KidMin Backstage

GETTING THINGS DONE!

Many of us in Sunday schools across the nation have original thoughts, but because we don’t execute no one knows about them. The failure to execute stifles the production of Apostolic materials. Apostolics should be leading the charge in Sunday school content. We often feel that we’re not good enough or we think we’re being-quote-humble and we don’t take the initiative. 
Today’s podcast is for me as much as it is anyone. While we hope to offer some insights and motivation, we don’t claim to have it all together, we’re struggling like everyone else. Hopefully we-and someone else- can find some inspiration to get that project started – and finished. 

Here are some of the things we try to cover:

• Setting S.M.A.R.T. goals.
• Perfection is overrated.
• Gaining momentum.
• Embrace the critics.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” _Theodore Roosevelt 

What a character!

Today Steve & I discuss characters and “getting into character”. We use stories very heavily in our Sunday school and characters are a major part of any story.

A few things we try to cover…

-How characters can reinforce the story

-Kids love characters and characters keep their attention

-A few different types of characters:

     -Bible Characters

     -Theme Characters

     -Segment Characters

-The key to creating good characters is to know your storyline 

Kids on stage is a great way to engage. Today Brent and I talk about making Sunday school more than a “classroom”. We want kids to be surrounded by the stories and for them to even be involved in the stories.

A few of the things we try to cover…

-Sunday school can be a theater instead of a classroom

-If kids can DO something when they’re in Sunday School, they’ll come back

-Ways to engage kids

-Kids like to see other kids on stage 

Are you creative?!
(Because you "must" be creative to be in kids ministry)

Today Bro. Aaron & I discuss the subject of creativity. What is it and how do you get it?

Many people don’t think they’re creative at all and wonder why they didn’t get “blessed” with creativity. We argue that creativity is within your reach, and here’s how.

A few things we try to cover…

•  Don’t use your ‘lack’ of creativity for a cop-out.
• Talent is overrated.
• Reverse engineer creativity.

TOP SECRET!

Hard work is the secret ingredient. 

Welcome to Kids Ministry!

Today I’m joined by Brennen, and we’re talking about themes.

We talk about going all out with your theme, from theme-stories and set design to special effects and costumes.

A few things we try to cover:

• What is a theme?
• Ongoing storyline
•  Interactive set designs
• Special effects
• Costumes 

Welcome to Kids Ministry!

Today I'm joined by Steve and we talk about sustainability - not going green.

We discuss ways to keep our Sunday school ministry moving forward and how to maintain an edge. 

Here are a few of the items we tried to cover:

• Consistent format
• Your personal walk with God
• Building a bench - training the next generation
• Standardize
• Don't forget the older ones

Welcome to our debut episode!

This is your backstage pass to kids ministry.

Today Aaron and I talk about creating a Bible story to be acted out on stage in Sunday school. This episode is really a peek behind the scenes as we brainstorm and come up with some ideas for Joseph in the jail with the butler and baker. 

A few points we attempt to cover:

• Bible stories for the sake of just knowing the story
• Making it relatable to kids
• Using comedy (and when not to)
• Costumes, props and stage decor
• Practice & improv

It gets a little crazy with some of our ideas, but hopefully you can get something useful out of it - we at least got some ideas for our Joseph Bible story coming up.