. Check the lyrics here -

A Special Treat for Your Volunteers!

If you are looking for something special you could make to celebrate your volunteers on their birthdays, for a volunteer of the month gift, or just to brighten a volunteer's day . . . consider making this pie your "signature" volunteer "picker-upper"! (It does have peanut-butter and dairy products in it so be sure peanut and dairy allergies aren't an issue for anyone you give it to.)


At my house when we celebrate birthdays, special days . . . or any day we want to be special . . . we have peanut-butter pie! It is one of the most delicious things on the face of the earth! :^) This is a super-easy recipe . . . no cooking involved . . . and is perfect for a hot summer day . . . or any day, any time of the year! If you give this to your volunteers . . . they will be volunteers forever :^)

Ingredients -

• one box chocolate pudding
• 1/2 pkg cream cheese
• 1 pt whipping cream
• 1/2 cup of peanut-butter
• chocolate cookie crust 
• mini chocolate chips (optional)

Directions -

• whip cream
• mix pudding - use the pie directions on the box
• cream peanut-butter and cream cheese
• fold in pudding and whipping cream
• add mini chocolate chips if you like :^)
• spoon into a pie crust and freeze until two hours before serving - move to refrigerator. serve, enjoy :^)

This is a pie which is sure to become a volunteer favorite! :^)

Look What We Will Be Talking About This Week on About the Children's Department!

This week on About the Children's Department I'll be talking about volunteer training! As we work through the Summer and head for the Fall launch of regular ministries, have you thought about training your volunteers? You'll find some ideas on training this week on About the Children's Department. Plus, on Friday I'll be announcing another Family Pick give-away! It will be a fun week - please join me!

Put Feet to Their Faith With a Project Through Samaritan's Purse to Provide Mosquito Nets for Families!

Do the children in your ministry face the concern of being bitten by mosquitoes and contracting malaria each and every night when they go to bed? Are the parents of the children in your ministry worried about the very real danger mosquitoes pose to their children?

For most of the people who read this blog, mosquitoes are merely a nuisance - not a very real and life-threatening danger. Sadly, for people in many parts of the world, this is not the case.  Again, according to the President's Malaria Initiative, The World Health Organization, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, worldwide -

• 3.3 billion people - half the world's population - are at risk of malaria
• One million people die each year from malaria
• Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria

You, and the children in your ministry can make a real difference in the fight against malaria. Samaritan's Purse has a project you can involve the children in your ministry with where they raise money for mosquito nets. For $10, Samaritan's Purse is able to "provide a bed net treated with natural insecticide to kill mosquitoes and keep children safe and healthy. As local Christians hand out these nets, God gives them opportunities to tell families the message of eternal life."

Involve the children in your ministry in this project to keep children safe and share the message of Jesus with children and families around the world!

I Have a Winner in My CUPONK Game Give-away!

I'm happy to announce Angie Rathbun is the winner of the CUPONK game! Thank you Hasbro for sending this game for my give-away and for review and thank you Angie for reading About the Children's Department!


Next Friday I'll announce another give-away, so if you have "liked" About the Children's Department using the tab in the "find us on facebook" box ON THE BLOG, then you are entered in our drawings! If you haven't "liked" us yet, please take a moment to do so and you will be entered in my drawings! Please share About the Children's Department with the people you know, too!

Please Help Spread the Word About grandma's cookie jar!

I've been writing my blog, About the Children's Department for almost eight months now and sincerely appreciate everyone who takes the time to read my posts! For the past couple months I've also been writing another blog, grandma's cookie jar. While this isn't a "children's ministry" blog, it does connect everything we do to passing on a heritage of faith to our grandchildren. And, while I write it as a grandma for grandmas, it is also a place where grandpas, moms and dads will find information, ideas and resources to help them do the most important thing - pass on a heritage of faith to their children and grandchildren. You'll find resources for grandma - and grandpa, mom and dad, too - book reviews, movie reviews, recipes, crafts and so much more. Most importantly, you'll find specific ideas on how to help children connect everyday life to our walk with our amazing God! Please share my blog with the parents and grandparents you know!

Put Feet to Their Faith With a Project to Provide Life-Saving Mosquito Nets through Samaritan's Purse!

Children always look forward to summer - warmer temperatures and all the activities they can do once again outside! Along with the joys of being outside, come the "pests" . . . mosquitoes. Children everywhere know what it is to be bothered by a mosquito. Sadly in many places in the world mosquitoes are more than just a "bother". They can spread a deadly disease, malaria. More than a million people die world-wide each year from malaria - most of these are children.


