Why Integrity Matters in Children's Ministry

I've been writing this week about integrity and Children's Ministry and looked at if we are people who do what we say we will do, who do not gossip and who give credit to those who have ideas and do things.  I said; "It truly matters if we are people who show the highest integrity if we are Christians; it matters even more when we are people who are leaders in Children's Ministry, because if we do not show this type of integrity, we harm others and damage our ministry." 

So, as I wrap up this conversation about integrity, I want to say, aside from being someone committed to acting in a way which shows integrity because it is what God's Word tells us to do, we must do so because otherwise we hurt people and show we can not be trusted. Sadly, there are people who have been harmed by people in leadership positions in their church who did not show integrity. Some of these people who have been harmed end up leaving the church; they may not ever return. Some of these people think if they can not trust leaders in their church, they can not trust God. They do not differentiate between people who hurt them and God. These people do more than just leave the church; they "leave" God. Look at Jeremiah 23:1,2 -

Why Integrity Matters in Children's Ministry - Give Credit Where it is Due

I've been writing about integrity and Children's Ministry and have looked at if we are people who do what we say we will do and who do not gossip. You know, it truly matters if we are people who show the highest integrity if we are Christians; it matters even more when we are people who are leaders in Children's Ministry, because if we do not show this type of integrity, we harm others and damage our ministry. 

When Jesus was on Earth, He didn't condemn sinners; He ate with them, talked with them and showed them God's love. He did, however; condemn religious leaders who did not show integrity - He said they were hypocrites. In fact, He had a lot to say about them and none of it was positive, so if we think for even a moment, it does not really matter if we are "lax" with our integrity, we are definitely mistaken. It matters, so, today let's think about being people who do not take credit for what others think of or do. When might we do this? Consider the following . . . 

Why Integrity Matters in Children's Ministry - Do Not Gossip

Yesterday I asked if we actually live as people who show integrity in our Children's Ministry and if when it came down to it, do the volunteers, families and children truly see us as people of integrity. I looked at whether we are people who actually do what we say we will do. Today I want to talk about if we are really people who do not gossip. Consider the following . . . 

Why Integrity Matters in Children's Ministry - Do What We Say We Will Do

If asked, I'm confident we would all agree integrity matters in Children's Ministry, but do we actually live as people who show integrity in our Children's Ministry? When it actually comes down to it, do the volunteers, families and children truly see us as people of integrity? People who actually do what we say we will do? People who do not gossip? People who tell the truth? People who do not take credit for what others think of and do? People who can truly be trusted?

In far too many cases the answers to those questions, sadly, are "no". Why is this? Certainly we all want to be people who show high integrity in all areas of our lives, but especially in our ministries; so why is it so many of us do not? There are several areas where our integrity - or sadly, lack thereof, will show up; as 2016 winds to an end and 2017 is about to begin, let's think about being people who do what we say we will do. When might this happen? Consider the following . . . 

resources for families - God Made You Nose to Toes

This time of year we tend to make, "New Year's Resolutions", so today I'd like to suggest a "resolution" for you . . . encourage your grandchildren to read. I love books and believe there is great value in cultivating a love for reading in our grandchildren. My son posted a photo on Facebook yesterday of the seven books he found in his eight-year old son's bed (my grandson) . . . there were novels, comic books, a science project book and Lord of the Rings . . . yes, Lord of the Rings! He is on page 70 and he is eight years old!

My sweet Josiah loves to read and I do believe one reason for this is because his parents and grandparents made a point to read to him since he was just a very little baby! We read to him and read to his brothers as well - there is great value in doing this. My sweet Caleb (five years old) is beginning to read . . . he enjoys being able to put letters together to make words and sweet Shane (three years old) loves it when he learns a new letter! 

Since I love books and reading, I'm always happy when I'm invited to read and review a new book. Recently Zonderkidz invited me to review God Made You Nose to Toes . . . I loved the title and thought it sounded like a fun book for little ones, so today I'm very happy to share it with you, so you can recommend it to the parents and grandparents in your ministry.

All is Well!

We all have John 3:16 committed to heart, but just one verse away from it is the profound truth which comforts us all year, and challenges us when it comes to telling the children in our ministries about Jesus. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

As you celebrate today, tonight and tomorrow with those you love, remember; All is Well! Merry Christmas! 

Some Thoughts About the "Silent Night"

Today I'm delighted to share this beautiful carol with you, sung by Michael W. Smith and Little Big Town on his new Christmas album . . . I have never heard a more lovely presentation of this song . . . enjoy!

Resources for Grandparents - the Journal the Word Bible

One of our "jobs" as people who serve in the Children's Ministry, is to let parents and grandparents know about resources which will help them pass on a heritage of faith to the children they love. Today I'm very happy to share with you a resource - a large-print Bible, which is an excellent tool for the grandparents in your ministry!

