
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Two Days!

Monday, January 30, 2017
I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway Tomorrow!
I'm happy to say Matthew Latham is the winner of one Group's Rome VBS USB Flash Drive! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Matthew for reading About the Children's Department, please email me your address at lyndafreemanatcd@gmail.com by February 7, 2017, so I can send it to you!
Sunday, January 29, 2017
I Have a Winner & Another VBS Giveaway Tomorrow!

Saturday, January 28, 2017
I Have a Winner & Another VBS Giveaway Tomorrow!

Thursday, January 26, 2017
VBS 2017 - Rescued by Capatin Sun

Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Giveaway for Grandparents - or Families - in Your Ministry!

Tuesday, January 24, 2017
I Have Two Winners & Another Giveaway in Four Days!

Monday, January 23, 2017
My Top Five Reasons for Having a Discipline Policy Which Shows Grace

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. I believe this for the following reasons . . .
Friday, January 20, 2017
Sunday School - A Place for Relationships
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Sunday school has not outlived its usefulness, because at its "core" it is all about building relationships; relationships between children and Jesus and relationships between children and children. We help children build their relationships with Jesus when we focus on helping them learn God's Word is for them and help them learn how to go to God's Word to find the answers they need for their own lives. But along with doing this, we also need to be focused on helping children build relationships with other children.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
2017 VBS - My Thoughts So Far . . .


Wednesday, January 18, 2017
VBS 2017 - Abingdon Press - Super God!

In this day and age where racism, anger, mistrust and misinformation divide us - in our communities and sadly, in our churches - more than ever, Super God! is a resource which can help bridge the gaps which divide, by helping us understand others and believe the truth - all children are "super" and all of them have "super-possibilities". Absolutely take a serious look at Super God!, and whether you use it for VBS or not, find a place in your ministry where you will use it.
Imagine the Difference & Impact Grandparenting Ministry Would Make on Your Children's Ministry!

Who are the people in this group, you ask? The answer is;
grandparents. Now before you tell me your church has a ministry to and for
grandparents, let me ask you if this “ministry” is more than Bible study
classes, get-together, luncheons and hymn sings, because there is a significant
difference between a “Senior Saints” Ministry and a Grandparenting Ministry. A
Senior Saints Ministry primarily functions for those who are retired (over the
age of 65) and is mostly focused on fellowship – both excellent things for a
church to do, but not a Grandparenting Ministry, which focuses upon those who
are grandparents (the average age for a person to become a grandparent for the
first time is 47 . . . yes, 47!) and strives to engage, equip and encourage
them to pass on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren. Do you see the
difference? Does your church truly have a Grandparenting Ministry?
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
VBS 2017 - Hero Central - Cokesbury - I'm Giving a VBS Starter Kit Away!

Monday, January 16, 2017
VBS 2017 - Rome - Group Publishing - I'm Giving a Digital USB Flash Drive Away!

With this resource you get to take children and families from your church and community back to Bible times where they may "experience" life in ancient Rome, as they discover what happened with the start of the church, and discover what life was like in the first century Rome.
Sunday, January 15, 2017
VBS 2017 - Group Publishing - Passport Peru - I'm Giving Away One Peru VBS USB Flash Drive!

Saturday, January 14, 2017
VBS 2017 - Maker Fun Factory - Group Publishing - I'm Giving Away One USB Flash Drive!
Friday, January 13, 2017
VBS 2017 - LifeWay - Galactic Starveyors
Thursday, January 12, 2017
VBS 2017 - Concordia - Mighty Fortress

