Take the Sting Out of Curriculum!

Two years ago, we started asking children's ministers, "What's the biggest thing you struggle with?" "Getting volunteers," they said!

Then we took a hard look at curriculum. "Maybe all our creativity is making it hard for volunteers," we thought. So we created an initial concept (that would become Buzz curriculum), but it didn't look anything like Buzz does now. We talked to children's ministers across the country and asked them to help us shape it. And, God bless 'em! Children's ministers have lots of great opinions.

We went back to the drawing board several times...until we reached a version of Buzz that people said YES! YES! That's exactly what we need! It truly is "if it's in the lesson, it's in the box"!!!!

It was an amazing process...a huge learning experience...and something that I'm so grateful I got to be a part of. Recently, Becki Manni, our senior editor, sent me this email from someone who's using Buzz: "I have been thrilled with this curriculum!  It is wonderful.  I run the children's department and we had been using Faithweaver for most of their lives.  It was time for something drastic!  This was the answer.  It is fun, engaging and most of all it hits on our top priorities:  Bible and Prayer!  I am also the parent of a 5 and a 3 year old.  For the first time they are getting it - they are able tell me what they learned - we actually do the homework (sorry we didn't do the Faithweaver stuff).  Our children are really thriving with this curriculum - keep up the great work!"

God is so good! We asked him to show us how to serve the church with their biggest need...and God faithfully answered! So if you struggle to get volunteers because they say they're too busy, they don't have time to prepare or collect supplies, or they're not a teacher, you have to check out Buzz...Go to group.com/buzz. I think you'll be amazed!

Realistic Parent Training

I just saw this posted in a blog for communicating expectations to parents about discipling their children:

Every parent must read and study their Bible with their children every day.

Every parent must attend a corporate worship experience every week.

Every parent must join and regularly attend a home fellowship group.

Every parent must be involved in at least one meaningful Bible study each year.

Every parent must be involved in at least one mission activity each year.

Every parent must be in a meaningful discipleship group with their children every week.

Every parent must serve in the children’s ministry as scheduled.

My response? Are you kidding me? How are we ever going to reach the majority of parents to make a huge and lasting impact on the next generation? This list smacks of responsibilities for the highly motivated Christian parent already. I'm afraid lists like these and expectations like these leave regular families in the dust and empty-handed.

Grapple Good News

Back in the day...okay, just a couple years ago, I got to work with our amazing team to create Grapple preteen! It's one of my favorite things that we do!

I just got this email about what people are saying about Grapple (preteen and junior high). So cool! Read on...

“Recruiting and keeping volunteers is easier since I have switched to Grapple. In the past teachers would have a hard time volunteering because the curriculum did not provide enough resources to keep students pulled in….. This was the main reason why I switched to Grapple because I wanted to make sure my teachers had all the resources they need to provide great learning opportunity to our jr. high and preteen students.”

“I find Grapple to be the most effective road map to guide me through the lessons.  For me the lessons are down to earth….Grapple is simple to use”

 

“We use the pre-teen Grapple with our 4th and 5th graders.  We split our rooms between boys and girls.  One of our congregation members owns a trophy store and I had them make a huge trophy that passes back and forth between the boys and girls when we have our Grapple competitions, i.e. who answered the most questions from the internet, when we play games etc.  The trophy stays in our large group room but moves between the "boys" side and "girls" side.”

 

“One thing that we’ve done with our grapple curriculum is we have senior high youth come to the class to lead the small group portion.  Our Junior highers love having the older kids take an interest in them and model their faith.”

 

Check it out at group.com/grapple

Hope for Haiti

As some of you know, my husband, Ray, works at the Denver Children's Hospital. He sent me this email today and I thought it was something you'd want to read.

"Wanted to share – a team of doctors and nurses from TCH went on their own to Haiti to help.  The Hospital donated a bunch of supplies to this team, and one of the doctors who went is somebody we work with quite a bit in CAS – so we have a personal connection to the team which makes it special. 

" Here is from a blog TCH setup about their night last night:

'There is a man here named Mark who does a lot of work in Haiti and likes to sing with them and educate through song. After dinner he led all the children staying here around the camp singing songs and dancing. Pretty soon we all either voluntarily joined in or where coaxed in by the crew. They love to sing and jump and dance. They love to interact with us, play, have their pictures taken. It was almost a blessing it was dark because we couldn't take pictures or video much. Instead we simply had to join in.

This is the hope of Haiti. You will hear different reports everywhere about how efforts are going down here. We are here for the heart of these people. For the kids who love to dance and sing and continue to do so despite the tragedy around them.'

"Right in the middle of all the destruction, all the trauma, and the horrendous hurting in Haiti – what is happening? God is present.  God is especially present and there for the children – for the least of these.  God is leading the children in actions that give the adults hope.  I find it so amazing that in trauma – it is the children who often lead us back to hope."

