Illustrating the Word of God for kids is a good thing.
I have often heard the argument:
“…if we, as children’s leaders use unique and entertaining methods, that children will remember the methods and not the message.”
It’s sad, really. It’s sad because I have watched effective Children’s Ministry communicators shy away from taking advantage of great and creative methods in their presentations because of that statement alone.
I was teaching several workshops on creative teaching methods at a children’s ministry conference where I overheard several criticize me and other workshop leaders for placing an unhealthy emphasis on the methods.
Guess what? I can agree with the statement:
“…if we, as children’s leaders use unique and entertaining methods, that children will remember the methods and not the message.”
However, I can only agree with that statement with the following addendum:
“…as long as most of the time, energy and emphasis is placed on the method and very little time, energy and emphasis is spent on the message.”
Unfortunately, the aforementioned addendum is rarely heard… thus holding back the children’s ministry specialist from embracing the effective methods that are available to him/her.
And all of that is worked out in the planning stages of the message.
In the next few posts I want to explain a few things that should be happening BEFORE the presentation starts… and hopefully, you, the children’s ministry leader – a teacher of God’s Word, can find freedom to “Marry” the message and the method so you can bring your messages to life.
Stay tuned…
I grew up with a magician for a grandfather. Actually, a gospel magician. He was one of those who took magic tricks and put a gospel application with them to use as an entertaining object lesson. (He was kinda known for that.) There are SO MANY biblical truths that I learned and understood as a young kid through grandpa’s tricks! Things that stuck with me for years…
Even as a kid, I realized that some of my Sunday School teachers got it–how to creatively teach God’s Word in memorable ways–and some didn’t. (The phrase “bored to tears” should NOT come to a 4th grader’s mind during a Bible lesson.) So I started to make notes for myself at age 9 so that when I grew up, I wouldn’t forget what it was to be a kid. That’s when my mom suggested that I not wait until I was grown to help teach other kids. I’ve been serving in CM ever since. Using illusions, puppets, juggling, creative storytelling, props, toys, interactivity, songs, rhymes, even yo-yo’s and Rainbow Looms–whatever works to grab kids’ attention, illustrate the topic, and make it memorable.
Creativity in methodology is NOT about entertainment for entertainment’s sake. It’s about engagement with the message, first for understanding, then for ownership.
Amy – Know of your grandfather… I have that book 🙂
It’s great that he instilled into you a passion for visually teaching children in a way that they won’t forget!
Keep up the great work,
Jamie