Comments on: 9 Strategies for Reaching Over-Churched Kids

By: ‘Over-churched’ kids | Faith & Works

‘Over-churched’ kids | Faith & Works — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:10:40 +0000

[...] offers nine solutions for dealing with such kids – putting them to work as peer teachers; finding ways to make Bible teachings creative or [...]

By: Cullen Wood

Cullen Wood — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:48:42 +0000

Hello Tony,
Thank you for sharing this and for having others share as well. There are so many great points here and I can’t wait to implement them more in my home. Every night we choose a different Bible story to read from the children’s Bible with Timothy (2 1/2 yro) and have been doing that with him since he was born. Last night was his turn to choose a story and he started out by pointing to the pictures and telling us who was in the story and what the story was about. It was so neat to see and hear him acting it out.
Well thank you Tony and many others for all that you do. You are a wonderful blessing!
Cullen :)

By: How Do We Reach Over-Churched Kids? (Video) | Life2gether

How Do We Reach Over-Churched Kids? (Video) | Life2gether — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:22:36 +0000

[...] Read Tony’s 9 Strategies for Reaching Over-Churched Kids [...]

By: K Gray

K Gray — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:11:25 +0000

This is a tough issue. As a volunteer teaching children, I had no idea how to respond to some of the overchurched kids who totally ignore you, distract others and do whatever they want.

I have left these classes crying on occasion, and eventually stopped volunteering in the childrens’ area.

On the other hand, in Bible Study Fellowship (a Bible study for women, in which even young children are also taught), the equipping is so excellent that it’s like “children’s ministry for dummies.” Everything is in 5-10 minute intervals, there is a lesson (often done with a puppet or the like), questions (for example, drawn from a jar), play time (play is related to the lesson), rest, snack (at a table, with a simple lesson-related discussion question that relates to their lives), structured clean up, etc. Discipline issues are prayed over by group leaders. Sometimes parents are brought into it. In any case, the atmosphere is loving, children actually learn, and the structure calms and assures everyone.

One small thing I became personally convicted on: “Bible stories” and “characters.” I quit using those terms b/c children think stories are fiction.

By: Are your kids over-churched? « Gospel Children

Are your kids over-churched? « Gospel Children — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:39:16 +0000

[...] 9 Strategies for Reaching Over-Churched Kids [...]

By: Charla Jamison

Charla Jamison — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:32:41 +0000

With the kids who I’ve had who ‘know everything already’, I really try to encourage them in relationships.

Church isn’t just about Sunday school and the teaching. It’s also about being together & reaching out to others & making changes in their lives.

They need to bring friends or get to know the visiting kids. They need to fellowship with others at church. They need to be challenged to apply the lessons to their life & act on it.

I also think we need to teach our kids to think in less-judgemental ways, too. It bugs me to no end when a parent complains that we shouldn’t be teaching about David because my kids already knows about him. Their child hears this & voila! The child has just learned how to be judgemental.

Honestly, I can hear lessons on the life of David and still learn new things from it. And, at age 42, I’ve probably heard it a few hundred times.

By: Phillipa

Phillipa — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:44:00 +0000

Too much church and the consequent familiarity often seems to lead to a sense of ‘I’ve done it all before’ and a critical attitude ranging from ‘it’s boring’ to all sorts of more destructive attitudes. This in turn takes the focus off following Jesus and places it firmly with an organisation full (inevitably) of flaws. In our experience it has been helpful to encourage young people to see that they are equal members of this ‘organisation’ along with all the adults and as such are totally free to have ideas and make suggestions – as long as they are also willing to be involved with and work with the outcomes. Some examples include playing in worship bands – and in time getting to choose songs etc, meeting the candidates for youth pastor and feeding back to the interview panel, helping out with children’s groups – and attending planning meetings along with the adult leaders….. Of course the aim is always to be serving Jesus and seeking his guidance – in other words, growing in practical discipleship, and not being a passive observer.

By: Overchurched kids? | Jeff Lovell

Overchurched kids? | Jeff Lovell — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:40:10 +0000

[...] By over-churched kids, I mean children with too much religion and not enough actual interaction with Jesus. Attending church is important and should promote spiritual growth, but sometimes there are side effects. In this post, I will describe the spiritual dangers these kids face. You can also read our follow up post that offers 9 strategies for reaching these kids. [...]

By: over-churched kids « native pilgrim

over-churched kids « native pilgrim — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:35:01 +0000

[...] Click through to read him explain the dangers here and the solutions here. [...]

By: Stephanie ~ Maine

Stephanie ~ Maine — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:36:46 +0000

I am so pleased to see this issue addressed! I admit I have had a bad taste in my mouth about Missionaries and Preachers kids because I feel their children get overlooked or Spiritually abandoned… One on one attention and nurturing in this area is vital. Praise God for those of you who have come up with a plan to Reach these souls…. Thanks you