p: (09) 526 7958

e: childrensministry@baptist.org.nz

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KIDSedition twenty-one | feb | mar | apr 2014

p: (09) 526 7958

e: childrensministry@baptist.org.nz

www.baptistchildrenandfamily.org.nz

Feature ArticleARE WE BROKEN?>> KAREN WARNER

I have decided that reading books can be hazardous to your health. I recently re-read a book where early on the author doesn’t pull any punches. She writes:

“The church’s ministry to children is broken . . . from the outside children’s ministry looks healthier than ever. But it is broken. It’s broken when church leaders and senior pastors see children’s ministry primarily as a tool. The church with the most outwardly attractive program wins the children and then the parents. It’s broken when we teach children the Bible as if it were just another book of moral fables or stories of great heroes. Something’s broken when we trivialise God to our children. It’s broken when we exclude children from perhaps the most important of our community activities: worship. It’s broken because we’ve become dependent on an 18th century schooling model, forgetting that much of a child’s spiritual formation is affective, active and intuitive. It’s broken when we depend on our programs and our curriculum to introduce children to God—not our families and communities . . . And perhaps most importantly, it’s broken when the church tells parents its programs can spiritually nurture their children better than they can . . . A church program can’t spiritually form a child, but a family living in an intergenerational community of faith can.” —Ivy Beckwith, Formational Children’s Ministry (pg. 13-14).

These are strong words. I don’t know what feelings they evoke in you, but I wondered if I needed a new job! However you react, what is clearly woven through Ivy’s words, is the importance of relationship. We often default to a programming mindset, when what God has in fact called us to, is relationship. It’s relationships that will bring our children to Jesus. It’s relationships that give

kids their sense of belonging and worth. Relationships should be the filter we use when thinking about ministry. However, if we decide to use relationships as our ‘ministry lens’ there are a number of questions we will need to grapple with: Are our small group leaders building relationships with their kids or is it just a programme? Are we helping parents to strengthen their own relationship with God so that

they can model that relationship to their kids? Are we helping families to get to know other families so that they have a sense of belonging? And most importantly, are our Sunday programmes aimed at helping kids to develop a dynamic relationship with their Creator? Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with programmes, we need them, but we need to consider whether our programmes are serving the relationship value or are they merely an end in themselves? If we want our young adults to have a sense of belonging once the programmes of children’s and youth ministry have stopped, they need to have developed a web of strong intergenerational relationships. The start of the year is the best time to make change. Put those dreams you had over the holidays into action and start looking at your ministry with relationship lenses.

It’s relationships that will bringour children to Jesus.

It’s relationships that give kidstheir sense of belonging and worth.

Faith at HomeSeeing parents engaged in faith conversations

is every children’s ministry leader’s/pastor’s dream—but can it be a reality? Many parents

feel intimidated by the prospect of stepping into a faith influence role with their kids, but there are a number of people out there who’ve figured out how to ease parents into their God-appointed role and give them the confidence to explore faith with their kids. Below are a number of ideas, books and websites that you can use to help you determine what will work best for the parents and families in your church context. The books that are available for loan from our office are marked AFL.

• The Faith Five - check this out on www.faithink.com or read Holding Your Family Together by Rich Melheim (AFL)

• Family Devotions - see www.d6family.com/splink, read F@H Devotions by Mark Holmen (AFL) or download the Homefront magazine for parents at www.homefrontmag.com

• Read the Bible - The Jesus Storybook Bible is an excellent resource and is now available in a larger

format from Manna stores for $29.99. The original version is available to Baptist churches for a special price from the Bible Society. (AFL)

• Prayer poster - we have some copies of a resource from Gateway Baptist in Melbourne that families can use in the home. These are available for $3 plus shipping.

• The Bible App for Kids - this free app for kids is available now for iOS and Android and enables kids to interact with Bible stories and could be used as a great interactive family activity.

• Websites - www.orangeparents.com, www.d6family.com and www.faithathome.com all have a variety of great articles, webcasts and podcasts to inspire and equip both parents and leaders.

