Ministry-to-Children.com » Christian Parenting

MOPS International: A Resource for Christian Moms

Kristin Charles — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:28:57 +0000

They say that a parent is a child’s primary teacher.

The hours are stacked up to support that statement. In a post entitled 1/168: Children’s Ministry Hours per Week, Terry Delaney writes that parents have 167 hours to influence their children. We, as individuals serving God in Children’s Ministry, have 1. One short hour.

In one of his recent posts, Ministry to Children contributor Charlie Wallace stated his philosophy as a children’s pastor. In his words, it is, “To partner with parents in ensuring that they are doing their God-ordained job of discipling their children in the home.”

I really love the 1/167 statistic, as well as the quote about parent partnership. As servants in Children’s Ministry, one of our primary responsibilities should be to assist parents in their God-given role.

This partnership will look different for every parent in our midst, but it may include: providing parents with helpful books or DVDS, encouraging them through prayer and intentional relationship building, and/or directing them towards counseling services, financial planning assistance, or child development resources.

For me, one of the most helpful resources as a new parent has been MOPS International. MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers and is an organization that serves to meet the needs of moms from every walk of life. Through community, MOPS groups all around the world exist to, “Encourage, equip, and develop every mother of preschoolers to realize her potential as a woman, mother, and leader in the name of Jesus Christ.”

I cannot tell you how much my MOPS group has meant to me. The women there have supported our family through every season of our lives: the joys of a newborn baby, the challenges of a toddler’s need for independence, the heartache of losing a child, the pride of an achievement reached or a goal attained.

I have learned much about taking care of a home, disciplining our children, loving my husband, and taking time for me. I have developed close friendships with those who are devoted Christ followers and those who are still seeking to find that Savior we call Jesus. I have grown immeasurably in my faith with God. I am a better person because of MOPS International and I am a better mom.

The 167 hours in my week are better utilized now, in part thanks to MOPS. Since I am my children’s primary teacher, I want to be the best teacher that I know how to be. I want to make disciples of all nations, but I want to begin with those who call me Mom.

MOPS International is just one of many parenting resources that you can direct a young mom towards. Many groups are just beginning now, so there is still plenty of time to get moms plugged in. If your church does not currently have a group, find a good local church that does. Encourage the mom to go there. You may even want to consider starting your own group for the following year. It would take an incredible amount of planning, organization, and effort, but the dividends would be well worth the investment made.

What other resources have you found particularly helpful for young parents?

Why Catechize Kids?

Jeri Tanner — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 02:05:57 +0000

Q: Who made you?

A: God made me. (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:7; Ecclesiastes 12: 1; Acts 17:24-29)

from A Catechism for Boys and Girls

What is catechism? The term “catechism” is one that may well bring up images of a strange, outdated method of instruction. But catechizing has been a time-honored and effective practice throughout Protestant as well as Catholic history (though the catechisms of each obviously differ dramatically in content.) There are some very good reasons to consider using a catechism in teaching children, both at home and at church. First, a little history and explanation of what a catechism is and does.

Catechism comes from a Greek word used in the Bible, katacheo, that simply means “instructed” (Luke 1:4). Catechism is a question and answer method of instruction in basic Christian doctrines; it forms a framework for personal interaction with the Scriptures. The series of questions and answers develops a fundamental understanding of God, sin, salvation, prayer, the Bible, the church, and heaven and hell; each answer in the catechism is supported by Scripture references.

Socrates and other philosophers made great use of this method of teaching. Martin Luther and other leaders of the Reformation dealt with the terrible ignorance of Scripture and doctrine prevalent in their day by making catechisms and catechizing. Charles Spurgeon urged and promoted the use of catechisms, saying that “if we could revive, more and more, the use of a good catechism…we should be doing a world of good. The way to secure the masses would be to secure them when young.”

