by Michael Chanley

CPC Orlando is over; rather, it has just begun. The conversations started in Florida will become a central part of what we do for many years to come. We revealed more about who we are and who we hope to become than anything else.

We challenge everyone to stand with us to become a part of the International Network of Children’s Ministry as, together, we set a new standard for ministering to children globally.

We cast the vision of our new purpose statement: To serve God and to serve those called to serve His children. Or more simply put: serve | serve | serve.
We rolled out plans for two new regional events. Launching in 2012:

• CONNECT:Milwaukee, in partnership with Elmbrook Church and David C Cook
• CONNECT:Atlanta, in partnership with the Orange Conference.

As we develop our CONNECT events, we hope you will be in prayer about opportunities in your area. Join us for these and other regional events… yes, there are more to come!

We are also excited to introduce “red”, the new children’s ministry service representative. red is a great way to get help throughout the year. Just call 919.4.red.HELP (919.473.3445) or tweet @INCMaskred and we will be there to serve you. It is like a kidmin emergency help line.

We also introduced our new Global Focus Director, Lori Bethran, at CPC Orlando. As well as shared our plans to do a conference in Hong Kong, Belize, Egypt and with the possibility of several other international conferences.
This fall, September 13-14, we will host the first ever CM Leaders Conference in Columbus, Ohio. This new event will be designed to build on the five initiatives as we enter a new conversation about what is needed to lead in Children’s Ministry.

We had the honor of recognizing some very deserving folks at CPC Orlando. Jim Wideman was awarded the first ever INCM Legacy Award and Dale Hudson and Linda Ranson Jacobs were awarded individual INCM Service Awards.

If you missed us in Orlando, we hope you will join us in San Diego, February 27 – March 1. We have a great event planned with many more surprises and exciting updates. It is all to serve our King and to serve you, who serve His children!

Thank you for your ministry and for joining us as we pray for those serving in children’s ministry internationally!

by Kurt Goble

The use of in-house video is an increasingly popular trend in children’s ministry. But for the person who has no experience shooting and editing, it can be hard to know where to start. Let’s take an entry-level look at basic video production for children’s ministry.

There is a set of questions that seem to automatically come to mind when one decides to delve into this medium. What kind of equipment is needed? How much will it cost? How does the process work? What benefits can I expect? How can I make it look and sound good? Let¹s begin by taking a look at why this trend is becoming so popular.

Videos that are produced by curriculum and publishing companies are a great resource. Companies like Kidmo, Timbuktoons, Think Big, and Elevate offer us high-quality, well-produced video products that would be far too expensive, time consuming, and technically advanced for most of us to create on our own. These products can work great within their marketed context, or as components of your own program. So why not just stick with these resources? Although you will probably not achieve the same production qualities, in-house videos offer some powerful advantages.

The foremost of these is the fact that you get to decide what the content of the video will be. You get to take that great idea, or powerful concept and bring it to life on the screen. You get to create something that works perfectly within the context of your lesson.

Another great advantage is that your kids get to see you and your volunteers onscreen. This creates a powerful connection and engages students on a different level. You and your staff, or volunteers can get away with being silly, poking fun at yourselves and employing inside jokes. There’s also the fact that you know your kids well enough to know what they will respond to in terms of age-appropriateness, humor, and pop-culture references. It all begins with a solid concept and good content.

Before getting into the specifics of equipment and software, a basic principal of video production should be understood. Good videos begin with good concepts. This is important to remember because a great concept it will carry your video much farther than fancy camerawork or editing. No amount of soundtrack or flash will carry a video that doesn¹t have a solid working concept. 90% of your success will depend on your concept. In fact, if you make a video with bad lighting, sloppy camerawork, compromised sound quality, and rudimentary editing, it will be wildly successful if your concept is great. This is so important because many have a propensity toward spending too much time shooting and editing and not enough time conceptualizing and planning.

So what does a good concept look like? First of all, you have to start with your purpose. Think about what you are teaching and what you want to communicate with your kids. A good example would look like this: “With our pre-teens, we are studying Judges. We’re talking about how Israel had no king and everyone did as they saw fit. They were a nation in anarchy. God wanted to be their King, but they didn’t want to follow Him. The story ends in murder, civil war, kidnapping, and all sorts of evil. This speaks to us because it illustrates that life without God’s authority is a mess. How can we illustrate this idea for the kids?”

A bad example of conceptualizing would look like this: “With our pre-teens we are studying Judges. You know what would be funny? Let’s be the judges from American Idol!” Although there is a semantic connection here, this concept would lock us into a format that doesn’t illustrate the main point of our story. That is when we reach to make a connection; the video gets complicated, and looses its effectiveness. A good video will be easy to follow, and center on one concept.

Good conceptualizing happens when you thoughtfully consider what you want to communicate before you decide how you want to communicate it. If you will notice, in the “good” example, we decided exactly what we wanted the video to illustrate. This guides and directs our process by defining our task.

“We need to make a video that will illustrate that life without God’s authority is a mess.” This is where the brainstorming begins. When you brainstorm you come up with ideas that illustrate your point and then run them through the filter of feasibility: “No authority, ¬no king, no God, no rules. What if you had a classroom with no rules? No, that would take a huge cast. No rules? Driving with no rules. What if we drove around and didn’t follow the rules of the road?
Too dangerous! But I¹m liking this no rules thing. No rules in sports.”

“Could we do a sport? Something one on one. Tennis? No rules tennis? That’s not physical enough. How about basketball? We’ll get two guys to agree to play no-rules one-on-one basketball. They can act like they are tripping and tackling each other on the court, and then we can end it with them with bandages and crutches talking about what a bad idea it was to play with no rules.”

After this we have to state the purpose of our video so that we can stick to the concept and make the point as effectively as possible. “I am teaching the kids that life without God’s authority is a mess. We are going to illustrate this in a video that shows what a mess a game of basketball would be if you removed the authority of the rules.” At this point our task is very clear. We aren¹t making a video for the sake of being cool or silly or relevant. We are making a video for a specific purpose, to communicate a specific idea.

