Children are constantly exposed to a culture that says, “Serve me” rather than “Serve others.” If children capture the concept of service to others while they are still young, they will most likely be lifelong servants in the Kingdom of God.

Children’s Ministry was offered the opportunity to serve lunch to our church family last Sunday. With it being autumn, we chose an apple theme and called it Johnny Appleseed Day. Two amazing Dads prepared pulled pork and we ordered sweet coleslaw from the local BBQ house. We purchased bread rolls and individual apple sauces from Costco with leftovers given to the food pantry. Then we invited our families to donate as follows:
Kindergartners – bag of apples (any kind), bottle of any kind of BBQ sauce for two sauce bars
1st & 2nd graders – 3 big bags of chips
3rd & 4th graders – large bucket of vanilla ice cream
5th graders – 13×9 baked apple crisp (some amazing ladies in our church also made crisps)

Following the first, early service, we offered apples, apple crisp, and ice cream by the 4th & 5th grade Sunday school class. Following the other services we served all of the above. Parents and teachers who were not leading Sunday school were there to direct students and set up the gym with three serving lines and one dessert serving line. Round tables were set with black table cloths and simple decorative leaves to match the fall season.

Who served? The children! Two adorable 1st graders greeted everyone at the door. Four amazing 3rd graders stood at entrances with donation buckets ready to share where the lunch donations would be spent such as camp/retreat scholarships, special guests, and missions supplies. 2nd graders manned the two sauce bars to thank their church family for sharing lunch and supporting ministry with children. 4th & 5th graders served BBQ & cole slaw as they directed the 1st & 2nd graders to offer applesauce containers and rolls with plastic gloves that were too big for their little hands. The older kids were helping the littles and they were all laughing and taking their jobs so very seriously. Other students dished out apple crisp, added ice cream, and handed out spoons and ice water.

The kindergartners and 1st graders went from table to table as folks finished their meals to run everything to the cart which would make its way into the kitchen. We used real plates and silverware for creation-care reasons AND so kids could learn to use the commercial dish washer, dry dishes, and put everything away in dry storage. Everyone wanted to learn to use the commercial dishwasher! Who knew?

One Dad came by to tell me his 1st grader wouldn’t stop to eat because he was “needed on the floor”. A 2nd grader wandered to the entrance when he saw there was no one there to greet after the big wave passed. One mom let me know by text ‘My kids have talked about it all afternoon. They had a blast! Who would have ever thought kids would be arguing over whose turn it was to wash dishes?’

I want our kids to serve in meaningful ways. Ways that build relationship. Ways that make for sticky memories engaging all five senses. Ways that look really big in the life of their home church. Ways they can partner with people they love and with those who love them.

Serving in ministry gives us a chance to gauge the spiritual development of our children. A tremendous amount of nurturing each child’s call into ministry can be derived from early service opportunities as they uncover and discover the use of their spiritual and natural gifts. The message we hope to share in our church family is, “Let the kids serve!”

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

There are a ton of fabulous books out there about themes, special events, logistics, theory, encouragement and stories for the disciple called to professional ministry with children. There are few that make ‘the shelf.’ On ‘the shelf’ are the ones I go to often as must-have resources. Rise Up: Choosing Faith over Fear in Christian Ministry, written by Vanessa Myers, is the one that has it’s own spot on ‘the shelf’ and one I will gift out to many because it will absolutely help you stay the course.

Vanessa Myers is in the trenches which gives her great credibility in my book and in my heart. I know Vanessa. We’ve shared ministry, stories, and life for a lot of years. To God be the glory, we are still in ministry. What Rise Up: Choosing Faith over Fear in Christian Ministry brings to ‘the shelf’ is truth about feelings, experiences, the shiny and the crud which comes from following God’s call into professional ministry. Something happens between 18 months and 3.6 years in serving in professional ministry that drives most to throw in the towel. But for those who persevere…

Vanessa is vulnerable and hopeful. She is honest and funny.  Each of the 12 chapters addresses fears she has faced which we all could share at different times along the journey. From the fear of God’s calling, fear of criticism, fear of moving, and fear of letting go, to name just a few, she gives personal accounts of what it looks like, sounds like, smells like, and feels like. But she doesn’t leave you walking the tightrope. She writes of her reactions and the hope. Oh the hope she offers in each chapter she headlines as ‘Finding Freedom.’

