Northwood Parents

Tomorrow night, after FW Friends, all parents of elementary kids are invited to join us in the children’s ministry area for FW Friends Sundae Wednesday!  It’ll be an opportunity for parents and kids to enjoy an ice cream sundae on us after worship and learn just what FW Friends is all about.

There are five truths that I believe are from God that shape our midweek ministry to children at Northwood.  Five truths that didn’t come from a curriculum or from a book about children’s ministry, but came from God for this church.  Five truths that shape who we are:

1.  All children want a group of friends that they know and trust.

2.  Children have the greatest opportunity to tell others about Christ than any other people group.

3.  Children deserve to have a safe, exciting, place that offers both variety and stability.

4.  Children need to grow up understanding that life is about serving others.

5.  Parents must understand their role as a parent in the process of reaching their own and other children for Christ.

You see, FW Friends is not just another program to occupy kids while parents are in worship service.  It’s not just another opportunity for kids whose parents choose to bring them to church instead of keeping them at home to do homework.  It’s an opportunity to teach kids what it means to lead other kids to Christ.  It’s an oppportunity for you, as a parent, to make a difference in the lives of other kids!  Join me tomorrow night as I explain how you can make a difference!

Stains on the carpet!  Recently, I was making a list of some “to-do’s” for the children’s ministry area.  As I surveyed the area early last week, one of the areas of improvement that kept coming back again and again was:  This carpet has to be cleaned…or better yet, replaced.  It’s not that the carpet is dirty.  As a matter of fact, I would be totally comfortable eating off of it but, when you look at the carpet, you can’t help but see spots red kool-aid, dark coloring, and stains that stick out like a sore thumb.  At first, I was annoyed thinking to myself, I can’t believe this carpet looks like this!  You would think the kids could keep it clean!

What in the world am I thinking?  I am, as strange as it may sound, proud of those spots!  There’s one huge red spot of kool-aid right up next to the stage.  That spot came from a kid who attended our Sports Camp this summer!  I wonder if that child heard about Jesus for the first time at Sports Camp?  I wonder if he felt a pat on the back that he had never felt before?  I wonder if he understood, for the first time, that Jesus paid an ultimate price for him?  There’s also a big, nice green spot in the center of the large group room!  It came on a Wednesday night when one of our volunteers accidently poured green slime on a child and completely missed the drop cloth!  I wonder if the child, covered in slime, understood maybe for the first time, that church could be a fun place?  I wonder if she learned that children’s ministry can be a relaxed, cool place to learn about the love of Christ?  There’s also a big brown spot on the left side of the large group area.  It came off of the feet of a child with muddy shoes years ago and has yet to come out!  I can still see his face.  I wonder where that child is now?  I wonder if he remembers what he learned in that room?  I wonder if it makes a difference in his life today as he is a teenager? I wonder if he remembers his first Wednesday night and how he learned that he could trust God not matter what happens in his life and the many questions he had that night?

Yeah!  Those stains don’t look too good!  As a matter of fact, new carpet would still be nice …  but …  I have a brand new perspective.  I wouldn’t trade those stains for anything!  Those stains represent ministry.  Those stains are there because of what has been accomplished in that room.  Those stains are why I’m here!  As a matter of fact, I’m hoping we get more stains than I can count!  Stains make all the difference!

This Sunday, Northwood preschoolers continue to learn about David from 2 Samuel 6.  This week, preschoolers will learn that David led the Israelites to praise God for His help.  Preschoolers will learn that they can praise God too.  We’ll give preschoolers an opportunity to spend some time praising God and learning, even at such a young age, that Jesus wants us to praise Him!  Preschoolers will see the Bible story acted out before them, they’ll experience hands-on activities that drive the message home, and they’ll have the opportunity to learn what it means to really praise God!

This week, elementary kids are finishing up their month long discussion of the virtue of Knowledge – discovering something new so you can be better at whatever you do.  This week, your child will learn that nothing you know is more important than knowing Jesus.  Kids will learn and talk about ways that they can get to know Jesus better.  How do we have a “relationship” with Jesus?  What does that mean?  Is it even possible since we can’t see Him?  We’ll talk about it on Sunday!  It could be a lifechanging day here at Northwood!  Don’t let your kids miss it!  Don’t sleep in!

Making sure your child is here every chance he gets is so important!  Even more important, is the time that you spend talking at home and in the car about what we talk about at church.  We have two hours every week with your child (and that’s if he’s here on Sunday and Wednesday).  Those two hours can change his life for eternity.  So can what you do at home.  On the ride home Sunday, talk about what your child learned at church.  Talk about ways he can apply it in his own life this week!