Now we can start talking about equipment. Since we are only able to scratch the surface of video production here, I am going to make recommendations based on the following assumptions: (1) You have little or no experience producing videos. (2) You have not yet invested in any equipment. (3) You are going to begin on an entry-level in terms of equipment, software and budget.

Camera
My entry-level recommendation for a camera would be a Flip Video® Camcorder.
This is a small video recorder with a built in microphone and automatic focus, exposure and audio compression. It is about the size of a digital point-and-shoot camera and is an amazing value for what it does. Although this camera will not afford you the ability to zoom or perform any advanced techniques like overexposure or artistic focusing, the advantages are abundant for the beginner. The Flip® is simple to use and inexpensive. The cost starts at $150, with the HD version starting at $200. It stores an hour of video on flash memory. Transferring video to your computer is a snap, because the camera turns each clip into a file. This makes the process just like transferring pictures from your digital camera. Although Mini DV cameras have their advantages, video must be “captured” from the tape and turned into computer files. This is often a long and tedious process that is bypassed when using a flash-video recorder like the Flip®.

Computer
In terms of system stability, ease of use, render time (how long you have to wait while the computer “thinks”), and final product, Apple® is the better choice for editing video. Apple computers come loaded with iMovie®, which is a very basic and user friendly video editing program. When choosing an Apple®, avoid the Mac Mini®, which isn¹t quite powerful enough to quickly and seamlessly edit video. The more memory and processing power you have, the faster and easier your editing will be.

If you are going to edit on a PC, make sure you have at least 2 GB of Ram and a 2Ghz processor. In either case, you will need enough hard drive space to handle your projects. Videos files are typically very large and can fill up your hard drive faster than you would expect. As with an Apple®, more memory and processing power is always better.

Software
Although the Apple comes loaded with iMovie®, the addition of Final Cut Express® will open up a world of possibilities. This software will take some time to learn, but helpful tutorials are available to get you started. Final Cut Express® has lots of fun effects and transitions built in and allow you to do things like cropping, titles, and adjusting the speed of your video. Final Cut Express® costs $200, and is available through Apple®.

Most likely, a new PC will also come with basic preloaded editing software. But, I would recommend that PC users upgrade to Adobe Premier Elements®. This program is comparable to Final Cut Express® in its features and functionality. Premier Elements® costs $150, and is available through Adobe®.

With either program on either computing format, it is going to take time to learn what you are doing. Basic video editing consists of importing your video clips into a bin, and then dropping them into a timeline in your desired order. After that there’s cutting, volume adjustments, color adjustments, and exporting, just to name a few of the operations you will need to learn. It takes time and patience, but video editing a worth while skill.

Some more tips
• Movement is good!
While shooting your video you will want to put your camera on a tripod for still shots. But when your camera is handheld, it is impossible to hold it perfectly stable. This makes your video look shaky. If you are shooting handheld, slowly and steadily move the camera around as you shoot your subject. This makes your movement look intentional, and gives the whole video a sense of motion.

• A different way of looking at things
Use extreme angles. Put the camera right next to the ground and shoot a hard up-angle. Hold it up high and shoot down. This provides variety and makes your video more interesting.

• Keep it Short
While editing, make our video as short as possible. Cut out dead space and awkward transitions. This will make for a more fast-paced and engaging video.

• Don’t get too fancy
Don’t go crazy with preloaded transitions and effects. If you start to use too many of these, your video will come across as cheap and amateur. Too much flash can also be distracting. It can take away from the personal and familiar nature of your in-house video. If you try too hard to look professional, your video will probably look like you were trying too hard. Go for a basic, homespun look.

• Set up concepts
Some of the best videos are ones that communicate a basic concept to set up a lesson. Trying to tell a whole story or teach a lesson via video can be cumbersome.

• A Punch Line
Try to end your video with a punch line. This can be anything that provokes a thought or gets a laugh. Your transition out of the video and into your lesson or activity will be much smoother if the video doesn’t just “trail off” at the end.

Kurt Goble has made more mistakes than anyone in the history of Children’s Ministry. But he loves sharing what he’s learned from all those mistakes. For 13 years Kurt has served as children’s pastor at First Christian Church of Huntington Beach, where he shares God’s Word with kids through the technical arts. He is a graduate of Bethel College and a curriculum author. He and Heidi are happily married with two kids.

by Dale Hudson

We are finishing up the remodeling of our church nursery. It has been such a fun project for me. I love the nursery. There is nothing more precious to me than walking through our nursery on the weekends.

What are some of the keys to an excellent nursery? Here are my top ten tips for creating a loving and nurturing environment for the little ones.

1. Sanitary. 

• It should look, smell, and sparkle with cleanliness. 
• This means weekly cleaning, disinfecting toys after every service, washing sheets, etc.

2. Sane.

• This starts with your nursery director. This person will set the tone for your nursery. The director should be someone with a pleasant personality. Someone who stays calm and collected even when children are crying at their highest decibels. Someone who connects well with parents and has experience as the parent of small children.
• There will be crying. There will be times when a child is not having a good day. There will be days when a child is having separation anxiety. But sanity can still be attained. Bubble blowers, an aquarium, and other techniques can be used to keep things sane.
• Have proper adult to child ratios. This is vital. We strive for 1 adult for every child. It’s a lot easier for a volunteer to keep things sane when they are placed in a proper ratio.

3. Secure.

• Create an environment where parents feel comfortable leaving their most precious possession.
• Security tags. Children are only released to the person who checked them in and has the matching security tag.
• Only people who have been through an interview and background check process are allowed to serve.
• Only females are allowed to change diapers.
• Have security cameras in every room.
• Never allow a volunteer to be alone with a child. No exceptions. If you don’t have two volunteers, then don’t open the room.
• We have a police officer stationed in the nursery hallway. You can never be too secure. Parents will notice and appreciate it.

4. Sick-free. 

• Have a child wellness policy posted at each room and hold to it.

5.  Soggy-free. (just made that word up I think)

• Make 1 Corinthians 15:51 your theme verse. It says “We will not all sleep…but we will all be changed.”
• Put a sticker on the fresh diaper that says “I was changed.”

