Author: Patti Loranger

Patti Loranger is a Canadian author, cartoonist and songwriter. She is currently writing children's church curriculum covering the main stories and teachings of the bible. She is also cartooning the bible and those stories can be viewed and purchased at www.cartoonbibleseries.com
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Purpose Part 1

Purpose

Recently I read a daily devotional by Charles Swindoll about finding your true purpose and “being real”.  The link to the full article is below.  Here is a quote from the article.

“Perhaps that’s what the Boston superstar was trying to say. He had everything imaginable—fame, possessions, job security, a strong body, lots of bucks—but maybe at that moment in his life he lacked something far more important. Something like a sense of purpose and inner fulfillment. Something which basketball and all its benefits could never provide. An inner itch that can’t be scratched by achievement or people or things or activities. To scratch it requires a great deal of internal searching, which the athlete felt he couldn’t do and still keep pace with the maddening NBA schedule.

To “find yourself” requires that you take time to look. It’s essential if you want to be a whole person, real to the core.”

Sometimes children look up so much to sports heroes and those who appear to be outwardly successful that they plan to build their lives like their hero.  What they don’t see is the inner turmoil those heroes experience when the Lord is not the center of their being.  As children’s ministers we need to repeatedly remind them that true joy in life comes from always “being real” with God, having him as the center of all of your plans.

https://www.insight.org/resources/daily-devotional/individual/being-real-part-one

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

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Children’s Worship Songs

Children’s Worship Songs for Children’s Ministry Saviour He Can Move the Mountains

Here is a well known song which is sung also in Adult Church “Saviour He can move the mountains”.  The kids will enjoy the Veggie Tale interaction.

Saviour, He can Move the Mountains 

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

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Millennials Abandoning the Church as it is today

Millennials Abandoning Faith

Below are a couple of quotes from an article from Focus on the Family.  I think this article is SO very relevant today – a must read for churches.

“Millennials are more likely to ask what the church is doing for the poor than whether there is a specific Bible study available on Thursday nights. There is a growing desire to be part of a cause rather than to simply attend a church with convenient meeting times, facilities or location. A Millennial is likely to pass five megachurches to attend a new startup with 20 friends who really care about his or her life.”

“Many Millennials have distaste for how rigid church has become. They do prefer a church with structure, but not one so rigidly traditional that they don’t have a say. Much of the feedback we have gotten from Millennials about growing up in church was that it didn’t feel natural to them. They were told it was a place to be free and open, but generally Millennials never fully engaged. They kept to themselves.”

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/citizen-magazine/abandoning-the-faith

This sound like a negative message, but I believe it is a wake-up call for the church to start caring about every generation.  Worship needs to be such that every generation engages.

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

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The Best Game

The Best Game for Children’s Ministry

Here is a fun icebreaker game.

We did this Sunday and it was a great success.  For the older kids we did “faster scripture finding”.  For the younger kids we did a contest to see who could find picture of Jesus first, or Moses etc.

http://www.greatgroupgames.com/the-best-game.htm

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

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The Blob Game

The Blob Game for Children’s Ministry

 

The blob game is best to be played in a large room or gymnasium.

Children will enjoy this fun running game. Get all the wiggles and giggles out of the children before you sit them down to learn the Word of God.

http://www.greatgroupgames.com/the-blob.htm

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

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3 Ways to Disciple Children

3 Ways to Disciple Children

I came across this article and really enjoyed it.  Here is a quote from the article:

“A pastor’s primary job is, not to preach, but to prepare God’s people for works of service. In other words, a pastor’s primary responsibility is to disciple his congregation to do ministry. If that’s true, then a children’s pastor’s primary responsibility is to disciple or prepare children to do ministry.”

The 3 emphasis are Prayer, Evangelism and Service.and you would do well to read the entire article.  I especially liked the idea of the coloured bracelet.  What a great tool for evangelism.

3 Ways to Disciple Children

 

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

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Training to Lead Children’s Worship

Training to Lead Children’s Worship

Here is a Children’s Ministry Training to lead children’s worship video giving tips and tricks to engage children in praise and worship. Give kids opportunity to learn power of worship.

Tips for Teaching Kids about Worship

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Let Kids Use Their Talents | Children’s Ministry

Let Kids Use Their Talents in Children’s Ministry

I attach to a link to a blog article detailing all the children who have won and done very well in the America’s Got Talent competition.

Kids Dominate America

In my years leading children’s ministry I have found that developing the kids talents always paid off.  I have made children’s music bands as soon as I could.  I encourage parents to enroll their children in music lesson and let them perform their songs as soon as they are willing.   The best puppet plays have been when kids do parts.  (Usually it is helpful to have an adult behind the puppet stage to guide them.)  If you write your own Christmas plays, recruit kids to co-write with you.  You will be amazed at the good ideas that come out.

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

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Standing on the Promises

Children’s Worship Songs – Standing on the Promises of God

Here is an excellent track to help children learn the old hymns.

Standing on the Promises of God

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Strong-willed Children

Strong-willed Children – how to best reach them in Children’s Ministry

Below is a quote from a Focus on the Family blog.

Strong-willed children have a genuine need to know why a task is worthy of their effort. Convince them, and you’ve won half the battle already. In large part, motivating a strong-willed child involves showing confidence in their intelligence, rather than insulting it. Even when they’ve slipped up, strong-willed children want freedom to choose how to remedy the situation in the way they think best.

In children’s ministry we deal with all types of personalities, and I have found over the years that the children labelled as “strong-willed” often were the ones with whom I could have the deepest most intelligent conversations about spiritual matters.  These kids really think about what they have been taught.  They don’t take things at face value.  If it doesn’t make sense to them, they need to be persuaded from the Word so they understand things from God’s perspective.

 

Read the full article here. https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/what-sets-them-off-understanding-your-strong-willed-child

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES

 

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Balloon Stomp Game | Children’s Ministry

Balloon Stomp Game for Children’s Ministry

Here is a game sure to be a hit in your children’s church.  I envision this game to work well in a classroom setting with about 20 children.

Have fun and feel free to let us know how it worked for you.

http://www.greatgroupgames.com/balloon-stomp-game.htm

Click here for CHILDREN’S MINISTRY RESOURCES