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FourFiveSix.org: Great Ideas for your Preteen Ministry

Looking for great (game, object lessons, worship, volunteer celebration, etc. etc.) ideas to take your preteen ministry to the next level? This podcast is created and curated by FourFiveSix.org, a community of leading voices in preteen ministry. Our goal is simple: a short (4,5, or 6 minute) podcast a few times a week (4, 5, or 6 times) that gives you a quick, easy, free idea that you can use in your preteen ministry THIS WEEK. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Want to get more great ideas right now? Come join the community of preteen leaders at fourfivesix.org
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Now displaying: 2017
Mar 22, 2017

So many churches don’t know how to deal with “in-beTWEENers” or preteens. They view them as simply a problem to solve for a short time until they get out of the inbeTWEEN waiting place that they view the preteen years to be.

But Tim Cleary, a worldbuilder for The Aetherlight, has some different ideas about the super important life stage that preteens are in. He has been learning that we should view the preteen years as a unique time in life, when they have a special opportunity to be “an example to all believers”.

Preteens aren’t “in-between”; they are right where God wants them to be.

Join Tim as he unpacks this idea and helps us understand what it means practically as leaders at the Preteen Leaders Online Conference on April 3rd and 4th.

 

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Mar 21, 2017

Heather Dunn understands effective strategies for small churches. She’s been on staff at 5 churches over the years, and seen the differences between large and small congregations.

Oftentimes, smaller churches don’t have a large budget or a large group of volunteers. Heather talks about the importance of being very specific about your needs in small churches. The smaller the church, the more specific you need to be.

Also, on today’s podcast, Heather discusses how to communicate best with the volunteers in a small church.

Join Heather, and 14 other dynamic speakers at the Preteen Leaders Online Conference on April 3rd and 4th.

Mar 18, 2017

Have you ever noticed that some kids just seem to “get it” and others don’t? It might not be the message that’s the issue…and it might not even be the preteen. It might have something to do with learning style.

Chip Henderson, who has led preteen ministry for over a decade, continues to learn ways of improving his ministry. Recently, he did a Master’s paper on the 7 Intelligences and how it relates to Christian education.

Today on the podcast, Chip talks about the practical implementation of his research, and gives a few ideas of how we can all be mindful of learning styles, and unleash their potential within our ministry to preteens.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Mar 17, 2017

Jesus went on many road trips with his disciples; we should follow his example with the preteens in our ministry.

Mike Sheley, a preteen ministry veteran, points out something interesting about ministry to preteens. “This seems to be the first age where we are taking kids on a lot of trips outside the church.” Between camps, event weekends, missions trips, etc. you may find yourself “on the road” often with preteens.

And this is a good thing.

Today on the podcast, Mike talks about some of the value of going on trips with preteens, beyond the actual events themselves.

Join Mike and 14 other dynamic speakers at the Preteen Leaders Online Conference on April 3rd and 4th.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Mar 14, 2017

Have you ever asked your preteens to spend quiet time with Scripture, only to find out that they don't really know how? One issue might be that they don't know the types of questions they should be asking themselves as they read scripture. Asking better questions while interfacing with God's Word is something we can model in our ministries.

On today's podcast Mark Friestad, who has led preteen ministries for over a decade, discusses Bloom's Taxonomy for questions and explains the necessity of our questions "growing up" with our kids.

If we are asking preteens the same types of questions that we asked them when they were 6 years old, we are failing to consider the incredible growth that has taken place in their mental capacities since then.

Join Mark and 14 other dynamic speakers at the Preteen Leaders Online Conference on April 3rd and 4th.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Mar 13, 2017

Gregg Johnson, of J12 Ministry, says, “Don’t just tolerate doubt. Celebrate it.”

As preteens move beyond the blanket acceptant of moral judgement and start to grapple with owning faith for themselves, doubts will almost certainly rise. When preteens start to express doubt, many times leaders don’t know what to do with that, and often, they’ll just shut it down. However, if there’s no room for doubts, there’s no room for true faith.

Because of this amazing dynamic, preteen ministry can be one of the most exciting places to serve. When preteens express doubt, we can celebrate, knowing that they are taking steps toward faith ownership.

