Make 2021 the Year Your Church Hands Down Confident Faith!

Most churches have offered little - if any - actual in-person opportunities for children, teens, families to learn for almost a year due to covid. While 2021 brings with it the promise of a return to "normal", this return will not arrive until June or so. We do not have to spend another six months offering little or nothing to the children/families in our church and community. We are able to do so much more - and for just $1 or $3 per family!

Equip Parents & Grandparents to Hand Down Confident Faith in 2021

2020 meant a year of limited and reduced personal contact with the children and families in our churches. 2021 will at least begin with more of the same. Think about this. For many of the children and families they will not have been able to participate in Children's Ministry for a year. A year. This is a long time.

It is also the reason why we must be focused upon equipping parents and grandparents to hand down confident faith to the children. If families rely on church to do this - as so many do - then what happens when we experience a pandemic (and we are likely to experience this again)? Handing down confident faith is something which must take place during the day-in-day-out living of our lives - not something which must depend upon being able to go to church.

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?

What Survivor Taught Me About Children's Ministry!

Okay. I admit it. I have watched 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 watched this show. The challenges. I like to see what the challenges are and how the people work together - or not - to accomplish them.

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?    

This Christmas Be the Gift God Wants You to Be!

Today I want to share a few thoughts about Christmas. While it is the time of the year when we tend to be more joyful, more merry . . . at least, many of us are, it can also be a very difficult time of year for some of the children and families in our ministries if they are experiencing difficult times in their families. Along with leading children in worshipping and celebrating the birth of Jesus, we need to also be on the watch for those children and families who may need our help. Watch for . . . 

Ask the Question - What About the Grandparents?

When we think about the questions we need to ask on a regular basis about our Children's Ministry, there are definitely several important questions to keep in mind. One you may not think about, but need to, is; what about the grandparents? This question, and it's answer, matters for the following reasons . . . 

What Inspired You to Become Involved in Children's Ministry? What Inspires You to Continue in Children's Ministry?

A few years back on CM Connect I saw a question posted by a man named David  - he said he was being given the opportunity in an upcoming service to speak on behalf of the Children's Ministry. He asked fellow kidmins to "inspire" him. This got me to thinking about what inspired me to be involved in Children's' Ministry in the first place and what inspires me to continue to do so.

Yes, Our Children's Ministries Need to Change

I'm going to say something you may not have heard before . . . the church has allowed parents and grandparents to "outsource" their job of handing down confident faith to their children and grandchildren. Not only has the church allowed parents and grandparents to do this, but, sadly, we often encourage it. Even more, we communicate to parents and grandparents we in the church are the people best equipped to hand down confident faith. We must stop doing these things.

Don't Let Covid Stop Children From Growing in Their Walk with God

The past eight months have been difficult. Some of you may have caught covid. Some of you may have people you love who have battled with this disease. Some of you may have people you love who died due to covid. The children in your church have likely learned what it means to go to school "virtually". You, and the ones you love, may have experienced times of unemployment. Most of the families in your church, if not all of them, have likely not been to church in eight months - and this is likely true for the ones you love as well. If you have been able to return to church, it is extremely possible the Children's Ministry has not restarted - or if it has, it has done so in an extremely limited way.

Did You Know?

Please share with the parents and grandparents in your ministry - and plan to use the church package ($1 per family per digital book) to use this as a church! (Details at this link.)

Did you know simple cells are so complex for them to develop on their own is just not possible? Did you know DNA is actually programmed to do the things it does - which means it had to have an intelligence design it as it is not possible for it to develop on its own? Did you know animals have their own unique features and abilities which differentiate them from other animals? For example, did you know Pangolins have spines - "teeth" in their stomach, but not in their mouth? Did you know Wombats have very thick skin - actually cartilage on their backsides so when a hungry neighbor finds a Wombat, all the Wombat has to do is dive head-first into a near-by tunnel (and since they dig tunnels a lot there is likely a near-by tunnel for it to dive into) and the hungry neighbor will not be able to bite on to the Wombat's backside and pull it out?

Engage the Children in Your Church

When I think of the word "faithful", I think of God; He is ALWAYS faithful! Just look at these wonderful verses which tells us of God's incredible faithfulness:

Give the Gift of Confident Faith

Please share this post with the parents and grandparents in your church . . . 

