Ministry-To-Children.com » Ministry Ideas

Guidelines for Discipline in Christian Bus Ministry

Mimi Bullock — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:39:27 +0000

If your picture of Christian bus ministry is full of positive attitudes and well-behaved children–you must be new! Don’t feel bad; bus ministry, while vital and exciting, is challenging for many, even the experienced volunteer. Prepare for explosive growth in your ministry by establishing discipline guidelines. When parents, teachers and children know what to expect, there’s less chance for confusion and frustration. Create a safe environment for kids with simple, structural rules.

Also, do expect to troubleshoot problems but temper everything you do with kindness. Pray regularly for the bus ministry and your personal involvement. Ask God to help you be patient, but firm in a manner that pleases Him. The key is to spend more time discipling and less time disciplining, right? Remember to avoid making complicated rules that won’t easily be remembered.

Basic Guidelines

Head, shoulders, knees and toes: Remember that old song? Use it! Introduce it to your bus families and explain that heads should face forward and shoulders rest back on the seat. We should keep our knees and toes on the ground and not kicking others. Explain that heads and hands that hang out the window can get injured.
No standing or squatting on the seats or in the aisles. Everyone must be seated throughout the trip.
Swearing and shouting are not tolerated on the bus.
Everyone must participate in the bus service. No bad attitudes are allowed.
No drinks, food or backpacks are to be brought on to the bus—Bibles only.

How to Enforce the Rules

Don’t scold or reprimand children in front of their peers unless the situation calls for immediate action.
Speak in low tones when you want to bring the volume down. Speak loudly to get attention but use this “power” sparingly.
Stoop down to eye level to speak to children. Never stand over them in a manner that could be interpreted as intimidating.
Involve supportive parents when their child misbehaves.
Don’t argue with bus riders. Move the rider your seat on one by you and discuss the matter once you’ve arrived at your destination.
Provide children with the opportunity to do the right thing. Don’t back kids into a corner.
Don’t make threats about discipline unless you are prepared to follow through.

Don’t Forget These Details

Give every bus rider a copy of the bus rules when they first attend. Review it with them and don’t assume that they’ve read it independently.
Go over the rules regularly.
Have a bus ministry program prepared. As bus ministry pioneer Bill Wilson says, “If you don’t put on a program for kids, they’ll put one on for you.”

Stick to your guidelines and you’ll have a friendly, exciting ministry that everyone will want to be a part of.

Read more from Mimi by visiting her blog, “Encouragement for Christians.“

Mobile Apps for Churches

Tony Kummer — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:31:57 +0000

There are some exiting new ways to expand your church’s ministry through mobile technology. Just a few years ago it took a massive investment to build an iPhone app for your ministry. Only the largest congregations could afford the cost.

Things have really changed.

The prices for mobile ministry apps is now within reach of every congregation or even the different ministries within every church. Now is the time to extend your ministry to better connect with people in their everyday lives.

Here’s one example. My friend Matt McKee has started a company called “ROAR.” They help churches extend their ministry through mobile apps for iPad, Android, and iPhone. Right now they are even building 1000 free apps to help get churches get started. The only cost is the ongoing hosting & service fee – starting at $30 per month. Click here to check it out.

I’d love to hear how your church is using mobile technology to extend the ministry. You can leave a comment below to offer your thoughts.

Can Kids Really Handle Mission Trips?

Guest Writer — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:35:57 +0000

**This is a guest post by Glenys Nellist from Kids Ministry Matters

Did you think Mission Trips were just for adults or young people? Think again. This summer I was fortunate enough to participate in a Family Mission Trip—in my 30-year involvement in children’s ministry, this would be a brand new experience for me. On a hot day in the middle of June, we gathered in the parking lot of our church to drive the 600 miles to Beverly, Kentucky….15 adults, 15 youth and 3 children—the youngest of whom was just nine years old. For one week, we would work together in teams— grandmas, grandpas, moms, dads, teenagers and children, united with one common aim: to help those less fortunate than ourselves. So what are the benefits and challenges of having young children involved in hands-on mission?

