Chris Tomlin Concert - Win Two Tickets!

I am very happy today to let you know about a Chris Tomlin concert opportunity for you and the ones you love - and an opportunity for you to win two tickets to the concert as well!

Add This to Your Must-Do List

For years I have written about how essential it is for those in Children's Ministry to be certain they engage children actively in learning, make sure all children feel wanted by helping all children make friends, plan each week for time to send notes/post cards to children who have missed Sunday and/or Wednesday services, and equip parents and grandparents so they are able to hand down confident faith at home. These are clearly the most important things we will do in Children's Ministry. Today I want to tell you about one more essential thing for those in Children's Ministry to add to this list.

Hand Down Confident Faith with the little answer book for children

As you have likely noticed, I have been writing about Barna's and Gallup's recent polls - for a very important reason . . . because we must stand up and take action to stop the loss of the ones we love. If someone does not speak up and ask others to join them, how will grandparents, parents, and church leaders know there is a way to stop what is happening? 

Child Discipleship Forum 2021 - Don't Miss This

I am very happy to let you know about a special opportunity September 16, 17, 2021 for you to join with others in ministry to think about vital questions - "Why are kids leaving the church after high school? What if the strategy to change this started in Children’s Ministry?"

Must Be at the Top of Our Most Important Things to Do List

Both the Barna and Gallup polls show us we are losing our next generations (at double the rate of any previous generation according to Barna). We must take action. We must make changes as to do nothing is not an option.

As Covid Comes to an End - Equip Parents & Grandparents

As states move past mask orders and churches have people without masks in them, you may find parents and grandparents make the choice to stay home until their children are able to be vaccinated. I know I will continue with at-home church with my grandsons as even though their poppa and I are fully vaccinated, they are not, and I do not want to see them get sick with covid.

New Resource to Help Grieving Children

Linda Ranson-Jacobs shared this wonderful resource from her friend Mel Erickson with me a couple days ago and today I am delighted to share it with you.

Engage. Equip. Empower - Make These Changes Today

I have been writing quite a bit about how we in the church - and in Children's Ministries in particular must make changes. We are losing children, teens, and young adults at double the rate of any previous generation as they decide they no longer want anything to do with church and are turning away from their faith. We are able to change this, but we must act now. Consider the following things you are able to do today - and then please do them!

Change What You Are Doing & What You Are Not Doing

Why do we do things the way we do them, particularly if there is solid evidence what we are doing is not working? For far, far too long our churches have run Children's Ministry in a way where the children have to sit and listen to adults who "teach" them what the Bible says. We know we learn many ways; reading, listening, being shown, etc., but we remember the most when we actually teach others. This applies for children of all ages and all abilities.

Give the Gift of "Why" for Mother's Day

 

Mother's Day is just over a week away, so if you are looking for a gift to give a mom you know, consider giving them the gift of "why" with the new book - the little answer book. This little book will give them "whys" to share with the ones they love - to equip them to have a confident faith, and to have important conversations with the ones they love who have turned away from their faith.

Do Your Actions Match Your Words?

As many States are experiencing a fourth wave of Covid, how do you respond? Especially since now more and more children are getting covid? 

Take Action Today

Did you see the Gallup Poll which released just before Easter this year? It shows only 47% of people in this country are members of a church/consider it an important part of their lives. Twenty years earlier it was 70% and now for the first time ever we have dropped below 50% of the people. If things continue as they have for the past twenty years, what do you think it will be like in twenty more years? 

Megabats, Scorpionfish, Giant Anteaters, Cheetahs & More!

I am happy today to let you know about the release of another four-book combo book in the Life on the Goldilocks Planet series - Megabats, Scorpionfish, Giant Anteaters, Cheetahs & More!

"Life on the Goldilocks Planet" Series & Some Changes to the Series

A couple weeks ago I mentioned a change in my "Life on the Goldilocks Planet" series - today I am going to explain what this change is and why there is a change.

One thing we all care about as Christian grandmas (or grandpas/parents) is for the children we love to be people who believe in, love, know, and walk with God. We want them to have a confident faith. Is there really anything which matters more than for our grown and grandchildren to be believers?

What are You Doing? How Do You Need to Change?

As you read this post, picture the families in your church's Children's Ministry. Think about the children who come to church with their parents - likely most of the children in your church are in this group. Think about children from the neighborhood around your church who come to church on their own - or possibly in your church bus if you have a Bus Ministry. Think about the children who come to church with their grandparents. Most, if not all, of the children in your ministry will fall into one of these three groups.

Be Part of the Answer

Today I am going to share with you a true account about real people I know and how the church - Children's Ministry in particular - must step up to be part of the answer.

Giant Anteaters, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Rufous Potoos & More! is Now Available

 

I am happy to let you know my new book - Giant Anteaters, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Rufous Potoos & More! is now available on Amazon at this link and in our bookstore at this link. In this book you will find twelve interesting - and flat out surprising animals which help us, and the ones we love, know we are able to believe in God and trust Him with confidence!

It is Time for Another Change

I have been writing this week about studies from the Barna Group. Gen Z - the generation which includes many of the young adults in our church - are turning away from their faith in double the numbers of previous generations. These children/teens/ young adults have a basic understanding of the Bible - likely from Sunday school - and yet are turning to Atheism. They are listening to people on-line who are angry and bitter, filled with hate for God, and are receiving a warped and utterly wrong view of God. We - parents, grandparents, churches, publishers - did not realize we needed to teach apologetics to the ones we love and while they have a basic understanding of the accounts in the Bible, they do not know why they are able to believe God is real and trust Him with confidence.