Christmas is just a month and a half away! Have you started your Christmas gift list? I'd like to make a gift recommendation today which will equip you to give the best gift you will ever give to the ones you love . . . a confident faith! The "Life on the Goldilocks Planet" curriculum/book series makes a terrific gift for your grandchildren/ children and for your grown children as well. This unique book series will engage the ones you love - of all ages - as they learn about interesting, unique, strange, and familiar animals. There are fun activities - science projects, crafts, recipes, games - to help everyone think about and remember how these animals show us God is real and why they are able to trust Him with confidence.

Sculpt their Souls

 

Are you one of the grandmas (or grandpas) who are so blessed to have grown children who love and walk with God, and who are committed to hand down confident faith with you to the children you love? Do your grandchildren want to go to church, want to talk about their walk with God, and embrace a confident faith of their own? Or, do you have grown children who, like so many their age, are no longer involved in church, who do not embrace a confident faith of their own, and/or grandchildren who tell you they are, "not into that church thing any more"?

If you have grown children and grandchildren who want to grow in their own walk with God, or ones who do not, you, as a purposeful grandparent, need to have resources which help you hand down confident faith and will engage those who walk with God and engage those who do not. We must not just leave the handing of confident faith to our grown children who are walking with God, or the church. We must not, "wave the white flag of defeat" when we have people we love who show little if any interest in God. Handing down confident faith matters too much for us to do either of these things. "Co-laboring over the sculpting of souls is a sacred profession, a humbling privilege. Never forget." It is for this reason the Life on the Goldilocks Planet curriculum/book series was developed.

People who are using this series are reporting - particularly with grandchildren who may not be interested in things of God - this series is engaging them in important conversations which show why they are able to believe in God and trust Him with confidence. This is what we want to happen! If you are curious about this series and want to get a look at what it is like, today I am happy to share with you about the Red-Lipped Batfish - from book four - Red-Lipped Batfish, Giant Purple Squirrels, Kakapo & More! - 

This Christmas Impact & Inspire with the "Life on the Goldilocks Planet" Curriculum & Book Series

Christmas 2020 is just under two months away and is one of the special times of the year when we grandmas (and grandpas/parents, too) have an opportunity to impact and inspire the ones we love. For the coming month, I will from time-to-time share gift ideas with you. Today I am sharing some excellent reasons for you to give the gift of confident faith with the "Life on the Goldilocks Planet" curriculum/book series to children, parents, and grandparents on your gift list this year . . .

Jesus was NOT Boring - Why are We?

 

Why is it so many of our Children's Ministries are committed to boring the socks off the children in their ministries? Well, they may not be "committed" to boring children, but they are not committed to engaging them. When we insist on teaching children by having them sit and listen as we "yak" at them, then we are boring them and we end up leaving them with these utterly false beliefs  - Jesus and the Bible are boring. This leads to children choosing to leave church as soon as they are possibly able to do so. Oh yes. We pay an extremely high price when we insist on teaching by talking and not by engaging.

Build Memories to Hand Down a Confident Conviction

I posted this on my blog for grandmas (and grandpas and parents, too) and want to share it with those of you who are involved in Children's Ministry. Please take the message to heart and commit to share it with the grandparents and parents in your ministry. Better yet, commit to equip them by getting a digital license to use the Life on the Goldilocks Planet series with the families in your church ($1 per family - check the details at this link.)

When we share memories with our grandchildren, we are helping them connect with the past. This is why it matters for us to tell them the ways God has worked in the lives of their family who came before them - as you do this, they will see God is real and is still working in the lives of real people in their own family. This matters.

Thank You . . . with a Little Fun and Creativity!

 I love pretty much everything about Children's Ministry, but one of my favorite things is thanking and appreciating the volunteers - after all, what is more fun than expressing a heart-felt thank you?!!!

Safety Alert - Phones Are Everywhere

One thing we have to keep in mind in our Children's Ministry; even at the top of our list of things we must do, is the safety of the children in our ministry. This means we are resolute about running safety checks, background checks and following up with references for each and every person working/serving in the Children's Ministry as well as for each and every person who volunteers to serve.

Hand Down Confident Faith with Blue Dragons, Eyelash Vipers, Civets, Red-Lipped Batfish & More!

