Ministry with Children

1. Ministry with Children Training Model New and Revitalizing United Methodist Congregations

2. Welcome Session 1

3. Devotion

4. Matthew 18.1-7

5. “Jesus Loves Me”

6. Jesus Loves Me Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

7. Jesus Loves Me Jesus loves me! This I know As He showed so long ago, Took a child upon his knee, Saying, ‘Let them come to Me.’ Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

8. Jesus Love Me Jesus loves me still today, Walking with me on my way, Guiding me in how to give Light and love to all who live. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

9. Leader: This is the day that the Lord has made!People: We will rejoice and be glad in it!

10. Leader: We serve the children that God has made! People: We will both love and take care of them!

11. Leader: We welcome children in God’s name!People: We will not be stumbling blocks for our children.

12. Leader: This is the children’s ministry training that gives thanks to God for children, where we covenant to meet their needs faithfully.People: We will give thanks and covenant anew. Amen.

13. So, I ask you…

14. Who Are You? Why Are You Here? Connection Activity

16. General Board of Discipleship GBOD serves as a two-way conduit by providing resources and training to annual conferences and churches and also, cultivating contacts in, listening to and receiving the wisdom, practice, and developed resources of annual conferences and churches; making that available to the entire church for growth, enrichment, and ongoing development.

17. Leadership Ministries Division Resourcing Training Theology Identity Best Practices Lay Leadership Pastoral Leadership Worship Evangelism Faith Formation Age-Level Ministries Disciple-Making Spirituality-Forming

18. www.gbod.org/minister-to-people/childrens-ministryResources for all ministries involving children within the life of the congregational community: • Sunday school • vacation Bible school • nursery ministries • children’s choir and music ministries • fellowship groups • support groups • short-term study groups • children’s worship experiences • mission education experiences • intergenerational activities • all weekday programs for children of all ages

19. Goals • Spiritual Lives of Children • Developmental and Emotional Needs of Children • Presence of Children in the Community • Resources Available to Support Ministry with Children • king Connections

20. The Spiritual Lives of Children “Like a Child” Activity

21. Jesus lived each phase of childhood

22. “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”2He called a child, whom he put among them, 3and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 6“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!”

23. John Wesley Education and Formation of Children

24. What were your formational experiences within the Church when you were a young child?

25. What can we offer children that is more formational than informational?

26. Helping Children Grow in their relationship with God

27. Helping Children Grow in their relationship with God

28. How can we help children become aware of God’s presence?How do we demonstrate God’s unconditional love and help children know that they can be instruments of God’s love in the world?How can we help children discover and share their gifts?

29. Developmental and Emotional Needs

31. Hebrews 11. 1-3 “What is Faith” Activity

32. What is Faith? The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.  By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see.

33. Development through the Life-Span Chart

34. Break

35. Presence of Children in the Community

36. God’s Love

37. Deuteronomy 4.10Deuteronomy 6.6-7Matthew 19.14Mark 10.14Luke 18.16Luke 2.40b

38. What do you believe God is saying through these words of scripture?

39. Mr. Wesley’s Expectations

40. Surround them with a Community of Love and Forgiveness

41. Childcare and the Church The United Methodist Document On Caring for Our Children

42. Childcare and the Church Nurture Outreach Witness

43. Safe Sanctuaries The United Methodist Mandate To Protect Our Children

44. Safe Sanctuaries Contact Your Annual Conference Develop a Congregational PlanImplement Strategies for the Congregation Train Workers http://www.gbod.org/safesanctuaries

45. Stumbling Blocks Stumbling Block Activity

46. SESSION 2

47. Prayer Thank you for gathering us together on this day. Help us to learn all that is needed to serve children in your name. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

48. Resources and Settings

49. Resources that Support Ministry with Children Resource List

50. Resources for those Engaged in Ministry for Children What Every Child Should Experience: A Guide for Leaders and Teachers in United Methodist Congregations