Bathroom Policy Video for K-4 Team (2 minutes)

Where do the kids use the restrooms during class time? The women's restrooms only!

Tuesday with Tiff: Walt Disney

 

 

 

What do you think team? What do we do well? Why would kids bring their friends?

 

 

 

Tuesday with Tiff:Why We Don't Do VBS

This is not a post against VBS.  I am not anti-VBS.  Many churches still host a successful VBS and see great results.

On the flip side, the number of churches hosting VBS is declining.  A recent report from the Barna Group stated that 68% of churches offered VBS last year.  This is down from 81% in 1997.

Our ministry does not do VBS.  Why?  We asked the questions below and the answers led us to say "no."

What is the best use of the budget money God has entrusted us with?  In other words, where will we get the biggest bang for our buck?  For us, our weekend services are our biggest opportunity to reach kids and families.  That is when we will minister to the largest number of kids and connect with the most parents.

So that is where we are going to invest the biggest percentage of our budget. 

What is our best opportunity to reach unchurched kids?  For us, our weekend services are when we have the most unchurched guests.  Week in and week out, we encourage our families to build relationships with their unchurched neighbors, friends, co-workers, and classmates.  Every week there are dozens of guests who come from a personal invite. 

Are we going to be driven by events or steps?  We do some big events...but not a lot.  We have found that creating clear, easy next steps for kids and families helps us connect them more than events do.

Does VBS pass the blank piece of paper test?  A year after VBS, how many names of families can we write down that have accepted Christ and become a part of our church?  If we can't write any names down or can only write down one or two, we have to consider it's effectiveness.

Does it fit the DNA of our church culture?  VBS is not a key part of our church culture.  For some churches, VBS is a key component of their DNA and has a rich history.

But...I would say that just because it has a rich history, doesn't mean you should continue to offer it.  Just because Sister (fill in the blank) started the program in 1955 doesn't mean you should keep it going, if it's not effective.

These are questions you have to answer for your church.  The answers may lead you to "yes...VBS is a key ministry for us."  Or the answers may lead you to make some changes.

Bottom line...we are called to reach and disciple kids and families.  We must make sure we focus our time, energy, and resources into what is effective.




Great article!!

The Question Parents Ask the Most in Children's Ministry

 

6:08 AM  Dale Hudson 

When parents pick their child up after church, there's one question you will hear them ask more than any other.

"DID YOU HAVE FUN TODAY?"

Before you say parents are shallow and should be asking "What did you learn from the Bible?," take a moment to think about what they mean when they ask that question.

Read between the lines.  What they are really asking is...

• Were your emotional needs met today?
• Was it engaging?
• Was it age appropriate?
• Was the lesson relevant to your life?
• Did they honor your learning style?
• Did anyone make a personal connection with you?
• Did you feel valued?
• Did they honor your attention span?
• Did you get to talk and share your thoughts?
• Did they make a life application for your life?

If you answer these questions for the child, then the child's answer will be "yes" to "Did you have fun today?"

Tuesday with Tiff: 5 Steps to Overcoming Resistance to Change

5 Steps to Overcoming Resistance to Change

People don't like change.  If you haven't discovered that, you haven't tried to change anything yet.  Your turn is coming.  Actually, "your turn" sounds negative.  If you know how to navigate it, the resistance that comes with change doesn't have to be a negative experience.

Here's five steps to help overcome resistance to change.  Hopefully these will help you avoid many of the mistakes I've made over the years while trying to make changes.   

1. Show people you're trying to take them to a better place.  People resist being pushed into something or being made to comply. 

Instead of telling them how "your way" is better, paint a picture of how much better things could be for the ministry and for them personally.  When people catch a vision of how the change can improve things, they will be more likely to jump on board.  Influence instead of pushing.

Show them the change is not about you, but about taking them and the ministry to a better place.

2. Ask the right questions.  A big part of influencing change is asking the right questions.  Questions like...

• How do you feel about the change?
• What do you think about the change?  What's your take on it?  
• What does the change mean for you personally? 
• What was your first reaction when you heard about the change?

3. Listen to their concerns.  A big part of resistance to change is fear.  People don't like to be moved out of their comfort zone.  They like the familiar...the routine.

Give them opportunity to express their fears and concerns.  Genuinely listen.  BTW...if you are not really listening, they will pick up on it.

Also don't listen defensively, planning your rebuttals while they are talking.

People don't have to always have their way.  But they do want to be heard.  Once they know you are genuinely listening to their concerns, their hearts will be more receptive to the change you are presenting.

4. See things from their point of view. Instead of trying to pull them into your shoes, step into theirs.  See where they are coming from.  Show that you understand their personal feelings about the change.  Ask yourself...

• Do I understand who the people are that are resisting the change?
• Do I understand why they are resisting the change?  (ties to the church's history, special memories, past changes that failed, etc.)
• Am I offering options and alternatives that will help them move forward?

