We are about to start a church-wide 21 day fast. I wanted to get kids involved and find a good way to teach them about fasting in a kid-friendly way that didn't involved giving up food they need to grow! When I first did this last year, I did some research. I spent hours looking online, and not finding much AT ALL for teaching kids about fasting. The only thing I found was a fasting calendar.... then God put this idea on my heart as a fun and engaging way to teach kids about fasting.
This was a great way for kids to learn in a hands-on way that they can understand. I came up with a lesson, based on the object lesson of an empty cup- which represents us as we empty ourselves from the distractions that keep us from focusing on God, and the way God fills us up. He fills us with His love, His strength and grace, and His Spirit. The lesson was fun for the kids, but my favorite part was getting to give the kids their own Fasting Cups to take home. We don't just want kids to focus on what they are GIVING UP, but on what God can do to FILL them up. We didn't encourage kids to fast from meals, because their growing bodies need nutrients. Kids would get two cups: one that says "GIVE UP" and one that says "FILL UP." Each cup had slips of paper in them. They would do a drawing a few times a week; one drawing would tell them what they would give up for one day (TV, cell phone, sweets/junk food, etc.) and one cup would be something they could do to allow God to fill them up (Read a certain Scripture, memorize a verse, write a prayer, etc.). It was really cool to see the kids involved in the church-wide fast, and see their dedication. I had parents tell me that even when they started to "cheat" on their fast, their kids would remind them about fasting and the importance of it! The kids inspired me with their hearts for God. I love hearing stories of kids living out their faith at home. The fasting cups were just one simple tool to help kids connect with God at home and live out their faith. To purchase this resource, CLICK HERE to access the resource in my store. Lynne Howard
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Visiting a new church for the first time is a big deal. A family makes the decision to go to a place where they won't know anyone, but people will know each other; they won't know where to go, but everyone else will, and they will drop their kids off with people they don't know. For many people, the entire experience can be uncomfortable, and if churches aren't intentional about creating good first impressions and focusing on hospitality, especially in the area of children's ministry, we could be missing out on many opportunities to connect with guests and help them feel welcomed and comfortable enough to come back!
Last summer, I took a short sabbatical in my transition time in between churches, and enjoyed visiting other churches... but it was also an eye-opening experience for me! Even coming to my current church as a new person taught me a lot about what our guests notice when they first come, and a lot of it is things that we often overlook because we're so used to them! One thing I do remember that stood out is the friendliness of the people. No matter who you are, it's intimidating visiting a new church. There are things we can do to help ensure our guests have a good experience and feel loved. As a children's pastor, I take first impressions and hospitality very seriously, and always reinforce this value with my team. We want to always be thinking of ways to improve in the area of First Impressions, and it's good to have people to give good feedback on all the details, from the guest experience in the parking lot, to the drop-off/pick-up process. Here are a few things we do to help guests have a good first impression.... Guest Check-in It's a good idea to have a special area at the kids' check-in desk for guests to check-in, and the check-in process needs to be as easy and fast as possible. Parents don't want to fill out pages and pages of forms, but they DO want you to ask for the important information that you need to know to keep their kids safe. I'm attaching a copy of our one page Registration Forms that parents fill out on their first visit. /uploads/1/7/6/3/17636907/ekidz_registration.docx After parents fill out the form, our check-in leader collects their information to print out a simple Guest sticker from our computer (it includes the kid's name, parents' names, parents contact number, kid's grade/age, and any allergies or needs). They print out two stickers- one for the kid, and one for the parent to turn in when they pick up their kid. We tell them that the next time they come, we will have entered their information into our computer system, so they won't have to fill out a new form (if they are a true ONE TIME guest, we won't add them into our system). *We also let parents know that we have the ability to send them a text message via our computer if they are needed in case of an emergency, which makes parents feel more comfortable knowing you can get ahold of them if needed. It's important to make sure the check-in process is streamlined and fairly quick for all parents- not just guests. If new people look over and see chaos in the regular check-in line, and frustrated parents who have had to wait too long, it makes everything feel chaotic. Make sure the check-in time is easy for all families. Hosts Aside from our regular check-in volunteers, we have hosts each Sunday, who are specifically there to greet and welcome new guests. They are trained to engage the family in conversation, answer their questions, walk them to any room need to go to, and help them with the check-in and drop-off process. It really makes families feel great when our hosts remember them from their last visit and seem genuinely glad to see them. Identify your volunteers It's important for new families to know who is on our children's ministry team, and identify who they can go to for questions. One way we do this is by having all our volunteers wear lanyards. Sometimes, we've had our volunteers wear name tag stickers, and some of them wear T-shirts with our logo. However you do it, this is one important detail not to overlook. Prize boxes On their first day visiting, we give all kids a fun little prize box that's filled with small and simple, but cool little toys and something small with our logo on it. Even