RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

musical.ly is the hottest new social media app among kids, tweens and teens.  In less than 2 years, it has attracted 70 million users.

Anytime something resonates with kids like this, it's important to find out why and learn from it.  Let's look at five reasons why kids love musical.ly and think about how we can use these cues in our ministry.

#1 - musical.ly is driven by technology and social media.  Kids love technology and social media.  Using technology is as natural as breathing for them.  They've never known anything else.  Many kids now have their own smart phones or tablets.  And if they don't, mom or dad's is available.  Most kids know how to navigate through technology better than their parents.

A big part of technology is obviously social media.  And for many kids, musical.ly is becoming their entry point into social media.   Even though users are supposed to be at least 13 years old, there's no monitoring ages, which means any child can use an email address or social media account to access it without being censored. 

What cues can you take from this for your ministry?

#2 - musical.ly lets kids express their creativity.  A recent report says 15% of kids ages 6 to 12 make videos with a digital device at least once a week and 45% pretend or imagine with the same frequency.  musical.ly is a canvas for kids' creativity.  Kids have the opportunity to record themselves on video while a 15-second song or TV/movie clip plays in the background.  Kids also have the option to lip-sync and add filters to their videos. 

What cues can you take from this for your ministry? 

#3 - musical.ly lets kids share their talents.  Once kids finish making their videos, they can share them, get likes and comments and possibly even be featured.  We live in a day when fame can be reached through social media apps like YouTube, Vine and now musical.ly.

What cues can you take from this for your ministry?

 #4 - musical.ly builds kids' self-esteem and confidence.  The app encourages people to leave positive comments.  As kids get affirmation for their videos, it inspires them. 

What cues can you take from this for your ministry?

#5 - musical.ly gives kids to the opportunity to connect with other kids.  Kids can follow other kids in their area as well as search for friends by hashtags or leader-boards.

What cues can you take from this for your ministry?

Jesus told stories that evoked emotion.  A prodigal son returns home, a Samaritan helps a man who was in desperate need, a widow gives all she had...just to name a few.

Emotional stories can infuse your volunteers with passion, vision, commitment, and encouragement.

How do you know if your story is evoking emotion?  You will see tears.  Some will hide it better than others, but you will see a good percentage of people reaching for a Kleenex.

Here's a couple of ways to bring strong emotional stories to your volunteers.

Share the emotional stories of kids and families whose lives have been impacted by the ministry.  Volunteers want to know that they matter and that what they do matters.  When you show them, you are bringing that affirmation.

Years ago, I had an appreciation dinner for some of our volunteers.  Unbeknownst to them, I had arranged for some of the kids they taught to show up at the dinner and surprise them.  At just the right moment, the kids came walking in and began to thank them for impacting their lives.  There was not a dry eye in the house.  Mission accomplished.

Share videos that evoke emotion.  Here's a couple of examples.





Do you ever see your volunteers cry?  Remember...the point is not the tears, but what the tears represent. 

The most important person to affirm on your children's ministry team is the person reading this right now.  You!

If your team is going to be spiritually healthy...you have to be spiritually healthy.  If your team is going to be confident...you have to be confident.  If your team is going to be bold...you have to be bold.  If your team is going to be courageous...you have to be courageous.  If your team is going to walk in God's promises...you have to walk in God's promises.   

Many times we are our own biggest critic, aren't we.  We beat ourselves up...compare ourselves to others...remind ourselves of what we can't do...dwell on our failures...let negativity stay in our thoughts...believe what people other people say about us.

I am...

What would you finish the sentence with?

The next time you are discouraged, feeling worthless, trying to recover from a failure, or even on the verge of quitting...

Finish the sentence with what God says about you...

