Hey! Who's Going To Do Children's Ministry?
By Teri Schold, Olympia, WA - Teri@vcfolympia.org
I. PLANTING (Do you soak your peas first?)
Whether you have someone coming with you to plant who has stepped up and said "Yes, I will oversee the children’s ministry!" or simple those who are willing to teach and work with the kids, it doesn’t really matter and it can work both ways.
Sharing the stories of churchplanting at the Monroe/Sky Valley Vineyard and the Vineyard Olympia .
NUGGET! Don’t ever think it is just babysitting cuz it doesn’t have to be. Remember how simple the message of Jesus’ love is!! There are many resources that have simple lessons that can work with ALL kids (Older kids helping the younger kids) I’ve listed some below under "PSEUDO CURRICULUM".
NUGGET! Having the older children (5th,6th ….) teaching the younger children has been a double blessing. The stories they have heard many, many times come to life in a new way as they teach the younger ones and the younger ones seem to really like it too.
The younger has been pre-kindergarten through 1st grade for us. We have worked with many different age splits and of course it will depend on the children you have. Both of our church plants were very similar. The first church having birth to five year old in one room and then 1st grade through 6th grade. In the second church we split birth through 3 years old and then 4 year old (Pre-K) through 6th grade.
III. TOOLS TO GET YOU GOIN’ AND KEEP YOU GOIN’!
Doesn’t take much to get ya goin’. See resource and curriculum list below that I’ve used over the last 20 years that have proven GREAT! (Many hours spent in the Christian Book store Ü)
NUGGETT…Don’t ever make it too hard for anyone willing to help. Give your helpers what they need to keep them goin’!
ONE MORE NUGGETT!! Service! Matthew 20:28.."That is what the Son of Man has done. He came to serve not be served." Sometimes you serve upward to those in authority and sometimes you serve downward to those in need. Either way you develop a servants heart when you’re willing to do anything needed. Do know that church planting is all about serving. One should never go into a church plant thinking that they are there just to do children’s ministry and nothing more. Always remember that we serve God by serving others.
RESOURCES - TOOLS TO GET YA GOIN’ AND KEEP YA GOIN’!
THE BASICS (Forgive me if it’s too basic) - Crayons, Glue Stix, Drawing paper, Construction paper, Markers, Pencils, Scissors
CURRICULUM (If you have a lot of $ to spend)
Gospel Light
Hand’s On Bible Curriculum (Group Publishing)
Disciple Land (Through the Bible Publishers)
Power Tool Box (Charisma House Publishers)
Complete Path (Puppet productions.com)
PSEUDO CURRICULUM (If you don’t!)
"Lively Bible Lessons" (Group Publishing) Preschool, K-3
"Fun to Learn Bible Lessons" (Group Publishing) Preschool, K-3, and 4th on Up
"First and Favorite Bible Lessons" (Group Publishers)
"Sunday School Specials" 1-4 (Group…) 4-12yrs
"Bible Message Make-n-Takes" (Susan Lingo) 6-12yrs
"Kids-Tell-’Em Bible Stories" (Susan Lingo)
ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT (Use with a great craft book & game book!)
"Bible Story Coloring Pages" (Gospel Light)
SOME GREAT CRAFT BOOKS & GAME BOOKS!
"Bible Story Crafts & Projects Children Love" (Group)
"200+Activities for Children’s Ministry" (Susan Lingo)
"Just Add Kids Games for Children’s Ministry" (Group)
"The Children’s Worker’s Encyclopedia of Bible Teaching Ideas" (Group)
"Fun Group Devotions for Children’s Ministry" (Group)
SOME AWESOME INTERNET SITES!
www.Kidology.org (Cost is only $12.00 a year if church doesn‘t pay. VERY FAVORITE SITE!!)
www.mssscrafts.com
www.essex1.com/people/paul/Bible.html (Funky name but some great stories)
www.kidssundayschool.com (Some info is free and some costs you $24.00 year) _