14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Use Negative Labels & Show Favoritism

It is easy, far too easy, to label others. We label some kids as "good" kids and others as . . . "not so good". We label some volunteers as "amazing" and others as . . . "not so amazing". We label some parents as "great" and others as . . . "not so great". We label some church leaders as ones who "get it" and others as . . . "ones who don't". Any way we use labels we are "blowing" our Children's Ministry. Consider the following . . . 

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Manipulate People

Of course we all are quick to agree manipulating others is wrong, but how often do we actually do this? Far more often than we might want to admit, but whenever we manipulate others we are absolutely "blowing" our Children's Ministry. So, how and when might we manipulate others? Consider the following . . .

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Stop Having Fun

I completely believe if our Children's Ministries are going to accurately reflect Jesus, they have to be places which are fun . . . fun places to be, fun things to do and filled  with "fun" people. I believe this because I absolutely believe Jesus was a "fun" person. He certainly wasn't boring, stuffy or cranky. How do I know this? Because children wanted to be with Him and children do not tend to want to be around boring, stuffy or cranky adults. 

Boring, stuffy and cranky adults tried to send children away from Jesus, but He would have none of that! Jesus stopped what He was doing with adults to make time for children! They are precious to Him! If we are accurately reflecting Jesus to children, then our ministries need to attract children and they should be fun! If our ministries are not "fun", then we are "blowing" our Children's Ministry. Consider the following ways we can reflect "fun" in our ministries . . . 

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Stop Showing Love

If we are in Children's Ministry, we love others; right? After all, we wouldn't be in ministry if we didn't, right? Well . . . while we likely do actually love others, and may be quite proficient at "saying" we love others, do we actually show our "love" for others? There is a significant and very real difference between "saying" we love others and actually "showing" we love them. If you are actually only talking about love, you are "blowing" your Children's Ministry. Consider the following . . . 

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Encourage Each Other to Skip the Hard Things

Okay, you may not out-and-out "encourage" each other to "skip" the hard things, but you also may not encourage each other to do the hard things either. If you do either of these two things, you will be "blowing" your Children's Ministry. So, what does it look like for you to "encourage" each other to "skip" the hard things? Consider the following . . . 

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Argue . . . or at Least Have Lack of Unity

Arguing. It is easy to do . . . sometimes we often argue without even realizing it. How often do you argue in your Children's Ministry?  Arguing with anyone in your Children's Ministry is a way you can be sure of "blowing" your Children's Ministry. Think about the following . . . 

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Be "Stingy"

It is so, so very easy to say one thing and do another. We tell children to share, be kind, if they do not have something nice to say, don't say anything and on and on we tell them what to do. But, as adults we do not necessarily share, we are not always the nicest people, we do not do the things we say we will do, we disappoint others without even a thought about how it will make them feel and gossip among church adults runs at epic proportions. Basically it all boils down to being "stingy" . . . stingy not just with our money, but with our time, our kind words and our love. When we are "stingy" we absolutely will "blow" our Children's Ministry. Consider the following . . .

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Label People

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39 HCSB) Of course we all want to believe this is what we do; love our neighbors as ourselves. But do we really? If we do not, then we are absolutely, "blowing" our Children's Ministries.

In the article I've been "tweeking" from an article about marriage to one about Children's Ministry, the author said if we call our spouse names, we are "blowing" our marriage. He is right. The same is true in Children's Ministry. If we call names . . . or "label" people, we are "blowing" our Children's Ministry. So, how and when might you "label" people? Consider the following . . . 

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry . . . Be Lazy

As we look at another way to "blow" our Children's Ministries today, lets think for a minute about how being lazy will damage, or "blow", our Children's Ministry.

In the article on marriage, the author said to stop "yelling". He said this wasn't the type of yelling which is angry or abusive, but the yelling when you "yell" from one room to another, because you are too lazy to get up and go get or find out something for yourself. So, how are we "lazy" in our Children's Ministry? Consider these ways . . .

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Stop Doing the Little Things

As we continue to think about things we do - or do not do - which result in us "blowing" our ministry, this one is a big thing . . . even though it is about the little things.

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Be Negative

As we continue to look at ways "we can keep from 'blowing' our Children's Ministry" today let's think about, "Being Negative".

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry . . . Stop Making Your Ministry "Attractive"

As I said yesterday, there are ways we can keep from "blowing" our Children's Ministry, so for the next  14 days, I'll share them . . . today let's think about, "Stop Making Your Ministry 'Attractive'".

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry . . . Lose Focus on the Personal "Touch"

My daughter-in-law posted an article on her fb entitled; "16 Ways I Blew My Marriage". It gives married couples a lot to think about in regards to keeping their marriage strong. As I read through and thought about it, it occurred to me, some of these might apply to how we can keep from "blowing" our Children's Ministry, so for the next 14 days, I'll share the those which do . . . starting today with, "Lose Focus on the Personal 'Touch'".