Barna's Research Motivates Us to Act

I've been writing this week about why we need to commit to equipping parents and grandparents so they are able to hand down confident faith. There are many reasons for us to do this, such as, it is the responsibility of parents and grandparents to hand down confident faith, the church realizes equipping parents and grandparents to hand down confident faith is something they need to do, and of the 168 hours in a week, a church is only able to influence children for maybe three of those hours - it makes sense to equip parents and grandparents to hand down confident faith as they are with the children they love for more hours each week. Today I want to give you another reason.

Don't Let Another 20 Years Go By - Help Parents & Grandparents Now

Nearly twenty years ago a Barna study showed 85 to 96% of parents believed it was their responsibility to hand faith to their children, but beyond taking their children to church, parents did not do anything else at home. The study says; "The survey data indicate parents generally rely upon their church to do all of the religious training their children will receive. Parents are not so much unwilling to provide more substantive training to their children as they are ill-equipped to do such work. According to the research, parents typically have no plan for the spiritual development of their children; do not consider it a priority, have little or no training in how to nurture a child’s faith, have no related standards or goals that they are seeking to satisfy, and experience no accountability for their efforts.

This situation represents an opportunity for churches to prepare parents for a more significant role in the spiritual development of their children. However, while churches offer classes and other programs for children, they do relatively little to equip parents to be effective spiritual guides. The survey found that only one out of every five parents of children under 13 (19%) has ever been personally contacted or spoken to by a church leader to discuss the parents’ involvement in the spiritual life and development of their youngsters." (You will find the full study at this link.)

Let Animals Help You Hand Down Confident Faith

Handing down confident faith is not as difficult as it once may have been - there are now seven books available to help you do this all-important "job"! Giant Anteaters, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Rufous Potoos & More! is now available on Amazon - you will find it at this link - it will be in our bookstore in a few days.

We Know the Truth - Make it a Priority

Barna Research Group has a new study on how churches view their role when it comes to handing confident faith to children. I highly recommend reading the full report - you will find it at this link, but while 99% of church leaders say parents/family are the ones responsible to hand down confident faith, only 20% train parents/family to hand down confident faith and just 10% provide resources for them to use. They said; "Despite the fact church leaders overwhelmingly agree parents are most responsible for a child’s spiritual formation and development, the data demonstrate how churches place little emphasis on training and equipping said parents. In fact, only about one in five clergy (20% Protestant, 17% Catholic, though this number is higher for larger churches) say they prioritize training for parents, and even fewer provide parenting guides or other resources (15% Catholic, 10% Protestant)."

From One Generation to the Next

I have always found a reading of the Old Testament to be exciting . . . and heartbreaking. You find real people and how their real lives were impacted and changed when they came to know and walk with God; such as David. He went from being a lowly shepherd boy to being the King of Israel. Yes, there were a lot of years between the two, but he knew and walked with God; even as a young teen . . . so much so he was able to trust God to fight for him when facing a real giant none of the older soldiers in the army were willing to fight . . . they just ran and hid! He knew, walked with, and trusted God to keep him through the years when he was being chased by Saul. Yes, he made some really horrible choices over the years, but when faced with his sin he turned from it and asked God for forgiveness and grace. He wrote the Psalms and modeled for us, even today - how to talk with God as well as how to worship and praise Him!

Do Your Job - Close the "Cracks"

What is our job if we are on the staff in our church's Children's Ministry? How should we be spending our time if we are on the staff in our church's Children's Ministry? What should our priorities look like?

Resources for Churches

The "Life on the Goldilocks Planet" series is certainly a resource parents and grandparents are able to invest in to help them hand down confident faith, but it is also an excellent tool for churches to use with the goal of equipping their parents and grandparents so they are able to engage with the children they love at home, and in so doing, hand down confident faith. I have priced the digital books so when churches use them, they are just $1 per digital book per family or $3 per four-in-one digital book per family - effective and affordable!

Make a Difference in the Other 165 Hours

While serving in Children's Ministry is something which matters and gives us an opportunity to impact lives and make a difference, we are limited by time. A week has 168 hours - 168. Of these 168 hours, even in the best situation, we have children in our ministries for three of those 168 hours - just three. Yes, we are able to make a difference in those three hours, but we are greatly limited as we are not able to be with those children for the other 165 hours of the week - or anywhere close to those 165 hours. But their parents are. And their grandparents have the potential to influence them for many of those 168 hours as well.

Scorpionfish, Clouded Leopards, Pygmy Hippos & More! is Available!

I am very happy today to let you know book six in my "Life on the Goldilocks Planet" curriculum/book series is now available on Amazon at this link and will be available in our bookstore this weekend (February 7, 2021)!  As are the other books in this series,  Scorpionfish, Clouded Leopards, Pygmy Hippos & More! is a multi-purpose book. While it makes an ideal gift for the children you love, it is also a curriculum resource which will equip grandparents and parents as they strive to hand down confident faith. 

Hand Down Confident Faith with Animals, Activity & Solid Conversations

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.

Take a Closer Look -

The world - and entire universe for this matter - show logic, order, make sense and abide by rules/laws of science. How is it possible for such logic, order, sense, rules/laws of science to come from chaos? It is far easier for me to believe an intelligent God of order. logic and sense created everything to abide by rules/laws of science than for me to believe it all just happened from things which just happened to appear on their own out of nothing and exploded on their own leaving us today with an ordered, logical, scientific universe. My new books will help you see how we are able to believe in God with confidence and trust Him. Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More! is the first book in this series and is a multi-purpose book. While it makes an ideal gift for the children you love, it is also a curriculum resource which will equip grandparents and parents as they strive to hand down confident faith. 

Are you In or Out of the Box?

Is your Children's Ministry, "in the box", or are you, "out of the box"? I know in the past few years one of the "catch phrases" in ministry has been to, "think out of the box", and many Children's  Ministries have reevaluated what they do and how they do it with a goal of being more effective.