Training — Ministry Leaders

It is rare that a child misbehaves for no reason. Children have needs that must be met. In their emotional and social immaturity, they seek to meet their own needs in ways that adults find inappropriate. Discipline is the process of helping children learn to meet their needs in appropriate ways or to deny their desires until they can be met at an acceptable time. The more teachers (and parents) understand the needs of children at various ages, the more we can anticipate a child’s behavior. Parents naturally understand that a baby needs food, sleep, and changing frequently throughout each...

When I meet a second grader, I always joke, “I spent two of the happiest years of my life in the second grade.” While most chuckle at the joke—I did repeat second grade. I was a child with a special need that wasn’t discovered until second grade. Being deaf in one ear, I was often scolded for not paying attention, and even cheating when I was looking at a friend’s paper to see what we were supposed to do. Once my handicap was discovered, life improved dramatically! Once my needs were addressed, I went from feeling unloved and picked on to...

Postmodernism is the culture we live in, and the prevailing thought of postmodernism is that religious truth is highly individualistic, subjective, and resides within the individual. What that means is that each individual determines what truth really is for themselves. If you doubt that, the next time you have a serious conversation with someone, don’t be surprised when you hear them reference the default statement of all postmodern spiritual truth thinking, when they say, “That’s just your opinion”. How that affects children is that after we have taught them the Bible, the culture will tell them the Bible is totally...

More and more children’s ministry leaders and parents are interested in getting kids involved in service, outreach and missions. But how can we get today’s kids on the move? Here are the ten key ingredients for motivating kids to focus on the needs of others:#1. BE A ROLE MODEL. Any parent or leader who wants her kids to serve others must first set the example herself. Try going on a short-term trip across town or to another country and then sharing your experience with your class or family. Find ways to be personally involved in service, outreach and missions projects...