6. Scheduled.

• Seeds of faith can be planted in children’s hearts and minds even in their early months.
• Have a scheduled time during the hour to sing to the children, tell them a Bible story, pray over them, and tell them, “Jesus loves you.”
• We have a key Bible verse promise on the wall in each room. Our volunteers pray these Bible promises over the children. We partner with parents as they pray the verse over their child during the week as well.

7. Servant Filled.

• The people serving in the nursery should be people who want to be there. I’m not a proponent of “requiring” parents to serve in the nursery. Some will want to, but for others the best thing for them is to be worshiping and serving in another area.
• Look for people who have the heart of a servant. People who are willing to change diapers, get down on the floor, hold a crying child, and rock a baby to sleep.

8. Soothing.

• Families should walk into a soothing environment. 
• Play soft lullabies in your hallways. 
• Use relaxing colors.
• Pick people to be your greeters who are full of smiles and a gentle spirit.

9. Safe.

• Wall outlets and cabinets should be childproof.
• Know the allergies and special dietary needs of children.
• Regularly check toys and equipment for safety.

10. Supplied.

• Sunday morning is not the time to run out of wet wipes. Keep inventory of your supplies. 
• Use the church’s diapers instead of parent’s diapers. Parents will appreciate it and you never know…you may bless a family that is in financial hardship. Diapers are expensive for a family on a limited budget.

The nursery is one of the most important areas of a church. It is where the earliest foundations are laid for a lifetime of following Christ. A growing nursery also means you are reaching young families which reflects a healthy church.

What are some tips you have for an excellent nursery? Share them with us. Especially if they start with the letter “S.”

Dale Hudson has been in Children’s Ministry for over twenty-two years. He is the Director of Children’s Ministry at Christ Fellowship Church in South Florida. Christ Fellowship is a multi-campus church with five campuses. Dale was recently named one of the top twenty influencers in Children’s Ministry by Children’s Ministry Magazine. He speaks at conferences across the country encouraging and equipping other Children’s Ministry leaders. He is the Leading Volunteers columnist for Children’s Ministry Magazine and has co-authored three books. Dale and his wife, Pamela, have been married for over twenty-two years and have two sons, Josh who is twenty, and Caleb who is seventeen.  You can read more about Dale’s ministry journey at www.relevantchildrensministry.blogspot.comor meet up with him on facebook or twitter:@dalehudsoncm.

by Roger Fields

Since 1996, Kidz Blitz has conducted hundreds of family events in every denomination acrossAmerica. Here are the secrets we have learned.

WHY DO IT?

Like anything else you do, you need a reason why you would want to conduct a family event. The last thing you need is more responsibility for no good reason. Unless you have a clear objective, don’t do it. But, there are some good reasons for hosting a family event. Here are the best ones.

First, an event structured for both parents and kids generates a shared family experience. In other words, everybody enjoys doing an event together. That’s rare in our society and even rarer in church. Kids do most activities by themselves or with other kids: school, sports, play, computer, etc. It is not typical for parents and kids to engage in an activity together. The days of family farm work are gone. However, kids need to feel they are woven into a family. This is vital as they grow older and need adult input into life’s decisions. Shared activities help to weave families together.

Secondly, family events can be effective outreach tools. Since there are few events in the community that engage parents and kids together, non-churched and church attending families will often consider attending a creative event in a church that appeals to them. Think about this, polls have shown that 90% of the parents inAmericasay they believe they are responsible for the spiritual upbringing of their kids. Even non-churched parents have a felt need when it comes to impacting their kids spiritually. If the church offers an event that looks enjoyable and it helps parents connect with their kids, it will resonate with most families in your community. Don’t be afraid to make the event evangelistic. Non-churched families are not offended as long as the invitation to accept the Lord is not pushy or manipulative.

Thirdly, family events are the perfect way to get fringe people in your church involved. No volunteer position is safer than the one that will expire when the job is over. Mr. Johnson is not about to get involved in children’s ministry because he knows he might get trapped into volunteering indefinitely. But, a family event is different. He knows his kids will probably want to attend anyway so it is a small, safe step for him to jump in and help. What he doesn’t know is that he might actually enjoy working with people from the church. This temp job might be the perfect doorway into serving the in church on a regular basis. For this reason, family events almost always produce new church volunteers.

SECRETS

Here are a few secrets that will help you promote your event without spending a lot of money.

1. Choose your words carefully. “Shared family experience” is often better received than “family event.” To many people, “family event” does not mean the entire family will enjoy it. It means the event is appropriate for kids. It might be the most boring event in the world and still be considered a “family event” just because there is no profanity, violence or sexual material. Here are some phrases that work well.
1. “An exciting event for parents and kids”
2. “A super-cool event parents and kids will both enjoy”
3. “A red hot, fun event for mom, dad and the kids”
2. Charge for tickets. Always. Never conduct a family event inAmericafor free. Americans assume “free” means “worthless.” If you want to make the event an outreach event for non-churched families, then NEVER do it for free. Non-churched families do not understand a free event. They think there is a catch somewhere. (Who knows, you might try to sell them a time-share.) They would rather shell out the money than risk being tricked into something that was promoted as “free.” I get a lot of resistance when I teach this in seminars, but this truth is a universal perception inAmerica, even in low-income areas.
3. Setting a door price and a lower advance price will help you predict the size of your event. If the price at the door is the same as the advance price, you will have no idea how many people are coming to your event. If there is no incentive for them to buy tickets early, they won’t. If you decide to offer free tickets, you cannot rely on ticket distribution to indicate the size of the crowd. People will take free tickets in case they decide to come later. If there is no outlay upfront, there is no commitment to attend. If you give out free tickets, give out twice as many as the capacity of your auditorium. I have found that half the people who take free tickets will not come. The exception to this rule is some Christmas programs that have a capacity crowd each year and divide the crowd over several nights using free tickets.
4. Motivate people to invite other people. People draw people. If the kids and parents of your church are enthused enough to invite other families to your event, it will be well attended. With the exception of a celebrity they already follow, people do not attend anything unfamiliar. Few people will attend your family event because they saw a poster, heard it on the radio, saw it on TV or spotted a billboard. Americans are advertisement resistant. Unless someone they trust encourages them to attend a particular event, they probably won’t come. Here are a few of the most effective–and inexpensive–ways to encourage your church to invite people:
1. Show the kids an exciting promotional video so they will want their friends to experience the event. Let them see what you are talking about.
2. Give away guest passes to paying families that can only be used for families outside of the church. They, in turn, will give them to their friends. This is different than a free ticket. A “guest pass” is a ticket worth the face value, therefore it is viewed as more valuable than a free ticket. Give kids guest passes. Something they can hold in their hands reminds them to invite other kids.
3. Reward kids who bring 3 friends. It’s better to give away several small prizes as opposed to one large prize. A large prize will motivate, but when you give it away you will have made one person happy and disappointed all the rest. That’s a down note to end on.
4. Put up cool posters around the church. This is cheap and easy.
5. Enlist a large core of workers. Your event workers will not only help you run the event, they generate promotional momentum. They will talk to others about their responsibilities in the event thus they start a buzz. Once you get a buzz going you are over half way to a well-attended event.
6. Choose an event that appeals to all ages. Most concerts and speakers appeal to only a specific age demographic. Events that prompt participation across age lines are the best family events. Fall festivals work well. An exciting field trip (ball game, zoo, etc.) provides an activity that families can do together. Kidz Blitz Live (my personal favorite J) is the premier, Christian, family event inAmerica. Whatever you choose, make sure it has the potential to create a buzz.

