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You are here: Home / Archives for Sunday School

Sunday School

How to Create A Dream Team of Spectacular Volunteers

Alissa Ellett 1 Comment

If you’re like most ministry leaders, your search for amazing volunteers is always underway. Whatever the season, you’d be happy to find another few mentors to work with children and youth. Share in the comments below what you look for in potential volunteers!

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Why You Need Spectacular Volunteers

You, as a ministry leader, cannot do this job alone. First, you’re not paid enough to run yourself into the ground. Although, I’d advise not doing that no matter your paycheck. Second, you are fantastic. However, you aren’t gifted in every area. And you need others to fill the roles you can’t. Third, burnout is real and less likely when there’s a team in place. Fourth, every kid won’t relate to you or to any other adult. So, more mentors means more opportunity for growth. This is true for growth in terms of numbers, relationships and spirituality.

The Struggle to Find Them

It can feel overwhelming to build a team of mentors. This is especially common if the adults in your congregation have stopped serving in recent years. Older adults may say they’ve already “put their time in.” And younger adults may lead such busy lives that wrangling them to serve can feel almost impossible. Sadly, as a ministry leader, it can be an uphill battle to find volunteers.

So, what can you do with these realities in front of you? First, think realistically about what you can expect from each existing or potential volunteer. For example, perhaps there are those who are busy or home-bound but would like to send birthday cards to students. Alternatively, bring aboard retirees who want to help organize Sunday School rooms but don’t feel called to teach.

And look for volunteers strategically, keeping in mind specific qualities like those below. Making a dream team takes a while and requires some intention. But you’ll thank yourself when the group you’ve gathered serves cohesively and with joy. Now, on to those qualities.

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What Makes Volunteers Spectacular?

In my experience, amazing volunteers share some common qualities. Although each volunteer and their life may look different from one another, there are aspects that make them very similar across the board.

Many assume that fabulous volunteers are young and fun. This is true. But it’s only true for one potential segment of volunteers. There are so many roles for adults to play in a well-oiled ministry. So, people of all different personalities and ages are wonderful to have on the team.

We’ve put together a list of qualities fantastic volunteers have in common. As you search your congregation for a few more volunteers to bring aboard, keep these attributes in mind. Working with those who possess them will make it a dream to work together, no matter the capacity.

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5 Qualities of Amazing Volunteers

Your dream team of spectacular volunteers will include volunteers who are:

Patient: Look for someone who is slow to irritation and quick to listen. This person takes time to walk with children in their process of discovery. They approach their relationships with grace and are quick to treat others with understanding.

Empathetic: Keep an eye out for one who can understand a student’s experience. Look for a person that responds to others predictably and with tenderness. This person can read the vibe in a group and respond appropriately. They strive to put themselves in another’s shoes before making assessments or jumping to conclusions. And this person treats others with compassion and understanding.

Flexible: Look for a person willing to try something new and take direction. Search for one who can work well with others in the church. This person is willing to explore what’s never been done. They appreciate others’ ideas and perspectives, including children’s. And they have little problem shifting gears and changing the “plan.”

Supportive: Be on the lookout for someone who wants to be there for children and youth as they grow. This person understands and is behind the mission and vision of the ministry. And within the church and community, they advocate for the best interest of the children and the ministry. Lastly, this person avoids behavior that divides or dissolves trust.

Communicative: Keep an eye out for a person who is willing to have conversations when necessary. This person is able to speak to children in a way that is respectful of where they are developmentally. They handle conflict in a healthy way and can make known what they need in a way that doesn’t demonize others.

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Wonderful Volunteers Are Used Well

Wonderful volunteers are all of these things. And they’re also amazing because they’re wisely utilized by the leadership. If you combine the qualities above with your own consideration for where to best invite volunteers to serve, your ministry will thrive.

Lastly, using volunteers well means appreciating them. Find ways of showing them how grateful the church is for their heart and service. If you’re wanting new ways to engage and care for your volunteers, grab The New Breed: Understanding and Equipping the 21st Century Volunteer. It’s a super informative, quick read.

As you prepare this summer for a new program year, we hope this post will be helpful. What do you look for in fantastic volunteers? We’d love to know, so don’t forget to share in the comments below!

Best Sunday School Ever: 10 Simple Tactics to Engage Kids

Alissa Ellett Leave a Comment

Best Sunday School Ever

Creating the best Sunday school ever. It’s gotta involve screens and lots of games and non-stop action, right? You might be surprised to find out that children respond even better to a few much simpler tactics. And they require almost no money!

