Gaps

I spend so much time at the orthodontist's office that I'm considering having my magazine subscriptions re-routed there. Visits to close the gaps between the teeth of my teenage daughters are always interesting--they've emerged from the office with pink braces (to match the prom dress), blue and yellow braces (school colors before a big game) and even green and red braces (the Christmas edition).


Those of us involved in smaller children's ministry programs spend a lot of time dealing with gaps too--age gaps. In fact, one of the most common frustrations children's ministry leaders share with me concerns the age gaps between the kids who attend their program. This summer Faith Alive's teacher-training coordinator Jolanda Howe and I led a personalized live webinar with a church that had a group of preschoolers and a group of kids between grades 3-6. With a varying number of attendees each week (anywhere from 2-19 kids) and a shortage on teaching staff, those gaps had a real impact on their program plans! All those who can relate to their dilemma please nod. (Yep--me too!)


I attend a church plant, and when we began, our children's ministry program had seven kids--each a different age between 5-11. This year for the first time we have twenty kids listed---nineteen from the ages of 4 to 7 and one 10-year-old. Like the gaps in between my kid's teeth, getting things lined up to make our program work required a little movement here and there. For the first time we've started a bi-weekly grade 5-6 program (using Walk With Me materials for 6-8th grade) and are using the K-3 Kid Connection materials for kids between the ages of 4 through grade 4. We've created our teaching schedule through December with plans to re-evaluate based on numbers and adjust groups as necessary in January.


When it comes to children's ministry (and teeth!) one of the biggest things we have in common is that we're all different! Here's what being 'different' has taught me:


1. Only the 10 commandments are written in stone. Fluctuating attendance means it's important to be flexible. It's okay to switch things up midway through the year if numbers warrant a change.

2. The church down the street isn't perfect either. (I find that comforting, don't you?) Like the colors my kids use to make the best of their braces, we're all figuring out creative ways to deal with the situation we're in.

3. Never "settle" to make things work. At my church we learned this the hard way, once choosing a DVD-based curriculum so we could group the kids and use less teachers. It didn't take long for us to realize that plunking kids down in front of a TV to watch slapstick comedy and learn random Bible verses was a bad idea. It's important to find the most flexible, fun, and theologically sound curriculum available (for us that's Kid Connection) and then tweak it as necessary to make it work in your setting.


I'd love to hear how you are dealing with gaps in your children's ministry this fall. (I know one church in Ontario that engages their older kids by referring to them as "Capitanos" and having them assist in special ways--isn't that great?!) Sharing ideas is a great way to encourage others in similar situations--can't wait to hear yours!



PS Great news for those of you currently teaching KC Year 3--Faith Alive Resources has just purchased permission to provide lyrics for all the year 3 songs not found in the Sing With Me songbook! For a minimal cost you can download a copy of all the lyrics you need! (By the way, we learned the song "For All You Do" last week at my church and each time we sang "do, do, do, do, do..." we had the kids extend their arms and roll their hands like they were boxers hitting a speed bag. They loved it!)