Articles

3 Steps to Partner in Urban Outreach

by E.C. Cunningham Mandate: Space… the Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before. Whether you are a Trekkie…

You Need Volunteer Background Checks

by Brad Snellings Background checks alone cannot eliminate the risk of liability and child abuse; we live in a world full of risk. However, a screening program can reduce the chances of ministry and volunteer liability to an acceptable level, when part of a total…

Jumpstart Your VBS Teams Early

by Sheryl Haystead The following story is provided by our INCM/CPC Partner Gospel Light. Sheryl will also be a breakout presenter at CPC ’10. Each summer, one very specialized team is called to step in when and where they are needed. Here’s the team history: as…

Special Needs: Creating an Inclusive Church Culture

This guest post was written by Amy Fenton Lee. In 1969 Sesame Street introduced a cast of everyday neighbors to carry minor plotlines as teaching tools for millions of American preschoolers. The groundbreaking children’s television series demonstrated how people with disabilities integrated into the everyday…

Networking for Growth

by Beth Morrison Networking is a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest. Networking involves individuals forming mutually supportive relationships. It is, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups or…

Teachers Are Made, Not Born!

Sheryl Haystead The following story is provided by our INCM/CPC Partner Gospel Light. Sheryl will also be a breakout presenter at CPC ’10. What do you remember about the first time you taught a group of children? Were you prepared? Were you trained? What happened? I’ll…

A Time to Remember and Celebrate: Hebrew Tradition in Today’s Children’s Ministry

Dr. Michelle Anthony The following story is provided by our INCM/CPC Partner David C. Cook. Michelle will also be a keynote speaker and breakout presenter at CPC ’10. Our children and families live in a hurried world, full of noise and busyness. Many are fighting to simply…

Christianity in Public Schools: Our Only Hope

By Finn Laursen Is there any hope for our public schools? As the battle for the minds of our children continues in our postmodern, “godless” culture, our schools have become a major battleground. Some in the Christian community, understandably, are even calling for a mass…

Making Conversations with Kids Count

By Dawn Heckert The following story is provided by our INCM/CPC Partner David C. Cook. When was the last time you had a really good conversation? A conversation that left you feeling pensive, invigorated, or perhaps both? I suspect you remember whom you talked with and…