So, DO Something!

Over the years I've served in Children's Ministry I've come to understand something VERY important. We do not know what we do not know until something happens which gets our attention. One example of this is we did not know we needed to teach the "whys" (why we are able to believe what we believe) until we began to see the exodus of young people from the faith they once had to atheism - Barna says this is happening at double the rate of any previous generation and he expects it to be triple the rate by 2030 . . . which is not very far away.

Teach the "Whys" with Anchored

Over the many, many years where churches have had intentional Children's Ministries, we have done a good job when it comes to teaching the "whats" - what the Bible says and therefore what we believe - if we teach in ways which engage children. But for some reason we never focused on teaching the "whys" - why we are able to believe what we believe. While we absolutely must teach the "whats" in ways which engage children, we also must teach the "whys" - when we do not, we end up with the results we are seeing in families throughout our churches - where young people are turning away from their faith and many of them are turning to atheism (as Barna's research shows), and growing numbers of people are saying they do not believe the Bible is true (as Gallup's research shows.) If we are going to stop these trends, we must start teaching the "whys" with as much intentionality as we show when we teach the "whats".

Color Volcano . . . Bible Point - When We Make the Choice to Obey, Amazing Things Can Happen!

For those of you who may not remember because you are young, Sunday school used to be like regular school - children sat in chairs and listened to someone tell them a Bible lesson, then they worked in their workbook to answer questions about the lesson. Then Group Publishing showed up and everything changed. Learning by engaging children slowly took over - at least for many churches. Learning by engaging children is what we all should be doing because it works. When we engage children we get their attention, they are then able to remember what the Bible says, and are able to understand it for a changed life. Engaging children matters, so today I'm sharing an idea for doing exactly this.

What Are You Doing?

Does your Children's Ministry equip parents and grandparents so they are able to hand down confident faith? What do you do to do this? If you say you teach the Bible in your Children's Ministry, then, while this is essential, you are very likely not really equipping parents and grandparents so they are able to hand down confident faith. A new Pew Research Center survey finds that 80% of U.S. adults say religion’s role in American life is shrinking – a percentage that’s as high as it’s ever been in their surveys. (You will find the report on this at the following link.) You must teach the Bible, but clearly you also must do more.

What Are Your "Metrics"?

What "metrics" do you use to evaluate how you are doing with your Children's Ministry and to make decisions about what you will do in and with it? Do you measure your effectiveness by "church" families? Do the families in your church seem satisfied with the Children's Ministry? Do church children like your Children's Ministry and participate at a high level? Do church parents "approve" of your Children's Ministry? While the "satisfaction" of "church" families matters, if this is the only - or even the primary metric you use to evaluate your Children's Ministry, you may very well have an inaccurate view of how effective you actually are.

Use Anchored So the Children You Love Are "Always Prepared to Make a Defense"

A couple days ago I wrote about how Anchored will help you teach children why they are able to believe the Bible is trustworthy. Today I want to look at 1 Peter 3:15, 16 and how these verses give us another solid reason "why" we need to teach the "whys".

Use Anchored with the Children You Love So They, "Have Certainty Concerning the Things (They) Have Been Taught"

I have been writing about some of the reasons why we need to teach the "whys" - and we certainly find another reason in Luke 1:1-4 -

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that  have been accomplished among us, just as those who  from the beginning were  eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Anchored Will Help You Teach Why the Word is Trustworthy

Churches, parents, and grandparents teach the "whats" - what the Bible says and therefore what we believe. They do this for solid reasons, they also need to teach the children they love the "whys" - why we are able to believe what we believe. Anchored is a supplemental curriculum designed to be used alongside whatever curriculum a church is currently using to teach the "whys" and equip parents and grandparents to do the same at home. But why do we need to teach the "whys" . . . shouldn't we just be able to believe without knowing "whys"? Consider the following . . . 

Let Anchored Help You Teach the "Whys" Because Teaching the "Whys" Matters as Much as Teaching the "Whats"

Friday I shared some quotes about why we need to know and teach apologetics - today I want to share a few more . . . 

We Need to Teach the "Whys" - Do So With Anchored

Today as you may be thinking about getting Anchored to teach the "whys" to the children in your church, I want to share with you a few quotes about the very real need for apologetics.

