
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Kidmin1124 - "Top 5 Reasons for Focusing Kids on Giving at Christmas!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Free Snowy Lesson!
Whiter Than Snow!
Monday, November 28, 2011
"In the Beginning Was the Word . . . " Put Feet to Their Faith This Christmas with OneVerse!
I'm sure we all agree the focus for the month of December is Christmas . . . Christmas trees, Christmas cards, Christmas carols, Christmas decorations, Christmas cookies, Christmas parties, Christmas gifts . . . and on and on it goes. But, let's stop for a moment and remember . . . Christmas is all about how Jesus, the Word, "was coming into the world!" (NLT)
The Word, Jesus, is why we can celebrate Christmas, so this Christmas help your kids focus on this truth by focusing on the Word, Jesus, and His written Word, the Bible as well with the oneverse project through the Seed Company. As they say, "Today, nearly one-third of the world's language groups representing 340 million people are still waiting for God’s Word in a language that they can understand clearly."
So, what is the oneverse project? Consider the following . . .
The Word, Jesus, is why we can celebrate Christmas, so this Christmas help your kids focus on this truth by focusing on the Word, Jesus, and His written Word, the Bible as well with the oneverse project through the Seed Company. As they say, "Today, nearly one-third of the world's language groups representing 340 million people are still waiting for God’s Word in a language that they can understand clearly."
So, what is the oneverse project? Consider the following . . .
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Let's Celebrate Advent . . . Expectation . . . We Have Hope!
Christmas is only four weeks away!!! I love Christmas and I love celebrating, so Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year! As we begin Advent, let's take a moment to stop and focus on the reason for the season and celebrating! Advent is about waiting and anticipation. Before Jesus' birth, God's people waited for Him to come. Now, after His birth, we wait for His return. We anticipate with great joy the day Jesus returns for us and Advent helps us not only celebrate His birth, but look forward to His return!
There is a lot of symbolism related to Advent -
There is a lot of symbolism related to Advent -
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Please Check Out Kidmin1124 - My New Post is About Reassuring Parents Our Ministries are Safe Places for Their Children

Give the Gift of Honey Bees or Chicks . . . and Jesus with Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog!
For the past month I've been encouraging you to "Put Feet to Their Faith" by involving the children in your ministry with Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog. Children do think a lot about gifts this time of year, so let's use this to help them focus on living what they believe by giving to others! I love the Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog because it gives you so may ways to help others - many are less than $50 - and each opportunity to help includes the opportunity for those who are being helped to learn about the Best Gift ever . . . Jesus! Consider these opportunities for the children in your ministry . . .
Friday, November 25, 2011
I'm Giving away a Folkmanis Bear in Tree Stump Puppet!
I Have a Winner in My FFH One Silent Night Album Download Give-away!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Happy First Birthday About the Children's Department!

So, what does 2012 bring for About the Children's Department? Well . . .
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Please Check Out Kidmin1124 for a Post on "Thankfulness . . . What If?"

For the past few weeks I’ve been writing about some of the things I’m thankful for. I recently saw a post on a friend’s facebook which made me stop and think about thankfulness . . .
Please check my full post on Kidmin1124 and think about what you can do to be intentional about being thankful all year long!
One Day Away From Our 1st Anniversary - A Look Back!!!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Pay Attention!!!!! Speak Up!!!!!
We all know about the children who were allegedly abused at Penn State . . . and sadly are hearing about similar situations in other colleges and universities. We in children's ministry, are around children all the time. We have to not only do everything we possibly can to insure the children in our ministries are safe, we also have to pay attention and speak up when we see or suspect a child is being harmed.
Far too often we do not pay attention and do not speak up. It is not "just parental discipline" for a parent to abuse their child. Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us to strike our children. If children show up in our ministries with bruises, pay attention and speak up! If children who up in our ministries who are timid and who act as if they are afraid of being hit, pay attention and speak up!
Far too often we do not pay attention and do not speak up. It is not "just parental discipline" for a parent to abuse their child. Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us to strike our children. If children show up in our ministries with bruises, pay attention and speak up! If children who up in our ministries who are timid and who act as if they are afraid of being hit, pay attention and speak up!
Only 39 Days Until My 2012 VBS Reviews!!!!

