September 23, 2008
We have a 7 and 4 year old at home, and they’re both becoming more computer savvy everyday. For this reason, my wife and I started looking for an internet filtering device recently, and last week we stumbled upon Glubble.
Glubble is a Firefox add-on that allows you to customize the internet experience for each person in your family. It is especially geared for folks who have elementary and younger aged children at home. We’ve only had it a week, but so far we’re really pleased.
It was easy to set up and has lots of kid friendly internet sites already preloaded. Additionally, when my kids click on a site that is not on their already approved list, we get a notice and have the choice to approve or deny their request. This way we’re assured that they will not accidentally find their way into inappropriate material.
So far we’re happy we’ve found it! If you’ve got little ones in your home, it’s worth your time to check it out here!
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culture, family ministry | Tagged: family ministry, glubble, internet filter, internet safety | 
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Posted by phil h
September 15, 2008
How are parents involved in your children’s ministry? And I mean all of your parents…any parent that has a kid enrolled in your ministry program.
We are endeavoring to make our children’s ministry a true “partnership” with the families and a good portion of our parents do not have an active roll in this ministry.
Should parents have an active roll in children’s ministry by filling volunteer roles?
What percentage of your parents volunteer?
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family ministry, leadership | 
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Posted by phil b
August 19, 2008
It’s the subtitle that hooked me…”to help them be who God made them to be.”
This new book from David Staal the director of Promiseland, the children’s ministry at Willow Creek Community Church, is most certainly a must read for all children’s ministers and parents. Having read the intro and chapter one, I am not qualified to speak on the whole book, but just in those few pages I have learned and been affected.
The book lays out seven statements that parents and other adults can use to make a profound impression on the life of a child.
I believe in you….You can count on me….I treasure you….I’m sorry, please forgive me….because….no….I love you
Also included is personal application questions & exercises and a workshop facilitator’s outline.
I encourage all to pick up this book and give it a read…you’ll be glad you did and so will your kids.
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family ministry, resources | 
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Posted by phil b
November 12, 2007
Today in GenesisKIDS we wrapped up a lesson series entitled “Major Pain” where we talked about suffering. Today’s lesson was entitled “GRADUATION!” and we talked about how perseverance through our pain can bring about wisdom and maturity in our faith.
But more importantly, we talked about how one day we’ll graduate. Similarly to how folks graduate from kindergarten, high school and even military boot camp, one day we’ll graduate from life here on earth. And on that day we’ll leave this place filled with pain, suffering, sickness, wars, hurricanes, and a ton of other stuff we don’t understand. We’ll leave this place where we really don’t belong, and God will welcome us into the place He created for us. He’ll say to us, “Enter in.” And for the first time, we’ll understand what “home” truly means.
On our take home papers we had questions about heaven along with scripture references for the kids to look up with their parents to answer those questions. How have you talked to your kids about heaven?
Leave a Comment » | creative ministry, encouragement, family ministry | Tagged: children's ministry, heaven | Permalink
Posted by phil h
October 31, 2007
Once again, children’s ministry leaders and children’s pastors need to be on the watch and educate their parents and children. In December, a film with the title The Golden Compass is being released. It is my understanding that Phillip Pullman, the author, is an atheist and desires to pull kids and families in so he can get them to buy his triology of books where in the end the children kill God and everyone can do as they please. The fact that this movie is coming out in December is a ploy to entice parents into purchasing the set of books for their children for Christmas. Upon reading the books, they will encounter a strong anti-God theme. I have read that part of the story in the book includes a referral to castration and female circumcision. And, it’s supposed to be a kids book!
If you go to the website for The Golden Compass, you will encounter all sorts of things from the dark side, including a tab for daemons. In essence Pullman is endeavoring to sell atheism to children.
While I haven’t read the books, nor do I intend to, I think it would be wise for children’s ministry leaders to ‘wise up’ on this one so they can speak and respond intelligently.
What have you heard about this movie? Anyone read the book who would like to comment about it? In what ways could children’s pastors and leaders go about helping parents and children alike respond to this?