Teach the "Whys" with Anchored - it Matters for Today & Throughout the Lives of the Children in Your Ministry

 

Why did you choose the curriculum you are using in your Children's Ministry? Did you evaluate several curriculum lines, talk to publishers, ask other Children's Ministry leaders what they use and why? Did you think about the goals and mission of your Children's Ministry and then select the one which best matched what you want to do and engages children the most so they will remember what you teach? Did you choose the resource you believe will best help you teach the "whats" - what the Bible teaches and therefore what we believe?

Why Teach the "Whys"?

We know we want our Children's Ministry to teach the "whats" - what the Bible says and therefore what we believe because we want the children we love to know and believe. Ever since Sunday school began we have been teaching children the "whats" and children have been learning the "whats". God promises His Word will not return empty to Him, so when children learn the "whats", God is able to use His Word to work in their lives. Yet, while many of the children we love hold on to the faith they began as a child, more and more of them are not.

Be Sure Your Ministry is a Safe Place

It can be difficult to keep focus and perspective when we are serving in the day-in day-out work of Children's Ministry. This is the reason it can be oh-so easy to lose perspective and become discouraged or worse, bitter. But, I am here to tell you, do not lose heart! Hold on! While there are times it can be difficult to believe; or at the very least, confusing, God does know what He is doing and He does not waste anything which happens in our lives! Even better . . . He does have a plan and His plan truly is for our good!

Be a Good Shepherd; Not the Wolf

There is something God has been laying on my heart lately - other than Grandparenting Ministry :-) - which I want to share with you today. Some of you - happily - will not be able to relate to what I'm about to say. If this is you, please keep reading and take this opportunity to get a glimpse into what others experience and think about how you can be used of God to help and encourage those who do relate.

Plan for Your 2024 VBS to Be Truly Effective

For many years, since 1894, churches across the country and around the world have made Vacation Bible School a regular part of their Children's Ministry. But, as we enter 2024, is VBS still a tried and true part of the ministry year for most churches? Is it too "old fashioned"? Should we continue to put the time, work, and resources into VBS? 

VBS 2024 - Outback Rock from Group Publishing

I'm delighted for the opportunity to once again share Group's weekend VBS with you . . .  Outback Rock. The idea with this resource is to provide two affordable 2 1/2 hour sessions, plus a one hour celebration which churches could use over one weekend . . . or over three weekends . . . or they might be able to spread it out for one Saturday a month for a Summer of fun! And, if you do not mind repeating games and focusing more on the same Bible Adventure, you could stretch it for a week of VBS.

Put Your Summer Children's Ministry into Full Gear with Group VBS

Even though it is nearing the end of February, we know Summer will be here before we know it, so it is time to think about what our Summer Children's Ministry will look like. I have been writing about Group's VBS resources for a few days, but today I want to ask you, how do you plan to use your VBS? 

VBS 2024 - Hometown Nazareth by Group Publishing

Today I'm happy to look at "Hometown Nazareth" from Group Publishing - which equips you to take the children in your church and community on a visit to Jesus' hometown, Nazareth, where they will be able to experience village life as Jesus might have lived it when He was a boy!

Yes! VBS Does Make Solid Dollars & Cents for Your Ministry!

There was a time, not too long ago, when nearly all churches budgeted for VBS. Most considered it (and rightly so) a part of their evangelism budget as VBS was one of their biggest evangelism outreaches of the year. In many churches it was their biggest outreach of the year. Then in the years leading up to COVID more and more churches stopped using VBS - far, far too many stopped any ministry opportunities to children in the Summertime. Then COVID hit and pretty much all churches stopped offering VBS - and everything in person for two years. Last year some churches were starting to plan for VBS again, and this year even more churches are taking a serious look at VBS. I am very happy to see this as VBS is a fantastic way to reach into your community - it is one of the best and most effective ways you are able to make use of the money you budget for evangelism. Why is this? Consider the following . . .

VBS 2024 - SCUBA from Group Publishing

If you only choose one VBS resource to use in your ministry this Summer, I highly recommend Group Publishing's SCUBA - diving into friendship with God. Now, if you have read my reviews over the past nearly thirty years, you know I recommend getting one VBS resource with all the "bells & whistles" your church is able to afford and use it for a week of VBS and then on Sundays throughout your Summer (don't worry, I'll post in a few days about how to do this.) But, if you only use for VBS, then SCUBA is absolutely the VBS to use, in my opinion. Why do I write this? For the following reasons . . .