What Curriculum in 2011?

We are always in search of excellent curriculum material and the end of a year is the opportunity to review what we have been using.
You will never find curriculum that 'has it all' (whatever 'all' is) yet there are a few important guidelines to remember as we dive into the sea of options. (Hint; don't stop reading till you hit the final point of this article; it contains perhaps the most important consideration.)

1. God centered themes.
Too much of the curricula I have seen treats the Bible like a set of fairy stories ending with the words, "and the moral to the story is ....;" at which point they give a little child centred application such as, "be good, don't lie, trust God." Yet the Bible is essentially a story about God. A curriculum must make God and his wonderful plan in Christ its main theme. For example, through the story of David and Goliath children need to get a sense that God was raising up his anointed king to save his people, not, "... you don't have to be afraid when you face giant obstacles in your life" (Of course, in God's king, Jesus, we overcome in all things, but that is only true when we realise who God's king is!) A curriculum must be true to the purpose and intent of 'His-story' as it unfolds in Christ.

2. Depth of application
How deep can you go with a five year old? Answer: as deep as you can. Much of the material we use is like an express train that rockets through story after story without pausing in any depth to explore how it applies to a child's life. Consequently, we end up with children who raise their hands to tell you, "I know that story" and then switch off. We must find creative ways to apply the word to life.
There should be depth in a number of different areas.
Firstly, a multi faceted deepening relationship with God. Paul's prayer must be our goal, "...that you may know him (God) better" (Eph. 1:17.) Not just factual knowledge, but a personal, practical knowledge that is demonstrated by trust and obedience. How do our lessons engage children to explore and respond to God at a personal deepening level. Does the story lead to prayer (what kind of prayer?) worship (in what way?) thoughtful meditation, reflective writing (a poem, a story?) creating, a particular response of obedience, and so on. Do not finish with a story or theme (even if it means stretching it over a few lessons) unless you've applied it to their relationship with God.
Secondly, application should be age appropriate. For example, ask yourself, for what does a five year old need to trust God; what about a ten year old? The curriculum should apply the same story or theme to children in different ways according to their age and context. In this way children are taught that they never 'know it all' but rather discover that in ever relevant ways, the Bible applies to them.
Thirdly, the curriculum should guide and explore different ways children can respond. Always having a list of questions to answer, or a sheet to colour in, or a craft to complete is not sufficient. The story or theme should lead us in this, and as it does so we can apply it through different means such as, creative play, skits, drawing, making, journaling, writing, serving,.... and so on.

3. Parental involvement.
Take home questions, information, prayer and discussion suggestions are invaluable to enhance the impact of what you are teaching and to endear your ministry to parents.

4. Actually reading the Bible.
Reading from a Bible may not explicitly be mentioned in the material, yet it's worth mentioning as vital to any teaching we do. By getting children to bring their Bibles, read them and work with them ensures they are hearing God's word in the form in which it comes to us as well as learning to use their Bibles for themselves.

5. It is taught by teachers who have a rich and real walk with God.
A teacher impresses young children with who they are. Our passion for Christ, his word and the way we live it is the key to ANY curriculum. In some ways, a fully prepared curriculum removes a powerful and necessary process in teaching; the teachers personal investment and connection with the material which often only comes through the hard work of study and preparation. The material we use must never be allowed to become a substitute for reliance on the Holy Spirit and personal conviction about the truths we teach. One set of material I have investigated calls this dimension 'teaching from the overflow.' I think they've got it in one. Throughout the year, regardless of the material, leaders need to maintain and build their spiritual life and work hard to teach out of a personal rich and real walk with God.

Do you think there are other important considerations?
What do you think about 'pre-packaged' vs 'do it yourself' curriculum?

Children's Ministry to the down and out.

Metro ministries is the world's largest children's ministry. But it is not in the leafy suburbs of middle class America. It is in Brooklyn New York. Watch this video, it's an inspirational introduction to the work of God in children's ministry. It reminds me of Paul's words,

... God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

It's probably more important that you watch the following video than the previous one for in it founding Pastor Bill Wilson shares his heart for the work. You will get a sense of the Christ like attitude, the cost and some of the practices that makes the ministry a powerful instrument in God's hands.

Question: What attitudes stand out for you as the ones we need as we pursue children's ministry in our context?

Calling Volunteers: Sink or Swim

Finding volunteers for children's ministry can be difficult. Here's a story from the Uniting Church of how one leader approached the task.*
What can you learn from her experience? How might you use the principles in your context?

