Who Can You Trust?

In a beyond-disturbing development in the case of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu's murder (in Tracy, California), Sandra's playmate's mother has been arrested. It's unbelievable!

We ask, "What mother would do this?" Add insult to injury because not only was she a trusted parent, but she was also a Sunday school teacher. The press has made a lot of noise about this. Why? Because we trust other mothers to protect our children. And we certainly trust the Sunday school teachers in children's ministry to protect our children in the name of God.

When either of those instincts break down--to protect and nurture as a mother or to represent God's love as a Sunday school teacher, our entire society finds it even more horrific.

Our prayers go out to Sandra's grieving family today. And to a shocked and disbelieving Huckaby family as well.

My Favorite Easter Idea

My all-time favorite Easter idea from Children's Ministry Magazine is Resurrection Buns. They're sticky, gooey, yummy. And when you bite into them, they're empty--just like Jesus' tomb was empty on Easter morning! Make them for your class or kids. They'll love them!

RESURRECTION BUNS
Wrap a crescent roll around a large marshmallow and tightly close the edges. Roll the dough in melted butter and then in a cinnamon and sugar mixture. Bake at 375 until lightly browned. (The marshmallow inside melts, leaving a syrupy mixture behind.)

So easy!

What's your favorite Easter idea?

Way to Go...or Oh No?

In a recent review of the "State of Family Ministry" research we conducted this year for Children's Ministry Magazine, our staff was once again intrigued by the dichotomy between how children's ministers rate themselves and how parents rate the children's ministers in efficacy.

Parents give children's ministers an A. When asked, "How would you rate how well your church partners with you as a parent to train your children spiritually?"...43 percent of parents said "very well," 36% said "pretty good." (That's a B.)

Children's ministers give themselves a C. When asked, "How would you rate how well your church partners with parents to train their children spiritually?"...45% said "average," and only 7.5% said "very well."

Why the divide? Why do you think children's ministers have a more negative view of their family ministry effectiveness than parents do?