12 Days of Christmas for Children's Ministry: Day One

** UPDATE Dec. 7th, 2011: Congratulations to Joy Feemster! Joy won the Nativity: Lights! Camera! Action!" kit**
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In the spirit of Christmas, which is of course Jesus, we're giving away 12 things that'll make your Christmas celebrations even better! And I get to choose what those 12 things are based on my favorite children's ministry resources from Group!

#1 for me has to be "Nativity: Lights! Camera! Action!" This instant Christmas play was my dream child because I know as a parent how taxing Christmas programs can be--all those rehearsals, costumes, props, show jitters, schedules, and more!

So we dreamed: What if we could give children's ministers their Christmas back by making the Christmas program so easy? What if we could create something that helps you pull off an amazing Christmas program that does the following:

• Goes from rehearsal to cast party--all in one night!
• Involves all ages--from babies to senior citizens!
• Makes costuming and prop creation ultra easy!
• Has all the great music you'll need (with easy songs to learn)!
• Has your church raving all year about all the fun they had together!

That's what our instant Christmas play "Nativity: Lights! Camera! Action!" does.

And to give you a little Christmas love, all you have to do is comment on this blog, our Facebook page or send a tweet (please use hashtag #cmchristmasplay), with your top reason for wanting to do a Christmas program. And after we have all the responses, we'll draw a name out of a stocking (or something). And then announce the winner.

Believe it or not: You've still got time to pull off a Christmas program with our complete scripts and plans. 

Say Thanks to Your Volunteers

Gracias! Dankeschon! In any language, these ideas will help you express your gratitude to volunteers' hearts!

Here are some of my favorite ideas for saying thanks from the "98 Thank Yous for Volunteers" by Mary Van Aalsburg in Children's Ministry Magazine.

1. Write three to five quick thank you notes each week.

2. Give a video rental coupon and a bag of microwave popcorn.

3. Give a long-stemmed chocolate rose.

4. Feature a teacher each month in your church bulletin, newsletter, or worship folder.

5. Make button pins for all your volunteers: "KIDS LOVE ME!"

6. Place classroom supplies such as stickers, stamps, and stamp pads inside a basket and wrap it in colorful cellophane.

7. Set up a Sunday Siesta Section in a quiet room, stocked with flavored coffees and teas, bagels or muffins, and inspirational music.

8. Leave a plate of homemade cookies in each classroom.

9. Volunteer to take leftover "gift with purchase merchandise" off a department store's hands to use as thank you gifts.

10. Find a prayer partner for each volunteer. Send this card: "Pray-er's name is praying just for you and Jesus' kids!"

11. Leave gold-wrapped chocolate coins or Hershey's Kisses® with this note: "Your work with children is more precious than gold. Thanks!"

12. Thank all volunteers with a children-hosted "After-Holidays Open House." Serve appetizers and festive punch or hot apple cider.

13. Surprise a volunteer with a balloon bouquet.

14. Have children complete "You're special to me because…" slips. Then present the slips to teachers.

15. Surprise each volunteer with a gift subscription to Children's Ministry Magazine (www.childrensministry.com/subscribe)

16. Take class pictures. Frame them and have kids sign each frame.

17. Develop a "Homeroom Parent" program to help teachers with tasks such as attendance, follow-up, encouragement, and snack preparation.

18. Provide a place and time for prayer with volunteers before the hectic morning begins.

19. Make a mural with candid shots of teachers and children.

20. Give a gift certificate for dinner out.

Want the other 78 ideas? Click here: http://www.childrensministry.com/articles/98-thank-yous-for-volunteers

Operation Kid to Kid: Looking Back

We're back in the states now and it's hard to communicate our experience to people. I wondered often about the difference we were making in kids' lives. And I think the DR Compassion Communication Director helped me get a glimpse of that at our last meeting.

He said so often these kids are pushed aside at home, in the streets, everywhere they go. But then a group of 30 people come to town and what they most want to do is spend time with them. We loved them, gave to them, photographed them. Yes, it was brief. But for a day we gave them a happy time. He said that communicated to these kids that "I really am important." That's pretty cool!

The other thing I think I'm impacted by is that I need to think globally in my actions. As we drove through neighborhoods, I started to judge the people who were just sitting around not being productive. And God convicted me that I spend a lot of time doing nothing...just sitting by the side of the road. How can I be more productive to give more, serve more, pray more? I'm asking God to change me in this area.

If you are looking for a great mission trip experience, I just want you to know that I highly recommend LifeTree Adventures (that's the group that organized our trip). It was safe, well-organized, and meaningful. Check it out at www.lifetreeadventures.com. The trip was worth every penny!

Operation Kid to Kid: Day 2

Another amazing day delivering backpacks and Bibles to kids in the DR! These kids are so precious and beautiful! It really is wonderful to do this.

At dinner with Shannon (from Boston!), we talked about our God Sightings for the day. We both sponsor kids through World Vision and this trip has challenged us to be stronger sponsors. So many children today could tell the names of their sponsors. They even asked Shannon if she was their sponsor. They really do have relationships with sponsors and feel genuinely loved. (How great it'll be some day to meet the children we sponsor in the Congo!)

