Facebooking in Kids Ministry

There’s no doubt about it, we have crossed over.

Gone are the days of only chatting with friends via the phone, or in the hallways at school. Today there are literally dozens of media options that keep kids connected 24/7.

Kids are naturally social, so it is no wonder sites like MySpace & Facebook have taken off among the kids and teenagers of the world. I’ve heard varying opinions about whether or not this latest social trend is good for Christians, or if it will pose another cultural problem the church must fight. Wherever we fall on the issue, we must confess that kids are there. They have Facebook pages, they text, and they unfortunately play Farmville.

Without getting into a rant against random, cheesy, farm games, let me say that I believe both good and bad can come from Facebooking. While it does open the door wide open for influences and potential risks, I have personally found it to be a great medium for conveying information, and even partaking in a little ministry work.

Below I’ve outlined some of the ways I believe Facebook can be rewarding for a Children’s Ministry. I’ve also outlined some tips I’ve found to be helpful when dealing with kids on Facebook. This social networking site holds great potential for bringing a children’s minister closer to their kids, and is a good source to extend the discipleship beyond the average Sunday morning.

Let’s look at what Facebook has to offer.

Messages – Much like email, this feature allows you to send messages to certain people. You can attach documents, links, videos etc. This is a nice feature because all you have to remember is a name and face, not some random email address like pootsybear79_TX3351@camelmail.net . Messaging is a great way to send information to kids and parents under your ministry. It is quick and easy, and even allows for a conversational style when participants select to reply to all.

Messaging is also a good way to connect with a kid in your ministry, who is otherwise closed in. We live in an era where many kids – and even adults for that matter – are more comfortable opening up behind a computer screen. Someone who is introverted in public, will not talk or participate, may be willing to share their troubles via a medium that is less confrontational. Personally I have found this to be true. There were a couple of kids in my children’s ministry that would be closed in person, yet online would be willing to talk. This medium allowed me to give them godly counsel, and ministry, in a setting that was comfortable to them. It also opened the door for them to feel comfortable speaking to me about it in person. Knowing that I was already aware of what was going on allowed these kids to feel more comfortable when we saw each other face to face.. It provided me a way to connect with kids who needed spiritual guidance.

We need to recognize though, that while messaging may present a good opportunity to connect, there needs to be some guidelines in place to protect everyone involved.

Fan Pages – This feature allows you to create a specific page for your ministry. I would highly recommend this method over using a personal page for ministry purposes. This is a great way to quickly convey information and news. Every time you make a post, it immediately goes to the newsfeed section of your fan’s pages. This is a great tool for ministries to provide simple teaching tips, inspirational sayings, a scripture of the day, or illicit conversation over a thought. I would suggest using the wall of your Facebook page (in less than 420 characters of course) to briefly recap the highlights of your kid’s church, or Sunday school, the week before. Ask your kids, teachers, and parents to get involved in the discussion. This will present new opportunities to reinforce the lessons, and get kids thinking about spiritual issues beyond 10am – 11am on Sunday morning.

Events – This feature allows you to place your events on a calendar and send notifications to all your friends. This is a great feature for promoting an upcoming rally, special Sunday, recreation activity, etc. As the date of the event get’s closer, a reminder is placed on the news feed section of your friend’s pages. Not only can you post events, but you can also send out virtual invitations to everyone on your friends list. They, in turn, can pass the invitation on to other friends. This is a great way to promote your event with no cost. This is a great tool for busy ministries with a low budget!

Notes – This section is a minister’s dream. The notes section is basically a blog that allows you to share your thoughts with everyone on your friends list. This is a great place to share experiences, testimonies, or to expound on a thought or Sunday school lesson. You can use notes to send a devotional to your teachers, kids, and parents. You can use notes for training purposes, or to reinforce the sermon from Kids Church. The notes section can be a great discipleship tool in the hand of a minister. If you open a ministry page, use this section weekly to teach your kids, teachers, and equip your parents. When you post a note, everyone on your friends list is immediately notified. This is a great way to disseminate information, and extend your ministry reach beyond Sunday.

Birthdays – Every kid is enthusiastic about their birthday. It is their day! Facebook allows you to place your friend’s birthdays on your calendar, and reminds you when one is approaching. When a birthday arrives, send a quick note or wall post. This is a wonderful way to remember and celebrate this special occasion in a kid’s life without spending money on postage, or having to remember to send a card. If you like sending a card, and have no problem remembering, then keep this up also. The birthday reminders can be a great way for you to show you care enough about your kids to celebrate their special day.

Photos – Facebook allows you to create photo albums to display your pictures. Use this feature to post photos from Kid’s Church, rallies, crusades, fun events, etc. Create a “silly photo” album and fill it with nothing but crazy pictures of your kids! Have them pose silly, or make silly faces, or catch them in funny actions, and post them in this album. This will create a place where kids can relive fond memories. Children’s Ministry is all about creating impressions and memories. The photos section of Facebook can help you achieve this goal.

FB Advertising – This is a great feature that can give your ministry wide exposure for pennies on the dollar. Create an ad campaign that reaches your community. You pay pennies for each impression, or click on the Advertisement. For less than $100 you can literally put your ministry in front of millions of people.