She closes each chapter with a prayer. I’m glad. When I’ve ever been overcome with debilitating fear I hardly had the words or vocabulary beyond ‘Lord, please make it stop!’ (which is a perfectly good prayer, but I want more to offer my Lord.)

My absolute favorite part of her book is how she offers an account from the Bible for each fear. When I’m afraid I need to know that I’m not the only one and this is priceless. For example, Chapter 5 is entitled: Surrounded by Fire…Fear of Criticism. She reminds us that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego ‘didn’t please the king.’ She continues, ‘When you work in the church there’s not just one person you want to please, but many people. When you are being attacked in your job, it is hard…criticized by other Christians. Usually when people complain about you in the church they don’t go to you directly. They go your pastor or a committee.’ Yet she found comfort as did the three young men in the fiery furnace. ‘The first step into walking through the fire was to forgive. The next step I took was to allow God to be my shield. God’s presence was there. God’s love was there. God’s protection was there.’ As reminded in Psalm 3:3-4, David writes “But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.” Whew! I’ve got to get that on a pillow!

I wrote all over this book. Here are a few of the writings that jumped off the pages…

Seeking the Lord requires good spiritual disciplines or habits. Yes!

His calling for your life is important, but His desire for you to know Him trumps all. Yes!

Pressing into the Lord, I believe, involves a few steps: being aware of His presence, reading the Bible, and singing. Yes!

Lack of support does not mean that I am a failure. I will always have the best supporter on my team, Jesus Christ. Amen!

When I asked Vanessa if she was surprised by anything since she’s put the book, er..her heart out there. She said, “My biggest surprise is how the book has been speaking to more people than those in the ministry. God is using it to speak to people who need to hear it right when they need to hear it.” I am so glad she obeyed the Lord and wrote this book….for herself…and for US!

You can order your own copy at Amazon AND you can win a free copy of Rise Up: Choosing Faith over Fear in Christian Ministry by commenting below with a scripture which has helped you to rise up and serve the Lord. The winner will be announced on next Tuesday’s blog. Your heart and your ‘shelf’ needs the words shared in Rise Up.

“Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic – be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer.” Romans 12:11-12, CEB

The free book give away week is complete. The winner is Jen Clark, a children’s pastor who serves Mountain View United Methodist Church in Marietta, Georgia.

Today’s guest blogger is Robin Stewart, Director of Children’s Ministry at Athens First United Methodist Church located in downtown Athens, Georgia.   

“You’ve Got Mail” may evoke many different images in the mind of the reader, but for our kids, we want it to remind them that God’s Word is for them daily!

You’ve Got Mail: Letters From God is an event inspired by a combination of the Love Letters from God book series by Glenys Nellist and categories of scripture found in Bible Black Belts by Mark Burrows.

Families on the Fifth is a tradition our church began a few years ago to promote faith-building activities for parents and children to share together.  As usual, we combined as many opportunities as possible. Our goal: for families to experience scripture in a meaningful, memorable way, and to take it with them out into the world. At each stop in the rotation, kids received a letter (scripture postcard) and engaged a variety of activities which utilized a variety of learning styles.

We began together with Words of Celebration: Psalm 100:1-2 directed a rousing family worship time which included movement and instruments.

Groups of families then moved through four stations.

Words of Wisdom: Psalm 19:105 letter from God. Our leader at this station did a fantastic job of telling the story of Josiah finding the dusty scroll and quickly brought it to this day. How do we keep our Bibles? And then our church. It led beautifully into our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness concept. Our church began its Stewardship season this day.

Words of Comfort: Jeremiah 29:11 letter from God.
This station featured the comfort we are offered in 23rd Psalm and the kids were able to construct the setting of the Psalm on poster board with random materials provided.

Words of Jesus: John 15:12 letter from God.  Our missions assistant hosted this part of our rotations and explained how we prepare food bags to give to our community families who are in need. They were able to witness the assembling of one bag and take away bags to fill with their family. We combined a kindness quilt in this rotation, where kids added their card stock squares to a “quilt” which displays illustrations of kindness experienced.

Words of Inspiration: Philippians 4:13 letter from God. Children heard from a leader who admitted that sometimes she was not sure if she could do all that she had promised, like this morning, but that God is always present and will provide a way! (great testimony following a big UGA weekend). The children engaged in the scripture with a movement activity. We followed up by reminding them of the WITH prayer. We used a game spinner and children were able to volunteer to spin and say a prayer sentence that would match the letter (W-I -T- H) that came up on the spinner.

Take away: An envelope with 5 scripture cards and parents and children engaged together for one hour!

You can connect with Robin at robin@athensfirstumc.org. 

In January my senior pastor asked me to put together a corny-every-kid-involved-old-fashioned-children’s-nativity-event for the next Family Christmas Eve service some 11 months away.  I began praying about the ‘who’, ‘where’, ‘how’,‘what’ and ‘when’. I wanted to offer a way to build such an event with more than singing because not everyone likes to sing.  Last spring a team of the best children’s ministry champions in all of North Georgia gathered around my kitchen table for the annual KidMin Ninja Think Tank. Think an ‘un-conference’ where we share table-life with ideas, food, books, prayers, life, and lots of laughter. My dear friend Katie Atcheson spoke about the updated choir program offered at Grayson UMC on Sunday mornings she calls a Glee Club . A couple of phone calls later, continued prayers, talking about it around every table where I sat for months, several creative leaders stepping forward to champion, a couple of leadership meetings through the summer, and McEachern Kids Glee Club was born. We started with a 30-minute Open House with parents and kids. Almost 70 students attended the Open House and their parents.

The word GLEE means exultant high-spirited joy; great delight. It’s a perfect name for teaching little people with intentionality to praise the Lord in song, dance, body prayers, percussion, drama, art, and sign language. We meet for 45 minutes before youth group on most Wednesday nights so our youth choir can serve and build relationships with the kids headed their way. Calling it a ‘club’ provides a sense of belonging.

5:45-5:50 Gather & greet
5:50-6:00 All gather in large group to learn sign language which we all present as one of the Psalms are read with echo prayer in pairs ‘knee-to-knee’
6:00-6:30 3-5 year olds make bell bracelets, angel halos, song motions, and play musical games
1st-5th grades gather in cup circles, drum circles, learn sign language to praise songs, and whatever else helps us praise the Lord with high-spirited joy & great delight. Not everyone likes to sing, but we’ve learned everyone likes to beat a bucket with a stick.

Last week a small group led a repeat-after-me-song learned at their Fall Children’s Ministry Retreat. In October we’ll present at the quarterly Administrative Council Meeting and at the Fall Festival in Tshirts that read ‘I (heart) my Glee Club’ with our McEachern Kids logo. We’ve even learned to ‘floss’ in rhythm as an act of worship!

A surprise? Since 45 minutes is too short a time to leave and come back yet too long to just sit and read your phone, eight Moms who typically serve on Sunday mornings in Children’s Ministry are gathering in small group two floors up at the same time. After dropping off their kids, several Dads have also begun gathering in small group in the room right next door to the Moms small group. These small groups are reading a short devotion, in holy conversation, and in prayer while their kids are two floors below in The Treehouse praising the Lord in their sanctuary. We have an attentive Mom, a dedicated Dad, and an amazing middle school young man who serve as buddies to three students with disabilities so those students can participate. Even the kids who have soccer on Wednesday nights are splitting their time evenly because as one Mom put it, “This is her wheelhouse!” Our Ambassadors who have moved up to youth are serving on the set-up and 3-5 year old leadership team. McEachern Kids Glee Club has proven to offer organic, sacred connections and that is something to celebrate with great delight…with GLEE! Do you see me dancing before the Lord? Well, I am!

“Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of  His faithful people..” Psalm 149:1

During half-time of our alma mater’s season opener Baby Girl and #2 Son, both in their early 30s, asked to speak with Mr. Bob and I at the dining room table. My mind raced. Were they pregnant? Were we the objects of an intervention? As #2 Son began this long, drawn-out back story, Mr. Bob said, “Just cut to the chase.”

