RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY: #GodsWord

Showing posts with label #GodsWord. Show all posts

What to Do When a Parent Asks If Their Child is Ready to Accept Jesus

11:37 AM Dale Hudson

When a child starts asking his or her parents about entering into a relationship with Jesus, the parents will often come to you for advice.

Is my child old enough to understand this?

How can I know it's the right time to pray with them for salvation?

Should I tell my child to wait until they are older?

What should you do when this happens? Here are some pointers that will help you know what to say.

If their child continues to come back to them about accepting Jesus, that’s a good sign that God is working in their life.

They must understand what sin is and that they have sinned.

You sense this is something they know they need to do rather than just something they want to do. Do you see the difference? If they just want to be baptized because their friend did, that would be wanting to be baptized. But when you sense they know this is something they need to do, it’s a good sign.

While there is no exact age a child must be to accept Jesus, I will say this. Around the age of 7 ½ - 8 years-old, kids begin to understand not only concrete, but abstract ideas as well. Here’s an example. If you tell them Jesus is the bridge to heaven, they will understand it’s not a real bridge, it’s just an illustration to help you understand the way to heaven.

I often tell parents this...

Our job is not to push kids to make a decision. I have seen parents try to push their child to be baptized, even though they didn't understand what they are doing.

Our job is also not to hold kids back from making a decision. I have seen kids who understood the Gospel and were ready to step across the line of faith, but their parents wanted them to wait until they are 12 or 13.

Our job, as parents, is not to push or hold back. Rather it is to walk alongside our child. Have the spiritual conversations. As you do this, you will see the Holy Spirit working in their life and drawing them to salvation.

I believe the most important thing we do is equipping parents to lead their children to Jesus.

Building Kids Faith in the Bible

9:00 AM Dale Hudson

The B-I-B-L-E...yes that's the book for me. I stand alone on the Word of God...the B-I-B-L-E.

If you grew up in church, you remember that song. It was an attempt to instill the Word of God into the hearts of children.

We are living in a day when the Bible is under attack. Just this past week, protestors in Portland, Oregon made a spectacle out of burning a pile of Bibles. While that was a physical attack, it doesn't end there. All across the country and the world, the Word of God is under attack.

People who say it's just like any other book.

The removal of Bible verses from public monuments.

Professors who stand in their classroom and belittle the Bible.

Television shows and movies where the Bible and those who follow it are portrayed as nutcases.

Go ahead. Say the Bible isn't the Word of God. You have the right to be wrong.

I believe the Bible is the Word of God.

I believe it is true from cover to cover.

I believe it is historically accurate.

I believe it is error free.

Burning a few copies of God's Word won't stop it.

Have you ever read the story of the French philosopher Voltaire (1694-1778)? Voltaire, in his writings against Christianity and the Bible, predicted in 1776, “One hundred years from my day, there will not be a Bible on earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity-seeker.”

But within fifty years after his death, in an ironic twist of fate, the very house in which Voltaire once lived and wrote was used by the Evangelical Society of Geneva as a storehouse for Bibles and Gospel tracts and the printing presses he used to print his irreverent works was used to print Bibles.

You can't stop the Word of God and you can trust it.

It is crucial that we transfer this belief into the hearts of the next generation that is following us. Let's look at a few ways you can do this.

Tell the next generation the Bible is the Word of God over and over and over and over...

I know a well known pastor who took a strong stand on the Bible being God's Word. He traced his strong stand on the Bible all the way back to when he was a child. Every night before going to bed, his mom would come and tuck him in. She prayed with him and read a few Bible verses with him. And then she held up the Bible and had him say this phrase over and over and over...the Bible is the Word of God!

Show the next generation the proof that the Bible is God's Word.

Hundreds of prophecies fulfilled.

Endurance for thousands of years.

The Bible is self-authenticating.

People who gave up their life for saying the Bible is true. People don't give their life for something they know is not true.

Take a look at some of the verses that agnostics say are errors. Have kids work through those verses and come to the conclusion that the Bible is true. We did this with the Pranksters Series. We actually had kids look at verses and passages that atheists say are errors and find out for themselves why the verses are not errors. You can get this teaching series here - Pranksters.

You can also reinforce that the Bible is God's Word with music. When kids hear a song that emphasizes that the Bible is God's Word, then it helps impress this truth. Check out this song that teaches kids that the Bible is true and you can trust it through and through.

Teach kids to memorize key verses/passages that will help them defend their faith. The Bible tells us that we must be ready to give an answer when someone attacks the Word.

