Be So Very Careful . . . Don't Be A "Sponge"!

When we serve in Children's Ministry - or any area of the church - it can become very easy for us to accept the kindness of others . . . 

Planning a Ministry of Volunteer Support and Encouragement - Begin with Prayer!

We are looking at how to develop a ministry of support and encouragement for your volunteers. Your church and my church have each been gifted with volunteers who faithfully serve in the various areas of our ministries. While these people certainly do not serve for our thanks, it absolutely is appropriate to take the time to thank them! I have always enjoyed the ministry of appreciation - what could possibly be more fun than taking the time to thank and encourage those who serve as volunteers in our churches? There are many ways to thank your volunteers by supporting and encouraging them, let's take a look at the essential things to keep in mind . . . 

Absolutely More Fun Than a Barrel of Monkeys . . . Encouraging & Supporting Our Volunteers!

Today I'm writing about encouraging and supporting your volunteers! Volunteer encouragement and support are two of my favorite parts of Children's Ministry! Your church and my church have each been gifted with volunteers who faithfully serve in the various areas of our ministries. While these people certainly do not serve for our thanks, it absolutely is appropriate to take the time to thank them! I have always enjoyed the ministry of appreciation - what could possibly be more fun than taking the time to thank and encourage those who serve as volunteers in our churches?  There are many ways to thank and encourage your volunteers so let's look at how to plan an entire year of volunteer support and encouragement!

Children's Ministry Around the World - Japan!

We've been looking at Children's Ministry around the world . . . today on our final stop we will look at Children's Ministry in Japan! 

Generations Quest - A Gift with Lasting Impact

Please share with the grandparents and parents in your ministry - With Christmas just two weeks away, we have been busy selecting gifts for the ones we love - and if you are like me, looking for the best buys. If you are looking for something which you could give to your family to help them all grow in their walk with God, consider Generations Quest! For just $10 you will receive an entire year of Bible readings, questions to get your family talking and activities to help you all understand the Bible and grow in your walk with God. Talk about a great buy!

Children's Ministry Around the World - Australia!

In the past few days we've "visited" Children's Ministry in Pakistan, Belize, and Northern Ireland . . . today we will "visit" the "Land Down Under" and see what children's ministry looks like in Australia!

Children's Ministry Around the World - Northern Ireland!

Today we are continuing our look at children's ministry around the world . . . join me on our "journey" as we head north to the Emerald Island and learn about a ministry in Northern Ireland!

The DNA of Grandparents & Parents Who Hand Down Confident Faith - a Christmas Gift which Makes a Difference

Please share with the parents and grandparents in your ministry -  

"The DNA of Grandparents & Parents Who Hand Down Confident Faith" has a new cover, updated content, AND is available at a special Christmas price - save $2 per book! Look what Tim Kimmel (Family Matters) and Dr. Scott Turansky (National Center for Biblical Parenting) have to say about it -

Children's Ministry Around the World - Punjab, Pakistan and the Star Sunday School & Youth Ministry!

For those of us who live in the USA it can be easy to think Children's Ministry around the world looks much like it does in our churches, and while in some places there are many similarities, in others there are significant differences. I thought it would be interesting to take a look at Children's Ministry around the world and invite you to join me on this "journey" . . . we are sure to rejoice at all the children who are learning of Jesus and learn how to pray specifically for those who serve around the world sharing Jesus with children everywhere!

This Christmas Engage & Equip the Ones You Love with God's Word

We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. He commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds, but would keep his commands. Psalm 78:4, 6, 7

Equip the Parents & Grandparents So They Tell This Important Message

There are many important messages the parents and grandparents in your church need you equip them with so they are able to hand down confident faith to the children they love, but one of them definitely is the truth of how God is good, His love lasts forever, and He is always faithful; He was faithful yesterday, He is faithful today, and He will absolutely be faithful tomorrow.

Children's Ministry Around the World - Belize!

This week I'm taking a look at children's ministry around the world . . . join me today on our "journey" as we learn about an amazing ministry in Belize!

David & Karen Rhodes are founders of Kidz Konnect 4 Jesus - they have a passion to reach the children of Belize for Jesus! The Rhodes believe they truly can be used by God to share the Good News of Jesus with the entire country of Belize - 51% of the country are children so their focus is on reaching the children of Belize! 

Don't Worry: It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren - A Christmas Gift Which Helps You Do What Matters the Most

Please share this with the parents and grandparents in your ministry - 

Do you agree with me when I write about passing on a heritage of confident faith to the children you love, but are not sure where and how to begin? Do you have friends who are grandparents - or parents - who also want to pass on confident faith, but are also not sure where to begin? Are you looking for a Christmas gift for a grandparent/parent you know which is a good read and one which will help them know how to do what matters the most?

