Children's Ministry Magazine ~*~ for Sunday School and Beyond!

Children's Ministry
For Those Who Serve Children In The Church
~*~ "To Encourage Christian Growth In Children, Youth, and Adults" ~*~

Serving within the Children’s Ministry Department is a rewarding experience, and it is an area of servant-hood that I have enjoyed for eight years. I have volunteered as a youth group leader (12 – 16 year olds), Sunday School Teacher (Newborn through 5th grade), held a position as a Children’s Ministry Overseer/Children’s Pastor, and most currently serve on a 4th grade Sunday School team in a larger church. The positions have varied, but one thing remains the same, we all need ideas and inspiration!

One on my favorite sources for receiving that and more is Children’s Ministry Magazine! When Sunday School mental block approaches, I know that I can rely on the pages of this fine magazine to provide the perfect game, craft, or life application solution! Don't succumb to the pitfalls of serving in the ministry, open the pages of this publication and hope is literally reinstalled into the weary servant!

I highly encourage a subscription to this publication! Children’s Ministry magazine has been a wonderful addition to my library of Children’s Ministry resources! Initially I purchased a single copy at a local Christian Bookstore. The individual purchase price seemed slightly high ($5.95). Upon devouring each page (I even enjoyed the few ads that are present), it was obvious that a subscription was warranted. At $29.95 for a one year subscription (6 issues), you will save 16% and be guaranteed a current issue copy.

The beneficial recipient is not limited to Children’s Ministry workers. I think that parents, home-schoolers, Christian educators, and daycare providers will also benefit from the wealth of information provided in each issue.

Contents
In each issue you will receive three main themes: ideas, features, and etc.

Ideas includes the following sections:
~*~ Nursery Notes:
A section dedicated to providing helpful hints for engaging the participation of infants and toddlers into your Church Nursery program. You are able to read advice for keeping this area sanitary and a safe haven for the precious little ones. Many ideas are presented to help the workers communicate with infants and toddlers. There are also aids provided for how to organize this space in a kid friendly manner. One that enables the toddlers to help clean up.

~*~ Preschool Pages:
The preschool volunteer is provided a minimum of three craft/game/story ideas to utilize with the 2 through 3-year-olds. An example of this is Hannah Puppets. You are instructed on how to lead the children in making puppets, using paper plates and craft sticks. The article then tells you how to encourage the children to use the puppets while you share the story of Hannah (1 Samuel 1:2-11, & 18-20) with them.

~*~ Preteen Pointers:
In this well written section you are provided helpful advice on how to prepare the preteens in your program for the graduation to youth programs. Effective disciple skills are provided to aid you in leading this tender age. You are also provided terrific age-appropriate book selection titles that you may suggest to the preteens for their reading pleasure

~*~ Group Games:
Each issue provides you with game ideas and explanations for various age groups. These games are broken down to age-appropriate ratings. Such as K-2nd & 3rd – 6th.

~*~ Quick Devotions:
This section provides devotional activities that can be used to supplement your current curriculum or used as the basis for a Sunday School Class. You are provided a title for the devotion, a theme, text reference, preparation explanation, and the message to provide. Usually you can expect to find at least three of these. The lessons are generally appropriate for K – 6th grade. Some are limited to the grade 3 – 6 crowd.

~*~ Seasonal Specials:
Again, you are provided a minimum of three interaction ideas to utilize with your K – 6th grade children. These plan ahead specials are generally related to the current season (fall, winter, spring, summer, Thanksgiving, Christmas …). The ideas provided usually include a ministry outreach inspiration.

~*~ Reaching Out:
This section is devoted to providing you neat ideas for welcoming visitors, reaching out to the community, and outreach events.

~*~ Family Ministry:
At least three ideas are provided that will encourage family involvement in the Children’s Ministry department. These events are great for enabling family unity, and often provide a perfect opportunity to recruit more volunteers * wink *.