Red Bird Mission, a non-profit agency founded in 1921 and located in the Appalachian mountains of Southeastern Kentucky, has always welcomed children to participate in its year-round Work Camp—a ministry that strives to provide home repair for low-income community residents. Red Bird sets no limits on how old a child has to be in order to participate in the work teams, but instead leaves this decision up to the parents. However, Frances Woodworth, executive secretary of Red Bird, knows from personal experience that the earlier a young person knows about mission, the more of an impact it makes on their lives.

“ I knew about Red Bird Mission – forever!” she recalls. “ Saving and sending coins (in a little red stocking) as a child bonded me to Red Bird and I know that my heart began to be tied to this place, long before I ever got to visit here.”

Giving young children the opportunity to take that step from giving some of their coins to giving some of their time and being actively and positively involved in the mission experience is a wonderful way to cement their understanding and appreciation of what real mission work is all about. So in reality, just how much work can a young child do?

“Nine year olds can find lots of positive things to do, and given a real place on the work team, they will want to work,” said Frances.

As long as children are supervised by their parents, and do feel that they are making a real contribution, then their involvement in hands-on-mission can be a wonderful and rewarding experience for them.

At nine years old, Marnie was the youngest member of our work team. Prior to leaving on the Mission Trip, she shared her fears that at her young age, she might not be able to do much. How wrong she was! I watched her as she happily climbed ladders to paint the soffits at the back of the house we were repairing; hammered in the last inch of the nails in the new bedroom floor that we laid; used a circular saw to cut wood for the flooring; and donned a face mask before replacing the dry wall on the ceiling.

But acquiring new skills and learning how to use new tools was not the only way that Marnie contributed. She easily made friends with the nine-year-old girl who lived in this poor Kentucky home and when they weren’t painting alongside each other, they also spent a lot of time helping to take care of the family’s 16-month-old grandson. For Marnie, Mission Trip entailed not merely helping to build this home, but helping to build relationships too, something that children are often better able to do than adults. Nichea Guy, our coordinator, touched on this when she commented:

“Children have a natural ability to be open minded and non-judgmental. As they get older, they learn some negative filters that can prejudice their innocence. Children are always eager to learn and share their gifts. This affirms their natural desire to help others and be compassionate. In the church, we are able to live out what we believe through action—not just in listening or reading the word and in this respect, children are much more Christ-like. They get it!”

And what about Marnie herself? Did she ‘get it?’ What would she have to say about her experience on Mission Trip? When asked what it meant to her, this was her reply:

“ To me, Mission Trip is a bit like going on a Treasure Hunt…you never quite know what you’re going to find. You have to look for clues to know what to do; you might have to dig a little, but in the end, you find treasure.”

“And what was that treasure?” I ask.

“Love.” Marnie replies, “ I really bonded with that family…the treasure that I found was love.”

Red Bird Mission welcomes applications for Work Camp from all denominations. For more information, visit www.rbmission.org.

The Easy Way to Do Summer Camp

Tony Kummer — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:38:45 +0000

Teams running to join in the OMC game

This summer I had the opportunity to be a part of CentriKid Camp for a day with a few kids from my church. This 3rd-6th grade camp offers Bible Study and Recreation in the morning, camper’s choice activity tracks in the afternoons, and an evening filled with worship, party, and church group time.

I have some great video footage, but I’ve never made time to process it and put it online. My favorite part of the week was OMC. We were impressed and next summer, we are making CentriKid Camp a part of our summer programming. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions about the camp experience.

The Easy Way to Do Summer Camp

Sign up for camp. Reserve spots for your church group now at one of over 20 locations, and pay deposits in February. Bring 1 adult for every 5 kids. Dates, locations, and pricing can all be found at centrikid.com.
Get FREE spots at camp. Several locations are offering 5 FREE SPOTS for churches who register for the first time through our website.
Sit back and relax. The great thing about CentriKid Camps is having all the planning done for you. Once you get to camp, the hard part is over. No more running around picking up the rec field or going through details with the speaker and band for worship… CentriKid does it all!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

5 free spots to camp for any church group who’s never been to CentriKid… no matter how big or small your group is (over $1250 value for any church).
CentriKid has weeks available at a number of locations. Register soon, because locations fill up quickly!
Contact Jeremy Echols at jeremy.echols@lifeway.com to get your free spots, and be sure to mention that you saw the giveaway on ministry-to-children.com.