Get tools and resources into the hands of parents, so they can disciple their children with the Bible.

Our faith hinges on the fact that the Bible is God's Word and you can trust it. It must be a top priority to teach kids that they can trust it in all areas of life.

The New Babysitters' Club Promotes LGBTQ to Kids

8:18 AM Dale Hudson

The next generation is growing up in a world that calls good evil and evil good.

There are people who want our kids to be indoctrinated with their lifestyles so our kids end up celebrating lifestyles that God's Word clearly says are wrong.

The battlefield no longer starts in high school, but rather in elementary and even preschool.

Netflix has rebooted "The Babysitters Club." The show first aired in the 90's and was based on a book series. It follows the lives of a teen and tween business club for babysitters.

In the original series, the most intense thing the babysitters faced was a pet that escaped a house. Fast forward to today and you'll see the babysitters calling out doctors and nurses who keep "misgendering" a transgendered ward.

In the show, one of the transgender children is a boy who is named Joseph. But at the age of "2 or 3 years old" his mother says he started identifying as a girl. So Joseph takes on a new name. A girl's name - Kai. Now "Kai" is wearing dresses and identifying as trans. The series is aimed at younger children and tweens. It also features several gay and lesbian characters.

For parents who are trying to raise their children to follow God's ways, wisdom and Word, it is crucial that they are aware of what is happening in the culture. Especially when children are involved. Children are so impressionable. If we are not intentional about guiding them through the culture they are growing up in, then they may be swayed by a culture that is walking down a pathway away from God's plans and purposes.

Yes, we must shelter our children from influences that do not align with God's Word. But sheltering is not enough in the days we are living in. There is simply too much technology, entertainment, social media, messaging, ads and TV channels to shelter them completely.

And so we must do what it says in 1 Peter 3:15.

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone

who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..."

The starting place is making Christ the Lord of our lives. Notice what it says - "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. " Our lifestyle should reflect the Lordship of Christ. We submit to His leadership in every area of our lives. We must choose to love Jesus more than the things of the world.

We must also teach our children, in age-appropriate ways, why we believe the Bible is God's Word and why we should follow what it says in all areas and aspects of our life.

The verse says we must prepare them. If we do not prepare them, they will be swept away by the current of the world's culture. Have you given your own kids enough preparation to defend their faith? Do the students in your ministry know how to share why following God's plans is the best way to live?

We must teach them what God says about certain lifestyles and what paths to avoid. First and foremost, parents should be the primary leaders in this area. So we must equip parents to have the conversations.

And for this to work, you must have the right attitude and the mind of Christ. Look how He says you should defend your faith.

"But do this with gentleness and respect..."

Notice how it is not just about what we say, it's also about how we say it. We are to share and defend our faith with gentleness and respect.

People don't care how many Bible verses you can quote to prove them wrong. But they will respond when they can see that you really do care about them as a person.

It also says to treat them with respect. This means we can't approach them with our nose up in the air, thinking we are better than they are. No. No. No. We must come with tears in our eyes that is the overflow of a heart of love for them.

Respect means you share with kindness.

Respect means you speak the truth in love.

Respect means you don't argue with them, rather you listen.

Respect means you see past who they are now and see them as God sees them. Someone who desperately needs to experience His love and forgiveness. And you may be the person God is sending to help guide them toward that love and forgiveness.

Gentleness and respect. That's what you must bring to the table when you are ministering to today's young families.

Yes, the Babysitter's Club has crossed some lines when it comes to sexual identity and roles. So we must be prepared to guide our children to God's plan and purpose for us.

Why Kids Are So Clingy Right Now

9:06 AM Dale Hudson

Have you noticed that kids are extra clingy recently?

You are not alone. Many parents are dealing with clingy kids.

So why are kids so clingy?

The biggest reason is obviously because they are living through the COVID pandemic days.

When kids feel threatened it can cause anxiety. And when kids are nervous or unsure, they will cling to their parents to feel safe.

"One major reason why kids cling to their parents is because they are trying really hard to help themselves feel safe and comforted."

Dr Steven Meyers, Professor of Psychology, Roosevelt University

Clinging is a child's effort to cope with all of the changes and uncertainty in the world.

Normally we think of a clinging child as a toddler or preschooler. Think about the times you've had a younger child cling to mom and dad when they were being dropped off at their church classroom. Why were they clinging? They were trying to deal with the uncertainty they were feeling inside.