Here’s the blog address:

http://denverchildrenshelpshaiti.blogspot.com/

Secret Shopper for Churches

My son Grant took me out to breakfast at IHOP this weekend (the day they had to fly back to Camp Pendleton). I noticed the waitress wasn't taking our order by memory like she usually does, so I asked her why. She told us it's because they've gotten in trouble with secret shoppers who've come in and complained that their order wasn't just right. So, thus, the pen and paper.

I, of course, asked a lot more questions about the secret shopper program and then explained to her that I thought it would be cool for churches. Because churches can think they're friendly, for example, but someone from the outside could help them see if that's really true.

While I thought of what a great service this would be to churches, Grant explained to me that I really shouldn't blurt out stuff like that to people. She was interested, I told him. He said, no, she was just interested in her tip. Oh well!

What do you think? Would churches open themselves up to the scrutiny of a secret shopper to get better at meeting people's needs?

CMMag Resolutionaries

It's that time of the year where we celebrate all that God did in 2009 and look forward to 2010 with hope and anticipation...otherwise known as making resolutions.

Here are resolutions from the Children's Ministry Magazine staff:

Carmen (associate editor) is "making a goal for this year to run (or maybe walk!) the Boulder Boulder." (The rest of us will cheer her on from the sidelines with lattes and doughnuts!)

Craig (staff photographer) is resolved to make no resolutions, but he asked "Did I just make one?"

Jennifer (managing editor) is going to "stop beating up myself for the little failures that add up to everyday life." (So wise for one so young!)

RoseAnne (art director) says "Resolutions? Me?? What are you implying? That I need to change?" (never!)

Celia (administrative assistant) says "My resolution is to stop using my treadmill as a place to store my books and actually get on it and turn it on." (So maybe Celia will do the Boulder Boulder with Carmen!)

Kathy (associate editor) wants "to be more aware of self-inflicted busyness and spend more time with friends." (and all her friends rejoice!)

Suzi (computer graphic artist) will be sending "more handwritten notes, letters, etc. to friends and family." (no more facebook, Suzi?)

And, me, well I'm with Craig...I don't like making resolutions much but I'm resolved in 2010 to "not sweat the small stuff, and it's all small stuff in light of eternity."

So...what are you hoping and praying for this year?

Happy New Year from our team to you!

Why I Weep on Weekends

Tim Miller wrote this...it's amazing!

Why I Weep on Weekends
Because I did not have to stay around longer on Saturday evening to do a last-minute walkthrough.
Because I did not have to arrive an hour early to pray with my loving team of ministry partners.
Because I did not leave it all on the floor in the morning, I did not need a nap in the afternoon.
Because I did not have to stay after the last service to talk to parents about the decision their child made this weekend.
Because I did not have to take time between services with my worship team to go over the new song one more time.
Because I did not have to take money out of my own pocket to buy coffee for my tech team.
Because I did not have to prepare for a training meeting.
Because I didn’t miss lunch with my wife so I could meet with staff.
Because I wasn’t asked at the last minute if I could find a sub for a 4th-grade small-group leader.
Because no one threw up in the middle of the main entrance.
I weep on weekends because I am not currently ministering to children.

 

For more from Tim, check it out his blog: http://timmillerblog.wordpress.com/

Children--Our Greatest Treasure

Children are loved and treasured--everywhere!

My husband and I just got back from a trip to Malta and Italy and one of the things that struck me was how much people dote on their children. Families out walking on the beach on a Sunday afternoon. Families in airports. Families in church. Families at restaurants. While I couldn't understand all the languages, I could tell that they delighted in, protected, and valued their children.

I just couldn't help thinking about how good it is to know that (for the majority of children) no one will ever love them here on earth more than their parents do. I think we may forget that sometimes.

I'm such a big fan of parents!

When Is Enough Enough?

If you haven't read the Time magazine article about overprotective parents, make sure you do. Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/ycrxfj2

It adds to the discussion we have around here at times about how much safety and security is enough in a children's ministry. In a conversation we had with about 60 children's ministers a few years ago here at Group, we asked them to list how many safety and security procedures they had in place for their ministries. All together, there were over 80 items on the compiled list.

Whoa! 80 items! When do we know that we've crossed the line into an overprotective ministry and we're not just doing "due diligence"? When do we contribute to the culture of "freaking out" that parents find themselves in? What, in your opinion, is enough in providing a safe environment for children in your care? I'd love to see your brief list of absolute safety measures.

I think we all may need a wake-up call!

A Christmas Letter From Jesus

It's rare that I pass on a fwd email, but this one captured exactly how I feel about the kind of Christians we need to be. So I'm passing it along in my blog.

Letter from Jesus about Christmas --
 
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. 
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
 
Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
 
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.
 
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:
 
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.
 
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
 
3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.
 
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
 
5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
 
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless?  Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
 
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families
 
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.
 
9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.
 
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
 
Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :

I LOVE YOU,

 

JESUS

It is God's will that those who are still in this world should communicate heavenly gifts to one another by means of prayers.......St. Therese