Archive for Childrens Ministry
Three Convictions About Children’s Ministry – Sunday Night Reflections July 4, 2010
A few quick thoughts tonight before heading to bed…
I LOVE our children’s team here at NewSpring Church…their passion for teaching kids about Jesus on a level that they can understand is SO appreciated by me as a pastor AND as a dad!
I see a monumental problem in churches today…when we consider that unchurched people are not being reached AND we combine that with the fact that MANY students that were raised in church walk away when they graduate high school…well, that’s a problem.
I think one way to combat that issue is striving as a church to have a healthy youth and children’s ministry. (I won’t say that much about youth ministry in this post…I did cover some things a few months ago here if you are interested.)
Here are three convictions I have about children’s ministry…
#1 – If you want to reach kids…then you’ve got to spend money on them. It BLOWS me away that church world always seems to be scratching our heads and wondering why kids FLOCK to Disney (even the Baptist ones) but they don’t flock to church. MAYBE it’s because Disney spends “squillions” of dollars on them…and many churches have more money in their graveyard fund than they do their children’s budget. We will spend money on what is important…and I think children’s (and student) ministry is THE most important mission field in the church.
#2 – If you want to reach kids…they’ve got to have fun. When I was growing up “fun” and “church” were never used in the same sentence; therefore, as soon as my mother died and I didn’t have to go to church anymore…I didn’t. Kids are not growing closer to Jesus by being forced to sit and listen…or by coloring (with crayons provided by their parents). They should want to come to church, should look forward to coming to church…and so we unapologetically go all out every week to make sure these kids have a GREAT time.
#3 – If you want to reach kids…they’ve got to learn something. I’ve told our children’s ministry that when parents come pick up their kids that they will ask two questions – the first will be “did you have fun,” and the second will be, “what did you learn?” I told our children’s team…make sure kids can answer both in a positive way…and THAT’S a win. (BTW…a “WIN” is when the parents and the kids actually talk about what the child learned! When parents and the church work together…its an awesome team!
Does it work? Well…Charisse (my three year old) quoted her memory verse to me the other day. (AND…she asked me the other day when we were riding around the other morning could we go to the church because she loves it so much!) Kids LEARN about Jesus on THEIR LEVEL…thus the Great Commission is being fulfilled, disciples are being made because a biblical foundation is being laid in an environment that they LOVE!
To ALL of our staff and volunteers at NewSpring that work with our kids…YOU ARE ALL AMAZING! THANK YOU for the COUNTLESS hours of prayed and preparation you guys gave in order to make today happen! The Gospel was preached…and according to Isaiah 55:8-11 there WILL be a harvest. Thank you for fulfilling I Peter 4:10 and simply doing what the Bible says to do, because of the way YOU ALL served today…God’s Kingdom was both honored and enlarged!
Keep up the GREAT work!
You Are CRAZY If You Miss This Sunday At NewSpring!!! June 30, 2010
Seriously! This Sunday is going to be INSANE…
We’ve made NO APOLOGIES about the fact that we really do invest heavily in our children’s ministry program here at NewSpring Church. At every campus we always strive to do our best to communicate to our kids that they matter to Jesus TODAY…and not just when they get older and can tithe!
AND…that mindset has proven to be fruitful as HUNDREDS of kids show up to NewSpring Church every weekend to hear about Jesus in a way they can understand…on their level.
From time to time people will ask, “SO…what does the children’s program look like at NewSpring?”
Great question…and it will be answered THIS SUNDAY (July 4th!)
This Sunday KidSpring (our children’s ministry program) will be taking over the main service. AND…on every campus we’re asking the parents to bring their kids into the auditorium so that they can sing and hear the message as a family.
(BTW…if you are single, OR you don’t have kids I promise you that you will absolutely LOVE Sunday…it is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen!)
We will have a nursery available at every campus for babies 23 months and younger…but pre school and grade school will be in the main service for a Sunday that will NOT be forgotten.
CLICK HERE for more info from our incredible children’s team!!!
AND…for the Anderson campus (because it is our only permanent facility) we will have a fireworks show for the entire community around 9:15pm. Everyone is encouraged to come hang out in the church parking lot…to “tail-gate” and have a blast as we celebrate the 4th of July together.)
Our KidSpring team has worked SO hard for MONTHS to make this Sunday come together…we’re working hard and praying hard that as a result of this particular Sunday that lives will be changed.
SO…show up, plan to bring your kids to the service with you…AND INVITE SOMEONE – trust me, you won’t regret doing so!
See you Sunday!
“Give ‘em Hell This Sunday!” Uh…Nope! April 21, 2010
I’ve had this on my mind since last week…
I’ve heard preachers say before, “Give ‘em hell on Sunday!” I know what is meant by it…but its sort of sad really that some people actually delight in the fact that there is a place called hell and people really do go there.
