Children’s Ministries in general have a well defined target of influence…children and their parents.  Two of the major influences in the lives of kids today include the Disney Company and Nickelodeon.  Born in the 1990′s, Nickelodeon has grown so large that half of all kids watching commercial television at any moment are watching Nickelodeon.

The average American kid is watching 27 hours of television a week according to the latest data from the Nielsen Company. That’s huge!  We are trying to reach those same kids with an average of 40 hours of influence a YEAR!  In my mind that places a priority on every minute we have with our kids.  The very best way we can leverage those hours of influence is to engage our parents outside of Sunday with the message and give them the tools they need.

So what’s a BHAG? A Big Hairy Audacious Goal!  It’s been said if we can accomplish our vision with our own intelligence, strength and resources then our vision is too small.  My BHAG is to make contact with and increase our influence on the approximately 20,000 children that live within a few miles of church facility.

How are we going to accomplish our goal?  Prayer – Planning – Preparation – Persistence.  This will include recruiting, building, contacting schools, and more.  Our vision as a ministry is “Connecting Kids and Parents to Jesus to Rescue the Next Generation.”  My prayer is we use every available resource to make this BHAG a reality.

Related Posts

• November 16, 2009 -- Jumping Back In…
• August 31, 2010 -- DISCIPLINE…it’s not a dirty word!
• August 27, 2010 -- The Muppet Show…
• August 23, 2010 -- Dinosaurs & Fire Breathing Dragons!
• February 2, 2010 -- Top Ten Reasons YOU Should Be at The Orange Conference

Related Posts

• August 25, 2010 -- GOD DOES SPEAK!
• September 6, 2010 -- BHAG…who’s influencing who?
• August 31, 2010 -- DISCIPLINE…it’s not a dirty word!
• August 27, 2010 -- The Muppet Show…
• August 23, 2010 -- Dinosaurs & Fire Breathing Dragons!

Each Sunday morning when I stand before our kids in our large group meeting time I share the same statement:  “We have only three rules in Kid’s View and we want you to know all three rules:

Rule Number 1 – Remember why we are here.  We are here to meet with others and meet with God.

Rule Number 2 – When someone on stage is speaking you are to be listening.  Which means you would not be talking.

Rule Number 3 – Have Fun!  If we remember Rule #1 and we practice Rule #2 we will have a great time together.”

Again, I make these same statements every Sunday as a reminder to our kids.   They know them so well that they shout the last word of each statement as I say it.  Our desire is for every child to hear the message and enjoy their time in Kid’s View.  The three simple rules go a long way to help that goal be accomplished.

We also have the Three R’s as our steps for correction when a child does choose to misbehave:

R – Request the behavior stop.

R – Reseat the child in a different area if the behavior continues.

R – Remove the child from the classroom after the first two steps if necessary.

If a child has to be removed the parent is called to the classroom.  Rarely does the third R become necessary.  Our goal is for every child to hear the Gospel uninterrupted and for them to enjoy their time in Kid’s View!

Related Posts

• September 6, 2010 -- BHAG…who’s influencing who?
• August 23, 2010 -- Dinosaurs & Fire Breathing Dragons!
• November 16, 2009 -- Jumping Back In…
• August 27, 2010 -- The Muppet Show…
• February 25, 2010 -- Making Vision Stick

When I was in Jr High (circa 1974) my brother and I became interested in Puppets. We began by performing puppet shows in our garage for our friends in the neighborhood. The Muppet Show came into existence in 1975 and became one of our favorite television shows. Jim Henson and his amazing creativity with characters, voices, and stories led to an international phenomenon.

As the popularity of the Muppets grew and as we grew older our puppet shows began to expand beyond the garage. We were eventually introduced to high quality puppets from Puppet Productions and began attending their training classes. What started as a way to entertain ourselves and our friends eventually became a full-fledged ministry. Performances were held at our church, neighboring churches, nursing homes and even a state park. It was great fun and the audiences loved the shows.

Puppets have been a part of Children’s Ministry for years now with differing degrees of interest and participation. Puppet Productions has grown, declined and been reborn as Puppets Inc. Do you ever watch “America’s Got Talent”? It’s one our family’s favorite shows. One of the front-runners to win this season’s Grand Prize is “Defying Gravity” – it’s a group of college frat boys who happen to be performing a version of Black Light puppetry.

