Top Ten Reasons for Involving Your Children in Christmas for an Orphan

Christmas is just a couple months away, so now is the perfect time to help the children in your ministry, "Put Feet to Their Faith" by involving them in a project to share Jesus' love with children around the world. Today I'm going to post the top ten reasons for involving your children in Christmas for an Orphan -

Benefiting, Strengthening & Building Strong Ministry to Children & Families

I have served in Children's Ministries for 43 years in churches large (6000+ people) and small (100 people). I absolutely believe in the value of Children's Ministry and believe churches must have strong, focused and intentional ministry to children and families.

I also am convinced in the necessity of churches having strong, focused and intentional ministry to and with grandparents. I absolutely believe it matters for us to do this, because when we do, we not only strengthen grandparents, children and families, but we strengthen our ministry to children and families as well.

You might think you already have enough on your "plate" when it comes to Children's Ministry and be hesitant, if not even reluctant, to add another thing with Grandparenting Ministry, but when you make Grandparenting Ministry part of your ministry to and with families, you will find the benefit far outweighs the time and effort it takes to do so.

Let's Talk Grandparenting Ministry - Science, the Bible & Fun!

Stop and think for a moment about how a strong Grandparenting Ministry helps our Children's Ministry be much stronger as well; and as you do, think about what we want to see happen in this ministry with the grandparents in our church. Clearly, we want to engage them; help them see and understand how they still have a very important job to do. Their "job" is not over when their own children are grown. These years are not the time to just retire and recreate. There are very important things for them to do in passing on a heritage of faith!

Yes, we want to, and need to engage the grandparents in our churches, but we also have to equip them. We need to provide resources they can use which will help them feel able to pass on a heritage of faith. I've talked with many grandparents who tell me they want to pass on a heritage of faith, but they do not know how to do so; they do not know what to do.

What is Your Ministry Really Like?

Okay, we all want to believe our church and Children's Ministry are places where people are affirmed, cared for, supported, encouraged and loved; but are you sure this is really the case? It is oh so easy for us to be so "caught up" in the ministry and all we do each week, we end up missing when there are people who "fall through the cracks". Consider the following . . . 

God is the LORD Almighty and He has Good Plans for You!

When I look at the world around me, it is easy for me to feel apprehensive and even long for a time when life was simpler; and the world was bigger. But, God not only knows what is happening in the world; He is in control! Plus, He put me here, in this time and in this place! Look at this passage in Jeremiah -

Win a Subscription to Happy Times Magazine!

Three weeks ago I shared with you about a resource you could recommend to the parents and grandparents in your church - Happy Times Magazine. This is a tool they could use to pass faith to their young, preschool age children/grandchildren. You'll find my full review at this link, but today i wanted to let you know about a special giveaway I'm having on my other blog - grandma's cookie jar - for five one-year subscriptions to Happy Times Magazine!  You'll find all the details about the giveaway at this link - but please feel free to share it with the parents and grandparents in your ministry. Five people will win . . . could be a family in your ministry!

The Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's Ministry - Tip #1 - Make Prayer the Priority!

For the past two weeks, I've been sharing some of the things I've learned in and about Children's Ministry and I'm ending up today where I began; with prayer!

As I said before, this is a, "no-brainer", but I can not stress strongly enough how absolutely essential it is for us to be people who are serious about prayer. If we really want our ministries to be effective, we have to surround everything we do with prayer.

Why do we do this you may wonder? Consider the following -

The Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's Ministry - Tip #2 - Look for the Joy!

Well, we've almost made it through my Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's Ministry; today we have my, "Tip Number Two" . . . Look for the Joy! Children's Ministry should be the place where we see and experience joy everywhere we turn; what could be more joy-full than than telling children about Jesus and watching them praise Him?!!! 

While Children's Ministry is the most Joy-Full place in the church, it can often be "bogged" down in fatigue, politics, and worry, but it does not have to be! Consider the following . . . 

The Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's Ministry - Tip #3 - Don't Fall for Satan's Tired, Old Bag of Tricks

So, I've been sharing some of my Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's

Ministry for the past almost two weeks; today we have my, "Tip Number Three" . . . Don't Fall for Satan's Tired, Old Bag of Tricks. Of course none of us want to fall for his tricks and I'm certain we all want to think we will not do so, but he is crafty and if we are not careful, watchful and prayerful we will do exactly this because these "tricks" are often subtle and we do not even realize we have fallen for them.

What tired, old tricks am I talking about? Well, there are many, but, consider the following . . . 

The Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's Ministry - Tip #4 - Choose to be Positive!

As we near the end of my series of tips for effective Children's Ministry, this tip is absolutely essential, because if you choose the opposite, your ministry will not be effective.

You only have two options when it comes to being positive; either be positive or be negative. It truly is essential for you to make the choice to be positive; consider the following . . . 

The Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's Ministry - Tip #5 - Pray - Give God Thanks!

If you have been following this series of posts, you may have looked at the title for this post and once again thought; "Wait a minute! You already had two tips about prayer!" If so, you are correct. I did, but because prayer is so essential, it is my tip once again!

I've talked about having a foundation of prayer by praying for volunteers and being people of prayer who pray for the Children's Ministry, but today I want to focus on a specific type of prayer; prayer of thanksgiving! Consider the following . . . 

The Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's Ministry - Tip #6 - Involve Others!

When it comes to children's ministry we have volunteers who are faithful, flexible, and who we can depend on to do whatever they have committed to. We also have volunteers who we have to follow up on because they do not always show up and do not always do what they say they will do. This can leave us thinking we should just do what needs to be done so it is done and so it is done the way we want it to be done. 

However, if you just do things yourself, you run the very big risk of becoming bitter and thinking too highly of yourself by thinking it all depends on you. Plus, you will be keeping others from serving; so, if you are serious about truly involving others, consider the following . . . 

The Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's Ministry - Tip #7 - Remember to Say, "Thank-You!"

While today's tip may seem like a "no-brainer", far too often we do not say, "Thank You!" to the people serving in our Children's Ministries and we end up being people who not only take others for granted, but we become people who use others, too. I never want volunteers to feel like they are taken for granted or are just people I can use until they are used up and then will replace with the next people to use up. 

While you may never say, or even really think, these things, if you are not intentional about being thankful, you run the very big risk of becoming, unthankful; so, if you are serious about truly being a thankful person, consider the following . . . 

The Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's Ministry - Tip #8 - Keep Focused!

Yesterday I talked about being intentional with what we are doing in and with our Children's Ministry and said; "Children's Ministry is too important to approach it in a hap-hazard way. We must be intentional about what we are doing and why we are doing it." Then we looked at how to be intentional. 

Today's "tip" is similar to yesterday's; today I'm talking about keeping focused . . . and you need a written vision/goal for your ministry if you are going to be serious about staying focused.

It is easy, all too easy to lose focus; to be side-tracked and even derailed by things which do not matter, so, if you are serious about keeping focused, consider the following . . . 

The Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's Ministry - Tip #9 - Be Intentional!

How often in ministry do you, "shoot from the hip"? How often do you, "throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks"? How often do you do things because you have "always" done so? Is your ministry a combination of tradition and jumping from one new thing to the next, or is it grounded in prayer and planning?

It is too easy to go through the ministry year, "doing ministry" without ever really being intentional about what we are doing. When and if this is the case, we are limiting how effective we will be. Children's Ministry is too important to approach it in a hap-hazard way. We must be intentional about what we are doing and why we are doing it. 

So, if you are serious about being intentional with your Children's Ministry, consider the following . . . 

The Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's Ministry - Tip #10 - Pray!

If you have been following my posts for the past several days, you may have looked at the title for this post and thought; "Wait a minute! You already had a tip about prayer!" If so, you are correct. I did, but prayer is so essential, it is my tip once again!

