It's only an hour.

Most Sunday children’s ministry goes for about an hour. One day as I was talking to a group when someone said, “It’s only an hour.”

An hour is not much time. Can you really make a difference in an hour? Is it worth the thought, effort, time and prayer?

Have you ever read the following?

If you want to know the value of a year, ask a P.O.W. that has lost his freedom.
If you want to know the value of a month, ask a mother that has given birth to a premature baby.
If you want to know the value of a week, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.
If you want to know the value of a day, ask a child on their birthday.
If you want to know the value of an hour, ask lovers waiting to meet.
If you want to know the value of a minute, ask a person that just missed their flight.
If you want to know the value of a second, ask a person that just avoided a serious car accident.
If you want to know the value of a millisecond, ask an Olympic silver medallist.
The value of time is what you put into it and an hour can make a huge difference.

I mentor a young child for one hour a week through Kids Hope. Every week I spend only an hour but I know that this one hour of personal care, repeated every week, makes a huge difference in the life of that little boy.

There was a book with a lofty goal titled “Making your Children’s Ministry the Best Hour of of Every Kid’s Week.”

What is the best hour in your children’s lives at the moment? How is it influencing and shaping them? By God’s grace could your hour become life changing? Could it be the difference between walking in Christ and wandering in the world? How might it become that?

Don’t underestimate the time you have, instead pray and work in such a way that you may make the most of it.

What's happened in the hour you have with children?

Proactive Care for children with Allergies.

Most people are aware of anaphylaxis and how serious it can be. However, few churches have policies or training in how to deal with such a serious allergic reaction.

Geelong has tackled the issue and has created an anaphylaxis policy.
In short they have,

1. put up 'Nut free' signs through out the rooms used by children and prohibited foods containing nuts.
2. posted instructions on how to administer an EpiPen on the wall in every room used by children.
3. informed teachers and parents about the procedure.
4. obtained parent consent for children who have allergies.

 Their excellent work demonstrates a proactive attitude to the care of children in the church.
If you'd like a copy of their policy please simple email me since they are happy to share it around.

Do you have similar policies that could be shared with other churches? Let us know if you've tackled an issue that is easily overlooked so we can help each other in this important work.