The more you conduct family events, the better you will get. From each experience you will learn something new. Build on what you learn, and soon you will be conducting events that connect parents with their kids, reach out to new families and involves new workers. That’s what I would call “wildly successful.”

Roger Fields is the president of Kidz Blitz Ministries and the creator of Kidz Blitz Live, America’s premier Christian event for the whole family. Roger has conducted hundreds of events coast to coast in every major denomination. Since 1996, Kidz Blitz Live has reached over 800,000 children and families with the Word of God and over 30,000 made first-time confessions of faith in Christ. Today, three event directors conduct these high-octane, family events nationwide and in Canada. He hangs out at KidzBlitz.com.

by Ryan Frank

Twitter may be the next big thing in social networking. Since its creation in 2006 by Jack Dorsey, everyone seems to be on Twitter. President Barack Obama? Yep. Britney Spears? You bet, and on I could go. Although Twitter won’t disclose their number of active accounts, a few months ago it was ranked by Compete.com as the third most used social network.

Just recently, my wife and I took Luci to her great-grandparents for a visit. When I walked in the house I saw MC Hammer being interviewed on Fox News. I wasn’t in the door for ten seconds before being asked, “What’s it mean that he has over one million followers on Twitter?” It’s fun explaining Twitter to someone in their seventies.

I’ll take a few sentences to explain Twitter to some of you who may be scratching your heads. Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service (no, I didn’t use those terms with the grandparents). Here’s how I explained it to them. Instead of sending a dozen e-mails or text messages, you send one message to your Twitter account, and it goes to all your friends (or followers). You could also explain it as a service that functions like a giant bulletin board where anyone can stick a short note. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? The difficult part is keeping your updates to 140 characters or less.

I have been Twittering for around eight months. Jim Wideman called my cell phone one evening and started telling about the “young guns” (that’s what Jim calls them) that he was following on Twitter. He said, “Bud, you better sign up.” I decided to try it for a month and I was hooked.

Why should you Twitter? I read an article in Forbes titled “Yes, CEOs Should Facebook and Twitter”. What was their point? Social networking is not just for teenagers anymore. It can be an effective leadership tool. In this article, I am going to share ten reasons why I choose to Twitter.

1. Twitter allows you to meet new people. A little obvious, I know. The open “follow” is one of Twitter’s coolest features. Unlike Facebook, you don’t have to be accepted as a friend to start communicating. A simple “follow” is enough (unless you have protected your updates).

2. Twitter is simple. It does one small thing, and does it well. Twitter answers one question: What are you doing? In 140 characters you keep up with others and let them know what you’re doing. I’ve heard it all–from “Staff meeting in full swing” to “Eating soup with a fork. Need to make a supply run this week.”

3. Twitter doesn’t sell ad space on their site (at least for now). Twitter’s popularity is growing like mad, but they haven’t attempted to cash in on the popularity, yet. It’s anyone’s guess how the 3-year-old start-up intends to pay its bills after it exhausts its $55 million venture capital. For now, Twitter is very clean and pure.

4. Twitter gives you instant feedback. Got a question about Fellowship One? Ask. Need a PowerPoint game for Wednesday night? Ask. Looking for a place to eat the next time you swing through Sweetser, Indiana? I doubt you’ll ever ask that question, but if so, go for it. I’ve asked questions on Twitter and have heard back from children’s ministry friends within minutes. Amazing.

5. Twitter provides a connection with friends and others in ministry. I don’t have to tell you how busy and crazy our world is. Twitter makes keeping up with people easy and fun. I’ve never viewed Twitter as a contest to see how many I can follow or how many start following me. It’s about relationships!

6. Twitter is a creative way to learn from each other. What attracted me to Twitter was the opportunity to learn from others. I’ve heard Jim Wideman say a dozen times that colonels hang out with colonels. Twitter is a good way to do that.

7. Twitter creates subtle marketing opportunities. Don’t go into Twitter with the intent of marketing your company, your church, or even yourself in general. People will stop listening. However, if you are real and show a genuine side of yourself, people will give you permission to share what you have to offer with them. Keep Twitter personal.

8. Twitter drives traffic to your blog. I have noticed an increase in the number of visits to my blog (ryanfrank.com) since I have been Twittering. My blog is where I really have the opportunity to pour into other leaders online. Twittering should increase traffic to your blog or website, too.

9. Twitter is fun but doesn’t take a ton of time. It pulls people back day after day, hour after hour, because it’s just plain fun. How much time does it take? I spend less than 30 minutes a day on Twitter and I consider myself an active Twitterer. I normally post 3-5 updates a day and they only take me seconds to type. The other time is spent doing several “quick reads” of what the people I am following have to say. It’s good use of my time.

