RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Summer is in full swing now, which means many of you have either had your VBS (or whatever you call it) or you're preparing for it.

There's a lot of planning, resources, energy, promotion and prep work to get ready for VBS.

When it's over, you breathe a sigh of relief.  You're exhausted, but it's a good exhausted, isn't it?   You saw God at work in the lives of kids and parents.  Doesn't get any better than that.

But it's not over yet.  What you do coming out of VBS can have a big impact on your ministry.  Let's look at 7 key steps you can take coming out of VBS that can help the momentum you gained continue for the rest of the year. 

1. Debrief  - Do you want your VBS to be even better next year?  Gather a group of key leaders and do a debrief.  Ask questions like this...

• What went well?  
• What needs to be changed or tweaked? 
• What needs to be stopped?
• What's one thing we can change to make it better next year?
• What was missing?
• What was confusing?
• Where did you see God at work?

Write down the answers and use it to improve your VBS next year.  Another way to get feedback is to send out an online survey to volunteers and parents.  You can send free surveys at www.surveymonkey.com.

It's also a good idea to get the kids' feedback on VBS.  You can gather a group of kids and ask them quesions like this...

• What was fun?
• What was boring?
• What would you add to make it even better next year?
• Can you tell me what you learned from the lessons?

Gather all the feedback you can.  Receive it as a gift that can help your VBS be even better.

2. Follow up with guests.  You probably had guests that came to your VBS. It's important to follow up with them, if the goal is to get them connected to your church.  There's lots of ways to contact them.  A phone call.  Text message.  Letter.  Email.  Postcard.  Whatever strategy you use, here are a few tips to help.

• Follow-up should be done through the child's parents.  Think about how you would respond if a stranger called, wanting to speak with your child.  Avoid this awkward situation.  Also, focus on the unchurched families who came.  

• Have something special for VBS guests when they come to your weekend services.  Some ideas are...

• gift for each child / family
• reception after the service for VBS guests
• start a new teaching series that will be relevant to unchurched people

3. Follow up with those who made a decision for Christ.  If you shared the Gospel during the large group time, then it's crucial to follow up with the family.  I highly reccomend that you offer a class for those who indicated they wanted to follow Jesus and enter a relationsihp with Him.

I believe it is critical to include their parents in the process.  The Starting Point class has been used to help thousands of kids and parents enter a relationship with Jesus.  You can get it at this link.

4. Clean up.  Services are still happening on the weekend.  The rest of the church will appreciate it if you clean up.  If you're not going to use it again, then get rid of it.  We don't want to have to come to your church to film an episode of Hoarders.

One way to clean up while at the same time being a blessing to other churches, is to donate your leftover resources, stage decorations, game items, etc. to these churches.

Enlist people to help with clean up ahead of time.  If you don't, you may be cleaning up by yourself.

5. Thank those who volunteered.  Make sure you show your appreciation for the people who volunteered.  A handwritten note that is personalized is gold.  You can also include a small gift.  Perhaps have a cookout the next week for them.  However you do it, say "thank you."

Another great thing to do is share a report with them about what God did during VBS.  Decisions that were made.  New kids that came.  New parents that came.  Offering for missions total.

All of these can be used to show volunteers how God used their serving and giving.  This is the "why" of their service.  This is their "pay" for serving.  Make sure you pay them.

6. invite new volunteers to join your team on a regular basis.  You probably have some volunteers who served for the first time during VBS.  After VBS ends, call them and invite them to join the team on a regular basis.  I've had as many as 85% of volunteers who served for the first time at VBS, to join the team and start serving during weekend services.

Of course, if you want to hear a "yes" then you've got to give them a great "first-time serving" experience.  Place them with your best volunteers.  Don't shove them in a room with 30 preschoolers and a teenager and expect them to have a good first experience.

7. Stop to celebrate what God did.  It's easy to move quickly on to your next event or program.  But it's also important to slow down and celebrate what God did.  Share the stories of life change.  Share about the kids who made a decision for Christ.  Share about how many first-time guests came.  Share about families that came on Sunday because of VBS.

The angels in heaven are celebrating.  Why not celebrate here on earth?

