RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

I love to hear a great communicator speak.  Someone who can move an audience, share a great truth, encourage, and inspire.

But...here's a reality that most communicators know in the back-of-their-mind, but don't want to think about.

No matter how great a communicator is...most of what he or she shares will be forgotten within hours...if not minutes.

And it has nothing to do with the communicator's skills and everything to do with how we are wired as human beings.

Truth gets placed in our long-term memory not by sitting and listening, but by discussing, engaging in hands-on activities, and sharing with our peers.

• A communicator tells kids the truth...a facilitator helps kids experience the truth.
• A communicator lectures...a facilitator listens.
• A communicator does all the talking...a facilitator encourages the kids to do the talking.
• A communicator demands attention...a facilitator demands action.
• A communicator causes people to leave saying, "What a great speaker."  A facilitator causes people to leave saying, "What a great truth."
• A communicator is in the foreground...a facilitator is in the background.
• A communicator has everyone's eyes on him or her...a facilitator has everyone's eyes on each other.
• A communicator engages 2 senses - seeing and hearing....a facilitator engages all senses.
• A communicator hits one learning style...a faciliator hits all learning styles.
• A communicator has a quiet classroom...a facilitator has a noisy classroom.
• A communicator gives great answers...a facilitator asks great questions.
• A communicator prepares great talks...a facilitator prepares great activities.

Do you want to place truth in kids' long-term memory?  Then shift from being a communicator to being a facilitator.  

One mistake I see people make when they are teaching kids is keeping their voice at the same level the entire lesson.

A good communicator with kids will vary his or her voice level throughout the lesson.  They will vary between loud, medium, and a faint whisper.

When you keep the same voice level the entire lesson (monotone), you begin to sound like Charlie Brown's teacher.  When this happens, kids will tune you out.

To vary your voice level, you have to be intentional.  Identity parts of the lesson where you will whisper.  Identify parts of the lesson where you will be loud.  Identify parts of the lesson where you will maintain a normal tone.

Try it the next time you teach and watch the kids' engagement improve.