Praying Children 101

I often get questions about children and prayer, and I love to hear that parents  are interested in getting involved with the prayer life of their children.  I am re-reading Let the Children Pray by Esther Ilinsky. She is the founder of the Esther Network International Children’s Global Prayer Movement.   Long name, but her purpose is to mobilize children worldwide to pray for revival in their generation. I believe she has some good answers to questions that parents have regarding prayer and children.  For the next few blogs, I will give you my thoughts on some of these topics, which are generally the same as Esther’s viewpoint. http://www.kidsprayer.com is  a link to kids and parents prayer activities and fun stuff to get you started after you’re done reading this.

Q. Do you teach children about fasting and prayer?  A. Absolutely! Within the context of supervision, children can fast from a meal now and then. But we encourage them to fast from dessert or TV, or video games, or whatever they choose.  Esther shares an example of a 6-yr. old girl who cried and refused to eat when she saw starving children on TV.  The little girl’s parents became worried and sought counsel from Esther.  Esther told the family that they could begin to pray together as a family instead of eating a meal. At that time, they could cry together for those children. That is fasting and praying. When the family began to experience spirituality together, everyone was happier. The child had permission to fast from a meal with supervision, but was taught tha Jesus wanted her to continue to pray.  Blessings and see you CATG kids this weekend!

Prayerwalking-family ideas part 2

I hope you are enjoying the prayerwalking ideas for you and your family to take part in. Blessings to you and your family and here are a few more ideas to choose from:

• Brainstorm from prayerwalk “prompters.”  For instance, did you notice a house that looks neglected or a car that’s speeding?  Come up with a list of possibilities.  Also, check out the book, Prompts for Praywalking by Steve Hawthorne http://www.waymakers.org.
• Prayerwalk your children’s school on a weekend.  Pray for students, teachers, and school issues.  Look up the names of teachers and administrators ahead of time in a yearbook or school directory so you can pray for them by name.  Stop and pray in spots where your children say there has been a conflict, bad attitudes, one child treating another poorly, etc.
• Check into the six-minute video Prayerwalking for Kids.  (see my previous post for a link).

Prayerwalking-ideas for families

I found some great resources about families prayerwalking together from PrayKids! magazine http://www.praykids.com.   I will post 1-2 ideas daily for the next few days, so keep checking back! I  hope you are blessed as your families pray for your neighborhood releasing transformation and miracles.

• Get the whole family excited by planning a special family prayerwalking event.  Discuss in advance where to go.  Get a street map and highlight the route you will be taking.  Pack a lunch, a water bottle and a notebook and pen to write down notes about what you are prompted to pray.  If a particular house or place ( like a school, clinic, etc.) really burdens someone’s heart, make sure to pray for that situation throughout the week during your family’s prayer times.
• Turn some of your regular family outings into prayerwalks.  If you’re walking to a park, pray for the houses you pass along the way.  If you’re going to the library, pray for the people in the buildings you pass and for the people checking out books, etc.

Prayerwalking & kids (Part 3): Tuning in to God’s voice

One way I tried to help the kids understand prayer walking last week was to help them visualize hearing God’s voice. Earlier this month, our church hosted the Global School of Supernatural Ministry, and during that time, I remember God teaching me about how to hear His voice more clearly. I began to see how hearing God’s voice  is like tuning an AM radio dial into the right frequency (possibly both are vibrations in the air?).   I need to (perhaps it is HOT 77.7) ! I just have to tune Him in. My dear friend, Kristen Hickey, and I were talking about this and she pointed out how radio frequencies come in clearer during the night.  She, appropriately, is  one of the   watchman on the wall listening and crying out to God in the stillness of the night. I also was thinking about the fact that radio frequencies are more difficult to hear during storms ).  The voice is still there, we just need to be very engaged about hearing it.   I remember when I was a kid, I listened to the radio before I went to bed, but there was a lot of noise in my house, so I had to get under my blankets and  even under my pillow to hear the music and the radio announcer.  Today, I see that as a shadow  of a prayer closet.  So, anyway, I shared this whole radio-image-thing  with the kids when I was talking with them  about “getting nearer so  pray clearer”.  I believe when  they position  themselves closer to places or people who need prayer, and listen closely, they can really tune into God’s concerns for the people and places they are near.