10. It makes you think about your life. This is one of the biggest things I like about Twitter. Asking myself the question, “what am I doing?” several times a day is a good exercise; it keeps me intentional about how I choose to spend my time.

Twitter is a new tool to communicate, connect and network. If you’re not a Twitter user, do what I did and check it out for yourself. Remember, it’s free. If you don’t like it, I’ll still be your friend and we won’t cancel your subscription to K! Magazine. In fact, you can always do something crazy like actually talk to someone in person.

Ryan Frank is the children’s pastor at Liberty Baptist Church in Sweetser, Indiana. He is the creator of KidzMatter Inc. and the publisher of K! Magazine. Ryan also serves on the board of directors for the International Network of Children’s Ministry. You can find Ryan on Twitter at twitter.com/r_frank and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ryfrank. Ryan also blogs at ryanfrank.com.

by Donna Lucas

Christmas is over, CPC is here—and for me, VBS starts in just 25 weeks! My heart’s beating a little faster with anticipation (and I’ll admit it, a little fear)! I remember how those last few weeks before VBS can get crowded with millions of details. (Makes my palms sweat just thinking about it!)  So I have to be intentional now about preparing for one BIG reason our church holds VBS—to connect with families in our community whose kids come to VBS for the first time!

This is a great time for me to stop and think through my plans and strategies for making those family connections. When I prepare well in advance to connect with unchurched families, it means that the details are in place (as much as possible!), it won’t become a stressful last-minute detail, or—worse yet—an idea that slips through the cracks for another year, crowded out by the decorating and logistics and crazy fun.

God hands us this amazing opportunity every year—it’s wise not to waste it! So I formulate my goal: To surprise these parents with the amount of love our church has for them and their families! That goal flows from a bigger goal: To see God’s love change their hearts and draw them in to become people who follow Jesus!

So, how do we surprise them with love and communicate God’s love to them in ways that have meaning for them?  Here are some steps.

Show up in places they least expect.

We don’t just say goodbye at the door and hope for the best. We make sure we have their contact information. We begin to pray for them and invite our church to do the same. We “friend” them on Facebook. We invite them for coffee. We visit them, call them, text them, invite them to events—and we keep it up until they believe we really care . . . because we do. (Yes, this may take a year-round volunteer. What a great opportunity for a senior who is passionate about Jesus and computer savvy, too!)

Become relevant to their lives.

We offer family events that they can attend with their kids. We offer them useful information about family life. We have Parents’ Date Nights, classes on parenting topics (on Sunday morning that are held at the same time as kids’ Sunday School). And we make sure that they know about these things!

A few other simple, practical ways to reach out:

• Make plenty of extra theme-related coloring pages.  Keep them on hand during VBS, not just as time fillers but also as items kids can color and take home—especially pages with the Bible verses on them!  Any way we can get Scripture into the home is a plus.

• Introduce the Bible Content during opening assembly.  Parents often hang around until the opening assembly is over. So while they’re still in the back, take the opportunity to introduce the daily Bible theme in a creative way—a funny skit, a stunt or a video!  Make it fun and fast, but do it before the parents scoot out the door.

• Bring prayer to VBS! We all need prayer. Set up a prayer room at VBS in a place that’s convenient for parents who are moving in and out. Place signs that invite parents, staff or anyone to come in and get prayer support!  Ask a couple of your church’s prayer volunteers to make this their VBS ministry. (It’s another great place to plug in a husband and wife team who are retirees and mature believers!) Create a soothing atmosphere; for those who don’t want to pray, provide cards they can fill out to pass on to your prayer team. This is another valuable way to connect with the hearts of a new family.

• Send out daily Parent Newsletters. (They may be included in your VBS kit, or make your own in advance.)  Include information on what kids are learning—the Bible passage or story, the Bible Memory Verse, a brief paragraph about how the Bible content connects to family life.  And don’t forget your VBS announcements!  (Gospel Light VBS includes Parent Newsletters in our kits. They’re on a CD-ROM so you can modify them for your own VBS and then print!)

• Delegate, so that you’re free to meet every family. If you don’t have to do everything yourself, you will have time to greet each and every family there—and be sure to have your pastor do the same!

Connecting with new families in ways that touch their hearts can turn the success of VBS into a longer-lasting—and by God’s grace, life-changing—experience!

Serving Christ through you,

Donna Lucas

Publishing Director

Gospel Light /Children’s Ministry Resources

donna.lucas@gospellight.com

Donna Lucas, a pastor’s daughter from New York, left the world of big-budget fashion shoots and world travel to serve VBS and Sunday School teachers as Gospel Light’s Publishing Director. She’s also head cheerleader (and laundress) for the Lucas Three, her amazing girl athletes. Married to her favorite athlete of all, Jack, for over twenty years. She also volunteers in Children’s Ministry every week at her church.

by Amy Fenton Lee

It is not uncommon to have a child participating in the typical the children’s ministry environment that exhibits behaviors associated with autism.  Oftentimes the child’s parents have not alerted the kidmin team of any diagnosed difference or disability.  Inevitably, the child’s teachers and ministry leaders deliberate whether or not they should share their observations with the child’s family.  Every situation is different and requires earnest prayer for discernment.  There is no perfect answer for how to handle any individual child, family or church.  However the children’s ministry team may want to consider the following questions and ideas when determining what to say (or not say) to the child’s parents regarding a suspected autism diagnosis.

Question #1:  Do the parents seem receptive to honest feedback on their child?  If a parent openly expresses concern about their child’s mannerisms, inviting dialogue from their child’s teachers, then the door may be open for honest yet delicate dialogue.  Nearly always an established and positive relationship is required before a parent can receive feedback from a church representative.   In cases where it is sensed that the parents are dismissive of their child’s nuances, it is safe to assume the family is not ready to address the issues.  There are a variety of reasons a family may not want to pursue testing or reveal an already diagnosed difference.  Regardless, it is rarely if ever productive for the church to “push” the idea of a potential disability with the parents.

