Resource: Creating Children's Church Packs

It's great to have children as part of the service. Their presence also creates a special challenge. As one slightly frazzled mother blurted out recently, "My four old can't sit still in church all that time. He's four, he simply can't."
Most churches have some form of activity for children during the service, or at least during the sermon. Often this is a simple colouring sheet or a word find etc.
At Wantirna (where I am the part time children's ministry worker) we have now created a Children's Church pack for each child. We have different packs suited for 4 - 6 year olds and for 7 - 12.
They come in an A3 plastic zip lock bag and contain textas, pen, pencil, scrapbook (for ideas, prayers, notes, drawings), glue stick, Bible activity book, scissors, children's reading book and code breaker. When the children are in the service (we have a cycle of 3-4 weeks in Sunday School followed by 2 or more weeks in church) we add activities relevant to the service. The packs are usually handed out after a children's ministry time.

The packs enable us to provide a variety of activities related to the service. for example, our current service theme is "Telling the story of Jesus." We have created a story wheel (see below) that the children construct and colour during the service and then take home to use in their families.
Children can pace themselves and complete work previously begun or do 'extras' if they finish quickly.
We have created extra packs for visitors and give a child their own if they become regular attendees.
So far children have embraced them enthusiastically (as have the parents.)

Resources: 'The Next Generation' videoette.

This is a short, endearing, yet challenging three minute video that highlights the importance and urgency of Children's ministry. In it Australian children speak of their needs, dreams and desires. It raises issues for discussion among those who shape strategies and programs for children.

You can use this to inspire your team, or better still, your whole church.

To make the most of it do not just show it and leave it without comment or opportunity for further action. You might try some of the following:
* Make it part of a children's service in which children play a major role.
* Include some specific requests and examples of how people can get involved in Children's ministry.
* Follow it with some specific points of prayer about your church's children's ministry.
* Incorporate it in at a congregational meeting to highlight the role of children's ministry.
* Use it in a small group followed by questions for discussion.
* Use it in a commissioning service for children's ministry.
* Have everyone involved in Children's ministry stand up or come to the front for prayer.

You can download it from here...

Training: A Ministry in prayer

This is the first of our 'Stand Alone units' of training. The aim is to use these units to develop and train your team either at regular team meetings or on special training days.

We begin with prayer. It's vital isn't it? How is your ministry founded and supported by prayer? How do you teach and lead children in the consistent discipline of prayer?
The answers will vary in each ministry. Yet we all know that God works wonderfully in answer to prayer. Through prayer lives and ministries are transformed by His Spirit. What small or big steps might your team take to focus and improve the way you pray?

A Ministry in Prayer is a practical workshop designed help you develop prayer in four key areas: as leaders, as teams, in children and in the church.

As you go through this workshop as a team you will reflect, brainstorm and take action to build a ministry rooted and built up in prayer.

You can download it here