My first prayer partner, Chantal, and I spent several years in our time in New England fasting on Tuesdays for our children and their walks with the Lord. We would pray our children, mine then 4 and 6 years old, would love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. We prayed they would be sold out for sharing the gospel with the lost in their worlds and speak of Jesus as their ‘best friend from way-back.’ We prayed for their future spouses. Wayne Watson’s songs, Watercolor Ponies and Somewhere In the World as well as Cheri Keaggy’s Little Boy On His Knees played on our walkmans. We also prayed that God would give us the strength to endure whatever it was He had in store for them as He used us and them for His glory.

To make a brutally honest confession, I really thought that God would answer that prayer like this: Our kids would be healthy and safe. They would get good grades, have good friends, go to a good college, get a good job, meet a good boy/girl, have good children, buy a good house, and have a good life. When at 20 years old Baby Girl heard God calling her to serve in the mission field in Senegal, Africa for 4.5 months, we really didn’t think it would happen. Well, it did. One phone call to her Daddy and he’d have been on the first plane out of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta to go and get her to bring her back. Instead, I asked the Lord to stop/wake me when she needed prayer. He woke me at 3am each day she was gone. When she returned, I thought, “Whew! Glad she’s gotten that out of her system. She’ll finish nursing school and be back on that ‘good trail’ of loving the Lord with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength… right here.” The Lord had given us the strength to endure.

Since then, she married a young man who was looking so hard for the Lord that young man found her. After finishing Bible College they served in youth ministry in the Everglades until the nonsense being sprayed on the sugarcane fields began taking a toll on their bodies. They moved here sick. They found a great church. They found great friends. They found ready babysitters. They found peace. They got well and healthy. They purchased a home and rescued a dog. All right here. The Lord had given us the strength to endure. All right here.

“A woman’s heart should be so hidden in God, that a man has to seek Him just to find her.” Max Lucado

Back to the present: #2 Son has been invited to serve as the associate pastor at a church… in Oregon. They have friends there who were part of a new church start and have grown to the point they need more help. For this gal who never got the geography peg in Trivial Pursuit, I had to Google a map of Oregon. It’s nowhere near here! “Mama, there’s a Bible believing church on every corner here, but not in Oregon. They need the Lord.” Be still my heart. But I can’t keep the tears at bay.

I’d like to write that we jumped for joy, but we didn’t. We will at some point, but not yet. Mr. Bob got up from the table and started doing the dinner dishes.

Baby Girl and #2 Son wanted to continue their back-story. They want to tell us about the prayers, the affirmations they’ve experienced through God’s Word and circumstances. We want to hear all about that, but right now, they’ve rocked our world. Right now I want to climb into my savior’s lap and rest my wet cheek on his chest and just cry. Yes, I trust in our Lord and His leading them. Yes, I want to have a spirit of YES when it comes to following God’s call. But this Mama and Mimi is just sad right now at the thought of them being ‘not right here.’ The cousins not growing up together. Us not able to share in their homeschooling, ball games, pool days, the daily celebrations, the family gatherings which make for traditions and connections. I’m just being truthful.

I wonder how the Mamas and Mimis of missionary saints like Mother Theresa, Lottie Moon, Hudson Taylor, and Evelyn Christiansen did it? Mail was sketchy. There were no smart phones, Facebook, nor Instagram. I feel like a big cry baby just thinking about it. I’m so grateful the Lord saw fit to have me born in this era and in this country. Just sayin’.

I’ll probably feel better in a week or so. Right now it’s 3:36am and I can’t sleep. We just found out five hours ago. This I know: The Lord has indeed answered our prayers that she’d love the Lord with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength. She is indeed sold out for sharing the gospel with the lost in her world. God has given her a partner, friend, and co-laborer as they live out before their children the example of discerning and following the voice of God. AND the Lord will give us the strength to endure whatever He has in store for them. He’s a good God like that. He loves like that. He’s a Father with a mother’s heart, so he gets my sadness right now. For THIS is what we’ve raised them for…..WHO we have raised them for.

Pray for them. Pray for us. Looks like we’ll be finding out more about Oregon. But right now, keep the tissues coming.

