New Chapter- resources for children & family ministry - New Chapter... children & family ministry

New Chapter... children & family ministry

Do you provide a newsletter for your volunteers?

30/5/2013

A ministry newsletter or bulletin for your volunteers is a great way to maintain good communication, to encourage and inspire your team. Excitement and enthusiasm is catching and this is a great way to share the excitement of what's happening in your kids' ministry, while making sure that everyone is on the same page. Now, you can prepare and produce a monthly newsletter in less than no time at all.

Purchase a subscription for Group's 'Be Awesome' newsletter and most of your work is done. Each month you'll be sent a link to download the 4-page newsletter as a Word file. Add your relevant information, upcoming events and an inspirational devotion or article and it's done.

Then print off copies for your team or email the newsletter directly to them.
If you need some ideas for inspirational content or training to include in your newsletters, take a look at 'Training on the Go,' or '2-Minute Encouragers for Teachers'.

Each 4-page issue of Be Awesome includes:
A relevant article.
Customizable content areas for you to include updates for your team.
Calendar where you can add events, meetings—whatever you want!
Download a free sample ...here

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Support and encourage your leaders

Children's bulletins & work sheets

Father's Day crafts for your kidmin

29/5/2013

Father's Day is celebrated on different dates throughout the world- and not until September, in Australia. But, for those of you who are preparing now for this upcoming event on your kidmin calendar, here are a few craft ideas to get you started.Just click on the images below to find a link for more information and printables. There is one downloadable that you'll have to purchase but it's only $1 and well worth the saving of your time and energy to have it already prepared.

Research now tells us what we already knew- fathers play an important role in the lives of children and families. 'Men are the single greatest untapped resource in the lives of children. We currently live in the best of times and the worst of times for fatherhood. We live in the best of times because fathers who are engaged in their child's life spend more time than fathers of any previous generation. We live in the worst of times because millions of children continue to miss the regular presence of Dad.' (Yale Child Centre Study)

Highlight the importance of fathers with your children's ministry as you celebrate Father's Day, this year.

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Last minute ideas for Fathers Day

Great ideas for Fathers Day

Great design ideas for kidmin areas

28/5/2013

We'd all love a dynamic, themed area for our children's ministry with special sign-in booths and stage areas. And there are some wonderful companies that can create these exciting areas for kids. But if your budget doesn't stretch to include these wonderful design features and play areas, there are still creative effects that you can do yourself.

Take a look at some of the ideas below...

They are all made with relatively inexpensive materials: plastic tablecloths, boxes, styrofoam, rope etc.
Hopefully, these designs will encourage you to try something similar yourself for your next themed program, VBS or special event.

Just click on the images for more information about how each effect was achieved.

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Easter display ideas

Inexpensive Kidmin display ideas

Create free online jigsaw puzzles for your kidmin

24/5/2013

My youngest granddaughter has discovered jigsaw puzzles and regularly drags them all out for me to help her complete. It doesn't seem to matter that we've worked on the same puzzles over and over. She still delightedly claps her hands when we've finished.

I've noticed that the older kids are just as happy to work on online jigsaw puzzles, too. And... it's easy to create your own FREE puzzles with images from your computer.

What a great way to share the weekly memory verse, Bible point or perhaps a picture of Sunday's lesson with your kids' church! You can alter the number of jigsaw pieces to change the difficulty level and even use different shapes for the puzzle. Once you've made your puzzles online( and it takes only minutes to create), you can share them on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, email them to families or embed them in your blog or website.. easy.

There are a number of sites that allow you to create these jigsaw puzzles, but I used JigsawPlanet. Try the sample below. If you have trouble viewing or playing the puzzle, use the link HERE to access it online. Have fun!
If you'd like to use this puzzle yourself, just copy the code listed below the puzzle and add it to your blog or site:

<iframe frameborder=0 src="http://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=1471499fdb6f&view=iframe" title="Your Word - online jigsaw puzzle - 24 pieces">[Your web browser does not support frames or is currently configured not to display frames. However, you may visit <a href="http://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=1471499fdb6f" target="_top">the related page</a>.]</iframe>

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Can your kidmin handle a disaster?

23/5/2013

The devastating tornado in Oklahoma and the magnitude of this disaster has generated world-wide attention. Even here on the Gold Coast, it has received front-page newspaper coverage. Our thoughts and prayers are with this community as they deal with the heart-breaking destruction and loss.

