Quick hit from Craig Jutila's Leading Edge Podcast

This is just some notes to the 7 things that give us balance - which was a podcast from Craig Jutila:

Podcast #1
Margin - don't want to give out of our depletion.
Savings account - build up a reserve (margin)
7 things that give us balance

1. Read God's word daily
2. Look for accountability
3. Reduce expectations of yourself and others
4. Practice being good enough
5. Invest your time
6. Plan Free Time
7. Underbook your calander

The flesh is weak, but the Spirit is willing

The following is kind of a debriefing.... it's not about me.. it's mini-testimony of the work of the Holy Spirit in me:

So Last Wednesday night the Faithweaver Friends topic was John 3:16 - How God Saves You. We have on average 30-40 kids on Wednesday nights with around 15 or 20 being unchurched kids. I've felt the last couple of weeks that God's been drawing me deeper. With this lesson in view, I felt this was a time to give these kids an oppurtunity to step out and say they wanted Jesus as their saviour. We've talked and talked to them about how Jesus came to save them but never gave them an "alter call" situation. So this was the night. Because of something taking up our normal meeting space in the main sanctuary we set up in the next biggest room. So we get all the kids in the room, we do a praise song, and I talk about John 3:16.... As I am going along I am telling about sin and how it makes us dirty, and some other stuff... and it's pretty good. I don't know exactly where God's taking it... but I am hoping in Him that these gets will get it. As I start up a slow worship song ("Night Song" by Hillsong Kids) I tell the kids that God wants to speak to them... I start to worship... let God speak to the kids.... My wife nudges me, kinda saying "OK now, do it... bring them the part about Jesus's salvation"... so I turn the music down.... And start to talk more about the Salvation that Jesus brings... and it seems half the kids are snickering and laughing... and BAM! God Spirit hits me. All I remember is this feeling of "It's not funny!!! This is life and death!!!" and telling one of the snickerers that if he were to run out in front of a car, I'd be yelling - "NO!!! Don't do it!!! you're going to get hurt!!!" The whole time, my eyes were closed... Like I say, I don't remember everything, but I do know there was an alter call... a time for boys and girls to acknowledge that they in fact were ready to accept Jesus. Then I led them everyone in the "repeat after me prayer".

I asked Mollie (my wifey) about what she saw and she said there were a number of kids that raised there hands... and for that I praise God!! and pray that this only be the beginning of His Spirit breaking through in my life/ministry and His Church!

Ta Ta for now!

Found great Video from conference at Toronto Airport Fellowship Church

While perusing the TACF.org website, I found a conference from February 2005 called "Raised Up and Set Apart". The conference speaker is a lady named Becky Fischer. Wowsers! here are the titles:

Kids are Hungry for the Supernatural
What to Teach Children and Why
Children and the Holy Spirit
A New Twist on the Harvest
The Joshua Factor

I am just finishing up the 1st one... and I am getting charged up from it.

The Candidness of Unchurched kids

My wife and I have been helping with the mid-week Faithweaver Friends time since September. Since school started in September, we have seen an influx of unchurched kids. We're talking 50% to 75% of the kids on Wednesday nights are unchurched kids. We have been so blessed at how true and sincere they answer questions. Where the church kids expect whats coming and can answer questions with the "correct" answer, while the unchurch kids give answers... from the heart. Mollie was leading one of the rotation centers and the 4 grade girls (makes up most of the newbies) were talking about how Jesus sure was great! That He had done great things! That they really loved Him. That's the meat that drives us. It makes me inspect myself. Do I come to church or to God with just the "correct" answers or the answers from my heart?

I have a couple of past blog posts, from March of 2005. That was before blogs were cool! I will be trying to blog once a day or so.

Integrity Music CM Newsletter

From Integrity Music website 9/4/2004:

Kickin’ it up a notch in Kids Worship!
Lest you get too comfortable with the zone you're currently in, I say, let's shake it up and get ready to move forward in Kids Worship! It is our tendency to find something that we feel works for us and make our theme song, "I shall not be, I shall not be moved"! So, if you're ready to dive in a little deeper, read on...