Farmville – There is absolutely no value in Farmville. Stay away from it. It is from Satan. It is in the Bible not to play cheesy farm games. Look it up in Hezekiah 33:5. :)

As a recap,

Facebook can be a great way to expand your Children’s Ministry. It provides opportunities to disciple, connect, inform, and relate to the kids in your church. By having access to your kid’s Facebook pages, you can keep up to date on the happenings in their life. You can see what is important to them, what they are facing, and it helps you keep tabs on the spiritual state of your kids. This is a great tool for Children’s Ministry workers because it helps you clue in to what your kids need each Sunday. It moves you from taking a bird shot approach of teaching curriculum and hoping it hits home with someone, to a place of strategic discipleship. When you know where your kids are at in life, you are better empowered to bring them a word from God that speaks to their “today.” Such empowerment moves ministry into a deeper and more influential place. It makes a greater impact in the lives of your kids.

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and oh yea, Farmville is evil.

Let me know ways in which you have used networking media in ministry. I am interested in hearing all your comments about how sites like Facebook can, or have, increased ministry opportunities for you!

Growing Trends In Children's Ministry

Children’s Ministry is changing! Not only do our kids grow and the needs of the family change, but so must our ministry and the means by which we reach this new generation. Gone are the days of felt boards, and sitting quietly in Sunday school. We have now entered the age of Playstation, Power-Point, and roller skate tennis shoes.

Here are the top 6 positive trends we have identified as growing within the UPCI. These trends will impact your ministry and increase your effectiveness in reaching for the children of this world.

TREND #1 - TAKING A “HANDS ON” APPROACH.

For years many churches approached children’s ministry in the same way they did 20 or 30 years ago. There are a growing number of churches realizing that we can not reach this new generation with old mindsets. Whereas children once had the ability to sit at tables and work through lessons, kids today need the constant activity and hands on interaction that many churches are turning to. Group Publishing, a leader in Children’s Ministry resources, caught this trend and published their “Hand’s on Bible Curriculum” for Sunday school. It has been a tremendous success. Another engaging curriculum is “Kid’s on the Move” published by Church on the Move in Tulsa OK. Both of these resources use a hands on approach that takes kids from just hearing the word of God, to experiencing the word of God.

Also, The UPCI's Word Aflame Publishing offers a distinctly Apostolic Kid's Church and Sunday school curriculum that promotes hands on teaching, and involves students in all activities, while at the same time teaching Apostolic doctrine.

TREND #2 - MEDIA MINDED MINISTRY

This trend continues in the spirit of trend #1. When competing against game systems, television, and videos, churches have discovered that traditional methods are no longer efficient. Because of this many Children’s Ministry leaders have found ways to include power-point, video, and other media in their kid’s church services. (Please see video below)

A multi-media Ministry is highly engaging, but not necessarily more effective than a ministry that can not afford the bells and whistles. What is truly important is for your Children’s Ministry to have a staff that engages the children and forms strong relationships with their kids.

TREND #3 - PARENTAL INVOLVMENT

A growing trend that is revolutionizing the way churches minister to children is something that is so basic and biblical that many have underestimated its importance for generations. Our society has the mindset that it is the responsibility of our local school system to educate our children. Many feel that only well trained, professional, teachers are qualified to properly educate our kids.

This mindset has permeated the church. Many feel that the responsibility of instructing our kids in the ways of God falls primarily to the Sunday school teacher. However, this mindset is changing as parents are beginning to see the importance of being involved in the spiritual instruction of their children. In many churches the Children’s Ministry is taking a supportive role and working to equip parents with the tools to effectively teach their Kids. Churches that find ways to include parents will increase the effectiveness of their ministry by leaps and bounds.

TREND #4 - CHILD SECURITY

Unfortunately the closer we get to glory, the deeper in sin this world must fall. It is becoming more and more common to turn on the radio, open the news paper, or log onto the internet and read about another abduction or abuse case. This unfortunate sign of the times is what has prompted trend number four. Many churches have recognized the need to create policies to safe guard our children. By utilizing a “check in” system, as well as adhering to proper teacher-student ratios and doubling up on bus ministry runs, churches are increasing their awareness of safety needs and taking the proper steps to protect their children from abuse or abduction, and their teachers from wrongful allegations. Creating a safety policy is a smart decision that every church should make.

TREND #5 – EVANGELISM

Bus ministry has always been a popular form of child evangelism. However, we are seeing a new trend approaching on the horizon. Kid’s street services are being found to be an extremely effective way of reaching the children in our communities. For many years churches have hosted “back yard Sunday Schools,” but lately more and more churches are catching on to this innovative outreach.

With exciting music, high energy games, puppets, candy and other activities, our churches are finding that hosting a street service is a highly effective means to promote your church and its Children’s Ministry. During these events, if you send your staff to walk the kid’s home and get their information from Mom & Dad, it becomes a great way to build your bus ministry!

TREND #6 - THE PRIORITIZATION OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

To me this trend is the most exciting. For FAR TOO MANY YEARS Children’s Ministry has sat on the back burner of many churches. Most of a church’s time, attention, and resources went toward reaching the teenagers, and adults. More and more churches are realizing that by reaching out to children they are growing their church! It has been said many times, “Save an adult and you save a soul. Save a child and you save a life.”