 

Kids prayerwalking (part2)

Well, last night, the kids had the opportunity to practice prayerwalking.   I used a  wonderful resource  with Praykids! magazines and issue #8 is all about prayerwalking.  Witht the 50 or so kids ages K-5th grade we talked about why we should prayerwalk–”getting nearer so we can pray clearer”.  Often, God will give us words of knowledge on what to pray for simply by being closer to the place or people he wants to touch.  Of course, God can hear us anywhere, but being in the midst of our school, neighborhood, city park, church playground, etc.  give us clues on how we can pray for those places/people. 

HERE IS THE PRAISE!:  The children and  leaders planned where each group was going and then decided to go (GOKIDS!).  The 2nd and 3rd grade girls decided to head East on the busy 26th street and just kept walking, allowing God to lead them where to go. One of the girls suggested going to the house of one of the girls who was absent last night. The walk was becoming a lot longer than the leader was expecting and she suggested turning around so they could get back to church on time. But, the girls insisted on continuing on the journey.

So, they finally get to the house and the girl’s aunt was there and informed them that their friend had just been taken to the hospital because she fell off the trampoline with  possibly had a broken leg.  Scary, of course, but the girls knew just what to do. They gathered on the girl’s front lawn and prayed for her healing and protection. I finally saw them running back 15 minutes late with their prayerwalking testimony. They were so excited that they had followed the leading of the Holy Spirit and were able to be at the place that they needed to pray.  If they wouldn’t have gone there, they would never had known that their friend was needing prayer.  I believe their faith was greatly increased last night seeing the fruit of trusting the Lord’s leading. My daughter and several others who were with the group planned on following up and calling the mom of the girl when they got home to see how things turned out. The report came back as a clean bill of health!!! Praise the Lord and may the children continue to see miracles and signs and wonders!

Prayer Walking and Kids

I am back from Birmingham, Alabama. Our staff attended the ARC conference. www.relatedchurches.com Very refreshing and encouraging. Lots of laughter!  It is great to get new ideas, spend quality time with friends and receive confirmation that we are following God’s plan for our particular body of believers. It is exciting to know that we are linked and contribute to  an association that has the bold plan to plant 2000 churches by the year 2020. I believe they are at around 65 already. GO GOD!

Here is a very cool link to Prayer walking and children. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQOLGTKL_ag 

I plan on showing the kids  this video next Wednesday night at church and then pray in and around the property of our new building that is to open May 5th.

Last Weekend, the folks at Church at the Gate wrote scriptures on the floors in the new Children’s and Youth Equipping Center.  They are  prophetic proclamations over the destinies of the children and the youth as they  grow and are equipped to live out their destinies  in the Lord, and who will eventually be sent out to live victoriously as overcomers and as leaders spreading the gospel of Jesus and having incredibly intimacy with the Lord. whoo!

Be bold and courageous!

 

Weekly Boost Hope in Jesus

Weekly Boost Welcome Parents and Guardians!

Hey, we are on the countdown for opening the new building! I’m cheering for the 3^rd weekend in April, but I am realistically expecting the first weekend in May J

I would love to get your feedback on ideas for decorating, etc. for the new building. If you would like to be a part of the process, please email me your ideas, etc. We have been meeting on Tuesdays from 11:30-1 to bring our ideas to the table. You are welcome to join us!

We will not be meeting April 1, but we will be meeting April 8.NO KIDMO or WEDNESDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES on April 9 and April 16. We will be having Wednesday night KIDMO on April 23 and the LAST night of KIDMO is April 30. 

May 7^th is dress Rehearsal for the STOMP & PRAISE children’s choir program and May 14^th is the perfomance of the program. All children are welcome to participate in this including decorating, handing out programs, serving food, ushering, helping with props. We want all children to attend the performance, even if they are not singing. WE will send home reminders of all of these dates

.KIDS FOR CREATION   (KFC) TRAINING CAMP (alternative to traditional VBS) will be held on May 17, 18, and 19^th  (SATURDAY through MONDAY) from 6-9. This will be for grades K-5 and parents are encouraged to participate with their child. Talk to Rachel Weisbecker if you have any questions or email me and I will get you in touch with her.