Planning & Vision: A New Theme
If you haven’t done so already, get into the Word and into God’s presence. Ask Him to show you where your kids are now and where He wants to take them during the coming year. A clear theme will emerge as you pray. Write it down! (Habakkuk 2:2) Let everything you do in the coming year reflect the goals God has set for your children; communicate them clearly to your Team, and plan everything around it. Someone has rightly said, "If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there."

Make it Relevant
Live in the constant awareness of making everything you do relevant to where your kids actually live. Know what’s happening in our culture with the kids in the age group to whom you are ministering. Check out what video games they’re playing, what movies they’re seeing, notice what they are wearing and discover what they are saying as they interact. Once you know where they are, make sure that the way you teach attracts and keeps their attention and is relevant to their everyday life. Ask yourself this question: "How will this lesson (or these songs) help ‘Anna’ tomorrow at school?"

Authentic Worship
Praise and worship should be done with purpose. Not just to sing a few fun songs, or to perform. We must praise an Audience of One…we must worship to an Audience of One. People often ask, "How can I engage my kids in real praise & worship?" The answer is simple, YOU must enter into worship. When you do, they will usually follow. Keep movements simple, to enforce the words and message of the song and to add to the fun. Where hands go, eyes go. Following this simple rule will help your kids to focus on the One to whom they are singing; they will be less distracted by their friends or mindful of who might be watching them. Your purpose as a worship leader is to stand out front, to sing and worship, to lead the children (and other adults there) into God’s presence --- and then as they enter in and become aware of Him, you fade into the background. Kids interact in worship much as they do in a love relationship with their parents. They want to play, play, play (praise, praise, praise) and then love/hug (worship, worship) and then they’re off to play (praise) again! We need to know that it’s really ok that kids at worship look different than adults at worship. It’s a developmental thing. Give them time --- and give them opportunities for authentic worship. Just keep it real.

First Things First
Most of us want to get right to the "GROW" part and skip the "Ready, Set…" parts! Make sure you put first things first. Plan a training time for your Team. Don’t assume that everyone knows what you know or that they have your heart for the kids. Know that when we’re all on the same page, amazing things can happen! Write down your God-given vision for kids worship, for your particular kids and ministry.

Make sure you share things that are important to you. Here are just a few things I always like to share with my Team:

1. We are in the business of helping kids enter into God’s presence. We’re in the business of life transformation. We’re going to have fun, but never forget that this is about 'forever'.
2. Be attentive and in the moment. Be watchful for things that may come up.
3. Love kids. Period.
4. We don’t need any "kid police" or anyone to hold up the walls. Just worship with us. So many behavior challenges are eliminated if we have a good plan and then just enter into worship. If someone needs redirecting, do it gently and draw as little attention to it as possible. Often just a look, hand on a shoulder or quietly moving to stand beside a child does the trick.
5. We will plan an upbeat and interactive time of praise & worship, fun with a purpose (games, drama, snack) and Bible lesson and scripture memory. Here’s the checkpoint: if you’re having fun, the kids probably are too!
6. If a child raises his hand to ask a question during praise and worship or during the Bible lesson, the team member nearest him should go immediately and assist him. (Unless I’ve asked a question and instructed them to raise their hands) To interrupt the flow of worship or the spiritual time isn’t fair to the group. When a teacher (other than the group leader) goes to him, 2 great things are accomplished: the felt need of the one child is met AND the needs of the group are uninterrupted. Very cool.
7. The Leadership Team is important; you are the hearts and hands through which God will love the children. Through the fire and the passion that they see in you, they will be drawn to want to know the Jesus that you know.

Where to Start

I'm starting a new blog on Children's Ministry. My wife and I have been volunteering in Children's Ministry for 9 or 10 years now. We started out doing a sunday school type format with elementary age kids. Later our church changed formats and we worked with preschoolers (4 and 5 year olds). After a while of that, we moved on to working children's church with the children's pastor. Now we've moved churches, and are waiting on God to see how we can get involved.

And so it begins!