~*~ Vital Volunteers:
Well, need I say that without volunteers, it would be impossible to effectively offer a healthy children’s ministry program?! This section will provide the Ministry Overseer insight on ways to recruit, encourage, empower, educate, motivate, and keep volunteers. ”A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” – Rosalynn Carter

~*~ New Stuff:
Endless is the product options and encouragement sources for Children’s Ministry workers. This section will enlighten you of the new books available for curriculum use, books for ministry support, favorite web sites, leader books, games for the children, and music options.

Features
Throughout the pages of Children’s Ministry magazine you are provided various feature articles. The July/August 2000 issue includes the following: Striking a match, Salary Survey, Married to the Ministry?, Children’s Church curriculum review, Clique-busting, and Making a Scene. Each article is extremely well composed. Advice is given for such situations as: maintaining a healthy versus overcommitted type of involvement, empowering kids to break the bondage of cliques, using drama in your ministry, assessment of curriculum …


Etc. includes the following sections:
~*~ From The Editor:
Each article provides you with an intimate and sincerer letter from the editor.

~*~ Mailbag:
This page allows you to read portions of the feedback that Children’s Ministry magazine receives from “us”.

~*~ Keeping Current:
In this section you find a wealth of information that allows you to stay in touch with what is happening “out there”. An example is provided of recommended Television viewing. You are informed of the latest trends of interest that children are partaking in or being exposed to. Generally there are at least two quotes provided from other publications such as USA Today and Blended Families. Stats and studies let you know some facts with regard to issues like Christianity, Health & Children, and other Children related issues.

One of my favorite items in this section is the film and music reviews. I have gained wonderful insight on ways to use portions of various videos during Sunday School lesson time. You are provided with the Film name and cues that lead you to the exact part to show. Further, you are provided with a life application lesson to present that is a metaphor. The music section frequently lets you know Christian artists that compare in style to secular artists. This section has also been very useful in giving me current news clips to help the 4th graders think through current events from a Christian perspective.

~*~ Teacher Telegram:
Humor is a great advocate for Sunday School Teachers, and that is one of the many things provided in this section. A funny cartoon is provided, and it will bring a grin – perhaps an outburst. The kid quotes always warm my heart and produce a chuckle! Here you will also find a minimum of four wonderful activity suggestions to apply within classroom time. It is easy to say that this section provides motivation for the children’s department volunteer.

~*~ For Parents Only:
You are allowed to copy and give the parents a copy of this section. There is an area that allows for you to affix your church name and address. The articles presented here are very inspiring for parents of 2 through 12 year olds. A comic strip allows for a healthy chuckle. Many suggestions are provided to encourage the parents to help their children put faith into action. General life application skills are discussed as well. You will also find a “kid quote” and a fun art project.

~*~ Age-Level Insights:
Each issue takes a theme such as respect and addresses how to encourage that characteristic to transpire from children of all ages. You are provided with an overall approach and then specific aids for three age levels: age 2-5, age 6-9, and age 10-12. This, too, has always been helpful for me.

~*~ Idea Finder:
This article allows you to overview the various ideas presented in this publication and on what pages to find them. They are categorized: affirmations, children’s talks, crafts, current events, drama, games, media, outreach, seasonal, special events, and volunteers. This feature allows for an easy reference table. I keep prior issues. When referring back, I will turn to this article. It quickly reminds me what activities are within that publication.

~*~ Heart Matters:
An inspiring and heartwarming article is provided to encourage your perseverance in Children’s Ministry. Readers are encouraged to send their stories in. If published, you will be paid $125.

~*~ Up Next In Children’s Ministry
Look here for a sneak preview of what you will find in the next issue!

Number of Issues: 6
Issue Price: $5.95 each
Subscription Price: $29.95
Genres: Religion

Web Site: www:cmmag.com

You may contact them at:
Children’s Ministry Magazine
1515 Cascade Avenue
Loveland, CO 80538-8681
Phone: (970) 669-3836
Fax: (970) 679-4372
Email: cyount@cmmag.com