Destiny Training 7

1. Destiny Training 7

2. Preparation 1. Prepare yourself: This is the most important part of preparation • Anything not done in the Spirit is a dead work • You also need to know that that the enemy will attack but you must minister from a position of victory by getting enough time to prepare. • Remember we are not engaging a physical enemy but spiritual;

3. Prepare • Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places. • Need to employ spiritual weapons: • 2Co 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,

4. Preparation • Need not put immature or weak persons in the children’s ministry (reason while volunteers must be well taught and mature in their knowledge of the Word). • Need to be fresh and avoid going to bed late when you know you will be leading children

5. Prepare your ministry • This deals with the presentation of your lesson. It is also very important because proper preparation will boost your confidence and increase your efficiency. • Praise and Worship is very important and it must be real. • Make short and sharp announcements because every part of the sermon is important.

6. Prepare • Remember nothing happens by chance but by design through planning • Develop confidence that the Lord will use you in the service and think of yourself as the highest point from which things will flow. • Be an open channel to God and to the children • Be open for the gifts of the Spirit to operate through you. • The Holy Spirit’s desire is to speak through you and the children

7. Allow Service • Children need to be led and not driven. • Gifts are given for the benefit of all; 1Co 12:7 But to each one is given the showing forth of the Spirit to our profit. • Help children serve each as a part of the whole; 1Co 12:27 And you are the body of Christ, and members in part. • We need to operate in love;

8. Operate in love • 1Co 13:1 I may speak in the languages of humans and of angels. But if I don't have love, I am a loud gong or a clashing cymbal. • Ask the Lord for the love to minister to children and accept it by faith through the Spirit. • Do not bring your problems to the children’s ministry and do not operate in strife, gossip, scandals etc. • Do not use children’s ministry to meet your needs but the children’s needs • God will meet your needs as you strive to serve and meet children’s needs

9. Application of Ministry • When you minister you must always know what you are going to do next. • Always use some visual aids; • Flannel board stories – put the application inside the story. • Flash card stories – when you use flash cards always make sure the children are alert and can see you clearly • Make your lessons alive and interesting and not only to depend on aids. • If things go wrong in the process learn to laugh at yourself and plan to improve next time.

10. Organizing Children’s church • God is a God of order and expects you to do everything in an orderly or organized way; 1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order. • To get order you need to plan

11. 1. As a team get time to meet early in the week and plan the order of your service You should be open to the Holy Spirit if there be any need for changes after you have planned – not to be rigid • Plan must be used to give you overall direction and not to bind you even if it becomes irrelevant • Most times the direction does not change • There is need for the anointing of God in the meeting – only the anointing can break the yoke of bondage. • We also need God’s blessings on the things we do.

12. 2. Learn to minister as a team • The anointing increases where there is unity of purpose; Psa 133:1 A Song of degrees; of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! • Children are to be organized in groups according to their ages as shown below and each group must have a team of volunteers who will help in leading, guiding, and helping the children.

13. Teamwork • One person should be leading and others will be helping yet all the leaders and helpers are equally important for the success of the service. • As already mentioned the team would have prepared the lesson together with each taking a specific or distinct part in the lesson

14. 3. Team may include the following members • Leader- responsible for leading the service for the particular day. The direction of the service will largely depend on him. • Worship leader – one who will prepare a team and prepare the kids to lead in praise, singing and worship. To be a good musician who can help kids develop in their worship skills and must be diverse, creative and resourceful to cater for all the children’s interests and tastes in music.

15. Praise and Worship • Is not just about singing songs • The Praise and Worship Leader must take the children from where they are to genuine worship in the Spirit • Song lists must be prayerfully chosen or selected in advance. • The praise team must thoroughly practice in advance and make available whatever materials may be required for worship.

16. Praise and Worship • As far as possible the song must follow the theme for the service. • Use action songs – move from noisy action songs to worshipful songs. • The aim of Worship is to lift children into the presence of the Lord and set a platform for the gifts of the Holy Spirit to operate. • Make sure all the songs have meaningful words children can understand and identify with as they sing.

17. 4. Have a clear order; • The children’s service should be timed within one and half hours broken down as follows: • Welcome (ice breaker) = 5 minutes • Praise and Worship = 10-15 minutes • Memory Work = 15 minutes • Ministry = 30 minutes • Works/assignments = 15 minutes

18. Maintain Discipline • This general program may be broken down to suit the various age groups as well as particular services that may have a specially designed bias for that week. • 5. Maintain discipline • Maintaining discipline is a crucial aspect for successful children’s services • Children must be kept busy because if they have nothing to do they start fidgeting around and being restless thereby affecting the natural flow of the meeting.

19. Organizing • The teacher must be energetically enthusiastic to maintain children focused on what is going on. • The person who is ministering should not administer discipline • You should also reinforce the good instead of focusing on the bad behavior, conduct or performance only. • Children should be given points for various and specific things e.g., for coming early, being the smartest, bringing friends, discipline or best behaved etc.

20. Assignments • Always organize children into their Gospel life cells and give them home work or combined assignments • Each week children should be given assignments or works to go and do back home through their Gospel life cells. • This may include practical projects, witnessing to their neighbors or other activities as suggested under the Gospel life cell programs.