Heartprints

Help! “What to Do When Church Runs Late”

It’s 1:00 p.m. and worship service is not yet out.  Sheer panic and frustration comes over the teachers as they cry out in desperation for more activities in their classrooms.  Kids are anxious for their parents to pick them up and they are fidgeting in their seats.  The classrooms are getting out of control from the lack of engaging activities and kids are bored.

It’s 1:00 p.m. and worship service is not yet out.  Sheer panic and frustration comes over the teachers as they cry out in desperation for more activities in their classrooms.  Kids are anxious for their parents to pick them up and they are fidgeting in their seats.  The classrooms are getting out of control from the lack of engaging activities and kids are bored.

Have you ever had a situation like this when your Senior Pastor gets long winded and goes over in the worship service with his message?  What do you do?  These situations have happened to me many times during my many years serving in children’s ministry and the best solution is… “Be prepared!”  Teachers need to be ready with additional activities that will keep kids engaged and active during those additional minutes when the worship service goes long. 

Below is an idea to use as a five to ten minute “extension” activity anytime at the end of class while kids are waiting for parents.

“Name That Book”

Help kids learn books of the Bible, Bible characters, and Bible stories with this fun learning game.  

Age: 6 year olds  – 12 year olds 

Adjust information according to age appropriateness

Preparation: 

Prepare index cards by writing the Bible character name on the front of the index card and the information about the person on the back of the card.  

Information to include on the back of the index cards: 

1. What book of the Bible was this person first introduced?

2. What story was this person involved with?

3. What significance did they have in the story?

4. How did God use them in the story?

For an additional Bible learning activity have 10 – 12 year olds write the names and information on the index cards.  Store the cards in an index card box available for easy access when a five minute activity is needed to fill time. 

How to Play:

Select an index card from the index box.  Say the name on the card and ask kids where the person was first introduced in the Bible.  Wait for a response. Example: Where was Adam first introduced in the Bible?  Answer: Adam was first introduced in the book of Genesis found in the Old Testament. Example: Where was Saul first introduced in the Bible whose name later became Paul? Answer:  Saul was first introduced in the book of Acts found in the New Testament. Use this time as a teaching time as well as a time to engage kids in the process of learning the books, characters, and stories in the Bible.  

Relax, have fun, and enjoy time with the kids!  

Lisa Goodyear holds a Master of Arts degree in Christian Education, with a focus in Children's Ministry, from Dallas Theological Seminary. She has over twenty-eight years of local children's ministry, as well as an extensive background in early childhood education and international ministry to children. Currently, she is serving with the family/children’s ministry in her local church in Shawnee, Kansas. Lisa's passion is to see children from every nation, tongue, and tribe trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and grow in their relationship with Him. She is married to Rolla and they have two grown children and three grandchildren and a little Yorkie, Romeo. Lisa lives in Olathe, Kansas.