Dr. Cynthia Zierhut, Clinical Psychologist specializing in the area of autism research and Founding Director of Capital Christian Center’s Champions Ministry (Sacramento, CA) explains, “When I led the Champions special needs ministry it was not uncommon for me to be pulled into a typical children’s ministry environment to quietly observe a particular student.  Indeed I may have seen signs of a problem that warranted a diagnostic evaluation.  But even with my credentials, I would never approach a parent to suggest the need for testing or treatment.  My purpose for observing the child in the church setting was to provide quiet guidance to the kidmin team.  Oftentimes I could offer a strategy that would ultimately help the student and/or the volunteers.”  Zierhut reminds children’s ministry leaders that the role of the church is to aid in the spiritual formation of the family.  Anytime a representative of the church expresses an opinion about a child’s educational development (or lack thereof), there is a risk of offending the parents and consequently losing influence.

Occasionally a children’s ministry teacher may approach the parent with a single observation.  Barb Newman, CLC Network Director of Church Services Division, suggests beginning a brief and light-hearted parent conversation by first noticing some delightful things about the child.  After sharing some affirming observations, the children’s ministry leader may inquire about the one biggest issue by asking a parent the question “Have you noticed…?”   Newman warns children’s ministry teams not to approach a family with too much information.  Parents nearly always need some time to process the feedback.  In the meantime, the parents may have useful information to offer the teachers once the question has been asked.  Newman points out that if a child has demonstrated a certain behavior more than once in the church setting, it is likely the families is familiar with behavior.  Parents may be able to explain the impetus behind the actions and offer advisement to help teachers respond in the most beneficial manner to the child.

Question #2: Do the concerning behaviors pose a safety risk?   If the child in question has demonstrated unsafe behavior(s) then a more serious conversation with parents is both wise and warranted.  If the safety of any participant is threatened, then action is required on the part of the church.  It is both the legal and the moral responsibility of the children’s ministry team to provide a safe environment for every participant, including caregivers and volunteers. If a child is repeatedly communicating in an unsafe manner (e.g. hitting, biting, kicking, throwing objects towards others, running off), the church is obligated to address the concerns.

It is important for the church representative(s) to initiate the parent-meeting with the following in mind:

If a behavior is inappropriate or unacceptable for a child without special needs, then it is unacceptable for a child with special needs.   This guideline does require judgment.  For the child who lacks verbal communication skills and body control, she may spit in excitement.  While her actions are technically inappropriate and arguably unhygienic, if no one’s physical safety is threatened there is little harm in overlooking the behavior.  On the other hand, if the child is acting in a way that justifiably creates fear or the real potential for harm to anyone, then the conduct cannot be tolerated and must be addressed.  Very often behaviors can be avoided and managed after understanding what a child is trying to communicate.  For more ideas related to this topic, see the following post on the Inclusive Church Blog:  Addressing Aggressive or Unsafe Behavior.

Providing written behavior management policies may help to avoid hurt feelings while also setting up-front expectations for all participants and their parents. To prevent the perception or practice of discrimination, it is imperative that identical written behavior management guidelines are adhered to in both the typical children’s ministry and the special needs ministry environments. Enforcement of the behavior management guidelines should be uniform and irrelevant of a child’s ability or disability.

Keep the conversation centered on the behaviors and not the potential diagnosis.  By avoiding discussion of any potential special needs or disability, the church is protecting itself from accusations of disability discrimination.  The conversation will be more productive if the focus remains on the solution.  Without a disclosed diagnosis, hypothesizing around any potential disability is likely to create unnecessary tension and offend the family.  The dialogue should remain centered around preventing, managing, and extinguishing the problematic behavior.

Go into the parent meeting with possible solutions already in mind.  Parents are much less likely to be offended if they don’t feel the church is searching for an excuse to “expel” their child.  If the parents hear the team talking about a future that involves an ongoing relationship between the church and the child, the parents are more likely to respond favorably and with a spirit of partnership.    Some parents may resist the church’s initial recommendation.  But oftentimes a family will warm to the idea of a one-on-one buddy, chill-out time, or an alternative activity when they recognize the lengths the church is going to in order to help their child be successful.

Seek the guidance of the church’s insurance company and become familiar with behavior management practices in the local public schools.   It is unwise if not illegal to respond physically to unsafe behaviors.  Understanding how your local schools prevent and respond to undesirable behavior may help a church develop an appropriate policy.  In addition, it is imperative that a church consult their insurance carrier when crafting an accommodation plan for high risk situations.

For more ideas and sample forms, see the following post on The Inclusive Church Blog:  Addressing Unsafe or Aggressive Behavior

For an excellent resource, check out Barb Newman’s book Autism and Your Church:  Nurturing the Spiritual Growth of People with Autism (Friendship, 2011)

Amy Fenton Lee is the Special Needs Columnist for Children’s Ministry Magazine and Special Needs Consultant to the ReThink Group. Amy administers The Inclusive Church Blog to help churches successfully include children with special needs.  For more on Amy and her writing see www.theinclusivechurch.com or www.amyfentonlee.com

Another exciting development has been the finalization of plans for three new domestic events. We are partnering with Elmbrook Church in Milwaukee to provide a regional children’s ministry training event. It will take place Saturday, March 17 (more information to follow). In addition, we are excited to announce a new partnership with our friends at Orange. We will host a special pre-conference event at the Orange Conference in Atlanta, Georgia in April. We will be teaching four breakouts on children’s ministry as it relates to family ministry… more details to follow. This new partnership will allow us to serve the kidmin leaders attending Orange. It is one more step in fulfilling our purpose statement to serve God and to serve those called to serve His children! The third event, new for 2012, is in Columbus, Ohio in September. It is going to be awesome. You will want to be there. I will share the rest of the details at CPC. I hope you plan to join us so you can be the first to know!