In a recent Barna Research study they found that only 1 out of every 7 senior pastors listed Children’s Ministry as a priority in their church.

1 out of every 7!

This is staggering when you think about the fact that our greatest chance of influencing someone to live for Christ is between the ages of 5 and 12! Many churches, especially our home mission churches, are discovering that by reaching the children they are able to reach the entire family. No longer is Children’s Ministry only a “necessity” it is now becoming a priority!

If, as Children’s Ministry workers, we do our jobs right; then that makes it easier for the youth pastor, and eventually the pastor, to do their jobs. We are the first line of assault when it comes to Children. What we teach them and what we instill in them will shape their beliefs, values, and ideas for the REST OF THEIR LIVES!


JOE’S THOUGHTS

The question is not “Are children important in my church?”

It is “Are children a priority in my church?”

The answer to that question greatly determines how effective our church and Children’s Ministry will be in reaching the future generation. If we approach kids as anything other than a priority, we should not be surprised when they choose something other than God.

Why?

Because the world understands the importance of making them their priority and it has put into motion many things to influence the children to live worldly and humanistic lives. Looking at the world objectively, there is no other area of ministry fought harder than the field of our Children. Hell is doing everything in its power to remove God from their lives, teach humanistic doctrine, normalize sin, and degrade the family structure, all for the purpose of influencing our children - the future generation.

The church is the only entity that can defeat the game plan of Hell. Left unchecked Hell will prevail; left un-reached we will lose our children. It is imperative that each church make Children’s Ministry a priority if they wish to be effective in influencing the next generation for Christ.


Below is a video segment I use in kid's church - as well as rallies, camps, and crusades. I call it "Bro. Joe's Toy Stories." It is a simple concept using toys to tell a Biblical story or illustrate a Biblical principle. I got the idea from Karl Bastian - The Kidologist. It is a lot of fun and kids absolutely love them.

I would love to hear how you incorporate media into your Kid's Church. Please comment below and share your ideas!

What is the price of purity?

It seems like you can buy anything on the internet these days. Sarah Palin sold her private jet, a wealthy entrepreneur sold spectator rides into space. The government of a small country once sold an entire island in the pacific, and who can forget about the half eaten grilled cheese sandwich which resembled the Virgin Mary being auctioned off on eBay?

But this tops the charts in my opinion….

“Student auctions off virginity for offers of more than $3.7 million.”

That was the headline of the Telegraph news report. Apparently a California girl named Natalie decided to sell her body to the highest bidder in hopes of paying off a masters degree in Marriage and Family therapy. The idea came to her after she learned that her older sister was able to pay off her college degree by working as a prostitute for 3 weeks.

I believe it is an understatement to say that we live in a sexually charged world. Immorality and promiscuity have become the norm, and what was once considered reckless sexual behavior is now commonly expected out of teenagers and college students.

Unfortunately the emphasis on sexuality doesn’t stop there. Once pre-marital sex saturated the colleges, it was only a matter of time before it trickled down into our high schools, junior highs, and even middle schools. Today’s 10 and 11 year olds face a much more sexually aggressive society than any of us adults faced when we were that age.

It may be hard for us to contemplate the idea of kids engaging in sexual behaviors, and discussing sexual matters, but the reality is that the internet has become a door for all kinds of impropriety to take place. Issues that were once reserved for Youth Pastors are now being addressed by Children’s Pastors as well.

A good example of such an issue is the recent Halloween Costumes that have been released for pre-teen and elementary aged girls. Costumes that show the child’s midriff, thighs, and accentuate features not yet developed on most 8-10 year old girls. Another example is the rise in popularity of networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. Sites like these can be a good place for kids to express their individuality and chat with friends, but they also provide opportunities to engage in unwholesome conversations and allow pedophiles access to naïve and innocent prey. Left unchecked, a MySpace account can be detrimental to a child’s innocence and become an avenue of experiences that are way beyond the maturity level of the user.

It is estimated that our hyper-sexualized culture now reaches into more than 60% of American homes via the internet & 2/3 of homes through television. Sexuality is a constant topic in many schools and can be seen on the cover of any latest teen magazine, which are often coveted by pre-teen girls.

A timeless truth is that kids want to be older. For many girls this means wearing the short skirts, showing the midriff, and donning the lip glosses, earrings, eye shadow, and wearing that blouse or shirt just off the shoulder. For many boys this means adopting crude and even vulgar language, spouting innuendoes, and making inappropriate gestures and having inappropriate conversations. To top it off, we live in a society that enables such behavior and embraces what should be taboo.

It breeds the question today, what is the price of purity?

Some sell it for a quick thrill. Some sell it for curiosity or pleasure. Some sell their purity for popularity or to fit the status quo. Some sell it to emulate their idols; and apparently some – like Natalie Dylan – sell it for 3.7 million dollars.

For many years sexual purity has been the subject of many youth group meetings. However, the current culture of our world has caused some experts, like James Dobson of focus on the family, to encourage churches to teach abstinence to kids as young as middle school.

This idea isn’t a bad one. It makes sense that we should teach these kids how to swim before they enter the waters of adolescence instead of scrambling to save them from drowning after they have crossed the adolescent line. However, abstinence education isn’t usually a subject you hear addressed in many children’s ministries.