Your turn.  What are some other things you do coming out of VBS?  Share your thoughts and insight in the comment section below.

Christmas is just around the corner.  As you're making your shopping list, thought you might like some ideas for the children's ministry director in your life.

(If you're a children's ministry director reading this, I'm sure you'll like this list.  Have fun and hope this brings a smile to your face after a long weekend of serving.)

Here's 20 funny Christmas ideas for your children's ministry director.

A hypnosis book so he/she can learn how to hypnotize people into serving in the 3-year-olds room.

A gift certificate to Chuck E. Cheese's.

A bounce house with a leak in it.

A robot that can fill in for no show volunteers.

A sound system that actually works.

Self-cleaning toys for the nursery.

A drone that delivers crying babies to their parents in the adult service.

A puppet that automatically syncs up it's mouth with the words the user is saying.

Easter eggs that hid themselves.

Any clothing except a t-shirt with a ministry logo on it.

A mafia boss to persuade volunteers to come to training.

A timer that shuts down all the power in the auditorium when the pastor goes long with his sermon.

Stock in Oriental trading.

Tweak-less curriculum.

Quiet seat prize candy that has a seal that won't open until a child arrives at home.

Name tags that are impossible for parents to lose.

A collection of hats since he/she wears so many.

A monogrammed baptism towel.

A personal chef for kid's camp to spare him/her from having to eat the camp food.

A case of Red Bull energy drinks for weekend services.

Add to the fun.  What would you add to this gift list?  Share your funny ideas with everyone in the comment section below.

Recent years have seen a decline in church attendance in the average church in America.  There are a number of factors contributing to this, some of which are cultural shifts that can be seen in other declining institutions as well.

Many large stores are losing relevance according to Harvard Business Review.  Here are some examples.  Linens 'n Things, Circuit City, Sports Authority and Borders have all gone bankrupt. Office Depot / Office Max is closing 400 stores this year.  Barnes and Nobles continues to struggle.  Kohl's and Old Navy are posting negative comparable store sales.  All of these stores have something in common that should be noted.  They are big box retail stores.

People vote with their feet and pocketbooks.  And the church must take note of what families are voting for and be willing to shift accordingly.  We must remember...the message is sacred...the methods are not.  If children's ministries want to thrive, here's 3 things these trends are telling us we must do moving forward.

PERSONALIZATION
People no longer want or need to shop as anonymous costumers in large stores with large quantities of supplies stacked aisle upon aisle.  Instead they want to be able to craft their own, custom shopping experience.  This is why e-commerce and specialty stores are growing in popularity.  For e-commerce, people can select their own digital tools to easily navigate to products that are personally selected just for them.  And specialty stores can provide the superior, personalized service that big box stores cannot.

What this means for children's ministries moving forward...

• Anonymity must be replaced with personalization.  We must make sure every child is personally known and connected to a caring adult. 

• We must provide discipleship tools and options that allow kids to craft their own personalized discipleship pathway within defined parameters. 

• One-size-fits-all learning must be replaced with personalized learning.  The days of lecture-based learning are over.  Kids must be allowed to choose what learning styles and techniques best resonate with them.

EXPERIENCE
Studies show that people are spending less on goods and more on experiences.  Millennials (who are the young parents you are trying to reach) are spending a larger proportion on travel and entertainment than previous generations.

Bottom line.  Experience drives growth.  Bass Pro Shops is a great example.  They are a big box store that is bucking the first trend mentioned and experiencing growth.  Why?  They fill their 100,000 square feet with wildlife displays, archery ranges, oversized aquariums, and marine centers so customers can try out products and sample the lifestyle it promotes.

Ikea is another example.  They use their warehouses to stage fully furnished rooms where people can experience products and get decorating ideas. Outdoor retailer REI goes even further by holding events, classes, and service projects to engage with the local communities around its stores.

What this means for children's ministries moving forward...

• Families are looking for experiences they can have together.  This is why they are spending their time, money and energy on vacations, travel, events, etc.  Children's ministries that thrive will create unique experiences that draw families.   This includes things like Fall Festivals, Family services and family service projects.  You can read here about how we did this and saw a major spike in attendance with families.  You can also read about how we created an experience for families that saw our attendance grow by 2,000 people a weekend over the previous year.