It is absolutely matters for us to be people who are serious about prayer. Prayer has to be a foundation of your ministry. So, if it is not really a foundation of your Children's Ministry, consider the following ways you could make prayer this much needed foundation . . . 

The Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's Ministry - Tip #11 - Pass it On; Share!

Today I want to continue to share some of the things I've learned in and about Children's Ministry, with my tip #11 - Pass it On; Share!

Don't be "selfish" when it comes to ministry! Pass it on; share what you have learned, what you are doing, what worked for you, and even what has not worked! 

So why should we do this? Consider the following -

The Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's Ministry - Tip #12 - God Is Big Enough!

Today I want to continue to share some of the things I've learned in and about Children's Ministry, with my tip #12 - know God Is Big Enough!

It is another of Satan's tired, old bag of tricks which, sadly, we fall for far too often when we think - but likely do not say - our problems are just too big for anyone; God included. Clearly this is definitely one of his lies. It is easy for us to think the problems and challenges we face are just too big, but this just is not the truth. 

So what is the truth? Consider the following -

The Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's Ministry - Tip #13 - God Cares More Than Anyone!

Yesterday I began sharing some of the things I've learned in and about Children's Ministry, with the focus on prayer. Today I want to talk about my tip #13 - Know God Cares More Than Anyone!

Satan has the same, tired, old bag of tricks which, sadly, we fall for. Convincing us nobody cares about the Children's Ministry, and worse, God doesn't really care either, is definitely one of his lies. It is easy for us to think we are the only ones who care about the Children's Ministry, but this just is not the truth. 

So what is the truth? Consider the following -

The Top Fourteen Tips for Effective Children's Ministry - Tip #14 - Make Prayer the Foundation

I have been serving in Children's Ministry for 43 years. In these 43 years I've learned a lot and experienced a lot. While I do not consider myself an, "expert" ( "x", an "unknown quantity", "spurt", under a lot of "pressure") I do believe it is important for us to share what we have learned and experienced as we serve in Children's Ministry with those who are serving - perhaps new to the ministry.

So, today - and for the next two weeks, I'm sharing some of the things I've learned in and about Children's Ministry, beginning today with; pray!

I know, this seems like a, "no-brainer", but I can not stress strongly enough how absolutely essential it is for us to be people who are serious about prayer. We all have six months - maybe some of us a year - of "stuff" which we can do in Children's Ministry, but after this time, we will find ourselves wondering what we can possibly do next. Rather than trying to do it on our own, make prayer a foundation of your ministry.

How do we do this you may wonder? Consider the following -

Safety - Policies Which Make Sense!

When it comes to safety there are three "roads" to take which remind me of the story of the Three Bears . . . one is "too hard", because we go overboard and implement too many policies which become burdensome and frustrating. Another is "too soft", because we think we are fine as we are and do not implement the polices we really do need which leaves us open to children being harmed in our ministry. The third is "just right", where we are thoughtful and carefully implement those polices which make sense and make our ministries a safe place for children. Obviously we all want to take the "just right", thoughtful approach, so let's consider policies with our staff/volunteers, facilities and children which make sense and will enable us to create an environment where children are safe.

Safety - Develop Child Safety Policies and Train Your Volunteers!

What child safety policies do you have for your Children's Ministry? Are they written down? Do you train your volunteers so they know these policies and procedures? Do the parents know what your child safety policies are? Do those in leadership positions in your church know them? Along with being completely committed to doing all you can to ensure the safety of your Children's Ministry and screening all of your volunteers, you need to have a written child safety policy which you and all your volunteers follow each and every week. 

Safety - Screen Your Volunteers . . . ALL of Them!

In our Children's Ministries safety has to be our top priority. We want to be able to introduce children to Jesus and help them learn how to know and walk with Him for their entire lives . . . to do these things we must be committed to making our ministry the safest place possible. The first place to begin with this is with your volunteer screening; consider the following;

Safety - Our Top Priority!