I recently had a young couple come into my office asking “Could you use some puppets here at church?” Naturally being someone who rarely turns down a gift I said Yes. They brought in a few boxes one Sunday and I said “Thank you.” The next week they brought in approximately 20 boxes and I thought “Wow!” The next week 20 + more boxes “mysteriously appeared” in my office. We now have several hundred dollars in puppets, costumes and props. My goal for these boxes is to find a way to take something a little dated and make it fresh. Puppets seem to still hold a level of fascination for kids even today. My desire is to utilize these puppets to involve kids and families in a project together. I’ll keep you posted as we move forward with this idea of something old becoming something new!

Related Posts

• November 16, 2009 -- Jumping Back In…
• September 6, 2010 -- BHAG…who’s influencing who?
• August 31, 2010 -- DISCIPLINE…it’s not a dirty word!
• August 23, 2010 -- Dinosaurs & Fire Breathing Dragons!
• February 2, 2010 -- Top Ten Reasons YOU Should Be at The Orange Conference

One of our core values at Desert View and in Kid’s View (our Children’s Ministry) is being in the Word and memorizing scripture. This month our virtue is Peace – proving you care more about others than winning an argument.  For me personally it can be tough to concede in an argument particularly when I feel that I am right.  One such incident happened this week.

As you may know, I coach youth football.  I love the game and love working with the boys.  I also look at coaching football as an opportunity to have influence in their lives at a very impressionable age.  Sports can teach life-long values and help boys become young men of character.  One of the toughest parts of coaching youth sports can be dealing with parents.  This past week I had an incident with a parent that escalated to the point of requiring an Executive Board Meeting.

This meeting had the potential to become heated, even explosive.  When we sat down with this parent our decision on consequences had already been determined.  As you can imagine it was not well received.  One thing that kept running through my mind was “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Romans 14:19  I mean it was as clearly audible to me as any voice sitting at the table.  I just kept hearing it!

This is the memory verse for the month of August in our children’s ministry.  I know that my attitudes and reactions in this meeting were directly influenced by this Bible verse.  God was speaking to me “loud and clear.”  As a result of knowing the verse and hearing the voice I believe we left the meeting with a better than expected result.

God does speak and we need to be hearing his voice.  Get in the Word – Study the Word – Memorize the Word.  Hear God speak to you too!

Related Posts

• September 6, 2010 -- BHAG…who’s influencing who?
• August 23, 2010 -- Dinosaurs & Fire Breathing Dragons!
• February 25, 2010 -- Making Vision Stick
• February 2, 2010 -- Top Ten Reasons YOU Should Be at The Orange Conference
• January 20, 2010 -- ORANGE-Mania

Sometimes I think we forget the benefits of true apologetics.  Sunday I was reminded of how subtle belief shifts can go a long way to dismantling the faith of a young believer.  Here are some FAQ’s that are addressed at www.creationministries.org:

What’s the problem with putting millions of years into the Bible?

Where did Cain’s wife come from?

How did Noah fit millions of animals into the Ark?

If we all descended from Adam and Eve, where did the different races come from?

How do dinosaurs fit into a young earth perspective?

Russ states: “When I saw the overwhelming facts which destroy evolution, and “millions of years” beliefs, combined with the facts which support the biblical accounts of creation and the global flood, I quickly realized that I had been fooled, as are millions of well-meaning people.”

My challenge to you this week is explore the facts and come to your own conclusions.  Share what you learn with others and take back the Creation Story as it is told in the Bible!

Related Posts

• September 6, 2010 -- BHAG…who’s influencing who?
• August 31, 2010 -- DISCIPLINE…it’s not a dirty word!
• November 16, 2009 -- Jumping Back In…
• August 27, 2010 -- The Muppet Show…
• August 25, 2010 -- GOD DOES SPEAK!

Now summer is over (technically, it’s still over 100 degrees daily!) and we are back to using 252 curriculum in our large group time.  Well, that meant that the black wall had to go!  So after two coats of Kilz and one coat of yellow we are back to normal.  Yea!

This project got me to looking around the room and noticing a few other things that need to go.  One corner had some left over project boards,  there were some staples left in the wall from VBS and I found a few loose cotton balls rolling around.  After going through and removing the objects and painting the wall the room really had a “new” feeling to it.

It is so easy for us to get accustomed to a little mess here and there.  We need to come in each week and view our environments with fresh eyes.  That’s the way every guest views our space.  A few minutes invested this morning and our large group room really looks nice.