But in the current situation we find ourselves in, even older children, who are normally more independent, may become clingy as well. This may look like them following you around the house or come crawling in the bed with you at night.

Establish routines. This will look different from when kids were in a school building all day. Creating these routines does two things.

1. Routines give kids a sense of security. It provides kids with an established structure for what happens each day.

2. Routines help kids stay on track with their school work.

Spend extra time with your kids. Make it fun. Board games. Toys. Video games. Telling jokes. Reading stories. Give them your undivided attention during this time. This will help keep them emotionally healthy.

Chores. If you already had chores for your kids, then continue them. If you don't, now's a great time to establish some chores for your child. Keep track on their involvement and reward them when they do a good job.

Model the behavior you want to see. Kids are very perceptive. They turn to you for direction on how to respond. They pick up on your emotions. If your emotions are making them uneasy or afraid, then they will cling to you even more as they look for reassurance.

Model confidence and calmness. This will help your children feel more secure and calm themselves.

They need you right now. Kids are sad about all the changes they have experienced. Think about it. No school, can't see their friends, no sports or music classes, etc. As far as in person contact, you're all they've got in many cases. Be there for them!

p.s. Don't forget to sign up for our upcoming online webinar. You can register at this link.

Kids' Characteristics by Age

9:02 AM Dale Hudson

God makes every child special and unique. Our role is to find the abilities God has placed within them and then call them up to walk in His ways and fulfill their special destiny.

We are to help children discover who they are in Christ and how He can work through them to further God's kingdom.

This is very clear in Psalm 139:14-16. Look what it says.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be."

While every child is unique, there are some general attributes that all kids experience as they grow up. Let's look at a few of these. These are from a research company called Cengage learning.

Ages 3-5 (3 through kindergarten)

extremely active
need frequent rest periods
large muscles are more developed than those that control fingers and hands
eye-hand coordination is still developing
bodies are flexible and resilient
most have one or two friends, but those friendships change quickly
play activities contributes to their social, emotional and cognitive development
show preferences for gender of play peers
awareness of gender roles is evidence
tend to express their emotions freely and openly with frequent anger bursts
jealousy among peers is common
tend to have much affection for their teacher and actively seek approval
begin to develop a theory of mind
becoming skillful with language
competence is encouraged by interaction, interests, opportunities and more

Grades 1-3

extremely active so need breaks like recess
may have difficulty focusing on small print or objects
tend to be extreme in their physical activities
bone growth not complete
more selective in their choice of friends
likely to have a best friend
like organized games
sensitive to criticism
begin to understand that there are different ways to know things and that some ways are better than others
being to understand that learning and recall are caused by cognitive processes that they can control

Grades 4-5

boys and girls become leaner and stronger
obesity can become a problem for some kids at this age
gender differences in motor skill performance are apparent
relative calm and predictability in physical development
peer groups become powerful and begin to replace adults as the major source of behavior
friendships are more selective and gender based
organized play continues to contribute to social, emotional and cognitive development
develop a more global, integrated and complex self-image
self-image composed of self-description, self-esteem and self-concept
disruptive family relationships, social rejection and school failure may lead to delinquent behavior
can think logically, although such thinking is constrained and inconsistent
simple memory tasks - children can perform as well as adults
performance is limited with complex memory tasks

These insights can be very helpful as you minister to children. Remember these when you are preparing lessons, activities, games, etc. Every stage of a child's life is an opportunity to share with them how much Jesus loves them and how they were created for a special mission from God.

Want to Increase Your Children's Ministry Budget? Here's How

8:59 AM Dale Hudson

Need more budget funds to help accomplish your mission? I'm sure the answer is "yes."

If you are like me, I have sometimes looked at churches or businesses and thought, "Wow...if I only had their budget...I could accomplish so much more for the Kingdom."

I have often thought that when I am visiting a Disney Park. I see all the incredible rides, fantastic shows and amazing parades and think "I wish I had their budget. I could do so much more if that was the case."

But if you dig a little deeper, you will see where their massive budget came from.

You see, Walt started out with nothing. He was so broke at one point that he had to live off of dog food. Yes, you read that correctly. He was so broke that the only thing he could afford to buy was dog food.

But what Walt lacked in finances at the time, he made up for with his vision to provide a place where kids and their parents could go to and have fun together.

Disney obviously has a huge budget and assets now. Their net income in 2019 was 11.05 billion U.S. dollars. In the same year, the company announced record revenue of 69.57 billion U.S. dollars.

How did they go from Walt living off of dog food to a billion dollar enterprise?