 

Well, it was a busy Summer and Fall around this grandma's house! My grandsons helped with the development of four books designed to engage children, teens, young adults, adults, and help grandparents/ parents hand down a confident faith. They tested a water-balloon launcher, made "bugs" and then spent time shooting them off plants outside with water-guns, tested recipes, enjoyed science projects, made tie-dye shirts, created hover-crafts, participated in an egg drop activity and many more activities chosen to engage children/teens/adults and help make the message of our books "stick"! Most importantly, we have been able to have important conversations about why we are able to believe in God and trust Him with confidence.

Equip Parents/Grandparents to Hand Down Confident Faith

When it comes to teaching children in your church, you likely use curriculum to help you teach effectively - whether you write it yourself or buy it from a publisher. Children's Ministry leaders often tell parents/grandparents to hand down confident faith at home, but many of these parents/ grandparents do not know how to do this. When they do not know what to do to hand down confident faith at home, most, if not all, of them will do nothing - other than bring them to church.

Book Four is Available - Red-Lipped Batfish, Giant Purple Squirrels, Kakapo & More!

 I am very happy today to let you know about a new book in the Life on the "Goldilocks Planet" series . . . book four - Red-Lipped Batfish, Giant Purple Squirrels, Kakapo & More! In this book/curriculum tool for grandparents/parents, you will find twelve unique animals with full-color photos, fun facts, activities, quotes from scientists, and questions to get you talking - all designed to enable parents/grandparents so they are able to hand down a confident faith.

Why Wouldn't You Use It?

I'm very happy today to announce the release of book three in

the new "Life on the 'Goldilocks Planet'" curriculum and book series - Civets, Tree Kangaroos, Batoids & More!  This book will equip you with the tools you need to help the grandparents and parents in your ministry so they are able to hand down confident faith. 

God's Best Plan

 I began writing about Children's Ministry twenty five years ago. It was the beginning of the time where churches saw the need for staff who actually focused upon developing a solid ministry to the children in their church - beyond the DCE (Director of Christian Ed) who often was an Elder/Deacon and pretty much just handed out quarterlies to teachers and planned a VBS each year. People were starting to see how it truly mattered for our churches to take their Children's Ministry seriously - they saw it mattered for them to have effective Children's Ministry and choices about curriculum and programming truly mattered. 

Publishers began developing more curriculum resources and training opportunities. People (such as myself) began writing websites (this was before the start of blogs) with information to help the new Children's Directors/Pastors as they worked to develop solid Children's Ministry. Things began to become so much better!

Curriculum to Help Grandparents & Parents Hand Down Confident Faith

 I am often asked by grandmas (and grandpas, too) how they are able to do more to hand down confident faith than pray and invite their grandchildren to go to church with them, and my answer is always to watch for unexpected opportunities for conversations which connect life with God, be sure we live what we say, and plan special opportunities to have those important conversations. It is typically the third of these three things with which they find the most challenging, so today I'm going to walk you though a new curriculum written to help you plan these special opportunities.

Equip Grandparents for Grandparent's Day

Today is Grandparent's Day. This post is a Grandparent's Day post, but it is not about how important grandparents are - although grandparents are extremely important. It is not about how grandparents are able to make a lasting difference in the lives of their grandchildren - although grandparents are absolutely able to make a lasting difference in the lives of their grandchildren. It is not a call to grandparents to be people who pray for their grandchildren and children - although grandparents do need to be people who pray for their grandchildren and children. This is a post to encourage grandparents by letting you know about a curriculum resource written for them to use to hand down confident faith.

Eyelash Vipers, Pygmy Elephants, Pangolins & More! - the Tool You Need to Hand Down a Confident Faith

Yesterday we received our print copies of book two in the "Life on the 'Goldilocks Planet'" series - Eyelash Vipers, Pygmy Elephants, Pangolins & More!  Obviously three of the twelve animals in this book are Eyelash Vipers, Pygmy Elephants, and Pangolins, but today I'm happy to let you know what the other nine animals are . . . the Cassowary, Sunflower Sea Star, Large Blue Butterfly, Mantled Guereza Colobus Monkey, Golden Poison Dart Frog, Sun Bear, Hawksbill Sea Turtle, Tufted Puffin, and Archerfish.

