RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

I sometimes hear people in Children's Ministry say they don't believe in "entertaining" children at church.

I understand what they're saying.  They don't believe we should spend the small window of time we have doing things that do not directly teach kids to love God and His Word.

I agree...if that is your definition of entertainment at church.  Entertainment for entertainment sake alone is not what we are called to do.  Kids can be "entertained" at Disney World or at a movie or at home in front of a video game.

I think a word that better fits what we are should be doing is...engagement.  We want to see kids engaged in God's Word.

Kids should be entertained at church if the goal of the "entertainment" is to capture their attention and engage them with God's Word.

Let's make this simple and easy to understand.  We have the most important message in the world.  We must engage kids with it.  To do this, we must capture their attention.

"How" you capture their attention is not main issue.  If what you are doing is engaging kids and capturing their attention, then I'm all for it.  If that's a video, game, craft, drama, story, flannel-graph or whatever...then keep it up.

But...if what you are doing is boring kids to death and causing them to dread coming to church, then you should change and start "entertaining" them.  Remember...by entertaining I mean engaging.

I will say this.  Make sure you are using methods that connect with today's kids.  If you're still trying to teach kids the same way they did in 1960, then you may want to make some changes.  These are the kids of 2014...not the kids of 1960.

I think the criticism about "entertaining kids" usually comes from someone who sees people using different methods of engaging kids than they are using.  If it's not the way they do it, then it must just be "entertainment."

Entertaining and engaging...when it comes down to it these two words mean the same thing in my opinion.  Whatever you call what you are doing with kids, just make sure it's working.

Okay.  Your turn.  What are your thoughts about "entertaining" kids at church?  Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

I am often asked for our staff retreat agenda.  I take our team on a retreat twice a year.

Once in January to prepare for the new year and once in the summer to prepare for the fall.

I have found these retreats (we call them "advances") deepen our relationships, renew our passion, and give us time to dream and plan for the future.

Whether you have 2 or 20 or 200 people on your team, I would encourage you to make some time to pull away together.  It doesn't have to cost a big chunk of change.  It can be as simple as getting together at someone's house or driving over to the next town and sitting in Starbucks together.

The benefits are enormous and it might be just what you need to help you and your team get to the next level.

If you'd likc a copy of our retreat agenda, feel free to email me at dalehudsoncm2@gmail.com and I'll send it to you.

Believing with you that 2014 is going to be your best ministry year ever!

2014 can be your best your ever in Children's Ministry.  Do these 10 things and you'll have a banner year.
 
Spend time with Jesus.
Make sure you don't get so busy working for Jesus that you don't have time to spend with Jesus.  Your ministry must be an overflow of your personal relationship with Him.  More on this at this post.

Do what only you can do. 
Make a short list of the things that only you can do.  Delegate everything else to other people.

Build your volunteer team on a weekly basis.  
Your success in 2014 depends on the strength of the volunteer team you build.  This link will give you ten simple secrets to building your dream team.

Have someone speak into your life. 
Who is helping you get better?  Stay teachable and you will be remain useable.  Give someone permission to ask you the hard questions, reveal your blind spots, evaluate your ministry, and provide you with feedback.

Passion. 
Passion creates momentum.  Passion turns the ordinary into the extraordinary.  Be the thermostat instead of the thermometer.  In other words, set the tone for your ministry instead of just reflecting it.

Have clear processes and plans in place.  
Provide easy steps for people to grow spiritually.  Here's an example at this post.

Focus.
Stop doing a lot of stuff and focus on doing a few things well.  Here's how to make that happen.

Reproduce yourself. 
Do everything with someone learning by your side.  Invest in key leaders.  Work yourself out of a job.  Don't worry....anyone who can work themselves out of a job will always have a job.

Change.
Evaluate 2013.  What worked?  What didn't work?  What needs to be changed, tweaked, dropped, or started in 2014?  Yesterday won't take you where you need to go tomorrow.

The floor is yours.  What else do we need to do to succeed this year?  Share your comments below.

"Don't give up.  No!  Rather take courage.  Do not let your hands be weak.  For your work shall be rewarded."  2 Chronicles 15:7

There are goals you want to accomplish in 2014.  There are dreams you want to see come true in 2014.  There are steps you want to take in 2014.  There are projects you want to see completed in 2014.  There are new heights you want to reach in 2014.

My question.  How bad do you want it?

I know you want it, but do you want it bad enough to do whatever it takes to make it happen?

Do you want it bad enough to set the alarm for an hour earlier every day?

Do you want it bad enough to give up some sleep for it?

Do you want it bad enough to sacrifice for it?

Do you want it bad enough to stay up late at night?

Do you want it bad enough to turn off the TV?

Do you want it bad enough to change your lifestyle?

Do you want it bad enough to make your new year's resolutions last past February?

Do you want it bad enough to give up personal habits to make it a reality?

If you need some inspiration to jump start you into the new year, then read this story about Rocky.

If you want it bad encough, then you will hit your goal.

2 years ago I tipped the scales at 230 pounds.  I had lost weight before but always gained it back...because I wanted it...but not bad enough.

Finally, I reached the point where I said, "This is it.  I'm going to do whatever it takes to get in shape and stay in shape." 

For me, this means drinking nothing but water.

For me, this means working out for an hour 6 days a week.

For me, this means not eating any breads or desserts.

For me, this means eating fruit instead of candy.

For me, this means not eating anything after dinner.

For me, this means a lifestyle change instead of a diet.

The result...50 pounds lighter and 8 pants sizes smaller.                                                                                           
I know you want it.  But how bad?  Bad enough to do whatever it takes?

2014 is your year...if you want it....really bad.