1. I am the object of God's kindness. (Ephesians 2:7)
2. I am someone whom God shows His power through. (Ephesians 3:7)
3. I am a citizen of heaven. (Philippians 3:20)
4. I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)
5. I am a light in the world. (Matthew 5:14)
6. I am a member of Christ's body. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
7. I am a member of God's household. (Ephesians 2:19)
8. I am a minister of reconciliation.  (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
9. I am a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
10. I am a personal witness for Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:8)
11. I am a saint. (Ephesians 1:18)
12. I am adopted as God's child. (Ephesians 1:5)
13. I am alive with Christ. (Ephesians 2:5)
14. I am assured all things work together for good. (Romans 8:28)
15. I am blameless in God's sight. (I Corinthians 1:8)
16. I am blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing. (Ephesians 1:3)
17. I am born again. (I Peter 1:23)
18. I am dearly loved. (Colossians 3:12)
19. I am chosen before the creation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4,11)
20. I am Christ's friend. (John 15:15)
21. I am completed by God. (Ephesians 3:19)
22. I am confident that God will perfect the work He has begun in me. (Philippians 1:6)
23. I am crucified with Christ. (Galatians 2:20)I
24. I am dead to sin. (Romans 1:12)
25. I am delivered. (Colossians 1:13)
26. I am faithful. (Ephesians 1:1)
27. I am forgiven. (Ephesians 1:8, Colossians 1:14)
28. I am given God's glorious grace lavishly and without restriction. (Ephesians 1:5,8)
29. I am God's child. (John 1:12)
30. I am God's co-worker. (2 Corinthians 6:1)
31. I am God's workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10)
32. I am growing. (Colossians 2:7)
33. I am healed from sin. (I Peter 2:24)
34. I am hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
35. I am holy and blameless. (Ephesians 1:4)
36. I am in Him. (Ephesians 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:30)
37. I am included. (Ephesians 1:13)
38. I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37)
39. I am no longer condemned. (Romans 8:1, 2)
40. I am not alone. (Hebrews 13:5)
41. I am not helpless. (Philippians 4:13)
42. I am not in want. (Philippians 4:19)
43. I am overcoming. (I John 4:4)
44. I am part of God's kingdom. (Revelation 1:6)
45. I am persevering. (Philippians 3:14)
46. I am prayed for by Jesus Christ. (John 17:20-23)
47. I am promised a full life. (John 10:10)
48. I am promised eternal life. (John 6:47)
49. I am protected. (John 10:28)
50. I am qualified to share in His inheritance.       (Colossians 1:12)
51. I am raised up with Christ. (Ephesians 2:6, Colossians 2:12)
52. I am redeemed from the curse of the Law.     (Galatians 3:13)
53. I am safe. (I John 5:18)
54. I am sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13)
55. I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 2:6)
56. I am secure. (Ephesians 2:20)
57. I am set free. (Romans 8:2,  John 8:32)
58. I am the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
59. I am united with other believers. (John 17:20-23)
60. I am victorious. (1 Corinthians 15:57)
61. I am confident I can approach God with freedom. (Ephesians 3:12)
62. I am certain of God's truths and the lifestyle which He has called me to. (Ephesians 4:17)
63. I am strong through Christ. (Ephesians 6:10)
64. I am bringing glory to God. (Ephesians 3:21)
65. I am forgiving of others. (Ephesians 4:32)
66. I am able to give thanks for everything.       (Ephesians 5:20)
67. I am walking with a new attitude and lifestyle. (Ephesians 4:21-32)
68. I am able to mature spiritually. (Ephesians 4:15)
69. I am able to stand firm in the day of evil.     (Ephesians 6:13)
70. I am able to understand what God's will is. (Ephesians 5:17)
71. I am near to God through Christ's blood.     (Ephesians 2:13)
72. I am called. (Ephesians 4:1, 2 Timothy 1:9)
73. I am chosen and God desires me to bear fruit.     (John 15:1,5)
74. I am established, anointed and sealed by God.          (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
75. I am justified. (Romans 5:1)
76. I am a recipient of the incomparable riches of God's grace. (Ephesians 2:7)
77. I am filled with God's power. (Ephesians 6:10)
78. I am filled with hope. (Ephesians 1:12)
79. I am walking in power, love and self-discipline instead of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)
80. I am peaceful. (Ephesians 2:14)
81. I am living with a purpose. (Ephesians 1:9 & 3:11)
82. I am redeemed. (Ephesians 1:8)
83. I am possessing the mind of Christ.                            (I Corinthians 2:16)
84. I am sharing in the promise of Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 3:6)
85. I am protected with God's peace. (Philippians 4:7)