though these prize boxes are simple, every time a kid gets one, and looks inside it, their eyes lit up, because they got something that is just for THEM. Follow up Try to connect with a first-time-guest within 72 hours of their first visit, either through email or postcard, and let them know you're glad they came. I usually send a simple email while I'm adding the guests into the check-in system on Monday mornings. Engage kids immediately Train your volunteers in all age groups to engage all kids quickly when they come into the classroom, especially the new kids. Teachers should be looking for the new kids, and pulling them into a conversation or opening activity- kids should never walk into a room full of chaos, or just be left to wander or sit alone. Often, it's good to introduce them to other kids their age, and then engage the kids in an activity together. We plan arrival activities to help engage kids as soon as they come. Our arrival activities change every week. Sometimes it's a craft, or a large group game, or a team challenge or other activity that is designed to draw kids in and introduce them to the Bible lesson as soon as they enter the classroom - and I don't like for the arrival activities to be (or even look) chaotic, because no one likes walking into a room that seems to be in chaos, especially new kids! Information for Parents Make it easy for parents to get their questions answered. Make sure signage is clear and visible, and make sure parents can get simple information about your ministry: who's the leader, where kids go in each age group, what your safety policies are, etc. We give parents a paper with detailed, but streamlined information about our children's ministry. We're working right now on making our signage even better, and helping our guests know where to get the complimentary coffee we offer everyone on Sundays. *Here is a copy of our "Thanks for Coming" information paper we give parents Trained Volunteers Someone told me recently that they took their kids to visit a church, and they had to go to three different check-in desks, and fill out registration forms three different times for one kid, because none of their volunteers knew what was going on, or what to tell them! It seemed disorganized and difficult for the parents. They were sent to several different rooms. All of a church's volunteers should be knowledgeable and ready to help new guests. Also, make sure your front line people (your greeters, front desk people, etc.) are genuinely friendly and have the gift of hospitality! It's a tendency for everyone (even me!) to just stand in doorways and talk to people we know, but we need to remind ourselves to be outward-focused on Sunday mornings, and always looking to connect with others, especially people we don't know! Constantly remind your team of the value of hospitality and friendliness. *Another note: first time guests don't know who's who, or where everything is (even things like the bathroom or the coffee bar), and they don't know what your church does on Wednesday nights or what the youth group is called. Make sure to have easy information at their fingertips, or a place they can go to get answers (we have a Welcome Desk that is staffed and has plenty of information about the church); but if you think through the details ahead of time, people won't have as many questions. Safety and Security Policies It's hard for parents to leave their kids with people they don't know, and we can let them know we're thinking about that. We let parents know that we take their kids' safety very seriously, and let them know about our safety policies. We explain our check-in and check-out procedures and give them a written overview of the safety policies on our Parent Information Page. Parents need to know that we care about their kids' safety. We have caring volunteers in every room who are trained and screened, and we make sure our classrooms have safe ratios of kids, and aren't alone with a kid in a room, we have our sickness and health policies posted, and parents know we have their cell phone number in case we need to get ahold of them. Think about Parking We have designated visitor parking spots up front, but even if all the spots are filled, it's a good idea to have people available to help with parking direction if needed. If guests can't park, or don't know where to go to get into the service, they won't want to come back. Second Time Guests Many people will try out a church one time, but studies have shown that there is great success in assimilating new families into a church bodies if they return even a second time! If a guest family comes back a second time, it's a win! We want to make sure they have a good experience EVERY time they come! Try to remember their names when they come back. Make sure kids get connected with other kids, and invite the family to a small group, Wednesday night program, family church event, or something else to get connected. We don't always get this all executed perfectly, and I always appreciate hearing feedback and getting ideas to make or guest services even better, but I am thankful to be at a caring and friendly church that truly values all people, and have a children's ministry team that understands and values this as well! Families may visit your church on a Sunday and have an "ok" experience, but what if you go the extra mile in every one of these areas? What would it look like for your whole team to go above and beyond to help people feel loved, valued, and welcomed at your church? In the parking lot, at the check-in desk, inside the classrooms, and even in the sanctuary? Many people who come to visit are craving a place to belong, a place for their kids to have fun and want to return, and know their kids are learning Bible truths WHILE having fun and making friends, and a place to know their kids' safety is a top priority. If you can help a family find those things, you will see more and more second time guests, and third time guests.... Do you have any other ideas for helping welcome new families? Lynne *Update: This has become one of my most popular blog posts, and my most requested resource, which is awesome! I'm reposting, so more people can see. I'm always happy to share. If you're looking for a great resource this Christmas (or any time) to help families grow in their faith together, this has been a fun and easy way to do that.