Over the years I've talked quite a lot about safety - there is a reason for this; because it matters. As we start up our Fall ministries, it is definitely a time to pause and take a look at what we are doing and need to do to insure our Children's Ministries are as safe as they can be. While our top mission is to reach children for Jesus and then disciple them so they know how to walk with Him their entire lives; our top priority must be safety. If we do not provide the safest environment possible for the children we are entrusted with, then we do not deserve the opportunity to share the news of Jesus with these children. We must be absolutely committed to doing all we possibly can to make our Children's Ministry a safe place for children.

Back-to-School Prayer

When we look at the world around us, it can be easy to feel afraid for the children in our ministries. We may wonder how they will grow up in a world which is increasingly anti-God and hold on to their faith. How do they keep a Biblical world-view when from their youngest ages they are taught and told they can do whatever they want, believe whatever they want, and see themselves however they want? How do they hold on to their faith in this world?

Yes, this can be a frightening thought, but it is important - even essential - for us to remember, as much as we love the children in our ministries, God loves them even more! And, God's Word stands against the evil in this world, because it is Truth!

Rebuild & Strengthen

A couple weeks ago I wrote about the tornado which hit a 160 year old church not far from where I live and how when they began to rebuild, the builders discovered nothing was supporting the floor of the church. I said; "As I heard this news (the church members are now worshiping in their new building), I thought about the "state" of Grandparenting Ministry in our churches. In far too many churches across this country (and around the world) Grandparenting Ministry is not supported and when grandparents 'collapse', the damage is severe for families. Psalms 78 says when future generations forget and do not know God, they will turn away from Him. It is the God-given 'job' for grandparents to pass on the faith so future generations remember, know and follow God.

Churches need to 'rebuild' their 'floors' and strengthen their ministry to Grandparents; and we grandparents need to be sure our grandchildren hear about our faithful God from us, so they will remember, know, love and follow Him!"

Those Planned and Unplanned Moments . . .

When we engage the grandparents in our churches, so they are focused on passing on a heritage of faith, we will help them understand sometimes this means they will plan intentional times to sit and have conversations with their grandchildren. But, there will also be times when questions or conversations just come up as part of every day life.

For example; the other day I needed to talk with my daughter-in-law on the phone for a minute and then, of course, I talked with my grandsons, too. One of them had been looking at some stickers I had given him and wanted to know what it meant when one of them said; "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

I told him the "fear" it is talking about is not "fear", like when you are afraid, but instead it is talking more about "respect". When we respect God, it is the first step to being wise. He said this made more sense and went on telling me about some of the other stickers.

Grandparenting - a Marathon!

If we, and grandparents, look at grandparenting as a relay race rather than a marathon, we put their grandchildren's eternity at risk. Larry Fowler helps us understand why grandparenting matters - please share the video at this link with the grandparents, pastors and church leaders you know. 

Join us at the Legacy Grandparenting Summit to hear more from Larry and many more speakers including Chuck Swindoll, Josh McDowell, Jay Kessler, John Trent, Tim Kimmel, Wayne Rice, Gary Chapman and many more! (Use my code - Lynda16 - to save $40!)

Back-to-School, Bullying & the Church

I'm certain if I were to ask anyone in Children's Ministry we would all say we are completely against bullying. But, stop for a moment and think. Do we actually "tolerate" some types of bullying? Are there some times we, "turn a blind eye" to bullying? Consider the following -

Resource for Parents & Grandparents to Pass on their Faith - Happy Times Magazine!

One thing we do as people who serve in Children's Ministry is to share resources with parents and grandparents which they could use to pass faith to the children they love. Concordia Publishing House recently emailed me a couple of their Happy Times Magazines which are designed as a tool for parents/grandparents to use to pass faith to preschool age children. Today I'm happy to let you know about this resource which you could pass on to the parents and grandparents in your ministry.