Three Reasons To Catechize

Here are several good reasons to consider implementing a catechism style of teaching with your kids at home and at church:

1. A catechism encourages the unity of essential beliefs among God’s children. Many people want to know what constitutes a true Christian essential teaching. What are the primary teachings of the Christian faith? Catechical instruction can help promote unity among Christians by helping establish the fundamentals of the faith.

2. Catechism promotes a faster, deeper understanding as verses are tied to appropriate questions. Children are helped to tie verses to meaning through the use of questions and answers. Children begin to understand the usefulness of God’s Word as they see how clearly it answers important questions.

3. Catechism stimulates and motivates learning, because most children, especially younger ones, love to answer questions. Questions are a teacher’s most useful ally, because through them one gains access to precious minds. As Jesus showed, questions are invaluable when teaching truth!

Instruction in the catechism can often begin in a church simply by integrating it with current curriculum. If you’d like further information, see A Catechism for Boys and Girls online here, and the Shorter Catechism for younger children here. You can also download a wonderful Kids 4 Truth PowerPoint presentation, from which I quoted above, here.

“It is worthwhile to be a Shorter Catechism boy. They grow up to be men. And better than that, they are exceedingly apt to grow to be men of God.” B.B. Warfield

The Catechism About Catechisms

This is a little Q & A about catechisms that I wrote in the form in catechisms. I’m adding it here to Jeri’s excellent introduction to catechizing children. ~ Tony K.

Q: What is a catechism?
A: A simple way to learn Bible truth.

Q: In what does a catechism primarily consist?
A: A catechism contains questions and short memorable answers.

Q: How might a person instruct their family in right doctrine.
A: The diligent use of a catechism.

Q: Does the catechism method ensure right doctrine?
A: No, only biblical answers ensure right doctrine.

Q: Do all catechism teach Roman Catholic doctrine?
A: No, many protestant catechisms have been written.

Q: Are catechisms only for children?
A: No, both young and old can benefit from orderly instruction.

Q: Does the use of a catechism detract from the authority of Scripture?
A: No, a good catechism will explain and uphold the Word of God.

Q: Do catechisms make children bored?
A: No, a wise teacher may use this form with great benefit for children.

Q: Are catechisms educationally appropriate for modern children?
A: Yes, the curiosity of an active mind is drawn to answer questions.

Q: Will using a catechism cause my children to become Puritans?
A: By the grace of the Lord, a catechism may convert one’s children.

Q: What are the best catechisms?
A: The Westminster Shorter Catechism and the Heidelberg Catechism are praiseworthy.

Q: Do these teach the errors of the pedo batistss?
A: Yes, a wise teacher will also use the Baptist Catechism. (a revision of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.)

Q: Can I learn the Baptist Catechism through song?
A: Yes, the servant of God, Jim Orrick, has produced them on CD.

Q: Are their any exceptional collections of catechism?
A: Yes, many books contain catechisms. Truth and Grace Memory Books 1-3

Q: Where can a person learn more about catechisms?
A: The internet has many resources. Wikipedia Article. Tim Challies on the Benefits of Catechisms. An Encouragement to the Use of Catechisms by Tom J. Nettles. James P. Boyce “A Brief Catechism of Bible Doctrine”. Tom J. Nettles A Catechism for Boys and Girls.

Q: What catechism does Tony Kummer’s children learn.
A: The Kummer children use the The Baptist Catechism , Big Truths for Little Thinkers, and A Catechism for Boys and Girls (preschool age catechism).

Ministry Spotlight: Familyman Ministries

Terry Delaney — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:46:00 +0000

Familyman Ministries is a ministry “to remind dads of what’s most important.” Todd Wilson and his wife Debbie have eight children all of whom are home schooled. He has written Help! I’m Married to a Homeschooling Mom and The Official Book of Homeschooling Cartoons and used to serve as a pastor. Currently, he and his family travel three or four months a year speaking to fathers and mothers about being a biblical father and mother. They offer great encouragement to the men and women when they do.

His website, FamilyManWeb.com offers a Dad2Dad page where dad’s can learn from each other as they move along the journey of fatherhood. Also, they have a forum where many different topics are discussed that might not be discussed inside the four walls of a church.