The Skit Guys have responded to this tragedy with the offer of a free clip, 'The Storms of Life', in the hope that you can download and use this to encourage discussion about this and other tragedies. (see below)

"We hope that your church community will remember ours. Remember that there’s a community aching. Remember there’s a lot to rebuild––both homes and hearts. Please keep OK in your prayers today and in the weeks to come.' Skit Guys

In Australia, natural disasters are common: drought, cyclones, fire, floods. The predictability of these disasters has been immortalized in the imagery of our poetry and literature, but are you and your children's ministry team prepared for it? Can you comfort families and children and help them cope with disaster?
There are a number of points to keep in mind.
1. Children need physical reassurance. They need to be with their family to feel safe. Keep in mind that displaced children will require even more physical comforting.
2. Children need to talk. Listen to them. They need to know others understand and share their worries and concerns.
3. Talk honestly.... but don't scare them. Share worries in an age-appropriate manner.
4. Remain as calm as possible. Maintain normal routines as much as you are able.
5. Expect regressive behaviour. Generally, such behaviours will fade over time.
More helpful information can be found from the following resources:

Tips for dealing with disasters (childrensministry.com)
Responding to disaster- article
Emergency Response Handbook for Disasters (Group) pdf download
Comforting Kids in Crisis- book

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Ideas & resources for kidmin Bible lessons

22/5/2013

The dictionary defines creative as: cre·a·tive 1. having the quality or power of creating. 2. resulting from originality of thought, expression, etc.; imaginative: creative writing. 3. originative; productive (usually fol. by of). 4. Facetious. using or creating exaggerated or skewed data, information, etc.: creative bookkeeping.

Creative Bible Study blog is a Christian blog and site dedicated to getting believers excited about God's Word and all it holds. The site provides information for children, preschoolers, youth, object lessons, prayer, Bible lessons, devotions and more..

It's helpful and encouraging to share creative ideas, information and resources (one of the reasons that Pinterest has become so popular, so quickly) and this is just one website and blog that does just that. And, since we're on the subject, Creative Bible Study's Pinterest boards are well worth taking a look.. see here.

'Today is your day to be creative as you let the truth of God's Word impact your life and the lives of those around you.' Creative Bible Study

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Social Media for your kidmin

21/5/2013

Be sure to 'LIKE' our FACEBOOK page, and then select:

...to make sure you don't miss any blogs filled with information and ideas for children & family ministry.

A couple of months ago, a free webinar was aired as part of a book launch by Nils Smith. The book was 'Social Media- a guide for ministry' and the webinar was helpful for those interested in learning more about 'whys' and 'hows' of using social media for ministry- yes, children & family ministry, too.

If you missed it and would still like to learn more, you can view these presentation online HERE...

The book is available here or as a Kindle version here..

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Unique finger puppets for older kids

17/5/2013

Kids love puppets.. They love to watch puppet shows and the antics of character puppets. They love to use puppets and they love to make puppets. But generally, we think of little kids when we plan to include finger puppets.

And yes, younger kids enjoy finger puppets. We've previously mentioned finger puppets, how to use finger puppets with little ones in your Bible lessons and listed some good examples... here.

These cardboard Farm Finger Puppets are an amazing variation and would be terrific for older kids to use because they can 'talk'. The kits include 4 puppets (cow, donkey, pig and chicken) and there is a safari animals and dino kit, too. I must admit, I had wondered if they would work or maybe they would just balance on the end of your finger, but they do. You just need to curl your finger up and down and the mouth will open and close. So.. how about including these in your kids church Bible story lesson or having the kids retell the story with finger puppets. Animals are often involved in these stories.. Balaam's donkey, Prodigal son, Samson, and more. You can find Bible character figures HERE to print off and include in the stories as needed. Attach a small dowel to the back of each to create a stick puppet.

You can find them online here.. and here..

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Special community concert for kidmin outreach

16/5/2013

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This Sunday afternoon, our church is presenting a special family concert as a community outreach event. A large part of the community has no connection with church, has never attended a church service and many do not even know a church exists nearby.

We hope and pray that this free concert, one of a number of community family events planned over the next few months, will create an awareness of the church and will encourage families to come along and enjoy this event.

The concert includes a meal (BBQ) with plenty of fun, kids' activities- jumping castle, music, face-painting, balloons, inflatable activity centre and more. We will have a live Christian band and a guest presenter- Christopher Wayne, a gospel illusionist. I've included a clip about Chris below.

A community outreach event can be a daunting task but just requires a bit of planning ahead of time. If you need a little assistance with this, check out the Children's Ministry Easy Planner Pack. It includes plenty of set-by-step checklists for your kidmin event planning. See here for more information.
I've also included a Special Invitation ppt slide for an event that can be easily altered to your needs.

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8 Bible app games for kidmin

14/5/2013

No matter how organised or prepared your kidmin programs may be, there may come a time when you need to occupy a child or some children for a short period of time. Check out some of these games, quiz or activity apps. Be prepared- download a couple now so you're ready for any need. They would also be great for a fun segment for families to included in their family devotion time. Click on the links or images for more information about each app.

Children's Bible Games: 5 exciting games- puzzles, seek & find, Bible stickers, colouring, memory.
Dot to Dot Bible Stories: Complete the dot-to-dot puzzle and the picture comes to life with animations and sounds. Pictures can also be coloured.
Bible Word Scramble: Use your knowledge of the Bible to solve hundreds of word puzzles.
Bible Stories Hidden Objects: 10 puzzles.. new one opens on completion of previous game.
Christian Bible Heroes: 5 different games, animated animal reward stickers
Bible Colouring Book: includes 12 stories to colour and more books available to download.
Bible Pairs: Find the matching pair. Some are simple, others require greater Bible knowledge.
Bible Quest- Just for Fun: Unusual or funny questions from the Bible.. just for fun.

(If you cannot see the gallery of app images, click HERE to view the post in your browser.)

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