“But Jesus immediately said to them, ‘Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Matthew 14:27

Taking 3rd-5th grade students on a weekend retreat is a rite of passage. It could be a student’s first time away from home or first time away from family. Both students and parents have lots of questions and lots of uncertainty, but their desire for their child to have a closer relationship with the Lord trumps all that when they fill out the paperwork and arrive for send-off. The trust factor is high and I don’t take it lightly. This is why students should be able to answer the big question of, “How was the retreat?” with more than “Awesome!” even though it was, or “Great!” even though it might have been. It’s an investment of family finances, time, and heart to send a student on a retreat, so families are due more than “Awesome!”

The North Georgia United Methodist Church Conference offers an intentionally developmentally appropriate 3rd-5th grade fall weekend retreat at the beautiful Camp Glisson in Dahlonega, Georgia. Here are the blog posts about the past retreats to give you an idea of how it’s presented.

The 2018 Children’s Fall Retreat was based on John Wesley’s 3 Simple Rules of DO NO HARM, DO GOOD, LOVE GOD. Throughout the teaching times, Wesleyan devotional ‘method’ practices, and even meals (family style) the students learned and practiced how to live out this Wesleyan way of growing like Jesus ‘in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man.’ (Luke 2:52) while creek walking, lake swimming, hiking, trekking, field gaming, and more.

Beginning Saturday afternoon, we share and role-play how the students will answer these four questions:
1. What did you do at Camp Glisson that you’d never done before?
2. Who did you meet or get to know better sharing their name and something amazingly wonderful about him/her/them?
3. What did you learn about Methodism and John Wesley?
4. What is your plan to continue to grow in wisdom (not just knowledge), stature (how your body works/what your body needs), and in favor with God and man (living in peace and obedience to God’s Word) in the Wesleyan Way?

The students shared in a small group of 4 first, followed by one person from each small group sharing their answer to each question with the entire group, moving one question at a time. We role-played on the bus on the way home with our seat-mate. The first of the week, an email will be sent to the parents inviting each student to write down (or dictate to their parents) their answers to each question giving testimony to their experiences. In the Wesleyan Way, the large group is like the Church. The Small group is like a Class Meeting (these are smaller groups of people who came together to share their spiritual journey and receive support and supervision.) The Seat Mate is like a Band (Bands were the smallest gathering of faith-filled Methodists who would have ‘close conversations’ which help us be stronger and more resilient, kinder, and gentler, growing in love and holiness). These ‘written testimonies’ will be read aloud by the students, as they wear their retreat tshirt, at the next Church Administrative Council Meeting in October. Our Church Administrative Council meets quarterly with the first 15 minutes highlighting a particular ministry AND the meeting is located in that ministry’s space on campus. October’s meeting will be in The Treehouse highlighting ministry with children.

Followup matters whether it’s after an event, after each Sunday, or after a retreat. How will you followup with your students and families?

“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:9

This week’s guest blogger is Hannah Harwood, Children’s Ministry Director at Sam Jones United Methodist Church located in the Atlanta suburb of Cartersville.

I love Summers in ministry! The rest of the church might slow down but Kid’s ministry is full steam ahead. One of the biggest events during the summer is Vacation Bible School. About halfway through the week I received the kindest compliment from another member on staff that made me smile for the rest of the week. She told me that after talking with one of the youth volunteers that one of my spiritual gifts is empowering teenagers. The young man had told her that he felt he was able to use his own gifts and that he had a crucial part in VBS. He had been in charge of collecting all the crew rosters, taking attendance, and updating records throughout the week. He was a computer pro and because he was able to use his gifts, I was able to put out necessary “fires” and spend time with leaders and children. We had two Eagle Scouts serve as crew leaders and even a member of the high school baseball team lead worship. Young men and young women from middle and high school were crucial members of the team. They led worship, assisted in crafts, served as crew leaders, and were examples for each child.

As adults, it is so easy to forget that our lead pastors and ministry leaders were once children and youth in churches. When we empower and guide our young adults by learning their gifts we are able to reach not only the current church but the future church as well. It takes listening to the Holy Spirit and trusting God’s call on their lives. I would not be where I am today without the mentors God placed in my life early on. How am I as a Children’s Director seeking out those that need mentoring? How can I walk alongside them and offer support and guidance as they serve in children’s ministry?