You can subscribe to the weekly newsletter or check out the RV blog or the book review page where they review books dealing with the family at large.

There has been a movement of late in evangelical churches to hold the father more accountable for his actions (or non-actions as is often the case) in the family. I for one am excited about this movement. Having grown up in a non-christian home without a dad for the most part, I have struggled mightily with understanding a biblical framework for being a father. It is ministries like Familyman that has helped to shape my understanding of the father’s biblical mandate to raise my children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. I pray that you can use this ministry in your own ministry or home. At the very least, it wouldn’t hurt to make it known to dads in your church.

Scripture Memorization Music: Hide The Word CD’S

Jeri Tanner — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:11:41 +0000

I’ve listened to quite a selection of Scripture cd’s over the past 30 years, but haven’t found any I like better than the Hide the Word cd’s put out by Mark Altrogge, senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Indiana, Pennsylvania and writer of such great songs for worship as “I Stand in Awe” and “I’m Forever Grateful.” From Mark’s Forever Grateful Music website: “Hide the Word combines the power of music with the power of repetition to make memorizing God’s Word easy. Each Scripture, including its reference, is made into a song. Each Scripture is repeated at least 3 times per song. As you play the music while driving, doing dishes, or any other time throughout your day, you will find yourself quickly picking up the verses and recalling them from memory.”

This is all true, as I can attest to! The memorable arrangements and excellent production of these cd’s makes them irresistible. Kids and adults alike love them, and the fact that they make Scripture memorization so effortless and enjoyable makes them a truly wonderful resource. A total of eight cd’s—that’s over 160 Scriptures set to music—are available at the website. They will make helpful additions to your church’s and family’s efforts to memorize Scripture, and they make great gifts, as well. I intend to use them as giveaways and awards in our AWANA program.

We need to hide God’s word in our hearts so that we will not sin against Him, and a resource that so wonderfully facilitates that is a good find! You can order Hide the Word Scripture memorization cd’s at Forever Grateful Music.

Children and Storytelling

Jeri Tanner — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:13:45 +0000

The July 31, 2009 broadcast of the Albert Mohler radio program features an interview by guest-host Dr. Russell Moore with singer and musician Andrew Peterson on the need children have for rich, wonderful story. Dr. Moore asks the question, “Does storytelling matter to children?” The program discusses the importance of telling the right stories–and telling the right Story–to children, demonstrating how storytelling has everything to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Children need narrative that includes dealing with evil as evil, and the recognition of the wonderful provision that has been made for evil. Dr. Moore makes the case that it’s not our job as parents and teachers to disengage from that, or as one caller said, to change God’s story and sugar-coat it for children. A fascinating interview, and 34 minutes of information that every teacher and parent would benefit from hearing. You can listen to and download the broadcast here, and learn more about fueling a child’s moral imagination through story-telling.

Dealing with the “ME” Generation

Terry Delaney — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:39:59 +0000

I grew up in the late 80’s and early 90’s as many of our readers have. My generation was known as “Generation X.” Those who grew up in the late 90’s and early 2000’s are part of what has been called the “ME Generation.” It is this generation that concerns me in this article.

Most of our readers here at Ministry to Children are involved in children’s ministry at some level in the local church. Many of the children in our churches come from one of the two aforementioned generations. These children are the first fruits of those two groups of people. Unfortunately, these first fruits might not be acceptable to God as they are full of blemishes because of the attitudes of their parents.

When a generation grows up with a “me-first” attitude and then has children without shedding that attitude, problems begin to arise. “I want” is the mantra of the late 90’s and has now become “I expect” today. The children we teach and share the gospel with every week come with an expectation of they deserve to be happy and treated well. They do not deserve to be punished because they are taught, usually in the home, that they deserve nothing less than their best life now. What is worse is that if they are not getting these thoughts from their parents, they are certainly getting it from the mainstream media and their peers.

