Creative way get to know your kids

I was able to partner with Blue River Baptist Association in their training of VBS leaders. My breakout session was investing in the 5th and 6th grade leaders. In this, there was training over the VBS materials; but then also general leadership training, creative ideas, conversation on the target group and other helpful add ons. We started the breakout session with one of my favorite activities as I encouraged the leaders to first get to know the kids on night one. Here is what this activity looks like:

Buy a bag of original skittles. Then at the beginning of your class hand out small handfuls to your kids. Give them one rule as you talk and hand out the skittles; "you may eat all but one, put that one off to the side." (If a kid does not like skittles encourage them to pick one and keep it off to the side.) Then take them through the PowerPoint of the images below. Two questions to get to know names and something about each kid. You learn, but also the other kids get to learn about each other. For future years, switch it up, use m&ms or starburst. Remember the best way for you to invest is to get into their lives first, then let them get into your life and always encourage them that Jesus wants to be part theirs and your life.

Developmental Stages: 2 yr old vs. 5th grader

I have come to the conclusion that while working with 5th-6th graders that they are very similar to my two year old son. The other week I was reading that these two developmental stages are two of the biggest of a human life. Both groups are experiencing growth and body changes, they question everything and are processing how you will react when they go opposite, they go through volunteers and seem to be the hardest to recruit for; but yet they are in their own way in dire need of adults impacting their lives!

I have made several mistakes as a dad while trying to get my son to do something only to watch him process what I am saying and do the opposite. Within my reaction, I lose an opportunity to come alongside him and work through his processing. One of the biggest mistakes I have ever had with a young man should have taught me better. I had a tough group of inter-city guys in my cabin at summer camp. These kids wouldn't listen to anyone or anything! They pushed boundaries, they got in verbal and physical fights, and tested my twenty year old personality. At one point, I lost it and yelled at the top of my lungs at the boys. In that moment, I lost credibility and severed my opportunity to love and invest in them. In fact, I still have a negative report card that I have kept with me that says; "What did you dislike about camp?" the response: "My counselor yelled at us." Never recovered a relationship with at least one of the boys. I did work hard to earn back respect and even made a promise that if they could get along that we would camp out at a special cabin and I would make pizza on the fire for them. This got their interest, especially seeing they were from the city and didn't have campfires. The night came and sure enough it poured down raining. Not wanting to break my promise, I got permission to use the fireplace in the gym and left the campers with my junior counselor as I went to retrieve the pizza supplies. When I came back, I was shocked at what I saw. Kids were crying, hugging each other and asking for forgiveness. What had happened! One kid had started the conversation saying that he had a lot of anger because his dad had left him, which snowballed and I would soon find out that three quarter of my campers had lost their dad. To some their dad walked out on them and to others their dads were in jail. Wow, heavy. These kids needed love and the last thing they needed was an older male yelling at them...Only through the Holy Spirit working and breaking these hearts and finding a common ground; made this the best week of camp for me and one I will remember for ever. It not only taught me to watch my words; it taught me that ever kid has a story and they need to be invested and loved on.

Sure their bodies are changing, man, do they smell at times, especially after lots of fun in the gym and you go into a small room...yes, they question things. My best questions about the Bible have come from this age group. "Were there dinosaurs on the ark?" "Jesus sinned, what about the tables at the temple?" They do tend to do the opposite thing that you ask of them; and they will test your limits. Granted, all they really desire is for you to get to know them and let them get to know you. They want someone to care. They are not a kid but yet they are not a teen. They are stuck in this awkward stage and could use you to invest in them. No worries on your age, I am getting old, 34 to be exact, and I don't have a clue to some of these games they are playing, but I ask them about it and have them explain it to me. I believe they get so much enjoyment at explaining it to me and in the back of my mind, I am thinking "I have no clue what they are talking about!" But I go on listening and they go on telling me the in and outs of their world. Take some time to think about this time in your life...we need people investing in the lives of a two year old or a 5th grader; do not let this awkward stage scare you from impacting them for Jesus.

Jesus darkest moment

Coming out of Easter, many thoughts tend to flow as we reflect on what Jesus did on and through the cross, how he conquered death and the final results of restoring the relationship of God and man. As I have thought over the years, I have encouraged people that Jesus knows what it is like to be a human. His birth put him at the lowest of the low. Jesus was royalty but he was not born into it from a human perspective. He knows what it was like to be hungry. How do I know? The Bible tells us (Mark 11:12)! He got tired and needed sleep (Mark 4:38). He experienced the loss of a friend (John 11:35). It is not in the Bible, but I imagine that when Jesus was growing up, he fell and skinned a knee from time to time. He knows what it is like to be human.

Jesus' humanity leading up to his death is magnified in the Gospels. The focus of the last meal and his last time of hanging with his friends. Think about a prisoner who is on death rows and their last meal. They are not sharing with the closest of friends and I don't think a last meal is a time to be excited for. Jesus valued his disciples and saw the importance of spending a meal with them. In the garden, the sweat, the tears, the blood, the pain of talking with Father about his will. The kiss of betrayal. Many of us know how it feels to be betrayed by a friend or family member. It's tough, it hurts! The whips that pulled flesh from his body, the pulling of his beard, the insults, people gambling for his clothes, the nails in his hand and feet, a crown of thorns on his brow and being put on display.

Leading up to this point, I am sure that we as humans can relate with at least one thing if not many of the things that Jesus lived through. Granted, we are still not at Jesus' darkest moment! The pain, the loneliness and the rejection of man; but then came the darkest moment, the rejection of the Father. God being a holy God, cannot be part of sin and Jesus took the sins of the world on him separating him from the Father. Flesh being pulled off his body was minor compared to the relationship of the Father being separated from the Son. Jesus did this for me! He experienced a dark, lonely place that was without God; how in the world would I ever choose to reject God and want to ever experience hell! Jesus went through his darkest moment to give me an opportunity to have a relationship with the Father that I could have never obtained.

Ga Ga Ball

My second attempt at a Ga Ga Pit! This one turned out way better than the previous... 

I recruited Jeff and he brought along his father. 

Inviting South Haven Kids for the opportunity to be the first to use it!

Importance of a church in it's community?

Yesterday, I was out shopping at Home Depot planning the next big children ministry exciting moment (details coming soon), when I recognized one of the employees. I had that moment where I was trying to remember where I knew the individual from and couldn’t recall. She knew me! Come to find out she was one of our winners from our Trunk or Treat event. She would go on to actually invite my cashier to church; to which I would find out that she knew the Klein’s which led to talking about how Alan played an amazing part of our Upward Sports program. As these conversations continue; we have to think, how important is it for a church to be out in the community? Certainty, this conversation would have not happened if it were not for South Haven’s decision to be active in the community.