GPS, Ministry Style

Some people are born with an internal compass, but I’m not one of them. You can imagine my delight at the great invention of GPS. No more apologizing for arriving late! No more stopping three times for new directions! No more giant maps with tiny words…or so I thought.

I was halfway to Hamilton, Ontario, from Grand Rapids, Mich., when I noticed that I wasn’t on the highway anymore. Instead, my GPS pal was taking me on a twisting trail through small towns on country roads. It was time to recalculate the route.

For Teachers

Now that you’re almost midway through the school year, it’s time to check on some key areas to make sure you’re set for the second half of the season!

Motivation

September to December is packed with high points and holidays—it’s enough to wear out even the most enthusiastic educator! Try these ideas for reenergizing your spirit:

• Seek a Sabbath: If you teach the whole year, secure a substitute for a week or two of rest. Spend the extra time journaling, praying, and seeking Christ in Scripture.


• Consider each kid: Take a picture of each kid in your group, or write their names on index cards; then carry one or two with you every day for a week. Pause occasionally during the day to consider the personality, gifts, and areas of growth you’ve witnessed in this child over time, and send up a prayer as you do.


• Catch the vision: While children’s ministry is sometimes overlooked and taken for granted, nothing could be further from the truth in the kingdom. You follow Christ’s example as you welcome kids, and you take up Christ’s mission as you make young disciples! Barna Group research confirms what you already intuitively know: childhood is the most critical period of faith development, laying the foundation for everything to come.

Preparation

It’s easy to spend less time prepping as the year goes on, but planning and prayer are critical to sharing a great lesson. If you associate planning with panic and procrastination, try these tips to help you skip the stress.

• Save the date: Put planning on your schedule and honor it as you would any other appointment.


• Keep it consistent: Blocking off the same time(s) each week makes planning a habit instead of a headache.


• Meditate on the message: This story is for us, too! When I’m most tempted to rush through planning time, it’s the first page in the leader’s guide that slows me down. Soaking up the Word Search and spending time in prayer will get you excited about the story and its meaning for kids’ lives and your life, too!

Participation

In Walk With Me, lecture-style teaching goes out the window and participation becomes the key word. Kids learn best when they can explore and discover through a variety of activities. That’s why it’s so important to create a small group environment that’s safe and affirming.

• Lead with love: Sunday school is not just about content and information; it’s about inviting God to shape us and change us as we explore his Word. As you invite kids into your class, and into each story, welcome them as God welcomes us,with loving, open arms!


• Lead with energy: Kids have endless energy, wonder, and curiosity! They love it when we dive into the action with them and do the projects, play the games, and make the crafts that explore the lesson. Instead of being the timekeeper or designated helper, pick up a crayon and get to work!

For Coordinators

In August you knew how many kids, teachers, and classes would be in your programs. You knew what the budget would look like. You were focused and ready for the journey. Now it’s midway through the season and a lot has changed—time to take a fresh look at the itinerary and course correct as necessary!

Detour ahead!

Avoid potential pitfalls by looking ahead in these areas:

• Scope & sequence: Between snow days and special events your Sunday school might be lagging a little behind schedule (mine is!). Take a look at the calendar and the WWM Scope and Sequence to determine where you are and where you’d like to be before the year is done. Now is the perfect time to select the dates for VBS or summer Sunday school and start exploring the options.


• Space: Check in with kids and teachers to find out how their space is suiting them. It’s not too late to swap rooms or set up a few extra tables if class sizes have fluctuated. If you opt to swap, send home a note with kids and make a nice big sign pointing the way to the new space. If possible, set aside time for kids to transfer their projects or room art to the new place and write a group note to the kids or adults moving in.


• Staffing: Winter is a great time to begin planting seeds for next year’s Sunday school season. Look for potential leaders to recruit in January and February to serve as classroom aides or leaders-in-training once or twice a month. Pair these new helpers with your most experienced leaders to give them a taste of how great Sunday school ministry can be—and what their future might hold!

Dedication affirmed!

Your dedicated volunteers have made it through the Christmas crunch without crashing! Now it’s time to offer them encouragement and equip them with new tools as they forge ahead.

• Stop by to pray: Pop into one room a week, for just five minutes, to pray for the leader or leaders. Encourage the kids to join you in thanking God for the gifts of this person and asking for God’s blessing.


• Snap a photo: Post an informal photo board in a high traffic area of the church. Include the heading, “Thank You for Nurturing the Faith of Our Kids!” and fill it with pictures of teachers in action. Slip into classrooms and snap a few photos, then e-mail the pics to a local store for processing and pick up. Costco, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart and Walgreens are among the many stores that offer online service at a reasonable rate.


• Set up training: Let your leaders know their ministry is valuable by offering training workshops that sharpen their skills. Download workshops you can lead on topics like Goodbye Classroom Chaos! and Tell It Again!: Telling God’s Story to Young Children from the Walk With Me website, or encourage your leaders to sign up for free Webinars (short online seminars) by visiting www.WalkWithMeOnline.org/Webinars.


• Send a note: Besides Christmas cards, when was the last time you received a piece of snail mail? Nothing beats a handwritten note for affirmation and encouragement!


• Start smiling: Your leaders aren’t the only ones that need encouragement. Just in case you haven’t heard it lately, let me say thank you. THANK YOU!!!!! All of your prayers, plans, and programs are precious to the Lord and to the whole body of Christ! I hope you smile as you reflect on 2008 and the way you’ve seen God’s faithfulness at work as kids and families grow in faith.