FourFiveSix.org: Great Ideas for your Preteen Ministry

Today on the podcast, Sean discusses the idea of recognizing there are potential spiritual battles taking place in the hearts of everyone walking in to service.

Sean discussed a battle that he recognized this last Sunday in Elevate. He spent some time in the Word and praying that morning before service. He walked into the room and could sense something taking place that he could not visually see. There are many Sundays and Wednesdays that he doesn’t feel anything but this specific day he knew there was a spiritual battle taking place. Sean delivered a salvation message, went completely away from the scheduled message, because of what he was sensing. After talking about sin and asking if the preteens had sinned, all preteens raised their hands except one girl. This one girl in all honesty believed she was perfect. After the service getting a little of course, things did a 180 by the end of the day. That preteen girl actually was smiling and admitted she was a sinner and that she was accepted into Christ’s family that day.

The curriculum and lessons that you have planned to bring your preteens in is great. Let’s pray though that our eyes would be open to the spiritual battles taking place in the lives of the preteens we minister too.

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 the new Pastor Sean who is the early elementary pastor at Destiny regarding using everyday items to make a point during a lesson.

Pastor Sean Marshall discusses how everyday objects used during a lesson can be helpful because kids with associate things or ideas to objects. The goal is then that every time they see that object in everyday life it will remind them about a biblical truth.  Everything on earth is designed to give God glory, therefore everything has a message than can be applied to it.

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 the schedule of Elevates’ Destiny Summer Day Camps.

If you are willing to share, in the comments section, your schedule so that we can bounce ideas of each other. Elevate did six day camps from 9am – 5 pm Monday through Friday. Sean runs through the standard schedule that Elevate had each week for camp. This included check-in and set-up of camp, morning gatherings, activity times, excursions, afternoon gatherings, and clean up. Knowing that camp season is just around the corner Sean would love to get your ideas as Elevate prepares for their second year of day camps.

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 discusses the idea that no matter what risks he takes, and how much he may fail, God is still sovereign and Sean is still saved.   

Sean woke up January 2, with a plate so full of things to be done, the pile seemed impossible to accomplish in the time he had. Curriculum needed to be written and produced, preparations for CPC and the Preteen Leaders Online Conference, along with building a large spaceship in the ministry space. The stress was overwhelming.

While on the way to the church that morning he felt God’s peace come over him. The thought that when we take risks and attempt to do big things and we fall short of them, God is still sovereign and our salvation is still with us. Knowing this concept allows you to do dangerous things that might end up in failure. Things might not end up the way that you want them to end up but remember we need to take a risk. Doing something that is more meaningful and powerful might be a bigger risk but it could be that one thing that catches a students’ attention.

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 discusses a pajama party event that Elevate held back in November.

The topic for the night was resting in God. The main point was to put your trust and hope in God and resting in him above all else. Using the pajama party idea made it a fun and memorable way to bring this message to the preteens. The set-up of the room was different allowing for a caged pillow fight for the opening game. The lesson set-up for the night asked the kids about resting, specifically the question “It’s hard to rest when someone is hitting you with a pillow?”

Continuing the theme the preteens were given little pillowcases the size of two post-it notes side by side. There was a large circle on one-side where the kids could write what makes them feel safe inside the circle. After small group time the preteens returned and using the pillows from the pillow fight Sean was able to write down examples from the students of what things made them feel safe. One student said God and using a different pillow Sean wrote on it. He piled all the pillows in the middle and explained how they have all of these things fighting for the spot that they put their trust in with their lives. Looking back at the pillowcases, they took that circle and turned it into an “O” and added G before and D after.  During the workshop time it was set up similar to a build a bear, and the students put a heart inside their pillow case and stuffing and sealed it up to turn it into a pillow. The students were able to take these pillows home with them to remember whom they needed to rest in.

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 some information from Jake Morgan's breakout session during the Preteen Online Leaders Conference last week regarding how shape and design can change the effectiveness of your invitations to preteen events. 

Postcards are not an exciting way of inviting people to special events. According to Jake, preteens need a baby step to help them invite their friends to special events in your ministry. We need one simple thing that is valuable that they will be willing and excited to pass on to their friends.

For their special event, they gave their regular attending preteens postcards with all the details but they made special VIP passes for them to give to their friends to invite them to come. Those passes are pictured in the image for this great idea. They looked like a real ticket to a big event. Offering these special passes for the students to hand to their friends allowed them to be a part of making the event a success and gave them something of value that they were excited to share with their friends.

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 discusses linking special events to your Sunday morning service rather than holding it on a Friday or Saturday.

When Sean first began in ministry they recognized that a Friend’s Day was a great opportunity to get preteens to bring their friends to church. They initially would hold something on Saturday night, like a bowling night or an event at a trampoline park. They thought that by holding the event on Saturday night the kid would spend the night and they would come back with their friend to church on Sunday. Unfortunately, there was limited impact and students would end up not returning on Sunday. Eventually they decided that it would be more beneficial to hold the event on the Sunday which would bring those preteens to the Sunday service. Initially the Friend’s Day would be held immediately after service and they would feed them pizza and then load a bus and go do something fun. More recently the events have been held in the morning before most facilities are open to the public so that it becomes an exclusive event for the preteens and then load the bus and return to the church for a regular service.

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 discusses a game show called The Cube that included games very similar to minute to win it games.

Get ready to discover a treasure-trove of games you can play in your preteen ministry!

Sean gives some ideas for short minimal supplies needed games that can be played in front of the group or in some cases allowing everyone to play. These include Minute to Win It blueprints that you can get from YouTube. Go to YouTube and do a search for m2wi blueprints, or search for thecubeuk.

The great thing about these games is that they use limited supplies and small amount of space to play fun interactive games with the students.

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 and Dayna talk about money saving techniques when buying things for your ministry.

They discuss how saving money can allow you to extend the money that you have allowing you to do more with what you have as well as being good stewards with the churches money. Dayna explains that familiarizing yourself with the needs of your ministry so that when you find things on sale you can buy it even if it is a couple months out until you need it. If you wait until it is to late you will pay whatever to get the items, you need. Joining email lists can be another great benefit for saving money. Familiarizing yourself with the local dollar store can be such a great benefit because sometimes they have stuff you might not think they would have. Finally making sure that your ministry space is also organized will allow you to know what you have so you aren’t purchasing items that you already have but didn’t know where they were.

The main point here to take away is think before you buy and purchase the items at the lowest costs possible.

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 and Makenna discuss the carnival themed VBS that Elevate ran this last summer.

During the week long VBS preteens created their own carnival booths, took a trip to a real-life carnival – the California state fair, and held their own carnival at the end of the week. Sean and Makenna discuss the details of the week including a clown university that didn’t go as well as they would have hoped.

The week ended with a fundraiser on Sunday after church where the kids were able to show off their carnival booths. It was a great opportunity for the church to see what was happening during the week at camp.

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/.