I found this video yesterday and had to share it with you…  I’ll let it do the talking…

So…what difference are we making?  What difference is Northwood making?  What difference are you personally making?  It is true … we are losing this generation.  But … we can make a difference!  I really believe that together we can make an impact.  In ten years, when we look back on the kids of Northwood today, will you have made a difference in their lives?  I’d love to show you how – david@rightdirections.org!

Someone asked me recently why I work with kids.  There’s got to me something more exciting than wiping noses, listening to tattletales, and playing games…

I watched, last night, as a 4^th grade boy that I had never met came in.  He quietly sat down in the back of the room, saying nothing!  I went over to talk about his day at school, what he liked to do for fun, and who his favorite teacher is at school with the hopes of making him feel more comfortable.  He just politely nodded, saying nothing!  I watched as he became more and more anxious as other kids came into the room, talking and laughing with their friends, while he sat alone!  Finally, another child in the room, without my prodding, went over to the 4^th grade boy!  I listened, as I interacted with other kids, to see what they were saying.  This is what I heard…”Hey!  I just saw you sitting here and thought you might want to play air hockey with me and my friends.  We just play until Mr. David starts talking!”  I laughed under my breath – knowing that the talking only sometimes stopped when I start talking.  Then, I heard the 4^th grade boy say something that I have never heard a child publicly admit.  He said, “Thanks!  Can you teach me how?  This is my first time at church and I’m not sure what to do!” 

Week after week, I have experiences like that!  I watch kids minister to one another.  I watch kids “get it” for the first time!  I watch kids come into a big room and discover that there is a much bigger God who cares for them.  Sometimes, as I watch them come in and go out, I see me.  I, like the 4^th grade boy that came to church last night, longed for someone to be my friend.  I longed for someone to teach me “how.”  I longed for someone to notice me and invite me to be a part.  I got that chance.  Jesus loves me just like that.  He sees a quiet, anxious man in need of a friend and someone to teach him.  He sees a man who desperately needs a friend!  He sees a man that wants to learn how to live this life.

So why do I work with kids?  They teach me what life is really about!  They teach me who Jesus is!  When I see them – I see me!

Tonight, Northwood’s children’s ministry begins a new phase of midweek ministry!  Every year, we work on developing a year-long program that kids can’t wait to come to on Wednesday nights!  This year it’s FW Friends!  FW Friends is a weekly program that gets kids excited about worship and serving others!  It’s my heart that kids learn, even at a young age, that they are created to serve others.  Every week, your child will rotate through four Discovery Stations!  We will start out with creative, loud, energetic large group where kids will be introduced to the night’s theme and learn from Scripture!  He will go to the Surprise Station which offers kids an application activity that changes every week.  They’ll go to Projects with a Purpose where they’ll be actively involved in serving friends, parents, and the church!  They’ll go to recreation where they’ll laugh and have a great time applying the night’s truth and then go to their Circle of Friends where they’ll talk about their lives and apply the Scripture of the night to their lives each week!

Tonight, your child will receive a key chain and his first key ring to add to the chain.  Make sure your child attaches the key chain to his backpack and brings it school every day!  Your child will earn additional key rings for the chain throughout the month at FW Friends!  FW Friends is all about outreach!  We want kids to take their key chains to school and tell their friends about FW Friends!  Then… we want you to take the time to pick them up and get them here!  It will make a difference in the life of your child and his friends!

Make sure your child is here at Northwood tonight and bring a friend!  Remember… tonight could be a life changing night in the life of your child!

What I wish all parents knew about children’s ministry…

~One hour on Sunday is not going to raise your child to be a Godly man or woman. 

~We are not a babysitting service for you while you talk to your friends before, during, or after services. 

~The life you live on Monday – Saturday in front of your kids comes out in them on Sunday!  They tell us! 

~You have many more hours in the week to invest in your child than we do!  You matter! 

~Your view of your church and church staff will come out!  I can tell you what you thought of last week’s sermon, what the Pastor wore that you thought was ugly, and what song you wish we didn’t sing! 

~Consistency and honesty in your home work wonders!  Live our your faith!  Your kids know what’s fake! 

~Going to church is non-negotiable – no matter what!  Ballgames, tryouts, and homework are not excusable!  If this thing is important – it’s important – regardless!

~ Taking away church is not a punishment!  It’s not even good parenting! 

~Taking the time to talk about what we teach at church throughout the week is vital to our ministry!

~ We teach even if your child doesn’t take home a macaroni necklace!  Crafts are not fundamental to children’s ministry!  Teaching applicable life lessons and the truth of Scripture is most important. 

~Your willingness to bring your kid’s friends to church could mean eternal life or death for them!

~Homework is temporary!  What we teach is eternal!  The Wednesday you spend doing homework instead of being at church may be the day that makes an eternal difference in your child!