Beginning on January 1st I will release my Top Ten VBS Countdown for 2012 complete with individual reviews and a side-by-side comparison chart. The entire month of January will be focused on VBS with info, ideas and resources to help you find your best fit for VBS, Summer ministry, mid-week ministry and so many more opportunities for ministry where you can make use of VBS resources!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Put Feet to Their Faith With the Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog!
Thanksgiving is this week and at my house as soon as dinner is over, the Christmas tree goes up and the gifts go under the tree! I love Christmas and I love giving gifts! It is pretty safe to say the children in your ministry likely love Christmas and receiving gifts, too, so this year help the children in your ministry shift their focus from receiving gifts to giving gifts with Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog!
I love the Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog . . . for as little as $5 the children in your ministry can send gifts to children and families in need and in so doing, "put feet to their faith" as they focus on giving and sharing the Good News of Jesus with children and families around the world!
So . . . what gifts could the children in your ministry give? Consider the following . . .
I love the Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog . . . for as little as $5 the children in your ministry can send gifts to children and families in need and in so doing, "put feet to their faith" as they focus on giving and sharing the Good News of Jesus with children and families around the world!
So . . . what gifts could the children in your ministry give? Consider the following . . .
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Tomorrow is the Day for My American Girl Kanani Doll Give-away!
Friday, November 18, 2011
I Have a Winner in My the Grace Effect book Give-away!
One Silent Night by FFH . . . I'm Giving One Away!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
John Elefante - Christmas Time Is Here . . . Great Gift for Volunteers!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Fun Idea For Volunteer Christmas Gifts!!!
- Born is the King (Hillsong) - I love all the songs on this CD, but especially the song, Born is the King! "Born unto us this day, the Savior! Gifted from Heaven to a manger! The Hope of the world's alive for all mankind! All of the world rejoice, it's Christmas time! So lift up your voice and sing out His praise (It’s Christmas) Born is the King, rejoice in the day (It’s Christmas) Make a joyful sound (It’s Christmas) Let His praise resound (It’s Christmas)" This song will cause your volunteers to rejoice in the reason we can celebrate Christmas . . . Jesus, gifted from Heaven the Hope of the world! This song will have you ready to make a joyful sound and celebrate Christmas!
- oh for joy (David Crowder*Band) - If you are a fan of the David Crowder*Band then you will be delighted to hear of their new album . . . oh for joy! On this album they "deliver their first Christmas record featuring classic Christmas songs interpreted as only the David Crowder*Band can. Highlighting the band's unmistakable creativity and originality, oh for joy finds the band re-inventing familiar Christmas songs into something new and unexpected." (And if you have zero budget for gifts, you could give your volunteers a link to a gift from the David Crowder*Band . . . a free download of their song, ""O, Holy Night""!!!)
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The Heart of Christmas!
“Since the beginning of my career, I’ve dreamed of making a Christmas album,” explains West, “and I’m so excited to finally get that chance this year! The Heart of Christmas is a collection of original songs I’ve written, and some of my favorite classics. I was honored to have iconic artists like Amy Grant, Vince Gill, and Mandisa from American Idol join me on a few of the songs, and those are personal highlights for me.”
So for a few thoughts . . .
Christmas In DiverseCity by TobyMac
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Are You Ready for Christmas? Enjoy "oh for joy" From the David Crowder*Band!
I've only heard a few David Crowder*Band songs over the years . . . this was my first opportunity to listen to an entire album. So, a few thoughts . . .
Put Feet to Their Faith with Samaritan Purse's Gift Catalog . . . Give an Alpaca!
Christmas is a very big time of year for those of us in children's ministry because it is a very big time of year for children! Yes, it is the time of year to focus on the most amazing Gift ever . . . Jesus, but, if we are honest, most children are excited about Christmas because of the gifts they will find under their trees on Christmas morning. So, while it is inevitable for children will be excited about the gifts they receive, let's try to help them focus on and be excited about giving to others! Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog make it so easy for us to do this . . . consider the following "gift" the children in your ministry could work to give to others in need this year . . .
Samaritan's Purse's Sudan Refuge Camp Bombed . . . Pray
"The refugee camp operated by Samaritan's Purse in Yida, South Sudan, was bombed by the government of Sudan at approximately 3:20 p.m. local time on Thursday. Over 23,000 people are living in the camp in the northernmost part of Unity State, after being displaced by fighting across the border in the Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan State. Four bombs are reported to have been dropped. One bomb fell on a schoolhouse, but thankfully it did not explode. Another hit the marketplace, and two others fell on the fringe of the camp. All of Samaritan’s Purse staff have been accounted for and are safe. They have not been able to confirm any casualties among the refugees.
Friday, November 11, 2011
I Have a Winner in My VeggieTales "O Holy Night" CD Give-away!
The Grace Effect . . . I'm Giving One Away!
The Grace Effect: How the Power of One Life Can Reverse the Corruption of Unbelief