One of my goals as a children's pastor is to empower parents to be spiritual leaders. God designed families as His number one plan for discipleship for kids. There are many parents who are doing a great job with this, but many parents also don't feel equipped to lead their kids spiritually. The church should be ONE avenue for kids to grow as disciples, but not the ONLY place. Leading kids spiritually doesn't have to be complicated- parents can weave faith conversations into every day life at any time! I am always looking for ways to help bring tools and ideas to parents for teaching and leading their kids. One thing I did last Christmas season was send home Advent Devotional To Go boxes with every family at our church. I had never seen or heard of anything like that before, so I wasn't sure how they would go, but they were a hit! They were gone very quickly, and people even wanted some for friends and neighbors! The goal of the boxes is to get families talking together in fun and easy ways, that engage kids at any age. Even my 3 year old nephew loved the one I sent him in the mail. Each box contained 10 Devotional Cards and 10 small, simple objects:
Each object corresponds with a devotional that the family goes through together. The devotional cards are labeled and in order, and the kids can take out the object while the family reads the instructions to see how it goes along with that day's devotional and Scripture. The idea was to get kids involved with hands-on devotionals using simple objects, and get families talking about Scriptures and praying together. It's not complicated, but it can be a powerful way for families to connect and grow together! *They weren't super expensive to make. The boxes were from Oriental Trading, and I made the stickers and cards, and got the items from the Dollar Store or in bulk online. Planning ahead helps, because you can be collecting items for months before you make the boxes. This year, I'm thinking about making "Frozen" themed Advent To-Go boxes. This is just one way I hope to empower, equip and partner with parents in the journey of raising kids who are strong and devoted disciples. TO PURCHASE this resource, so you can make your own, CLICK HEREAdvent To Go Boxes. Lynne Howard I turned 29 last month, and as I get closer to ending this wonderful decade of being a 20-something, I've been reflecting on the last 9 years, and all the changes I've undergone, and how God has grown me. I am preparing to share in a couple of children's ministry classes this week at my Alma Mater, Indiana Wesleyan University. I LOVED my time there, and wouldn't trade my 4 years there for anything. The time I spent there was crucial to making me into the children's pastor I am today, but nothing could have prepared me for the great learning and growth I've experienced firsthand in ministry. As I pondered what I would share with the class of children's ministry students, a few things came to mind. I've been working as a children's pastor for 9 years now, and have served at 4 churches total (3 of them in a paid position), and after 9 years working in children's ministry, the one thing I know is that I don't know much! I have made many mistakes, have learned things the hard way, and still have a LOT to learn and a lot of areas of growth. I am called to children's ministry, and I am committed to serving God for the rest of my life. It's not easy, and if I'm honest, there are times I've wanted to quit. But you don't stay in ministry for the long haul because it's easy; you stay because you commit to not giving up, even when it is hard. I'm in it for the long haul. Here are a few things I would share with students who are preparing for children's ministry... 9. Always keep learning. I will admit that there were times in ministry I felt like I knew everything, and times I felt like I knew NOTHING. It's important to be a constant learner. I want to always look for people to learn from and help myself grow as a leader. I've joined Jim Wideman's mentoring group, Infuse, which has been, by far, my biggest source of growth and learning (other than my college experience). I've had leadership mentors and children's ministry mentors. I love to read books and attend conferences, and learn via social networking (twitter, blogs, etc) and networking with others in my field. I have been a part of local children's ministry networking groups, and since moving to Atlanta, have enjoyed visiting several churches, always with paper and pen in hand, and a list of questions. I want to never stop growing and learning and developing. I am hungry to learn, and I want to stay that way, no matter how long I'm in ministry. 