So, you've heard all the buzz now about The Gospel Project! Can you tell that we're more than a little excited about this? And we want to help you generate that excitement in your kids ministry as you launch this new curriculum at your church. So, below are 10 tips to help you get started!
- Coloring Contest for Teachers - Included in each week's lesson is an activity page for the child to color and discuss with the teacher. Download the first week's page and have a coloring contest for the teachers. Display their artwork for all to see and maybe even vote! Give each and every one some type of award - most colorful, most creative, best use of crayons, best use of markers, most imaginative, you get the idea!
- Use Social Media. Go viral! Send out Facebook posts, texts and tweets to build excitement over the weeks prior to the launch. If you need suggestions, each week in the "printables" section, you'll find suggestions for each of these forms of social media to help get you started.
- Scavenger Hunt. Have a scavenger hunt for your teachers prior to the launch. Use clues to lead them from place to place - such as the room where large group will take place or to the DVD player where the Bible Story video will be shown, then to the room where small group activities will take place, to your resource room, etc.
- Photo Shoot. For each of the four Sundays prior to the launch, have volunteers dressed in biblical costumes who will either roam around the halls interacting with kids and families or pose in the foyer to talk about the Bible stories that will be taught. Have a photographer follow close by to take pictures of kids with the Bible personalities.
- Training Session! But make it fun! Show the videos that will help alleviate some anxiety a teacher might feel if they're not a good storyteller. Let your teachers actually experience a session before they present it. Provide fun themed snacks that will go with the session.
- Decorate! If you've purchased the timeline poster or visual pack, be sure to hang items in the hallways during the month prior to your launch! You can even enlarge the art from the Big Picture Cards for Families!
- Question Marks??? Cut out large question marks from colorful paper and hang them on the walls. On each question mark, write out one of "The Big Questions" that will be answered in the upcoming sessions. For fun, you might even put up a large tear sheet and let kids write down questions they'd like to ask God.
- Conversation Starter Videos. For several weeks prior to your launch, play one of the Conversation Starter videos during Worship. These are short, fun videos that will create conversation and get your kids and their parents excited and anxious to hear the rest of the story.
- Play a Game. In your foyer or kids ministry area, set up a game of "Which Came First" that asks the players to put Bible stories in chronological order. Use the Big Picture Cards for Families as your game pieces. (For even more eye-catching impact, you may want to enlarge them.) Ask kids and parents to work on the game together and share with them how The Gospel Project is going to help them get to know the answers.
- Hold The Gospel Proejct Party! Be sure to come back on Friday and read Jeff Land's blog post! He'll have lots of great ideas to help make your launch party a success!
How are you planning to launch The Gospel Project at your church? Share your ideas!
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Over the past few weeks you've heard a lot about LifeWay's newest Bible study resource, The Gospel Project for Kids. It has recently gone on sale and if you choose the digital delivery system, you'll have access instantly to the first full volume.
There have been lots of posts about The Gospel Project. You can search this blog should you need to revisit any of the particulars...but I wanted to share what I believe to be the top three reasons one might choose to use The Gospel Project in your kids ministry.
#1: The Christ Centered Chronological approach to the Bible. Helping kids see the entire Bible through the lens of Christ is huge. Instead of the Gospel being just Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the entire Bible is the Gospel—God's redemptive plan to rescue us from sin and death. The logical, linear chronological approach will help kids to see scripture with order, from Genesis to Revelation, allowing the Gospel to work and transform.
#2: The Video and Low Prep Options. The Gospel Project for Kids includes video options that I think you're going to love. Both the preschool and the kids editions provide a Bible story video. You might use it every week, you might use it occasionally, or you might not use it at all (the written Bible stories are still in the leader resource)... but when it comes to prep time and making sure you don't bore kids with poor story telling. These videos are excellent options. Additionally, there are low prep options throughout the resource (easily identified with a "low prep" icon) helping busy teachers and last-minute substitutes to lead a successful Bible learning experience.
#3: The Electronic/Customizable Delivery Option. This is a first for LifeWay Kids and many of you have already shared with me that you will definitely be choosing this option. This digital delivery offers churches the ability to customize the resource, deliver leader resources via email, and have instant access as each volume is released. If digital isn't your preference, the printed version will be available.
The Gospel Project for Kids is a wonderful Bible Study resource for use on Sunday morning, Sunday night, mid-week, or any time kids are gathered to learn about God's plan for their lives.
Don't miss the opportunity to check out the first four sessions by joining the Pilot Program. You'll receive access to everything so you can investigate, take it for a test drive, see where it works best for you. I think you'll be pleased with what you find!
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05.18.12
Friday Fail: Mishaps in KidMin
The setting was Mt. Lebanon Christian Camp in Dallas, Texas. I had been part-time children’s minister at First Baptist Church, Cedar Hill for about six months and had taken my first group of kids to camp. I was so excited and was thrilled to see how they would grow and learn.
Each night while at camp, I led a devotion and prayer time with our kids.
Of course, any of you who have ever asked kids for their prayer requests know the experience can be a little like opening a can of worms. This occasion was no different.
