RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Today our directors from our four campuses had a staff advance. We call it an "advance" instead of "retreat" because it is a time to help us move forward as a team. One of the families in our church owns a beautiful condo right on the beach and let us use it for the advance. We also enjoyed an awesome lunch together at a great restaurant that is on the beach. Nothing like living in Florida in January!
Below was our agenda today if you'd like to take a peek at what we discussed.

Core Directors/Coordinators Advance
January 6, 2009
10:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Purpose
Leadership development, team building, strategic planning and 2009 calendar alignment.

Advance Location
125 S Ocean Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33404
(Mayan Towers Condominium)

Advance Agenda
10:15 AM Arrive at meeting location**
**For Carpooling, meet at God’s Town after All Staff Meeting
10:30 AM Morning Devotion/Personal Prayer Time Charlotte
11:00 AM Team Building Activity Charlotte
11:30 AM Blueprint/Signature Dale
12:00 PM Lunch Break
1:00 PM 2009 Budget/Calendar Discussion
• Kids Wednesday Nights
• Family Experiences (services)
• Baptism
• Promotion Touches
• Summer Events
• Leadership Training/Appreciation
• Special Weekend/Holiday Emphases
• Other: ______________ Dale
2:00 PM Key Alignment Initiatives
Note: Will overview all initiatives but discuss top 3
1. Pro Presenter Transition
2. Life Group Strategy
3. Journey (salvation/baptism process)
a. Strategic weekend teachings
b. Pre-baptism class and process
c. Family baptism opportunities
4. Curriculum
5. Parent Connection (take home piece)
6. New Family Packet/DVD (follow-up process)
7. Website Development
a. Team Member Website
b. Parent Website
8. Family Calendar Dale/Charlotte
3:00 PM Break
3:15 PM Leadership Development Dale
3:45 PM Team Member Enlistment Strategic Planning
1. Campaigns
a. Church-wide
b. On-going
2. Parent Enlistment Dale
4:30 PM Meeting Ends

Do you have steps in place for helping kids accept Christ as their Leader, Forgiver, and Friend? Below are the steps I put together for our campuses.

Steps for Leading Kids to Christ at Christ Fellowship
1. Child attends new believer's class with their parent/guardian. In this class, salvation and baptism are clearly explained. (you can get the class for your ministry at www.buildingchildrensministry.com)
2. Parents do follow up at home with materials we provide in the class.
3. Staff follows up with parents to make sure child understands his/her decision to follow Christ.
4. Child may be baptized. For a child to be baptized the child/parent must have attended the class or talked individually with a staff member who confirms they have clearly made a decision.

This reflects our commitment to parents being the primary spiritual influence in their child's life. It also gives parents the joy of being there when their child accepts Christ.

To help this happen…
1. We do NOT do large group salvation prayers with kids. We want to make sure kids understand what they are doing and are talked to individually BEFORE they make a decision.
2. We always involve the parents.
3. We weekly point kids/parents toward the new believer's class.
4. The new believer's class is targeted for K-5th graders.

We are creating an awesome new believer's class called Journey with Jesus. It's going to be a great tool to lead children and families to Christ. We are hoping to roll it out in the new few months.