Children’s Pastor Job Description

Jenny Funderburke — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:43:11 +0000

Do you need a sample job description for a children’s minister? Then check out our basic template below. It is easily customizable for your church or situation. For example, you might include more specific duties and lines of accountability.

Please leave a comment below to share your own ideas for making it even better.

Position: Children’s Pastor

Qualifications:
- Born again Christian who feels a call by God into ministry
- Love for children and families
- Strong organizational and leadership skills
- Ability to build and lead volunteer teams

Responsibilities:
- Oversee all programming and ministry for children ages birth – 5th grade, including Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights, summer programming, special events, etc…
- Choose and prepare curriculum for each program and each age level.
- Create environments, activities and programming for each age group that will facilitate learning and encourage spiritual growth.
- Recruit, train, schedule and lead teams of volunteers.
- Provide care for children and families within the church including hospital visits and follow-up.
- Maintain a strategy for reaching and assimilating new children and families.
- Plan and oversee special events such as VBS, Fall Festival, Baby Dedications, etc…

6 Steps for Building a Better Church Bus Ministry

Mimi Bullock — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:09:19 +0000

Picture children running from all directions to climb aboard the church bus. No dragging kids to come to church, no begging or bribing. Real excitement that affects families, even neighborhoods. It can happen—it does happen in the bus ministry! If this doesn’t sound like your bus ministry, you can change that. Start here.

1. Reset the Standard

The standard for an effective ministry shouldn’t be finding a CDL driver and a few happy volunteers. It’s building layers of outreach to create a better ministry, always expecting the best. Outreach ministries like this type can wear you down and cause you to lower you expectations. Raise the standard again. Expect God to do the miraculous and prepare for growth. Get out of any holding pattern you may have gotten in.

2. Do Weekday Work

Better bus ministry doesn’t just occur, it takes weekday work. Living, vibrant ministries that I’ve worked in visited families and kids during the week. Saturdays were designated for neighborhood outreaches. Small block parties, hot dog barbecues and games in the park are just some of the Saturday ideas we’ve used. By the time Sunday rolls around, kids are ready for ministry!

3. Have a Bus Service

Bus ministry isn’t just a transportation service. Children’s church may be the “big show” but what happens on the bus is important too. If your bus trip sounds like this “Alright kids, stop that,” you’ve got kids that need you. Coordinate lessons with the children’s church. Work together to bring a single message home to kids. Use an object lesson, Bible stories and games to teach kids.

4. Prepare Teachers

In the body of Christ, there are a great many teachers. Some are called to children’s ministry but not all are prepared for the bus outreach. To build a better ministry, you’ll have to train and prepare teachers. Give teachers a chance to express their frustrations and ask questions. If possible, take your group to a bus ministry conference or buy the group DVDs from the pros. This can help when your group needs a mindset change. (And who doesn’t occasionally?)

5. Coordinate Themes and Contests

Small tools and incentives are much more powerful when ministries combine. Coordinate your children church and bus ministry lesson ideas occasionally. For example, have a Super Power Sunday. On the bus, talk about God’s super powers in children’s church the teachers can add to the message. I’ve touched on this already but it’s so important.

6. Keep the Church’s Heart Soft

When you live in the “church world” it’s easy to get comfortable. Bus kids aren’t always well-behaved and it may be tempting to keep them in line by keeping them separated from the church. In my experience, this isn’t a good step. I teach my kids to participate in a “hello march.” After we’ve made it to church, we deposit our things in kids church. We make an orderly march to the big church and using our best manners, shake hands and say hello. It keeps the church’s heart soft to kids and teaches kids that they really belong.

Building a long-lasting, effective bus ministry takes time but it also requires purposeful building. Use the steps I’ve suggested and listen to the promptings of the Spirit. Each ministry is different with its own special needs. Allow God to reveal the needs in your community and you’ll grow before you realize it.

