FourFiveSix.org: Great Ideas for your Preteen Ministry

How do we best minister to students with special needs? Today and tomorrow on the podcast, Sean sits down with two parents of preteens who have autism, and they share their thoughts on this question.

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/.

Fasting is a discipline that is prominent in Scripture. Is it appropriate to teach preteens about fasting? Is it appropriate to encourage preteens to go for extended periods of time without food?

At Destiny Christian Church, where Sean is the preteen pastor, the entire church fasts for 21 days each January, and Sean has had to investigate and discover how to engage preteens in this annual tradition of Destiny.

Today on the podcast, he shares what he’s learned. We’d love to find out what you’ve discovered as well. Please share your thoughts and ideas about preteens and fasting at fourfivesix.org. Simply search for "teaching preteens about fasting" to find the page about this topic and to join the conversation.

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/.

The idea of simulating events as object lessons was inspired by the creative people at Christ in Youth – specifically their preteen weekend event, SuperStart!

Sometimes the best OBJECT for an object lesson is an event that takes place within your ministry. Today, Sean gives four examples of how he’s used this concept in Elevate to introduce and reinforce the lessons he was teaching. From having his daughter almost smash a brand new guitar that was her unexpected gift (to set up the lesson about God’s test of Moses to sacrifice Isaac), to having leaders wandering the pre-service area with heavy loads that they could use help carrying (to set up the lesson about opening your eyes to the need around you), simulated events can really bring a punch to teaching a lesson to your preteens.

Today you’ll hear Sean share how they turned their preteen ministry space into an “airport” one summer, and how this creative environment was used as a teaching platform.

TELL US: What’s the most creative transformation of your ministry space that you’ve ever done? Help inspire others by sharing your stories in the comment section below.

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, Sean speaks with Pastor Eric Saathoff about turning weaknesses into testimonies. Just like Moses, who was being called by God to lead God’s people despite a speaking challenge, Pastor Eric has struggled with stuttering since he was a child. Pastor Eric talks today about reconciling his weakness with God’s call on his life, and gives us a GREAT IDEA of what to do with our weaknesses as ministry leaders.

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/.

Many ministries use name tag stickers during service, but what happens after the service is over? Where do all those stickers end up? Destroying clothes in the washing machine? Giving away a child’s identity to strangers at the store?

Today Sean sits down with one of the Children’s Pastors at Destiny, Eric Saathoff, to talk about some great ideas for the destiny of those name tag stickers.

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/.

When Sean first came on staff at Destiny Church, the 1st-5th grade students were all together. His first step in creating a preteen ministry was creating a program within the existing Children’s Ministry called Fifth Grade Helpers.

For over a decade, this program has been evolving as a discipleship program, specifically focused on helping students learn to serve the Church, and to build relationships with others who are dedicated to serving the church.

It has created long-lasting servants, many who are now adults and who continue to serve the Church and maintain friendships with the others who served with them back when they were preteens.

Today is part 4 of a 4 part series about the Fifth Grade Helper program. On today’s podcast, you’ll hear Sean give four ideas to get your student leadership program started in the right direction:

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/.

When Sean first came on staff at Destiny Church, the 1st-5th grade students were all together. His first step in creating a preteen ministry was creating a program within the existing Children’s Ministry called Fifth Grade Helpers.

For over a decade, this program has been evolving as a discipleship program, specifically focused on helping students learn to serve the Church, and to build relationships with others who are dedicated to serving the church.

It has created long-lasting servants, many who are now adults and who continue to serve the Church and maintain friendships with the others who served with them back when they were preteens.

Today is part 3 of a 4 part series about the Fifth Grade Helper program. Today’s podcast gives an example of what a Fifth Grade Helper Meeting looks like.

Each meeting has three components (about 10-15 minutes each):

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/.

When Sean first came on staff at Destiny Church, the 1st-5th grade students were all together. His first step in creating a preteen ministry was creating a program within the existing Children’s Ministry called Fifth Grade Helpers.

For over a decade, this program has been evolving as a discipleship program, specifically focused on helping students learn to serve the Church, and to build relationships with others who are dedicated to serving the church.

It has created long-lasting servants, many who are now adults and who continue to serve the Church and maintain friendships with the others who served with them back when they were preteens.

Today is part 2 of a 4 part series about the Fifth Grade Helper program. Today’s podcast is focused on the how the preteen leaders are chosen.

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/.

When Sean first came on staff at Destiny Church, the 1st-5th grade students were all together. His first step in creating a preteen ministry was creating a program within the existing Children’s Ministry called Fifth Grade Helpers.

For over a decade, this program has been evolving as a discipleship program, specifically focused on helping students learn to serve the Church, and to build relationships with others who are dedicated to serving the church.

It has created long-lasting servants, many who are now adults and who continue to serve the Church and maintain friendships with the others who served with them back when they were preteens.

Today is part 1 of a 4 part series about the Fifth Grade Helper program. Today’s podcast is focused on the “Who” and “Why” of the program.

A few months ago, we released a podcast that gave an overview to the Fifth Grade Helper Program.

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/.