Do you have leaders standing in the back of the room while all of your preteens are sitting up front? Do you want your leaders to sit among your students instead of sitting back?
Today on the podcast, Sean explores several ways to get your leaders to be physically present within the midst of the preteens in your ministry space.
Do you have a great way to get leaders sitting with the students that wasn’t mentioned on today’s podcast? Share it 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/.
Today, Sean shares about a series he’s done twice with his preteens called “Pictures of Jesus”. He gives an overview of this series, and explains a really important element of the series that you can use with many lessons…giving the preteens a chance to DRAW what they are learning.
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/.
Looking to add a little excitement to your preservice time? Today’s podcast introduces a simple idea that you can use from time to time during preservice to add an element of excitement and fun.
Check out all of our podcasts and blogs about preservice; one of the most overlooked opportunities of each preteen ministry service!
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/.
Sometimes, an upfront game at the beginning of service can be just the ticket to help preteens transition from the excitement of pre-service to focusing on the teacher.
However, a typical upfront games only involve a few students. If everybody is playing, it typically lacks the same transition power as when you have a few students up front who everybody else is focused on watching.
What to do? How do we take full advantage of the transition power of an upfront game, but at the same time involve everybody? Also, it would be nice to avoid having to pick students?
Today’s podcast presents an idea to resolve all this: it’s “Big to Small” Upfront Games. Listen to the podcast to see how this idea works.
This is an idea that we’ve included in some of the Deeply Rooted curriculum. You can see an example of this when you get your free copy of the Slime Event.
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/.
If you like what you’re hearing, subscribe to the FourFiveSix podcast by clicking here and you’ll get great ideas for your preteen ministry four, five, or six times a week.
Here’s a fun game idea, that can be easily adjusted to match your group’s dynamics.
During pre-service, dress up and play the part of an investigative reporter. In Elevate (our preteen ministry), he was named Phillip Horchata.
Philip walks around asking randomly selected leaders and preteens to fill in the blanks on ONE prewritten sentence. These are the WITNESSES.
Here are some example sentences:
When I eat a PB&J sandwich, it makes me ____________.
If Peanut Butter and Jelly got into a fight, it would be ____________.
Every Christmas, I dream of peanut butter and jelly __________.
If peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were a song, it would be ___________.
Peanuts are Brown, Jelly is Red, Sandwiches are _______________.
Phillip records the name of the person filling in the blank for each sentence as well as their answer. He then writes down an alternate answer of his own creation next to the answer being given.
When service starts, and it’s time to play the game, Phillip Horchata comes to the stage and announces that he has been on the case of the missing peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He has narrowed it down to two suspects. He calls the two unsuspecting suspects to the stage, and says he has devised a test to see which of the two is GUILTY of the crime.
Then, Phillip calls forward one witness at a time, reads their sentence and gives both his/her real answer as well as the alternate answer. The suspects have to guess which answer they think was given by the witness, and which answer is the fake. If the suspect is correct, they earn a point.
The first suspect to 3 points has proven their innocence. He or she receives a prize. The guilty suspect is given some kind of consequence. In Elevate, our “guilty” suspect had to wear PB&J bagel handcuffs.
Listen to today’s podcast for more details about playing this fun game!
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, Makenna and Sean share an idea they picked up from this year’s SuperStart! tour.
Often in ministry, we are telling Biblical stories and looking for creative, fresh ways to tell these stories. This year’s SuperStart! demonstration a new technique for story-telling: Improv Story Telling.
Listen to today’s podcast for an example, which was created (like all true improv) in the moment and unedited.
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/.
Preteens are at a stage of development where they are moving from concrete, black-and-white thinking; to an age of considering a wide range of possible outcomes and choices.
As highlighted in this research summary, preteens are moving away from a blanket acceptance of morality to a place where they are defining, FOR THEMSELVES, what they believe.
Today on the podcast, Sean discusses this and considers what this means for us, as leaders of preteens. One thing it means is that open-ended and higher level questions is crucial to an effective ministry to preteens.