Cross-Cultural Kids Ministry: 10 Lessons from the Field

Kristin Charles — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:08:49 +0000

In my first article on cross cultural kids ministry, I included ways to prepare you and your team for serving. This post will address things to consider while you are on the field.

You’ve packed your bags and you’ve no doubt had a journey to get where you are. Maybe airplane turbulence has got you wondering how you’ll step on the plane for the return flight or maybe you have driven over potholes at lightening speeds with a quirky taxi driver. Now it’s go time!

You have landed in an environment much unlike your own. So the question is, how can you best relate to children of a different cultural background than yourself? How can you clearly communicate the universal message of the gospel without getting in the way? Included here are suggestions as to what to do now that you’re in place to serve.

1. Welcome with Warmth and Communicate Joy: Immediately get on the children’s level and look in their eyes. Extend a hand for a high-five or handshake. Smile, let loose, and be silly. Exaggerate movements to act out a funny scenario. Laugh. Perform an outlandish feat like a cart-wheel.

2. Ask Questions: If a translator is present, ask the children simple questions about their favorite sport, food, color, or school class. Ask about their personal life with open-ended questions, like, “Tell me about your home, church, school, or family.” Come equipped with basic sentences in their language, in the event that a translator is not present with you at the time. A basic phrase such as, “You like ________?” or, “You don’t like________?” can carry you far. Draw pictures or pantomime possible choices for answers.

3. Create Artwork Together: Use chalk, paint, crayons, ink pads, yarn, or any other medium that you have decided to bring. Sketch out the gospel message for the children to visualize. Create something that tells a story or is just simply beautiful. Consider creating a mural with the children, recycling trash into artwork, or teaching them a skill or craft that they can use to generate a small income after you have gone.

4. Play Together: Play a team sport together. Consider soccer first, as it is an all-time favorite and requires little equipment. We usually bring our own soccer balls to donate to the ministry. Goals can be marked off by tape or spray paint if no nets are available. Also consider playing with a parachute (also brought and donated) and playing a game of tag (with multiple variations). Games like rock/paper/scissors, hopscotch, and thumb wars can be played in pairs. In addition, have them teach you their games (either made up or cultural favorites). Play with the toys that they have created, whether it be a taped plastic bag ball, a soda bottle car, or a cloth doll. Recognize the creativity behind each of these toys!

5. Sing Together: Learn simple gospel songs in their language, especially active songs with movements included. Get kids up and involved with a high level of energy. Prior to going, ask your contact about specific kid favorites.

6. Be a Servant Leader: Work hard to serve God by serving the missionaries, the partnering organization, the ministry’s children, and their families. Recognize needs and be responsive to meeting them on a long-term basis. Treat everyone with the utmost respect and love. Do not pity others, but hold them in high regard because Christ would.

7. Take Care of Yourself: Take care of yourself so that you are in the best condition to serve. Watch what you eat and drink and be attentive to how much sleep you are getting at night. As best as you can, eat what is served you, as a way to honor your hosts. However, your digestive system may have issues with the unfamiliar food or the way that it is prepared. Sometimes, a regimen of acidophilus is helpful to prepare your stomach before and during the trip.

In addition, drink lots of water to prevent dehydration, but make sure that it is safe for drinking and brushing teeth. Ensure that you are getting enough sleep at night so that you are fully rested to serve and to prevent a weakened immune system. Wear sunscreen in warm weather climates and re-apply continuously. Be attentive to other safety concerns like dangerous swimming areas, traveling at night, protecting your passport, wallet, or camera, being alone, etc

8. Look Beyond their Surroundings: In many parts of the world, what you may see will bring you to tears. Cry later. Do not make your focus their physical surroundings, but pay attention to their spiritual condition. I have learned valuable lessons from the wealth of poverty-stricken, Christ filled homes, brimming with hospitality. Learn from these local Christ followers how to praise God, how to trust Him to provide, and how to live a life of gratitude. Remember that families will be proud of their meager homes and they have worked hard to maintain them. Be proud with them. Instead of looking at their surroundings, focus on loving the families and bestowing dignity in them, as Jesus would.

