RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

A huge part of our children's ministry is Life Groups. Life Groups is what we call small groups of 6-8 children who meet together during the second half of the weekend service. Parents have to sign their child up to be in a Life Group and commit to bringing them to the same service each weekend. Each Life Group has the same kids and leader each week. This is where relationships are built and life change takes place. Below is the postcard we send to a child once they are signed up for a group. Children who are first-time guests or haven't signed up for a group are placed in an On Deck group. On Deck groups are temporary groups that form for that service. Our goal is to move children who are in an On Deck group into a permanent Life Group. Life Groups run from Sept-May.

Our motto for Life Groups is "Sharing Life...Growing Deeper."

Only a few weeks until the grand opening. It's all coming together.

Radio Station. Will be DJ booth under this where kids can mix.



Creator's Art Studio. This will be a Kindergarten room.



1-3rd Grade Worship Room with 2 story stage. The frames at the top will contain video screens. The section below is a 9' x 13' video wall. Scene changes are unlimited with video imaging.



Friendz Factory. This will be the home of our special needs ministry.



Soul Station. Kindergarten room.



Jonah's Travel Agency.



Boy's restroom entrance.



Nitro preteen ministry.



Stage sign that will be back lit.



Small group booths. These will contain restaurant type seating.



Volunteer suite.



Entrance to GK Studios (1-3rd grade room).



Noah's Arkade - game room for 1-3rd grade.

Here's a loop we made for our new logo. We use this on screen for a transition slide.

After each big event, weekend, or process, we stop and look back. How can we make it better? I just finished reading the book "Be Our Guest" by the Disney Institute. I picked up something in it called "Plussing and Debugging." We are using this to evaluate and improve our processes, events, programming, etc.

I write the name of the event, program, process, etc. at the top of a giant post-it note. Then I create these two categories below it. The "Plussing" category are things we can do to enhance it. The "Debugging" category are things that didn't work or need to be dropped.

Our team went through three events yesterday with this process and came up with lots of great ideas in both categories.

Try "Plussing" and "Debugging" after your next event, process, or program. It's a great way to improve what you do!

This past weekend we had a Back to School Bash during our weekend services. Our children went all out to invite their friends, schoolmates, etc. to come with them. God honored their efforts with 180 first-time guests and over 2200 children in attendance.

The number of kids who attended is not what is important. It's the individuals and their stories...the journey...the life change...the obedience to God's call. That's what gets us excited!