"Due to a number of reasons, the volunteers on the children’s roster at my church had declined from about 8 people to 3 in the space of a month at the end of last term. This left us wondering if Kids Church would continue in Term 4. For a couple of weeks, the need was announced in the notices with no response. Listening to these requests for help, I was reminded of an article I’d read earlier this year in the Children’s Ministry Magazine (May/June 2010, Vol 20, No. 2) titled Titanic... or Carnival Cruise Ship.

The article says that “people won’t board a sinking ship” but will “line up to board a Carnival Cruise ship...to join something that’s a fun adventure, feels like family, and knows where it’s headed.” It lists a number of “signs to know whether you’re sending distress signals - or going full speed ahead” (p48).

Taking this on board and feeling strong promptings from God about a way forward for our Kids Church, I shared in the church service about what our Kids Church was about: relationships, discipleship (God and me, me and others), and keeping things simple and fun. I also shared about what happens in a session and about the kids (we have a great bunch of kids!).

I shared about the opportunity for people to join in who had key teaching skills and outlined their role (including the need for a police check and Child Safe Environments training), the roster and how they would be supported.

I then shared a possible new way forward for Kids Church that I’d felt God had given. I commented that many people in church have skills and hobbies, such as craft, cooking, sports, music, drama and that they could share these in kids church to help children either engage with or respond to the story. I explained that they would not be responsible for planning the session, they would not be left in charge of the children or have to worry about behaviour management. I outlined how they would be supported, that their role was for one week only, they needed a police check and they could just plan for their part of the session to share their interests with the kids.

I also expressed that I hoped they would be blessed by meeting with the kids and that through this the kids would also get to know their wider church family!

I emphasized that I knew support was important because our kids are too valuable to send people out who are ill-equipped and that the adults (potential volunteers) are too valuable to just send out with the kids to sink or swim.

After sharing once, 2 key teachers (who actually happen to be school teachers!) and 6 helpers signed up and the next week another 3 helpers signed up. This gave us a full roster for the whole term! And a few interested in helping next year.

Most of these people are not involved in other ministries. A few had been thinking about Kids Church but weren’t sure what was involved, others just hadn’t thought they could do it. A few others I’d never met before, so I’ve talked with my church leaders to ensure they are appropriate people for Kids Church.

I admit that this has given me more work to do in the short-term answering all of their questions and reassuring them of how we’ll make things work. But last Sunday, I stayed in church, while for the first time a new teacher and helper ministered with the kids. I caught up with them afterwards, and the new helper who had shared her scrapbooking crafts asked me when she could join in again! Next week, we’re looking forward to one of our “grandmothers” helping the kids to bake morning tea for the church and the week after we’re telling the story using musical instruments with a mum and her teenage son. I’m not sure how it’s all going to work but it’s definitely a fun, church-family adventure!"

*Used with permission. Taken from: "What's Up?" a newsletter of the Resource Centre for Children's and Family Ministry, Uniting Church of SA -
http://mrn.sa.uca.org.au/mrn-centres/resource-centre-for-children-and-family-ministry.html

Fathers shepherding children.

While this blog normally focuses on the church's ministry to children I thought I'd slip in an inspiring and practical article about fathers caring for the spiritual development of their children. It has a couple of suggestions about how to do this. It also focuses our attention on the power of personal ministry to children and for me, sparks ideas about how we can mentor children one on one.

Here's a snippet. You can find the rest at: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/07/21/how-can-i-make-sure-i-am-individually-shepherding-my-children/

How can I make sure I am individually shepherding my children? – by Brian Croft

This faithful father shepherded his seven children by taking one morning a week to meet individually with each of his children. Seven days in a week–each of the seven children got one morning each week with their dad. They prayed, read scripture, talked, and read a book of that child’s choosing. Inspired by his amazing example, I came home and established a similar model in our home that I remain faithful to this day. Here is what I do to individually shepherd my four children regularly in addition to our regular time of family worship, as well as implications attached to it:
1) Monday through Thursday each child gets a day and on his or her appointed day stays up 30 – 45 minutes later than their siblings to meet with me before bedtime. I thought they would be excited about it for a few times, but then grow bored with it. Not so. Years later, they look forward to that time more than anything, which provides a natural accountability when you are tired from the day and are tempted to skip for that evening.

Have you heard or used any other practices? Let me know what you've discovered or used.

