Serving Your Family

I am practicing a new technique for my blog posts: less words! 

I have this terrible habit of talking and talking and talking, which of course on a blog is, writing and writing and writing---Ahh I'm doing it again! 

Here is a short video I showed to our preteens during a lesson I taught about how God desires that we minister to our family. I think it is a great way to challenge preteens, especially since the boy in the video is only 4 years old. 

Be Blessed! 

Are Preteens Only Half-Christian?

No. 

The question, "are preteens only half-Christian?" sounds crazy! Right?
Yet I notice so often that adults and parents alike see their preteens as Christians that are meant to sit on the sidelines. They think preteens are Christians in waiting, as though they cannot offer as much as someone older.

So perhaps the better question is:

Are we expecting too little from our preteens? 

My answer is a resounding YES! And I see it all the time! It's as though we are too afraid to challenge our preteens, for worry they might actually have to experience failure. Well I love when our preteens attempt something on their own and encounter failure, because it allows for the opportunity to teach them about the necessity of abiding in God!

English Standard Version (©2001) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

Yes, it is sad to see our preteens encounter challenges in life, but when did you stop facing troubles as a Christian?
I believe we need to continue to challenge our preteens to pursue God more, and create opportunities for our preteens to be involved in ministry as it will dig deeper the spiritual well from which they will rely on as they transition into youth ministry.

Here's a video I showed to our preteens as I challenged them to consider how they are encouraging the people around them. I asked "How much do you know about the person sitting next to you this morning, have you reached out to encourage them?"

Let's challenge our preteens to be the Church wherever they go!

Be Blessed! 

Awesome Game Night Idea!

The 2nd Friday of each month I get to plan a fun-filled night for our preteens! From 6:30pm to 10:30pm we eat, play games, get crazy, get a little crazier then conclude the night with a movie and snacks, we call this Preteen Night Out!

I recently tried a themed night: Night of the Ninja! And if you did not already know this:

Preteens love ninjas. 

I asked everyone to dress up like a ninja and come ready to learn the art of the ninja! I have about 5 college-aged volunteers (no parents allowed, sometimes youth (7th grade through high school) can be good volunteers) who help facilitate the night and lead small groups. 

I like to have about 5 to 1 ratio. So with 25 preteens, and 5 leaders, that means 5 teams of 5. If you are interested in the games we played I will have them listed below along with the supplies I used to make it possible. 

Here are some quick tips in case you want to make up your own games or don't have the time to read all of mine: 

• Create the environment from the start (we decorated and used ninja-sounding music at the entrance) 
• Remind the preteens that weapons are not allowed (they will try to bring foam weapons of all sorts) 
• Dress up your leaders (think about how awesome Disney World is, everyone is always in character!) 
• Be enthusiastic and flexible! (almost nothing goes according to your plan, but it will still be fun)

Ninja Games:

(accuracy) Ninja Frog Shooter---

Bucket of rubber frogs located at center court (basketball court used here, but any distance greater than 25ft will work)

Each person on team can only grab 1 frog at a time

Return to start line and launch frog into team’s bucket/box. If shot is missed pick it up and retry shot from start line

Team with most frogs in bucket/box after time runs out wins.

(teamwork) Ninja Sword Ball--- (We didn't have time for this game, so no pictures sorry!)

Using half noodles each team must hit their team balloon into another team’s box

Teams can only block their box within 3ft away from box

Team to put one balloon in every team’s box wins

(cunning) Ninja Puzzle---

With a parachute hanging off the basketball rim, teams must roll on their stomachs to half court. Leave their cart there and crawl under the parachute to find their team’s missing puzzle piece.

First team to complete their puzzle wins!

(cunning, accuracy, speed, teamwork, sneaky) Ninja Battle--- (We did not have enough time for this game either!) 

4 way cross-over dodgeball

The game space will be divided into 5 quadrants.
follow dodgeball rules

If you get hit move over to join forces with team that hit you

Once hit you cannot return to your original quadrant

Team that has most people in their quadrant wins!

Ninja Hunt---

Game begins on first floor outside

Each team given a map to find bonuses

Each team given first clue to lead them to next clue

Follow clues to discover the sacred vase!

Do not get caught by the "Ninja Hunter" patrolling the halls

If you get caught your team must hand over 1 clue to "Ninja Hunter"

This game was a favorite of the night. Turn off the lights and that will automatically amp up the level of fun for preteens! 

Ninja Beam---

Teams line up and each hold one piece of wood

Start at the first cone and place each piece of wood on the floor and step across them

The player at the back must pick up the last piece of wood and each team member must pass it to the front together

If any player touches the ground with their hands the entire team must return to the nearest cone

It is acceptable to fall down and continue playing so long as the player’s hands do not contact the floor when falling or getting up

Supplies Needed:

Ninja Shooter—

-5 medium buckets or boxes

-1 large bucket

-48 rubber stretch frogs

-place markers for starting line

Ninja Sword Ball—

-25 short noodles

-5 boxes

-5 segment play area

-5 balloons

Ninja Puzzle—

-5 easy puzzles (25 pieces, I got mine at the dollar store)

-Giant parachute hanging from basketball goal

-5 rolly carts

-start line set up

Ninja Battle—

-lots of balls

-play area segmented into 5 parts

Ninja Hunt—

-5 church maps

-4 clues for each team
(I used 5 locations in our building, and alternated which team's clue would lead them there, the final clue for each team was the same and led them to the "sacred vase")

Ninja Beam—

-blocks of wood for each player

-lots of cones
-our blocks of wood came from our giant Jenga set!

Giant Jenga Blog Post

Ninja Bandanas— We started our night with each team becoming a "Dojo". I cut strips of fabric from Hobby Lobby that the preteens decorated for cool ninja headbands.

-fun fabrics

-tape

-hot glue

-decorative stuff

Be Blessed! 

Quick Tip: Increasing Visitors

It is always a blessing to see new faces on Sunday morning. I cannot think of many ministries that would not want to increase the number of new guests, which is why I am excited to share with you some of the things that have really helped our ministry:

Prayer:
"Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." John 15:4

From Our "Night of the Ninja" Preteen Night Out

Visitor cards: 
Every time a new guest visits our ministry they fill out a small card with their personal information, and this is very important to us because the following day we mail a welcome packet from our ministry. It has calendars, postcards and newsletters detailing all the events happening in the preteen ministry.

Encourage: 
One of our most successful methods of increasing out visitors has been the preteens inviting their friends! Because of the influence our preteens have in reaching their friends, I always make sure to celebrate and encourage our preteens to continue inviting friends.

Various Events:
This is probably our central method of bringing in new guests. Create as many opportunities as possible for your preteens to invite their friends. I spend a lot of time making our once a month, friday night event, Preteen Night Out, lots of fun. It is absurd and crazy. Our guests have so much fun they almost always visit us that following Sunday morning.

There are so many more tips for increasing guests, but these are definitely some of my absolute favorites.

Be Blessed!