Our challenge as preachers and teachers of Christ is to show these children their need for a savior in Christ Jesus. Usually, they have no idea of their need because they have no idea of their sinfulness. We, as called out children’s ministers, are fighting a battle of epic proportions. We are not fighting on just one front. Rather, we are fighting on several fronts at one time. It is not enough to just teach the children. We must train the parents to be the defensive front-line in this battle within their own home.

We must continue “to wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience” as Paul writes to Timothy. I write this, not to be an alarmist, but to remind our readers of the challenge that lies before us as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

How To Help Kids Memorize The Bible

Tony Kummer — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:59:17 +0000

Sometimes I’m discouraged about how few children are really being taught the Bible at home. But as a parent, I need to think about my own home first. Am I an example for my children in memorizing the Bible?

I ran across this very practical and encouraging blog post on memorizing the Bible with your kids. It gives day-by-day instructions for learning Paslm 23 with your children. There is even a cute recording of their 3 year old reciting the Psalm.

This reminded me of a very important principle: we must teach kids by our words and by our example. There are few things so powerful as a parents example in the life of their child. There is no better legacy for your kids.

If you want to help your children memorize the Bible, join them and do it together.

Family Discipleship In The Summertime

Jeri Tanner — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:59:16 +0000

Summertime is a more relaxed season of the year for many families (although with vacations, baseball, and family reunions our schedules can still be hectic!) But summer is a good time to remind ourselves as parents that growth in the grace and knowledge of God doesn’t take summer breaks. The summer months present a great opportunity for Christian moms and dads to faithfully model disciplines of Bible study, prayer and fellowship to their children. Here are a few tips to help encourage parents to keep up with their family ministry:

1. Keep consistent habits of Bible study and prayer.

Summer schedules are often such that it’s easy to let things slide, but it’s good to teach our kids that God is central to our lives no matter what else is going on. Reading His word and praying together each day, whether we are at home or on vacation, models our dependence on Him to our children, and proves we practice what we preach.

2. Try to schedule vacations and other activities so that, as often as possible, you can attend your local church.

It is encouraging to pastors and congregations when members make it a priority to be present, and it shows respect for God’s command (Hebrews 10:25). We help our children when we teach them that we don’t view church attendance as “seasonal.”

3. If your family is away from home on Sunday, try to find a good church in that area to visit with.

This may seem a novel idea initially, but it is consistent with the desire to model to our children the priority of hearing God’s word preached and meeting with His people on the Lord’s day. It’s fun, and interesting, too.

4. Even when (especially when!) on the road, don’t neglect those good habits of daily Bible reading and prayer.

Making God your highest priority each day teaches your children true things about Him that words alone will not.

Share Your Summertime Family Discipleship Ideas

What are some experiences you’ve had as a family in maintaining church attendance and family Bible study and prayer over the summer months? Please share your thoughts on this topic!

In Pursuit of What Matters

Kristin Charles — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:07:31 +0000

Do you ever find yourself forgetting what is most important? I know I do. My keys, my debit card, my license. Yep, they have all been lost this week to my husband’s horror. But at least I haven’t yet forgotten our kids anywhere. Or maybe I have.

Sometimes I beam with pride over my son’s developing vocabulary or his hand/eye coordination. And I envision his fluency in multiple languages and his chance at major league baseball status. (He’s two.)

Sometimes I marvel at my daughter’s inquisitive mind and quest for perfection. And I wonder if all of those questions will lead to medical advances or scientific discoveries; answers that have been hard to come by over the years. (She’s three.)

Sometimes I forget to dream about what really matters. I haven’t lost my kids, but I’ve lost perspective. Though there’s nothing wrong with celebrating achievements and encouraging greatness, there is a problem in pursuing what the world deems valuable. When we only strive after external accomplishments, we neglect the heart of Christ. And when we model this habitual pursuit, the children in our homes and in our churches will forget why they’re here in the first place.