We’d love you to share the resources that you have found helpful for either your own family or families in your church. Please drop us a line.

EASTER

EASTER CRACKEDThis book from Scripture Union contains drama, craft, events, service outlines and everything your church might need for Easter. There is now a second book available called “More Easter Cracked”. We have one copy of the first book available from our resource library (childrensministry@baptist.org.nz) or you can visit Manna.co.nz to purchase a copy for your church.

VEGGIETALES• An Easter Carol• Twas the Night

Before Easter

FREE EASTER CURRICULUMSam Luce is offering a free Easter curriculum on his blog (samluce.com). Google “God to the Rescue” to check it out. This 5 week curriculum reveals God’s rescue plan unveiled in the Old Testament and seen in action in the days leading

up to Good Friday and Easter. The clear emphasis is on Christ and what he did, and what we can do in response.The format of the curriculum is pretty basic.

• Icebreaker – K-2nd Grad and 3rd – 5th Grade• Video Skit• Bible Story• Video Skit• Application Small groups - K-2nd Grad and 3rd – 5th GradeAlso included are family connection pieces.

CHILDREN’S DAY – SUNDAY MARCH 2Children’s Day is a fantastic way to celebrate the children in your community and to make connections with their families. For resources and ideas head to www.childrensday.org.nz

Get Resourced

MOTHER’S DAY

PINTEREST.COMGoogle “Mother’s Day Pinterest” for a huge range of fun Mother’s Day craft ideas. For those of you who haven’t had a look at Pinterest before – it’s also a real treasure trove of ideas for Children’s Ministry.

MINISTRY TO CHILDRENFor a couple of FREE Mother’s Day Sunday School lessons have a look at: www.ministry-to-children.com/mothers-day-lesson/

BELONGING TO A TRIBE

In his new book Playing for Keeps Reggie Joiner says; “Basically, people need people. Everybody

needs a circle, and every kid needs a tribe. What exactly is a tribe? It’s simply a group of people connected by something in common. We all need a tribe, whether it’s large or small. As a leader or parent you play a critical role in connecting kids to two primary tribes—the church and the family. It’s as if God designed us so we would naturally connect in tribes. Then He used tribes over time to reveal Himself to us, and to continue to spread His message of love.” Reggie goes on to say that he believes that tribes over time establish a circle of relationships where kids can experience belonging. There’s that relationship word again!

So, if we were to take this tribe idea seriously what could it look like? We’ve asked around and below are some ways that our churches are helping their kids to feel that they are a part of the tribe; ways that all ages can begin to develop relationships that, over time, will

give kids their sense of belonging and value.

Jan Ozanne at Otumoetai Baptist wants the kids to feel they are a valued part of the OBC ‘tribe’. Last February as the children were heading back to school they had a ‘Backpack Blessing’ ceremony. All of the children were encouraged to bring their school backpack to church. During the beginning of the worship service they lined up along the front of the church and the pastor prayed for them and their backpacks. The prayer they used is shown below. This year Jan is planning the same event with a small addition; “we are asking the children to bring an item of stationery in their backpack that we can then donate to the decile 2 primary school down the road . . . be a blessing to others at the start of the year”.

Dear Father, We ask that you bless our children and young people and their backpacks as they begin another year at school or preschool. Give them strength to learn and concentrate and to act in love toward their teachers and

classmates. Watch over them at home and at school, keep them safe and when they are in new places with new people, help them to remember that you have written their names on the palm of your hand. Let them know that they are your children and you are always with them. May you guide their paths and help them to discover your plans for them, use them, wherever they are, to build your kingdom. We thank you for the year ahead, may it be a year of growth and enjoyment. Amen

Sandee Everett at Eastgate Baptist shares an idea she had to get members of the congregation involved with, and learning about the children in their Eastgate tribe:

