I. See the need

A. Kids all around are becoming open game for the world.

1. World uses videos, T.V. music, games, toys, & clubs.

II. Get a burden & vision - through prayer

III. Program

A. Pray - because it’s God’s work, you are being used as a vessel.

Pray to be usable, not used, God wants to use you, He is waiting.

B. Visit

1. Look for toys - not always the case, but a good start.

2. Be sensitive to the spirit - every child is a prospect.

3. Be enthusiastic

4. Be friendly

a. Smile

b. Introduce yourself

c. Tell where you are from

d. Why you are there

5. Talk to the kids - they will excite Mom & Dad and beg to come after you

leave.

a. Tell about your promotion with excitement.

b. Let them know that you feel they are important.

c. Treat them like you are their best friend . . . listen to what they have to say, they are looking for someone to listen to them.

6. Knock

a. Knock loudly - to show the visit is important.

b. Knock no more than three times (in case someone is sleeping, etc..)

c. Stand in front of the door after knocking.

d. Don’t stare inside if the door is open, simply knock and look away

until door is opened.

7. Be careful

a. Dogs - look for signs

b. Drunks

c. Crowds

8. Every 1 hour spend visiting ---- will have 10 kids (according to Jack Hyles)

a. Quantity: 2 - 3 hours

b. Quality: don’t hurry, spend time with the kids, and talk to the parents.

9. Wear nice casual clothes, but not necessary dress clothes.

10. Visitation Records:

a. New riders: Find out where they live

b. Regular riders: keep track of how often they come.

NOTE** IN VISITING BE PREPARED FOR REJECTION - DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY.

C. Promotions:

1. Are helpful to get kids excited about coming

2. Criticism - you may receive criticism - some may say you are bribing kids

to come to church.

Ask two questions:

What are they doing to get kids to come?

If you see a child about to jump off a building into a fire and nothing else

was working to get him away from the edge, would you use something

he likes (even if it seemed to be bribing) or would you let him jump?

3. Use flyers every week describing the promotion -- a brief review of the

rules of the promotion.

a. Make them attractive

b. Helps parents know what is going on

c. Can make inexpensive

d. Put attractive pictures on them not just words.

e. May not always be necessary to do every week, but it helps the kids to have a tangible reminder in their house after you leave.

4. Give candy when they get off the bus not before.

IV. Picking kids up and taking them home

A. Have two people - driver and bus captain

1. Must be saved

2. Must be patient - not nervous

3. Must be able to see the need

B. Talk to kids on the bus or van

1. Ask about their week

2. Ask about school

3. Anything that they maybe interested in

4. Move to different ones during the drive home / be discerning

C. Sing on the bus

D. Tell stories on the bus (if possible) doesn’t always work - sometimes jokes are good to tell

E. Discipline

1. Sometimes you may have to get firm in order to KEEP ORDER

2. After you get firm and things have settled down - go right into a song

or say something funny ------- changing the subject.

F. Trouble child

It is best not to allow a constant troubled child to come back.

1. Tell him he won’t be allowed to come back next Sunday if he keeps it up

2. If a trouble maker is allowed to continue coming and causing trouble -

other children will not come.

** If you tell a child you are going to do something or take privilege away ----- KEEP YOUR WORD!

G. Don’t honk the horn - if possible go and knock on the door.

1. More polite

2. Parents want to make sure it is you

3. Need to escort the child across the street

4. The neighbors will appreciate your church a lot more

H. Talking to parents

After concentrating on the talking to the kids for about a month - start getting to

know the parents this will be a help if another church starts visiting the kids and

trying to get them to their church - the parents won’t let them.

V. People Needed for the Bus Ministry / Responsibilities

A. Bus Director

1. Oversees new route locations

2. Enlist workers - check on drivers

3. Promotions - get prizes, treats, flyers, etc….

4. Workers meetings - have a message that motivates

5. Transportation: purchasing buses, etc..

B. Bus Captain

1. Visit regular riders

2. Visit new riders

3. Maintain order

4. Bus Program - songs & stories

5. Lead kids to Christ

C. Bus Driver

1. CDL

2. Clean the bus

3. Fuel bus

4. Be on time

5. Check problems

D. Helpers (Armour Barriers)

1. Help small children

2. Singing

3. Take kids to class

4. Help captain

5. Be on time

I. Helpers

A. Need a set standard / list of qualifications. (saved, etc….)

B. Mature teenagers are good helpers

1. Saved

2. Responsible

3. Ages 12-15 need to be in church services

C. Teach helpers never to leave children unattended

D. Do not use children as helpers

1. Do not put them in a position to do wrong

2. Do not put them in control of younger children

II. Concrete & Abstract

A. Abstract: Idea, biblical truths that need to be concrete

B. Use of objects are the best tools

1. Object lessons to relate to abstract ideas

2. The best methods for relating truth

3. Object lessons should be used every Sunday - at least two

4. Should not be over 5 minutes

5. Object explained - biblical truth related - in proper time

6. Make them interesting

7. Props do not have to be dynamic - use everyday things around you

C. Have visuals that relate to the content

1. Example: Balloons: S.I.N. - S.O.N.

D. Story Telling - only the use of vocal expressions

1. No longer than 5 minutes

2. Use expression of the voice

E. Puppets

1. Have someone talk to the puppet . . . one on one dialogue with the kids

interacting

2. Relate a truth

3. Only use human puppets for salvation

4. Biblical truths

a. Obedience

b. Faith

c. etc…..

5. Sometimes good to use without a puppet stage

6. Take care / keep in good condition

F. Drama - Story Telling

1. Get Audience involved

a. Adults

b. Kids

2. It must relate a truth

G. Tricks -----Emphasize, without overplaying, that tricks are not magic

III. Time - Most Important

A. Maximum - 1 hour & 15 mins.

B. Fill it up with substance

(Things children desire)

C. Song Time

1. Not for too long of a time - 2 or 3 at first

2. Sing songs with substance

a. Some songs are not good in children’s church (Father Abraham)

b. Use songs as a breather

3. Six things to know if you are not a singer (by Dan Cutchen)

a. Enthusiasm

b. Know the song

c. Good verbal & physical directions

d. Eye contact

e. Smile

f. Movement

** Do at least 3 of these**

4. Action Songs

a. “Fishers of Men” (Stand on M words)

b. “B.I.B.L.E.”

c. Add actions to old songs

1. Ex. - Monkey song

D. Story Time

1. No more than 3-5 mins.

2. Story can be longer if it is your altar story

3. Use Objects - such as balloons

E. Offering Time

1. Always have one

2. Try to have a story about giving before you take offering

3. Teach that they are giving for something / Teach what they are giving for.

F. Altar Time Story

1. No more than 11-15 mins.

2. Must be exciting

3. Let it be your best story

4. A good place to get stories is from the last illus. a minister uses.

5. Best not to use puppets at this time

6. Should be dramatic - using people or objects

G. Prayer Time

1. Do not rush

2. Kids in alter - boys and girls on separate sides

3. Have workers pray with kids in the altars

a. Pray out loud as you walk around kids

b. Touch lightly/quickly and move on - put high priority on being respectful - be lead of the Spirit

c. If a child is really praying - ask them questions - pray with them

d. Even if some are not really praying in the altar - do not discourage them from coming, unless they are hindering others from praying

IV. Competition

A. Have different workers at different times choose the quiet seat - - use what works

for your group to keep the crowd under control.

B. Offering contest

1. May want to use scales

2. A pizza party could be given for the boys or girls with the most

offering at the end of the month

V. Organization

A. It is very important

B. Different rooms / materials

1. Children Church room

a. Room in order before service

b. Important to begin with order to keep children in order

c. Material in place

d. Chairs in uniform rows

e. Keep room clean

1. Trash picked up

2. Keep in mind this is the children’s sanctuary

2. Storage room / resource room

a. Materials are stored here

1. Materials available to all workers - Sunday School and Children’s Church workers.

2. Collect things that will make good object lessons or craft

items.

b. Need good shelves, use space wisely but orderly

3. Equipment

a. Keep locked up

1. May be damaged

2. May be stolen

b. Electronic equipment needs to be covered

c. Label equipment (children’s church)

d. Keep good supply (staples, glue, scissors, paper, etc..)

4. Paper Items - Lesson plans, outlines, worksheets, etc….

a. Filing system - keep organized

VII. Dismissal Time

A. Bus ministry children

1. Always have a leader

2. Lined up / orderly

a. Do not pare them off

b. Explain single file

c. Make a game - follow the leader

B. Church Kids

1. Do not dismiss until:

a. Parents come for them

b. Adult service has been dismissed

VII. Keeping Children coming

A. Absentees

1. Should have the attitude - there was a soul missing - have an urgency and

concern for the missing child

2. If it is not acknowledged that they were missed - it will hurt the child

3. Acknowledging absentee

a. In person

b. Phone call

c. Card sent out - need to get address & number the first time they

come

d. Take care of on Monday or as soon as possible

B. Make it worth coming back for!

1. Make it exciting

2. Have a story that will continue next week - but do not carry it longer than 2 weeks

3. Review what is going to happen next week

a. Do not tell the children you are going to do something - then not do it.

b. When having a memory project to take home - try to let the parents know about it

c. Give them something they will not lose or pin on them a flyer - make it attractive - not just a scrap of paper.

Resources:

1. Websites

a. Bringthemin.com

b. Kidology.com

c. fishersofkids.com

d. puppet factory.com

e. DanCutchen@juno.com 972-283-4446

f. MadaboutJesus.net

g. Childrensministryvault.com

h. akidsheart.com

i. childrensministrytoday.com

j. Stevespanglerscience.com

k. Electrosnap.com (for a thorough journal on bus ministry, click on bus ministry)

2. Books

a. Clowning - “Sharing God’s Love Through Laughter” Brenda Marshall

b. Dewey’s Gospel Balloons & Gospel Balloon Routines and other routines (Dewey has many helpful booklets and books for children ministry ideas; from balloon routines and tricks, to drawings and also clown routines)

3. MAHER Studios

P.O. Box 420

Littleton, CO 80160

303-798-6830

4. Balloons:

All American Balloons

417 A. Lillard Rd.

Arlington, TX

880-334-5128

**Qualatex balloons are the best**