Of course, the primary teacher should be parents. However, the topic of abstinence and sexual purity is a sensitive and often embarrassing one for parents and kids alike. Below I have provided links to articles featured on Focus on the Family’s website which discuss teaching your child about healthy sexuality. If anything, the church should be a resource parents can utilize to teach their kids about the dos and don’ts of sexual behavior.

Years ago the UPCI put forth “Worth the Wait” and emphasized the importance of sexual purity to teenagers across the nation. Unfortunately today it is necessary that we teach our pre-teens how to slay the promiscuity dragon.

What are your thoughts? Do you agree that it is a good idea to introduce abstinence lessons to kids as young as middle school? What are ways that parents, and the church, can safeguard their children against the dangers of a sexually aggressive world?

Please, share your thoughts. While the subject is not comfortable, the perverseness of our Sodom and Gomorrah world has forced us to address the reality of immorality at a much younger age than any of us care to.

We can’t afford to wait until they’re teenagers to reach them. The world is vying for our children and they are adamant about making them as amoral as possible.

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/sexuality/talking_about_sex/talking_to_tweens_about_love_sex_and_relationships.aspx

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/sexuality/teaching_children_healthy_sexuality.aspx

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/sexuality/teaching_children_healthy_sexuality/how_to_start_early.aspx

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/sexuality/healthy_childhood_sexual_development.aspx

The Greatest Investment A Church Could Ever Make!!!

In my opinion, one of the greatest inventions in the world today is Bible Quizzing. What greater investment could we – the New Testament Church – make other than implanting the word of God directly in the hearts and minds of our children?

Solomon said it best,

“Train up a child in the way he should go:
and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

–Proverbs 22:6 –

Bible Quizzing is the only program that completely fulfills the commandment of Deuteronomy 6:7,

“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children,
and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house,
and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou
liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Diligently means: to be attentive, persistent, a constant effort to pursue something with painstaking attention.

The Aramaic word used for diligently in this scripture is Shanan, which is defined as: intensively, to pierce, to implant by repeated statement or admonition; to teach persistently.

God is telling Israel, through Moses, that the words of God are not merely meant to be read on various occasions….

Rather, it is the duty of every mother, of every father, to make a painstaking effort to intensively implant the words of God into the hearts of their children by repeatedly talking about them, admonishing them, and teaching them with painstaking attention.

I have found no other program that does this greater than Bible Quizzing!

It is the word of God that keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:9-11)

It gives us joy (Jeremiah 15:16)

It is powerful (Hebrews 4:12)

It is never failing and eternal (Matthew 24:35) (Mark 13:31) (Luke 21:33)

And in Psalm 138:2 David states,

“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”

Of a truth, there is nothing greater a mom or dad could do for their child than to teach them diligently about the word of God.

Every home should have a Bible Quizzer.

Every church should have a Bible Quiz team.

Mom and dad, if your child is not in Bible Quizzing I would strongly urge you to investigate its profitability, you will find no other investment with a greater return.

Pastor, if your church does not have a quiz team, I would strongly urge you to look into starting one. What greater thing could you do for the kids in your church than to provide the means for the word to get deep within their hearts!

“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children…”

Two weeks ago, my son started Bible Quizzing. I could not be prouder. In 14 days, he has already learned 12 scriptures!

Tonight I videoed him quoting his verses, how awesome it is to hear such a young child speaking the very words of life.

Bible Quizzing!

There’s nothing GREATER!

He got all the way up to verse 27 - which he learned today - he struggled with the last one, but eventually he got it.

The Twilight of Harry Potter?

In 1997 author J.K. Rowling took the world by storm with the introduction of her wildly popular series of books about an underdog wizard and his band of friends. Today – after eleven years, seven books, five movies and $15 million dollars worth of merchandise and paraphernalia – Harry has successfully enchanted the hearts of children all over the world, and solicited the concern and animus of Christians.

And rightfully so….

For many years I have been an outspoken adversary of the book and movie franchise which depicts a wizard as a hero. The Bible speaks very plainly about witchcraft.

“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son
or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination,
or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.”
- Deuteronomy 18:10 -

“And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand;
and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:”
- Micah 5:12 -

“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”
- Exodus 22:18 -

And of king Manasseh God said,

“But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD,
like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD
had cast out before the children of Israel. "
- II Chronicles 33:2 -

Why?

“he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.”
- II Chronicles 33:6 -

And in the New Testament God said,

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:
of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past,
that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
- Galatians 5:19-21 -

God does not hide his feelings regarding the sin of witchcraft. It is tantamount to murder, hatred, adultery, alcoholism, and every other vile sin.

Unfortunately Hell has been successful in convincing many people that witchcraft and divination are superstitions of the past, and the only reality of its existence today is what we see in movies, books, and television.

I was dumb founded the day I surveyed our preteens and found that not one of them believed in the reality of witchcraft. Even those raised in our Sunday school believed it was only fantasy and nothing to be concerned about.

Survey your kids and see if you get similar results.

Hollywood and other entertainment mediums, have painted witches, and other hellish spirits, as make believe. When we think of a witch, we get the distorted image of a greenish figure dressed in black apparel with a long pointy, warty, nose. Since that is the antithesis of what actual witches look like, we tend to not recognize them in society and eventually disbelieve they exist at all.