9. Go to Learn. God always has more to teach us than we could ever teach others. Learn from the Word and through every victory, defeat, and bump in the road. Learn from each encounter with another. Learn from the missionaries, the partnering organizations, and/or the nationals doing the work of God in that place. Be flexible and change your agenda accordingly.

10. Trust in God: Let Him do the work that He intended through you and your team. Things may not always go as you had planned. Trust in His plan, whatever that may be. Remember that God is not safe and there will always be risks in following Him. But, we can be assured that He is good. What else can be done to minister to kids on the mission field? What recommendations would you add to relate to children of a different cultural background than yourself?

How to Mentor a Christian Child

Mimi Bullock — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:36:37 +0000

Mentors are not extra parents or just supportive friends; they are God-appointed guides that lead children through tough times. Like Paul and Timothy or Elijah and Elisha, mentors teach, instruct and impart to their students, often just one at a time. Mentors transcend these standard relationships with a golden, God-given purpose. Whether you mentor for a summer or several years, you can influence a Christian child and change many lives for the good. Mentoring kids is a rewarding, necessary ministry that a child will always remember.

Who Should Mentor?

Many organizations insist on using mentors that have had formal training. Your church may be one of them. If you aren’t sure, ask someone in authority. My training came from ten years of on the job training as a children’s pastor. Mentoring came about naturally, as some children seemed to know more, ask more, want more of God. Over the years, I had the opportunity to minster to thousands of children through Sidewalk Sunday Schools, special events and kids’ church but some of my most enjoyable experiences were those one-on-one teaching moments with children I mentored. Anyone that wants to serve children quietly, without much applause, could be a mentor.

Which Child Should I Mentor?

It’s easy to get attached to a child. Class favorites rise to the top, no matter what they tell you! However, in order for a child to be a candidate for mentorship, he needs to meet important criteria. A God connection!

Is there are a God connection between you and the child? Do you see similar specific gifts in the student that would make you a suitable teacher? For example, are you a singer? Does the child like singing with you? This may not be solely an indication but could indicate a possible mentorship. Do you feel prompted to pray for the child more than others and does the child seek you out for help? These could be clues that mentoring possibilities exist.

How to Mentor

Mentorship doesn’t have to be announced to the world and can be informal. Sometimes it’s best to keep your intentions from the children because it can be a source of jealousy. Especially in small group situations.

Follow those steps to mentoring a Christian child:

Establish trust. Do what you say you will. Don’t promise what you can’t do.
Love unconditionally. Love big and don’t exclude other children from your love.
Talk about the future. Ask the child what his hopes and dreams are in God. How can he serve God today and what would he like to do tomorrow?
Teach what you know. Impartation of spiritual gifts often occurs by doing. Show the child how you prepare for a lesson, pray for the class or choose a craft. Talk and explain what you are thinking.
Allow the child to be in the moment. There’s also a time when you don’t talk, just enjoy the Lord through hearing the gospel or simple worship. Worship God and allow the child to worship with you.
Find solutions together. Children I mentor often have tough times at home. Together, we find spiritual solutions if even only encouragement to continue in the faith. Don’t interfere in the child-parent relationships except in cases of abuse and even then go through the proper channels.
Involve parents. You don’t have to make a big announcement about mentoring but be friendly to parents. Include them, welcome them and make them feel as if you are part of their team.
Prepare for good-bye. Eventually good-bye will come, it’s the natural course of things. This could be the child’s graduation to an older class or the family moves away. Know that God will water the seeds you planted and provide you with a harvest long after the child is grown. Be ready to let go when it is time.

Read more from Mimi at her blog, Encouragement for Christians.

10 Fundraising Ideas for Kids Church

Mimi Bullock — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:56:07 +0000

A children’s ministry requires a constant supply of prizes, equipment and material – all these things cost money. Some churches don’t have flexible budgets and may not be able to keep up with the growth of their children’s ministry. This doesn’t have to be a ministry killer. If you need funds for a new projector or a puppet stand, consider these 10 fundraising ideas. Over the years, I’ve tried or seen all these fundraisers used.

Trike Races: This idea makes a good after-church fundraiser, especially for a little kids church. You’ll need two weeks to a month to sign up bike riders, create a safe bike race track and get participants excited. To participate, kids must have a sponsor who’s willing to pay a registration fee. Hold the race and award the winner, or winners a prize.

