Teacher Resources/Training

Teacher Resources
and Training

Children's Quizzing
Preteens Ministry
Kids Summer Camp
Teacher Resources/Training
Family Resources
Newsletter

Welcome to our district's "Teacher Resources/Training" page. Here you will find various resources that could be helpful to you, your team of volunteers, and the overall ministry for your children and their families at your local church. We hope these resources will be an additional tool for your church as you serve His children.

THRIVE

What is Thrive: A time for fellowship and learning for those serving as leaders in children's ministry. If you are a leader in any capacity, paid/un-paid, part-time, full-time, we want to spend time together. God has placed it on my heart to help one another 'thrive' as we serve in children's ministry together in North Central Ohio.

Acts 4:32, "All the believers were in one heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions were their own, but they shared everything they had."

During this time we will share ideas with another, pray for each other, and talk about ministry or anything you want. Each Thrive gathering is divided up amongst mission areas, so you can see who is in your area, form new partnerships and friendships with your peers.

Monday, Sept. 18th 7 to 8P for NorthWest

Monday, Sept. 25th 7 to 8P for Metro

Thursday, Sept. 28th 7 to 8P for NorthEast

Monday, Oct. 9th 7 to 8P for MidCentral

Tuesday, Oct. 17th 7 to 8P for MidWest

Thursday, Nov. 2nd 7 to 8P for SouthWest

Monday, Nov. 13th 7 to 8P for SouthEast

Sunday, January 21st 6 to 7:30P - All mission areas combines

Contact Pastor Mindy with questions or concerns, 614-989-5411 or ncokidmin@gmail.com

Girls Life Application Study Bible, NLT - This fun, fresh Bible, created especially for girls ages 8 to 12, presents God's Word in a meaningful way that helps them grow strong in their faith. Special features address issues girls and boys are facing at this age related directly to the experiences of living and growing up. There are many special features, including profiles of women in the Bible, character dilemmas ("How should I respond in this situation?"), answers to hot issues of the day, and--on the lighter side--some accounts of embarrassing stories that have happened to boys and girls at this age.

NIV Boys Bible - This Bible helps boys grow into the young men God wants them to be by helping them dig deeply into God's Word. As they explore Scripture, they'll learn things they didn't know before, discover inspiring people and stories, and uncover all kinds of stuff they never imagined was in the Bible. Ages 9-12.

Day by Day Kids Bible - Features daily Bible readings designed to lead readers ages 7 and up through the Scriptures in just one year. This Bible bridges the gap between a Bible storybook and a full-text Bible since the Scriptures are simplified for young readers. New features included dated Bible readings for every day of the year, two-color interior, and full-color pictorial time line of events.

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Balloon Painting - Fill water balloons. Place 2-3 different colors of paint in a shallow dish. Allow kids to use the bottom of their water balloon to dip in their paint and create tie-dye designs on their paper.

Heart-A-Stack - This is a great Valentine's Day theme Minute To Win It game! Purchase Valentine's Day heart candies and challenge the kids to stack their heart candies in a tower without them falling over. You can decide how many candies high they must go.

Pom Pom Ball & Straw Race - This is a game your kids will love! Make two race tracks using blue masking tape. You will also need straws and pom pom balls. Each contestant must blow their pom pom ball through the masking tape race track without going outside of the lines.

7 Reasons to Serve in the Church Nursery - This is a great quick read and reminder. Use as way to cast vision and remind volunteers that what they do matters.

Sticky Note Prayer Wall - All you need are a bunch of sticky notes and markers. Allow your kids and volunteers to create a prayer wall where everyone can participate on a weekly basis.

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"Child Training Bible" - The CTB is a tool that allows parents and children (and anyone that loves the Word of God) to go directly to the pages of Scripture for instruction in 20 key areas with a complete section dedicated to the gospel. To make a CTB you will use the CTB charts that include over 200 Scripture references, heart and gospel questions, and sample prayers. Go to www.childtrainingbible.comfor more information and to order your CTB charts today!

Are you looking for a Christmas series? Check out these three options at www.childrens-ministry-deals.com! "Journey to Bethlehem" - Look at the journey of four different characters who traveled to Bethlehem for the very first Christmas. "Christmas Tree" - Each week kids will add another decoration to the Christmas tree and learn a little more about the real reason we celebrate Christmas. "Unpleasant Presents" - Christmas is more than just presents, but sometimes when we open up a box of fruitcake or a light-up Christmas sweater we forget about the most important present of all. In this series your kids will learn to be thankful for the greatest Christmas present ever - Jesus!

Here is a great article on how to teach kids who have strong-wills. Check it out - "Tips for Teaching Strong-Willed Kids"

This devotional book for kids, written by Sarah Young, is AMAZING!

If you'd like to save a little money and not have to buy a gingerbread house kit, this is a great alternative and looks super fun! Your kids could make really cute Christmas gingerbread house out of cardboard. Click here to find the free gingerbread house template.

"ABC Bible Verses" - This is a great tool for your kids! Click here for free printables.

Two new volunteer appreciation ideas...
We can never appreciate our children's ministry volunteers enough! Here are a couple of simple, cute, and thoughtful ways to show your church's appreciation.
  1.  "Volunteer Snack Pack" - Click here to view the image.
2. "Candy Bar Sayings" - Click here for the free printables.

