Today on the podcast, Sean talks about a way to connect to preteens who are sporty or athletic.

By being relevant about what the preteens life is all about and helping them make a connection between what their lives are about and God who created all of life. There are preteens in our ministry that come and we aske them to do crafts and sit or walk around the room and have discussions but are athletically minded kids. So, the question then becomes how you help them know that church is a place for them.

Sean gives some ideas to help you reach these preteens.

1. Allow preteens to play an active sport, basketball in a gym or soccer on the grass outside before service. Limited space? Try gaga ball or 9-square.
2. Have a boys’ night that was about games and they played sports.
3. This ideas from Tom: a parent night that is a competition between preteens and parents. This was an event that he held for the preteens in his ministry. The sport does not matter just use one the preteens are into.
4. VBS style Monday through Friday day camp that focused on sports. By finding people in your church who may play different sports that are willing to come direct them in the sports.
5. Incorporate sports into your lesson is another great idea. Whenever giving an example you can use sports to make it more relevant to them.
6. Offer a themed lesson that uses a sports emphasis.

So how do you reach the sporty/athletic kids in your ministry. We would love for you to share some of your ides.

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/.

Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Robert Quinn who is involved in the FourFiveSix Level 3 Peer Group.

Robert just started a week ago, a Facebook community page for FourFiveSix. This came out of the thought that community and communication among ministries was a necessary aspect that the peer group felt was needed in preteen ministry. After just one-week people have already started sharing curriculum ideas and sharing summer VBS ideas. It offers a place to share pictures of things that are happening in your ministry. It is all about community.

The vision behind it was a place for preteen leaders and pastors could come together and share ideas, thoughts, prayers for each other, and connect with each other. One thing that Robert has learned while ministering with his wife is networking and community is the best way to grow. By reaching out to others and sharing with one and another you can grown your ministry. People are the best resources when it comes to preteen ministry.

If you are interested in joining the Facebook community click here.

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/.

Today on the podcast, Sean shares a lesson idea that was used in Elevate this last Sunday.

This was a lesson that Sean used as the new 4th graders started this last Sunday. The ministry is called Elevate which is for 4th, 5th & now 6th graders. Sean wanted to share this lesson because there might be some ideas that you could use in your own ministry.

The lesson was all about how we are all elevaters. In fact, everyone elevates something. As part of the lesson Sean showed pictures and videos of people elevating something. One of the pictures was people standing holding signs before a Justin Bieber concert and they were obviously elevating Justin Bieber. He also showed a bedroom decorated in all San Francisco Giants décor, and it was obvious to the preteens this person was elevating the Giants. Additionally, they showed a video of kids doing some dances from Fort Nite and it was also obvious to the preteens what they were elevating. It allowed a discussing about what it means to elevate things, to extol them or raise them up. They looked at Psalm 145, at the beginning it talks about extoling God and at the end it also says that he is extoling God.

By looking at Psalm 145, the preteens were able to underline all the words that state why we should elevate God. There is a ton of them in Psalm 145! The preteens were given note cards. They wrote “God” at the top of and then wrote why they would want to elevate God. Sean then offered them straws which signified ways they could elevate God. Using the card, straws and tape they were tasked with trying to get the index card with God written on it high in the air. The challenge was to see which group would be the first to create an elevator that would raise God up to the roof.

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/.

Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Clint May out of Benbrook, Texas about the L.I.T. program that he created.

Clint describes the history of what brought him to start the L.I.T. program. Through his years in ministry, he has seen such a change in the preteens and their families and as a result of giving them opportunities to lead in ministry. The LIT program now takes multiple churches on missions trips each year and has resources for 1st-6th grade. Clint is most proud of the preteen devotionals and how well they work.

All this information can be found by going to www.leadersintraining.com. There is free information including a spiritual gifts test for preteens. And they are currently setting up online training that will be free. By equipping preteens to serve Christ they are able to make a difference in others.

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/.