Reality is this…people get enough “hell” during the week…their marriages are on the rocks, jobs are uncertain, kids are freaking out, dating life is falling apart…I could go on…
And the last thing people need is to walk into an environment where someone “gives ‘em hell!” (MAYBE that’s one of the reasons people are dropping out of church like crazy!)
I would say don’t “give ‘em hell” this Sunday–but GIVE THEM HOPE! (I heard Pete Hise say last week that Hope is on the endangered species list…that people NEED hope, but they aren’t turning to the church for it!)
The life of Jesus gives us HOPE that God actually wants us in a relationship with Him.
The cross gives us HOPE that there is no condemnation for those in Christ.
The empty tomb gives us HOPE that He can conquer anything that we face.
People need HOPE!
Don’t misunderstand…I’m not saying, “go easy and don’t call out sin!” The problem is that many pastors want to call out the sin but not point to the Savior who paid for that sin and in whom is COMPLETE forgivness and RESTORATION to a God that is desperate to reach people!
The message should be a message of HOPE…and with the world being as dark as it is the church should be shining brighter than EVER before!
We don’t shatter darkness by condemning people…but by pointing them to Christ, the One who shatters condemnation!
Give ‘em hope Sunday!
The Gauntlet February 23, 2010
One of THE MOST EXCITING events of the year EVERY YEAR is what our student ministry has called, “The Gauntlet,” our summer camp experience for our 6th through 12th graders.
If you are a parent reading this…I cannot begin to emphasize all that God does in and through our students during this particular week of incredible fun, great games, awesome worship and intense study of God’s Word!
We opened sign ups a few weeks ago and spots are filling up FAST! We’ve NEVER had this many people sign up for our summer trip THIS EARLY!
Here are the details…it will be held the week of July 26th through July 30th in Daytona Beach, FL and cost $250 per student. (That cost includes transportation, room and all but two meals!) I could go on and on about this event…but you can just go here to read more about it.
I get pumped up every year because I get to spend a lot of time with the students who attend this event…and our beach baptism that we do every year is one of my favorite things that our church does–period!
So..parents, just wanted to get the word out so you can get your kid signed up ASAP. Seating for this trip is NOT unlimited…and once we’ve reached capacity we will have to put students on a waiting list. SO…my advice would be to get on this early…trust me, you do NOT want your kids to miss out!
I can’t wait!
“This Sh_t Is Awesome!” December 14, 2009
If you want to build a great church then go after the people that no one else wants! That’s what Jesus did…and because of that we are included in HIS Kingdom. Quite often something will happen in our church that will remind me that, though we are far from perfect, we are going after the people that I believe Jesus would have gone after…
So…the other day in our children’s area this happened…
A first time visitor (probably around 9 or 10 years old) walked into our 4th-5th grade room in KidSpring at our Anderson campus and was BLOWN away!
He looked at the children’s worker who met him at the door, and, after looking around the room he said, “you guys have a wii?”
“Yep,” she said.
“And you guys have a PSIII?” he said!
“Yes sir, we sure do,” she replied.
“And we can play these for free?” He asked.
“Yep,” she answered.
Then he turned to his friend and said out loud, “This Sh_t is awesome!”
Now I am quite sure that makes some of you very uncomfortable; after all, you don’t want the cussing kids coming into church and messing up your perfect child.
However…after hearing this story from one of our children’s staff I was INCREDIBLY pumped up because I thought, “THAT is why we do church!” I know many churches would not want a kid like that…but we do because HE MATTERS TO JESUS…even though his behavior is not perfect!
Here is what I know about that kid…
- He was greeted by children’s workers that made it a point to learn his name.
- He was treated like he was special, not like an outcast.
- He was NOT taken to the bathroom where his mouth was washed out with soap; in fact, he wasn’t even rebuked. (Why in the world does the church expect those who do not know Christ to act as if they do? It is the most ridiculous/stupid idea!!!)
- He was placed into an environment where he was taught the Scriptures.
- He was placed into an environment where he was taught about Jesus.
- He was placed into an environment where people went the extra mile to make sure the presentation was on his level.
- He matters to God; therefore, he matters to us…and we are going to continually do all that we can to reach him.
Church is not a place for “perfect people.” (And BEWARE of the church where you go and EVERYONE seems perfect!!!) It’s a place where the broken, the lonely, the addicted, and the struggling can go.
I love the fact that this kid came to our church…didn’t pretend to be someone he was not…and was STILL accepted and heard about Jesus.
The church has GOT to STOP placing expectations on people as soon as they walk in the door…
We are NOT a country club…we are a church!!!
And for those who look down on those who are “not as good as you,” remember that you were once like them (see I Corinthians 6:9-11 and Ephesians 2:1-5)…and were it not for God’s AMAZING grace…you would STILL be lost.
