I made the preschool teachers in our kidmin very happy this past Sunday when I let them know that I had ordered a play item for each of their classrooms – parachutes! In fact, I ordered them because one of our volunteers asked me to a few weeks prior – and that was a very simple request to fulfill!
I ordered two different sizes, both from Oriental Trading. We ordered this one for our 2-yr olds and this one for our 3-5-yr olds.
I gave my volunteers a few suggestions on how to use the parachutes and I thought I’d post them here as well:
When you raise the parachute, call two names, have the children run under the parachute and exchange spots.
Have the children repeat the Bible verse or main point while bouncing a soft ball on the parachute.
Use the parachute as a tent to sit in while telling the Bible story.
Speaking of the Bible story – have the children act out the ‘water’ in water-themed Bible stories.
Call two names at a time and have them run under the parachute and change places.
For additional ideas, check out Tony Kummer’s post over at ministry-to-children.
How do you incorporate parachute play into your ministry?
Last summer, our VBS attenders made edible torches for snack – they fit our “Athens” theme. I thought I’d share them again, considering the 2014 Winter Olympics is right around the corner.
What you’ll need:
Sugar cones
Yogurt (I believe we used vanilla)
Strawberries (although any red fruit would work)
What you’ll do:
Scoop yogurt into a sugar cone – the cone will be the ‘torch’ base.
Top yogurt with strawberries – this will be the ‘flame’.
*You could also add mandarin orange slices to give the ‘flame’ an orange glow.
Are you incorporating any Olympic-inspired snacks into your home or kidmin this weekend?
Yesterday, my family and I enjoyed a long-standing tradition – getting together for the Super Bowl. Yes, the guys are interested in the game – and we ladies were, too, last year when our Baltimore Ravens were playing. But fellowship, great food, 2 birthdays (my dad & my sister’s birthdays always fall around Super Bowl weekend), and funny commercials are the REAL reasons we enjoy our annual Super Bowl party.
Speaking of commercials..The Washington Post reported that a 30-second advertisement cost approximately $4 million this year. With over 100 million viewers expected to tune in to the game, corporate sponsors are able to reach a plethora of potential consumers. Might be a good investment then, right?
Most of us in kidmin would never have a $4 million budget, let alone $4 million for a 30-second advertisement but there are some ways to creatively ‘advertise’ your ministry without breaking the bank. Here are a few suggestions:
Word of mouth is always a winner. People will tell their friends about the wonderful things happening in your ministry. (Sadly, the opposite is also true.)
A great church/ministry website is also a winner. More and more of our families find us via the internet nowadays, so having a top-notch website is a great investment. Our ministry will be updating our website in the coming weeks and I am very excited about that!
Bulletin ads are an effective tool in getting the word out about your ministry. There have been debates on whether or not to use church bulletins to recruit volunteers but bulletins can be a great way to give a brief snapshot of what’s happening in your ministry.
Reach the masses by having upfront announcements, videos, and skits presented to your entire congregation at weekend services. Having a ministry staffer or key volunteer do this is awesome. Having your Senior Pastor do this is also awesome.
E-newsletters are another great (and oftentimes free) route to choose. I use Mail Chimp to send weekly updates to our ministry parents. The information hits their inbox and is always available at their fingertips.
Social media, like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, are also free tools that are very effective in getting the word out. Many members of our congregation use social media so getting information to them in this way is extremely effective.
Getting the word out via text alerts is something that many ministries use. I currently do not use this type of advertisements but those that do have shared how awesome it is to send a mass text to parents, students, and/or volunteers.
Quality colorful, eye-catching posters and banners are great ‘oldies but goodies’. Pair them up with a creatively decorated table, printed materials, a smiling volunteer and food is also a winner. Read here about how our ministry pulled this off this past summer.
Other great options include diaper bag tags, buttons, ink pens, hats, backpacks, water bottles, t-shirts – anything that can be printed with your ministry’s logo. Many times these items help strike up great conversations outside of your church walls.
How have you creatively advertised your ministry on a budget? I’m always looking for ideas, so please share yours by leaving a comment below!
Last week, our area of the country experienced snow and bitter cold temperatures. Everyone was desperate to find a warm place to escape the cold, including a stray cat that has unofficially become part of our family over the past year. The cat, who my son has affectionately named Patches, was shivering so badly that my son asked if he could bring her into the house (in a cage that we purchased over the summer) to get warm. My response: “Of course.” Once inside the house, she stopped shivering and slept peacefully, thankful it seemed to be out of the cold.
Children who enter our church doors also crave a warm place – not just a physically warm space on a cold winter’s day but an emotionally & spiritually warm place whose impact will last much longer.
So how can we make our churches a warm, inviting place where children crave to be?
For First-Time Guests
Introduce yourself to the child (and his or her family) during the check-in process.
Engage the child in conversation while the parents are completing the check-in process. Get down on their level and look them in the eye.
Explain what the morning will look like – what they’ll experience, who will teach them, etc.
Walk the child and family to their classroom instead of pointing them in the right direction.
Introduce them by name to the adult(s) in charge.
*Note: Our ministry pairs up a first-time guest with a regular attender of the same age/gender. This child will help the first-timer feel at ease and will look out for them during the class time.
Regular Attenders
Welcome them by name. Get down on their level and look them in the eye.
Express how happy you are to see them and spend the day with them – and mean it!
Ask them about their week – school, sporting events, etc.
Invite them to join in on an activity.
Listen to them when they share. Listen really well.
Ask how you can pray for them. Pray for them, even during the week. Then follow-up with them the following week.
Talk to the child’s parent. Know that your ministry to children also includes the grown ups in their lives.
“And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
Jesus, Matthew 18:5
Who will you welcome this weekend with the love of Jesus? What other ways would you make a child feel welcome?