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Believe Your Own "PR"

It is far too easy to get in a situation in Children's Ministry where we believe our own "PR" and think it is up to us to "save" it, because we know what to do and the best way to do it. If we stop listening to others and ignore or belittle things and ideas which are important to others we are "blowing" our Children's Ministry.

This one is really pretty self-explanatory, but I'll give a few examples . . .

Children's Ministry Around the World - Nicaragua

As we continue to look at Children's Ministry and the lives of children from around the world, today we "journey" once again to Latin America with a "stop" in Nicaragua.

This Christmas Give Books Which Make a Difference

Please share this post with the grandparents and parents in your ministry - Yesterday I wrote about the book - Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children! It makes a fantastic Christmas gift for the children you love ages four through fourteen. Today I wanted to share with you about three books in the "Praying Deeper" series of books which will help parents and grandparents pray Scripture for their own walk with God and for the children they love as well - young, grown, and grandchildren!

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Use Negative Labels & Show Favoritism

It is easy, far too easy, to label others. We label some kids as "good" kids and others as . . . "not so good". We label some volunteers as "amazing" and others as . . .   "not so amazing". We label some parents and grandparents as "great" and others as . . . "not so great". We label some church leaders as ones who "get it" and others as . . . "ones who don't". Whenever we use "labels" in any way, we are "blowing" our Children's Ministry. Consider the following . . . 

Children's Ministry Around the World - Mexico

As we continue to look at Children's Ministry and the lives of children from around the world, today we "journey" once again to Latin America with a "stop" in Mexico.

This Christmas Give the Gift of Prayer with Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children

Please share with the grandparents and parents in your ministry -  

One of the most powerful things we are able to do for the children we love is for us to pray for them. One even more powerful thing we are able to do for them is to help them learn to be people who pray. This Christmas give a gift which will help you do exactly this - give the children you love ages four through fourteen the book - Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children!

Our Special Christmas Sale is the Perfect Time to get Grasshopper Mice, Laughing Kookaburras, Jawfish & More!

  

Please share with the grandparents and parents in your ministry - Today I am happy to share information with you about the last book in the Life on the Goldilocks Planet  book series - Grasshopper Mice, Laughing  Kookaburras, Jawfish & More! In this book you will find  Grasshopper Mice, Glasswing Butterflies, Bee Hummingbirds, Servals, Laughing Kookaburras, Spectacled Bears, Cuban Painted Snails, Hooded Seals, Marbled Polecats, Keas, Jawfish, and Green Basilisk Lizards - which have you never heard of before? I was afraid I would not find interesting, surprising animals for the final book, but these are all very interesting and surprising - especially the Grasshopper Mice - yes, the Grasshopper Mice! They are fierce predators - even venomous spiders, scorpions, centipedes, and snakes are afraid of these tiny mice!

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Manipulate People

Of course we all are quick to agree manipulating others is wrong, but how often do we actually do this? Far more often than we might want to admit, but whenever we manipulate others we are absolutely "blowing" our Children's Ministry. So, how and when might we manipulate others? Consider the following . . .

Children's Ministry Around the World - Honduras

As we continue to look at Children's Ministry and the lives of children from around the world, today we "journey" to Latin America again with a "stop" in Honduras.

Give the Gift of Confident Faith & Family Fun for Christmas with Generations Quest - Cultivate the Faith!

Please share with the parents and grandparents in your ministry -  

Are you looking for a Christmas gift which will create memories while you hand down confident faith? If so, then the book - Generations Quest - Cultivate the Faith! is for you! 

Our Special Christmas Sale Makes it Easy & Fun to Learn about Surprising Animals

  

Please share with the parents and grandparents in your ministry - Have you ever heard of a Coelacanth? They were thought to be extinct - the oldest fossils of them date back 410 million years! But, imagine their surprise when a live Coelacanth was discovered off the coast of South Africa in 1938! From time to time they are found, but not often as they live in deep waters.  Aside from still being alive, two more surprising things about Coelacanths are they typically live 100 years and mom Coelacanths are pregnant for five years!

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Stop Having Fun

I completely believe if our Children's Ministries are going to accurately reflect Jesus, they have to be places which are fun . . . fun places to be, fun things to do, and filled with "fun" people. 

Children's Ministry Around the World - Guatemala

As we continue to look at Children's Ministry and the lives of children from around the world, today we "journey" to Latin America again with a "stop" in Guatemala.

Christmas Gifts Which Make a Difference - the little answer book & the little answer book for children

Please share with the parents and grandparents in your ministry - 

If you are looking for Christmas gifts which make a difference, then today I am happy to let you know about two more books which you could add to your gift list for the adults and children you love - the little answer book and  the little answer book for children.

