"Families in Ministry"

When I was a young'n my parents were die-hard children's ministry volunteers. They lead the mid-week program, taught in Sunday School and hosted family events before 'family ministry' was even a catch phrase! I remember my dad going around the church foyer taking chinese food orders on more than one New Year's Eve services. Even my dad knew that New Year's Eve services needed something that was more 'family friendly' than simply singing hymns as the clock struck midnight. It wasn't always easy being so involved in volunteer ministry as a family of five. We lived 20 minutes away from the church, and on more than a few occasions my parents found themselves driving out to the church two or three days a week, including twice on a Sunday so we could be in kids choir Sunday nights. Wow! When I think about it, it must have been crazy at times! But my parents loved to serve. They loved to serve where their kids were involved, and they took pride in being available and willing to serve the Lord in whatever way was most needed.

Lately I've heard a lot in children's ministry circles about making sure we don't ask too much of volunteers and guarding against pulling families to the church several nights a week. The reason is supposedly for the sake of families, so that people have time at home to simply 'be a family'. I get it. I really do. We need to not abuse people's willingness to serve, at the expense of their families. However, I also heard a pastor of a very large and successful church say in contrary "Don't police your volunteers". His view was that we need to teach people to discern for themselves when and how much to be involved and not be the 'Holy Spirit' in people's lives. God has given different measures of grace and giftedness to individuals and we may very well be quenching talent and passion to serve by setting hard and steadfast limits on involvement.

My parents had no idea when they were dragging my two sisters and I to early set up for Vacation Bible School that they were providing pre-bible college credits to their eldest daughter who would one day be in full-time ministry. When they stayed late Sunday nights to minister during an altar call they didn't realize that they were teaching their children to rely on the Presence of God not the calendar or the clock to direct their days. When they brought home crafts to cut and badges to sort, they were showing that service is something you do for the Lord, and not for personal thanks or even jewels in your crown.

My mom and dad weren't perfect volunteers, and I'm sure time has erased most of the frustrations and any stress that was placed on our busy family schedule to make room for serving our local church. I do know one thing for sure though. My parents were happiest when they were the most involved in ministering at our family church. The times they've felt empty and displaced have been during times when their hands were most idle, and their hearts not engaged in doing something to serve the Lord in a way that's connected to God's House.

I vow to live life with no regrets. When your kids have lived off volunteer pizza and nursery goldfish crackers a few times too much this week...don't sweat it. You never know what next great leader is being shaped and influenced while in the shadow of you serving the Lord. We were never neglected for the sake of the ministry, but instead we were blessed to see the joy and sacrifice of serving being fleshed out in our family setting. That's Family Ministry. Without serving...it's just another day on the calendar.

Reposted from April 14, 2011
http://michelle-plansofhope.blogspot.ca/

Greenlight Kids On Wheels

We are so excited about our new outreach initiative this summer at Greenlight Kids!
Starting July 1st, we are renting a bus from First Student services and heading into Lakepoint Subdivision off of Fifty Road in Winona.  We will be offering bus pick-up to children ages 5 to 11 years old every Sunday at 8:45am for our 9am children's ministry program.   Already we have had warm reception from this community as parents are enthusiastic about the full hour and a half morning of games, music, activities and special guests.  We are particularly excited about this summer's theme "FEARLESS" as we will take opportunity each Sunday to teach children how to overcome fear and be confident in God's love for them.
Perfect love casts out all fear, the Bible says.  This is a great opportunity to connect kids to perfect love of our Saviour who loves His creation and has an amazing plan for each person's life.

This is your opportunity to SHINE as Greenlight volunteers and get involved this summer.  With the anticipated increase of students in the 9am service, some of you may be asked to make a switch to the early service when helping.  We'll contact you individually if that needs to happen.  If you are interested in helping on the bus, please let us know as soon as possible. 

Every child who attends the bus ministry must have a written permission form brought with them to the bus on their first day.  Permission forms were handed out to interested parents at the door to door canvassing.  Continued "Plan to Protect" guidelines will be in place throughout the summer, so please ensure that no child leaves the kid's area without a parent pick-up tag.  Bus kids will be dismissed prior to regular attendees to ensure they get on the busy safe and sound.

Bless you for your continued willingness to serve!  We look forward to an awesome summer!

Breakfast Cereal and Baptisms

This week during my daughter Hope's bath time we were chatting about water baptism as she baptized her Barbie in a tub full of bubbles.  After stating she would like to get baptized, I asked her what was stopping her.  She talked about not knowing exactly what to say during the interview that happens just prior to getting baptized.  We chatted a little longer and then I was whisked away in my own thoughts about the things that have happened in the last month and a half in our daughter's Christian walk.

