Today on the podcast, Sean talks about the use of electives in between services.

In Elevate we have two services, and we have about 20-30 kids that will stay for both services. This gives us about 45 minutes in between the services where chaos can occur unless we are specific about our planning. What we decided to do was to have electives that are run by our 9 am leaders. 3-4 leaders each week will stay and have a different activity. The kids will decide what activity they want to participate in and they stay with that leader in that activity for the next 20 minutes. This allows the 11 am leaders to arrive and get set for pre-service time.

Another key take away from this is the by in from the leaders running the activities. They are owning their ministry every week. Additionally, it solves the chaos issue that was occurring by keeping the preteens occupied during that in between time.

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 talks with Christine Bailey about peacock feathers and rubies.

Through the use of peacock feathers Christine was able to visually explain to the preteens in her ministry that each person is unique and different. In addition, she showed the preteens her ring which had a ruby in the center. She tells the story of how she took it to two different jewelers, one that said it was fake and another that polished it up and told her that it was real. Through both these visual items she was able to explain to the preteens that their flaws and imperfections are what make them unique and special. Those flaws and imperfections is what God uses in your life to do amazing things for him.

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 Patrick Snow about using games to supplement your teaching.

Preteens can be tough to teach too because their attention can only last so long. By bringing in something they can have in their hands, allowing them to connect to that truth can extend that time frame. Games are perfect for that. Superstart has centered a lot of their teaching this year around a card and dice game.

Preteens lives are filled with so many pressures that they can get stressed out really quickly. When you can hold on to the promises that God has for your life then you can be changed by them. The game allows preteens to see those promises and learn that that they give you hope. It is great when a game can supplement the lesson and actually become the small group time.

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 talks about a leader meeting that is focused on expectations.

Last year Elevate implemented a meeting schedule with their volunteers once a month. This meeting takes place on a Sunday after church and involves lunch brought by different leaders each time. The first meeting of this year involved taking the leaders step by step through a service explaining their roles. Sean explains that these our guidelines of what we would like our leaders to do but would hope that they go beyond what we ask of them. Sean feels that leaders sometimes feel that they need permission to do things and therefore wont step out and do something and instead will just stand there. These meetings can be something as simple as giving the leaders basic information about their roles to something more in depth like mandatory reporting guidelines.

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 talks with Pastor Chris about the concept of a songwriter knows the song best.

What does that even mean you’re wondering. As a leader you know the plan better than anyone because you were the one that made the plan. The idea that a volunteer is asked to do something and they miss their cue. It can be frustrating to those who are on the mic a lot. Sean and Chris discuss the idea of 3-services: the one we have, the one we plan, and the one we wish we had. Think of yourselves as the songwriter and become improvisers and don’t get hung up on how the volunteers actually do it, be more flexible. Don’t get frustrated because it isn’t going how you envisioned, but realize it is going the way God envisioned 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 talks with Deanna Ickes about the memorization game she created at her church.

After making the change of bringing back the 6th graders to childrens ministry and lowering the Awana program to K-3rd, they needed something for the 4th-6th grade students. Deanna took the concept of the memorization wheel that Sean created and made a Super Mario Memorization game. Deanna’s memorization tool ties a very well known thing like Super Mario and makes the memorization more like a game. She explains the concept and how their game works. If you are interested in the products Deanna used click here for the Mario clings she used and click here for the star pins that she used.

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 a lesson recently done in Elevate involving pressing the red button.

This lesson was all about letting the preteens take ownership of their faith. It encouraged them to be the ones praying instead of us just teaching them about prayer, or what happens when we pray. Sean gives a detailed overview of the night. The biggest question for the night was what will happen to you, we don’t know. You have to press the red button yourself rather than rely on others to pray and then report to you what happened. It is time to move from hearing and seeing what happens when others do something and step out and do it yourself. It is up to you to live out this Christian life not up to me.

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/.