Christian Ministry

[steaver]

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ,

I had this in the Christian fellowship forum but did not receive any response. I guess it is ok to enter it here since children church can be a denominational debate. Some may absolutely oppose children church but for those who do have a seperate children's ministry I would like to know what ideas or programs are working best for you.

I have been blessed with the appointment as Christian Education Director for our church beginning 2011. We have 101 members and about 160 in attendance at Sunday worship.

My first priority is our childrens ministry during the Sunday morning worship service. We have anywhere from 15 to 25 kids between grades K-6 on any given week.

My questions for you are what does your church do for this age group? What have you found that works very well? Are the children all together? Do you seperate them into age specific groups? Do you use a program?

Our church has experienced growth now for the past two years and we want to provide a top notch Jesus Christ honoring ministry for the children.

Any ideas would be greatly appreceated!

God Bless!

 

[SpiritualMadMan]

WoW!

I barely remeber those days.

Basically, it was mostly choruses and flannel board stuff with simple Childrens Level Bible Stories...

The Gospel was clear enough that I first accepted Christ at age five during the Christmas Season of 1957 when the Southeastern Bible College Choir gave a concert.

I remember that day clearly because my aunt, who would later be a Missionary to Malawi and Kenya, met me at the altar and prayed with me. She was part of the choir.

So, I would not dismiss the ability of children that young to understand the Gospel and thier need of a Savior, or at east forgiveness for their sins, against their parents if no one else...

Have fun... You have more patience that most of us hear put together...

But, there's nothing like winning them that young and beginning a good discipleship on a good foundation...

 

[annsni]

Hey! I can help!

We have a new church campus with a small children's ministry. We have a nursery for children up to three years old which runs the whole service and then the older kids are in the service for worship time (we do one song, announcements then three more songs then the children are dismissed). Then the children go to the children's ministry room.

We have two groups of children right now - one is for the younger kids and the other is for the older. It splits right now at 3rd/4th grade but that could be adjusted depending on your children. They are all in one room so they have separate tables for the different groups. They are using the Northpoint Promise Land materials and it seems to be working well.

 

[steaver]

WoW!

I barely remeber those days.

Basically, it was mostly choruses and flannel board stuff with simple Childrens Level Bible Stories...

The Gospel was clear enough that I first accepted Christ at age five during the Christmas Season of 1957 when the Southeastern Bible College Choir gave a concert.

I remember that day clearly because my aunt, who would later be a Missionary to Malawi and Kenya, met me at the altar and prayed with me. She was part of the choir.

So, I would not dismiss the ability of children that young to understand the Gospel and thier need of a Savior, or at east forgiveness for their sins, against their parents if no one else...

Have fun... You have more patience that most of us hear put together...

But, there's nothing like winning them that young and beginning a good discipleship on a good foundation...

Thanks for the encouragement! Teaching the children has always been a tremendous blessing. No amount of gold or silver could match the appeciation received form them. :thumbsup:

 

[steaver]

Hey! I can help!

We have a new church campus with a small children's ministry. We have a nursery for children up to three years old which runs the whole service and then the older kids are in the service for worship time (we do one song, announcements then three more songs then the children are dismissed). Then the children go to the children's ministry room.

We have two groups of children right now - one is for the younger kids and the other is for the older. It splits right now at 3rd/4th grade but that could be adjusted depending on your children. They are all in one room so they have separate tables for the different groups. They are using the Northpoint Promise Land materials and it seems to be working well.

Thanks Ann!

We had been using Discovery Club materials but this is only a 24 week program designed to run with one school year. This program provides material for two age groups as well. Worship and craft time is spent all together and the lessons are divided into two age groups. I want to find a 50 week program. Is Northpoint a 50 week program? I was doing some online research but didn't see Northpoint, I will punch it in on a seperate search.

I really expected this thread to receive alot of responses. Doesn't most everyone here attend a church?? Is anyone doing anything different with church?

:thumbsup:

 

[David Lamb]

School ages/stages/grades are different here in the UK. Here, children must begin school in either the year or the school term of their 5th birthday. Some schools have a nursery class, for children aged 3-4.

So what ages do you mean when you say "K-6"?

Thanks.

 

[steaver]

School ages/stages/grades are different here in the UK. Here, children must begin school in either the year or the school term of their 5th birthday. Some schools have a nursery class, for children aged 3-4.

So what ages do you mean when you say "K-6"?

Thanks.

It would be ages 5-11 or 12.

 

[annsni]

Thanks Ann!

We had been using Discovery Club materials but this is only a 24 week program designed to run with one school year. This program provides material for two age groups as well. Worship and craft time is spent all together and the lessons are divided into two age groups. I want to find a 50 week program. Is Northpoint a 50 week program? I was doing some online research but didn't see Northpoint, I will punch it in on a seperate search.

I really expected this thread to receive alot of responses. Doesn't most everyone here attend a church?? Is anyone doing anything different with church?

:thumbsup:

The Sunday school program is called "Promise Land" (not "promised" but "promise"). Maybe search on that and you'll find stuff?

 

[annsni]

School ages/stages/grades are different here in the UK. Here, children must begin school in either the year or the school term of their 5th birthday. Some schools have a nursery class, for children aged 3-4.

So what ages do you mean when you say "K-6"?

Thanks.

Around here, typically children start regular public school for kindergarten which is for 5 year olds turning 6 in the next year (cut-off dates vary by school district but around here, you must be 5 by December 31st to be in kindergarten that year). Then from kindergarten, we go to first grade on through 6th grade so those would be 6 year olds through 12 year olds. We also do have preschool, nursery school or "pre-k" for the kids who are younger but it's not mandatory unless you have a special needs child who is receiving help from the school district at an earlier age.

 

[David Lamb]

It would be ages 5-11 or 12.

Thanks, Steve!

On Sundays, all children remain in the service. I usually do a "children's talk" based around the main sermon, and have been told by some of the adults that they find these helpful, too.

Specifically for children, we run an after-school club every Tuesday in school term time. As the church doesn't have its own building, we hold our services and other meetings in the local primary (= almost the same as your "elementary") school. It is an ordinary state-run school, but we hire the room for services and meetings. For the after-school club, this is great, because children can come to us straight after their last school lesson - no need to go home first, and then possibly "forget" that the club is on! None of the parents of children who come to this club are members of the church, or even regular church attenders, so the contact we have with those parents is very much a gospel outreach of the church.

 

[steaver]

Thanks, Steve!

On Sundays, all children remain in the service. I usually do a "children's talk" based around the main sermon, and have been told by some of the adults that they find these helpful, too.

Specifically for children, we run an after-school club every Tuesday in school term time. As the church doesn't have its own building, we hold our services and other meetings in the local primary (= almost the same as your "elementary") school. It is an ordinary state-run school, but we hire the room for services and meetings. For the after-school club, this is great, because children can come to us straight after their last school lesson - no need to go home first, and then possibly "forget" that the club is on! None of the parents of children who come to this club are members of the church, or even regular church attenders, so the contact we have with those parents is very much a gospel outreach of the church.

Thanks David,

God Bless you in your ministries! YBIC