Taking the pressure off Children's Ministry

Last week I had what is becoming an all too familiar conversation with someone about children's ministry in their church. The current leader(s) would be stepping down at the end of the year and they were not sure who would be taking over. It confirmed for me that there is a particularly high turn over of leaders in children's ministry. Sometimes a change is necessary and healthy. Often though, we loose experienced, committed people and the children's ministry suffers accordingly.
This article is not to pour guilt on leaders who leave; their reasons are always justified. However, there seems to be a couple of key reasons why people leave and I wonder if we addressed these more effectively, could we not hold on to experienced, capable leaders.

1. Reason One: Worn out by the weekly grind.
Many churches schedule Children's church every Sunday. Eventually the pressure of preparing week in and week out, while missing out on regular church, takes a toll. To ease the pressure and refresh your leaders you may try the following:

a. Change the schedule for children's church. For example: rather than having children's church every week, change to a '4 week on, 2 week off time table.' In this way your leaders will have regular breaks and children will adjust to regular services (when the children are in church, find ways to engage them in the service.)

b. Or you may try rotating teachers throughout the year to give each leader some time off. Some churches rotate a different team each term. Or find other leaders to step in from time to time. On those weeks change the program to something they can handle. For example, regularly conscript some younger leaders to lead games and include a different teaching time. On these Sundays give a couple of the adult leaders time off.
The goal is to find ways to keep leaders fresh and enthused. If your leaders are groaning under the load they are likely to leave.

If you have found other ways to overcome this problem, please let us know.

2. Reason Two: Feeling unsupported in an unimportant ministry.
Children's ministry is often taken for granted in many churches and it's profile is not high. Leaders who feel their work is unimportant or unappreciated will soon loose interest and leave. To work against this try the following:

a. Make sure your leaders know the value of their work. Remind them regularly about the importance of children's ministry in the Lord and it's vital role in shaping children in the formative years of their life. Our leaders must be continually reminded that, in the Lord, their work will bear lasting fruit for the kingdom. It reminds me of the story of the three men breaking rocks on a building site. When asked what they were doing one replied, "I'm breaking rocks." Another said, "I'm earning a living." The third proudly stated, "I'm building a cathedral!" You can guess who was the most enthusiastic and committed to his task. So too with children's ministry. Develop a sense of calling in your leaders by reminding them of what they are doing and why.

b. Share the vision and direction of your children's ministry with the whole church. Newsletters, up front announcements, regular prayer requests, letters home to parents, Children's services and a rotating door of volunteers in your children's ministry are ways to ensure your church understands the vital nature of your work. Never miss an opportunity to build the profile of your ministry to the level at which it ought to be at.

c. At least annually, but also more regularly, reward your leaders for their hard work and commitment. Cards, phone calls, personal visits, regular outings and annual dinners will keep them motivated and enthused. Leaders who put in ought to be encouraged and rewarded for their commitment and will be reenergised and motivated by the support.
d. Make sure that children's ministry has a significant slice of the church's budget. Spend what has been allocated and do not be afraid to ask for what you need. A ministry the church is supporting is a ministry worth having.
If you have other ideas or examples of how to keep your leaders feeling appreciated and supported please pass it on.

What do you think is the greatest reason why leaders turn over so regularly in children's ministry? Do you have any suggestions or examples of what can be done about it?

Postmodern Children's Ministry: A Book Review

By Ivy Beckwith. Published by Zondervan

I cannot recommend this book enough. In it you'll find some very stimulating and helpful chapters such as:
'The Beginning of Faith' (a discussion of child development and its relationship to spiritual development.) 'Children in Community' (a great chapter outlining the traits of community life essential to faith formation) and 'The Bible is for Children To' (a passionate, well argued and Biblically sound plea to take the Bible seriously in children's ministry.)

Beckwith does not avoid confronting the shortcomings in much that goes for ministry to children in our day. In its place she argues for a ministry that takes the nature of children and their spiritual formation seriously.

This book will help deepen your understanding and increase your passion for truly transformational children's ministry. To top it all off, she basically comes from a Reformed perspective!

Get this book, read and digest it's contents. Four out of five stars from me.

Selecting the Right Children's Story Bible

Finding a children’s story Bible that suits the understanding level of your children can be hard and the options are plentiful and varied. When you are trying to cater for children of different ages it becomes even harder. As you go out hunting for a Bible, I encourage you to consider these following options concerns.

1. Is the Bible about God? This sounds like a dumb statement, however this is the number one concern when selecting a children’s story Bible. The Bible, being God’s Word, is a means by which God reveals himself to us. Through Scripture, we learn of the story of creation, sin, God’s saving plan in Jesus and the redemption and restoration of creation in and through Jesus Christ, His Son.