• Children's ministries must create unique learning experiences for kids.  Kids want to experience the truth.  Here's a quick example.  Last weekend we were teaching the kids at our church that fulfilling God's plan for your life is not about you, but about how it will help others.  We were teaching from the life of Joseph.  God's plan for him to become a ruler in Egypt was not so he could brag about being in charge.  It was so he could help his family and nation.  To help kids experience this truth, we gave each of them a package of Skittles candy with a note attached that said "God's plan for your life."  We then gave them a choice.  They could keep the candy or give it back.  If they gave it back, it would be given to children who live in a poverty stricken area of town.  The experience of this...the tension they felt...helped them experience the truth we were teaching them.  Bottom line...children's ministries must become venues that stage immersive, memorable, share-worthy experiences.

VALUE MARRIED TO CURIOSITY
Large institutions that are thriving offer great prices on products that are constantly changing.  Here's two great examples.  TJ Maxx and Marshalls.  Why?  They offer the "thrill of the hunt" for people who enjoy discovering trending products at prices well below market value.

What this means for children's ministries moving forward...

• Families are looking for the best value for their time.  Time is the most precious commodity today's families have.  They will not spend it on mediocre, ho hum ministry.  They are looking for churches that can add significant value to their family.  Children's ministries must be prepared to minister to families and make it worth their while to attend.  This includes everything from strategic spiritual growth pathways to relevant curriculum to a focused, clear vision.

• We must keep kids and families curious.  This includes lesson cliff-hangers and changing up your order of service, programming etc, on a regular basis.  Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it grows a children's ministry.  Families should leave excited to see what is going to happen next week at church.

One of the healthiest institutions in the country right now is Costco.  Their financial performance is stellar and customers are giving them rave reviews.  Why?   Because they are doing all 3 of the things mentioned above.  They create great shopping experiences with food concessions, gas stations, and sampling stations.  They offer great value with their prices and quality of merchandise.  And they offer great customer service.

Children's ministries that thrive moving forward will rethink everything they do and will be willing to change as needed to meet the needs of the kids and families they are seeking to reach and disciple.

Complaints.  If you're in children's ministry, you will hear them. 

But how you view the complaints can make a huge difference for your ministry.  If you look at complaints as a gift that someone is giving you to help make the ministry better, it changes your perspective. 

Complaints...no matter how far out there they may seem,  usually contain some level of truth and your ministry can use them to improve.

Here's 10 complaints you may hear at times in children's ministry and how you can use them to make your ministry better.

It's boring.
If a child complains that the ministry is boring...it's probably because it is.  When you hear this, check the energy and excitement level of your ministry.  You may need to infuse some fresh life and energy.

Sit down with a group of kids and ask them what's boring.  Is it the music?  The lesson?  The videos?  The games?  It may be time to change up your format, curriculum, music or approach.  In our upcoming book, If Disney Ran Your Children's Ministry, we dedicate an entire chapter to capturing kid's attention and making church a fun, exciting experience.  

My child doesn't learn anything.
This complaint comes when parents ask their child what they learned and simply get a shrug or "about God" answer.  The solution is to focus your teaching on one key truth for the month.  Have the kids repeat that truth with you at least 6 times each week.  When you hear something once, you only remember 10% of it.  When you hear something 6 times, your retention rate goes up to 90%. 

Then make sure you're sending home a take home page that shows parents what their child learned that day and provides follow-up questions.

My child doesn't have any friends.
Normally this complaint originates from a child who is shy or withdrawn.  Provide opportunities for kids to talk and connect throughout your class time by using icebreakers and other activities that get kids talking and sharing about themselves.  Also place kids in the same small group or classroom each week so they can build relationships.

It's not deep enough.  
This usually comes from a parent who wants to make sure their child has a solid knowledge and understanding of the Bible.  And that's a good thing.  And that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice fun and games to help kids get a solid grasp of God's Word.

Make sure every game, activity, song, etc. is helping teach God's Word.  Everything that happens in the class should point kids to the Bible.

It's also important to have a clear teaching pathway that maps out for parents what their kids will be learning while they are in your ministry.  Showing parents a clear scope and sequence up front will give them confidence in what their child will be learning.