If You Have Been Harmed as a Volunteer - Don't Give Up

I've been writing for a few days to church leaders and challenging them to be careful in regards to their volunteers, so they do not hurt and/or damage them by their words and/or actions. While I sincerely believe it is the rare person who would intentionally cause damage to, or hurt a volunteer, sadly, it does happen unintentionally in far too many churches.

Today I want to try to encourage you if you are a volunteer who has been harmed by staff/leaders in your Children's Ministry.

Caution: Do No Harm

Yesterday I wrote about how to keep from harming a volunteer. It is so important for us to be aware of and thinking about how our words and actions impact those who volunteer in our ministries. While in the majority of cases, those who serve in ministry would never intentionally harm a volunteer, it does happen. People who serve in Children's Ministry are harmed by the words and/or actions of staff. When this happens the damage can truly destroy . . . destroy their sense of worth, destroy their ability to trust and destroy their view of God. Let's think about each of these . . . 

How to Keep From Harming a Volunteer

Yesterday I wrote about what to do if you have "cranky" people in your ministry. Today I want to think for a minute about what to do with the "cranky" people. If we just "push" them out of serving, we are practically guaranteed to hurt them - perhaps in ways which will take them years to overcome; if ever. While we have to have ministries where children are not afraid of the volunteers, we also can not cause damage to those who volunteer.

This can be quite a quandary and must be handled first of all with a great amount of prayer. Consider the following ways you could help the person so they are not damaged . . . 

What to do with "Cranky" People in Your Ministry?

I initially posted this a couple years ago, but I think it is a topic we need to keep in mind - and be reminded of from time to time, so I'm sharing it with you again today.

Do you have "cranky" people who serve as volunteers in your children's ministry? While this question may take you by surprise, it is a serious question. Sometimes because we are "desperate" for volunteers, we let people serve who could be described as, "cranky", but regardless of how much we need volunteers, we must not let "cranky" people serve. Consider the following . . . 

The One Thing You Might Forget

Your Summer ministries have begun and along with the things you have in store for the children, you likely will be evaluating the curriculum you plan to use and have plans to train your volunteers. You may have even planned out the special events you want to hold throughout the year . . . or at least have an idea of what you want to do. But, have you planned a specific time for meeting with the parents and grandparents? If we really believe they are supposed to be the primary spiritual teachers of their children, then we need to be sure they are "on board" with the things we are teaching and trying to do in the Children's Ministry. Consider the following -

It Is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren & Zephaniah 3:17

I wrote a book, It Is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren, which shares my joy as a grandma and my heart for passing on a heritage of faith to my three, sweet rascal grandsons! In my book I share some of my, "sweet grandson stories" and talk about passing on a heritage of faith. At the end of each chapter I share a Scripture passage and then personalize it into a prayer which grandparents/parents can then pray for themselves and their grandchildren/children. 

It Is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren was written to encourage and challenge grandparents and parents to commit to and focus on passing on a heritage of faith. You will find it at the following link. This is a book you could recommend to grandparents and parents in your church to help them think and talk through what they can do to pass on their faith to the children they love.

I thought it would be fun today to share with you one of the Scripture prayers from, It Is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren . . . 

My Top Five Reasons for Having a Discipline Policy Which Shows Grace - #1 - Because God Gives Us Grace!

For the past few days I've been sharing my Top Five Reasons for having a Discipline Policy which shows grace to the children in our ministries. Of course these posts assume you have a written discipline policy. Do you? If so, what is your discipline policy like? Does it help children make wise choices while keeping in mind they are children? Does it help children focus upon participating and learning while allowing for different learning styles? Does it show grace? If not, before you do anything else today, get a policy for your ministry in writing and make sure all your volunteers and staff know and follow it.

We work with children. There will be times when they do not obey and we have to implement a discipline policy, but we have to be certain our discipline policies are firmly grounded, saturated and immersed in grace. Today I'm happy to share with you my top reason for this  . . . 

My Top Five Reasons for Having a Discipline Policy Which Shows Grace - #2 - Because We Want Them to Experience Grace

As we continue to look at my Top Five Reasons for having a Discipline Policy which shows grace to the children in our ministries, I am very happy to share with you today another of my reasons . . . 

My Top Five Reasons for Having a Discipline Policy Which Shows Grace - #3 - Because We Love Them

As I have been saying for the last couple days, when we work with children, we know there will be times when they do not obey and we have to implement a discipline policy; but as I said yesterday, our discipline policies need to be firmly grounded, saturated and immersed in grace. I have been sharing with you my Top Five Reasons for Having a Discipline Policey Which Shows Grace and today I'm happy to share with you another reason for this  . . . 

Look at What People Are Saying About Deeper In 4 Grandparents & Parents, Too! Praying the Scriptures for the Children You Love!

The other day I was very happy to share with you about my books - Deeper In 4 Grandparents & Parents, Too! Praying the Scriptures for the Children You Love - Psalms Edition and Deeper In 4 Grandparents & Parents, Too! Praying the Scriptures for the Children You Love - Old Testament Edition and how they can help grandparents and parents pray intentionally and regularly for themselves and the children they love. I also shared one complete week with you, so you may give it a try!