8. Get Good at People Skills and Problem Solving. I originally got into children's ministry because I LOVED working with kids...and was surprised to learn that the number one thing you deal with in children's ministry is ADULTS, not kids. If you're doing it right, most of your leadership will revolve around leading parents, volunteers, staff, etc. If your people skills are weak, this will be a huge challenge. I have had to make myself grow in people skills and problem solving, and am STILL growing and learn every day. I've learned a lot the hard way through my own mistakes, and I've learned a lot from the mentorship of GOOD leaders. Work to develop yourself as a leader, and learn to get good at solving problems and conflict management. There are no perfect people, so you will always have plenty of opportunities to practice good conflict management. Get good at taking criticism. Get good at having hard conversations and confrontations. Get good at speaking truth and love, and learn to be a problem SOLVER instead of wallowing in problems. 7. Get good at volunteers. I learned pretty quickly that if I wanted to do successful children's ministry, I couldn't do it by myself. Research shows that leading volunteers is the most difficult group of people to lead. I would say volunteers are the most rewarding group to lead if you do it well. I can honestly tell you right now that I have a truly AMAZING group of faithful, passionate, dedicated volunteers. They inspire me. They go above and beyond to give their all to the children's ministry, and we have more and more people join our team every week. Many of my volunteers have become my best friends. In some areas, I've had waiting lists for volunteers before. Because when you can lead volunteers WELL, they will line up to serve and join the team. Learn to recruit, lead, train, and develop volunteers well. Learn to appreciate them, respect their time, value them, and pour into them. If you can't get good in this area, your children's ministry will only grow as far as you can do by yourself, but when you raise up and release leaders, God can multiply the ministry and affect more lives than you ever imagined! 6. Be disciplined about your work, but also about your rest. Work hard. When you're on the clock, get good at managing your time, and being productive (get rid of time wasters). There will always be the temptation to take shortcuts and be lazy, but don't give in. Do your job with excellence, even in the tiny details. Work ahead, instead of waiting until the last minute. Learn to become organized, even if it doesn't come naturally to you. Be disciplined about your work. But also be disciplined about your rest. There will be seasons of working overtime and giving up days off, but you need to make sure you take time to refresh and refuel, and no one else is going to make sure you do this. It's up to you. You won't be able to keep going for the long haul if you don't learn to balance your time and make time for your family and friends and rest. Also- many pastors don't have close friendships. It's important to have encouraging, refreshing, authentic friendships and support systems. In college, I was completely surrounded by wonderful godly friends, fun, community and accountability that close friendships bring. But then I moved to another state that was 600 miles away from all my family and friends, where I didn't know anyone. The first year or two were lonely...and it would have been hard to continue living and doing ministry at that lonely place. But thank the LORD I found great friends and God brought me an amazing, supportive husband, and since moving to my new church, I have been overwhelmingly blessed with godly, supportive, loving friends. Be disciplined enough to make sure you get community, fellowship, and accountability in your off time. 5. Your relationship with your lead pastor (or direct report) is make or break. When you're looking for churches, don't try to look for the perfect church; it doesn't exist. There will be conflicts or issues of some type wherever you go, but the most important thing is this: you can deal with any issue, problem, or conflict that arises, if your lead pastor has your back, and you have his/hers. If you have mutual respect and a healthy relationship, you can face anything that happens. You need to work for a pastor you can submit to, respect, and be authentic and real with. You should have your pastor's back no matter what, and they should have yours. Leading into my next thing I've learned... 4. There will be problems or issues wherever you go; don't play into church politics. It's true. One thing I've learned from visiting other churches and talking to other children's pastors, even children's pastors of mega churches with thriving children's ministries... they all face difficulties in some form. I recently met with an intelligent, highly qualified and passionate leader of an awesome ministry, and she told me stories of severe behavior issues with kids, parents yelling at her and going to her pastor to complain about her behind her back, church members accusing her of things she didn't do, and even more. But that was only part of the conversation. The rest was about how much she LOVED her job and her church and the kids and people. You WILL face trials. You won't please everyone all the time. I have many stories I could share, but the important thing is that I've learned from every difficulty and conflict, and I've learned not to play into gossip and church politics. No matter how great and healthy your church is, there will be people involved, and people aren't perfect. Don't play games and don't gossip. 