Also help parents understand that "deep" is not only head knowledge, but application as well.  Going deeper means living out what you are learning. 

I already heard that story before.
I remember as a child complaining about this once myself during a Bible lesson.  The reason I remember is because I got in trouble for saying it and was removed from the classroom.  Hey...what can I say...I needed a fresh take on it. 

Keep a list of Bible stories you've taught and don't repeat the same story more than once in a 3 year period (of course...this doesn't include the story of the cross).  By doing this, you'll give kids a broader view of the many, many incredible, true stories found in the Bible.  Better to share that unique, not-as-well-known story than sharing David and Goliath for the 5th time.

There's not enough volunteers.
This complaint will come from all angles.  From other volunteers who are stressed out because they're trying to manage a large class with little help.  From parents who look into a room that has 30 preschoolers and 2 adults.  From an elementary volunteer who has a "small" group of 20 kids.

Volunteers are what makes children's ministry happen.  There is no children's ministry without them.  The simple solution is to build a solid team of volunteers.  I say simple...but it's every ministry's greatest challenge.  But it can be done.  In this post, I share 10 secrets to building a dynamic volunteer team.  We've used these steps to build a team of over 2,600 children's ministry volunteers at our church.  (BTW - we still need a lot more and always will)

It's too babyish. 
This complaint usually comes from older kids who are not being targeted.  When you have a class of kids who are different ages, don't make the mistake of targeting the youngest kids in the room.  When you do this, the older kids will tune out.  Always target the oldest child in the room.  If you have a group of 1-5th graders, make sure the music, lesson, games and activities are geared to hit a 5th grader.  With children, cool rolls downhill.  I talk more about this here.

My baby's diaper didn't get changed.
No parents like to pick up their child and find their diaper is wet.  Make sure you have a plan for your nursery volunteers to check babies' diapers during the service and make sure they are all changed at pick-up time.  It's also a great idea to have stickers that say "I was changed" to place on the diapers.

We never know what's going on.
This complaint is due to lack of communication.  Use many different avenues to communicate with parents.  A parent Facebook page, emails, texts, take home pages and phone calls are just a few of the methods you can use.  Find a good balance though...bombard them and you'll hear the opposite complaint.  Create too much noise and it will get drowned out.

My child hasn't connected with any of the volunteers. 
It's hard for a volunteer to effectively connect with more than 8 kids by himself or herself.  Make sure your volunteer ratios are conducive to volunteers getting to know the kids.  Here are the ratios we follow. 

You can also be intentional about providing icebreakers and activities that allow the volunteers to talk with and get to know the kids. 

Ask volunteers to also be intentional about hanging out with kids during the pre-service time and building relationships with them.  You can also have kids write down their prayer requests each week and then have the volunteers take the requests home to pray for them during the week.

Okay.  The floor is yours.  What other complaints have you heard about children's ministry?  What are some other ways you fix the complaints mentioned above?  We'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas in the comment section below. 

Several months ago, I wrote about "10 Reasons Why Kids Can't Remember the Lesson You Taught Last Week."

I've partnered with my friends at Disciplr to turn the 10 reasons into a checklist that you can use to make your lessons memorable.

You can see the list below and if you'd like to print it out to use as a tool, you can download it for free here.

Whether you're using a curriculum or writing your own, this will help you prepare lessons that kids will remember.

I would also encourage you to check out Disciplr.  They turn regular curriculum into interactive lessons (you can try some of their free sample lessons here).  And if you like the checklist, you should definitely check out this book they're giving away for free: 8 Qualities of a Great Sunday School Teacher.

Summer is winding down and fall is fast approaching.  Do you want to make it your best ministry season ever?  Here's how to build a powerful children's ministry over the next few months.

Powerful - Prayer
There is power in prayer. You see, nothing of eternal significance happens without prayer.  Increase your prayer time individually and corporately and watch God move.

Now this is not always easy to do.  Our first instinct is to plan more...try to work things up in our own strength...copy what's working somewhere else.  But what we need to do first is get on our faces before God and call out to Him for wisdom and a fresh anointing.