On today’s podcast, Gregg discusses this concept and gives two activities that you can use to create an environment where preteen’s doubts aren’t just welcomed, but celebrated.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Mar 3, 2017

Yesterday was part 1 of Sean’s conversation with Patrick Snow of CIY’s SuperStart!, as he shares ideas on how to present the Gospel.

For twelve years, Patrick has worked with the teams at SuperStart! to present the Gospel in creative ways to tens of thousands of preteens! Over the years, Patrick has creatively presented the gospel using slime, candles, chemicals, balloons, and pancakes. Today on the podcast, you’ll hear about all of these.

You’ll see how you can take any theme and prop and turn it into a gospel presentation for your preteens.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Mar 1, 2017

Today’s podcast marks a milestone! Because today’s podcast (228) is exactly halfway to our goal of 456 ideas!

And here at the center of our podcasts is the center of it all, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today is part 1 of Sean’s conversation with Patrick Snow of CIY’s SuperStart!, as he shares ideas on how to present the Gospel.

For twelve years, Patrick has worked with the teams at SuperStart! to present the Gospel in creative ways to tens of thousands of preteens! Today, Patrick discusses the four “movements” that exist in every Gospel presentation that they’ve done, and the importance of breaking down lofty concepts in ways that preteens can understand.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 28, 2017

On today’s podcast, Sean talks with Matt Guevara of INCM about their latest project, kidmin.com. This resource has the potential to be an amazing asset to children and preteen ministry leaders!

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 27, 2017

There are times when you want to review information when your preteens. But to just ask review questions and get answers can be dull and can cause you to lose preteen’s interest.

Are you ready to hear some ideas to spice up your next review session? Today on the podcast, Sean discusses 4:

  1. Questions and Dancers
  2. Cup O’ Disgust
  3. Simple Squirt Gun
  4. Speech Jammer

What creative and engaging ways have you found to review information with your preteens? Share it with us in the comment section below or send it to email@fourfivesix.org.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 25, 2017

Today on the podcast, Dayna shares about a girls’ night event that she helped to orchestrate for the preteen girls at Destiny Church. The event helped girls to understand the difference between inner beauty and outer beauty, and the enormous value of inner beauty!

This was one of the most successful girls’ night events that Destiny has had.

Besides hearing the schedule of the evening on today’s podcast, you’ll also hear some general hints from Dayna, a former school teacher, about putting together a successful event for the preteens in your ministry. There’s something for everybody on today’s podcast! Enjoy.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 25, 2017

Here are the two most common ways to begin a church service for preteens: sing an upbeat song or play an upfront game.

But is that really the best way to start service THIS WEEK. Sometimes we can get in a rut, and not think about what would be best for this particular group of preteens on this particular Sunday. While there is something good about having certain elements of predictability within your service, sometimes changing things up a bit at the beginning of service can help to create a more memorable or intentional experience.

SO – how else can you start a service? Share your ideas in the comment section. Today on the podcast, Sean shares a few different ideas of how you can start services, and then challenges everyone to think about your next service and how you’ll kick it off!

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 25, 2017

On today’s podcast, Sean discusses a simple practice to keep in mind when using creative elements in your service. A little spice will bring out the flavor of the food. Too much spice will hide, or even destroy the flavor of the food.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 21, 2017

Are you looking for ways for your leaders to connect to your preteens and help them feel welcome in your ministry? Two leaders from Elevate, who are both “kid magnets”, give 4 ideas for how you can better relate to and connect to the preteens in your ministry:

1. Let go of adult concerns and expectations of yourself

2. Be excited to see them and engage.

3. Love the mission of the ministry you’re in.

4. Be somebody to look up to.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 18, 2017

Are you spending hours putting together special events and service elements for your preteen ministry, but it just feels like you're not doing what you should be? Do you hear every great idea and want to put it into effect? Then, you find that you’re trying to do WAY TOO MUCH each week? Do you wonder what to take away in order to make your ministry more effective?

This podcast examines a way to review everything you are doing in your ministry and evaluate whether or not you should continue doing it.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 17, 2017

Two common mistakes in preteen ministry:

#1. failing to recognize that preteens have limited experience and vocabulary and teaching with words and examples that are “above their heads”.

#2. Dumbing down the curriculum, and underestimating the heights to which a preteen’s mind can reach.

In both cases, you’ll end up with preteens who are disinterested or bored.