3. Don't neglect your own relationship with God. Fruitful ministry only happens out of the overflow of an intimate relationship with God. The best thing you can give your ministry is your relationship with God, because people don't need more of YOU- they need more of HIM. John 15:4 says a branch cannot produce fruit if severed from the vine; you are the branch and Jesus is the true vine. Apart from Him, you can do nothing. This one can be hard for children's ministry leaders, because we can DO ministry and keep ourselves so busy, that we may not even notice right away that we're not connected the Lord... until we start to burn out and grow weary, and our well runs dry and our fruit withers. When you're connected to God, He produces ministry and life change and fruit. It's not something you can make or fake or do on your own. But often times, we can get so busy, that our own relationship with God can easily become the last thing on our minds. Make yourself put Him first; do whatever you have to do to keep this number one. You can't do it without Him. 2. Remember the purpose of WHY you do what you do ...to bring children to Jesus. I'll be honest, it can be easy to get caught up in the details of events and recruiting, and remodeling, and planning, and curriculum, and object lessons, and all the day-to-day details of leading a ministry. It can be easy to turn on auto-pilot and forget the true purpose and calling of leading kids to relationship with the Lord. But you MUST make yourself remember, and you must constantly cast that vision to your team. There is no more valuable investment than investing in the life of a child, and helping bring them to Jesus. Children are important to God, and helping them experience Him is our number one goal. It's not just making sure the check-in system works and the motions to the songs are right, and the snacks are stocked in the preschool room, and all the prizes are ready... those things are important, and I am ALL ABOUT excellence in every tiny detail, but the number one most important detail is bringing kids to a relationship with Him! He changes lives! Don't let yourself forget this. 1. 1 Cor. 16:13 "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." You're in a battle. The church doesn't need wimps; it needs warriors. You are on the front lines, and Satan is ready to steal, kill and destroy. You are fighting, and you need God's armor and strength. There will be times when you will need courage- seek God. There will be times you will need wisdom - seek God. There will be times you will be weak, and need His strength- seek God. There will be times you will need faith- seek God. He will equip you to carry out the calling HE has given you. He will give you wisdom and strength. You're in a battle, but God has already given you victory. This is one I have to remind myself of daily, and I'm STILL LEARNING to depend fully on Him day by day. I know I"m still a baby in this world of leadership, and I hope I can say I've continued learning and growing and serving faithfully every day of my life. 9 years down, and, Lord willing, many more to go. I'm thankful for my wonderful church, pastors, volunteers, kids and families, and husband, and I'm thankful that I get to wake up every day and serve in children's ministry. Even when it's challenging, there's nothing I would rather do. -Lynne I love when I go to a family's home and see their fridge covered in Memory Verse magnets from our children's ministry. Every month, I make memory verses magnets for all the kids, and we practice the verses every week in church, as well as encourage kids to practice them at home every time they see them on the fridge. The kids have one month to memorize two verses. On the last Sunday of the month, all of the kids who can say both memory verses completely get a prize out of the treasure box. We call this Memory Verse Challenge, and the kids love it! I've even had parents and volunteers tell me this is a great way for THEM to memorize Scripture. I like to do different things to mix it up as we help kids memorize the verses. Sometimes we play games to help them learn the verses; sometimes we make up motions, and sometimes I use songs. You can get some good Scripture song resources from Group or from Seeds Family Worship, or even from just doing a youtube search with the verse reference. The important thing we do is explain to the kids as often as possible how important it is to hide God's Word in their hearts. We help them understand the importance of keeping His word with you at all times through memorizing and meditating on Scripture. We remind kids that it's not just for them to be able to say the words, but to know them in their heart and let God change their lives through His Word. We ask kids to tell us what the verses mean in their own words, and how they apply to their lives. We also give memory verse magnets to our preschoolers (age 3-5), and they do the same thing (theirs are the same verses, just shortened a little). Some people may think that young kids can't memorize Scripture.... but