Often, we assume we need the latest and greatest, most exciting programming to engage children. However, the truth is less is almost always more, especially in a world where children are saturated with input. We hope these ten simple tactics help equip you in preparing an environment for children to engage deeply in the exploration of faith.

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DOWNLOAD PDF TO SHARE: This is the perfect handout to print out for your Sunday School teacher training classes, or just to email out to all of your Sunday School teachers. Click here to download PDF for your Sunday School teachers.

Laying a Foundation for the Best Sunday School Ever

Create a covenant together. First, talk with the children about ways that we show each other respect. Discuss with them what a covenant is. Next, work together to create a poster of ways you’ll all show respect and kindness. Then, find a place in the room to put it up.

This practice can even be done with pre-schoolers. Children as young as 3 understand appropriate and respectful behavior. And they thrive in such an environment.

Prepare the lesson thoroughly. With thorough preparation, you’ll feel less anxious and more present to the children. And they’ll respond positively to your sense of calm.

Also, children feel your investment in the material. Not only that, but you’ll also be able to dig into the lesson more on your own. Then, you’ll uncover things of your own to add to the discussion.

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Greet each child. First, at the door, before each child enters the classroom, greet them by name and give them a hug, handshake or pat on the back. Then, ask the child if they are ready to enter the classroom. If they’re ready, they can enter the classroom. Though if not, they don’t have to until they are.

Every few weeks, it can be helpful to ask the children how they know when they’re ready. Ask how it feels in their bodies and minds feel when they are ready.

This practice at the door is helpful for several reasons. First, children have the chance to focus on Sunday school. Second, each child gets to feel important. Third, teachers have a chance to learn names of children individually.

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The Best Sunday School Classroom Ever

Discipleship rather than discipline. First and foremost, point out positive behavior. Children want to be recognized and will get attention however they can. Help them strive for positive attention.

Second, if behavior needs addressing, speak to the whole class, and use empathy. For example, if children aren’t keeping their hands to themselves, the teacher could say:

“Sometimes, isn’t it hard to keep our hands to ourselves? And when we’re sitting close to each other, isn’t it even more difficult? But it can be hard for our friends to listen when we aren’t keeping our hands in our laps, isn’t it? I wonder if we can show our friends respect by keeping our hands to ourselves. Can we try that together?”

If the behavior persists, without any frustration in tone, tell the child that it seems they aren’t ready. Then invite them over to a designated place in the classroom to calm down.

This may be a chair by the door with a couple of books. Alternatively, a table can be set up with a sensory meditation sand garden.

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Maintain a clear and consistent routine. Go through each morning with the same rhythm. The time frame for each portion of class may vary week to week. However, the portions should be done in the same order.

Children thrive in predictability, as it contributes to their sense of safety. Also, they will begin to take ownership of their experience and their classroom when they know what is up next.

Use calm, quiet voices. In spite of what we often assume and of which our culture has convinced us, children actually want a calm environment. Children are barometers for the energy around them. Consequently, if the energy is calm, they’ll more likely be calm.

A state of calm allows all of us to learn more readily. The calmer the environment, the abler they will be to listen to others and take in information.

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Offer children ways of taking leadership. Each week, randomly pick a child to be the morning’s helper. For example, use popsicle sticks with the children’s names on them to choose a new helper every week. Place all those who have already helped in a jar together, so each child gets a turn.

Children feel important and are invited to step up to their level of capability. Additionally, they sense the adults in the room respect and need them. Too rarely do children feel this in their lives, and you can offer them this experience.

Transition smoothly. Time and attention are lost when transitioning poorly from one portion of the morning to the next. Therefore, have a few short time-fillers at the ready when something isn’t quite ready.

For example, discuss the highs and lows of the children’s weeks, give positive feedback to the group about today’s behavior, or ask them an open-ended question about God that invites their thoughts and reflection.

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Approach to Children in the Best Sunday School Ever

Cultivate a culture of inquiry. First, this allows children to engage their minds and life experience in their faith. Also, children will pay more attention if they know that they can share their thoughts.

Furthermore, if the Church encourages children to question and explore theologically without rigidity, children will be more likely to maintain their faith as life becomes complicated.

