home page articles by jamie Other Free Resources articles by guests cm gear about the doyles speaking schedule other links Visual Ingredients Seminar contact info BACK to jamiedoyle.com		There are many philosophies of how to best minister to the children in a church. What I have found works for me may not work for you. Each church has its own personality, and must be attended to by careful prayer and consideration. My philosophy in a nutshell is "If you can reach the older kids (4th-6th grades) the younger kids will fall right in line, because they can't wait to be in the bigger kid group.  If your older kids are solid, then you have made your youth pastor's job that much easier.  He no longer has to train these kids, he has to maintain and nurture these kids." Basically, I do this simply by focusing what I teach, the activities, and the deeper relationships with the kids who are in 4th - 6 grade. This is not to say that I ignore the younger children. Over the past year I have also started a pre-school children's church. We want to effectively minister to all of the children in our church. Until recently, my children's church was comprised of children from the age of 4 years - 6th graders. I don't have to tell you that 4 year old children and 6th graders have very different learning styles. We bring our Pre-schoolers (4's, 5's, and Kindergarten) into children's church for opening, announcements, offering, and praise and worship. Then they are marched out into another room for Pre-school children's church with a different teacher. Now in children's church, I have a different dynamic than before. My sermons/programs are geared toward the 3rd-5th graders. Then I use mostly 6th graders (some slightly younger) to act as workers. They run sound, perform puppets, lead worship and occasionally do object lessons.  Of course, I have teenagers and adults that help as well, but where they are hard to find, I have plenty of 6th graders that feel they are too old to be in children's church. Give them responsibility, and they can become part of the solution, not the problem. Activities focus around the older children as well. I try to have at least 3 or 4 activities for 4th - 6th graders every year. Special activities, not your regular stuff. It makes them feel important. This sometimes hurts the feelings of the younger children. You can usually diffuse that by letting them know that when they get to that age, they will be able to be a part of that group. It gives them something to look forward to. We have started a few traditional activities for some of these kids. For instance, every year in January or February, we have a 4th - 6th Grade Winter Retreat. The first year we had it only eight children attended. But it was great. The second year, 25 children came to be apart of what they missed the year before. The Bible studies were effective, some were all together, some were separated. But the kids went away having gained something. Next year, we'll probably have another retreat with a new emphasis. Another great activity that we started just this last year, but will probably keep is a trip to Turner Falls in Oklahoma. It's about a 2 1/2 hour drive. We walk the river and eventually come to a swimming hole (with lifeguards). By the time these kids have spent the day together there is some real bonding. We also go to camp which includes 3rd graders and that's good, because it gets them excited to be apart of that older group of kids. We also do activities that include all of our children, i.e.: VBS, kids crusade, Fun-Filled Friday, Zoo Trip, Kids Banquets and the list goes on. On the subject of deeper relationships with the 4th-6th graders, the best way, that I have found to do this is to become their pastor and friend.  You don't want to let them walk all over you, but you do want them to trust and confide in you. I started by becoming their Sunday School Teacher. A more one on one (really 1 on 7) situation with more in depth Bible learning. By doing this, I also had to start visiting kids at school and home. There was some kind of a kindred spirit that became a part of us. Not only did I become closer to the kids, but they became closer to each other. They have formed a group, It is an open group where others are free to join. I caught my kids whispering in the back of the church van after a new year's eve party at one of their homes. I asked them what they said, thinking they were going to get into trouble for telling secrets, and they hesitantly replied, "We were just saying they you're more like a best friend than a pastor." My first response was of being upset. I was afraid that if they viewed me that way, they would start to disrespect me. I asked them not to forget that I am their pastor, and they said they wouldn't, "but it just means we can talk to you better than we could other pastors we've had." I was really blessed that night. I try and spend the same amount of time with all the kids, but it's hard to do. You have do decide where your focus will be. I said it once and I say it again. We want to effectively minister to all of our children. This is what I have found works for me. It may work for you; it may not. Sometimes we just have to try stuff, and rate the outcome. But only you know the kind of church your in, that is what determines how you must minister to your kids.
		© Jeffrey Hunter -  This article may be copied to help others.  This article may not be used for profitable purposes unless permission from the author is granted. Jeff is the Children's Pastor at New Life Church in Yorkville, IL.  He has over ten years of experience as a Children's Pastor, Evangelist and training others to minister effectively to children of all ages.   Jeff also is well versed in Clown Ministry.  If you would like more information on clown ministry or to contact Jeff Hunter, you can e-mail him at: jhunter@nlcyorkville.org
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