Hollywood has been on the forefront in promoting this deception, and they’re at it again.

Today another vile movie targeting preteens is being released. This time it isn’t a witch or wizard that has come to enchant our children. This time it’s a vampire.

Twilight…

Move over J.K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer is the new author to put pen to paper and recreate and evil to make it good. Twilight is a vampire/romance story that includes a teenage girl and a 17 – going on 100 – year old male vampire named Edward.

Released in 2005 Twilight has made its way into preteen hearts and is sucking the blood out of Potter’s reign as the supernatural evil turned good guy for kids. It has been followed by three sequels already and makes its way to the silver screen today.

There is a danger in this kind of fantasy. The Bible prophecies of a day when evil will be called good, and it is movies like these that serve as a clarion call that we are living in that day.

I’ve heard it many times before, “but Harry is a good wizard.” Now it’s “but Edward is a good vampire trying to beat his natural tendency to do evil.” I’ve even heard some liken it to the Christian struggle against the flesh. We must never forget that these movies DO NOT depict good vs evil. What ever the fictional intentions of a wizard or a vampire, both are inherently evil in the sight of God.

These movies are not about good vs evil, they are about a lesser evil vs a greater evil. However, in the eyes of God they are ALL evil.

A person once told me, “its just entertainment.” Unfortunately that is not true. It’s more than that. First, as Christians we should not allow the evil abominations of this world, and of hell, to be our source of entertainment. Second, in my opinion, movies like these only reinforce the inability of many to distinguish between reality and fantasy. They continue to paint these evils as fiction and help to disconnect humanity from the reality of satanic spirits.

Because of a dropped guard, hell has dazzled, enchanted, and romanced its way into the hearts and lives of kids, teenagers, and adults alike.

The underlying theme of Twilight proclaims “Forbidden Fruit Tastes the Best.” The author’s intentions were to mimic Adam & Eve’s temptation for the forbidden tree through the unacceptable romance between a normal teenage girl and an underworld killer.

Curious as to why preteens would love this movie I asked parents why their girls longed to be bitten by Twilight. Unequivocally the answer was – The Romance.

They are enthralled by the romance of the story.

With the release of this movie, it would be a good time for children’s ministers, parents, and pastors to remind their kids that in this world there is no such thing as “good evil.” Abominations, no matter how innocent Hollywood makes them appear, are still damnable in the eyes of God.

It would also be a good time to remind them about the greatest love story ever told. About the man who loved them so much that he didn’t take their blood, but GAVE his, so that they may have eternal life.

If they are looking for romance, what better place to show them true love than to remind them about the lover of their souls.

If they are looking for a love story, what about the bride groom who defeated death, hell, and the grave so that they could be freed from the prison of sin?

Isabella & Edward, Harry & Hermione, Their love can not compare to the ultimate display of love found in Christ and the cross. Their love is carnal, but his is supernatural. Their love is rooted in evil – despite its appearance – but his love is the greatest act of mercy and grace mankind could ever know.

Their love ends at the end of the story. The love of Christ will be revealed throughout all eternity and lavished upon those who delight themselves in him.

Our world increasingly places pressure on our girls to conform to lasciviousness and promiscuity in order to satisfy their inherent need for love and romance. These movies only reinforce that ideal and compound it with the notion that they can find such fulfillment in the arms of the forbidden.

What our girls need today is a realization that true romance is found not in the arms of the ungodly, but in the purity of a Biblical relationship. They need to know that the source of that romance is the one whose very nature is love.

Harry Potter….

Twilight…

We live in a world where evil is called good, and good seems less than desirable. Our children are not immune to the fads and fantasies of this world. Unfortunately, like Lot, we live in a society that daily vexes the souls of those who love righteousness.

While we may not be able to do anything about the emergence of these movies, we can definitely combat them by reminding those they target that their essence is evil and their messages wrong.

Love is not found in the arms of the sadistic….

It is found in the bosom of God.

Five year olds pledge to accept homosexuality

What would be your first reaction if you arrived at the school to pick up your five year old, only to learn that he pledged to promote Homosexuality in his Kindergarten class?

He didn’t learn math that day. There were no discussions about language, phonics, or writing. He did not participate in activities that promoted the proper development of motor skills, nor did he learn about time or money.

No, today he was taught to accept Homosexuality as a normal lifestyle.

He barely knows the difference between male and female. He has just recently started grasping the dynamics of relationships. Yet today someone is teaching him that it is perfectly normal for Susie to have two mommies.

What would your reaction be?

Probably something akin to the reaction from parents of kindergartener’s at Faith Ringgold School of Arts and Science in Hayward, California. Two weeks ago Tara Miller, a Kindergarten teacher, passed out pledge cards to children in promotion of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) “Ally Week.”

Pledge cards.

It takes an act of congress to get a five year old to clean their room, yet she is pledging them to the acceptance of homosexual behaviors? It is clear that the ideology and behavior of Ms. Miller disqualifies her from having any type of educational role in the lives of children.

But I digress.

The cards that Ms. Miller distributed asked kids to pledge to "not use anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) language or slurs; intervene, when I feel I can, in situations where others are using anti-LGBT language or harassing other students and actively support safer schools efforts."