God can accomplish more in 1 second than we can accomplish in 3 months of our own strength. 

pOwerful - Outward focus
Over time, if you are not intentional, the focus of the ministry can shift completely inward.  This is when the holy huddle forms.  The needs of those inside the ministry take precedent over the lostness of those outside the ministry.

You can't spell the Gospel without "go."  2/3 of God's name is Go.  Get outside the walls of your church and out into the community.  Love.  Serve.  Invest.  Care.  Share.

What is on the heart of Jesus?  The children and families in your community who don't know Him.  It's why He came...to seek and to save those who are lost.  When you make His mission your primary mission, He will pour His power out on your ministry.

poWerful - Word of God
The word of God is powerful...sharper than a two-edged sword.  The power is not in fun games...not in cool environments...not in flashy videos...not in edgy music.  I am not against those things..I use them...but they cannot be the center of our ministry.

Our ministry must be centered on teaching kids God's Word and our curriculum must be grounded in it.  Kids must walk out the door with the truth of God's Word embedded in their heart or we have failed them.

powErful - Excellence
Depending first and foremost on prayer and the Word of God isn't an excuse to be lackadaisical.  God expects us to give our best.  He tells us that whatever we do should be done with all our might.  Excellence is found in the details.  When you pay fantastic attention to the details, they will add up to powerful results.   

powerRful - Raise up volunteers
A powerful ministry is powered by a dynamic volunteer team.  How many new volunteers do you need to add to take your ministry to the next level?  Set a goal for the next four months and start inviting people.  New volunteers will bring energy and excitement to your ministry.

powerFul - Focus
The more focused your ministry is the more powerful your ministry will be.  You can do a lot of things nominally or do a few things powerfully.  Focus your volunteers.  Focus your time.  Focus your budget.  Focus your vision. 

powerfUl - Understand the culture
You won't reach the kids and families of 2015 with a ministry that is operating like it's still 1985.  Learn today's kids.  Learn how young millennial parents think.

I often use the illustration of a McDonald's kid's meal.  The food has remained pretty much the same over the years...hamburger, fries and drink.  But the box that contains the food is changed to stay relevant to the culture.  If Superman is popular, then the box will reflect that.  If Minions are popular, then the box will reflect that.  Can you imagine if the box today had Captain Kangaroo on it (I just dated myself).  Kids would be saying, "What is that?  I can't relate to that."

Our ministry must be like this.  The food...God's Word...never changes, but the container we place it in must change to speak the language of the current culture.  We must be anchored to the truth but geared for the times.

powerfuL - Leadership
Powerful leadership brings powerful ministry.  A ministry will never rise above it's leadership.  If you want a 7 ministry, then you've got to be a 7 leader.  If you want a 10 ministry, then you've got to be a 10 leader.  What areas of your leadership do you want to improve?  Improve you and you will improve the ministry. 

May we ponder these things.  May we practice these things.  May we put these things into action.  If we will, I believe God will pour out His blessings on our ministries in the next few months.

The Gospel Truth About Children's Ministry is a brand new, groundbreaking book from our friends at Awana.

They talked with more than 1,000 decision makers in children’s ministry around the U.S. about the joys and challenges of reaching kids for Christ in a rapidly changing culture.  This compelling book covers 10 of the most important research findings.

As a student of the culture and the most crucial aspects of Children's Ministry, this book opened my eyes to some new realizations and really got me thinking about these and other questions.

• What are the keys to seeing kids become lifelong disciples? 
• How do we engage parents more effectively?
• How do we meet digital natives where they are?
• What key elements make a curriculum effective?  What should we be looking for in a curriculum?

If you're tired of reading empty stats that take you nowhere...then this book is for you.  It takes you below the surface and reveals the "why's" beneath the stats. 

You can order the book at this link.  But don't just order one copy.  Order a copy for everyone on your staff / key volunteer team.  Read it together and dive into the questions each chapter will generate.  As you grapple with these questions and work through the solutions, your ministry will be changed.

I am also giving away 2 copies of the book to our readers.  You can enter the drawing by emailing me at dalehudsoncm2@gmail.com.  I will announce the winner right here next Monday, June 29th.

There's a silent killer of Children's Ministries.  What is it?  SILENCE!

Watch out for these silent killers...