~The church and parents are partners.  One cannot impact kids without the other!

And that’s what I wish parents knew…

On Sunday evenings, our Pastor has been teaching on the role of the man and woman in marriage relationships.  For the past two weeks, he has been speaking about the role of the husband and father in a marriage relationship.  That got me thinking…

If men are called by God to be the spiritual leaders in their homes, shouldn’t they also be the spiritual leaders in the church?  If fathers are called to be the spiritual leaders of their children, shouldn’t they also be the spiritual leaders of the children in the church?  If men are called to be the leaders of the family, shouldn’t they be the leaders in the church?

The children’s ministry of Northwood is blessed with many volunteers who allow us to do children’s ministry with excellence.  It takes about 22 volunteers every week to make Sunday morning Bible Fellowship and Wednesday night children’s activities happen.  That’s not even including other church activities or preschool ministry.  Of those 22 volunteers, 2 are men!  As a matter of fact, if it weren’t for women, our children’s ministry COULD NOT exist!  It would fall apart! 

If this week, only men volunteered in children’s ministry, as it currently stands … There would be one teacher for all of our kids.  There would be one person helping with drama.  There would be no one to help with check-in.  There would be no one teaching children on Wednesday nights.  There would be no one to edit scripts.  There would be no one to stock supplies.  There would be no one to make copies.  There would be no one to dry nervous tears.  There would be no one for children to talk to after a bad day at school.  There would be no one to encourage your child.  We would DIE as a children’s ministry.

So…what can you do?  We need men to step up to the plate!  Children need men to be mentors.  There are so many kids that have no positive male role model in their lives.  We need you!  It’s time for men to really be men – to really be spiritual leaders!  It’s time for men to stop pretending they are leaders and really be leaders!  If you would like to volunteer, please let me know by emailing me at david@rightdirections.org.

It was August 18, 2001.  I was one day away from turning 20 years old and I began my first day as Children’s Minister at Northwood!  That was an incredible day!  I can still remember the joy of knowing that, for the rest of my life, I would serve the Lord through ministry in the local church.  I would give my life for the people that make up the Church and, at least for now, I would give my life for the people of a small church called Northwood!  We had around 12 kids and was blessing this church in incredible ways and I got to be a part!  I would have a role in the ministry of this church!  That was incredible to me!

I remember going through the church and listening to our Pastor’s vision for children’s ministry!  I listened to his goals.  I prayed about this ministry.   I prayed for the kids and parents that would walk through the doors of this church.  I researched curriculums and programs.  I attended conferences. 

Today, we have a continually growing and effective ministry to children.  In my eight years of ministry at Northwood, there have been many incredible days and there have been many days that I have wanted to quit and give up!  I am so grateful that God has allowed me, through it all, to remain faithful to Northwood by staying faithful to Him!

Tomorrow, I will be 28 years old.  I have invested most of my “twenty-somethings” in this place we call Northwood and I’m still not sure of a better investment!  I know great days are ahead for Northwood and I can’t wait!  So glad I get the chance to be a part!

It’s so hard to believe that school starts back for most kids this week!  It seems like summer just began!  Along with public school starting back, we at Northwood begin our second year of weekday preschool ministry:  MAPS (Moms Away.  Preschooler Stay).  I am so excited about our second year as we begin the endeavor of a five day per week program!

Today, I want to share with you our vision for a weekday preschool.  About two years ago, I began to notice that more and more parents were coming to the same conclusion:  it is SO HARD to be the parent of a preschooler.  It is EXHAUSTING having a little one with you all the time with never a moment to yourself.  It is a MUST that parents of preschoolers meet other preschool parents to talk about raising preschoolers and the challenges and joys of doing so.  Parents need some time to run errands, relax, and take care of themselves but they want a safe, fun place for their preschooler.  Our solution:  MAPS.

MAPS is not primarily an educational facility!  While we do follow strict preschool guidelines to prepare preschoolers for Kindergarten, we are about much more!  Preschoolers at MAPS experience Bible stories presented in a way that they can understand, they make crafts, and we have activities each week on the Northwood campus for preschoolers.  From wagon rides to face painting to firetruck visits to petting zoos, MAPS kids experience it all right here at Northwood!  For parents, we provide a quick breakfast to grab on the go each week and provide opportunities for roundtable discussions for parents of preschoolers.

I really believe God has called the Preschool Ministry of this church to minister to preschoolers and their parents throughout the week!  I am looking forward to meeting the parents of preschoolers that the Lord sends our way this year!  If you are interested in enrolling your preschooler, shoot me an email to david@rightdirections.org or check out the website www.rightdirections.org.

MAPS begins September 8 and runs Monday – Friday from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm.