Practice Makes Perfect

The old sayaing goes something like; “Practice makes perfect… and perfect is as stupid does…” or something like that. Practice your lesson. Know it inside and out from start to finish. You don’t need to be distracted by accidentally dropping props or not knowing how to hold something so it can best be seen. Stand in front of a mirror if you need to see if you look natural. Analyze how the objects are to be used and make sure that everyone will be able to see it and understand. You may need to record yourself on video or audio so you can make adjustments to the words you use or which words or phrases to over emphasize. Give these children your best!

Over the years I have carried a number things in my pockets prior to Children’s Church services that have helped me to connect with kids and sometimes, just for a laugh. Here are a few in no particular order that you might try – if you come up with a few, e-mail me and let me know… Better yet: send a response to this post with your thoughts!

A Pair of Pliers – every week, a kid will approach me and show me his/her loose tooth. I will say, “here, let me help you with that…” And I reach into my back pocket and display the pliers (The bigger, the better). “Open wide and you can get a visit from the tooth fairy tonite!” Kids will usually laugh and cover their mouths. Parents are amazed at how witty this is.

A small “nerf-like” ball – As the crowd gets bigger, I will just toss it out and have the kids toss it back. They actually go nuts over this. I have also used my juggling bean bags to toss one out during some juggling. Then have a kid toss it back. We see how far away I can toss it and catch it again and keep juggling.

A Small Birthday Candle and Kitchen Lighter – Somebody always tells me that their birthday is either coming up this week, or it was last week, or it’s their dog’s birthday. I pull out the little candle and light it while singing happy birthday in opera-style. They get to blow out the candle and I have all the kids who are nearby cheer for them, their dog or brother – whoever!

Pocket Magic Trick – This is an obvious one. But kids are always asking me to do a trick, so I have one in my pocket most times. Some suggestions – a thumbtip and thumbtip streamer, I produce the streamer from a borrowed dollar bill; Some coins for a few coin slieghts; sponge balls for a simple multiplying trick; Ring and a rope routine; check your local magic shops for these items.

Miniature Wallet – This is actually a magic trick that sells under the name “Mistaken Identity” I don’t actually do the trick part of it, I just use the little wallet. I scanned, shrunk, printed and laminated my driver’s license, credit cards, and family pictures I also bought some miniature play money to keep in it. And I talk about shrinking my wallet in the washing machine.

A Microphone Without A Cord – I will walk thru the crowd and pretend that I am a new reporter and interview kids with the microphone.

A digital camera – I learned this from my good friend, Chris Kliner. Just have the kids do funny faces, fun poses, actions etc. This keeps them occupied for a long time. Then, next week have the photos up on the big-screen, so all can see them.

Tiny Squirt Gun – During the hot months, kids show up at our church in shorts and t-shirts. So have a little squirt gun and just randomly squirt it over the crowd. The water lands on them and they don’t know where it comes from. I also get the back of kids’ legs. I will always give in and let a few kids, squirt me!

Pad of paper and pencil – I will draw pictures of kids in the audience. They are always funny looking “Kid-Art” type of drawings and the kids always laugh. So I sign it and give it to the kid that I drew a picture of. I also draw a “Droodle” and quiz kids to see if they know what it is.

ok, that’s enough for now – questions, e-mail me.

Be excited when you teach and instruct the boys and girls. I wouldn’t want to be a Christian if you don’t look like you want to be one. Smile! Be exuberant and bold to proclaim God’s Word. You only get to see these children for an maybe an hour or a week. I want them to know me as the most exciting person they know who loves Jesus. I really believe that you can swing your class intensity by how your presentation is given. You need to match and go a few dgrees above where you want the kids to be, in thier intensity, when you finish teaching them. So… Suck it up, toss aside a little dignity and be a visual yourself.

I don’t care what you think of Bush… this is not a political website. I just needed a “Thumbs Up” Picture.

So, I’m a fan of the Simpson’s – I’m sure many of you out there are too. If you are not a fan, you probably really hate the show. I hope you don’t abandon this blog because of it… I have always loved this picture. But a lot of people go into thier teaching time with very little on thier brain as to what they are really talking about.

Always be prepared by knowing your lesson ahead of time so you know exactly how to present it. Have the main points of the lesson memorized so you can make it personal. I’ve heard it said over and over: “If you don’t have something planned, the children will.” Allow yourself ample time to get to know every part of your lesson. This probably means that you should also practice

Something else I got a chance to do yesterday, but didn’t have a chance before bed to post, was spend time with a good friend, Al Florek from Tulsa, OK. Al and I have been friends for over 20 years. We got involved in children’s ministry together under Carl Lindelien as kids ourselves. As teens, we joined forces as the “Rock Brothers”. Using juggling, comedy, magic and audience participation, we got to cut our teeth performing and doing ministry at many events all over central Minnesota. It also opened the door for us to spend time under other children’s pastors’ ministries.

Al became one of the most sought after clowns for birthday parties and family venues all over Minnesota and later in the Tulsa area. He currently has a great business staining and sealing concrete floors and he still ministers to kids as a volunteer at Victory Christian Center in Tulsa.

We headed out to the local magic shops here in Minneapolis/St.Paul and cracked the same old jokes and one-liners that we’ve been crackin’ for almost 20 years. Man it’s fun to look back and realize how a simple friendship has lasted so long and how much fun we still have together.

I just got back from visiting my friend and mentor, Carl Lindelien in the hospital tonite. Carl was my Children’s Pastor when I was a kid and later a mentor in children’s ministry as a high school student and college kid (I was his intern for a year when he was at a church in Florida). It’s hard to see the guy laid-out on a bed with IV’s stuck in him and dealing with pain – Carl went in on Christmas day for an infection in his intestine. He has been losing severe weight as a result. Please pray for this children’s ministry pioneer and pastor.

More history: As mentioned in an earlier post, Carl was the senior editor and head writer for the original first four quarters of Charisma’s “K.I.D.S Church” Curriculum published back in the early 90’s. He also helped edit the first quarter of Willie George Ministries’ “Kids One The Move” Curriculum.

…and, if you were ever invlolved in children’s ministries back in the late 80’s, you may remember “The Praisin’ Raisins” – a parody of the California Raisins. This too was a Carl Lindelien thing.

PREPARE!

Here’s the next rule of thumb for preparing to teach a segment of a lesson:

2. Make sure that your props, objects, DVD, projector, puppets, costumes, magic tricks, or any other visual methods that are to be used are ready, in place and in good working condition. There is nothing more embarrassing then getting ready to teach a part of your lesson and you find yourself in a difficult situation because your teaching material isn’t in place or is broken.

Always test your lesson equipment and cue video or DVD clips – check to make sure your stuff looks good – this means that you have to know what your doing. Let’s face it, whether you think so or not – the kids know if you are prepared or not.

It’s helpful if you take your lesson outline and make a list of everything you need for each lesson segment and check that list off as you gather your stuff together.

btw: I always wanted to be the Fonz…

Rule One

Over the course of the next few days, I will share with you a few simple rules of thumb when presenting a Gospel magic trick, object lesson, story or whatever you find yourself doing. If you use these guidelines, I promise you, your lessons will become more effective and you will be come more organized in preparing yourself to teach.
So, here’s number one:

1. Research your lesson and study. You may need to make it more personal than what you read from a book or lesson manual. Keep in mind that it needs to flow with the rest of the theme for the day. Some people don’t think that children’s pastors are as learned as the other pastors at your church – unfortunately, many children’s ministers fall into this false thinking themselves as they go about thier ministry. Nothing could be – nor should be further from the truth.

Just like any pastor, you ought to have a collection or library of reference works to use in doing research on a topic, key word, or scripture. Check out e-sword.net for a great, free, downloadable Bible software. It has many versions of the Bible, concordances, dictionaries, commentaries, topical studies and other cool study helps. You can always get online at biblegateway.com or blueletterbible.com

The point is simple, you cannot put into the heart of a child what is not already in your heart. So, study, research, pray and generate the message in your heart first!

GET ‘EM TALKIN’

Get the people who work closest to you to start talking about the ministry and get them to share the vision. “…so that anyone can read it at a glance and rush to tell others.” This could very well be the best and most effective tool. But you have to get your workers to catch that glimpse. If they are excited about it… others WILL here about it.

Here’s an interesting concept: Share your vision with your pastor so he can stay excited about it and be a word of mouth advertisement. He can be a valuable element in getting your vision out there. People will listen to the Man of God (your pastor). I don’t say that jokingly. From the pulpit, to a church newsletter article, to meeting with board members and others leaders in your church, to newcomers and visitors; look at all of the opportunities that have just opened up to you. I’m not saying to use and abuse your privileges with your pastor – Just make sure he knows what is going on so he can effectively share it with others who need to here it from another reputable source.

Well, there you have it! Put it out there! Don’t be secretive. You’ll never get the vision off the ground. Advertise so others can plainly see what your goals, ambitions, and dreams, that God gave you, are. In return, you’ll get others talking about all of these things! Communicate effectively and you’ll cause a positive epidemic that will change your ministry forever.

Today was a real reminder of what being a children’s pastor sometimes means. My wife and I spent the better part of the day (7:00 AM – 4:00 PM) in the family waiting room with a newer family from our church as thier newborn was having open heart surgery. We had coffee with them; shared stories that were funny, interesting, strange and touching with them; played Monopoly with them; had lunch with them and prayed with them until word came to us that all had gone well with the surgery.

We were tired at the end of the day, today. But, knowing that we had made a difference in just being there to help build thier confidence and faith and to keep them company will see fruit later.

You have got to keep in perspective that a large portion of your ministry must happen in other places other then the classroom or the auditorium. It will happen with people other then just the kids. Today, we not only ministered to a newborn… but, also a mother, father, two grandmothers, an aunt and a few days ago before the surgery we also made an impact on a grandfather and some friends of the family and we have been watching the family’s 2 year old at our house during the day for the last few days. What i want you to see is that, we had a newborn, a toddler and a bunch of adults who needed our prayers and hugs more than an object lesson or funny skit.

Don’t get me wrong – I won’t stop ministering to large groups of kids, doing the fun stuff… I love that, it’s my favorite. I am just saying, that you not only have to be able to relate to children, but also the people that drive them to church each week.