This past week, Awana launched their new website, awanahomeschool.org. It is a new initiative by Awana to reach out to families who home school as well as home school co-ops.

I became aware that Awana was looking at this option several months ago but I had few details.

Several home school families currently utilize the Awana handbooks as a Bible component for their children. You have probably noticed that often, not always, children who are home schooled progress through their handbooks quickly. So it almost seems logical for Awana to take this step.

I may surprise some people with my comments, but initially, I’m concerned about this move. I understand the desire to reach out to a wider “market” and I can see it benefiting Awana in the “big picture”. My concern comes for clubs whose attendees are similar to mine.

In our church we have several families who home school. So much so that one Sunday in our children’s church I used an illustration talking about sitting at the school lunch table and one of the children got my attention and shared that everyone there was home schooled. I stopped, took a quick glance of the children there and they were right!!!! All of the children in attendance were home schooled!!! Not one child attended a public (or private) school and they had no connection with the “lunch table”. Likewise, currently all of the children who attend the Awana club are home schooled with the exception of a few who attend public school.

Why should parents buy a vest or club shirt for their child and spend another evening out if they can do the same thing at home as part of home school for about the same cost and free up their schedule a little? I see some families opting to just do it at home in lieu of attending club. Yes, they can attend club for the fun and fellowship with others, but handbook time could be damaged if children have completed that portion at home as part of their home school, and if one portion is damaged, it affects the other clubbers and the other aspects of the night.

I am concerned that the Awana Home School program may negatively impact some Awana clubs (like mine), but ultimately, it is not about my personal club (there are other ways I can reach out to children and families), but it is about reaching children (and families) with the Gospel and training them to serve Him. In the “big picture”, I do see the Awana Home School program having the potential to do that in a mighty way.

Have you looked at the Awana Home School initiative information yet? If not, take a look, then post your comments. I’m interested in your thoughts.

 

 

Have you ever envisioned something for the ministry but as you shared with others it seemed as if all you received back were obstacles, people sharing why they think it won’t work, or unsure about trying something new and different? I’ve been there, and I’ve even been the one puting barriers in someone else’s way!

As a children/youth pastor and Awana Commander, I’m not always satisfied with the norm and I’m known for “thinking outside the box”. Sometimes I think that I’m “ahead of the curve”. I believe that it is good to think outside the box, but there is a hazard to it.

I’ve been called “rogue” because I’m always looking for what God has and how the ministry can be improved. I shared recently about the negative reaction I received about moving youth to a different night and encouraging youth to serve. I’ve had other experiences like that as well. It is then that I realize that I hadn’t cast the vision well enough. While I was thinking outside the box, I forgot that everyone else was still inside the box and couldn’t see what I could see or I was so far ahead of the curve that it is hard for them to catch up. We need to find a way for them to see what we see and bring them “outside the box”.

When those times happen and it seems that obstacles get in the way, I find that I need to do three things:

1. Pray…be sure God is leading in that direction
2. Share… cast a vision on why I believe it is the direction the ministry should be heading
3. Wait… for God to touch hearts, or to open the doors to allow for the path I believe He has laid out.

We cannot rush God, He will do things in His time. Sometimes we need to slow down and be patient.

When it seems that obstacles are in the way, God can – and will – remove them and sometimes it is us that needs to get out of the way and let Him do things in His timing.

 

 

Student leaders can be a real asset to your ministry. This year, I began using 6th graders as student leaders. They have to be progressing through their handbook and they serve one week each month in either Cubbies or Sparks (their choice). It has been a boost to our ministry.

Here is why you should use student leaders:

• Younger children look up to the older children and this gives them a way to be a positive example to the younger children
• They are a part of the Body of Christ and should be given the opportunity to serve
• If we tell the youth that there is no place for them to serve in the church, they are much less likely to serve when they are older
• It teaches them the importance of serving others
• They are hungry to serve, give them a chance

Last spring, I wanted to have youth meet on a different night than Awana. That was met with much resistance. One comment is what would families with younger children and youth do with their older child that night. My thought was that the older youth could have an opportunity to serve in an Awana club. I was actually told by a youth leader (who is also a parent of a youth) that they didn’t think the youth would want to serve in Awana. I was shocked!