Just following Easter Sunday our church had a "Refresh" weekend with multiple services.  We taught both adults and children about the Day of Pentecost and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, along with the spiritual gifts as described in 1 Corinthians 12.  It was a powerful weekend.  Hope was able to fully participate in all that went on at it.  In fact when the kids were invited upstairs to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit and to be prayed for she was right there with the rest of them.  Many of the kids after receiving prayer then turned and began laying hands on adults around them who were seeking God.  We had an amazing time of worship and dancing and afterwards Hope told me she had been crying while jumping up and down because she was "just so happy".  But that was just the start of it. 

Two days later I woke up with a sudden case of vertigo and asked Hope to pray for me so that we would be able to get up and get ready for school and work.  I was speaking in tongues as we began to pray, and as Hope's hand touched my back I felt the Spirit's Presence flowing warmly through her little hand.  I prayed quietly just to hear what she was saying, when suddenly I heard her.  However this wasn't Hope's normal prayers, this was a Spirit-filled, tongue speaking, 6 1/2 year old Hope who was interceding for her mom's healing.  I interrupted her and asked "Hope are you speaking in tongues?!"  To which she replied matter of factly..."Yeah."  Feeling increasingly better I told her to follow me downstairs.  "Keep praying" I said, mostly so I could hear her speaking fluently in a heavenly language which was distinctly now her own.  She sat down at the breakfast bar and I asked her what type of cereal she wanted and she said "Lucky Charms" and suddenly rampled into speaking more in tongues.  The Holy Spirit was flowing so naturally that to her there was no break between her speaking in English about breakfast cereal and her interceding by the Spirit through her heavenly language.  There was nothing 'spooky' about it, nothing forced about the moment.  In fact when I asked her when she first spoke in tongues she explained that it was while she was laying hands on other people at the front of the church during our Refresh prayer time.  It seemed so natural to her then, that she didn't bother to mention it to me (her mom and children's pastor) until two days later when asked! 

Fast forward to 5 weeks later and I find myself pondering over a bubble bath whether my child is old enough to be baptized in water.  Baptism, as we understand it is a person's public declaration of their faith in Jesus by being baptized in water.  Seriously, Michelle?  Is there even one small part of me that believes that if the Holy Spirit thinks it's appropriate to baptize my daughter in the Spirit that she's somehow too young for water baptism.  The thought just made me laugh!

Hope wasn't the only child filled with the Holy Spirit that weekend.  Stories continue to pop up of other children experiencing God's supernatural Presence.  The interesting part about kids is that the stories don't come out without being asked.  Why?  Because to children who love Jesus, the Presence of God is something just so natural because of their innocence and pure undoubted faith.  Like bubble baths and breakfast cereal, it's just part of life. 

If you have a story about God's Presence working in your child's life, please tell us about it!

Come to Orange Conference...via your laptop!

This week, Dave and I are going to the Orange Conference in Atlanta as representatives of Greenlight Kids Ministries and we want YOU to come!  We can't all get on the plane however, so we wanted to post about a way you can join us. 

Go to www.orangeleaders.com this Wednesday evening through Friday afternoon to catch the opening session, Family Experience Showcase, backstage interviews and more!  It's a great line up from some of the leading speakers from Rethink (our curriculum providers for 252 basics and First Look preschoolers).

We covet your prayers while we are away, and look forward to returning inspired and excited for the future of Greenlight Kids Ministries.

Pastor Michelle & Dave

Introducing "Transitional Teachers" to Preschool Ministry

We are constantly looking at ways to better improve how we are facilitating preschool ministry at Greenlight.  That's why we want to introduce you (volunteers) to our latest idea:  "Transitional Teachers".  It's a functional title at best..but nonetheless, stick with us on this one!

A transitional teacher is a designated volunteer who is on the schedule four consecutive weeks in a row (for an entire month), followed by 3 months off.  They arrive at least 20 minutes prior to service time and go through a checklist to help ensure the classroom is ready and volunteers prepped to transition our littlest ones into that morning's program.

The key to transitional teachers is consistency.  We find that our nursery and toddler rooms have the most difficulty helping kids transition from mom/dad/guardian to what's happening inside the ministry rooms.  We feel that having at least one familiar face for an entire four weeks in a row will be one way of making parents and our babies feel more comfortable entering the classrooms.  However, that's not all that transitional eachers will help with.

Transitonal teachers will arrive 20 minutes prior to service to begin the following ABC steps:

A- Assess the Room:  Is the room welcoming and is it tidy?  Are the lights on and music playing softly?  Is the lesson outline from First Look in a visible place for leaders.  Making sure the service feed is on in the nursery is NOT priority during the transitional time when children are arriving.   Assessing the room involves asking yourself "Is this room inviting to both parents and kids?"

B- Bubbles:  Each toddler and nursery room will be equipped with a kit containing items that will help children connect as they enter the room, including BUBBLES, playdough, hand puppets,etc.  The T.T. will not necessarily be the person using these items; however they will delegate the other volunteers in the room (including jr. helpers) to be using the kit during the first 15 minutes of the morning, or as new children are arriving.