Let Our Special Christmas Sale Help You Teach the "Whys" with Jaguars, Lilac-Breasted Rollers, Nautiluses & More!

  

Please share with the parents and grandparents in your ministry - We parents and grandparents tend to do a decent job when it comes to teaching the "whats" - what the Bible says and therefore "what" we believe. But, we do not teach the "whys" - why we are able to believe God is real, the Bible is true, God and science DO go together, and God is good. When we do not teach the "whys" we open the door for someone to question what we believe and for the ones we love to turn away from their faith when they do not know the answers. We must teach the "whys" so they know the answers and are able to have a confident faith.

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Stop Showing Love

If we are in Children's Ministry, we love others; right? After all, we wouldn't be in ministry if we didn't, right? Well . . . while we likely do actually love others, and may be quite proficient at "saying" we love others, do we actually show our "love" for others? There is a significant and very real difference between "saying" we love others and actually "showing" we love them. If you are actually only talking about love, you are "blowing" your Children's Ministry.

 Consider the following . . . 

Children's Ministry Around the World - Colombia

As we continue to look at Children's Ministry and the lives of children from around the world, today we "journey" to Latin America with our first "stop" in Colombia.

Our Special Christmas Sale Helps You Do What Really Matters with Polar Bears, Purple Gallinules, Numbats & More!

  

This morning I'm sharing a bit from a blog post from a year ago about why Children's Ministry matters to me. I wrote, "Today I'm inspired and motivated by remembering Juan, my children, and my grandsons and by knowing the children in my church and community and in yours, are loved by Jesus even more than I could ever love them! Children's Ministry matters. We need to have vision, passion and a plan so our ministries reach children TODAY!" We certainly are able to also be inspired and motivated by this to hand down confident faith to the children we love - yes, it absolutely matters today what we do with them to hand down confident faith - the Life on the Goldilocks Planet books will help you do exactly this!

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Encourage Each Other to Skip the Hard Things

Okay, you may not out-and-out "encourage" each other to "skip" the hard things, but you also may not encourage each other to do the hard things either. If you do either of these  two things, you will be "blowing" your Children's Ministry. So, what does it look like for you to "encourage" each other to "skip" the hard things? Consider the following . . . 

Children's Ministry Around the World - Zimbabwe, Africa

Today, as we continue to look at Children's Ministry and the lives of children from around the world, today we "journey" to  Zimbabwe, Africa, on our final "trip" to a country in Africa. 

Special Christmas Sale - Interesting & Surprising Animals, Fun Activities in Cheetahs, Mimic Octopuses, Hoatzins & More!

  

Our Special Christmas Sale allows you to save quite a bit on the purchase of the Life on the Goldilocks Planet books - they were $15.99 for each single book and are now just $10.59! The four-book combo books were $48.99 and are not just $34.99 - another fantastic savings for sure! And, the book - Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More! continues to be available at only $5.43! So, what will you get at these special reduced prices?

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Argue . . . or at Least Have Lack of Unity

Arguing. It is easy to do . . . sometimes we often argue without even realizing it. How often do you argue in your Children's Ministry?  Arguing with anyone in  your  Children's Ministry is a way you can be sure of "blowing" your Children's Ministry. Think about the following . . . 

Children's Ministry Around the World - South Africa, Africa

You may be wondering why it matters for us here in the USA (primarily) to take a "look" at what Children's Ministry looks like in other places around the world. Since we do not live in those places, doesn't it matter most what Children's Ministry looks like here where we live?

illustrate my own Unknown Bible Hero books - No "Ordinary" Bible Person Storybook & Great Christmas Gifts!

Please share with the parents and grandparents in your ministry - If you are not an artist, or artistic person, when you see a book which you need to provide the illustrations for, you may think it is not the book for you. But, in this case with the  illustrate my own Known Bible Hero and illustrate my own Unknown Bible Hero books, nothing could be farther from the truth! These books give you the unique opportunity to engage with the children you love in ways you never have when you read a book about a real Bible person, as since you and/or they will be providing the illustrations, you get to talk about what is happening, think through what the Bible person is saying, and basically really pay attention to the details so you are able to provide the illustrations! Just think about the fantastic conversations you will be able to have about the Bible people and how what they learned applies to you as well! These books are no ordinary Bible person storybook and they make fantastic Christmas gifts!

The Christmas Sale & the Best Reason of All to Get Giant Anteaters, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Rufous Potoos & More!

