Recently we have been activating a new philosophy in ministry and it’s working… at least for us. We started looking through the eyes of the average churchgoer to see what they see when they look at our ministries – how do they view it and why? We saw that we looked desperate: Our recruitment method was to start calling people on the phone and saying “Hey, If you could help us out – that would be really great… any chance?” we would get reluctant “yeses” but only because they felt sorry for us. I decided to take it up a notch. Our current team began to draft job descriptions of the positions that we needed to fill. We put together sharp sign-up materials with - get this - requirements to be met. We started giving the perception that this ministry is valuable and you should be a part of it.
I thought about investors. If some guy showed up and handed me a sheet of paper and said, “Hey, I’m trying to get people to invest with my firm – here’s a little photo-copy of our information… what do ya say? Can you help me out here?” You or I would laugh out loud and tell the guy to get lost! But if some guy showed up with a portfolio of information that was top notch and said “I would love it if you would look through this packet – you’ll see that we are the top firm in this area. Check the list of requirements and see if you qualify…” the first thing we would do is open it up… find the list of requirements and see if we qualify.
What are you doing to add value to your ministry?
- Find out what I'm doing, Follow Me :)
good book - get it and love it!
I have just finished reading a great book by children's entertainer and author, Samuel Patrick Smith or Sammy Smith, as he has become known. Here is the title and the description form his website:
You may be thinking - I don't perorm, I minister! Yep, so do I. But I want to make the most of every moment and if a kid will pay closer attention to me becasue I timed the words that I was saying to get him to sit on the edge of his seat... or I get the entire room to excitedly say the verse with me because I used an audience management technique - then, I'm making a great impact.
You can get the bood from Sammy's Website
ON STAGE:The book covers a bunch of stuff that those of us in large group presentation situations find ourselves in. Everything from timing to making an entrance to getting the audience to react.
Have you read this one yet? You can read it in one evening at home, but the benefits to your performing may last a lifetime... Learn from tips and advice gathered from some of the greatest magicians of the last 25 years.
You may be thinking - I don't perorm, I minister! Yep, so do I. But I want to make the most of every moment and if a kid will pay closer attention to me becasue I timed the words that I was saying to get him to sit on the edge of his seat... or I get the entire room to excitedly say the verse with me because I used an audience management technique - then, I'm making a great impact.
You can get the bood from Sammy's Website
New Gadget - More SQFT
I am so pumped about some new developments in our church. Just today I bought a lazer-tape gadget that uses a lazer beam to measure distance. It can then add the linear distances together and figure out square footage of a room. (Or cubic footage if you care).
Why did I buy this gadget for $19.95 us at Menard's? Because we are expanding the children's ministry into some newly acquired warehouse space (We own a warehouse as a church). It will give us the ability to have a secure children's ministry wing and TRIPLE the size of our square footage. So, I have been measuring every room that we have currently to figure out what we need, what we want and what we can do. If you could triple the size of your children's area, what would you do?
Why did I buy this gadget for $19.95 us at Menard's? Because we are expanding the children's ministry into some newly acquired warehouse space (We own a warehouse as a church). It will give us the ability to have a secure children's ministry wing and TRIPLE the size of our square footage. So, I have been measuring every room that we have currently to figure out what we need, what we want and what we can do. If you could triple the size of your children's area, what would you do?
I am headed to California
Hey out there to my Calvary Chapel friends. I am going to be at the Calvary Chapel Children's Ministry Leadership Conference in Southern California in March. You can get the pdf brochure here. If you are in Children's Ministry, and you are with the Calvary Chapel, and you can get to the Murrieta area by March 4... then, you should be there! it's a great time and the price is right for the conrference, food and lodging on site.
Book - "Kid Control"
I have a great book recommendation for those of you out there who are like me – you are presenting large group lessons and messages in a children’s church type of format whether it’s for the entire time, or for just a small portion. Julian Franklin, a kids and family entertainer has written a great book called: Kid Control… Here is the description form spsmagic.com:What would it be worth to know the secrets of controlling children's behavior? (Millions, I'd guess!) In this comprehensive book, a former behavior management specialist in Texas public schools, tells all in 19 information-packed chapters. Children's entertainers cannot afford to be without this information. From chapters on Why Children Misbehave to Creating a Safe, Fun, Caring Environment, Julian shares page after page of top-notch, professional advice that really works! His five "Directing Behavior" chapters are worth the price of the book. A professionally produced book of 214 pages with a glossy, full color cover.
I have read this book and it is incredible. To be honost, I don’t know Julian Franklin, nor do I know where he stands on Christianinty. But this guy has the knowledge of children’s behavior and knowing how to direct it durring a large group performance. You could easily adapt it to a children's ministry situation. This book is available at Julian’s site or at Sammy Smith’s site
Churches That Charge For Kids Ministry
I ran across this post a few days ago - it intrigued me because, 1. I run a children's ministry and 2. This is a church in Minnesota. I added my comment and got a nice response from the folks in charge of the blog. It turns out that the family is just one suburb over from our church and the folks in charge of the blog were going to forward our church info to them. When I found out where they lived, I knew which church they were referring to. I began to realize how sad it is that this well known church in our part of the metro is not just well known for being big... they have a reputation as the church that has a cover-charge for kids to get into the children's ministry. It makes me wonder if they realize that they have this kind of reputation.
How about you - what do you think? Do you charge kids to attend weekend children's ministries? If you were asked to start by your leadership, would you?
How about you - what do you think? Do you charge kids to attend weekend children's ministries? If you were asked to start by your leadership, would you?