FourFiveSix.org: Great Ideas for your Preteen Ministry

Today on the podcast, Sean talks with Deandra Ziegler about small group nights.

Deandra discusses the small groups nights they do 4 x's a year at their church. "All Small Groups" occurs on either a Wednesday or Sunday for the entire hour of that service time. Each small group leader plans their groups event (bible study, combining with another group to do a game, or whatever the leader comes up with) and after attendance is taken they leave to go do their small group get together. Deandra explains how holding these events, especially at the beginning of the year, allows for a great foundation to be built in the small groups.

Sean asked how leaders know what to do, especially a new leader coming into the ministry. Deandra explains that they send out newsletters to their volunteers. A couple weeks before the event they send out information with the philosophy behind the event, some ideas of things that have been done, some game ideas. This is all done on campus due to security reasons they are not allowed off campus. If you have questions about Deandra's "All Small Group" night you can click here.

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 Zach Matchett about effectively communicating the gospel with preteens.

Effectively communicating the gospel to preteens includes giving more opportunities to work it in to the teaching. How do you make the gospel in a digestible way for preteens to truly understand all the what questions that might come up for them? Zach suggests repetition, specifically in phrases he uses in his teachings. For example, "Jesus lived the life that we couldn't live" and on the flip side "Jesus died the death we deserved." Secondly, utilizing tactile illustrations for them to understand, like the gospel blocks from Superstart. These blocks are easy for them to grasp the concept and makes it even easier for them to turn around and present the message to a friend. If you have questions about what you heard from Zach or would like to get in touch with him you can email him at [email protected] or click here.

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 taking joy in our work.

Philippians 4:4 says "Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again rejoice." This sounds like a command from God, that we find joy in our work. Jesus even found joy as he was headed to the cross. Finding joy in our work is God's will for us. Sean encourages you, that even if there are difficult things happening in life or at work, that you are able to find joy in everything. Sean suggests taking a moment to write down 10 things that you can rejoice about right now. Take joy in the ministry that God has gifted you with.

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 about the strategy of talking about what is whispered.

Picture a Peanuts cartoon, the characters are talking during class, but in the background you hear the teacher talking and being ignored. We don't want God's word to ever be ignored. We are not wanting the whispers becoming the main focus for our preteens. Taking what they are talking about and incorporating it into the lesson can help to make sense of the whispers and bring the focus back to God. God's word has something to say about what our preteens are whispering about. Sean suggests helping them to tie their whispers to the knowledge found in God's word.

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 Zach Matchett about preteens and application of your message.

Zach discusses the ways he has helped preteens make application of a message they hear, helping them to figure out how that message will affect them going forward. By setting aside time for preteens to talk back to a leader about what they heard, allows them time to process the information. This allows them the ability to apply it and put it into practice during the week.

If preteens don't realize that their faith needs to move beyond the four walls of the ministry space, that following Jesus is an everyday decision, they aren't going to grow. They will move through life and they will not be able to do this as an adult.

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 Ryan Frank regarding MegaCon and the Preteen HQ.

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Ryan, the leader of KidMin, speaks about his heart behind the Preteen HQ that was added to MegaCon at the 2019 conference. Have you ever wondered what conference to attend as a preteen ministry leader? Children's conferences just don't seem to have the necessary resources you are looking for. Maybe think about attending next year's MegaCon 2020 which will occur October 6-8. This is a conference you don't want to miss.

Last year, KidMin introduced the Preteen HQ which focused on preteen ministries. With the help of FourFiveSix they put together a preteen focused conference inside of the children's conference. The resources offered in this area are geared toward your preteen ministry.

If you are interested in the Onference click here. If you want more information regarding MegaCon 2020 and the Preteen HQ click here.

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 continues his talk with Paula Mazza about what to do about mental health in our preteen ministries.

Paula discusses some things that can be done now if you suspect some mental health issues in your preteen ministry. One of the easiest things we can do is to talk about it. Helping preteens to know ways to express how they are feeling can help them to get their feelings out. We are great at making kids feel physically safe in our ministries but often times we don't think about making them feel emotionally, spiritually and socially safe.

There are so many simple things that will emotionally make a preteen feel more comfortable in your ministry. Here are just a few ways Paula suggests.

• Making sure that they know that they are seen.
• Connecting with them so that they don't slip through is also a great way.
• Normalizing emotions is so helpful to make preteens feel comfortable with the feelings they are having.
• One of the biggest things you can do in your ministry is working with you church and community to put together a referral plan. Navigating mental health can be overwhelming for families and anything that we can do to help them will allow the church to be a light in our communities.
• Familiarize yourself with the difference between clinical mental health and just mental health in general by knowing some of the warning signs.

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 to Paula Mazza about mental health in your preteen ministry.

1 in 6 people in our world are between the ages of 10-19. When it comes to mental health half of all mental illness will start showing symptoms before the age of 15. The average delay in diagnosis is 10 years, which in terms of preteens is the formidable years of their lives. Beginning in 2007 and reporting through 2017, according to the CDC's report in October 2019, suicide rates in adolescents has tripled.

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 Michayla White, Executive Director of INCM, about eliminating unnecessary expectations.

There are expectations that we put on ourselves that God does not put on us. The expectations that we put on ourselves will never be as nice or merciful as those that come from the Father. Take a time and step back and seek what the Lord expects of you. Spend some time in Matthew 11 and spend time with God in his presence and allow him to speak to you.

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 an excerpt of the recent Peer Group meeting about challenging the preteens in your ministry.

If we challenge the preteens in our ministry and allow them to do more they will shock us with what they are able to do. Giving preteens the opportunity to be leaders in your ministry can allow them to rise above what expectations we might have for preteens. Don't limit your preteens because they have more to give than you might realize.

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/.