Jesus said in Matthew 23:11, “The greatest among you will be your servant.” His life lived these words out in washing feet, feeding the hungry, and healing the sick. The cross echoed this humility. Philippians 2:8 states that, “He humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross.”

I need often to be reminded that the world’s dignitaries don’t have it all together. That acclaimed athletes are not always acclaimed individuals. That doctors or scientists who provide breakthrough research sometimes miss the fingerprints of the Creator Himself. And if you’ve missed the Creator, you’ve missed everything.

I also need reminded that the greatest individuals are those who have never been recognized once. They have never been applauded, honored, or acclaimed. No one cheers their names in the stands or watches their shows from a couch. But in the quiet confines of their life, they have humbly served a cause greater than themselves. And that cause of redemption through Christ reverberates throughout history.

When push comes to shove, I would love for my children to excel at the gifts they have been given. And I will cheer loudly and beam proudly when that happens. But most of all, I want them to pursue Christ. And if pursuing His greatness leaves them without any of their own, that’s more than okay with me. Cause their lives will find impact if they find Christ as their treasure.

So how do we pursue what really matters? How do we encourage the children in our homes and churches to do the same?

Four Ways To Model Jesus and Serve Others

1. Model a servant’s life yourself.

Follow Christ and serve Him in humility. Live by John 3:30. “He must become greater; I must become less.” Work hard, letting your life speak louder than your words.

2. Debunk the illusion of celebrity.

Media won’t do it; so we have to. Invite your children to think critically about fame and fortune. Certainly don’t judge. But do study Proverbs to see what wisdom looks like. Then compare.

3. Honor those who serve.

Who in your family, community, or church serves others quietly? Is it the janitor whose job is rarely recognized unless it isn’t done well? The nursery volunteer who still has endless patience with that bellowing child? The widow who has taught Sunday School for forty years now? Have your children honor these individuals with a simple gift, card, or homemade cookies. Consider throwing a surprise party to thank them for their work.

4. Celebrate the achievement of serving.

Too often we award good grades, applaud goals scored, or present bouquets to aspiring ballerinas. And we should! But how often do we celebrate cleaning up spilled paint for a teacher? Or praying for the pastor without prompting? Or coloring a page for someone who is ill? Make it a habit to celebrate your children’s servants’ hearts on a regular basis.

How Do You Teach Kids What Really Matters?

How have you pursued eternal goals like humility in your home or church? Please share any practical suggestions that you have utilized. Thanks!

Baby Dedication: What Does Your Church Do?

Tony Kummer — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:52:23 +0000

Welcome to the latest session of the Children’s Ministry Think Tank. Grab some coffee, print off this post and put your thinking cap on. The aim is to get different perspectives and help everyone to learn (including me). Please read through the responses and share your own ideas in the comments.

Think Tank #3 Questions About Baby Dedication

What is your church’s practice of baby dedication? Does it integrate with a family ministry strategy? Are their membership requirements for the parents? What do you include in the ceremony?

Response From Terry Delaney

In years past, we have had a baby dedication once a year on Mother’s Day. However, we have talked about doing these quarterly though nothing is set in stone as of yet. In order to be a part of the baby dedication, one of the parents must be a member of the church as well as be in “good standing” (i.e., not living in sin insofar as our staff is aware) with the church. Fortunately, we have not really had to cross the bridge of saying no to someone.

Included in our ceremony is a charge read by the pastor and agreed upon by the parents and congregation. We give each family a certificate commemorating their child’s dedication and a red rose. We hold our dedication at the end of the service so that the rest of the church can come up afterward and greet the families.

I would love to hear what others think about a once a year dedication versus a quarterly or as-needed dedication.

Response From Brenna Phillips

Baby dedication in my current Children’s-Family ministry is offered to parents and families on an individual basis. The ceremony becomes more personal to each family when it is their choice of time, not at the same time as other families in the younger preschool small groups. A professor once told me that a baby dedication service with multiple participants looks like a cattle herd – get ‘em in, get ‘em out. That’s not personal at all.