  

Please share with the parents and grandparents in your ministry - You might be wondering why I am posting each day about the Life on the Goldilocks Planet books - well, there are a few reasons why . . . first of all, this is a fantastic time to get a book, or two, with our Special Christmas Sale! Secondly, it is a fantastic time to get a book, or two, as you think about which gifts to get for the children you love this Christmas - these books will provide you a fun and engaging way to help the children you love learn whenever you are together. Thirdly, these books are a fantastic tool to help you hand down confident faith as you teach the "whys" - why we are able to believe God is real and God and science DO go together! And, finally, I thought you might enjoy these posts (and the questions/photos which go with them) as they show you some of the interesting animals and information you will find in the books.

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Be "Stingy"

It is so, so very easy to say one thing and do another. We tell children to share, be kind, if they do not have something nice to say, don't say anything, and on and on we tell them what to do. But, as adults we do not necessarily share, we are not always the nicest people, we do not do the things we say we will do, we disappoint others without even a thought about how it will make them feel, and gossip among church adults runs at epic proportions. Basically it all boils down to being "stingy" . . . stingy not just with our money, but with our time, our kind words, and our love. When we are "stingy" we absolutely will "blow" our Children's Ministry. Consider the following . . .

Children's Ministry Around the World - Chad, Africa

As we continue to look at Children's Ministry and the lives of children from around the world, today we "journey" to Chad, Africa.

Our Special Christmas Sale Makes it Even Better to Learn the "Whys" with Scorpionfish, Clouded Leopards, Pygmy Hippos & More!

  

Please share this with the parents and grandparents in your ministry - Yesterday I wrote about how vital it is for us to hand down confident faith to the children we love by teaching them the "whys" - why we are able to believe God is real and God and science DO go together. Today I want to write about what it may look like for us to do this!

Give the Gift of Understanding & Creativity with illustrate my own - Known Bible Hero book series

Please share this with the parents and grandparents in your ministry - 

You are likely familiar with the Bible people from my illustrate my own - Known Bible Hero book series - Noah, Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah (otherwise known as Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego), Ruth, Joshua, Caleb, David, Elijah, Jonah, Daniel, Joseph, Hadassah (Esther), and Gideon so just think how much fun it would be to illustrate these familiar accounts . . . whether you are an artist or draw your illustrations with stick people. As much fun as it would be for you to illustrate these Bible adventures for your grandchildren, think how much more fun it would be to illustrate them together . . . and most importantly, think about the fantastic conversations you will be able to have as you work together to illustrate your books!

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Label People

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39 HCSB) Of course we all want to believe this is what we do; love our neighbors as ourselves. But do we really? If we do not, then we are absolutely, "blowing" our Children's Ministries.

Children's Ministry Around the World - Mozambique, Africa

As we continue to look at Children's Ministry and the lives of children from around the world, today we "journey" to Mozambique, Africa.

Special Christmas Sale is a Great Time to Get Megabats, Bengal Tigers, Quetzals & More!

  

Please share with the parents and grandparents in your ministry - As a grandma/mom I know there is nothing more important than handing down confident faith to the ones I love. I wish I knew when my children were young and when my grandchildren were younger, handing down confident faith must include teaching the "whys" - why we are able to believe God is real, the Bible is true, God and science DO go together, and God is good - just as we teach the "whats" - what the Bible says and therefore what we believe. It is essential for us to teach the "whys", but sadly, there are not many resources to help us do this. There are some, but not many.

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry . . . Be Lazy

As we look at another way to "blow" our Children's Ministries today, lets think for a minute about how being lazy will damage, or "blow", our Children's Ministry.

Children's Ministry Around the World - Liberia, Africa

As we continue to look at Children's Ministry and the lives of children from around the world, today we "journey" to Liberia, Africa.

Special Christmas Sale - Get Red-Lipped Batfish, Giant Purple Squirrels, Kakapos & More! and Hand Down Confident Faith

Please share with the parents and grandparents in your ministry - I have truly enjoyed learning more about animals with which I am familiar - such as  Komodo Dragons, Blue Whales, and Whale Sharks. I have also enjoyed learning about animals I did not know existed - such as  Red-Lipped Batfish, Rufous Hummingbirds, Gharials, Asiatic Lions, Giant Purple Squirrels, Dumbo Octopuses, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Baikal Seals, Guanacos, and Kakapos! Yes, all of these are real animals and you will find all of them are in Red-Lipped Batfish, Giant Purple Squirrels, Kakapos & More!

14 Ways to "Blow" Your Children's Ministry - Stop Doing the Little Things

As we continue to think about things we do - or do not do - which result in us "blowing" our ministry, this one is a big thing . . . even though it is about the little things.

Children's Ministry Around the World - Kenya, Africa

As we continue to look at Children's Ministry and the lives of children from around the world, today we "journey" to Kenya, Africa.