We are planning on transitioning to a new check-in system in which you will scan a barcode per family and then a nametag with a parent receipt will print out. Watch for more details soon so that you can get your barcode assigned to your family.

We are looking forward to our new youth pastor Jared Dupert and his family joining us. They will move here as soon as their townhouse is sold, so pray for a quick sale!  He and I have talked about starting a 5^th and 6^th grade youth group, so I will keep you up to date on the developments of that.

Still  looking into starting a SCRIP program as a way to raise funds for the children’s ministry. For every $1000.00  in HYVEE cards purchased for food and gas, the church gets $50.00. I figure if 50 families commit to $500.00 per month, the church can raise $1250.00 per month for toys, sports equipment, craft supplies, chairs, tables, baby wipes, etc.  If you are interested in heading this up, contact me ASAP!

Also,again,  the church officially has a new 15-passenger van with a wheelchair lift! YAY GOD! WE WILL USE THIS VAN! If you are interested in being a driver for kids, or for adults, let us know ASAP, as well.

We are still  looking for someone to head up a coffee ministry. The church acquired some coffee brewing equipment from a coffee shop that went out of business. Call the church or email me if your interested.

The North Campus  Wednesday children’s ministries continues at the Heartland House community room The youth group girls and leaders as well as the regular children’s ministry leaders hosted an outreach last Wednesday. The report was that it went very well and they had a great turnout.

This Coming  Weekend at CATG GOKIDS! Children’s Ministries

MEMORY VERSE:“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.”  Romans 5:3

Bible Lesson:
Peter Explains Belief in Jesus  1 Peter 1:3-9

Take a night next  week to have some teaching fun with your family with one of the following activities related to the Bible lesson:

Hope Day!    On your family’s calendar, put a circle around one date this week.  Call the day “Hope Day”! Every day this week, build your family’s anticipation by asking, “What do you hope will happen on Hope Day?”  On Hope Day, plan a special, hopeful celebraiton for your evening meal.  Serve your family’s favorite food.  Then have a special dessert.  Talk about what it means to hope in God and how certain we can be that God will always do the best for us. 

OR  

Spend time in  a weekly devotion together (see below):

Monday:           Romans 8:28     How can this verse help you the next time you’re worried or afraid?

Tuesday:           Isaiah 41:10      How can this verse help you face your problems?

Wednesday:     Matthew 6:25    Everyone faces problems at times.  How can this verse give you hope?

Thursday:         Psalm 23   How can reading this passage the next time you face trials give you peace?                   

 Friday:         John 3:16  What is God’s promise that can help you through any tough time you could ever face?  

Saturday:          John 16:33  How does it feel to know that Jesus is bigger and more powerful than any trouble you might face?

 Weekly Challenge for Children and Parents
In your child’s memory book, there is a journal page and weekly challenges. Please look at the introduction to  the journal and then encourage you child to draw or write the things that God says to him/her or things that he/she wants to say to God. In addition to the ideas in your child’s verse book, here are a couple more for your family:

 ·         Reminder: Store is rescheduled for May. encourage your child  to work on their verse memorization weekly, reminding them that having the Word in their heart is an eternal blessing, but in the short-term, they get points to spend at the store. **Your children earns points by attending Go Kids!, memorizing scripture and completing their weekly challenges in their Go Kids! Bible Memory Books, and by bringing their Bible and/or friends to church.)

Service Opportunities:

Take part in the blessing of serving in Children’s Ministry.  If any of the areas below interest you, please reply to this message or sign up at the Registration Desk.

1. Children’s Prayer Coordinator- Coordinate prayer meeting times for parents and/or teachers and/or children to pray for one another.
2.   Greeter for new visitors with children during weekend services at the check-in desk- Great parent job.
3.  Children’s Worship Leader for Wednesday nights or when the new building is opened- Training kids to worship with Instrumental Music, banners, dance, & vocal music.  Will train!
4. Bible Memory Listener: Listen to children say memory verses at beginning of Children’s Church and pray with them when needed.