Rock-a-thon: We used the rock-a-thon idea to raise funds for the nursery. Volunteers sat in rocking chairs inside the lobby and rocked for donations. We rocked for 24 hours and were able to gain sponsors for each hour at $20 an hour.

Pie in the Face: I dislike this sticky fundraiser but the kids love it! You’ll need two volunteers that potentially agree to take a whipped cream pie to the face. During the course of a month, kids and parents bring in cash donations, placing them in one of the volunteer’s buckets. Kids get excited about seeing a teacher get a pie in the face! Some work hard to rescue their favorite teachers by placing more donations in the other volunteer’s bucket. The volunteer that raised the most money gets the pie in the face.

Balance Buckets: My husband built a pair of balance buckets for the kids church. Each side of the wooden balance holds a five-gallon bucket. As kids drop their change in, the balance moves. We do boys against the girls to determine who the winner is.

Seasonal Crafts: Sell seasonal crafts like Christmas ornaments, Valentine’s baskets and mini carrot cakes for Easter.

Jail Time: We built a “jail” using PVC pipe. During one of our monthly fellowships, kids and parents could put me in jail or bail me out for $5. This is a small fundraiser but you could increase funds by jailing and bailing a few people at once.

Newsletter Advertisements: I send a monthly newsletter to my kids. When local businesses donate to our ministry, they get a nice write-up and notice.

Social Networking Kudos: This is just another way of granting good advertisement only you can reach more, more frequently. Create a social networking page for your ministry and send “shout-outs” to businesses that support you with goods or donations.

Basket Auctions: This idea is a hoot for creative people. Take advantage of football team rivalries. Make two baskets, one for each team. Ask kids and parents to donate goodies for their favorite teams. Display the baskets for a week and place a silent auction sheet in front of each one. It’s a fun way to raise money for your kids.

6 Ways to Reach More Kids

Mimi Bullock — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:49:10 +0000

I love ministering to children! Giving away hugs, seeing the “light” come in during lessons, witnessing heart changes. All of these things make my job worthwhile. This calling truly comes with its own rewards.

Besides loving the baby chicks in my ministry “nest” I’ll admit there are times when my heart burns for the chicks that haven’t arrived yet. When I feel the evangelism fires burning in me, I take out my evangelism list. On my list are tried and true methods that help me bring little sheep into the fold.

Over a decade of teaching and reaching, I’ve found some ideas successful and others not so much. Here’s a few from my list. See which ones suit your budget and manpower then get busy! Surely out of six ways to reach more children you’ll find one or two that works for you.

Referral Drive: This method takes some work but it is all worth it. Once a year, I have a referral drive. I order printed t-shirts that say, “I Told Everyone” on the front. On the back it says, “All About Jesus.” To get their own t-shirt, each child had to provide the names, addresses and phone numbers of their five closest friends. We add these names to our mailing and call list and get loads of chances to invite and meet new kids. I reach more kids this way, I love it.

Art Museum: I’ve only done this once but it was a fun vehicle for meeting new faces. For one afternoon in the summer, we transformed the children’s church into an art gallery. We hung and displayed art works that the kids worked on in previous weeks. We sent invitations to relatives and friends to come attend the museum and vote for their child’s artwork. We had “museum” tours and at the end of the event announced the blue ribbon winners. Met tons of kids!

Games Tournaments: Have a game night and turn it into a tournament. I didn’t allow electronic games, but you could if you like. We had an area for Checkers Champions, Super Sorry Players and Millionaire Monopoly Guys. This is a laid back way to get to know new kids.

Puppets in the Park: Load up your puppet team and put on a show at the local park. You’ll meet tons of kids there.

Best Friend Day: Having your best friend near is so much fun for children. We encourage kids to bring their best friends at least once a year on Best Friend Day. I usually announce BF day several weeks in advance, send invitations and make personal phone calls to friends.

Free Tutoring Help: If you’ve got professional teachers on your staff this idea may work for you. Offer tutoring classes after school once or twice a week. You’ll be helping parents and kids and you’ll build great relationships with kids.