we have had some of our best memorizers in our younger classes! Over the summer, one of our preschool teachers challenged her class of 3-4 year olds to memorize the entire CHAPTER of Psalm 23, and we had quite a few little ones who did it, and got the prize of their own Bible! We tell the kids that when they know Scripture, God can bring it to their mind when He wants them to hear it, and they can also always be ready to share God's Word with others. It amazes and inspires me to see kids who love the Word and get excited to learn Scripture, and I love hearing stories of how God's Word impacts their lives and how they are living out the memory verses at home! Since I've posted a little about our memory verse magnets, I always have other children's pastors ask where I get them.... I make them every month, and it is so simple; anyone can do it! I will include instructions and a free template for you to use. I create the memory verses on an app called Rhonna Designs ($1.99 on the iPad or iPhone). Then I print them out and get them laminated and cut (I use Office Depot for this, but you could do it yourself), and put a small piece of magnet tape on the back of each one. Here are some free resources List of Memory Verses for Kids for a two year rotation - We do a two year cycle; at the end of one year, kids should be able to say 24 verses; at the end of two years, they should know 48 verses! 21 Ideas to Help Kids Memorize Scripture - Here is a list I've put together of 21 fun ideas for helping kids learn Scripture. We like to mix it up and help kids learn in lots of different ways! Memory Verse Magnet Template - You can download this one and make it your own, or just use it as an idea to customize one for your church. (Tip: When you go to print them, change the settings to '6' one one page, otherwise, you'll end up with one big picture; and I adjust the space between them too, to make them easier to cut) Children's ministry is the privilege we have to shape kids' faith, to help them learn to trust God, experience Him, and know Him. It's so much more than just entertaining kids, although it should be FUN! It's so much more than just babysitting kids, although it should be SAFE and SECURE. It's more than just teaching about the Bible, although kids SHOULD learn the Word of God through everything we do. It's all those things, and more. It's catching their hearts, and helping point them to the Lord. It's brining them to the feet of Jesus, and letting Him change their lives and speak to them. It's giving them a chance to experience a God who relates to them and loves them ON THEIR level - not just the way adults relate to Him. It's giving kids a chance to know their purpose and see their value to God, to feel His love and to worship and connect with Him. Children's ministry is an opportunity to shape kids' faith! Every time our doors are open, we have an opportunity to shape their view of God, their relationship with Him, their worship, the way they see themselves and the way they see God. God allows us to be the vessels to bring His message, and to bring kids to His throne. I am continually reminded of the importance of children's ministry, and the true purpose, although it is easy to forget and get caught up in the details of children's ministry. As children's ministry leaders, we can get caught up in planning events, recruiting volunteers, building sets, prepping supplies, choosing curriculum, solving problems, or so many other things that come with the job. But we can't forget the true purpose of our calling - to point the hearts of the kids to the Lord. When we can force ourselves to see that purpose, even in the midst of the details, that is when true children's ministry happens. Volunteers are drawn to a ministry where they can live out God's purpose and passion for their lives. Kids will connect with God and have real, authentic relationships with Him and you will see fruit in their lives. I have had the privilege of meeting with an awesome group of preteens over the last few weeks, and talking about leadership. It is amazing to sit down and talk with them, and hear their hearts and see what awesome kids they are, and dream of all the ways God will use them. And He IS using them! One little guy told us about how he prays for the salvation of his non-Christian friends, and tells them about Jesus. One little girl shared that she started a prayer group during her recess. Another little girl shared that she recently went on an overseas mission trip, witnessed to another child, and led the child to Christ! Kids are amazing! If you are in children's ministry, always remember the high purpose of your calling, and don't let your volunteers forget the value of shaping the faith of children. Every minute we have with kids is an opportunity to impact their eternity. Our end-of-the-year party for our Wednesday night children's ministry was a HUGE HIT! We had a glow party, and the kids absolutely loved it! We had a great turnout, and it was so much fun, that I am thinking we may make this an annual tradition every year and just keep making it better each time. I want to share with everyone how we did it, and maybe you can give me ideas for next time, too! Here is what you need:
Some tips:
What to Do
Games and Activities
Our church is doing a family movie night to see the movie "Heaven is for Real," which is based on the true story of a little boy's trip to heaven and back. We have started a series in our Sunday morning kids' church called 'Heaven is for Real' where kids learn what the Bible says about heaven and learn about the story of Colton Burpo. Kids may have questions about heaven and afterlife, and this is a great opportunity to have open, honest discussions with them. It is great to point them to answers in the Bible. It's important to have discussions and open communication with your kids, and it’s even ok to say “I don’t know,” if you can’t answer something. There are some things that the Bible is very clear about, and some things the Bible is ambiguous about, or doesn’t even mention at all. There is a lot we don’t know about heaven- and that’s ok! We will find out the answers to those questions some day! But for now, we want to encourage kids to have discussions and let them know that it’s ok to ask questions and it’s even better to seek the Bible for answers. Some kids are scared when the topic of heaven comes up. We don't want to scare kids, but it IS important to have open communication with them and talk through their questions and concerns. Heaven is a big topic- especially for kids. This resource will help you talk with your kids. Included, are some Frequently Asked Questions and some Bible references. For further information, I recommend the book “Heaven is for Real: For Kids” which gives a kid-friendly version of Colton’s story, and the book “Heaven: for Kids” by Rancy Alcorn. Here are some resources for parents; I encourage you to use your Bible and look up the Scripture verses with your kids to help them seek the Bible for answers to their questions. Frequently Asked Questions Is heaven a real place? Yes! The Bible talks about heaven, and uses these words to describe it: “City,” “Paradise,” a “Garden,” the ”Father’s House with many mansions,” a “Resting Place,” the “Kingdom of God,” a “Heavenly Country,” “The Kingdom of Heaven.” What does heaven look like? The Bible describes Heaven as a very beautiful place with lots of colors and jewels streets of gold. In the movie, Colton said that heaven had colors the eyes haven’t even seen before. (Revelation 4:3-8 Revelation 21:21-24) Are animals in heaven? The Bible does talk about animals being in heaven (Isaiah 65:25; Revelation 6:2-8). The Bible talks about angels riding horses and horse-drawn chariots, as well as wolves lying down and resting in peace together with lambs. In the movie, Colton says that he saw many different kinds of animals in heaven. How do you get to heaven? John 14:6 says “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one gets to the Father, except through me.” If you trust in Jesus and give your life to Him to let Him forgive your sins and make you new; you will spend eternity in heaven with God! (John 3:16). Will we have a body? Philippians 3:20-21 tells us that Jesus Christ will transform our bodies to be like His. This tells us that we will possess a new body full of Christ's power and glory. What will we do in Heaven? While the Bible does not tell us in full detail what will take place in heaven, but it does say that we will worship and serve God. (Revelation 22:3 & Revelation 7:15). Will kids go to school in heaven? While Colton said in the movie that kids will go to school, we don’t know the answer to this question, because the Bible doesn’t talk about kids going to school in heaven. It DOES say that there will be no sadness or pain in heaven (Revelation 21:4), so if there IS school for kids, it won’t make them sad! What about the children who die before they can understand the concept of God and His Son? We believe, and many churches also teach, in the principle of the age of accountability which means children are not held accountable for their sin until they understand sin, forgiveness, and judgment. (John 16:7-11) We also believe that God has a special love for children, and believe that He longs for children to be with Him (Matthew 19:13-15). Will there be angels in heaven? The Bible talks a lot about angels in heaven. The Bible does not say that people BECOME angels in heaven; it says that angels are specially created by God. (Psalms 33:6; Psalm 148:2,5; Isaiah 40:26; Ephesians 3:9-10; Revelation 10:6) Will we know people in heaven? In the movie, Colton recognizes people in heaven. The Bible does point to the fact that people will know each other in heaven (Matthew 17:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:17). Where is heaven? In Revelation 21:1-7 says, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.” We don’t know exactly WHERE heaven is, but we do know that it is real. Is heaven scary? What about death? Sometimes, talking about heaven is scary for kids. It’s important to remind them that heaven is a beautiful, wonderful place. It is going to be amazing, and we are going to love it there! It is not scary. Hopefully, we