We have also finalized the plans for our brand new certificate program. If you would like more information about earning a certificate in children’s ministry from INCM while attending CPC 2012, click here: http://incm.org/cpc/orlando/certificate-program/

The Orlando CPC in January will be my first INCM event serving in the role of Executive Director. I will be honest and, a little transparent, I am nervous. I always get a little anxious before any speaking event. It is a healthy anticipation for the task ahead. In the Marines, we used to call it “the fog of war.” It is caused by how you feel when you do not quite know what to expect on the other side of the door, or around the corner, or when you step off the skid of a helo into a combat zone. You are going into a new environment with new challenges. Your body prepares with heightened senses. It is normal and healthy; you just have to manage it as part of the environment. I have come to know myself enough to expect tension in my soul when I am stretching into something challenging. Many of you, who lead ministries of your own, know exactly what I mean. Whether you have experienced it on opening night of your first VBS or every time you stand up to teach, it is a common experience. So, all of this to say, I covet your prayers in this season. We are going into battle. Satan would be thrilled if we failed to train children’s ministry leaders… but we all know God is glorified when we submit all these things to Him.

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life (Philippians 4:6-7 MSG).

We greatly appreciate your prayers as we prepare for God’s plans for this ministry. I look forward to meeting you at CPC in Orlando or San Diego!

By Phil Vischer

Walt Disney had a rough life. His father, Elias, was emotionally distant and occasionally abusive. His first attempt at an animation company failed in bankruptcy. His first successful character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, was snatched from him by an unscrupulous distributor along with most of Walt’s early employees. Even after the success of Snow White, the Disney Studios spent nearly two decades teetering on the brink of failure. Walt suffered two nervous breakdowns from the stress of his work. He took up polo at the advise of doctors hoping he would find an escape, but instead acquired a back injury in a fall that would plague him the rest of his life. The man America knew as the perpetually smiling “uncle” on TV, was in fact so often sour and gloomy that the studio guards had a code word to tip off the staff when Walt arrived at work in one of his moods. “Walt’s wearing his wounded bear suit,” they would report, and the animators knew to steer clear of their famous boss on those days.

And yet, near the end of his life, Walt was quoted by a journalist saying, “I have never had an unhappy day in my life.”

Huh? Was Walt Disney delusional? Had he forgotten about the painful bankruptcy? The bitter strike of 1941 that broke his heart? The years of stress that had eroded his health?

Had Walt found some secret to happiness in the midst of life’s turmoil?

Yes and no. Walt, one can only conclude after reading any of his detailed biographies, was in denial. He so badly wanted his life to have been one long unbroken string of sunny days that he decided to pretend it was so. The bad days were simply ripped from his journal.

If you’ve heard my story, you know that I wanted to be just like Walt. So I built an animation studio and began working tirelessly for the benefit of the world’s children. I dreamed of sunny days and happy workers and amusement parks and meaningful, world-changing ministry. But like Walt and, I believe, many children’s ministry workers today, I discovered that changing the world is difficult, stressful business. At age 30 I found myself in the emergency room from an assumed heart attack. (It turned out, instead, to be a viral infection in the lining of my heart.) The next year I was felled by strep throat, the year after that, shingles. All stress related.

For a while I soldiered on, using the technique Walt had used so valiantly before me. I simply tried to pretend I was happy. I was doing God’s work, after all, and what could be better than that? Of COURSE I was happy! My health continued to decline. Relationships were strained. But whenever a reporter turned up, I smiled. We’re changing the world! It’s rewarding work! Look how happy I am!

And then everything began to collapse. My company and ministry fell into bankruptcy. My characters, songs and stories were all carried away by strangers. I was left exhausted, in a heap on the floor. A few reporters came around to poke at me amidst the wreckage, but now I couldn’t even pretend I was happy. The charade was over.

And then God showed up. To be honest, of course, he had been there all along, but I had been too busy “saving the world” to notice him. He pointed out to me that only one person has ever walked the Earth who actually had the ability to “save the world.” And his name wasn’t “Walt” or “Phil.” His name was Jesus. And 2000 years ago, this Jesus looked out at a crowd of overworked, stressed people – people who looked a lot like you and me – and said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

And I thought, “Yes! That’s why I’m killing myself! So kids everywhere can meet you and find rest!”

And I heard Christ say to me, “No, Phil. The ‘rest’ I’m talking about is for you, too.” And I was shocked. How could I find rest? The world needs saving! Hollywood is devouring our kids! I’ve got to do something about it! Now!

Then, while reading through Paul’s letters, I noticed something interesting. “Stressed” and “cranky” aren’t in any of the lists of the fruit of the Spirit. If I have given my life to Christ – if I have been filled with the Spirit – my life will be marked with peace, joy, and love. Peace. Joy. Love. Not just for the people in the pews or the kids in our Sunday School classes. For us. For you. For me.

I’m going to say something bold. If your life isn’t marked by peace, joy and love, something is wrong. Maybe your kids ministry is growing. Maybe all the numbers are going up. But if you’re stressed and cranky, something is wrong. Perhaps you’ve fallen for the lie that you can save the world – if only you work hard enough. Perhaps you’re living in Walt-like denial that you really are happy. “No, really. I’m happy. How could I not be happy? I’m doing God’s work!”

Here’s the deal – none of us can save the world. But that’s okay, because Jesus can. He isn’t inviting you to run yourself ragged building the perfect kids ministry. He’s inviting you to walk with him and rest in him. He’s asking us to let him fill us so full of his love that it overflows and splashes all over those around us. THAT is ministry. When the joy of the Lord overflows out of you and splashes onto the faces of the kids around you. The first step for me, frankly, was to admit that I was miserable. That I was stressed. Cranky. Exhausted. To say, “Jesus – I can’t do this. I’m failing.” And then to hear him say, “That’s okay. Come. Walk with me. Rest in me.”

I have had many miserable days. Many of them of my own making. But today I’m smiling. Today I am walking in peace – knowing how truly incapable I am of saving anyone from anything. Knowing, for the first time, that this is okay. And I’m writing new stories and creating new characters – not out of stress or anxiety – but out of the joy of the Lord and his love for kids. How far will my new stories go? How many kids will they reach? That, I now know, is none of my business. And that’s just fine with me.