Prayer PartnersPart of our ministry goals at Eastgate is to have people who have a passion for our ministry to partner with us on a regular basis. At least monthly I send out an email, text or phone call to those who have partnered with us to pray specifically for our kids’ ministry. I start off by giving praise

Be Inspired

ConsultancyThe start of the year is usually the

best time to make changes. Everyone’s had a great

Summer holiday and the kids are back at school! Some changes, however, are not so much fun. It’s with sadness that we farewell one of our Auckland coaches, Helen Ridler. Helen has been a part of the team for 18 months but has found that juggling four jobs has been detrimental not only to her health but also her church ministry—but we appreciate that she tried! We have loved having Helen on the team and have valued her wisdom and the way that she has pastorally cared for those in her cluster group as well as the coaching team. We pray blessings and good health on Helen as she cuts back her workload and look forward to continued contact through the Auckland CM network.

The Carey Baptist academic year is about to start but it is not too late to enroll for the semester one Field Education papers. We highly

recommend this course of study for those of you who want to improve your ministry or even just to reflect on what you are already doing. Enrolment for new students closes on 14 February. These papers are done by distance and the new coordinator is our own Rachel Roche. Feel free to contact Rachel for further information—her contact details are on the back of this newsletter.

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE >>

every church » every family » every child

NATIONAL TEAM LEADER>> Karen Warner(09) 526 7958 | 021 279 0919karen.warner@baptist.org.nz

ADMINISTRATION>> Rachael Hayward(09) 526 7957 childrensministry@baptist.org.nz

COORDINATOR OF INTERNSHIPS & FIELD EDUCATIONCHAIRPERSON OF THECHILDREN & FAMILY MINISTRIESEXECUTIVE TEAM>> Rachel Roche(09) 526 0347rachel.roche@carey.ac.nz

The TeamHere to Serve You

For assistance in areas not coveredby these coaches please contact Karen

at the National Office.

BAY OF PLENTY COACH>> Jan Ozanne(07) 576 2523 / (07) 576 0650027 7333 298jan@obc.org.nz

CANTERBURY/WESTLAND COACH>> Donna Reid(03) 352 4227donnar@papbap.org.nz

MARCHSafety First WorkshopsTauranga >>1 March @ OtumoetaiPhone Jan Ozanne for details (also for Taupo)Auckland >>14 March @ Baptist Union, 9.30-12:30pmTaupo >>15 March @ Taupo Baptist, 9.30-12:30pm

International Children’s Day >>2 March

Spark Plus >>3 March, Auckland

Lost in Transition, David Goodwin >>8 March Gateway Church, Hamilton

Way 2 Go Conference >>15 March - Dunedin >>29 March - Auckland

Unlimited Conference 2014>>21-22 March, ChristchurchGuest speaker: Tammy Tolman

APRILCEC Pastors’ Breakfast>>3 April

Easter >>18-21 April

Way 2 Go Conference>>12 April - Wellington

Mark your Diary

points and answers to prayer and then list our prayer requests. I can testify that this has been a huge blessing to me, our kids ministry and team and has helped me stay the course. It has helped the wider church to feel connected with the kids. I encourage you to make it a priority for your ministry. Watch what God will do!

Sharelle Rowntree from Royal Oak Baptist wanted people in the church to get to know both the kids and the youth on a personal basis. She asked the adults in the church if they would choose a child or a teen to pray for on a regular basis. She gave each adult who signed up a bookmark with a photo of the child or teen and information about them. As a result this has given the kids a sense of being part of a ‘tribe’, where others beside their own parents or children’s ministry leaders care about and know them. Maybe you could come up with a version of this idea that would work in your context—if you do, please make sure that you share your idea with us!

As the saying goes, “the world is your oyster”. Let’s all start looking for ways to get the generations mixing together and learning from each other. Let’s get connected in tribes.

Be Inspired CONTINUED >>

AUCKLAND/NORTHLAND COACH>> Raewyn Moodie(09) 416 7974 | 027 304 9646 candrmoodie@gmail.com

MAYMother’s Day>>11 May

CEC Summit>>14-16 May