Tag: children’s ministry

Freebie Friday: Recruiting and Training New Nursery Volunteers

Kathie Phillips 2 Comments

Church nurseries are often the first place where parents leave their babies for the first time, so it’s very important to ensure that this ministry area is particularly top notch.  As a kidmin leader, you have the responsibility of recruiting the right people and thoroughly training them to serve in your Nursery.  Where do you start?

Earlier this fall, I wrote a training piece for Sparkhouse’s Frolic Online to assist kidmin leaders with this task.

Recruiting and Training New Kidmin Nursery Volunteers

You can download the free guide here.  Happy Friday!

Let The Little Children Come Bible Tracts {Product Review}

Kathie Phillips

Do you know what a ‘tract’ is?  So, in my neck of the woods, I haven’t heard that term or seen an actual one in 30+ years.  To be honest, I didn’t know they were still a ‘thing’, so when the opportunity came up for me to review Bible tracts and evangelism tools for children, I was curious to take a look.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Looking for ways to help children share the Gospel?Let The Children Come aims to provide effective gospel tracts and evangelism tools and resources for children.  It is the hope that these tools and resources will help you in conveying the powerful gospel message to children.  These tracts are all specifically designed to capture and hold the attention of children, while not distracting them from the core message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The sampler pack I received contained 10 Gospel tracts and evangelism tools.  Each of the 10 tools is unique in how it should be used.  (Detailed instructions and video demonstrations can be found on their website.)  The 10 included tools fell into one of five (5) categories:

1. ANIMATED TRACTS (These tracts allow you to capture and hold the attention of children as you share with them the Gospel message.  You simply place the provided striped plastic sheet over the images and slowly slide it from left to right.  The images will begin to move!)

The tracts were pretty cool once I got the hang of it.  After a while, I realized that I was not holding the striped plastic sheet over the images close enough.  Once I did, the images really did come to life.  The kids will love that!

Check out the samples here:

John 3:16 Animated Tract

The True Story of Christmas Animated Tract

Where’s Everybody Going? Animated Tract

2. POP-UP TRACTS (Delightful pop-ups keep children engaged in your Gospel presentation and wonderfully illustrate the message of salvation in 3D.)

These tracts were fun to manipulate.  The pop-ups were cool and the tracts were colorful.

Check out the samples here:

The Most Amazing House Pop-up Tract

The Lost Easter Egg Pop-up Tract

3. FLIPABOUTS (Its fascinating folding mechanism keep kids interested!  You will fold the tract, turn and open as you read its contents.)

So these tracts took a little bit of time and patience.  I didn’t quite get the hang of it and it frustrated me.  If you plan to use these, definitely read the instructions, watch the video demonstration and practice ahead of time.

Check out the samples here:

John 3:16 FlipAbout English

Gospel Buttons FlipAbout

4. WEARABLES (These evangelism tools can be worn.)

There were 2 wordless bracelets included, both of which clearly explain the color-coded message of salvation.  The Silicone Salvation Bracelet and the Wordless Bracelet are perfectly sized for a child’s wrist.  The silicone bracelet easily slides on and the wordless bead bracelet is a craft that kids can put together with minimal adult supervision.

5. TRADITIONAL (This tool is a popular evangelism tool that most will be familiar with.)

This evangelism tool is one I’m familiar with and was trained to use as a teenage – the Wordless Book.  If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a handheld book version of the wordless bracelet.

MY THOUGHTS

All of the booklet-type tracts were all written in kid-friendly language and were visually appealing.  The variety of tracts and tools was also appealing to me.  With clear explanations and training, kids in your Sunday school class, VBS or ministry can be equipped to use these tools to share the Gospel.

LEARN MORE

Buy your sample pack today and check out these evangelism tools!

*Disclaimer:  The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.  I was not compensated in any way.

 

Family Honor Plate and Table Thyme Discussion Cards {Product Review}

Kathie Phillips

I recently had the privilege of reviewing a fun keepsake product and discipleship tool with the help of two of my favorite people: my daughter (Kennedy, age 18) and my niece (Raigan, age 10).  It was definitely a sweet moment to watch the two of them work together on this project.

PRODUCT DETAILS

The Family Honor Plate, created by Michelle Weber, starts as a DIY ceramics-painting project you get to create and bake at home.

The plate can be used in two ways:

~As a family craft:  Paint and bake your plate and use it to create your new family tradition.

Family Honor Plate

~As a parenting discipleship tool:  

Step #1 MOM AND DAD – BE THE EXAMPLE. BE THE ROLE-MODEL:

The virtues are listed in the center of the plate for mom and dad to use as their anchor, their moral compass to guide them in how they need to show up for and to their children (based on the Fruit of the Spirit as written in Galatians 5:22).  This is how our children learn what character (Christ’s character) is, what it looks like, what it feels like. Our children are watching us and learning from us.