Mentioned on today’s podcast was this: The Power of Question small and large group training.
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/.
Listen to today’s podcast as Sean creates a Post-It Note snowflake while explaining the benefits of teaching and working on something at the same time. (Do you see what’s happening there? The method is the message.)
This teaching technique, which adds difficulty to the teacher’s job, makes you more present, because you having to think, talk, and do all at the same time. This makes you more vulnerable and thoughtful, which makes you more interesting to watch and listen to.
This teaching technique holds preteens interest, because they are curious about what you’re creating in front of their eyes as you are sharing truth with them.
As an example, check out this project, which you could do in front of your preteens while teaching about Ephesians 3:20: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (NLT)
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/.
Crazy Chris has been on a journey of refining his technique for teaching preteens. Today, he shares ONE thing that has helped him tremendously.
This ONE thing has helped him to create more focused, meaningful services for the preteens and for him. It has helped him to be more “present” and purposeful when he’s teaching.
What is the ONE thing? It’s to only teach ONE thing. To have ONE point in mind for each lesson, and then to teach that ONE point in a variety of ways.
Today on the Podcast, Chris and Sean will talk about some of the things that keep us from having more focused and powerful services, and how to overcome those things in order to make ONE point.
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/.
Video journaling is a great way to let preteens express and share their thoughts and feelings. There are many ways to incorporate this “great idea” into our preteen ministry.
Today on the podcast, Sean talks with Gina Brinkman about the Bullying Project that her preteens did together. They met together throughout a schoolyear, talking about bullying. Throughout the year, they did video journaling, and at the end, it turned into THIS VIDEO. Listen as Gina explains some of the details about how her group created this project.
If you have more questions about Gina’s bullying project, you can connect with her at gina_brinkman@coswired.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/
Instead of hearing yet another idea that we think is a great one, today’s podcast is taken over by three graduating preteens talking about what THEY think are great ideas in preteen ministry.
Sometimes, we can learn a lot if we ask the preteens in our ministry to reflect on their experiences in our ministries.
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/.
Laura Karr and Rachel Warren from Illinois (NOT Indiana) introduced us to a simple and fun game that their preteens have been playing involving cups. We took this idea up a notch by making it into a tournament.
Today on the podcast, we also mentioned a lot of different training and retreat opportunities that are coming up. You can get more information about all of those at www.fourfivesix.org/training
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, middle school pastor Joel Olivarez shares a powerful illustration that he used in his middle school ministry, and which could easily be used in a preteen ministry as well.
During this illustration, students see a memorable demonstration about “The Power of the Cross”.
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/.
Imagine a spectrum. On one end you have “Don’t ask anybody to do anything ever…allow the Holy Spirit to move people into doing everything.” On the other hand you have “You, the leader, have to make everything happen by asking. Ask anybody and everyone. Get into the church bulletin and e-mail everybody your requests.”
As a ministry leader, where do you find yourself on that spectrum? Where is the healthy place to be? If you have to ask somebody to do something, are they really a volunteer?
Today on the podcast, Sean talks over a few guiding principles when you are considering whether or not you should ask a volunteer to do something.
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, you’ll hear how Destiny Christian Church has successfully integrated a high school leadership program into their preteen ministry camp.
This program has made a HUGE difference in the way Destiny does camps, and is an idea that can be replicated, in some form, at your preteen camp as well.
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/.
Have you ever done an outreach event and seen your numbers double, triple, or even more. BUT THEN…the next week…the numbers in your group go back to what they were before?
Where did those preteens go? They came to the event…maybe they even accepted Christ…but now they’re not coming back to church.
Maybe you’ve experienced that and begun to wonder if you should even do large outreach events at all.
Today on the podcast, Michelle Gregory and Sean Sweet talk about this issue, and coming to some conclusions about the real “WHY” behind these large outreach events.
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, we hear from Michelle Gregory about their outreach event, Breakout. Each year at this event, they see their numbers swell from approximately 150 preteens to 400-600.
