RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

There's a song you remember.  When you read the name of it below, the song lyric will pop in your head.

What's the song?  It's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from Wizard of Oz.

But why do you know this song?  Why has this song wedged its way into your long-term memory?  It's not by accident or chance.  There's a method behind it.

Composer Rob Kapilow recently gave an in-depth look at the song and why it has resonated with so many people over the years.  If you take a closer look at the song, you'll discover 3 keys to placing something into a person's long-term memory.  Here they are.

Key #1 - Talk about where people are.  This can be found in the first note and word of the song. The first note is a low note C.  The first word is "SOME".  It represents her present troubled reality.  Kansas.  Troubles.  Boredom.  Struggles.  Unhappiness.

When you are teaching, talk about where people are.  Step into their shoes.  Feel their pain.  When you speak to people who are hurting, going through struggles and broken...you will have a tuned in audience.

Key #2 - Show people hope.  The second note of the song jumps an entire octave to high C as she sings the second word of the compound - "WHERE."  This represents the yearning for a place where there is happiness and hope.  It touches on this yearning for hope again with the words "WAY UP HIGH."  The song continues to circle back to this yearning for hope.

When you are teaching, show people the hope that can be found in God and His Word.  When you offer people hope and help for their situation...you will have a tuned in audience.

Key #3 - Help them find transformation.  As she finishes out the song, the melody rises as she sings, "If happy little blue birds fly beyond the rainbow, why, oh, why can't I?"  Where does she finally arrive?  Oz.  From low C to high C...from Kansas to Oz...her transformation is complete.

When you're teaching, show people the transformation Christ can bring to their life.  Show them how God can transform not just their situation...but them as a person as well...which is His ultimate plan.

Bottom Line:
Why do you and I remember "Somewhere Over the Rainbow?"  Because it offers us the opportunity to go somewhere that will change us and our world in wonderful ways.  Offer this to people when you are teaching and they won't forget it.

Want to see the 3 keys in action?  Check out the song.

Have you noticed how Jesus walked toward the messiness of people's lives?

He walked toward the messiness of Zacchaeus' cheating.

He walked toward the messiness of the broken marriages of the woman at the well.

He walked toward the messiness of the immorality of the woman who was about to be stoned.

He walked toward the messiness of Peter's betrayal.

He walked toward the messiness of the publican's sinfulness.

He walked toward the messiness of Saul's hatred and unbelief.

When the Pharisees asked Jesus why He walked toward the messiness, He replied by saying...

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.  For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  (Matthew 9)

If you truly want to minister like Jesus, you will have to walk toward the messiness.  You will walk toward the messiness of couples living together unmarried.  You will walk toward the messiness of people struggling with addiction.  You will walk toward the messiness of people ensnared by immorality.  You will walk toward the messiness of people in financial upheaval.  You will walk toward the messiness of couples going through divorce.  You will walk toward the messiness of unbiblical worldviews.  You will walk toward the messiness of people who have made terrible decisions.  

The church is meant to be a spiritual emergency room...not a museum.  An emergency room is messy.  An emergency room is chaotic at times.  An emergency room can be intense.  An emergency room goes through life and death situations.  An emergency room constantly pushes you out of your comfort zone.  An emergency room is not for the faint of heart.

But it's where healing happens.  It's where hope is found in the midst of heartache.  It's where lives are saved.

The Pharisees criticized the messiness.  The Pharisees condemned the messiness.  The Pharisees walked away from the messiness.  That's why they got so upset with Jesus.  He walked toward it.  Join Him.  Walk toward the messiness.  That's where the miracles happen! 

Ready for some fun?

Nursery pager signal sent...where is mom?

Name tag printer jammed...remaining calm...kinda.

Third grade boys...never a dull moment.

Looking for volunteers...everyone is running away.

Four-year-old crying...separation anxiety showing.

Child needs bathroom break...ten friends following.

Last day of VBS...out of energy.

Lesson preparation...stoplights on way to church.

Lesson done...adult service is going over.

Choir...hiding place for AWOL kidmin volunteers.

Kid moving to middle school...parent freaking.

Take home paper...litter on the ground.

50 bags of cotton balls...Wal-Mart shopping.

Copier...not working... at worst possible time.

If you like to talk to tomatoes.

Event over...one hour ago...child remains.

Praying for healing for dogs and cats.

All-night preteen event finished...thank you Jesus.

Deep question asked by kindergartner...left speechless.

Lost and found...30 Bibles stacked up.

Can't remember child's name...he is asking.

Out of breath...worship songs have motions.

Arm is cramping...holding up a puppet.

Driving to hospital visit...tonsils getting removed.

Parents asking...did you have fun today?


On a more serious note...

Child accepting Jesus as Savior...joy overflowing.

New family walking in church door...anticipation.

Listening to child pray...music to ears.

Parents going through divorce...wiping child's tears.

Volunteer going through tough time...praying fervently.

Dedicating parents and babies today...lots of smiles.

Kids are getting it...heart skipping beat.

Listening to kids sing to Jesus...goosebumps.

Family being baptized together...tears in eyes.

Looking at kids...seeing so much potential.

Tired...weary...little appreciation...worth it all.

Add some more seven word stories in the comment section below.  God will use your words to bring a smile to someone today.

Proponents of redefining family continue to push their agenda.

First-time guest families.  You only get one chance to make a good impression.  And it usually determines if they return or not.

We send each first-time guest family a short survey to get feedback about their experience with us.  Here's more information about that.

Last week, we had a family respond that they enjoyed their visit...except for one thing.  The person who checked them in at the classroom door never smiled. 

Yes...she checked their security tags, wrote their names down, and got other important information...but she never smiled while she was doing it.  It came across like an unfriendly business transaction.

This week, I am sending a short training video to our entire volunteer team encouraging them to always remember to smile.  Yes, it's easy to get caught up with getting the children checked in and making sure they are safe and secure...and in the process forget to smile and make a personal connection with the family.

A smile makes a huge difference.  Think about the difference you feel when you walk into a store and you're greeted by a caring, smiling person vs. someone who greets you coldly with no smile.  You remember both, don't you.  And you're more likely to return to the place that greeted you with a smile.

The Bible says in Proverbs 17:22 that "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength."

Families will walk in the door of our churches this weekend that are broken and hurting.  They are spiritually sick and looking for help.  A smile can be a medicine that begins to bring healing long before they hear the message.

Let's remind our volunteers and staff how important it is to be intentional about smiling when interacting with families.