Throw Back to the Old School

As a Children's Ministry Director I am always reading articles, books, and blogs trying to learn something new or find out about the latest greatest trend or teaching tool. It is a wide world out there when it comes to ministry. The spectrum ranges from high tech, cutting edge to low tech, and simple. And to be honest there are great strengths and weaknesses to both sides.

We try to have a balance within our ministry the high tech with the low tech. Kids spend so much time in front of a screen, whether it be tv, computer, phone, or tablet, that we want to connect with them in a personal way. But we also know that kids today are so plugged in that they would become bored with no technology in the children's worship. So we strike the balance between the two, we mix the videos with a no tech game or lesson aid. Meeting the kids where they are and keeping them interested without losing them to pure entertainment is a constantly tilting balance, but one I am sure most in children's ministry face.

There are so many ministry tools and games that those of us who grew up in church remember. One of my favorites to pull out and use is the flannel graph with our preschool and early elementary kids. These kids think it is so cool to be able to move the pieces along with the story. They all take turns adding their part, or moving it as they story goes along. It is interactive without being tied to a computer.  I am working on a plan for our back to school kick off Sunday in which we bring back the old school children's church. For one Sunday we are going to pull out all of the old stuff that we used to do. We are gonna play overhead cell games, you know the predecessor to power point games. We are gonna sing the original children's church songs like deep and wide, praise ye the Lord, and I've got a river of life. We are gonna have a flannel graph lesson, and we will even have our puppets come out and do a skit or two. 15 years ago this would have been a typical service for us, but for our kids this will be a treat.We are blessed to have some of the same kids that grew up in the children's ministry of our church now serving with in that same ministry and I think they will enjoy the old school Sunday just as much as the kids.

Sometimes it is good to look at where we have come from to better enjoy and appreciate where we are. But its also good to look back and realize that no matter how The Bible is presented, its still the same word. Its still the same life changing truth, and we still serve the same God.

I am so thankful that together, we get to grow at The Grove!

Miss Megan