Today on the podcast, Sean shares a little bit of Katie Anderson’s breakout session at the 2018 Preteen Leaders’ Conference.
Katie Anderson discusses how we as leaders should be teaching content, procedures, and behavior. She notes that kids want to learn appropriate behavior. Think of it in this way, every student that walks into your ministry has an invisible contract in their hands. Their contract states that they would like you to teach them appropriate behavior in a safe and structured environment. On the flip side our part of the contract says that we will promise them that we will teach them appropriate behavior in a safe and structured environment. Students will test this contract by breaking a small rule. Based on how you come down on them for breaking the rule will determine if the student is able to trust you or not. Students who do not get the appropriate response back from you will keep coming back with larger and larger infractions until you come through with him consistently with safety and structure. Assume that when kids are testing the rules it is because they are testing us and want us to pass the test. They want us to show that your ministry is a safe and structured environment for them.
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 discusses his recent visit to a preteen ministry in Indiana, where he led a leader training.
Sean recently visited Vicki Murello’s ministry in Indiana and was able to watch their service in action as well as do a leader training class for their volunteers. He brought back 5 great ideas from his trip that he wanted to share with everyone. The first one is “The Impossible Shot” and fun opening game for service. The second one is a U-Line store display with iridescent ribbon weaved through and an LED light shining on it. It was a great stage prop. The third was the lunch meeting with her group, which was held during their third service at the church. What a great idea, if it is ok with your Sr. Pastor to hold a meeting when everyone is already on campus. The fourth idea was her small group spaces, which were designed not just thrown together. Being intentional about your small group space is a great idea. The fifth idea was the way she did her teaching. It was very conversational as if she was talking with her friends, very relaxed. When she gave her examples, she used the leaders instead of the preteens. No unnecessary attention is drawn on a preteen this way.
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 about a crisis averted that happened in one of Elevates’ recent services and what they learned from it and how they will change from it.
When crisis occur in your ministry there is a spectrum of how you can handle it. You can, on one end of the spectrum, blame someone for it and on the other end shove it under the rug because it is so rare it will never happen again. But in the middle, there is a place where we can learn from it and prepare a plan in case it does ever occur again. A place where we can make our ministries stronger and better suited to handle problems that might arise.
Out of the crisis in Elevate came three new policies that might never have come about if they just shoved it under the rug or played the blame game. Sitting down and discussing everything as a team allows you to grow and make your ministry even better.
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 discusses how the shape of your ministry should match the driving purpose so you are not trying things that don’t match your ministry.
Sean discussed how ministries can change because the preteens attitudes are different. After doing a karaoke night for the girls two years ago with great success, it was decided to do it again. Unfortunately, there were completely different outcome this time because the girls currently in the ministry are more shy. The lesson learned from this was that your ministry needs to be fluid and able to change based on the preteens in your ministry. Sean explains how it helps to get to know the likes and dislikes of the students when they come into your ministry. Don’t be on auto pilot and think that what you did in the past will continue to work with the new students. You may miss out on the best way to minister to the students you currently have.
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 some great resources for you ministry from Mike Sheley.
During the 2018 Online Preteen Leaders’ Conference Mike Sheley offered up some great resources for your preteen ministry. The best start is getting your preteens in the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Preteens have no idea what a chapter in the bible really is, so showing them this initially will give them a great base. Although most preteens probably don’t have access to mobile app version bibles they are a good tool when they are available. Another great resource is the Bible Project which uses animation to explain the bible. Putting the two options together is a great way to get your students into the Word. These are some great digital online tools for your ministry. Click here to get the links that Mike talks about.
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 discusses the idea of recognizing there are potential spiritual battles taking place in the hearts of everyone walking in to service.
