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How Do You Solve a Problem Like Volunteerism?
Many children’s ministries desire to improve on how they work with their volunteers—how to recruit them, how to retain them, how to train them, how to deal with discipline or personality issues as they arise. Recruitment is probably one of the most common dilemmas. Many churches struggle with having enough volunteers. Some have enticed adults from the church service, begging them to help out in this room or that, others have engaged in accepting more lax screening practices in their desperation, and others may choose to downplay or fail to address common problems in an effort to keep their volunteer numbers up. It can be hard to hear “get someone…
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What A Day!!!
This is the day the Lord has brought about. We will be happy and rejoice in it. Psalm 118:24 NET Have you ever had one of those days when rejoicing in the Lord is not in your heart and far from your mind? Last night you did not sleep. You woke up at midnight sick and spent most of your sleeping time in the bathroom. As you quickly ran to the bathroom, due to a gurgling stomach, you stubbed your toe on the bed, tripped over the laundry basket of folded clothes, and almost stepped on the dog who was asleep by the bathroom door. Once there you realized…
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Five Components of an Effective Children’s Ministry in a Small Church
Suppose you are a recent hire at a small church with a very small children’s ministry. Fewer than one hundred people attend your church, but it is located in a good location where you expect solid growth over time, particularly if you can initiate and maintain a thriving children’s ministry. What do you do when you have a small children’s ministry? How can you maintain and build an effective children’s ministry? Have a plan. If anyone else is on staff in children’s ministry, sit down with them and plan out how you will effectively reach children in your church. Take the time to train your volunteers well. Prepare…
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An Open Letter to Senior Pastors – Your church is in crisis….
If your house were on fire, would you want a neighbor to tell you? If your tests from a recent physical showed a fatal disease, would you expect a call from your doctor? If your son was doing dangerous things, would you hope someone noticed and let you know? How about your church… If there were a crisis in your church that threatens its very existence would you want to know about it? I'm your neighbor. I care. I'll tell you. My ministry with Awana puts me in conversation with many Senior Pastors. For the last several years one thread almost always works its way into the conversation. It goes…
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Ushering In The New Year With A Prayer For Wisdom
Happy New Year!!! 2013 is here and with the start of a new year comes new resolutions, new beginnings, new accomplishments, new opportunities, new life, and new blessings from God.
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What’s In The Package? Evaluating and Choosing the Right Curriculum
Several years ago I was on the Weight Watchers diet. During the weekly meetings the leaders would share tips and encouragement to help us tackle the challenging task of losing weight.
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Overlooked…”But Worthy”
Once upon a time there lived a blended family with a father and his daughter, along with a mother and her two daughters. This family lived happily together under one roof until…the father died.
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Behavior and Classroom Management…What Would You Do?
What would you do if…during circle time with your preschoolers, one of the little girls in your class was pinching the little girl next to her. How would you handle this situation?
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Wisdom, God’s Instruction For a Successful Life – Ten Life Lessons for Children From The Book of Proverbs
What is wisdom? Where does wisdom come from? Kay Arthur defines wisdom as “knowledge rightly applied.” Billy Graham sums it up this way, “knowledge is horizontal…but, wisdom is vertical – it comes down from above.” According to Dr. Tony Evans, “wisdom is the spiritual insight for earthly application, the ability to know what God wants and the know-how to apply it where you live.”
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Thanksgiving a time to reflect…
Thanksgiving a time to reflect…. Thanksgiving is upon us…and on this day many cooks, men and women, will rise early in the morning to put the turkey in the oven, make the pumpkin pie, and set the table with beautiful china and crystal in preparation for a celebration. Once the meal is ready, families will sit down at the table together and enjoy food, fellowship, and give thanks to God for all of His provision and the blessings He has provided throughout the year.