 See you this weekend at Go Kids! and Blessings to you and your family.

New babies!

LIFE!!!  we have  some new babies recently added to  our children’s ministry family:

Paul and Dixie Wickham: Baby boy James  Wayne William Wickham born March 19, 2008

Jeremy and Nikole Ackman: Baby girl Zoe Apphia born March 25, 2008

Vince and Kelly Tooley: Baby girl  born Cheyenne Hope Elizabeth  

PLUS: there are AT LEAST 3 babies that are expected to arrive in the next few months.  And then at least one more in the fall!

Also, welcome Erin Esser on staff as our new Nursery Ministry Director and children’s ministry assistant. Please contact her if you are currently pregnant or know someone who is so we can get you set up for the BABY CARE PACKAGE including meals for a few days, a prayer blanket, and other surprises including a shower for first time mommies.  Also, if you interested in being a part of the meal ministry or new baby ministry including making blankets or serving in the nursery, contact Erin at the church 357-8136.

Weekly Boost Good Samaritan

Weekly Boost 

Welcome Parents and Guardians!

Hey, guys, sorry so I’ve been irregular with my blog entries  It’s the beginning of a new quarter and I’ve been working on updating rosters, registration sheets, memory verse books, March calendar,etc. We’ve also been working on a lot of things involving the new building–where rooms will be, etc.

Looks like we will be getting video cameras in the classrooms for security and for daycare parents to view their children on line.  It’s all still in the works, but the momentum is building! 

We are also looking into starting a SCRIP program as a way to raise funds for the children’s ministry. For every $1000.00  in HYVEE cards purchased for food and gas, the church gets $50.00. I figure if 50 families commit to $500.00 per month, the church can raise $1250.00 per month for toys, sports equipment, craft supplies, chairs, tables, baby wipes, etc.  If you are interested in heading this up, contact me ASAP!

Also, the church officially has a new 15-passenger van with a wheelchair lift! YAY GOD! WE WILL USE THIS VAN! If you are interested in being a driver for kids, or for adults, let us know ASAP, as well.

We are also looking for someone to head up a coffee ministry. The church acquired some coffee brewing equipment from a coffee shop that went out of business. Call the church or email me if your interested.

The North Campus  Wednesday children’s ministries continues at the Heartland House community room. It is  an amazing   outreach opportunity for families to participate in. My husband, Jim Brown, Tina Miller, and Ann Carroll are heading this up.   Now that we don’t have a North Campus building, we need to be even more intentional about ministries in the north part of our city. As of now, we will be meeting in the community room of the building where most of the kids/single moms live. We really need your hands and feet to serve the very loving children in the North.

Also, we are in great need of a Saturday night preschool and K-1 teacher at the West Campus. We have a great big building that will be filled before we know it and will continue to need more teachers. Also, thinking about summer, we will need summer teachers, as our  regular teachers usually ask for  a break in the summer. WHEW! That was a lot of stuff.

We handed out 70 Justice Loves Babies books this past weekend! I hope you all are enjoying this anointed book by 2 very faithful young women. If you did not get a copy, it should be for sale at IHOP shortly www.ihop.org

This Past Weekend at CATG GOKIDS! Children’s Ministries

NEW MEMORY VERSE BOOKS:We handed out the new Spring 2008  memory verse books. Please work on these with your children. It is an excellent way to stay on track (they are even dated for you) with what the children are learning at church and, along with the weekly boost, you can incorporated the lessons into your daily lives.

MEMORY VERSE:

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you”   Ephesians 4:32

Bible Lesson:
 Jesus Tells About the  Good Samaritan – (Luke 10:25-37) Take some time to read through this passage and talk to your child about what he or she learned this weekend.

Take a night this week to have some teaching fun with your family with one of the following activities related to the Bible lesson:

Fill in the Blank:  Make a list of all the people you know–including neighbors, teachers, church leaders, and acquaintances.  cut the list apart so that  each name is on a different slip of paper. Put the paper slips in a bowl or basket.  Each morning, draw a name and use the name to fill in the blank in the following question: “What does it mean to love (person’s name)?” Think of specific ways to show love to that person–and then commit to acting on one of your ideas.