Equip & Engage Families for Just $1 Per Family

As the new school year begins is your church restarting your ministry to children and families? With covid still claiming lives across our country and so many schools trying to open, only to close due to outbreaks, most churches are not yet trying to offer on-campus Children's Ministry. But this does not mean you are not able to do something with the families in your church. Take a look at what you are able to do for just $1 per family . . . 

Parents, Grandparents, & Our Primary Job Description

It has almost been six months since the start of covid quarantine and social distancing. While there are churches which have re-started church services, most churches have not re-started their ministry for children and youth. Six months without the opportunity for the children in our church to connect with other adults who teach them what we are and with friends who love Jesus. Six months without learning more from the Bible and being encouraged to have a confident faith. 

Do the Most Important Thing - Hand Down Confident Faith

Do you know what a Cassowary is? Have you ever heard of a Sun Bear, Sunflower Sea Star, or an Archerfish? What do you know about Pangolins? These five animals, and seven more, are included in my new book - Eyelash Vipers, Pygmy Elephants, Pangolins & More! and not only will you be able to use this book to share full-color photos of the animals and fun facts about them with your grandchildren, but you will also learn how each of these animals were designed "just right" to have the things they needed to be able to survive. When you share these things with the children you love, you will be able to show them "why" they are able to believe in God - the Designer - with confidence.

If we are serious about handing down the faith, we need to share with the children we love not only what to believe (although this is important), but also why they are able to believe with confidence. The day will come when they will be faced with people who do not believe. If we have not equipped them with the "whys" for their faith, the ones we love may join the increasing numbers of young adults who walk away from their faith. It is vital for us to teach our grandchildren and children the "whys" - and this book will help you do so.

Look what people are saying about this book . . .

Hand Down a Confident Faith with "Eyelash Vipers, Pygmy Elephants, Pangolins & More!"

Today I am very happy to let you know about a new book - Eyelash Vipers, Pygmy Elephants, Pangolins & More! This book is the second book in the new "Life on the 'Goldilocks Planet'" series and will equip you to hand down a confident faith to the children you love. It is available on Amazon at this link and in our bookstore at this link. If you order it through our bookstore, you will save a couple dollars and will receive an autographed copy.

This book will equip you to engage your grandchildren, have a great time learning about the amazing world around us, and see how God's design is everywhere we look - and shows us why we are able to believe He is real! I am so humbled and thankful for this endorsement from Tim & Darcy Kimmel for my new book series - they said . . .

Top Three Reasons to Leave Children's Ministry

If you are serving in a Children's Ministry where you love what you do, love the people with whom you work, and can not see yourself ever leaving, this post may leave you thinking; "There could never be a reason I'd leave Children's Ministry!"

If you are serving in a Children's Ministry where you are not supported and it is a struggle to go to work, but you think it would be wrong to quit; you may look at this post and wonder if there could really be even one reason to leave Children's Ministry.

Well, I've been in both places and after 45 years in Children's Ministry, I am here today to tell you there are reasons to leave Children's Ministry and am sharing with you what I see as the top three reasons to do so.

What is the Job of Your Church?

I'm going to say something which may surprise you; it is NOT your church's job to hand confident faith to children. If you look throughout Scripture you will see God's best plan for the handing down of confident faith is for grandparents and parents to be the people who hand it to the children He has given to them. When both sets of grandparents and the parents team up to hand down confident faith, they are powerfully effective and are able to make a strong impact on the children they love.

Equip Families to Hand Down a Confident Faith

June 2015 in a town not far from where I live, a tornado hit; four churches in this small community were seriously damaged. One church was 160 years old. The members of this church were understandably quite dismayed and disheartened to see the significant damage to their church. However; their sadness turned to rejoicing a couple months later when the builders who began the work to rebuild brought them shocking news. As these builders surveyed the damage and began the work, they discovered nothing was holding up the floor of this old church building. The years had taken their toll and unbeknownst to the church members, their church floor was unsupported and about to collapse. The tornado actually saved them.

Connect with Children & Families - Equip them During Covid & Beyond

At all times, but especially now with covid changing so much about how churches connect with families/children, we need to be focused upon equipping parents/ grandparents so they are able to hand down the faith and teach the "whys" - why we are able to believe God is real and trust Him with confidence - at home. If you ask the parents and grandparents if they are handing down the faith and teaching the "whys" for a confident faith, they will likely mostly say no. But it isn't because they don't want to do this - most often it is because they do not know how to engage the children they love and connect with them in meaningful and memorable ways.

