FourFiveSix.org: Great Ideas for your Preteen Ministry

Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Yancy and Robert Quinn regarding Heartbeat Worship Curriculum.

Heartbeat worship curriculum is a bi-weekly curriculum meant to help preteen and younger kids engage in worship. Yancey explains the background behind the curriculum and her mindset regarding what she wanted the curriculum to do for ministries. Looking at Psalm kids are able to see what the scripture specifically teaches them how to worship. Additionally, it can also teach the leaders how to guide and lead the preteens in worship.

Robert is currently using the curriculum and discusses how it is working with his preteens. One of their favorite components is the resources and tools that it offers the leaders to engage the kids. They have seen preteens that have never engaged in worship in the past taking that next step and beginning to grow in their worship time.

If you are interested in purchasing this curriculum, you can click on this link. https://promo.fourriversmedia.com/yancy-ministries-heart-beat/

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to [email protected]. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Makenna about anticipating their behavior.

You can’t expect preteens behavior. Recently in one of Elevate’s services, the preteens were given two choices of what they wanted to learn. As a leadership we felt that they would choose “A” but when it came down to it they choose the other and it left us with too many kids in a smaller class. When we think we have it all figured out for preteens we realize that we don’t. You may do an event for several years and on the fifth year, you get completely the opposite results. The preteens are at the stage where they will flip flop from week to week.

How can we as preteen leader prepare for the fact that we can’t anticipate preteen behavior? We need to be flexible to adjust our mindsets when it comes to the preteens. Be perceptive and agile to be able to change your game plan on the fly. Also have a bag of tricks to change things as you go.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to [email protected]. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Amanda Davis and Kathy Pitrat from Mt Zion UMC in Bel Air, Maryland about learning at conferences and implementing that information.

A conference is not like anything else you might do to get ideas for your ministry. By setting aside time away from distractions you are able to take in so much more. They started by thinking it was a luxury to be given the opportunity to attend the conference but later realized it was really a necessity. They came away from the conference with a bunch of ideas that were very doable and a very quick change.

Upon returning from the conference they offer some of the ideas that they were able to put into practice. Two things they learned and took away including allowing the preteens to make decisions and be leaders over an aspect of your ministry as well as developing relationships with the preteens through simple things like games and question of the day. Conferences are beneficial when you can take what you learned while attending and turn around and implement it into your ministry upon return.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to [email protected]. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Today on the podcast, Sean talks about sanctification in the preteens in your ministry.

What can we do to come along side of our preteens and help them to become sanctified? When we teach the preteens lives, we tend to want to see the application that the lesson can be used in their lives. There are benefits to application, but his hope is more for transformation. Transformation is a more holistic response because it applies to all aspects heart, mind and soul. It is deeper and more meaningful for them to be transformed by what they learn.

Sean has seen the difficulty in getting preteens to apply the truths that they hear to their lives. They have recently found a magic word and that is “so”. This word can help you to have discussions with your preteens about transformation in their lives after they have heard facts and truths to tie it to.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to [email protected]. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Today on the podcast, Sean shares a portion of the Peer Group Level 2 discussions recently regarding their most engaging lessons.

During the most recent Peer Group Level 2 meeting, Patrick Snow asked the attendees what their most engaging lesson was recently. Through the groups discussion there were some interesting ideas of the needs of our preteens these days. Some ideas you wouldn’t even think about like, the basics of the bible or boys having self-esteem issues. Hopefully some of the ideas that you hear in today’s podcast will offer you some direction on lessons you might think about doing with your preteens.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to [email protected]. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Today on the podcast, Sean talks about an activity to use with your preteens, the two-colored prayer.

At a recent pastoral meeting the pastors were given a journal and two different colored pencils. The pastors were directed to write down their questions, thoughts or needs to God in one color and then sit a listen and try to perceive the Holy Spirit’s voice and write that response in the other color. It is great if this response is in the form of a scripture but if not still write down what is perceived and then go back and see if it goes along with scripture or confirm with a more mature Christian.

This is a great tool for even the preteens. Sean actually plans to use it with the preteen leadership students. Allowing them to do the activity and share if they would like what they feel the Holy Spirit was saying to them. An easy activity for you to do or something to have your preteens do and all you need are two colored pencils and a piece of paper.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to [email protected]. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Today on the podcast, Sean talks with Makenna about the idea of offering preteens a place where they can make an impact in the ministry.

Preteens are at the age where they can begin to make the decision about how they want to give back to the church. They are at the age where they can make the choice to serve or just continue to be an audience like in children’s ministry. By giving the preteens and opportunity to take ownership of the ministry it is allowing them to feel like they are contributing to it.

Makenna explains how in the Deeply Rooted Curriculum there is an emphasis on knowing who you are in God and that you are created with a purpose. That purposes causes us to do certain things to show God to the world, be it through worship, evangelism or serving. In Elevate this year we have given the preteens lots of opportunities to serve in our ministry. Not just for the leadership students but for everyone. For example, with the Surprise Party it has given every preteen a chance to get involved in putting the party together. Our goals should be to activate their faith and the need in them to give back to the ministry.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to [email protected]. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Jaime about the idea of alternating big events with ones less taxing.

Jaime’s favorite thing from 2018 was the Friendship, which required the putting up and tearing down of a giant spaceship every week in Elevate. Although this was a lot of work it was fun for her because it brought joy to the preteens to walk into a giant ship for service. The problem is when you do big events like this it brings about stress which is good, but when you continue week after week having these stressful events is creates distress which is actually unhealthy.

The preteens remember these big events but you have to be intentional about when you are doing them to not distress those responsible for putting it together. Big events are not always about doing a lot of stuff. You can go to a concert with your kids or a conference that doesn’t require you doing all the work. Alternating between things that require investment, energy & stress and those that don’t require anything is the big ide for this week.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to [email protected]. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Pastor Chris about the 6th grade leadership program in Elevate.

Having Pastor Chris join the Elevate team as the 6th grade pastor has allowed us the opportunity to expand our current leadership program. Chris has found that these oldest preteens are able to take on more responsibility and are ready to expand their service to the church.

The 6th grade champions program allows them a chance to see what best suits them and their personalities and strengths. It gives them an opportunity to get plugged in and engaged in a ministry in the church where they feel God is calling them. It is a graduation of sorts from the 5th grade helpers program. It offers them various areas throughout the church to serve: younger kids (preschool and elementary), greeting with the adults, leading worship in the younger kids, helping with a performing arts aspect of the 6th grade class, as well as running the tech booth in Elevate. The preteens move from a generalized program with the 5th grade helpers to a more individualized program in the 6th grade champions. Additionally, on Sundays before they head to where they are serving they meet with Pastor Chris and his wife Jaime to pray and talk about how they are doing.

Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to [email protected]. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.

Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Zach Matchett about the idea of changing up your normal.

The idea of changing your normal ministry routine can bring about so many positive results. For Zach it is his different special events like the “Pre-winter Party” or “Breksgiving” which are done during their normal service time. These are themed events that allow the preteens to invite friends to a light-hearted fun event.

These events are a great opportunity for your ministry to build community by simply changing up the routine a little. What's amazing is the amount of participation that you'll get with these types of events. The preteens really enjoy having a chance to do something different every once in a while.

So how could you change up your routine slightly and add in a themed event to allow your preteens a chance to invite friends?