Silent kids.  Kids learn more by talking and interacting than they do by listening.  Your classrooms should be noisy places.  Train your leaders to stop saying, "Sit still and be quiet" and to start saying, "Let's talk about this together."  And...make sure you choose a curriculum that is written in that style.

Silent volunteers.  If you're not getting feedback from volunteers, you're either not asking for it or they don't feel the freedom to share it.  Open up the lines of communication.

Silent guests.  One of the best ways to improve your ministry is by getting feedback from first-time guests.  Create simple tools that guests can use to give you feedback about their visit. 

Silent parents.  If parent's aren't talking with their kids during the week about what they learned on Sunday, then kids' spiritual growth will be stagnate.  Provide tools and pathways for parents to disciple their kids and emphasize it constantly.

Our ministries are a work in progress...and always will be.

There are 3 simple steps you can take to improve your children's ministry.  Though simple, they can accelerate your ministry if implemented each week.

#1 - WALK
John F Kennedy said, "Walk slowly through the crowd."  It's a simple, but powerful principle.

Each weekend, make time to walk through your ministry and observe.  What do you see that's working?  What do you see that needs adjusting?  What do you see that needs replaced?  What do you see that needs repair work?  What do you see that needs updating?

Watch check-in.  Is it easy for families?  Watch dismissal.  Is it safe and secure?  Watch the services.  Are the kids engaged?  Watch your volunteers.  Are they smiling?  Are they connecting with kids and families?

#2 - TALK
Talk to kids.  Do they remember the main point of the lesson?  Are they having fun?

Talk to parents.  How can you improve the ministry?  What's an idea that would make the ministry better?

Talk to volunteers.  Do they feel empowered?  What needs to be fixed?  What can be done to improve the ministry?  What is missing?  What's one thing that would help them feel more empowered?  Is the curriculum effective and easy to use?

#3 - CHALK
In other words, write down all the ideas, input, and suggestions you gather.  Write it down as hear it...on the spot.

Then on Monday...transfer your notes to a list.  Work through the list.  Implement what needs to be implemented.  Tweak what needs to be tweaked.  Fix what needs to be fixed.

Follow these 3 steps every week and you will see a vast improvement in your children's ministry.  

The theory of evolution takes faith to believe.  Why?  It simply doesn't make sense.  And yet kids are being taught that it is the logical explanation of why we are here.

Logical?  Watch this video and you'll see why it makes no sense.



The church must teach kids the truth of God's Word.  We were created by a Heavenly Father who loves us and wants to have a relationship with us.

We recently created a kid's 4-week apologetics curriculum called "Mythbusting" where we tackle four key topics: Did God create us?  Is God real or not?  Is the Bible God's Word or not?  Is Jesus God's Son or not?

It will be available to other churches beginining this summer and comes with full media components.  Watch for more details coming soon.

Congratulations to Hannah Shand.  She is the winner of the Game On VBS Curriculum.  Hannah is the Children's Pastor at Shirelive Church in New South Wales, Australia.

Thanks to everyone who entered.  Stay tuned for more giveaways coming soon.

Congratulations to Karen Watkins and Desi Angermeier.  They are the winners of the God-Puzzle resource giveaway.

Thanks to everyone who entered.  Be sure to enter the drawing for the Go Fish VBS Curriculum kit that begins today.

Volunteers get tired.  Even the most committed, faithful ones.  If you want to keep them for the long haul, then you have to infuse them with new life during these times.

Here's 4 ways to give your volunteers a breath of fresh air.

New Volunteers 
New volunteers bring fresh energy with them.  Many times, tired volunteers feel like they are in this alone and are carrying the weight by themselves.  Placing a new volunteer beside them will encourage and inspire them.

New Role
A tired volunteer may feel like they are "stuck" in a role that no longer challenges them.  Moving them to a new role can give them fresh energy and passion.

New Vision
Perhaps they've gotten so "down in the weeds" of weekly ministry that they've lost sight of the big picture.  All they can see is glue sticks, crafts to prepare, nursery sheets to change, or lessons to teach.

Remind them of "why" they are serving.  Help them pull back and see the vision they are part of.

New Curriculum
Sometimes volunteers get tired of teaching the same curriculum year after year.  Giving them something fresh and different might be just what they need.