By - Larry Alex Taunton
Publisher - Thomas Nelson
I am so delighted for the opportunity to share an amazing story with you! A story which literally show how the "Grace Effect" has the power to heal and save us! 'Simply defined, the ‘grace effect’ is an observable phenomenon — showing life is demonstrably better where authentic Christianity flourishes.' What does Christianity give us beyond televangelists, potlucks, and bad basketball leagues? Not much, according to the secular Left. The world, they say, would be a better place without it. Historian and Christian apologist Larry Taunton has spent much of his career refuting just this sort of thinking, but when he encounters Sasha, a golden-haired orphan girl whose life has been shaped by atheistic theorists, he discovers an unlikely champion for the transforming power of grace. Through the narrative of Sasha’s redemption, we see the false promises of socialism; the soul-destroying influence of unbelief; and how a society cultivates its own demise when it rejects the ultimate source of grace. We see, in short, the kind of world the atheists would give us: a world without Christianity—cold, pitiless, and graceless. And yet, as Sasha shows us, it is a world that is not beyond the healing power of 'the grace effect.' Occasionally infuriating, often amusing, but always inspiring, The Grace Effect will have you cheering for the courageous little girl who shamed the academic elitists of our day."
Publisher - Thomas Nelson
I am so delighted for the opportunity to share an amazing story with you! A story which literally show how the "Grace Effect" has the power to heal and save us! 'Simply defined, the ‘grace effect’ is an observable phenomenon — showing life is demonstrably better where authentic Christianity flourishes.' What does Christianity give us beyond televangelists, potlucks, and bad basketball leagues? Not much, according to the secular Left. The world, they say, would be a better place without it. Historian and Christian apologist Larry Taunton has spent much of his career refuting just this sort of thinking, but when he encounters Sasha, a golden-haired orphan girl whose life has been shaped by atheistic theorists, he discovers an unlikely champion for the transforming power of grace. Through the narrative of Sasha’s redemption, we see the false promises of socialism; the soul-destroying influence of unbelief; and how a society cultivates its own demise when it rejects the ultimate source of grace. We see, in short, the kind of world the atheists would give us: a world without Christianity—cold, pitiless, and graceless. And yet, as Sasha shows us, it is a world that is not beyond the healing power of 'the grace effect.' Occasionally infuriating, often amusing, but always inspiring, The Grace Effect will have you cheering for the courageous little girl who shamed the academic elitists of our day."
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Please Check Out CMBuzz for a Post on . . . Christmas is . . . Giving!
While you are there, be sure to check the other resources you will find on CM Buzz . . . and their new YM Blitz for resources on Youth Ministry!
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