"Gnoming" your Bible!

Here is one of my favorite things we have been doing in our preteen ministry: 
Steve the Gnome

It's a really simple concept actually. I bought this garden gnome at our nearby walmart for only $5. I let the preteens vote on his name (STEVE) and boom!

STEVE the Gnome is part of our weekly game, Gnoming your Bible. Each Saturday I contact one of the parents and let them know I will be coming by later that night to drop off Steve at their house, and that they must keep it secret from their son or daughter.

Then in the morning, STEVE is outside their front door with an envelope, and inside the envelope is a short Bible verse! Each Sunday morning during our large group time whoever got STEVE comes up to the front and reads the verse out loud. After they have read the verse they proceed to explain to the large group what the verse means to them!

It has been an amazing tool for ministry, allowing opportunities for the preteens to stand up in front of everyone and teach. Also, it is super funny to see how excited the preteens get about finding STEVE outside their front door on Sunday mornings!