Parents choose to dedicate their children usually before the child’s first birthday; although, some parents wait until their child is close to 3 years of age. They consult the pastor on times. If there are other families desiring a dedication service, then those families are encouraged to work out times in which they are the only family participating on a particular day; therefore, each family is secured a personal service and not hurried through the ceremony. The service is performed in the spirit of Hannah dedicating Samuel in the Old Testament.

In my children’s ministry experience, I have not been given the responsibility of planning a service or an order of worship. I have only organized the special day with details of the family names, ages, guests, other information, and special lunches afterward to assist the senior pastor. Without planning or having input into the elements to include in a ceremony, I consulted some senior pastors about what they normally include for the families.

One pastor in Maryland said at his church they hold their baby dedication service for multiple families. He shares an informational sheet of questions with parents who are interested in a baby dedication service. If they can sincerely answer “yes” to each question, then he invites them to begin the planning process for a service. The following questions are included on the informational sheet:

Do you confess your faith and commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord?
Do you acknowledge that your child is a gift and a trust from God, and that you are responsible to God for his/her Christian nurture?
Will you pray for your child’s salvation and teach your child the way of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ?
Since your child will learn by both your word and example, will you set a Godly example in prayer, Bible reading, church attendance, giving, and serving others in your church home?
Do you, at this time, present your child before God, saying that whatever God might want your child to do or be, you are willing to release him/her to His perfect plan?

The following is a draft of a typical baby dedication service:

Pastor: The purpose of baby dedication is to establish the partnership between the parents and the church in passing on the faith to their children and their children’s children.

The pastor speaks to the congregation: reading Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Psalm 78:1-8.

Each family has read the scriptures and more and are impressed to make a public proclamation to dedicate their children and to bear witness of their intent to pass on their faith to their children.

The pastor then introduces the families and speaks to these families, saying the following:

God gives clear commands to parents to pass on their faith to their children. The church is your faith family that will walk along side you with love, support, and prayer in this endeavor. We do this by promising to equip you as parents for this task, by praying with and for you, by providing solid, biblically based developmentally appropriate programs, for you and your child to learn, and by giving you opportunities with and in the family of God to worship, study, fellowship, service, and witness as a family unit in the larger community of faith setting. We want to be the best friend a parent can have as they seek to pass on their faith to their children. We want to be available to you and your family.

The pastor asks each family participating in the dedication to respond by saying “I will” to each question if they agree before God and the church family. The questions are the same questions that were asked of each family on the informational sheet in the initial meeting between pastor and family.

Dedication is a serious public declaration of your intent to commit to obey God’s word, and pass on your faith to the next generation. At the same time it is also an affirmation that you are not alone in this awesome task; the body of Christ is standing with you.

The pastor finishes the service by asking the congregation the following question:

“Church, are you willing to take on the responsibility to love, care, and support these parents as they work to pass on their faith to their children. Promising to love them, equip them, pray for and with them, supporting by example and involvement in their lives as they work toward this end. If you agree to that please stand and say, ‘I will.’”

Then, the pastor closes in prayer.

Brenna Phillips is the Children’s-Family Minister at Mission Fellowship Church in Middletown, Delaware, and teaches 3-4 year old students at an early childhood learning center. www.brennaphillips.com

Response From Glen Woods

I responded as follows to a similar question in a recent comment exchange on Think Tank #2.

In my church baby dedication is not taught as being salvific or sacramental in the biblical sense. For example, we would not try to compare it to the OT mandate to circumcise children in Hebrew culture. Instead, it is really a commitment on the part of parents to raise the child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It is also a corporate commitment on the part of the church community to provide a supportive environment for the parents and child. Yes, we pray and ask God to protect and guide the child. But we do so with the understanding that it is through us that this must happen. We own the responsibility as unto the Lord.

I will add to the above specific brief responses to the questions above as well as one caveat regarding my comment. First, the caveat. God uses us to nurture young children. This does not take away from God’s sovereignty or agency independent of human influence. However, it does demonstrate the enormous responsibility we own as parents, family members, and the larger
community.

