Encouragement Archive
Yep—I’m “seasoned” enough to be an eye-witness to much of what has taken place during the last 30 years of children’s ministry. Nope—this article is not about the history or “roots” of ministry to kids. That’s a topic for another day. Instead, I’d like to take a whack at the “roots” of “who we are”—our very identity. Have you ever cut down a tree? Generally, …
How do we truly guide our children to become disciples of Jesus? Greg Baird provides timely insights that highlight three proven methods of intentional parenting. These truths apply readily to caregivers in ministry as well. _______ As fulfilling as it can be, anyone who’s been a parent for longer than about a week knows that parenting is hard! There’s no manual, and everyone seems to have different …
by Sean Nolan, Family Life Pastor at Christ Fellowship Church in Fallston, MD It is likely that your children’s church environment includes a time of prayer. My experience has been that in most children’s ministries this time generally looks like this: teacher asks students about their weeks and asks if anyone has any prayer requests teacher writes down requests and then prays for class off …
Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. (Proverbs 14:29) Our culture certainly doesn’t promote patience. People are accustomed to drive-through banking, fast food, instant oatmeal, and on-demand entertainment. Making someone else wait is considered poor customer service or rude behavior. Because our fast-paced world expects instant results, patience is often in short supply! When personal challenges drag on and …
Going Hoarse? During my first summer as a camp counselor, I lost my voice almost every week. Each game, devotional, and worship time seemed to require loud yelling to control the kids. I stumbled through my weekly responsibilities with hoarse, cracking speech. And the joy of the job was fading! Thank heaven for Steve, then. As our camp leader, Steve had mastered the art of holding …
FIRST, imagine you are a mom visiting your church nursery: As you enter the doors of the new church, you silently pray that God will smile on your day. You hold your child snugly—feeling hopeful, yet fearful. The colorful pastel nursery hallways please you; the happy voices and faces encourage you. Maybe you’ve found “home.” “Please, Lord, make this a ‘good’ day!” Your smiling face …
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:4-6) How Kids Think Kids protest, “I can’t possibly do that!” Many children …