- People who cuss should be welcome at church…
- So should those who smell like smoke…
- So should those who smell like alcohol…
- So should those who do whatever sin you do not do…
When we get into the business of placing stipulations as to who can and cannot come to a service based on a morality code (OR a dress code) we have COMPLETELY lost sight of why Jesus came and died on a cross.
Like I said, hearing the story of that kid made my day!!! It’s why we do what we do…and it is my prayer that he eventually receives Christ, fixes his eyes on Jesus…and grows up to do AMAZING things in HIS name…all because there was a church that allowed him to come in as he was…and then begged God to not let him stay that way but rather to bring about the change HE desired in HIS time.
Three Things I Hope I Will Do…And A Slight Rant! August 12, 2009
Lucretia and I are meeting with a group of 11th and 12th graders over the course of this next school year…and we are so pumped about being able to share our lives with this group. As I’ve met with them a few times I have began to process how I am going to react when their generation begins to take over the ministry world…I hope I will…
#1 – Do My Best To Fund Their Movement & Not Fight It.
They WILL do ministry in ways that haven’t been thought of yet. They will do things that make me uncomfortable. They will take the things we are doing now and calling innovative and refer to them as traditional…and I can either face the truth or get buried by it. My job as a leader is to fund them and set them up for success…not fight them. (Phrase borrowed from Andy Stanley)
#2 – Do My Best To Learn From Them.
I SOOOO hope I am not “Yoda-like” and pretend that I have all of the answers and need no input from them. I want to pour into the generation that is coming behind me…but there is a LOT I am going to be able to learn and apply from them. Only arrogance and pride will make me think that I need to have all of the answers and can’t ask any of the questions!
#3 – Do My Best To Encourage Them.
I don’t want to be the old guy who tells them they can’t do what God has clearly told them they can AND SHOULD do! I want to be the guy who tells them to pursue what Jesus has placed in their hearts!
I am SO positive that God has amazing things in store for this next generation…I am seeing things in them that I’ve never seen…the way they respond to Jesus pursuing them is amazing…and I really do believe that God is going to use them to bring about a Reformation in America and across the world that is going to be the greatest in the history of the world. God is preparing them…and is going to use them to make a difference!
BTW–that is why I BELIEVE SOOOOO much in youth and children’s ministry! It is NOT a glorified baby sitting service…these children and youth matter NOW! One of the reasons 18 year olds move off to college and leave the church is because the church treats them like second class citizens for years…and then expects them to jump in to the political free for all that dominates most churches…you know, pick a side and just shut up! This generation will not stand for that–they are desperate for Jesus and not church politics!
There is no greater mission field than the youth and children who attend our churches every week…and yet I know for a fact that there are churches all across America that have more money in their graveyard fund than in their youth budget! THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE if we want to see a difference made!
God has called us to empower and release this next generation…not hold them back! I pray that I will one day get to see just a glimpse of all I believe He is going to do through them!!! Like I said…a Reformation…and the world will NEVER be the same!
Why Are We Afraid Of God’s Voice? February 13, 2008
The other day I had another thought about how awesome the love of God is while I was spending time with Charisse.
I walked into the living room after being at the gym for an hour or so and Charisse was playing in the floor & was unaware that I had came back home.
I called her name and she immediately looked up at me…AND…smiled. Nothing, I mean NOTHING can warm up the heart of a father any faster than seeing his child smile at him.
She didn’t fear me bringing up her past…and her past HAS been nasty if you think about all of the crap and snot and vomit that she’s blown all over the place!
She was not fearful that I was going to yell at her and begin asking her to do things that would eventually hurt her and make her hate life.
She didn’t think that I was going to take something away from her, that I was actually out to get her and make her as miserable as possible.
NONE of that took place. She looked at me with her HUGE blue eyes and smiled because she KNEW that I was about to run to her, scoop her up in my arms and hug her as tightly as possible.
She looked at me with anticipation that something great was about to take place.
She looked at me with joy because of how good I’ve been to her in her seven months so far on this planet.
She looked at me with complete trust, knowing that I’ve never done anything to hurt her…only to bless her and teach her.
She looked at me like any child should look at a father…and how I should look to God!
He’s not out to get me…OR I’d have already been gotten!
He’s not out to take something from me–what could I possibly have that He wants. (By the way–it’s already His!)
He’s not out to hurt me, only to bless and teach me.
He’s been so good to me, seriously, He owes me NOTHING!
He’s not out to remind me of myr past–He’s already paid for that and made me brand new.
He wants to see me SMILE at Him, to see true joy in my life and complete trust that He is who Scripture says He is…my PERFECT heavenly father.
I am praying that God will continue to teach me to view Him through the eyes of a child…and it is blowing my mind!!!!