While on the surface such a pledge might sound like it promotes equality – which is a noble initiative – underneath it is just one of many GLSEN efforts to normalize homosexuality through indoctrination of the next generation.

On their website GLSEN states that part of their mission is

“to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes in creating a more vibrant and diverse community. We welcome as members any and all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or occupation, who are committed to seeing this philosophy realized in K-12 schools.”

In their public policy section GLSEN claims,

“GLSEN believes that all school employees need pre-service and in-service training that includes accurate information about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues and people. GLSEN calls upon boards and administrators to provide these trainings for current school employees and those studying to enter the profession as part of comprehensive training.”

These quotes illustrate GLSEN’s commitment to see the homosexual lifestyle accepted by future generations through the systematic teaching of children in their formative years.

And GLSEN isn’t the only organization out there with this goal.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force joins the charge by directly opposing evangelical organizations, such as Focus on the Family, as well as ex-gay ministries that teach conversion from homosexuality through faith in Jesus Christ. They recognize that the best way to counter attack is to target youth and empower parents to educate their children on the normality of homosexuality.

You can read more on their game plan at http://www.thetaskforce.org/

The Gay and Lesbian movement have a well thought, organized, and passionately driven agenda to change the direction of our country and to normalize the homosexual lifestyle. They are determined and relentless in the pursuit of their goal. They are focused, active, and strategic with their initiatives.

They have a plan, and they are working their plan.

It is time for the church to step up. Unless we become just as relentless, unless we become just as focused, just as determined, just as organized, just as passionate about stopping this movement and establishing our children upon the purity of scripture, we will lose this struggle.

One of the most disturbing aspects of the Faith Riggold School story was a statement made by the district officials after being confronted about the incident. While they admitted that the pledge cards were inappropriate for kindergarten students, they tried to justify the existence of the cards by stating that the pledge cards “were intended for middle school and high school students.”

As if that’s any better.

There is a collaborated effort to indoctrinate our children with pro-gay and lesbian ideology in every level of education – from pre-school, through middle school, through high school, and even into college.

As of yet the school district has refused to answer whether or not they will take action against the behavior of this kindergarten teacher, Tara Miller. This is most troubling as it illustrates that school districts as a whole are accepting the teaching of pro-gay curriculum in their school buildings.

Do you know what your kids are learning?

I don’t believe this indoctrination is reserved for just Hayward California. I’ve heard of pro-gay and lesbian initiatives being enacted in schools here in the Houston area. It is a goal of organizations like GLSEN & the Task Force to push this doctrine in schools all over the country.

Pastors, children’s ministry workers, children’s pastors, do you know what the kids in your church are being taught when they walk into the classrooms of your local public school?

Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, said that the parents of the kindergarteners in Ms. Miller’s class weren’t even aware of what was going to take place in the classroom. He said that it is common to find classrooms in California discussing gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender issues and parents not even be aware of the objectionable material being passed to their children.

When they should be learning reading, writing, and arithmetic; our schools are teaching our children to tolerate, accept, and embrace homosexuality as a normal lifestyle despite its unbiblical behavior and perverted mindset.

We will only turn this cultural tide when pastors fully grasp what the kids in their churches are facing, and respond with a passion.

The only way we can counter this pro-gay agenda is with passionate, anointed children’s pastors and children’s ministry workers, who will declare the word of God and define sin.

And, most importantly…

The first line in the defense against this aggressive pro-gay agenda is MOM & DAD.

Parents have got to rise to the occasion and become the primary teachers and instructors of their children in Biblical matters. It is time to shift away from the idea that the Sunday School department of your local church is responsible for the biblical teaching of children.

“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” – Deuteronomy 6:7-

God designed it so that the parents are the primary influencers in a child’s life. If mom and dad are silent on things that concern God, then the voice of the children’s pastor will be overshadowed by the silence of the parent.

I’ve experienced this tragic truth time and time again in my own children’s ministry.

The voice of my warning never registered in the ears of many kids because their parents refused to join their voice with mine in warning their children about the dangers of sin.

Parents it is time for us to take the reigns. We are the ones God will hold responsible for the direction of our children’s lives. We are the primary means of defense against this homosexual agenda.

If we do not rise to the challenge and teach our children, we will lose them to this worldly mindset.

GLSEN, the Task Force, the Democratic Party, and others are leading the charge to promote acceptance and normality of homosexuality and other anti-biblical values. The only way to win this struggle and secure our children is for pastors, children’s ministry workers, and – first and foremost – parents, to approach discipleship of kids with the same passion, intensity, and drive.

If we bring our “C” game, or even our “B” game to the court, then we will lose. They are bringing their “A” game….

Let’s show them what we’ve got!

Should HSM dance its way into your Kid's Church?

One of the biggest events in kid culture happened this past weekend.

Did you catch it?

In 2006 Disney aired its biggest Original Movie ever – High School Musical. During its preview week this fresh, new, preteen hip hop musical garnered over 7.7 million viewers!

It took the kid world by storm!

What started out as a low budget, made for TV movie, has turned into a multi-billion dollar franchise that covers everything from movies, t-shirts, posters, toys, Broadway spinoffs, Disney on Ice show, concerts, etc.

It is huge!