C-  Communicate:   As the transitional teacher, your role is to be the main line of communication for parents.  You will be the volunteer at the door, helping parents say their goodbyes and communicating to parents the following:

• we are glad they have brought their child this morning (yes...you should say this aloud)
• we will contact them should their child need them (diaper change) or if they have been crying for longer than 5-10 minutes.
• we ask that they bring their pick-up tag back with them after the service

The transitional teacher will be the person who communicates to Dave any areas of concern or testimonies that you and your team may have about your classroom.

We are confident this is a necessary step to helping our families during this exciting, but transitional time of their child's life.  This could be a child's first opportunity to experience the life-changing presence of Jesus within the walls of our church.  It is truly a privilege to be partnering with parents in this way.

AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We are looking for people who are willing to take on this new role and the responsibilities that go along with it.  For those of you who are not interested in changing the times you are scheduled in preschool ministry, that's okay!  We need you to continue pouring into our children every time you serve, because you too are making a difference for both parents and our little ones.

Bless you for your support!

Pastor Michelle Mercer & Dave Liscombe

God is in the Nursery (Part 2)

Over the years I've seen many parents come and go through the different children's ministries I have been a part of.  It always amazes me the variety of expectations parents have regarding what goes on in children's ministries during that short time between the time they drop their children off until they pick them up to go home for their Sunday afternoon naps.  Don't we only wish they all took naps!  Some parents view children's ministries as simply offering child care, to keep their children quiet (or at least out of sight) during the pastor's timely message.  Others view us as behavioural therapists, somehow equipped to transform their offspring from the misbehaving wild child at 11am to an angelic being by 12:35pm.  Don't get me wrong...miracles STILL happen in children's church on Sunday mornings.  Just not always the kind that make dinner times more sane!

The truth is parent's expectations ARE important.

Here is a quick list of what are some healthy expectations for Sunday mornings:

1.  Parents should expect their kids to be well cared for in a safe and loving environment.  If they are experiencing anything less than love, patience, and safety when they hand us their child, then we're doing a great diservice to the kingdom.  We are in a position of trust for that hour and a half, and its best not to forget that as servants in ministry.

2.  Parents should expect their kids to leave changed...and we're not talking about diaper-changing people!  We're talking about life-change that happens on the inside: growth in spiritual maturity, the kind you don't always see on the surface, but overtime a continuous growth and change in their understanding and love of Jesus Christ.

3.  Parents should expect their kids to encounter the Presence of God.  If we don't believe it's possible, then we are only minimizing the size of our BIG powerful God.  We need to first help ourselves then lead others to break out of the mindset that some kids are too young to experience God's life-changing Presence.  We need to remind ourselves of Scriptures such as Psalm 139:13 which state:  "you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb".  If we believe that God is present as a child is being formed within the tummy of a mommy then why would we doubt he still wants to be a felt presence in the daily lives of our children, no matter how young?

As a children's pastor it is my prayer that as volunteers and staff we will live what we teach each and every Sunday.  One of the most simplest truths is that God is in the Nursery.  He's also in the toddler room, the preschooler classes and He is present even in kidz church too!  When we live and lead out of that expectation, we will be pleasantly surprised to find a God who goes above and beyond expectations every time we meet.

God is in the Nursery



Photo courtesy of photohome.com



Yesterday I spoke to one of my former summer students, Alison, as she served up my Starbucks order.  I smiled as she chatted to her co-worker happily about how we used to work together at the church.  It got me thinking later that day about all that went on that summer.  We had wonderful Sunday morning celebrations and outreaches which our summer students planned, but the one thing that has stuck in my mind was a sign Alison made and laminated to hang on our nursery wall.  She wasn’t asked to do it.  It wasn’t even an idea she decided to run by me.  Instead, she called me into the nursery and pointed to the wall where she had taped up a sign and picture.  I looked at it and it simply said, “God is in the nursery.”   I loved that poster because it challenged my thinking when I read it, along with anyone else who was in there.

Do we believe that “God is in the nursery?”  Of course we believe God is Omnipresent, meaning He’s everywhere and all at once.  However when it comes to Sunday morning, how much do we believe this statement is true?  When worship music is blaring in the sanctuary, a children’s church leader is pouring his heart out in the kids’ auditorium, and the preschool class is shouting “God loves me!”…what do we believe about the space where we have a cushioned nursery floor?  Do we believe the Presence of God is equally present there? 

We have an elder in the church who goes into each room prior to anyone arriving Sunday mornings.  He prays over our children’s ministries.  I’ve never asked him to, but I know he includes the nursery in his prayer walk.  We have a Preschool Coordinator who diligently prints out lesson themes each month for our preschool leaders and, if you were to walk into the baby room, you’ll see an activity sheet for this month specifically for our nursery.  Why?  Because we believe that God is in the nursery on Sunday mornings.

“Connecting kids to the life-changing presence of Jesus” is our mission.  Believing we have opportunity to fulfill that mandate each and every Sunday…is up to the individual heart.

God IS in the nursery. 

Amen.