OR

Spend time in  a weekly devotion together (see below):

Tuesday: 1 John 4:20– “How do you show God you love him?

Wednesday: 1 John 4:21– “How can you show love to someone this week?

Thrusday: 1 John 4:11-12–”How can you know God’s love is “made complete” in you?

Friday: 1 John 3:17-18–”Which of your actions show love?”

Saturday: 1 Peter 3:8–”What are some ways you can show compassion to someone?” 

Weekly Challenge for Children and Parents
In your child’s memory book, there is a journal page and weekly challenges. Please look at the introduction to  the journal and then encourage you child to draw or write the things that God says to him/her or things that he/she wants to say to God. In addition to the ideas in your child’s verse book, here are a couple more for your family:

• Reminder: Store is rescheduled for May. encourage your child  to work on their verse memorization weekly, reminding them that having the Word in their heart is an eternal blessing, but in the short-term, they get points to spend at the store. **Your children earns points by attending Go Kids!, memorizing scripture and completing their weekly challenges in their Go Kids! Bible Memory Books, and by bringing their Bible and/or friends to church.)

Service Opportunities:Take part in the blessing of serving in Children’s Ministry.  If any of the areas below interest you, please reply to this message or sign up at the Registration Desk.

1. Children’s Prayer Coordinator- Coordinate prayer meeting times for parents and/or teachers and/or children to pray for one another.
2.   Greeter for new visitors with children during weekend services at the check-in desk- Great parent job.
3.  Children’s Worship Leader for Wednesday nights or when the new building is opened- Training kids to worship with Instrumental Music, banners, dance, & vocal music.  Will train!
4. Bible Memory Listener: Listen to children say memory verses at beginning of Children’s Church and pray with them when needed.

 See you this weekend at Go Kids! and Blessings to you and your family.

Tara Brown, Children’s Director

Weekly Boost Eternal Life

Weekly Boost 

Welcome Parents and Guardians!

My previous entry gave you some insight into what we talked about last week during our weekend services.  See “Teaching Children Salt and Light” I hope your family is  blessed and able to integrate some of the ideas  into your family times together. We have family nights  on Thursday nights. the last few Thursdays we played a fun game called BLURT! My husband and I  have 3 children ages 8, 14 &  16 and they all loved it. Basically, you divide up into 3 or more   teams and  while one team reads a description of a word, the other 2 teams race to name the word being described. You could even make your own version of this game  using words out of a dictionary or names of people or events in the Bible. I guess you could even use it as a memory verse quizzing game by saying the verse and having to guess the reference or visa versa.  Anyway, our daughter, Jazmine,   loves to shop and wanted a new pair of jeans. So,  her dad said, “If you win,” (thinking full well she wouldn’t beat him),  “we’ll go buy you the pants that you want.” Well, our family is very competitive and it was very exciting game, but Jazmine eventually won and got to go buy her pants!

We love our daughter and provide for her needs regularly, but for some reason, winning these pants was VERY important to her. Why? Because she loves to win! Especially when she can see a prize! I believe children  have a God-planted desire to be winners, to be overcomers, to defeat the enemy! All we have to do is give them to the tools, water them, nurture them,   and place  them in good soil to grow in.  Even cracked pots can function, they just need extra nurturing so that the good soil, water, and nutrients don’t escape too quickly.  We need to encourage our children’s desires and help them to keep their eyes on the prize!       

THIS COMING WEEKEND AT  CHURCH AT THE GATE-GOKIDS! CHILDREN”S MINISTRIES    

•  Life Group  Rally  is this  weekend. Be sure to check out the Children’s Life Group table. There a few options. Some don’t start until April, but some  start right away. (See previous Weekly Boost  or look in life group book menu for more details on kids life groups).