Rigidity in the interpretation of biblical texts and religious dogma often leads to frustration and confusion later in life. Ultimately, this can create lots of dissonance, maybe too much to reconcile or overcome. Consider faith education a process of discovery rather than indoctrination.

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Take children’s ideas and thoughts seriously. Children and teachers, in a healthy learning environment, educate each other. Every person in the room, no matter their age, is in touch with the Divine even if the language isn’t available for expressing it. Therefore, all become connected to God through hearing others’ thoughts.

Additionally, Jesus took children very seriously. He tells us that we must become like them to experience the reality of God. As a result, adults have treasures to gather from the ways of children.

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To the Best Sunday School Ever!

We hope you’ve found these steps helpful. Make them your own as you integrate them into your unique context. And many blessings as you teach and learn, learn and teach together with your children!

What’s been working for you? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.

The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories: A Review

Alissa Ellett 2 Comments

Bible in 365 Stories

The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories is one of so many children’s Bibles. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the variety and unsure which is best for your bookshelf. So, here at ICM, we’ve compiled our thoughts in this blog series where we’ll be reviewing some of today’s most popular children’s Bibles. Once you find your fave children’s Bible, check out our post on ways of reading scripture with your kids to get the most out of it!

The Children's Bible in 365 Stories 1

Quick Facts about The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories

  • 416 pages
  • Author: Mary Batchelor
  • Illustrator: John Haysom
  • Storybook format (a retelling of some of the Bible)
  • Age Range: 8-12 years old

A Closer Look

To begin, there’s no perfect choice for all children everywhere or even for your own child. Each children’s Bible is a mixture of aspects to love and those that invite palm to forehead moments. So, in this series of reviews, we’ll always include what we think to be the pros and cons of each Bible. And we’ll discuss whether or not we’d recommend it to our friends. So, let’s dive in and take a closer look at The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories.

The Children's Bible in 365 Stories-04

Pros of The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories

Table of Contents Included: It has a very clear table of contents, which makes finding stories easy.

Classic Stories Included: It includes all the classic stories you’d hope for from a children’s Bible.

Biblical Passages Cited: Each story gives the biblical passages from which the author drew. As a result, biblical literacy increases, and reference is easy.

Appropriately Illustrated Characters: Figures are shown with olive skin and dark hair, honoring the Bible’s Middle Eastern context.

Digestible Story Length: One to two chapters of scripture are paraphrased into a handful of paragraphs for each day of the calendar year.  So, it’s easy to hold young readers’ attention.

Appropriate Font Size: The font is large enough for relatively new readers to read easily but small enough for whom the bible is intended.

Clearly Laid Out: The format is easy to follow and simply composed. Titles of stories are obvious, it follows the organization of Hebrew and Greek Testaments, and each day’s scripture is accompanied by a number 1-365.

Lack of Interpretation: At the end of each story there is no prayer or commentary. As a result, parents and ministry leaders create content appropriate to their context.

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The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories

Exclusively Masculine Language for God: As we’ve written in past reviews, God is neither male nor female but possesses a nature far more complex and integrated. Consequently, if we are to use one gender to metaphorically describe God, we must use all genders. If not, using non-gendered language for God is ideal. This is standard practice in most seminaries; there is no reason it shouldn’t be common practice in the pulpit and faith education of young ones.

Unclear Illustrations: The illustrations are gestural in style. As a result, they are at times a bit hard to decipher. The reader may struggle in these instances to put together what is happening and who is who.

Unfamiliar Story Titles: Some of the story titles are not the most commonly used. Difficulty can arise when children transition to an adult bible when they aren’t familiar with the story titles.

No Name Plate Included: Without a nameplate, gifting this bible to children within a church ministry would be less than ideal.

The Children's Bible in 365 Stories-04

Conclusion

None of us will find THE Bible that nails it all for us, of course. The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories has some good things going for it and some less than ideal aspects, also. The inclusion of a clear table of contents and the classic stories, appropriate illustrations, and font size along with digestible story length, a clear layout, and lack of interpretation are all positive aspects. The challenges lie in the exclusivity of masculine language for the Divine, unclear illustrations, unfamiliar story titles, and the lack of a nameplate. For use at home or one-on-one in Sunday school, this may be a good choice. Conversations about illustrations and language can more easily happen there. On the whole, we would recommend this Bible. If you’re willing to do some added work through intentional conversation, it could be a good fit for you.

We hope this review has been helpful. Share what children’s Bibles you have and love in the comments below!

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