In 2007 Disney released HSM’s sequel which drew over twice as many viewers as its predecessor – $17.3 Million on the first night! Kids were hosting “High School Musical Parties” and inviting friends over to spend the night and sing along with Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan and the rest of the East High Wildcats.

Last Friday Disney released High School Musical 3. This time the show wasn’t launched on TV, but made its way to the big screen raking in more than $82 Million dollars in its opening weekend. That’s a lot of dough.

So, what makes High School Musical so popular?

Kids love the catchy songs, the fresh look, the high energy, and the pure fun of the films. Parents like them because they are relatively clean movies that reinforce core values such as friendship, hard work, loyalty, humility, team work, kindness, equality, and treating everyone as equals – regardless of popularity or perceived abilities.

Paul Asay, writer for Focus on the Family’s “Plugged In” movie reviews states, “HSM3 salutes friendship, family, responsibility and opportunity. It embraces the idea of dreaming big?”

Whether you agree with movies or not, we must recognize that the High School Musical franchise is big. So big in fact, that it has made tremendous ripples on the sea of Kid culture that affects every elementary to high school age kid.

I guarantee, even in apostolic churches, that the majority of our kids have seen HSM 1 & 2, and will most likely see 3 some time in the near future.

Knowing this, what are your thoughts concerning the use of movies to illustrate Biblical principles of friendship, loyalty, accepting people despite their differences, hard work, maturity, selfishness, etc?

I’ve heard of churches using clips of High School Musical in Bible Studies and Kid’s Church lessons in order to illustrate a point with something the kids know and relate to.

Is there value in such a tactic?

I’m not promoting this idea, just opening the door for discussion. Whichever side you fall on, we must all recognize the major impact HSM has made in the world of Kids. If we let it go unanalyzed, we could potentially miss something that could give us a clue into the minds and interests of this generation of kids.

So please, comment below and let me know your thoughts. Would you use clips from HSM in your Kid’s Church or Bible Study? Would you use the popularity of this phenomenon to help convey Biblical truths? Is there value in it? Or does it take away from spirituality and Biblical teaching?

Better Than Spiderman!

Growing up my favorite super hero was Spiderman. The reason I liked Spiderman wasn't because of his web slinging abilities, his keen sense of discernment, his knack for sarcasm, or his insanely scientific brain. No, the reason I liked Spiderman was because he was real.

Now don't get me wrong - I don't really believe there exists a radiation induced human arachnid swinging above New York in blue & red tights. When I say he's real, I'm referring to the struggles he faced in his stories; the obstacles, conflicts, and emotional barriers he was forced to overcome on an almost daily basis.

Take Superman for example, he is the man of steel. The champion of truth, justice, and the American way. He is a model of self sacrifice and servitude. However, he is practically invincible; and the only internal conflict we see in him is his indecisiveness over whether or not he should reveal his identity to Lois Lane.

Peter Parker (Spiderman) is an average kid - nothing special about him. He wasn't popular, he wasn't an athlete, scholar, or Mr. outgoing. He faced low self - esteem, guilt, insecurities, grief, pain, etc. Every emotion that real humans feel day after day. What made him a hero was that he always overcame them - no matter how strong the temptation was to give into himself - and did what was good, decent, and right.

Even Stan Lee - the creator of Spiderman - admitted that when he created the character he intentionally left out all the pizzazz commonly found in comic book super heroes.

The reason...

He wanted to make a character real humans could relate to. That is the charm of Spiderman, he is someone who faces ordinary stuff and overcomes them with the help of extraordinary abilities.
Ok - enough about comics, let's get to the real issue.

Our kid's today look for heroes.

Unfortunately far too many of our children seek their examples out of the pit of pop culture. The role models found there are molded in the image of Hollywood, the music industry, or the sports arena. As a result our children grow up seeking to fit those images. I see it every day in the lives of children I work with. They've made heroes out of Harry Potter, Hannah Montana, Jamie Lynn Spears, etc.

The problem is that these role models do not portray how a person should deal with life. They present a picture perfect world where no rules apply and no consequences exist. They portray a lifestyle of promiscuity, drug abuse, rebelliousness, irresponsibility, and unaccountability.

In the world of Hollywood there are no real problems, and no real need for heroes....

However in this world troubles come. Pain comes, insecurity comes, and we are ultimately accountable for the consequences of our decisions. For these reasons - and others - it is important for our children to have real heroes who can give them an example of how to overcome this world.

Now I'm not preaching that we should turn our kids toward Spiderman, but there is another hero that we can relate to. In fact, I read somewhere that this hero has the ability to be touched by our infirmities. His x-ray vision sees the thoughts and the intents of our hearts. His super human strength is greatest when we are weak. He is faster than a speeding bullet when it comes to delivering us; and his grace is able to leap and cover the tallest trash heap of sin.

This hero is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ!

Our kid's need to be shown that Christ is the only true hero worthy of admiration. I know that is a simple statement,

But the fact is....

A lot of children fail to look at Christ in such a manner.

They know about Christ, and they even know they are supposed to love him - they have listened in Sunday school - but for a lot of kid's the truth of Christ never hits home.

I'm always amazed when I ask kid's why they should love Jesus, or why they should worship Jesus, and their responses are stares of confusion. Some just don't know why they ought to love Christ.

However, you ask them why they like "so and so" and they can identify the aspect of that person that appeals to them.