 This coming weekend’s Bible lesson (Feb. 17-1 and Memory Verse (Preschool and older):

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

 Jesus Explains Eternal Life to Nicomedus– (John 3:1-17)

Jesus told Nicodemus that no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.  Nicodemus asked a very logical question and one your child may ask as well: How can a person be born when he is old? Nicodemus pointed out that surely a person cannot enter his mother a second time and be born again.  When it comes to teaching abstract concepts to concrete thinkers, the best place to begin is with what’s already understood.  Your child understands being born our adopted into your family–your child lives with people who love  and care for one another.  When you help your child believe in Jesus, you will be helping him or her learn that we will be accepted, loved and born into God’s heavenly family to live forever with him and with everyone who believes in Jesus

Take a night this week to have some teaching fun with your family with one of the following activities related to this coming weekend’s Bible lesson:

•  Make Birthday Treats (Preschoolers or older )  
  Remind your child that  believe in Jesus, we are born into God’s heavenly family.  Celebrate this new birth by making birthday treats.  Purchase mini ready-made graham cracker  crusts and your child’s favorite instant pudding.  Help your child make the pudding and fill the miniature pie shells.  Top the treats with whipped cream and colorful sprinkles.  Ask “What do you like about our family on earth? what do you think it will be like to be part of God’s family in heaven? Who can we tell that Jesus gives us life in heaven? Then, light the candles on the birthday treats and celebrate being born into God’s family! 
• Birth Certificate:  Get out your child’s birth certificate, adoption certificate or birth announcement.  Help your child put the document in a frame.  Then hang it up on a wall as a reminder of your family.  Take time to reminisce! Ask your child what he or she remembers about past birthdays, and share your memories.  Celebrate the good memories of the past and good times to come! Ask your child: What do you like about being part of our family? What’s a great thing about being a part of God’s family?    

Weekly Challenge for Children and Parents
In your child’s memory book, there is a journal page. Please look at the introduction to  the journal and then encourage you child to draw or write the things that God says to him/her or things that he/she wants to say to God. In addition to the ideas in your child’s verse book, here are a couple more for your family:

• Heavenly Food: Have your family think about what food might be in Heaven. Make that meal for dinner. (It may just be your child’s favorite macaroni and cheese dish !)

• Eternity Mural: Create an “eternity mural” on a sheet of newsprint to hang on a wall in your home.  Or use contruction paper and tape together a quilt. Have each family member contribute his or her ideas of what eternal life in heaven will be like.  
• Love Gifts: Exchange “just because I love you” gifts.  Wrap a gift for each member of your family.  you could buy inexpensive gifts to wrap, draw pictures, or write special love notes to your family members.  Gather one night after dinner to exchange gifts.  After you’ve opened all the gifts and thanked on another, thank Jesus for His gift of eternal life–the best ever “just because I love you” gift!

• Reminder: Store is planned for Mid-March, so if your child is behind in their verse memory book, encourage him or her to work on their verse memorization weekly, reminding them that having the Word in their heart is an eternal blessing, but in the short-term, they get points to spend at the store. **Your children earns points by attending Go Kids!, memorizing scripture and completing their weekly challenges in their Go Kids! Bible Memory Books, and by bringing their Bible and/or friends to church.)

Service Opportunities:Take part in the blessing of serving in Children’s Ministry.  If any of the areas below interest you, please reply to this message or sign up at the Registration Desk.

1. Children’s Prayer Coordinator- Coordinate prayer meeting times for parents and/or teachers and/or children to pray for one another.
2.   Greeter for new visitors wth children during weekend services at the check-in desk- Great parent job.
3.  Children’s Worship Leader for Wednesday nights or when the new building is opened- Training kids to worship with Instrumental Music, banners, dance, & vocal music.  Will train!
4. Saturday night preschool assistant  to help Miss Malinda
5. Bible Memory Listener: Listen to children say memory verses at beginning of Children’s Church and pray with them when needed.

 See you this weekend at Go Kids! and Blessings to you and your family.

 

Tara Brown, Children’s Director

Verse this week: ( I have had numerous parents wanting longer verses for their preschoolers, so I’m suggesting that if your child can handle it, have them learn the whole verse by either looking it up in your Bible or using the Elementary Memory Verse reference. this week, everyone is learning the whole verse John 3:16)