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/.
A year ago, the Facebook page for Elevate preteen ministry wasn’t doing much at all. Then, “Crazy Chris” took over, and started exploring how to make a Facebook page for preteen ministry really shine.
Today on the podcast, he shares some secrets that he’s discovered to having a vibrant, effective Facebook page for your 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/.
If you like what you’re hearing, subscribe to the FourFiveSix podcast by clicking here and you’ll get great ideas for your preteen ministry four, five, or six times a week.
Today, you’ll hear some ideas for dealing with homesickness at camp, through both preventative and responsive measures.
Before Camp:
At Camp:
How do you deal with homesickness at your camps? 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/.
Do you have Sundays when there is no preteen ministry? Do you want to intentionally connect the preteens to the main service? Here’s an idea to help you with either of these: a “big church” scavenger hunt.
Today on the podcast, Sean talks about this concept and gives suggestions for making a day in “big church” a meaningful way for preteens to connect with the adult service, and for the preteens to connect with the preteen ministry even on “big church” days.
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, we hear from Laura Karr and Rachel Warren from Normal, Illinois. They took a trip to the West Coast to check out preteen ministries.
Visiting other ministries around the country (or even just around your city) can be a great way to pick up some great ideas for your ministry. It’s the reason we have “Space Tours” at FourFiveSix.
Whether you travel across states, or take a Saturday night to just visit another ministry in the area, visiting another ministry can be a really great idea for your preteen ministry.
Laura Karr is one of the curriculum reviewers for the Blue Ocean Quarter 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/.
Last week in Elevate preteen ministries, the lesson was based on Romans 1:21-23, where it talks about men replacing God with things other than God. During the lesson, a marshmallow was the example of a thing that was replacing God.
So the team in Elevate put together a pre-service time with marshmallow themed activities, and which culminated in a boys vs. girls marshmallow war.
The marshmallow war was one part “Capture the Flag”, one part “Dodge Ball”, and one part crazy preteen chaos.
The field was split in half with cones. Boys on one side; girls on the other. Two hats were placed on the boys’ side in a “safety zone”, and two hats were likewise placed on the girls’ side.
The object for everybody was to get the hats from the opposite side and bring them back without being “tagged” by a marshmallow.
In the four corners of the field were leaders with a bucket of flour and a bag of marshmallows, two on the boys’ side and two on the girls’. Students could run and get a marshmallow from the leader whenever they pleased, dip it in the flour, and throw it at an “invader” from the opposite team.
If anybody was on the opponents’ side and got hit by a marshmallow, they had to return immediately to their own side and touch their “safety zone” before returning to the game.
It was a blast!
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/.
Being a volunteer at camp can be tough! Today on the podcast, Sean and Jaime share 3 ways that they make sure to take care of the volunteers at E-Camp:
A two-hour break each day – Check out: “Give Cabin Leaders a Break” to find out how that works.
Daily Surprise Gifts placed on the Volunteers Sleeping Bag
An Oasis at Camp – ours is in the Camp Nurses’ Cabin
In what ways do you take care of the volunteers at your camp? 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/.
Preteens enjoy engaging their brains with silly tasks and games. This is one such game.
It’s a very simple idea, but it makes for a challenging game.
How quickly can you put your eye on your elbow?
Imagine if the names of your body parts were suddenly switched. Now your finger is your eye, and your eye is your finger. Now your elbow is your ear, and your ear is your elbow.
Now, how quickly can you put your eye on your elbow?
Using only sticky notes, this silly game will get your preteens laughing and having fun as they play “Eyes on Everything”.
This game is a small part of the Blue Ocean Quarter 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/.
Today on the podcast, we hear from Desi Ash, a “Next Generation Associate” at a church that provides student booklets for preteens, junior high, and high schoolers to engage and involve them in the lessons being taught.
Find out how these booklets help them to engage and involve the students in the services, and see examples (below) of what these “Student Booklets” look like.
Desi is one of the curriculum reviewers for the Blue Ocean Quarter 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/.