The solution: aim high in what you want your preteens to learn, but give them plenty of support in the areas of experience and vocabulary. Today on the podcast, Sean discusses both and gives examples that he’s used in his preteen ministry.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 15, 2017

Today’s podcast is like a two-in-one special:

First, Sean discusses having parent meeting during regular services and some of the topics Elevate Preteen Ministry has offered for parents. One topic is Purity, which we recorded a podcast on a while ago.

Second, Sean discusses some of the details of the Technology Class that Elevate has done for parents for several years.

What kind of parent meetings do you have? What topics do you cover? How do you format them? Let us know in the comment section below.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 14, 2017

On today’s podcast, Sean gives a simple idea for engaging everybody (including the boys) in worship: GIVE THEM A REASON TO WORSHIP!

There are ways of setting up your services so that everybody responds authentically and of their own volition in true worship. In the Bible, we see that people always worship for a reason. For example, God has revealed to David a glorious truth and he is responding in worship.

Or, in Exodus 15, we read about the worship of the Moses and the Israelites. Why are they worshipping? Well, God just drown the entire Egyptian army right before their eyes.

The preteen boys and girls in your ministry WILL worship God. They just need a good reason to do so. Part of our job as their ministry leader is to give them all sorts of reasons, instead of just expecting that they will because “it’s what Christians do.”

Looking for a great series to engage your preteens in worship? Check out the series 100%, part of the Green Valley Quarter of Curriculum.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 11, 2017

On today’s podcast, Sean shares a great object lesson to help preteens understand how anger is a gift from God if we respond to it appropriately. This lesson is from the MAD series of the Deeply Rooted Curriculum.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 10, 2017

With the recent excitement about Lip Syncing (Music.ly, The Sing-Off, etc.), Elevate Preteen Ministry decided to have an entire service called “Lip Sync Battle”. The preteens even took on the Junior High Ministry (and won, by the way).

The preteens responded really well to this idea, and the number of students who came actually increased significantly this evening.

Not only did the preteens respond well to the concept of the Lip Sync Battle, but they responded well to the idea taught in the Lip Sync Battle lesson, which was Romans 8:29 and the idea of becoming synced to God.

Today on the podcast, Sean shares details about how this event/service was organized including the lesson and response time that happened after the battle.

It was a great evening for the preteens!

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 9, 2017

Duct tape is helpful in so many situations. Imagine building an entire event focused on God, our Helper in every situation (“The Lord is my helper” -Hebrews 13:6) and using duct tape to make the night interactive and fun for preteens.

What activities can you do at a duct tape night? There are 1,000’s of duct tape ideas on Google and Pinterest.

Today on the podcast, Sean shares some, and invites you to share your ideas, too. What would a Duct Tape Night look like for your preteens? Share your best ideas below in the comment section.

Special thanks to Jeremy O’Neil, who shared this idea with us.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 7, 2017

Want to shut down thinking and dialogue in your small group? If so, use a lot of close-ended questions.

Want to get preteens thinking and talking? Want to move preteens towards OWNERSHIP of their faith, instead of just regurgitation of your faith? If so, use a lot of open-ended questions.

If you are unclear on the difference, or just want to learn more about this concept, then today’s podcast is for you! Check out this short explanation of the difference, and how open-ended questions can become a better tool for your ministry to preteens than close-ended ones.

Have a question (open- or close-ended) about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 3, 2017

Are you looking for some fun, new game ideas for your preteen ministry?

Today on the podcast, Sean gives some ideas for how to spice up your normal, everyday games by using a blindfold. It’s amazing the difference a blindfold can make!

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Feb 1, 2017

In a perfect world, all Small Group leaders would come completely prepared to lead discussions and activities for their groups. But we don’t live in a world that has reached perfection yet.

Today on the podcast, Sean and Makenna discuss a giant “Small Group pet peeve”: Small Group leaders looking at an instructional piece of paper during service, instead of looking at the preteens in their group!

On the podcast, they’ll discuss some ways of overcoming this issue, even for the Small Group leaders that don’t have (or take) the time to become prepared during the week.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Jan 31, 2017

Who doesn’t like success? I’d like to have success with every aspect of my life, including every aspect of my ministry to preteens.

Maybe we want to have success in everything we do, but is that possible? According to a simple Biblical principle, it is!

Today on the podcast, Sean discusses What the Bible teaches us about having success in everything we do. Can you say #BibleLifeHack?

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

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