This week I am going to walk through each room of our Children’s Ministry with “fresh” eyes.   Why don’t you take the same challenge and see what you find.

Related Posts

• August 23, 2010 -- Dinosaurs & Fire Breathing Dragons!
• November 16, 2009 -- Jumping Back In…
• September 6, 2010 -- BHAG…who’s influencing who?
• August 31, 2010 -- DISCIPLINE…it’s not a dirty word!
• August 25, 2010 -- GOD DOES SPEAK!

One of the issues about being involved in ministry is this idea that things should come easier.  Well, first let’s remember most of us live in a spiritual desert.  Biblical literacy is at an all-time low and that coupled with the growth of pluralism in faith has created a dry and thirsty land.

One of the greatest problems with serving in ministry is that people don’t even realize they are thirsty.  Their lives are so filled with busy-ness that they have placed strengthening their faith low on the priority list.  All you need to do is to take a look at a family’s calendar to know what is most important in their home.

As ministers committed to reaching and teaching families we must take in to account where people are in their faith journey.  Once we have discerned a family’s priorities we can then begin to map out our strategies to help them understand where they are spiritually and what next steps would be helpful in their growth.

A couple of the strategies we are utilizing:

1. Encouraging families to schedule and spend time at home reading and memorizing scripture together
2. Providing take home materials for families every Sunday
3. Rewarding kids for completing the “home work” with their parents each week
4. Creating a Resource Center for parents
5. Sending out a Weekly Email with the Key Points from Sunday’s Lesson

My hope and prayer is that each family will find something that will create a thirst for spiritual growth.  As we continue in this “desert” our goal is to be an “oasis.”   We have the “living water” and our passion is to get that water to the thirsty!

Related Posts

• November 16, 2009 -- Jumping Back In…
• September 6, 2010 -- BHAG…who’s influencing who?
• August 31, 2010 -- DISCIPLINE…it’s not a dirty word!
• August 25, 2010 -- GOD DOES SPEAK!
• August 23, 2010 -- Dinosaurs & Fire Breathing Dragons!

While we are in the midst of the planning and fund raising for Phase One I began to feel challenged to reThink our CM Vision statement.  We have a vision statement but it struck me as rather wordy and not very memorable.  As I began thinking about that and praying for direction I came across Andy Stanley’s book titled “Making Vision Stick.”  I must confess that Andy is one of my favorite writers and I’ve read most of what he’s written.  However, I had not read this little book.  If you are interested in creating a memorable Vision Statement for your ministry this is a must read!

I want to share a couple of highlights from the book and hopefully wet your appetite to go our and purchase the book. Vision is a tricky thing.  Every leader should have a vision for their ministry and every leader innately knows that they’ve got to clearly communicate that vision to succeed.  Vision also has to be repeatedly communicated for a ministry to stay on track.  With that said here are a some “big rocks” from Andy’s book:

1. State the Vision Simply
2. Cast the Vision Convincingly
3. Repeat the Vision Regularly
4. Celebrate the Vision Systematically
5. Embrace the Vision Personally

Now go get the book so you can reThink your Vision Statement.  After reading the book (which will only take you about 30 – 45 minutes – no kidding!) and thinking about the whole Orange process we are in at our church this is the “new” Vision Statement for our Children’s Ministry here at Desert View:

Partnering with Parents to Rescue the Next Generation

My prayer is that God will use this statement to clearly communicate what we are about here at Desert View and help to keep our ministry on track.  Hope to see you at The Orange Conference.

Related Posts

• September 6, 2010 -- BHAG…who’s influencing who?
• August 31, 2010 -- DISCIPLINE…it’s not a dirty word!
• August 25, 2010 -- GOD DOES SPEAK!
• February 2, 2010 -- Top Ten Reasons YOU Should Be at The Orange Conference
• January 20, 2010 -- ORANGE-Mania

Question for the day:  Is there a regularly scheduled time when your child/children/family has a mandate to be “disconnected” from media?  What are some ways as a family that you could better use that time?  Relational connections are extremely important to family health and time is a key component to building those connections.  As parents we should take the lead and be the example for setting healthy boundaries.

Related Posts

• November 16, 2009 -- Jumping Back In…
• August 27, 2010 -- The Muppet Show…
• August 20, 2010 -- A Fresh Coat of Paint!
• September 6, 2010 -- BHAG…who’s influencing who?
• August 31, 2010 -- DISCIPLINE…it’s not a dirty word!