You certainly want the grandparents in your ministry to be Intentional Christian Grandparents; grandparents who are focused about passing on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren. Grandparents who want to help their grandchildren understand how very much God loves them and how they can choose to make Him the Lord - or Boss - of their lives. Once they make this all-important decision, these grandparents are uniquely positioned to help them learn how to love, know and walk with God; both now and throughout their lives, so one day, they will be Intentional Christian Parents and then Intentional Christian Grandparents and pass their heritage of faith to the children they love as well.

For grandparents to do these things, they have to be people who love, know and walk with God, as they can not pass to others what they do not have and do themselves. This of course means they are people who pray (check a post at this link I wrote earlier this month on my other blog - grandma's cookie jar - about being intentional when it comes to praying for your grandchildren) and who are faithful to spend time in God's Word, so they are able to have a real walk with God. So, today, I'm happy to share with you another resource which will help them with their walk with God . . . the new NIV Journal the Word Bible Large Print Edition from Zondervan (which they sent me for review).

"Sticky" VBS Bible Lessons - What Makes a Lesson, "Stick"?

During Vacation Bible School . . . churches which plan a VBS for their summer ministry - or other time of the year - know their children will be engaged in activities, games, crafts, mission/service projects, music and snacks; but the most important part of VBS is the Bible teaching. So . . . what should we be looking for when we look at the Bible lessons in a VBS resource? Consider the following absolute essentials -

VBS . . . or Not???!!!

I have loved VBS for decades . . . it is a wonderful, and effective tool for engaging volunteers, children in the church, children in the community and families in the churches across the country and around the world! I have to say, though; the past few years I have been stunned by the number of people who posted on-line about the "death of VBS" and called for churches to stop having VBS. And, this coming year it is the truth there are fewer VBS resources available than there has been in previous years as more publishers are no longer releasing VBS material. So, with these things in mind, once again this year I want to share a couple thoughts . . . 

Top 5 Reasons for Focusing Children on Receiving at Christmas

Yesterday I posted my Top 5 Reasons for Focusing Children on Giving at Christmas, but today I want to stop to think about the Top 5 reasons for Focusing our Children on Receiving at Christmas . . . yes, I said “receiving“! At Christmas children – and adults, too – think quite a bit about the gifts they would like to receive, but in God’s Word we find some of the most incredible gifts anyone could ever receive . . . and we read they are gifts God wants us to receive! Consider the following .  .  .

Top 5 Reasons for Focusing Children on Giving at Christmas!

“Christmas time is here. Happiness and cheer. Fun for all that children call, Their favorite time of the year!”

Ah, yes . . . Christmas time is here and while children are likely to be focused on the gifts they hope to receive . . . as for many children it is their favorite time of year, I believe it is the ideal time to redirect their focus to giving to others! So . . .  here are my Top 5 Reasons for Focusing Children on Giving at Christmas . . .

What Survivor Taught Me About Children's Ministry!

Okay. I admit it. I watch the TV show, Survivor. I totally could do without the "drama"; and think a lot of it is fake, but there is one reason I watch this show. The challenges. I like to see what the challenges are and how the people work together - or not - to accomplish them.

Watching Survivor has actually taught me something about Children's MInistry. What, you might wonder, could Survivor possibly teach me about Children's Ministry? It taught me about effectively engaging children - all of them - in activities. Stop and think for a moment. If you have watched this show, you know most of the time there are two challenges or games, during each show which the contestants have to complete/compete in to move forward in the game. These are amazing games! Usually they involve some type of obstacle course/race and then a puzzle to assemble. Whichever team/person does these things first wins an advantage/award or immunity from being voted off the show. Since all of the players want to win the million dollars, they all want to win the challenges/games.

How Do You Measure the "Success" of Your Children's Ministry?

Is your children's ministry successful? Are you sure? Do you really know for sure how your Children's Ministry impacts the children and families in your church and community? How do you know?    

If we want our ministries to be genuinely effective and successful, we need to regularly ask questions to help measure where we really are and how effective we truly are. If we do not regularly ask the "hard" questions of everything we do, there isn't a way for us to truly tell how effective we are. Consider the following questions and if you are, or should be, asking them -

Let's Talk Grandparenting Ministry - a Resource to Help Them Be Intentional

If we are serious about equipping grandparents in our churches to pass on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren - and why wouldn't we be since engaged grandparents will strengthen our ministries, we need to help them find resources they can use. Science, the Bible & Fun! is a resource written especially for this purpose (and it is one parents could use at home with their children, too!)

You will find information, along with free sample lessons, at this link! You will also be able to see the scope and sequence for the first year and  then order it at this link - 52 weeks of activities for grandparents and parents in your church to use with their grandchildren/children to pass on a heritage of faith!