Lay the Foundation AND Teach the "Whys" - It Matters

More and more often we hear and read about leaders in the church around the world who are renouncing their faith. And not just leaders in the church around the world, but many of us have children, grandchildren, siblings who have turned from a walk with God. What is happening?

I read a post on Cogent Christianity which made me think. George Brahm said; "Most of us have attended churches where apologetics is never an issue of focus. And what Marty’s case reveals is that a lack of apologetics-training in the local church can often be what causes a young person to apostatize, either when they are still young or later in the future." He goes on to say we tend to tell children what to believe, but do not ever tell them "why" they not only "should" believe it, but "why" it is the truth. Take a few minutes to follow the link above and read this article.

Teach the Whys & Help Your Grandchildren Develop a Confident Faith

Okay, I know I have been posting a fair amount about my new book - Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More! Please bear with me today as I share a bit more about it - and a way for you to save money on the book or even get a digital copy for free!

As I wrote on my other blog today (grandmaswithheart.blogspot.com)- it absolutely is essential for us to tell the ones we love the "whys" - why we are able to believe God is real and trust the Bible with confidence. If we do not, we run the terrible risk of the day coming when they turn away from their faith. This is happening more and more to families across our country - maybe even to your family. If we do not equip the ones we love with solid reasons for why they are able to believe, when difficulties come there way they may turn from their faith. But, when we equip them with the "whys", we are helping them develop a confident faith.

"A Great & Powerful Tool" to Help You Hand Down a Confident Faith

As you know, I recently released a new book designed to help your grandchildren (and you) develop a strong, confident faith in this world where a growing number of young people are leaving their faith and becoming atheists and agnostics. When we look at creation, we see God's design - design means there has to be a Designer. 

Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More! is more than just an animal picture book - it is a tool which will help you hand down a confident faith! As Cavin Harper, from the Christian Grandparenting Network said; "I LOVE this little book you have created. What a great and powerful tool for shaping young minds to see and acknowledge the truth about God's creation. Well done. Every parent and grandparent ought to have this tool in their toolkit to teach the truth about creation and evolution. This is a marvelous tool I want to let every grandparent know about. Thank you for taking time with your grandsons to create this extraordinary piece."

Creation Shows God's Design & Gives Us a Confident Faith

My grandsons love animals. They have so far throughout their lives. So, when I wanted to come up with a way to help them learn to see and remember the truth about how God is real, it made sense to me to look at His creation. After all, Romans 1:20 tells us - "God's eternal power and character cannot be seen. But from the beginning of creation, God has shown what these are like by all he has made. That's why those people don't have any excuse."

Re-Opening Children's Ministry?

I'm sure it is on your minds how you go about opening your Children's Ministries to where you are able to have children and volunteers in class again - as a grandma, it is on my mind for sure. If churches open too soon, and without enough care, children, volunteers, and family members will get sick. I'm certain none of us want our church to be the place to where health officials trace an outbreak - particularly if someone ends up in the hospital and worse if they die. So, re-opening opportunities for children has to be carefully thought out AND carefully enacted.

Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More is Available & I'm Giving One Digital Copy Away!

I am so happy today to announce the release of the new book - Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More - in our Bookstore and on Amazon. This book is a unique book which children and families in your ministry will love - it is filled with photos of unique animals along with fun facts about each of these animals. In addition there are activities - crafts, recipes, games, and science projects following each animal to help children remember the fun and important things they learned.

Most importantly, and the reason for this book, is how it is designed to help grandparents and parents equip the children they love so they are able to see, recognize, and believe the truth about how God designed and created the world upon which we live and everything in it. You will find quotes from scientists which reinforce how science clearly shows everything on this world was designed to be as they are. This means there has to be a Designer and gives us so many reasons to believe God is real!

Look what people are saying about Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More . . . 

Help the Ones You Love See the Design & Believe in the Designer

As a grandma who believe the Bible, when it tells me God created the world upon which I live and everything on it, I believe. There are reasons I believe . . . first of all, I believe the Bible to be true. Secondly, when I look at the world, and everything on it, I see design, purpose, intention - for it all to have happened from chaos or chance seems impossible to me. I believe, and I want the ones I love to believe as well.