In John 6, we find Andrew speaking out to Jesus on behalf of the young boy. He could have easily told the young boy that his gift was not enough and shooed him away. But he didn’t. Not only did he share with Jesus that the boy had offered what he had, but he also revealed his doubt that it would be enough. Each year right before Vacation Bible School, I go through a similar thought process. Do I have enough? And every year God reminds me that as long as I keep looking for the five small barley loaves and the two small fish, HE will take care of the rest.

8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:8-9

You can connect with Hannah by emailing hccoady@gmail.com.

We get the first full week of the summer with Vacation Bible School AND the last week of the summer in our community at Ultimate Summer Camp. We are the only game in town that last week of the summer (or so we’re told) and we rock the event inhouse for 4 year olds through rising 6th graders. The directors of our Recreation Ministry and Youth Ministry take the lead for the 1st-5th graders. A fabulous Weekday Preschool teacher takes the point for the littles. We hire staff, we enlist volunteers, and we wear the kids out!

Each day was themed with a popular reality television show, began with free play, then to chapel with the day’s message which roped through the entire day. The week’s Bible theme: 1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  These are just a few of the highlights of each day:

Monday theme: Amazing Race

Chapel: Hebrews 12 – God had a race set out for Jesus; God has a race set out for each of us.

Activities: Races, scavenger hunts all over campus, Science Lady (fellow kidmin champion) came with race and motion activities, staff spoke of their many nationalities from around the globe, Gaga ball, Dodge ball.

Tuesday theme: Top Chef

Chapel: Luke 22 – Just as we take individual, ordinary items in a recipe to make something amazing, Jesus did the same with bread and juice.

Activities: Decorated ice cream sundaes (littles) and baby cakes (bigs), outdoor waterslide, made edible playdoh, taste test skills.

Wednesday theme: Fear Factor

Chapel: Matthew 14 – When we are afraid, we can pray. God hears our prayers. Immediately Jesus responds because Jesus is always with us.

Activities: Greased watermelon wrestling which led to watermelon smearing fun, race to eat and finish unknown foods, races with friends attached with jelly & marshmallows, finding gummy worms in whipped cream without hands, cup spill (100 cups filled half with nothing, half with ‘stuff’; student chooses a number and that cup gets dumped on their head).

Thursday theme: Little Big Shots

Chapel: We all have gifts, but only ONE God raised from the dead and is alive today. Only place where ‘incredible’ is noted in the scriptures is Acts 26:8.

Activities: Talent show by group, Big Screen dance off, child-directed art, shaving cream, Talent show by individuals. (The Greatest Showman was HIGHLY featured here by the students.)

Friday theme: American Ninja Warrior

Chapel: 1 Corinthians 10:31 There’s always another course and we are in training. American Ninja Warriors train in a gym. We celebrated the end of a course a few months ago, then we rested. But now we begin a new course, a new school year and we must be in training to follow Jesus all the time. As followers of Jesus, we train at church. Be sure to come to church and gather with other kids who love Jesus because there will always be challenges along the way.

Activities: Science lady returns with 15 science stations, Staff Sargent Marine came to lead conditioning drills and martial arts skills, Ninja Warrior obstacle course.

With a closed Facebook group, we ran Facebook Live videos on the last 3 days…. which gave us a huge boost in families joining the closed group…which means our kids’ stuff is now running in those families’ Facebook feeds. Winner-winner-chicken-dinner!

Followup: Families invited to Promotion Sunday’s Pop Into Sunday School by email, word of mouth, and social media with bubble wrapped hallways, tootsie pops, ring pops, and pop-rocks in the parent packets AND an afternoon old-fashioned pot-luck with a couple of water slides for kids to get wet 3-5pm after all our services are completed for the day. Bring your own chair, tent, and enough food for your family and plenty to share.

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.” Psalm 103:1

A pastor called me recently asking my thoughts on what their new Children’s Ministry Director should do to get started. After 30 minutes on the line, he shared with me that he was in the car and could I send him everything I’d just said by email. Ha! My response, “Absolutely, but not today.” I was in the middle of our 3rd day of Ultimate Camp, setting rosters for the next Sunday, finalizing the new school year calendar of events, lunch was on my desk, and two amazing high school girls were stuffing parent packets within 3 feet of me.

