Nan Weesner
Michiana Children's Ministries
Children’s Ministries
I just love this time of the year - VBS and, of course, Youth Camp. Old faces and new faces come together. For some, the only time we see them is thru Vacation Bible School and at Youth Camp. What is even greater are those who turn their lives over to Jesus thru these two outreaches.
This year also brings us the Assembly for Children – “TRANSFORMATION”. The focus is to help kids experience His presence so their lives reflect His glory.
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 -
“We all show the Lord's glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings ever greater glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
The Children’s Assembly is looking for volunteers to help assist in ministering to the children on August 13-16. If you are interested in volunteering for the Children’s Assembly, contact Norma Tarukwasha at www.norma@cogop.org.
Children’s Assembly Information
Just Like Jesus!
(Preschool Ministry, Ages 3-5)
Rooms 211-214
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
9:30 a.m. through 12 noon
TRANSFORMATION Station
(School age Ministry, Ages 6-12)
Rooms 208-209
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
9:30 a.m. through 12 noon
TRANSFORMATION Celebration
(Worship, Ages 6-12)
Rooms 205/206
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
7:00 p.m. through 9:30 p.m.
Nan Weesner
Michiana Children's Ministries
Who is the Greatest?
Mark 9:33-34
Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum and went into a house there. Then Jesus said to them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But the followers did not answer, because their argument on the road was about which one of them was the greatest.
Today, kids are constantly competing for the title of who is the best or who is the greatest. Even children desire greatness in life. We all want to be great and God made us that way. I wonder if the disciples didn’t sound like nine-year-old children as they debated - “I’m better than you!” No wonder they were silent when Jesus asked them about their topic of discussion. Jesus rebuked them and then demonstrated true greatness before them - “And He said to them, if anyone desires to be first, he shall be servant of all. Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me” (Mark 9:35-37).
Vision this - the disciples pounding their chest and drawing attention to themselves, “I’m GREAT!” and “Your NOT so GREAT!” Then here, Jesus calmly sits down in the midst of them and rebukes them for their selfishness. Hopefully, the disciples took notes or at least nodded approvingly. The main point is crystal clear - greatness is expressed through ministering the gospel of Christ to children. Please don’t miss this. Jesus is not merely giving an example of what greatness is like; he is telling us that this is what great Children’s Ministers do! Our 5th grader may outsmart us, but don’t allow your children to miss out on being intimate and knowing who Jesus is.
Trees of Righteousness
“Trees of Righteousness” is the theme for the Institute of Children’s Ministry in May 23-26, 2007, and will be held in Cleveland, TN. The Institute’s focus is “Developing Leaders Impacting Kids” and that is what we want to do in our local church. We want to impact our children. I like one of the definitions in the dictionary for impacting: The power of making a strong, immediate impression. Our desire and focus should be for our children to have an immediate impression of Jesus Christ to the point that they become full of His power and His strength.
The reflection of Jesus Christ in our lives should be so VIVID, that those we are around get a hunger and a thirst for Him. As children’s ministry leaders, the reflection of Him alive within us should IMPACT our children. Matthew 9:36 speaks of the multitude that was with Jesus and He was ‘moved with compassion’. Compassion is that drawing of the innermost parts of your being at the sight of any distressed or miserable object. This is a characteristic of Christ that should be in believers also. His compassion caused Him to reach out and touch the people and they began to have sight, they were made clean, they were healed, and tears were stopped. Luke 7:13 tells us “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.” Let us have this same compassion for our children. And they will receive an immediate impression of His compassion. Let us Impact!
I am in the process of putting dates together for Regional kid’s crusades. The theme will be “IMPACT with COMPASSION” - Jude 1:20-23, But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. |