Two years ago at South Texas Kidz Kamp our theme was "The Real Super Heroes." It was incredible to see 9, 10, & 11 year olds responding to the idea of Jesus being more than just an awesome God - he is a real life hero that knows what we face and has the power to deliver us from our real life junk!

We showed them that their pastors, their moms & dads, their Sunday school teachers, children's pastors, elders, etc are real heroes with real abilities to show them the way! When they understood that they had real "flesh and blood" heroes at their disposal it changed the way they interacted with God. On the third night the power of God was so strong that we never reached the preaching!

Why?

Because when these children realized they had a hero with real powers to help them, they sought him with all their hearts!

For HOURS these kids prayed!

We saw a repeat the next weekend at a Holy Ghost rally; and again a few weeks later at our district family camp! The kids were presented with the ultimate super hero and they responded with heart felt love and adoration - which is the definition of worship. Why am I saying all this? It's not to belittle, criticize, or lecture. Rather, it is to illustrate that if we take the eyes of our children off this world and focus them on the aspect that God is not just God...

But is THEIR God...

Their own personal hero with the ability to help them...

Then our children will respond with worship and a deep devotion to God.

How do we instill true affection for Christ in the hearts of our sons and daughters? By making Christ relevant to their lives & needs. By exposing the fallacy of pop culture and showing them that true heroes don't prance around on stages, or dunk winning goals.

Instead, the only true hero in this world suffered death so they wouldn't have to. He took nails so they could have life. He took strips for when they got sick. He took chastisement for their peace. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief so that he could help them with their hurts and their sorrows.

Jesus Christ...

He's more than a God...

He's our super hero!

American Kids "Idolize" Idol!

What does American Idol, Dora the Explorer, & Mickey Mouse have in common?

… They are included in the top most watched television shows among preschoolers. Yep, you guessed it. According to Neilson ratings, the #1 show most preschoolers watched in 2007 was…

Are you ready for this?

American Idol!

I couldn’t believe it when I first read it myself. Then I thought about it for a second and it began to make sense why kids would be drawn to the reality show.

1. Kid’s love singing and music
2. The excitement and the action of the show is high energy
3. Their parents are into it and kid’s love anything their parents love.

Now, I don’t want anyone to misconstrue my position here. I’m not endorsing American Idol, nor am I in anyway condoning it as a children’s show. I’m merely discussing a topic that is affecting kid culture.

Whether we like it or not, our kids today are plugged in to the world around them and the television shows and movies that are “the thing.” Even those who are being raised without a television are not completely immune to the cultural impact of TV and movies. I’ve observed this first hand and know the realities of it.

I’m not condoning it. But neither am I ignoring it.

Apparently American Idol is a big hit in kid culture. Last year over 40 million kids, ages 6 – 11, cast their ballots in Nickelodeon’s “Kid’s Choice Awards” and named the pop reality series “Favorite Show.”

But not all kids are in favor of such a label. Deagle, age 13, notes “Just another stupid, meaningless pop star 10 year old girl show…”

He may be right.

Glinda, age 10, had a completely different opinion “I LOVE this show! It's exciting and suspenseful!”

Whatever your take on Idol is, one thing is clear; Simon and the gang are moving to the next round in kids lives.

So, can this enigma of kid culture be used to convey some Biblical truth? Well, probably not directly since I wouldn’t consider anything Hollywood puts out as a medium for conveying anything Biblical.

However, a play off the title, and a reference to something kids are into, may work.

Something like “America’s Idle: A lesson on laziness” is a very relevant issue for kids today who are accustomed to video games, iPods, and the internet.

Hey, kids don’t even have to walk anymore. Now they have Heelys!

So…….

While American Idol tops the charts among kids – teaching that success comes through talent, appearance, and popularity. It might be a good time to remind the kids that true success in life comes through living for God and working hard.

“Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.”
- Proverbs 19:15 -

Harry Potter Bares All...

"Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe says his nude scene in the play "Equus" is no big deal.

…That was the headline that launched the Fox news story about the 19 year old Potter star and his new play debuting on Broadway next month.

With recent reports of teen pop stars like Vanessa Ann Hudgens texting nude photos to friends, Jamie Lynn Spears getting pregnant at 16, and even Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus’ racy magazine photo shoot; it is easy to see how kids can form a nonchalant view of purity & morality.

As one 13 year old girl exclaimed, “it’s no big deal.”

More than ever we – the church – have our work cut out for us. Hollywood, liberal activists, and Hell itself have a definite agenda for our kids and they have worked that agenda faithfully and flawlessly for decades.

The only thing powerful enough to turn the cultural tidal wave is the word of God. It still brings light and shatters darkness (Genesis 1:1-5).

There is something amazing that happens when you mix worship & prayer with the word of God. It creates a threefold cord that is not easily broken; a cord that holds the heart of any person firmly in place and pointed towards Christ.

Across our movement I would like to see a greater emphasis placed on teaching children – not just Bible stories – but the unadulterated word of God. I would like to see a greater emphasis on Children’s Prayer Meetings. I would like to see a bigger push for our children to receive the Holy Ghost.

When we fill our kids full of God, and create that threefold cord of prayer, worship, and the word; then we can smile knowing they are securely fastened and will stay in place no matter how violent the winds of culture blow.