Help the Children Be Continually Amazed

God created the world in which we live so it is "just right" - as a place for us to live and in regards to us and every living thing on this planet. He knew what He was doing and when we look at creation we ae left amazed, continually amazed at the wonder and beauty of His creation!

Not only are we left amazed by creation, but it shows us over and over again how God designed it all "just right", which helps us know we are able to believe in God with confidence!

Help the Grandparents

How are you supporting, encouraging, and equipping grandparents during covid-19? I'm asking because if you have grandparents in your church who are the only ones who are handing faith to their grandchildren and who are the ones who bring their grandchildren to your church, it is very possible they are seeing far less of their grandchildren and have fewer opportunities to connect and hand down the faith. They need your help, because while time and distance may make the heart grow fonder, it is also able to cause a break which may leave the children feeling less attached to your church. If this happens, the grandparents may be feeling even more along when it comes to handing down the faith.

Grandparents Need to Be in Their Grandchildren's Lives Today

I sincerely believe the grandparents in your ministry are able to make a significant and lasting difference in the lives of the children they love when they prioritize being involved in their lives. I believe with all my heart it matters for them to be intentional when it comes to handing down our faith to these grandchildren given to them by God. There are reasons I believe these things - some of them are . . . 

Please Share Your Opinion

My grandsons and I have been working on a new book about amazing, unique, and surprising animals, but we are not sure what to name the book. If you would please take a moment to respond to this survey, we would most sincerely appreciate your input! Thank you! (The cover will likely look like this photo - with the name which will best fit!) You will find the survey at this link.

Virtual Grand Camp!

With your Children's Ministry not offering opportunities to meet in person due to covid-19, this idea for a "Virtual GrandCamp" is one you are certainly able to share with the grandparents - and parents - in your church. Please check it out and share!

Sherry Schumann and Cathy Jacobs are two of our Grandmas with Heart. They are also two grandmas who lead a GrandCamp each year for their church. This year with covid-19, they decided to make this year's GrandCamp a Virtual GrandCamp and open it up to any grandparent, anywhere, so they are able to use it with their grandchildren. Today I am so delighted to share the information you need to make a Virtual GrandCamp part of what you do with your grandchildren this summer!

Let Them Know - Grandmas DO Make a Difference

You likely have grandparents in your church who wonder if what they are trying to do to hand down the faith is anything which will actually make a difference. Please commit to encourage them with the truth about how they do make a significant difference in the lives of their grandchildren. Share with them this true account of Eunice Crosby - 

Happy Children's Day!

Today is Children's Day - yes, this is a real holiday . . . "Children’s Day  observations in the United States predate both Mother’s and Father’s Day. The day to celebrate children dates from the 1860s and earlier. The Methodist Episcopal Church at the Methodist Conference of 1868 recommended the second Sunday in June be observed annually as Children’s Day. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1883 designated the 'the second Sabbath in June as Children’s Day'

Chase’s Calendar of Events cites Children’s Sunday and notes The Commonwealth of Massachusetts issues an annual proclamation for the second Sunday in June. Numerous churches and denominations currently observe the second Sunday in June, including the African Methodist Episcopal Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Church of the Nazarene."

The website - nationalchildrensday.us says; "American families and the entire country need this day to love, evaluate, and commit to the betterment of our children." Encourage the parents and grandparents in your church to enjoy the day celebrating the children they love today - go for it! If they have not planned to do anything to celebrate Children's Day, share the following ideas with them . . . 

Buy One for $5 & Get the Oher Book for Free!

One of the most important things we need to do as people who serve in Children's Ministry is equip the grandmas (and grandpas/ parents, too) so they help the children they love learn to talk with God for themselves. Yes, they need to hear their grandparents and parents pray. Yes, they need to know we pray for them. But, if they are going to have a walk of their own with God, they have to learn to be people who talk with God.

So, since Children's Day is just a few days away (it is on June 14th) I wanted to make it easy for you to equip the grandparents/ parents in your church to give the children they love ages four through fourteen a gift which has the potential to change their lives as it helps them learn to talk with God, and give them the copy for grandparents and parents; so not only are the children they love able to learn to talk with God, but they are able to pray with them for a year - which has the potential to lead to some wonderful conversations all year long!