RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

This past weekend was the grand opening of our new building at our Stuart Campus.

We started this campus in a high school 8 years ago.
Amazing volunteers served faithfully week in and week out for these years setting up in the school.  God honored their faithfulness and the preaching of His Word and the campus has grown and grown and grown.

A couple of years ago, God opened the door for us to purchase over 320 acres for a permanent facility for this campus.  Since then we've been planning, preparing and constructing the facility.  All the hard work was so worth it as we saw thousands of people walk through the doors for the grand opening and dozens of people step across the line of faith.

A building is simply a tool you can use to help build people.  As our pastor said - It's not about property...it's about people.  I look forward to seeing all the kids and families whose lives are going to built up in this new facility.

Here's an inside look at the children's building.  The final touch will be added this fall when a tree with slides is added to the indoor playground.   The theming was done by Wacky World Studios, Little Mountain Productions as well as some in house items. 

The carpet is the original carpet...and the building is over 50 years old.

Stain-glassed windows.

The brightest thing in the room is the teacher's hair bow.

Beige metal folding chairs.  Nuff said about that.

Bulletin boards that look like they were stolen from a school classroom.

You can hear the adult Bible study classes above you because you're stuck in the basement.

Wood paneling that was put up in 1967.

Kids who are first-time guests are frightened because they think they're in a hospital.

Your nursery cribs are in compliance with all safety regulations...before 1955.

You have theming on the walls that was hand-painted by someone in your church who is obviously not a professional artist.

An overhead projector with a transparency that says "Father Abraham" is the best technology in the room.

There's a flannel-graph board sitting in a prominent place.

The only way guests can find your children's area is by following the smell of dirty diapers.

The ceiling tiles have so many water stain spots that it takes an hour to count them.

The paint on the walls is so old that it has been in style...3 times.

You wouldn't know it was the children's area unless someone told you.

Your congregation primarily consists of people over the age of 60.

Your preschool toys consist of a Curious George pop out of the box, Weeble Wobbles, Fisher Price little people family farm that says "moo" when you open the barn door, corn popper push toy, Fisher Price little people school bus, a Stretch Armstrong, and a Cabbage Patch doll that's missing half it's hair.

There are Bibleman VHS tapes on the shelves.

Kids eyes don't light up when they walk in.

If this is you and you're ready for a makeover, I recommend...

www.wackyworld.tv
www.littlemountainproductions.com
www.worldsofwow.com
www.creativeforkids.com
www.jonathanmartincreative.com

Money spent enhancing your children's ministry area is one of the best investments your church will ever make.