19 Comments | culture, family ministry | Permalink
Posted by tony l
October 29, 2007
Can you believe it? Portland, Maine. King Middle School. Birth control pills available for girls as young as 11 years of age! And, after the parents sign a waiver for medical care at the school, they are excluded from knowing about the care, including the dispensing of birth control pills to their children! The whole rationale behind this is the assumption that kids will have sex. The kids we are reaching and teaching are part of a generation who believes that children’s rights are more important than parental rights. As teachers and children’s pastors, we better stand up and take notice of what is happening in the culture around us. Fashion, music, media, and all the other cultural indicators are impacting the next generation in a powerful way! It is our responsibility to help parents train up their kids in the way they should go. We better not hide our heads in the sand. We need to pray like we have never prayed before. We need to support and encourage parents and families. We need to provide opportunities for exposing parents to what is happening in our communities. We need to stay informed about the issues that our families are being confronted with. Let’s talk about those issues. Let’s stand up and be counted for what is right!
What do you think about this issue? What can children’s pastors and children’s ministry leaders and workers do to combat the enemy when he attempts to deceive and destroy the moral barometer of our community and country? What have you found to be effective? How do you discuss these issues with your families and with the kids in your ministry?
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Posted by tony l
October 25, 2007
Especially since the release of the motion picture “Narnia”, many have become a fan of C. S. Lewis. Quite frankly, I was surprised at how many people I knew personally had never heard of him or some of his famous works (i.e. The Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, etc.). I have been a Lewis fan since grade school. In fact, for my exit exam from middle school, I remember having to write a final paper that I did on the writings of C. S. Lewis. I am sure that paper has been long lost and though I passed the eighth grade, I am even more certain those pages were not worthy of crossing the great author’s desk. Even still, I’ve never lost my fascination of the man behind Narnia.
There are few figures in history that seem to stand out in terms of those you might say were without a doubt a person of great wisdom. And some would argue that with some of the controversial seasons of Lewis’ life, to place him among these “few” would be erroneous. I beg to differ. In fact, not only would I say Lewis was a man of profound wisdom; but, to use a relevant term for today, this man was “authentic.” This man said what he meant and meant what he said. He was real. He was human. And I admire that.
I recently acquired a book. No, not one of those 150 page lessons for the day books you find dozens of at every conference (by the way, I buy those books too). I’m talking, one of those books that you can see on the shelf from across the room. This book sits right next to my Hayford’s Bible Handbook and Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. It’s called “The Quotable Lewis.” Its an encyclopedic selection of quotes from the complete published works of C. S. Lewis. Now this is stuff to chew on folks.
Well, now that I’ve bragged a bit about my main man Lewis, I’ll get to the inspiration for this blog entry. 
The following quote is tagged under Children’s Literature and I think has the fuel to ignite some practical thinking on how we do children’s ministry.
“I am almost inclined to set it up as a canon that a children’s story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children’s story. The good ones last. A waltz which you can like only when you are waltzing is a bad waltz.”
I am curious: what do these words say to you about children’s ministry?
1 Comment | culture, family ministry, leadership, resources | Tagged: C.S. Lewis, children's ministry, famous quotes | Permalink
Posted by steve b
October 24, 2007
At GenesisChurch.tv, we’ve been employing a ministry concept spelled out in Dave Ferguson’s book, The BIG Idea. At our worship experiences, we teach on the same subject matter for all ages from elementary kids and up. We just closed out the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Champion) series for the adults where we focused on three champions of the Bible: Jacob, Samson, and David. In the corresponding GenesisKIDS series, entitled CHAMP!, we focused on the same three stories, but the content was tweaked in order to be age appropriate and relevant for that age group. While this is not the only aspect of our family ministry, we’ve discovered this to be a valuable tool in our efforts to minister to our kids and parents. When families leave church together on the same page spiritually, it helps set the table for spiritual discussions at home during the week.
What model or tool have you found to be effective for ministering to the entire family? Have you had successful events that reach the entire family?
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Posted by phil h