The floor is yours.  What are some other ways you breathe new life into your volunteers?  Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

A recent Gallup poll reveals that over 60% of Americans believe in evolution. 

The battle for the heart of the next generation continues.

On February 6, Ken Ham, a well known Christian apologist and outspoken evolutionist, Bill Nye, will meet for a public creation-versus-evolution debate.

Nye was the popular host of the children’s TV show Bill Nye the Science Guy, which was produced by Disney during the 1990s. An outspoken evolutionist, Nye was also featured in a YouTube video last year titled “Bill Nye: Creationism Is Not Appropriate For Children.”  You can watch the video at this link. 

Nye says, “in another couple centuries,” the creationist worldview “just won’t exist,” saying “there’s no evidence for it.”
 
Ken Ham, who is the founder of the Creationist Museum, says that Bill Nye has an agenda to teach children not to believe in God. 

The battle for the hearts and minds of the next generation begins long before kids enter a high school or college biology class.

So how do we effectively help kids get a Biblical foundation of the origin of man that will stay with them through their high school and college years?

First, we must teach kids that the Bible is God's Word and you can trust it completely.  We must show them that creation is true because the Bible is true.  Does the curriculum / teaching plan you are using regularly emphasis that the Bible is God's Word. 

Secondly, we must teach kids that creation is the origin of the world and mankind.  If you want to drive out darkness, then the best way is to shine a bright light.  Does the curriculum you are using teach kids the Biblical account of creation?

I am excited to announce that we are releasing elementary kid's curriculum in the next few weeks that will help you teach kids about Creationism.  It is a series called "Mythbusting."  One of the myths that will be busted will be "We came from monkeys."  This series will be available for other churches as well.  Stay tuned for more details.

Thirdly, we must help kids develop critical thinking skills.  The tendency is to completely shelter kids from the theory of evolution.  Then we wonder why they get swayed into accepting it as fact once they walk into a college classroom.

We must must equip them to think critically and see through the lies.

Our friends at High Voltage Kid's Ministry have released a brand new curriculum series called "Help!  Calling on God in Times of Trouble."

It contains six lessons that teach children how to call on God in times of trouble.  It includes high impact video segments, graphic slides, a Bible lesson with graphics, games, skits, object lessons, and more.  It also includes small group lessons and family devotions to reinforce the large group lesson.

What sets High Voltage Kid's Ministry apart is the fact they are kid's Pastors in a local church who create and produce their own videos, object lessons, graphics, illustrations, skits, and more - then package and release what they use every Sunday to help your ministry.

I also like the balance they bring between live teaching and media elements.  The media does not replace the leader, but gives him or her the tools needed to enhance the lesson.

Over 5,000 churches world-wide have tried High Voltage Kid's Ministry resources. Now here's your opportunity to try it for free.  

I'm giving away a copy of the new series.  To enter the drawing email me at dalehudsoncm2@gmail.com.  I will post the winner here next Monday, Sept. 23.

My friends at God's Kids Worship are giving away free music.  They have pre-planned worship for the whole year, including Christmas & Easter.  It works with your worship leader, your praise team, or no leader at all. You get songs you know, and new songs that inspire and engage kids. 

God's Kids Worship works with any curriculum, any ministry event, DVDs, mobile devices, and computers.  It’s real worship for real kids.  Plan and prepare with free YouTube videos, or use it with no preparation at all.  It can even be used by your last-minute volunteer who would rather be set on fire than lead singing.

They will be announcing winners everyday through August 2nd.  You can enter the giveaway at this link.

Planning is an important part of children's ministry.  Whether you're preparing for an event, talking over existing programs, or creating something new...it's a vital part of the process.

When you plan, it's important to have the right number of people in the room.  Which leads us to the question, "What is the best size for a planning team?"

Most leadership experts agree the best size is 3 to 10 people.  This is the optimal size if you want to stay focused and accomplish your objective.

The scale of the team should also be based on the importance of the topic.  If it is a minor topic, 3 people can probably take care of it.  If it is a major topic, then bring in up to 10 people.

Okay, your turn.  What have you found is the best size for a planning team?  Share your feedback below.