God has a plan for your ministry, and it doesn’t start with a budget or a conference or a giant list of things to do. It starts with his love. For you. Can you feel that love? Can you slow down long enough to let it fill you – until you can’t help but smile? This – not a big budget or an impressive plan, not the “perfect” curriculum or a whole bank of X-boxes – is the beginning of ministry.

Phil made his first animated film when he was nine years old. After a brief stint at a Bible college, Phil struck out on his own. This quest led him to a tomato and a cucumber. Today, almost 50 million VeggieTales videos have been purchased. Phil’s latest Jellyfish Labs project is JellyTelly - an interactive, online “mini-network” for children. Phil lives with his wife Lisa (aka Junior Asparagus) and their three kids in Wheaton, Illinois. Check out Phil at http://www.philvischer.com/.

by Cindy Sanders

How many articles have you read about leading a child to Christ? We are all searching for a way we can feel totally at ease while trusting they will “get it” in their heart and mind. Why do we make this so hard? What if we tried the simple approach of learning and discovery? Would it make a difference if we took the time to explain the Who, What, When, Where, and Why of becoming a child of God?

We constantly hear how children are in the technology age and have knowledge beyond their years. They have information at their fingertips at all hours of the day. Are we providing that type of environment in church? If your church is like most, you don’t have the resources-leaders or supplies-to give them the kind of experience they can get other places. Try relying on relationships, and open communication. The kids have a natural desire to hear about God and His grace, so give it your best shot!

WHO
Who is God?
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 Open your Bible to Genesis and talk to the children about creation. God created all living things for a purpose. He wants us to enjoy fellowship with Him and have a personal relationship with Him. There are so many names for God and each have a unique meaning. Look for a list and help the kids choose a name that has a special significance for them.

Who is Jesus?
Most boys and girls have heard the story of baby Jesus in the manger or know that Jesus died on the cross. Discuss the following Bible verses which are simple, yet state the obvious facts. Jesus is the Christ and He is the only way to the Father!

“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these were written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20: 30-31

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

WHAT
What did Jesus do for me?

Jesus made a way for us to get to heaven! Boys and girls need to know that Jesus came to earth and lived a life without sin. He was nailed to a cross and died for their sin and the sins of the entire world. He was put in a tomb, but rose from the grave and He is in heaven preparing a place for all those who believe in Him and ask Him for eternal life. Relating the story to their life and future can make a difference.

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2

WHEN
When do I need to make a decision to become a Christian-to follow Jesus?

If you asked your students, many have never heard their parents talk about a salvation experience. Share your story with them. Let them feel safe and ask questions. Discuss confession of sin and making the right choices. Remind the boys and girls that they must truly believe Jesus is God’s Son and be ready to make Him the Lord or “boss” of their life.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10: 9-10

*Spiritual Birthday – When a child in your ministry becomes a Christian, write down the date, and encourage the parents to celebrate the spiritual birthday every year by having a special meal and giving the child a new devotional book or small gift. It is also a good idea to discuss any spiritual growth that has taken place. The yearly reminder is good accountability and keeps them focused on their walk with Christ. Another reason-How cool is that to have two birthdays each year?

*Baptism – It is important that a child understands the difference in their salvation experience and being baptized. Baptism is a wonderful outward picture of their new life in Christ.

WHERE
Where do I need to make a decision for Jesus?

This may seem like a silly question, but it is often misunderstood. Walking down the aisle of a church or to an altar does not make you a Christian. You can ask Jesus to be your forever friend anywhere. It would be great to make it a special place to remember. Encourage the kids to include their family and make it a celebration! They can go to a quiet place at home, church, or even outside. They can kneel, stand, or sit. It doesn’t matter about the place or the posture, the heart is the important part.

WHY?
Why should I make this decision?

God created each of us for a purpose.

Psalm 139:13-14 ”You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my Mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” 

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

God also gave each of us spiritual gifts to be used for Him. Taking a spiritual gift survey is an interesting way to see if the boys and girls are using those talents in an appropriate way or if there is something they are not aware of. Another idea is to research the biblical meaning of their name. All kids love to hear and learn more about themselves so they will definitely peak their interest. After they uncover those special gifts and talents, make sure they have some service projects to carry out. There are unlimited needs in churches and communities right now, so get busy. It will be exciting to see what God can accomplish through the lives of your kids!

As you can see, this is not a quick process. Relationships are the key and relationships take time. Parents can use this guide with their children or leaders can spend several sessions with the kids. When boys and girls see the importance and real knowledge that they are receiving, you won’t have to encourage them to participate-they will be eager to learn!

So let’s review:
Who is God?
God is creator. He loves you and has a plan for your life.

Who is Jesus?
Jesus is God’s Son and He is the only way to have eternal life.

What did Jesus do for me?
Jesus died for my sin and made a way for me to get to heaven.

When do I need to make a decision to follow Jesus?
When I believe that Jesus is God’s Son and I am ready to confess my sins and ask forgiveness.

Where do I need to make a decision for Jesus?
It doesn’t matter about the place or the posture, the heart is the important part.

Why should I make a decision to follow Jesus? 
God created me for a purpose and He wants me to be in heaven with Him. Once I become a Christian, I also have the responsibility to use the gifts and talents I have to share Jesus’ love with others.

Children’s ministry is vital for several reasons but our main goal is to fill that hunger and thirst for God in the hearts of our kids. Of course, the boys and girls don’t know what they are hungry for so they are trying to fill that need with things of the world. To make things worse, their parents may be experiencing the same need. While leading a child to Christ, often the whole family learns more! Through this plan, we can share the love of Christ and give children insight to the knowledge and incredible gift of God’s Word. There is no greater resource for learning than the Bible.

Helpful tools:
- Website suggestion for spiritual gift information and testing: www.mintools.com
- Names of God: www.ldolphin.org
- The Name Book by Bethany House Publishers
- Books for service projects: Hands-On Service Ideas by Group Publishing The Big Book of Service Projects by Gospel Light www.gospellight.com

Cindy Sanders has served in children’s ministry for over 22 years. She was a Children’s Minister for 19 years and now serves as Children’s Consultant for churches all over the U.S. through Life Catalyst Consulting. www.lifecatalystconsulting.com