Sean discussed a battle that he recognized this last Sunday in Elevate. He spent some time in the Word and praying that morning before service. He walked into the room and could sense something taking place that he could not visually see. There are many Sundays and Wednesdays that he doesn’t feel anything but this specific day he knew there was a spiritual battle taking place. Sean delivered a salvation message, went completely away from the scheduled message, because of what he was sensing. After talking about sin and asking if the preteens had sinned, all preteens raised their hands except one girl. This one girl in all honesty believed she was perfect. After the service getting a little of course, things did a 180 by the end of the day. That preteen girl actually was smiling and admitted she was a sinner and that she was accepted into Christ’s family that day.
The curriculum and lessons that you have planned to bring your preteens in is great. Let’s pray though that our eyes would be open to the spiritual battles taking place in the lives of the preteens we minister too.
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 the new Pastor Sean who is the early elementary pastor at Destiny regarding using everyday items to make a point during a lesson.
Pastor Sean Marshall discusses how everyday objects used during a lesson can be helpful because kids with associate things or ideas to objects. The goal is then that every time they see that object in everyday life it will remind them about a biblical truth. Everything on earth is designed to give God glory, therefore everything has a message than can be applied to 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/.
Today on the podcast, Sean shares the schedule of Elevates’ Destiny Summer Day Camps.
If you are willing to share, in the comments section, your schedule so that we can bounce ideas of each other. Elevate did six day camps from 9am – 5 pm Monday through Friday. Sean runs through the standard schedule that Elevate had each week for camp. This included check-in and set-up of camp, morning gatherings, activity times, excursions, afternoon gatherings, and clean up. Knowing that camp season is just around the corner Sean would love to get your ideas as Elevate prepares for their second year of day camps.
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 discusses the idea that no matter what risks he takes, and how much he may fail, God is still sovereign and Sean is still saved.
Sean woke up January 2, with a plate so full of things to be done, the pile seemed impossible to accomplish in the time he had. Curriculum needed to be written and produced, preparations for CPC and the Preteen Leaders Online Conference, along with building a large spaceship in the ministry space. The stress was overwhelming.
While on the way to the church that morning he felt God’s peace come over him. The thought that when we take risks and attempt to do big things and we fall short of them, God is still sovereign and our salvation is still with us. Knowing this concept allows you to do dangerous things that might end up in failure. Things might not end up the way that you want them to end up but remember we need to take a risk. Doing something that is more meaningful and powerful might be a bigger risk but it could be that one thing that catches a students’ attention.
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 discusses a pajama party event that Elevate held back in November.
The topic for the night was resting in God. The main point was to put your trust and hope in God and resting in him above all else. Using the pajama party idea made it a fun and memorable way to bring this message to the preteens. The set-up of the room was different allowing for a caged pillow fight for the opening game. The lesson set-up for the night asked the kids about resting, specifically the question “It’s hard to rest when someone is hitting you with a pillow?”
Continuing the theme the preteens were given little pillowcases the size of two post-it notes side by side. There was a large circle on one-side where the kids could write what makes them feel safe inside the circle. After small group time the preteens returned and using the pillows from the pillow fight Sean was able to write down examples from the students of what things made them feel safe. One student said God and using a different pillow Sean wrote on it. He piled all the pillows in the middle and explained how they have all of these things fighting for the spot that they put their trust in with their lives. Looking back at the pillowcases, they took that circle and turned it into an “O” and added G before and D after. During the workshop time it was set up similar to a build a bear, and the students put a heart inside their pillow case and stuffing and sealed it up to turn it into a pillow. The students were able to take these pillows home with them to remember whom they needed to rest in.
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 some information from Jake Morgan's breakout session during the Preteen Online Leaders Conference last week regarding how shape and design can change the effectiveness of your invitations to preteen events.
Postcards are not an exciting way of inviting people to special events. According to Jake, preteens need a baby step to help them invite their friends to special events in your ministry. We need one simple thing that is valuable that they will be willing and excited to pass on to their friends.
For their special event, they gave their regular attending preteens postcards with all the details but they made special VIP passes for them to give to their friends to invite them to come. Those passes are pictured in the image for this great idea. They looked like a real ticket to a big event. Offering these special passes for the students to hand to their friends allowed them to be a part of making the event a success and gave them something of value that they were excited to share with their friends.
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/.