won’t get to know what heaven is like for a long time, but the truth is, sometimes people really DO die, and it’s not sad for those who love God, because they are having a blast in heaven, and they aren’t sad or hurting. Talking about death can be sad or scary for kids, but it is a reality of life, and even if they haven’t known someone yet who has passed away, they will at some point, and it is a good opportunity to talk about how those who die get to be with Jesus in an amazing place. Philippians 3:20-21 says “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.” Where do people go when they die if they DIDN’T trust in Jesus? Romans 6:23 says the penalty for sin is death. Spiritual death means being separated from God. Instead of a person living with God forever in heaven, they would be separated from God forever. I want to know more about what it means to give my heart to Jesus and become a Christian. For more information about what it means to know and trust Jesus as your Savior, click here. To DOWNLOAD THIS RESOURCE AS A PDF CLICK HERE What an honor it is to be able to lead a child to the Lord and see Him transform their lives! We should be ready to help kids respond to Him and make life-changing commitments whenever the opportunity is given. Many people are saved as kids, which makes them one of the biggest mission fields in existence! They are building their foundation for the rest of their lives (and eternities), and we want to help them grow strong roots and become strong in their faith. Kids are naturally curious and formidable. Kids may not understand EVERYTHING about salvation... but I believe adults don't understand everything about salvation either. That doesn't stop us from believing. I know I didn't understand everything about salvation when I was saved at age 17. Kids can have a true grasp of what it means to be forgiven and to have a relationship with Jesus. We know from the Bible that Jesus loves children, and He wants us to bring the children to Him. That is what this is all about- being prepared to bring kids to Jesus. That's what children's ministry is all about. Here are some tips for leading a child to Christ. Included at the bottom are some resources you can download and use in your ministry. We don't do "altar calls" too often, because kids can feel a lot of pressure or not truly understand. It's more likely that kids will make commitments in their small group setting, with a leader who has been mentoring and investing in their lives, and can answer their questions and have a real conversation with them. Altar calls can be a great way to inspire kids to make a commitment for God. We encourage parents to be the ones to have faith-conversations with their kids and pray with them to accept the Lord. Three Steps for Children's Ministry Leaders 1. Empower Small Group Leaders to have faith conversations with kids. 2. Fill out a Commitment Card. 3. Celebrate and connect with parents. Provide resources for growth. Tips for Small Group Leaders and Kidmin Leaders Important things to remember…. 1. Don’t do all the talking. Ask questions; let the child talk. Let the child ask questions, and help him/her look up the answers in the Bible. 2. Don’t use big or confusing words. Instead of the phrase ‘Ask Jesus into your heart,’ which is too abstract for kids to understand, use the phrase ‘Ask Jesus to be your very best friend.’ Avoid big words. 3. Say It. Ask the child to communicate what he/she is doing, to make sure they understand. Ask if he/she has any questions. 4. ABCs. Go through the ABCs with the child, and use a Bible to help the child look up the Scripture verses. 5. Pray. After going through the ABCs, pray with the child. Ask if he/she wants to pray too. 6. Celebrate! Tell the Children’s Pastor, who will follow up with the child’s parents. Fill out a Commitment Card (1 for the child, and one for the church to keep). We will follow up with Next Steps for discipleship for the child. A- ADMIT you are a sinner & ASK for forgiveness!
B- BELIEVE in Jesus as your Savior & BECOME a child of God
C- CONFESS that Jesus is Lord & CHOOSE to follow Him daily!
FREE RESOURCES Click below to download
Question - do you remember when you gave your life to the Lord? Who prayed with you and inspired you? Mine was my youth pastor and his wife, at age 17. They eternally impacted my life, and I am forever grateful for them and their investment in me and bringing me to the Lord. -Lynne Holy Week. It's a time to remember the passion of Christ- the pain and suffering He endured, the sacrifice He made for us. It's easy to breeze through the week and the Easter holiday and not really take time to sit at the feet of Jesus, especially for families with young kids. As a church, we can encourage each other and share resources to help each other focus on Jesus.
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Children are a Gift Lynne Howardkidmin leader, mother, and servant of the Lord. These are the views of Lynne Howard, and are not necessarily the views and opinions of David C Cook or any church. Archives
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