Three new object lessons that have a powerful and long-lasting teaching point...
  1. "Leak Proof Bag" - No matter how much other people, situations, or sin try to tear us down, God is always strong enough to withstand any obstacle. When we submit to him we are able to experience great freedom!
2.  "Armor of God" - Ephesians 6:10-17. Discuss what each piece of armor stands for and how it helps us stand against up against Satan. Challenge your children to think purposefully each day about putting on each piece of armor. Maybe you could even pretend to put on each piece together every morning.
3.  "Pins are Sins" - Psalm 139:23-24. Asking God to remove the blinders on our eyes and to show us anything we need to change.

Great websites to check out! Mostly free printables, kids sermons/lessons, activity/game/craft ideas, clipart, etc...
1. Creative Bible Study - Bible lessons, object lessons, holiday idea, daily devotions, themed snacks, crafts, teacher training/info pages, and links to other web resources.

2. Sermons for Kids - This web site is for coloring pages, but also links you to kids sermons.
3. DLTK Educational Activities - Bible, animals, holiday, shapes, etc. printable coloring and activities (Preschool)
4. Deaf Missions - ASL dictionary of religious signs
5. John's Word Search Puzzles - Puzzles for every book of the Bible, holiday, etc.
6. Bible Coloring Pages - Coloring pages, with or without scripture/words - FREE!

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LEADERSHIP

"Making Your Children's Ministry the Best Hour of Every Kid's Week" by Sue Miller and David Staal - Promiseland is Willow Creek's highly successful children's ministry. Using examples from Promiseland and churches of all sizes around the country, this book provides step by step guidance and creative application exercises to help churches develop a thriving children's ministry---one that strives to be the best hour of every kid's week. Included are Scripture-based principles and practical resources for church staff members and volunteers who agree with the critical role children's ministry plays in a local church. Making Your Children's Ministry the Best Hour of Every Kid's Week, based on twenty-eight years of experience at Willow Creek, explains four ministry foundations: Mission, Vision, Values, and Strategy. Content includes: Detailed answers to questions facing every children's ministry: * What does Jesus expect from children's ministry? * How can we evangelize lost kids and disciple saved kids at the same time, and should we? * How do we engage kids so they don't become bored? * How do we get better at recruiting and leading volunteers? * How can our ministry be a safe place for children? * Six specific ministry values that address the needs of today's children * Practical first steps for ministries that want to get serious about change * Clear indicators of success in children's ministry

"Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions: Why children should be your church's #1 priority" by George Barna - No one can deny that our culture is opposed to Christian values, and the influences bombarding our children's moral development can be deadly. But few parents and church leaders realize how critical it is to start developing a child's biblical worldview in the earliest years of life. The problem is complex: parents who themselves did not receive early spiritual training leave their children's training to the church. Yet the church often focuses on older children - not realizing that a child's moral development is set by the age of nine. The answer is for churches to recognize the need to come alongside parents to provide them biblical worldview training, parenting information, etc., that will equip them to help their children become tomorrow's spiritually mature Church.

"The Growing Leader: Healthy Essentials for Children's Ministry" by Craig Jutila - The Growing Leader is packed with insights from Craig Jutila's pastoral experience, and his many keynote and workshop presentations made around the country! His book will help you build healthy, effective leadership skills in your team by reflecting on Jesus' life and using DIVE as a ministry model: Discerning, Influential, Vulnerable, Exalting. You'll also learn how to help your team see what internal changes must take place to make them the best leaders possible.

"Special Needs, Special Ministry" by Joni Eareckson Tada - jesus told us to reach out to everyone- and that includes children with special needs and their families. Here are true, inspirational stories from families who share the struggles and successes of parenting children with special needs. Special Needs-Special Ministry is a practical, real-world guide to help you! Learn from the successes and failures of churches with special-needs programs; launch or further develop a special-needs ministry; and gain insight from experts in the field: Pat Verbal (a gifted leader, speaker, teacher and founder of Ministry to Today's Child), Louise Tucker Jones (award-winning author and inspirational speaker) and more!

"Visioneering" by Andy Stanley - Vision is a preferred future. A destination. Vision always tands in contrast to the world as it is. Visioneering, according to bestselling author Andy Stanley, is "a clear mental picture of what could be , fueled by the conviction that it should be." With warm, down-to-earth practicality, Andy Stanley explores the ordinary life of Nehemiah and his God-given vision for accomplishing the extraordinary. He shows how the life of this great ancient visionary, determined to rebuild the ruined walls of Jerusalem, reveals principles that can prepare us to find and follow God's multifaceted vision for our own lives.

"Unstoppable Force" by Erwin Raphael McManus - An Unstoppable Force will excite and inspire readers about being part of the Church that God has in mind! A "force" created to change the world. A Church that is engaged with its community, daring to cut itself free from atrophied practices and programs to flourish in creative and compelling worship. A Church that risks reaching out to our jaded culture with "outside the box" expressions of faith and love.

ARTICLES WORTH READING

Pray God's Promises for Your KIds' Lives

Making Time For Daddy

What Your Kids Need to Know About Giving

Draw Your Children Into the Bible

When Children View Pornography

Talking About Sex and Puberty

Bullying

WEBSITES

www.thefoundrypublishing.com

www.kidology.org

www.childrens-ministry-deals.com