Now for the specific responses to the questions.

Integrative Family Ministry Strategy: My church is in the process of developing an integrative family ministry strategy. Baby dedication has long been a fundamental aspect of pastoral care in our congregation. It will continue in this role as we slowly put into place new components of family ministry.

Membership Requirements for Parents: We do not require parents who desire their children to be dedicated to become official members beforehand. If they attend corporate worship regularly then we consider them part of our church family. This does not downplay the validity of membership. It simply means that we do not use membership as a litmus test to exclude folks from benefitting from ministry expressions. Indeed, I personally can
foresee the possibility that we would dedicate a child whose family just recently started attended. Why not? What a privilege to come alongside them in this most tender season of their lives and commit to them our promise to walk with them through joys and trials.

What is included in the ceremony: I have only officiate one baby dedication and that was in the home of some personal friends. It was a precious time and a powerful opportunity to be a witness. In my church I have never been involved in a baby dedication ceremony. I have observed them in the past, though not recently because we have only had one service
for the past several years and I rarely attend adult worship since I am worshipping with the children. So based on my memory, the ceremony typically includes the parents coming up front with the child in their arms. My pastor usually takes the child and positions the baby so the audience can see. This is the time for the cute factor and oohs and aahs. Pastor then usually reads or recites a charge of dedication to the parents. He reminds the audience that they also share responsibility to rear the child in the faith as the child grows older and is influenced by
them. He often will invite the father to pray for the family, and the child. He then prays as well over the family. In total, it usually lasts about ten minutes. There is a certificate of dedication given to the family and often gifts as well.

Glen Woods is a Children’s Pastor and warehouseman in Portland, Oregon. He writes at Children’s Ministry Conversation.

What Does Your Church Practice For Baby Dedication?

This conversation is open for your input or questions. Share your own thoughts about this issue in the comment section below.

Two Things Every Child Needs To Know About God

Jeri Tanner — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:19:22 +0000

We know we love ‘em. We know we want them to know and love Jesus. We know that Jesus loves them; he gathered the little children to Himself and used their simple trust to demonstrate what pleases our Heavenly Father.

So knowing that we love them, knowing Jesus loves them, and knowing that we want them to know and love Jesus, let’s take a look at what the Bible says about teaching them!

What Does The Bible Says About Teaching Children?

In this space it would be impossible to undertake an exhaustive study, but we could start by looking at a couple of points the Scriptures reveal about teaching children: children need to be taught what God has done and what God has said.

1. Children need to know what God has done.

Psalm 78:1-4 begins with the psalmist’s intention to teach . . .

“things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.”

Children come to see the character of God through the exciting accounts in the Bible of what He did! Through these stories they learn to admire His glorious deeds and His might. The histories of the Bible reveal His acts of mercy and love, as well as His demonstrations of holiness and just judgment of sin. Children need this full-orbed view of God! And they get it through the stories of the Old and New Testament that tell what God has done.

2. Children need to know what God has said.

Deuteronomy 6:6,7 gives the timeless charge:

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

It should never be assumed that children will catch on to God’s commands by spiritual osmosis! They must know what God has said in order to obey Him. From the Ten Commandments to the Sermon on the Mount, teach the children in your care what God has said.

How Can You Teach These Bible Truths?

Practically speaking, we teach children what God has done and what He has said simply by reading the Bible to them. Remembering that the Bible is about what God has said and done (and not primarily about characters and events of the Bible) helps us remain focused and God-centered as we teach.

A steady diet of this will, as the Holy Spirit works, whet your children’s appetites to know more and more about this great God, and point their hearts to their need of, and the good news about, the Savior. This is God’s prescribed way to teach children to know and love Him, to come to understand and value what He has done for us in Christ, and to treasure Him above all!