Step #2 BE ON THE LOOKOUT:

Look for the good choices and attitude your kids/spouse are making and showing throughout the day. Track it back to the virtues and character it shows.

Step #3 CELEBRATE THEIR CHARACTER:

Turn dinnertime into a celebration when you catch someone making good choices and showing good character and present their meal on the FAMILY HONOR PLATE.  This is when you:

  • Talk about the choices they made and the virtues and character that it showed (Be specific).
  • Talk about how they made everyone involved feel and the impact they had on people and how that is POWERFUL and BEAUTIFUL.
The Family Honor Plate can be used with Table Thyme Discussion Cards.  Table Thyme Discussion CardsThese cards take conversations to a deeper level and teach everyone in the family how to articulate and share special memories, learn how to voice their opinions, and for some, how to even have an opinion. These are skills required for success in relationships and careers.  This is a fun way for children to learn these skills in a relaxed environment.
Some of the questions included are:
  • What is your favorite thing about your best friend?  Why?
  • Do you prefer to play inside or outside?  Why?
  • If your friend were upset, what would you do to help them feel better?  Why?

Every question is followed up with “Why?” to take everyone’s answers to a deeper more intimate level.

GETTING STARTED

Just about everything you need to complete the project is included in the box, with the exception of Isopropyl Alcohol (which is used to remove any oily residue from the plate before you paint it).

The kit includes: 

  • 1 ceramic honor plate
  • 8 paint pots
  • 3 paint brushes
  • 7 discussion starters
  • Painter’s palette
  • Plate stand

 

 

The instructions for painting are pretty simple:

  1. Clean the Honor Plate with the alcohol to remove oily residue.  Protect your work space with craft paper or newspaper.
  2. Paint the plate with whatever design your choose.  (There are suggestions on the product’s website). It is recommended to keep designs to cover just the plate’s rim.
  3. Place the plate in a cold oven, turn it to 350 degrees, bake for 30 minutes, turn the oven off and let the plate cool.

THOUGHTS ON THE PRODUCT

My daughter and my niece worked on the painting part together and they offered some feedback.  They felt the paint was very thick and that made it more difficult for them to use.  They thought more rounded paintbrushes would’ve worked better instead of the square tipped brushes provided.  My niece also mentioned that it would have been better if the plate rim was wider so that she could paint more.  Lastly, the paint did not come off of our hands easily; we had to wash at least twice for it to be completely removed.

All in all, I loved the concept of the plate as a craft and then as a discipleship tool for families.  I love that it comes with discussion starters to aid in this.  I think it’s definitely something for families to check out.

LEARN MORE

Here is a video that walks you through it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKmFVPbyfCg

Here is another video from the owner, Michelle Weber: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwLlnS3t0LI&t=3s

Find out more about Michelle: (https://honorplate.com/pages/about-us)

This is a great item to give (or purchase) for Christmas!  There are discounts available of 10-20% off in their online store.  Check it out!

*The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.  I was not compensated in any way.

God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook Bible {Book Review and Giveaway}

Kathie Phillips

Enter to win Rick Warren's new storybook Bible, "God's Big Plans for Me"

There are a myriad of Bible storybooks on the market today.  The choices can sometimes seem overwhelming when trying to decide on one that’s just right for that special child in your life.  Today, I’d like to share one that is a great option to add to your child’s spiritual library.

Rick Warren’s newly released God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook Bible was absolutely delightful to peruse.

About God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook Bible:
God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook Bible illustrates the 40 foundational principles written in the #1 New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life by Pastor Rick Warren. With child-friendly language, engaging illustrations, and a chronological approach, Pastor Warren introduces each Bible story with a theme that aligns with one of his foundational principles. He wraps up the stories with a closing thought targeted to early readers. The colorful illustrations and narrative tone bring these beloved Bible stories to life for readers young and old. God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook Bible has foil decoration on the cover.

My love for this book started at the very beginning, as in before the very first story.  Warren shares with readers how God has a plan for each of them and how to know that plan (reading God’s Word, the Bible).  He explains that each story will help answer the question: How does God want me to live my life?  

Each of the 40 stories begins with a short introduction about how the story that follows is part of the plan God has for their life.  These short explanations are worded in such a way that readers young and not-so-young feel drawn in.  At the end of each story, there is a ‘main point’ to think about, a Bible verse from the related story and a question to ponder.

Kids will love the beautiful illustrations, the kid-friendly language and size of the book, which is perfect for small hands.  This storybook is great for parents to read to their children or for older children to read on their own.  I would highly recommend it.

Zondervan has graciously given me a copy of God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook Bible to give away to one of my readers.  To enter to win, email me, telling me your favorite Bible story.  All entries should be received by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, November 17th.  The winner will be announced on my blog’s Facebook page on Monday, November 20th.  (If you haven’t already, be sure to ‘like’ my Facebook page.)

*Giveaway is open to US residents only.  The book cannot mailed to a P.O. box.

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.