So let's take a look at Mighty Fortress from Concordia Publishing House where they call upon children to discover how, "In Jesus the Victory is Won!"
Sunday School - God's Word Not Gimmicks!
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So, what do we do to reverse this trend? Do we go the route of trying the latest and "greatest" new "gimmicks" to get children to participate? Does this mean we have to work more to "entertain" children so we can "compete" with sports and other activities in which children are participating?
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Has Sunday School Outlived Its Usefulness?
We will be focusing upon Vacation Bible School shortly, and this is a tool which in the past few years people have been asking if it has "outlived its usefulness". Even publishers seem to be asking this question and sadly, coming to the conclusion they think it has as more of them stop producing VBS materials and resources.
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I believe VBS is still a tool we can use to reach children and families for Jesus and help them grow in their walk with Jesus, but as I thought about this again this year, I remembered an article I read by Melissa Pandika where she asked if the "Sun has set on Sunday School"? She said; "Between 1997 and 2004, churches lost tens of thousands of Sunday school programs, according to data from the Barna Group, and more recent studies show enrollment has fallen across denominations. From 2004 to 2010, for example, Sunday school attendance dropped nearly 40 percent among Evangelical Lutheran churches in America and almost eight percent among Southern Baptist churches, prompting speculation that the problem may be more than just a decline in American religiosity."
Melissa went on to say parents and children are just too busy on the weekends to attend church and churches in general are paying a higher price than they anticipated for the occurrences of sex abuse in some churches leaving some to wonder if, "Sunday school has outlived it's usefulness". She wrapped up her article saying churches are trying new things to get people to come back to Sunday school. (You'll find her full article at this link.)
So, has Sunday school outlived its usefulness? Is our answer to give it one last "push" by trying new things to get parents and children to return? Do we need to use "gimmicks" to "compete" with sports and the other things children attend and participate in on Sundays?
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I believe VBS is still a tool we can use to reach children and families for Jesus and help them grow in their walk with Jesus, but as I thought about this again this year, I remembered an article I read by Melissa Pandika where she asked if the "Sun has set on Sunday School"? She said; "Between 1997 and 2004, churches lost tens of thousands of Sunday school programs, according to data from the Barna Group, and more recent studies show enrollment has fallen across denominations. From 2004 to 2010, for example, Sunday school attendance dropped nearly 40 percent among Evangelical Lutheran churches in America and almost eight percent among Southern Baptist churches, prompting speculation that the problem may be more than just a decline in American religiosity."
Melissa went on to say parents and children are just too busy on the weekends to attend church and churches in general are paying a higher price than they anticipated for the occurrences of sex abuse in some churches leaving some to wonder if, "Sunday school has outlived it's usefulness". She wrapped up her article saying churches are trying new things to get people to come back to Sunday school. (You'll find her full article at this link.)
So, has Sunday school outlived its usefulness? Is our answer to give it one last "push" by trying new things to get parents and children to return? Do we need to use "gimmicks" to "compete" with sports and the other things children attend and participate in on Sundays?
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
VBS Giveaways!
Monday, January 9, 2017
VBS Reviews . . . Just a Few More Days . . .

I do want to say, of the kits I’ve reviewed so far, I’m
very happy with the choices. They are well written, engaging, a lot of fun and
most importantly, they are filled with solid Bible teaching. Children will
learn who Jesus is, what He did and how they can know and walk with Him for the
rest of their lives! This is what matters and is why we offer VBS ministry to
the children and families in our churches and communities.
So, please be patient another few days . . . I will
begin posting my reviews as soon as possible!
Sunday, January 8, 2017
My Top Five Ways to Show Love to the Children in Our Ministries
Friday, January 6, 2017
My Top Five Reasons for Being Someone Who Listens
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As adults it is far too easy to be busy with the things we are doing or with our tech and just not listen to children. Children do tend to talk a lot and it is not always "earth-shattering" things they have to say; but when it comes to my grandsons, I feel like if it is important to them and they want to tell me, I want to hear it! I'm so glad Josiah has noticed this!
So, as I thought about this conversation, I thought it applied to Children's Ministry as well and came up with five reasons we need to be people who listen to children, families and volunteers and today I'm sharing them with you. They are . . .
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Let's "Design" Our Children's Ministry for Children!
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Wednesday, January 4, 2017
VBS 2017 . . .

I do have to say, there are fewer
publishers releasing new material again this year – I’m sad to say Standard
Publishing (Christian Standard) is no longer releasing new VBS. But, the kits I
have received so far are excellent – you will have some wonderful resources to
consider as you look for curriculum for your 2017 VBS ministries!
So . . . stay tuned, starting next
week I’ll begin releasing my 2017 VBS reviews!
Equipping Grandparents - I'm Giving One Away

Grandparents have a Biblical mandate to be
intentional about passing on their faith to their grandchildren, but most churches
do not do anything to mobilize the segment of their church body. If we want
grandparents to be focused and intentional about passing on their faith, and
being significantly involved in the ministries of the church, then we need to
be focused and intentional about engaging and equipping them.
The Legacy Coalition exists to help churches engage
and equip grandparents to help and grandparents be intentional about passing on
a heritage of faith to their grandchildren. They are moving forward on work for
their second International Grandparenting Summit and are beginning to produce
resources to help both churches and grandparents. Today I’m very happy to let
you know about one such resource (and announce a giveaway for one as well!)
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Do We "Design" Our Children's Ministries for Adults or Children? Part 2
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Then I looked at what we might see if our Children's Ministry is actually designed for adults. Today I want to look at what we might see if our Children's Ministry is in fact, designed for children. Consider the following . . .
Monday, January 2, 2017
Do We "Design" Our Children's Ministries for Adults or Children?
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Let's think about this for the next few days, beginning with what might we see if our Children's Ministry is actually designed for adults? Consider the following . . .
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