Everyone will offer something different, but he called me, so this is what I shared…

Get Immediate Expectations – Pastor, please meet with your new CMD and inform them clearly, preferably in writing, of what you want to see within the next 90 days. Two questions I’ve always asked the senior pastor/my supervisor were, “What looks like success to YOU?”, and “Tell me about the best CMD you ever knew.” This is the starting standard.

Get the church rhythm – Pastor, please give your new CMD an idea of what the church calendar will look like over the next year, even an overview, so that if a Christmas Eve play or Mother’s Day special music is expected, your new CMD doesn’t hear about it two week’s prior by a passing church leader in the hallway. OR peruse the bulletins over the last year after you give the church secretary/admin a Diet coke over crushed ice.

Get covered in Prayer – SPRC, please set up a weekly prayer team of 2 or 3 (Matthew 18:20) for your new CMD’s first 6 months. This dedicated prayer covers a multitude of misunderstandings and invites a great deal of favor.

Get Connected – Require your new CMD to get connected with other kidmin champions in the area. Each North Georgia UMC Conference District has a networking group and the contact people can be found here. The research claims the average ‘life span’ of a new director of children’s ministry is 18 months…unless connected with others outside their own house/church. This is an investment into the long-term.

Get the Resources – Share the closed Children’s Ministry Facebook groups in the area that are available to safely and confidently ask questions, share resources, and know what trainings are happening near and far.

Get the book – Sustainable Children’s Ministry: From Last-minute Scrambling to Long-term Solutions by Mark DeVries and Annette Safstrom. It’s all about setting up the systems that build a healthy ministry and a healthy ministry leader. This is a go-to book for every new and old CMD.

Get a coach – Even Olympians need a coach for encouragement, focus, direction, and a partner in ministry outside their own house/church. A person to talk with the new CMD one-on-one about insights, discuss the book above, etc. In the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, we have an amazing coach in Rev. Debby Fox. She’s a great connector and can offer names and contacts of other CMDs all over North Georgia with varying expertise and experiences.

Denominational theology – The pastor asked if I thought taking a class or two at seminary would help this new CMD in understanding Methodist theology. I don’t know about that. What I do know is that any new CMD is on the fast-track, because Sunday comes every week. I’ve discovered a jewel in the first seven podcasts of Small Groups in the Wesleyan Way presented by Discipleship Ministries. Rev. Scott Hughes and Rev. Steve Manskar do an excellent job of giving vocabulary, history, and a theological basis for the United Methodist Church and the Wesleyan way of approaching ministry. I never miss an episode.

Yes, this seems like a lot, but Sunday’s coming. These are all goals that can be accomplished within the first 90-120 days of employment. These are just my thoughts. What are yours?

“I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.” Philemon 1:6

The Sunday school hour is a priority. It’s when children are involved in large group, then break up into developmentally-appropriate small groups by grade. If we run a ‘special’ on a Sunday, it always happens at the Sunday school hour because I want families to get into a new habit of joining us during that time. If Sunday school is a priority, then we want to do something memorable for the first Sunday school of the season. My colleague and dear friend, Katie Atcheson, who also leads ministry with children is part of our children’s ministry network in North Georgia and the POP INTO SUNDAY SCHOOL was her original idea. Thanks for sharing, Katie!

We prepared parent packets similar to what families receive when they go to their kid’s school for meet & greet. Ours included: school year calendar, parent/family interest survey to be completed and returned (family info and ways to serve in the ministry this year…think: parent volunteer list similar to what families get at meet & greet again), God Loves Your Family brochure, postcard for upcoming Glee Club & Cherub Choir open house, and pop-rocks (thanks for popping into Sunday school).

We had jars of Ring Pops and Mini Tootsie Pops for kids on Sunday as well as lined the main hallways with 1/2″ 24X250 (ordered two rolls) bubble wrap. When you step on it, it sounds like firecrackers! Can’t help but step on it. Can’t help but laugh. Can’t help but be surprised! I actually got an email from the church receptionist when it was delivered by Uline.com that the bubble wrap was too big for the church office door! We didn’t need all of it, so we cut the remainder into strips for the kids to pop upon arrival while in the Children’s Welcome Center.

The sounds of the kids popping and laughing were better than I imagined. It was noisy and made the morning a very special way to begin a new season of Sunday school. What did you do to begin a new year?

“Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story.” Acts 11:4