As you work with the children in your ministry this summer, consider involving them in projects to raise money for bed nets treated with natural insecticide to kill mosquitoes and keep children safe and healthy. Just $10 provides one of these nets, and sends people who share the good news of Jesus with the people who receive the nets! This is a project the children in your ministry can understand - they all have dealt with mosquitoes - and once they understand how these nets can save lives, you will have children who are engaged and empowered to make a difference!


Along with involving your children in projects to raise money for mosquito nets, involve them in praying for the children and families who receive these nets so they will learn about Jesus and his great love and forgiveness!

Key Facts on Malaria

When you think of malaria, you may only know it is transmitted by mosquitoes and can be deadly, but there is far more to understand about malaria - (information from the World Health Organization)

Key facts

• Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites which are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
• In 2008, malaria caused nearly one million deaths, mostly among African children.
• Malaria is preventable and curable.
• Malaria can decrease gross domestic product by as much as 1.3% in countries with high disease rates.
• Non-immune travelers from malaria-free areas are very vulnerable to the disease when they get infected.

---

In 2008, there were 247 million cases of malaria and nearly one million deaths – mostly among children living in Africa. In Africa a child dies every 45 seconds of Malaria, the disease accounts for 20% of all childhood deaths.

Some Facts and Statistics on Mosquitoes and Malaria

Around the world, according to the President’s Malaria Initiative, The World Health Organization, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It was once thought that the disease came from fetid marshes, hence the name mal aria (bad air). In 1880, scientists discovered the real cause of malaria: a one-cell parasite called plasmodium. Later they discovered that the parasite is transmitted from person to person through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito, which requires blood to nurture her eggs.

Malaria Worldwide

• 3.3 billion people - half the world's population - are at risk of malaria
• One million people die each year from malaria
• Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria

Malaria in Africa

• 90% of all malaria deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa
• 1 in 5 childhood deaths are caused by malaria
• Malaria is responsible for a 1.3% growth penalty per year in some African countries
• 10,000 pregnant women and 200,000 infants die from malaria in Africa
• Malaria costs Africa more than $12 billion in lost GDP every year

First Friday Freebies - Free Illustrated Bible!

I'm so happy to share with you the Illustrated Bible . . . and a link to a site where you are welcome to download and print out more than a dozen selections for use in your ministry . . . for free! As they say on their site, "These FREE selections from the Illustrated ICB and the NASB Bibles are not just samples, they are complete Stories and Books so that you and your children can enjoy or study the Bible at home, church and school." 


Think about how you could use these Illustrated Bible passages in your ministry . . . you could print out one of the Bible lessons you taught in your VBS or Summer ministry and give them to each child! You could print some up to have for use when you visit a sick child in the hospital or at their home! You could include one in a "Welcome to our Ministry" packet you give to new children/families in your church! How might you use this resource in your ministry? :^)

"Family Pick" . . . CUPONK from Hasbro Games! I'm Giving One Away!

I'm happy to announce a new "Family Pick" drawing and give-away . . . I'm giving away a CUPONK game! What exactly is CUPONK? Well . . . as Hasbro says, "The object: sink your ball into the cup and light it up. Get it in and you'll hear the sweet sounds of victory. Miss the shot and your friends get the chance to one-up you. When playing CUPONK the tables, walls and chairs in your home all become part of the playing field. Test out sick trick shots like King of the Lob, Le Grand Entrance and Duh." This game includes five collectible stickers, 1 electronic cuponk cup, six official cuponk balls, 30 card trick deck, 1 sport crown, instruction guide and 1 multi-position backboard. For ages 9+ this is a game your family will enjoy together! I had a 10 year old try this game for me and he found it to be tremendous fun . . . in particular because he was able to figure out the tricks and his dad wasn't! :^)


CUPONK is a fun game for home and for church . . . it could easily become a favorite for family game night and for game time at church . . . and I'm delighted for the opportunity to give one CUPONK game away in a drawing on July 8th! If you have "liked" About the Children's Department using the tab in the "find us on facebook" box ON THE BLOG, then you are entered in my drawing! If you have not "liked" this blog yet, please take a moment to do so and you will be entered in the drawing! It is this easy! Please tell people you know about About the Children's Department so they can be in the drawing, too!


Thank you Hasbro for sending a CUPONK for review and another for give-away!