So when looking for a story Bible ask yourself this; is the revelation of God there? Does it capture the longing of creation for salvation? Is it pointing constantly to the coming of the Christ and the second coming of Christ? If not, it really is little more than a storybook.

By this I mean, the story of Jonah is not the story of Jonah, it is one of the many stories of God that make up the great revelation of God and His work. The central character of the story of Jonah is God, on a mission to set His creation free! Jonah is a story about God and how he wants his Word to go out to some of the hardest of places; it is a story of how he calls ordinary people to do extraordinary things, about how he triumphs over human weakness and fear and how he softens hard people’s hearts to His good news. The story of God in Jonah is also a part of the greater story of God’s saving plan, God wants to set his creation free from sin and death and there is one to come later who would also know storms at sea and risk death because of his message. He will also know three days in a dark place only to re-enter the world and complete the work of seeing people set free

It is hard to find a children’s story Bible that is intent on focussing on God as the central character, and point us constantly to the hope we have in God in Christ. It is easy to write the stories, to make up cute little moral connections to help our children be ‘good little boys and girls’, but to centralise it on God in Christ is an often missed, yet fundamental ingredient. There are good children’s story Bibles out there so research well and pray for guidance.

2. Illustrations. Good story and good pictures seem to be the rule for what makes a good children’s story Bible. Often when you look over one, both the author and the illustrator are credited on the front cover. Illustrations do capture the interest and the imagination, helping the children enter into the story and understand it.

As you look over the illustrations, consider if they are helpful or unhelpful to the story. Much of the Bible is set in a different time and place to ours; it both reveals mystery and invites us into mystery. The imagery that the Bible carried with it in our imaginations can be loaded, and for children just as much so. Therefore, illustrations can help us all to understand the setting and maintain a visual interest in the story, but over-dramatic attempts to illustrate the story carries with it the potential to limit imagination or explain that which is not revealed.

Think for a moment: let’s say we were to illustrate God as a big white-haired, white-bearded, old, friendly looking man sitting on a cloud throughout our literature. Is this actually helpful or unhelpful? In Scripture, God chooses to reveal Himself as in a cloud by day and in fire by night, as a voice in a burning bush, as a burning pot and on Sinai amid massive stormy, smoky drama. Is illustrating Him as the white-haired man, limiting our children’s ability to enter into the wonder of what and who is God? Are we restricting Him to one place, one race, one size, human, and having the attributes of only one gender? Is this helpful? Is that the way God is revealing himself in scripture? I remember one time on a road trip my son asked me “Dad, how big is God?”. While the theological and rational answers flooded to mind, I am glad that I stopped thinking answers and replied “How big do you think he is?” Scripture invites us to wonder and be amazed, to ponder the mystery. At what point do our attempts to illustrate, just like our rational adult needs to explain and understand, actually hinder the revelation God has intended in Scripture?

The children’s story Bible we are using at the time of writing has great colourful and engaging illustrations, however when I look at them discerningly, they are very ordinary and somewhat disproportionate. For example, the other night Jesus, when sleeping through the storm, was lying on his back on the deck of the ship and took up half the boat, meanwhile the boat was a tiny thing on the biggest monster of a wave. To make it even stranger was the face that a disciple hanging off the mast was being blown horizontal. All that being said, I remember thinking (as we were laughing about it as a family) “I like this”. It helped the children engage with the story and you could visualise that Jesus was asleep, but it did not really add anything, nor distract from the essence of the Bible story.

3. Is it all there? The art of writing anything is deciding what to include and what to leave out. It is no different when a writer decides to paraphrase the Bible for the children. We have already discussed the importance of checking that the children’s story Bible includes the foundational themes of the revelation of God and salvation in Christ. As you search for a Bible, take time to explore what is there and what is missing. Make sure that you are comfortable with what is not there. Being a story Bible book for children it makes sense that the author would choose to leave out some material. However, some do not cover the death of Jesus, some do not cover the expectant return of Jesus and there might be other aspects important to you that are not covered, like the covenants, Mount Sinai and the giving of the law. Be sure you know what you hold as important to be included and take the time to be sure that it is there.

© Jonathan Vandenberg

As to suggestions, you may choose to look at some of these,

Candle books "My first Story Bible'.

The 'Look and See' Bible
The Big Picture Story Bible, by D. Helm (Crossway, 2004).
The Jesus storybook Bible, by S Lloyd-Jones (Zonderkids, 2007).
The Beginner’s Bible, mentioned by The Goodbook Company.