I would propose that their huge budget comes from their ability to connect with families. Over 73 million people walk in a Disney Park each year (might be lower this year due to pandemic). The vast, vast majority of those people will be kids and their families.

Disney's budget came from their ability to create great experiences for kids and families.

Want to grow your children and family ministry budget? Here's a simple answer. Reach kids and their parents. The more people you reach, the more you will see your budget increase.

Remember when Jesus and the disciples owed a tax. Jesus told them to go to the water and catch a fish. They obeyed and sure enough there was a coin in the fish's mouth. They used it to pay the tax. We see the principle again - if you want to grow your budget (and ministry), then connect with and reach families.

Your Pastor wants to increase your ministry budget. But for that to happen, you need to reach more families. More families means more budget.

p.s. Have you read my book "If Disney Ran Your Children's Ministry?" It has lots of great ideas that will help you reach more families. You can order it at this link - www.buildingchildrensministry.com.

10 Things That Will Never Change in Children's MInistry

11:05 AM Dale Hudson

We talk about change all the time. And we know change is a must if you want to continue to be relevant with kids and families.

Music styles change. Games change. Teaching methods change. Theming decor changes. Colors we paint the walls with changes. Technology changes. Outreach methods change.

But today, let's take a look at 10 things that will never change in children' ministry. Things that will remain the same over the years and decades that are ahead of us.

The Gospel. The Gospel is at the center of everything we do in children's ministry. Jesus died. Jesus was buried. Jesus rose from the dead. Even though it happened thousands of years ago, the power of the Gospel will never diminish. As leaders, we must make proclaiming the Gospel our top priority. And we can do so with the confidence that the power of the unchanging Gospel is still at work today.

Relationships. Relationships matter now. Relationships will matter in the future. Every child needs to be connected to a caring leader who personally knows him or her. A leaders who invests in the child, challenges him or her and listens to him or her.

It is through relationships that spiritual growth happens. It is through relationships that kids are made to feel important. It is through relationships that kids get connected to a local church.

God's Word. The B-I-B-L-E. It is the inspired Word of God now and forever. It's a love letter sent to children. It's a manual for spiritual growth. Though people may try to discredit it, the Bible stands true forever. Man's unbelief cannot change that. The Word of God will never change.

Volunteers. You need more volunteers now. And you will always need more volunteers. Children's ministry is powered by the strength of volunteers. Especially if you are a growing ministry. Effective ministry happens through volunteers. If you need to know how to grow your volunteer team, then check out my book "The Formula for Building Great Volunteer Teams." It's available at this link.

Sin. Everyone has sinned. Everyone owes a penalty for their sin. Jesus died for our sins and paid for them on the cross. That will never change.

While some may say to stop calling certain behaviors "sin," God hasn't changed His mind about what sin is. We must continue to warn children of the pitfalls of sin. Even when it is not "politically" correct to do so.

The Fun Factor. Kids are wired to have fun. They are wired to laugh, run and play. And they hear the same question each week when mom or dad picks them up.

"Did you have fun today?"

The need for kids to have fun at church will not change. Even when you try to hush them for long periods of time.

And if you stop and think about it - the question "Did You Have Fun Today?" has a deeper meaning. Parents are seeking to find out if their child was engaged with the lesson? Did their child learn something new from God's Word that they can apply to their life? Did they connect with a leader and other kids?

That question will always be asked. How kids respond is up to you.

Parental involvement. Parents will always be needed for effective ministry. Their involvement greatly influences the spiritual growth of their child. No matter how great the lesson is at church, the impact will be diminished if the child's parents don't talk about it during the week.

You will always need to encourage parents to be their child's spiritual leader.

Prayer. Kids need to pray. Volunteers need to pray. Leaders need to pray. The power of prayer will always be effective. The "prayer of a righteous man (woman) " is just as powerful as ever. Teach kids to pray. Pray FOR the children. Pray WITH the children.

God's love. Nothing can ever change God's love for the children in your ministry. His love never fails. Help kids understand just how much God loves them. Help them see His love for them is unending.

Leadership. Children's ministries are led by leaders. Volunteers rally to strong leadership. The success of your ministry rises and falls on the strength of the volunteer team you build. Your leadership is needed now. Your leadership will be needed just as much in the future. Especially if you are reaching kids and their parents which is resulting in growth.

So, there you have it. 10 things that will never change in children's ministry.

Your turn. What are some other things that will never change? Share your thoughts and insights in the comment section below.