I do believe they are books which will prove to be very useful tools for grandparents and parents . . . but, then I did write them, so it is possible my opinion would tend towards the "biased" side!

So, today I thought it would be fun to share with you some of the opinions of people who read my books before they were released . . . 

My Top Five Reasons for Having a Discipline Policy Which Shows Grace - #4 - They Will Learn to Show Grace to Others

Yesterday I shared one of my Top Five Reasons for having a Discipline Policy which shows grace to the children in our ministries. We work with children. There will be times when they do not obey and we have to implement a discipline policy, but as I said yesterday, our discipline policies need to be firmly grounded, saturated and immersed in grace. 

Today I'm happy to share with you another reason for this  . . . 

My Top Five Reasons for Having a Discipline Policy Which Shows Grace - #5 - They Are Just Learning to Make Wise Choices

I have three grandsons; ages seven, four and two. While these three boys are as sweet as you can possibly imagine, they are young boys and from time to time they do not obey, they annoy each other and end up arguing or even hitting one another. Yes, I know, this is shocking and almost unbelievable, but from time to time it does happen.

So, when my grandsons do not make a wise choice, what do I do? I give time-outs, we talk about what happened and how even when they are tired or have had a long day, they still have to obey and learn to make wise choices. I lean heavily towards showing my grandsons - and definitely giving them - grace. 

As I thought about this, I thought about the children in our ministries and showing grace to them. There are definitely times when children in our ministries do not obey and we have to implement a discipline policy. Our discipline policies need to be firmly grounded, saturated and immersed in grace and this week I'll share with you my Top Five Reasons for Having a Discipline Policy Which Shows Grace - beginning today with #5 . . . 

Praying Intentionally - Deeper In . . . Give It a Try for Free!

Praying grandparents and parents. We all want the grandparents and parents in our ministries to be ones who are serious about praying grandparents; we want this to be true for ourselves and our volunteers as well. We all try to be people who pray, but how faithful are we in praying? Do we pray every day? Are we focused and intentional in how we pray? Or, do we feel like our prayers do not even reach the ceiling? Do we feel like we do not really know how to pray? Do we find it a challenge to pray every day? Whether we are leaders in Children's Ministry, grandparents, parents or volunteers, we know how important it is to pray for the children we love, but if we are honest, we may admit we struggle with praying faithfully.

It does not have to be this way. 

My Top Five Reasons for Being Someone Who Listens - #1 - Because God Loves & Listens to Them!

For the past several days I've been sharing my five reasons we need to be people who listen to children, families and volunteers and today I'm sharing my #1 reason . . . 

Science, the Bible & Fun! - Look What People Are Saying . . .

Yesterday I shared with you information about my book; Science the Bible & Fun! I also posted one complete lesson for you to see and try.

Today I want to share with you what people are saying about Science the Bible & Fun! . . .

My Top Five Reasons for Being Someone Who Listens - #2 - Because We Love Them!

It can be all too easy to not listen, really listen to those around us. We many not listen, because we have already made up our minds. We may not listen, because we are too busy to stop and give someone our attention. We may not listen, because we are distracted. There are no shortages of reasons for why we do not listen to others, but when it comes to our Children's Ministries, we must be people who listen to others.

For the past few days I've been sharing my Top Five Reasons we need to be people who listen to children, families and volunteers and today I'll share my reason #2 . . . 

Science, The Bible & Fun . . . Give It A Try for Free!

Summer is almost upon us and with the children out of school, parents and grandparents will be spending more time with the children they love; this gives us the perfect opportunity to encourage parents and grandparents to be intentional about passing on their faith. While some of them will know how to do this, others will not, so please take a moment to check out a resource which was written specifically for grandparents and parents to use at home to pass on their faith. 

Science the Bible & Fun! is a resource I wrote to use with my grandsons - it has 52 weeks of science projects, activities, games and Bible learning with the focus of helping children learn how to follow Jesus - what could possibly be better?! One of the most important things grandparents/parents can do is to pass on their faith to the children they love. Science the Bible & Fun! will help them do this! 

I'm very happy today to share with you one complete lesson, so the grandparents and parents in your ministry can try it with their grandchildren /children. Please help spread the word about Science the Bible & Fun! - and share this free lesson with the grandparents/parents you know!

My Top Five Reasons for Being Someone Who Listens - #3 - It Is Important & I'll Know How to Pray

We absolutely need to be people who listen to children, families and volunteers in our ministries. If they have something to tell us, we need to make the time to listen. There are certainly many reasons we need to listen, but today I'm sharing with you my reason #3 -

My Top Five Reasons for Being Someone Who Listens - #4 - I Know It Is An Honor & I Want to Listen

Yesterday I wrote about how listening to others applies to Children's Ministry and shared one of my five reasons we need to be people who listen to children, families and volunteers; today I'm happy to share with you my reason #4 . . .