5. Over communicate.  People don't like to be caught by surprise when it comes to change.  Go the second mile to over communicate.  When it comes to change...be an open book...not a secret diary.

Your turn.  What are some steps you have used to overcome resistance to change? 

 

 

(Thank you Dale!)

The 7 C's of Kid's Ministry Success

You can do it—you can be a successful kid’s ministry worker no matter where you serve with kids.

A successful children’s worker must be or have:

1. Called

To be a true success in God’s work, there must be a calling. Sometimes it is the only thing that will keep us going. We have to know that what we are doing for the Lord was ordained by the Lord and that we are following His will for our lives. When a Christian tries to minister in an area where God has not called him, it’s like trying to put a round peg in a square hole, it just doesn’t fit no matter how hard you push or hammer it. “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,” 2 Tim. 1:9

2. Caring

Probably the best question we could ask a prospective children’s leader is, “Do you love kids?” Without a love for those we minister to, we can’t expect success. A person who doesn’t love

children is like someone who hates music wanting to sing in the choir. A successful children’s leader really cares for kids and wants to see them become all they can be in the Lord. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” 1 John 4:11

3. Character

When I was first called to the ministry, I remember wondering if God wanted me to serve in a local church or to be an evangelist. I talked to my pastor about it and he wisely told me that if dogs and kids like you, you’ll be a good church staff member. If dogs and kids don’t like you, you need to be an evangelist. He was saying that children are a good judge of character and through the years I’ve found that to be true. It doesn’t take kids long to size you up and respond accordingly. It’s often been said that our character is what we are when we are by ourselves. We cannot expect to be successful in any ministry without integrity and character. “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:25

4. Choice

Each time you teach, pick up kids on the church van, do a puppet, or whatever you do as you minister to children, you have a choice to make: Do you do your very best or do you just do enough to get by? Successful people always do the best they possibly can in every endeavor. Each time you chose to go the extra mile, to try a little harder and to give your responsibility your all, you move closer to success and you always please the Lord. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” Col. 3:23

5. Commitment

Commitment is something that we don’t talk about much anymore – it is difficult just to get people to show up for church much less trying to get them to anything more. One children’s pastor told me that he stopped talking about being committed in his kid’s ministry meeting. He said that someone always quit after the meeting. People just don’t want to hear about being committed. The problem is that often we see workers fall by the wayside because they are not committed to the task – they view their service more as a hobby than as a responsibility. They move from ministry to ministry without ever really accomplishing anything for The Kingdom. Successful children’s workers stand firm with their eyes transfixed on the Lord and the ministry He has given them. “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Proverbs 16:3

6. Consistency

People who become successful realize that doing a good job means doing it for a long enough period of time for them to learn the task and know what they are doing. No one can expect to be a success at anything in a few weeks. When you think about the children’s workers in your church that God has used and blessed, you will probably think about people who have been doing it for years. They are faithful week after week and are unwavering in their faith and service. “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of,” 2 Tim. 3:14

7. Courage

Successful people are brave people. That doesn’t mean that they have the courage to face the kids each week, it means that they understand that every ministry has its challenges. They face problems head on and move forward anyway. They continue when others have quit - and for that, they will receive a reward. It takes courage to move forward when we are fearful or have to overcome obstacles and opposition but that’s what successful people do if they want to have the victory. “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” Psalms 31:24

There they are, the Seven C’s of Success for the Kid’s Ministry worker – set sail today to be the best you can be!

by Larry Hipps

Tuesday with Tiff: Leadership is Influence

Leadership is influence. Each one of us is both influencing and being influenced by others. That means that all of us are leading in some areas while in other areas we are being led. No one is excluded from being a leader or a follower.

You have great influence, specifically regarding your role in the Greenhouse. Others are counting on you and looking up to you, kids and fellow team members. You are needed and valued!

The issue is not whether you influence someone. What needs to be settled is what kind of influencer you will be.

I love this poem... makes me want to strive for more!

"The Little Chap Who Follows Me"

A careful man I want to be;
A little fellow follows me.
I do not dare to go astray
For fear he'll go the self same way.

I cannot once escape his eyes,
Whate'er he sees me do, he tries.
Like me he says he's going to be;
The little chap who follows me.

He thinks that I'm so very fine,
Believes in every word of mine.
The base in me he must not see;
The little chap who follows me.

I must remember as I go
Through summer's sun and winter's snow,
I'm building for the years to be;
The little chap who follows me.

A Leader is an influencer and that obtains followers and people who depend on you-kids and team members.

There have been meetings of only a moment which left impressions for life, for eternity. No one can understand that mysterious thing we call influence... yet... everyone of us continually exerts influence, either to heal, to bless, to leave marks of beauty; or to wound, to hurt, to poison, to stain other lives.

We all have influence which means you are a leader in this ministry. The kids, the families, the team, Freedom, and God are counting on you.

What kind of influencer will you be?


Love You All,
Pastor Tiffany