KIDO’Z Web Browser: Internet Safety For Kids

Tony Kummer — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:46:31 +0000

In our family, we take our kids internet safety seriously. In fact, we really limit the sites and amount of time our kids have on the internet. Plus, the computer is in the most public area of the house where everyone can see exactly what it on the screen. But we are always looking for better ways to provide our kids with internet safety.

I just read about a new web browser that will help with internet safety for kids. It’s called KIDO’Z and it looks like something that could help our younger children. Basically it’s a web browser that provides internet parental controls in a kid friendly interface. Here are some of the features that have me interested in this parental control software:

Easy to use, even for non-readers
The software is a free download
Not supported by ads
Designed for children ages 3-7

They are developing a premium version with even more parental controls. But the free version is definitely worth checking out. Thanks to Matt Keegan for his KIDO’Z review and tipping me off to this software. To download the software and test it for yourself go to the official KIDO’Z website.

What Do You Do For Kids Internet Safety?

This special web browser is just one approach to keeping kids safe on the internet. What are some ways your family protects children on the internet?

Check out this list of five kid friendly browsers.

Children Media Safety and Kids Ministry

Terry Delaney — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:16:14 +0000

How many of the children in your ministry use the Internet? How many watch television or listen to the radio? We have all heard of the problems of media today, but have we really thought about the media as it relates to our own ministries?

I confess that I have thought of these problems as more for the youth group to address rather than the children’s ministry. However, I am quickly seeing the error of my ways. As I stated in an earlier post about how much the world influences our children versus how much time we actually are able to teach them about the things of God, we must address these issues and better equip the parents to train up their children in the way they should go.

Granted, we cannot do this alone, but we ought to be at the very least bringing these things before families and the children and warning them of the spiritual dangers (not too mention the physical dangers in some cases) found in the various forms of media. The youth pastor at my church just held a “parent’s round table discussion” centered on this exact topic. Perhaps we ought to look into doing something along these lines with the parents of the children in our ministries.

If you have addressed these issues, we would love to hear what you have done and what has been your experience in talking with the parents. If there are any resources that you use that would benefit us all, please share those as well.

Spotlight “Home Life Ministries”

Terry Delaney — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:49:56 +0000

Home Life Ministries is a ministry dedicated to equiping parents and children’s ministers to teach children biblical characteristics. Morris Hull is the founder of this web-based ministry. He has lived in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and currently lives in the United States.

The Character Journal is of greatest interest to our readers here at Ministry to Children. They offer 38 different character trait lessons that can be used in either a church Bible study or a family worship setting. These can be downloaded for free and are extensive in their approach. You can also subscribe to their newsletter to receive any new character trait studies.

The ministry also offers online counseling. Morris Hull even hosts a radio program called Character Focus that airs in England and Scotland and can also be heard through their website. Finally, he is also a conference speaker speaking primarily to Biblical parenting and marriage issues, but is willing and able to speak to anything that is found in the Bible.

While they do have a link where you can make a donation, everything on their website is available for free. If you are struggling with something to teach your children this summer or are wanting a guide for teaching your children positive character traits, you would do well to begin at Home Life Ministries.

Bedtime Prayers With Children

Tony Kummer — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:12:59 +0000

One of the greatest blessings of being a dad is tucking my little ones in each night. Like most families, we have a routine that includes a bedtime prayer for the children. Sometimes it’s just one of the scripture blessings I’ve memorized, and sometimes it’s more specific intercession. But there is something about the bedtime prayer that our kids love.

I haven’t written much on that topic, but I want to point you to an excellent post by Trevin Wax. He offers some practical help for praying with kids and even shares his routine. Follow this link to read his post - Bedtime Prayers with our Children. Here’s a quote from his post:

The days are hurried. The more kids you have, the more difficult it is to gather everyone together for family prayer. When your child does start to pray, it’s the same prayer every night. You wonder how much he or she is praying from the heart and how much of their prayer is merely a formality. You yourself are exhausted from your efforts. Sometimes, it just seems like taking a few minutes every night to pray is too much.