Shannon and I thought about what the kids' lives would be like without the Compassion International sponsors who help them have access to loving Christian role models, tutoring, English training, Christian education, a warm meal daily, and more. The Compassion projects here give the kids hope for a better future and an introduction to the God who loves them dearly.

I have to admit that I haven't always taken the time to write meaningful notes to our sponsored kids. I think I'll be a much better sponsor after being here (and I would challenge you to consider sponsoring a child or more than one, too...through Compassion International or World Vision). There are many kids here in the DR who are still waiting for someone to give up a latte or two to help them experience the love of God!

You can even have a class or your entire ministry sponsor children. Learn more at www.compassion.com and make the difference in a beautiful child's life!

 

Operation Kid-to-Kid Day 1

First day to get to be with kids in the Compassion International Projects. And, wow! They blew us away with their joy, love for Jesus, and amazing talent as they greeted us and performed for us.

We visited Iglesia de Dios de la Profecia Los Mameyes and Iglesia Asamblea de Dios de Villa Duarte.

Take a look at these photos that I think will say it all.

Here's a photo of the area these children live in...a lot of poverty.

Here's our team (and my son Reed!) delivering backpacks (mochillas) and Bibles (biblias) from kids in North America to kids in the Dominican Republic.

Robin is delivering backpacks.

Delivering Bibles to Kids in the DR

This week, my son Reed and I join a group of people with LifeTree Adventures to deliver Operation Kid-to-Kid backpacks and Bibles to children in the Dominican Republic. It’s such a cool opportunity to do this together!

Already, we feel immersed in a different culture as the plane is full of Dominicans. We’re surrounded by Spanish!

Right now, we’re on a red-eye flight to the Dominican Republic. We’re sleep-deprived and my teenager is cranky.

Even though we’re tired, I’m full of hope. Hope that we’ll be able to make a difference. Hope that God will expand our world vision. Hope that we’ll see material things in an all new light when we return home.

I’ll keep you posted along the way.

Group KidMin Conference: Looking Back

Wow! God is so amazing! The #1 thing I prayed for the KidMin Conference is that God would show up in powerful and surprising ways. And he did!

No amount of planning and creative programs can make God show up. That's simply the amazing thing where we need to depend on the Holy Spirit to do what only the Holy Spirit can do--refresh, encourage, convict, challenge, restore, heal, comfort, and more.

Thank you, God, for doing God-only things at KidMin! We heard so many stories about lives transformed...people who said they were ready to quit, but God has restored their vision/passion/calling! People who said they came dry, not even able to sense God's presence anymore...yet God touched them in a way that they feel transformed and connected. People who felt like perhaps they were too old or too young to be in children's ministry, yet God showed them they're exactly where he wants them!

The stories are still rolling in! And we're floating around here at Group because we're grateful to have been with our wonderful friends in ministry...and we're grateful for all that God did in them and through them.

We love you guys...and can't wait until KidMin 2012 to see you again! Stay tuned for more details soon.

Group KidMin Conference: Tomorrow!

We've put the final touches on all our preparation and welcomed our amazing speakers, Inside Track Team, volunteers, and staff. Tim Gilmour shared our core values and how we aim to be a different kind of conference. Our goal: deeper learning, authentic conversation, and renewed passion.

All our speakers are so amazing! After our pizza dinner and getting to know one another better, we all dove in to unpack the Xorbee sack chairs our guests will enjoy this weekend. What servants! We were told this is the fastest this chair setup has ever gone. Go team!

Enjoy the pictures! Here we go! We're going to trust God to do amazing things.

http://tinyurl.com/3cjq54z

Countdown to KidMin Conference: 2 Days!

Here we are in Chicago, working hard to get everything set up for our KidMin Conference guests in just two days! We are SO excited to welcome everyone and serve them in a way that's transformational!

Just this morning we met with the hotel staff (20 men and women in black suits!) to give them a vision for the amazing, humble, visionary, passionate, (and a tad tired) folks who are coming. We all agreed that we're eager to give to them in a way that sends them home refreshed.

Take a look at this photo and just imagine what our Angry Pigs game is going to be like during our opening session Friday night! We have crazy fun and giveaways planned.

 

But more than that, we're excited about what we've planned for our conference guests to have authentic conversations, deeper learning, and renewed passion!

Can't wait to see everyone in just 2 days! And if you're not coming, follow us on twitter: @groupkidminconf and look for this hashtag everywhere: #kidmin11

Countdown to KidMin Conference: 6 Days!

Never in my life would I buy purple shoes on my own...but that's exactly what I just bought this weekend for the KidMin Conference this week!

Why? This purple shoe thing seems to have taken on a life of itself. People in our Inside Track Team are bringing purple clothes and shoes to the conference. And I want to catch up on the trend.

That's how cool this KidMin Conference is. It's not just our staff creating the culture, but it's conhference guests--and right now, especially our Inside Track Team (you'll learn more about this amazing team at our conference--and how to join it).

There's so much the Inside Track team has shaped and gotten involved in. They'll create the vibe and environment of the Prayer Room. They're getting plugged into panels in so many Ministry Conversations. They're blogging and spreading the word. And they'll be critical volunteers to make everything happen.

I can't wait to see what else they do and create at KidMin! I'm thrilled to get to serve with these folks--even if it means wearing purple, polka-dotted shoes!

Learn more about the KidMin Conference at www.childrensministry.com/kidmin