One of the youngest little boys shared his prayer request and it went a little bit like this:
I want to pray for my dog because sometimes at night he gets out and he runs away. He likes to run down the road and sometimes he gets hit by cars. We need to pray that he will stay in and not get out and get hit by a car because sometimes he gets out and sometimes he gets hit by a car. I am worried about him because he will get out so we need to pray that he will stay in.
I was like, “Whoa!” That’s a lot of prayer request for a little dog. And I certainly understood his concern. People love their pets. But then, he finished up with this:
Please pray he won’t get out because the last time he got out he got hit by a car … and he died.
Wow! I had shown great concern for his prayer request and then he culminates it by telling me the dog was already dead.
So, I bet you are wondering where the fail was, right?
Remember that I was 23 at the time and very new to children’s ministry. I had listened carefully to his prayer request, I guess a little too seriously because when he told me his dog had died, I just lost it. I cracked up. I laughed so hard--so hard someone else had to come and pray!
I told you it was bad! I won't ever forget that moment. I do want to let you know that I followed up with the kid and told him I was sorry for being disrespectful and that I would pray for --you guessed it-- his NEW dog.
What's your prayer request fail? Come on now, I know you have one!
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fail, funny stories, kidmin
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Did you know that Facebook recently became the most popular website in the United States? They have more that 450 million users world-wide, with millions being added every week! Chances are pretty good that some of the people who belong to Facebook are folks who are involved in your ministry or are people you'd like to reach with your ministry!
Just have a social media presence. There are many options to choose from, but we've found that most parents and volunteers use their Facebook account more often than Twitter or other social networks. Determine what network your parents and volunteers are using and add them as a friend them so they see your messages! Be specific when you name your page. There are lots of "FBC Kids" ministries out there!
UPDATE, UPDATE, UPDATE! Facebook is a free, quick, and easy (and sometimes even the best!) way to communicate with parents and volunteers. If you already have a personal Facebook account, (which you probably do if you found this blog!) you know how easy it is to communicate a message to your friends.
Be safe. Do not post full names of kids, especially accompanied by pictures. Make sure that if you post an image of a child, you have consent from a parent or guardian.
Be consistent. If your goal is to create a place where parents can count on updated information about schedules/changes/cancellations, etc., be consistent in your approach. Respond to questions from parents and volunteers in a timely manner.
Have FUN. It's surprising how much fun interacting with your online community can be! Parents love hearing (and seeing!) what their kids are doing at church. When they see how much fun you're having in the kids ministry, they may even be more inclined to volunteer. Who could pass up all that fun!?
Those are the basics! Think you're ready to get started? If you need help, grab a an older youth group member or college student to help you get rolling. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me an email at katie.decillo@lifeway.com.
I'll be back with more tips and trips soon, so stay tuned!
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I want to share with you about the world greatest Sunday School teacher, Faye Scott.
Faye Scott was my 5th grade Sunday School teacher. I don't really remember any of the Bible stories that Mrs. Scott taught our class (even though I know she must have taught them weekly), and I don't even remember the life application that she would have taught on those Bible stories we heard. What I do remember well is that Faye Scott loved here 5th grade students.
You see, it was during my 5th grade year that my Grandfather came to live with us. Actually, he came to die with us. My mother's father had cancer and in the last weeks of his life, he lived with my family. I remember the day he died very clearly.
In Georgia (where I grew up) we grieve best on a full stomach! In our tradition, when a family member passes away the entire church rallies at your home with tons of food... casseroles, pound cakes, pies, and lots of fried chicken. And that's exactly what happened when my grandfather died.
I remember sitting back and watching all this unfold. I watched as my pastor and his wife showed up, my music minister and his wife, our church family... in action, ministering during crisis. I remember when my Sunday School teacher, Faye Scott, walked in the door carrying a tray full of brownies (or maybe cookies...either way it caught my attention). My mom greeted Faye and they exchanged the usual, "I'm so sorry for your loss" and "Thank you for coming." When my mom reached out to take the tray of goodies Mrs. Scott quickly turned and said to my mom, "Oh no... I brought these for Bill!"
I have never forgotten that act of love, kindness, and MINISTRY shown to ME by MY 5th grade Sunday School teacher! My minister to boys and girls has been forever influenced by Faye Scott's acts of kindness and love.
Faye Scott will forever be the worlds greatest Sunday School teacher (at least to me). Not because of her degrees in childhood education or her theological insights or even her doctrinal stands and political preferences...she is the worlds greatest Sunday School teacher because she lived out the love of Christ to a chubby 5th grade boy she taught in Sunday School.
THE REST OF THE STORY: Last summer, after a 15 month battle with Leukemia, my father passed away. After the service was over, my family and I were standing outside if front of the church greeting friends who had come to support us and express their condolences for our loss. Guess who was there... the worlds greatest Sunday School teacher... 40 years later, still ministering to her 5th grade student! Yep, Faye Scott was there, just like she was when my grandfather died. She was still loving on, caring for, and representing Christ though her actions to that chubby (middle aged) kid.
You can be the worlds greatest Sunday School teacher to the kids you teach. Bible study is a must, life application is vital... but ministry is key! They may forget what you say with your words, but they'll always remember what you did with your actions.
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