Free Training Resource - Stop the Negativity!

When we train our volunteers we focus on things like, engaging children, leading children

to Jesus, how to tell a Bible Adventure and the list goes on. All of these are topics which we should train our volunteers - but while we teach these things, we should also take time to challenge and encourage our volunteers to make the choice to turn away from negativity and choose to be positive! 

I'm teaching a workshop at my church on engaging children and along with engaging the volunteers, I'm planning to challenge them to make this year one where we will be positive and not give the devil a foothold with negative attitudes. As I wrote about a few days ago, about spiritual warfare in children's ministry and said, "While children's ministry should be a place of excitement and joy, it is often a place where power-plays and negative attitudes poison and limit ministry." Yes, we need to train our volunteers on the basics of serving with children, but we also need to quip and challenge them to not let negativity seep in and damage ministry to children.

So, I'm planning to wrap up my training with an activity to help do exactly this. I'm happy to share it with you today! You will need to make cards which say the following statements - one statement to a card. Ask for seven volunteers and hand each one a statement - in the order you see them. Have them hold their signs so nobody can see what their card says until you ask them to read it to the group . . .

• God cannot use me to make a difference in the lives of children.
• I refuse to believe
• God will give me what I need, to do what He wants me to do!
• I know in my heart
• It is too difficult to engage children
• I don't believe 
• God can use me to Guide Children to Trust and Follow Christ for the rest of their lives!

Quite the statements! Talk with your volunteers about how negative thoughts and statements will keep us all from being effective and will poison our ministry. These thoughts do not come from God; in fact, they are lies from satan which unfortunately, far too often we believe. Challenge them to make the choice to believe the truth and have your volunteers read their signs again; this time in the following order . . .

• God can use me to Guide Children to Trust and Follow Christ for the rest of their lives!
• I don't believe
• It is too difficult to engage children!
• I know in my heart
• God will give me what I need, to do what He wants me to do!
• I refuse to believe
• God cannot use me to make a difference in the lives of children!

It is all about the perspective we choose! It is all about the attitude we choose! It is all about choosing to believe the truth and to not believe lies!

Make this year one where you and your volunteers choose to not allow negativity to poison and limit our ministry. Make it one where we choose to be positive and watch what God does!