We have a winner in the Way We See It Blog’s first-ever giveaway! Also, we’ve got a special discount for those who didn’t win the contest. All of that right after you click the link below…
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For those of you who aren’t aware, The Way We See It is holding it’s first Children’s Ministry Giveaway! You can receive over $290 worth of valuable prizes just for sending us an email. To find out more, just visit the giveaway page. You’ve only got 2 days, 8 hours, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds left to sign up, so get going!
Harnessing a child’s strength
I was reading an article earlier today on 43 Folders about harnessing a child’s energy towards a specific topic and using it for good. 43 Folders isn’t a ministry blog, and I don’t endorse all of their content, but it does have some great info.
The author of the article was having some trouble with his kids driving him insane while he was cooking. So in place of just sending them away, he took their enthusiasm and used it as a learning opportunity. He let the kids learn by teaching them rather than making them figure it out on their own and getting hurt in the process.
Try this in your ministry. Let’s hypothesize that you have a kid that has some trouble with breaking the rules. (You don’t have any of those, right?) Maybe instead of saying “Stop it,” you should harness their energy and make them a rule enforcer. Have them tell an adult when they see something wrong being done.
Kids are immense little balls of energy. They desperately want to be “big kids” and help out. Convert the “distraction” of interruptions into interaction with you on the stage. Give kids opportunities to move around, help out, and do things. This certainly won’t eliminate discipline problems, but it’ll help you on your way.
Guess what day it is?
January 31 is a very, very important day. It’s Justin Timberlake’s 27th birthday! Aren’t you excited?
OK, so yes. It’s his birthday. But you could care less. However, I just so happen to share a birthday with Justin Timberlake. Yes, that’s right, today is Evan’s 17th birthday!
We’re just so excited, we wanted to share the birthday joy with you through the first-ever Way We See It Blog giveaway! Each of us here on the blog have something that we think is cool we’d like to give away.
All you have to do is send an email with your name, address, and a reason you love the blog to contests AT thewayweseeitblog DOT com. (You’ll need to change those ATs and DOTs to actual characters. Spam stinks.) You’ve got a week (3 PM 1/31 to 11:59 PM 2/6) to send us an email. Next Thursday, we’ll announce the randomly chosen winner here on the blog. You have to live in the 50 United States or District of Columbia. (My apologies to our international friends.) Other than that, no strings. No catches. Just free stuff. How cool is that?
That’s all well and good, but here’s what we’re sure you want to know: What do you actually win? Here it is:
From Evan:
a. A copy of unChristian, a revolutionary new book from Barna Research, the Fermi Project, and Baker Book House. Here’s what the book is all about: “Christians are supposed to represent Christ to the world. But according to the latest report card, something has gone terribly wrong. Using descriptions like ‘hypocritical’, ‘insensitive’, and ‘judgemental’, young Americans share an impression of Christianity that’s nothing short of … unChristian.”
This book will give you a terrifying yet motivating look into the minds of America’s kids and teens. Even if you don’t win, it’ll be a book you’ll want to check out!
b. A bag of Dale and Thomas Popcorn, which is only the best popcorn ever!
From Ryan:
One copy each of KidzMatter’s Home Run Sermons Volumes 1 and 2. Just need a quick lesson? Just grab these off the shelf, throw in some games and songs, and you’re ready to go! Volume 1 is all about the life of Christ and basic Christianity. Volume 2, MythBusters, covers 12 questions that every kid wants to know.
From Jim:
a. A free MP3 membership to “The Club”, the monthly coaching and training subscription from Jim Wideman Ministries. Designed especially for children’s ministers and those who want to take advantage of over 30 years of children’s and family ministry experience without taking 30 years to learn it.
b. Two books: Volunteers That Stick and Children’s Ministry Leadership: the You Can Do It Guide, both by Jim Wideman. You can check these great books out by going to kidzmatter.com.
All in all, you’re receiving around $290 worth of free stuff to use in your ministry. So get to sending those emails. You don’t even have to pay any shipping.
Important stuff: Be sure to read the obligatory Official Rules. You can check them out here.
Give people advantages
So, here I sit in the Indianapolis International Airport waiting for my very delayed plane to Orlando for CPC! (We were supposed to take off at 6, now it’s 9) I am so excited. The entire airport is blanketed in AT&T Wi-Fi, which is actually very expensive. But I have an advantage. I am an AT&T DSL subscriber, and therefore get free Wi-Fi. So therefore I am writing this here blog post to you. They’ve given me an advantage to choose them over another service.
That’s something important to remember in ministry. What advantages are you giving the members of your church? What reasons do your members have to continue attending your church? Do they see a church that is alive? Do they see a church that is giving them a reason to keep coming in each and every week?
Remember that the church is in the construction business, not the maintenance business. Keep the kids (and workers!) in your ministry not just alive, but growing! Always keep ministry in mind. And that’s the way I see it from IND.
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