God had other plans. The 6th graders serving as student leaders was received very well and due to circumstances that took place in our church a few months into the Awana year, the youth began to assist and run the gametime for Sparks and T&T!!! They were hungry to serve and just needed the opportunity.

Don’t hold them back…..give them the chance to serve and you will see God do great things in and through their lives.

 

 

I recently had the opportunity to view the latest installment of the What’s in the Bible series, Volume 10, Jesus is the Good News which covers the Gospels.

I can tell you that I’ve sat in church history classes, New Testament Introduction and other similar classes in college and subsequent to that, and unless you are really interested, it is hard for the teacher to hold your attention. Have you ever taught the children in your ministry about church history? It can be challenging!

I heard the hype about this new volume and I’m generally a skeptic when something is being “sold” so hard.  I was pleasantly surprised when I watched the videos. The “hype” was justified. As a children’s pastor and an Awana Commander, I’m always looking for ways to share the Gospel. I’m generally reluctant about using puppets or animated characters to share the Gospel because puppets, or animated characters, cannot be saved but the way Phil Vischer uses the puppets enhances the message of Jesus and draws the viewer in so they focus on why Jesus came to Earth.

Here is a short trailer for this volume….

This volume shares the message of salvation so clearly that I plan to purchase a copy for each of the families with children in our church to hand out on, or around, Palm Sunday.  I can’t think of a better way to prepare them for Easter.

But don’t just take my word for it, I had a sixth grader watch the videos to get their perspective. They enjoyed it and liked how Phil had the “big words” explained and they said that they learned several things from the video. They also agreed that they felt it would be good to give to families to share the Gospel with them.

To purchase your copy, simply click on the image of the DVD case below. There is also a Church edition to help you use this resource during Sunday School, Children’s Church, Awana, or whatever program you use.

 

I want to help spread the word about this wonderful resource. The folks at What’s in the Bible have given me a copy of Volume 1 (In the Beginning) and Volume 10 (Jesus is the Good News) that I want to give away. The winner will be selected randomly on Saturday, March 9, 2013. One comment per person please.

Here is how you can enter For a chance to get the (2) Volumes:

• leave a comment below sharing how you would use Volume 10 or how you’ve seen the What’s in the Bible series impact your family, or those in your church. (One comment per person)
• Tweet the following: @CommanderBill is giving away @whatsinthebible Volume 10, Jesus is the Gospel. http://www.blogcommanderbill.net/witb10
  (one entry per day for each tweet)
• “Like” my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CommanderBill.net

 

The title of this post probably catches you by surprise and you may be shutting me out before you even read this post. I don’t know, but I would ask that you read these thoughts and comment.

Before I’m “stoned”, I need to say that I believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. So why am I opposed to traditional marriage? When we speak to people who do not know Christ, we need to speak in a way they can understand and relate. Several churches offer two types of worship services: traditional and contemporary.

Who is the traditional service targeted? Who is the contemporary service targeted? Correct me if I’m wrong, but churches advertise “traditional” services as ones that sing old hymns and are directed to older members who are more comfortable with that type of service, while the contemporary service is advertised as more relative to today.

In one breathe Christians try to reach the younger generation by being contemporary while defending the traditional. The message we send is that “traditional marriage” is not relevant today like we say “traditional worship” is not relevant to today.

Why are we ashamed to say it is a moral issue? Why are we afraid to say that marriage between a man and a woman can be contemporary and exciting? Call it semantics, but we need to speak the language of the people we are trying to reach.

How do you share Jesus with others? Is it in ways they can relate to and understand, or is it “traditional” church language that they don’t understand? Are the terms we use consistent and clear, or inconsistent and confusing?

If you want to know what non-believers are thinking and what they are saying, then watch the atheist shows on public access TV. That will open your eyes to how they see Christians and how the way we try to reach them is so ineffective.

Let us reach them where they are with terminology that is consistent and that they understand.