Tag Archive - parents

New Check-In Procedures

August 27, 2010 in Ministry, Technology with 8 Comments

This weekend at Trinity Church we are kicking off a totally new way of doing check-in for our Elementary students.  I’m a HUGE advocate of self check-in, and this plan has worked for our Elementary areas for a few years now.  Due to our building setup this is NOT a security check-in system, it is a attendance check-in system.  We do not do any kind of check-out, and still rely on small group leaders and other leaders to help identify parents and others that have business in our Children’s areas.

What’s different?

  • Families can check-in using a RFID key tag.  Each family is being given two key tags that they will then be able to use anytime they visit Kidsplace.  Previously we used name tags with magnetic stripes that kids “swiped” on a reader.
  • After check-in for each child, there will be a name badge printed for them next to the kiosks.  Previously we used hard plastic name tags that had to be returned each week to be used again the next week.  Can you say time-intensive?
  • All visitors are entered into our ARENA database program when they visit.  Using Family Registration, every visitor will be entered in, and subsequently checked-in to their appropriate location.  Previously we kept a running spreadsheet and didn’t enter a child until they had attended 3 times or more, and then we would create a permanent name tag for them.
  • Visitors will be able to check-in using their phone number on there very next visit to church.  No more visitor line for them!  Previously, they continued to visit this visitor line until they had attended for a few weeks and were moved to a permanent name tag.  I’m so excited to be able to give our first-timers a real special experience!

I’m real excited, and mildly concerned about how easy this will all pull off this weekend.  I can tell you that I’m gonna love the RFID name tags, as we no longer have to deal with barcodes or magnetic stripes at check-in!  Here is a short video that was distributed to parents this week to prepare them for the transition.  Now…fire away with those questions in the comment area!

Children’s Ministry Academy

August 3, 2010 in Ministry with 0 Comments

You might have noticed that there are a few business, and organizations that I would recommend; and therefore allow them the opportunity to sponsor space on this here website.  Today I would like to introduce you to the newest sponsor at www.jonathancliff.com.

I recently did an interview with ChildrensMinistryAcademy.com about ways that my team and I are transitioning our established church to be a more modern family-friendly environment.  When the interview was over I was given an opportunity to learn more about what Children’s Ministry Academy offers those of us out here in the world of Children’s Ministry.  I have walked away impressed!

Here is how www.childrensministryacademy.com would describe themselves:

The CHILDREN’S MINISTRY ACADEMY was created to aide leaders, pastors, teachers, volunteers, and parents in their efforts to nurture faith in youth. We are strong believers that faith doesn’t grow in a vacuum; instead it requires a community of support and encouragement. If you are in a position of authority in a Children’s Ministry program, it is your job to lead your community.

All too often, Children’s Ministry Leaders are tossed into a classroom with little else than a “good luck” pat on the back. Seventy one percent of the teacher’s we’ve certified received NO FORMAL TRAINING prior to enrolling in our program. This is a dangerous statistic. Children have little patience for “on the job training”. In this day and age, when Sunday School is competing with sports, video games, and violin lessons, can we afford to let teachers struggle along until they discover how to manage a class on their own?

It’s time for a change.

I took the class titled, “Secrets to Effective Classroom Management” and I must tell you that it was well worth my time.  The material was presented in a very real-world type of situation.  The entire class is taught while you pretend to be a Children’s Director at a fictitous church.  Your Senior Pastor even sends you emails with advice, and it’s through these that the lessons and materials are taught.  After reading through your Senior Pastor’s advice, you are then given a scenario of a situation happening in a classroom.  After observing (or more honestly reading) you take a quick 3 question test to see what you would recommend to your teachers.

After going through 7 different teaching segments (all outlined on the left), I took a 30 question test about all that I had learned.  I had to score 24 out of 30 correct to PASS the course!  (No worries, I passed.)

I must say that I had a recurring thought as I read through the materials and browsed through their website…I sure wish I had this when I started in Children’s Ministry!  I can think of three distinct Children’s Ministry Leaders that need to look into this resource:

1. NEW Children’s Pastors.  If you are new to what you’re doing, then take the time to invest in yourself by getting a subscription to CMA.  Just lock yourself in your office for a day and a half and learn, learn, learn!

2. Ministry Leaders. I think this material would be fantastic for the person leading others within my ministry.  I often struggle to find time for my leaders to learn, and this might be a great go-between.  It would be an answer for the question I get sometimes from my leaders, “How can I get better at what I’m doing?”

3. Part-Time Children’s Pastors.  I know you are out there!  There are 1,000′s of lay staff working with kids all across the country.  They struggle to have budgets to travel and learn, and CMA might be your fix.

So what’s next?  Children’s Ministry Academy is currently offering a $50 scholarship for sign-up, thereby reducing their enrollment fee to only $50.  After that you pay $20/per month to continue learning and taking new classes.  They will even send you a ton of free stuff just for signing up!  Go today and visit www.childrensministryacademy.com and see if it would be a fit for you and your ministry.

Children’s Ministry Academy Interview

July 23, 2010 in Ministry, Personal with 2 Comments

Last week I did a special interview with Children’s Ministry Academy.  They spoke with me at length about some of the things we are doing at Trinity Church in Lubbock to reach parents, kids, and our community.  It was a great conversation, and you can go right now and listen to a few minutes of our talk today.  If you sign up with Children’s Ministry Academy, then you’ll have the option to listen to the entire talk.

Visit http://bit.ly/CMA_Interview today to give it a listen!

Happy Mother’s Day

May 8, 2010 in Personal with 3 Comments

I live in the best of both worlds, as far as mothers are concerned.  I can truthfully and honestly say that I have the best mother in the world, and I’m married to the most wonderful woman who has proven to be a fantastic mother for my own children.

I’m sure that many look back on rosy memories of their own mothers, overlooking the mistakes and faults that they grew up seeing.  I, on the other hand, had a real saint of a mother.  My mother arose early to read her Bible in the morning, always packed up great lunches for school, as kids she gave us freedom to run all around our neighborhood, yet she protected us from things that would hurt us.  She always forgave us when we messed up, and turned everything…everyday into something fun.  I’m not lying when I say that my mother rarely ever raised her voice at us in my entire childhood.  I have memories of my mom taking us to swimming pools, playing with us at parks, running garage sales to save money for vacations, and always involving us in whatever was happening in her life at any given time.  When I think of a servant, I can’t help but think of my own mother.

My wife could not be more different from my own mother, yet she stands on her own as a fantastic mother.  Starr is the “cool mom”, but not because she let’s kids get away with murder.  She’s cool because she can turn anything into something fun and exciting.  Whether it’s making biscuit pizzas, helping me dunk my kids into cold water, making super-girl capes, or letting our boys jump off the top of a playhouse into 2 inches of water…she’s super awesome!  Her boys know that she will always stop everything to go jump on the trampoline, and her daughter will always have her attention when a favorite song comes on the radio.

I’m fortunate, lucky, blessed, or any other adjective you’d like to add.  Happy Mothers’ Day to my mom and my wife!  Two of the best that have ever been!

And now a little Mother’s Day humor…

Milestones: When are Parents Comfortable Making the Change?

March 3, 2010 in Ministry with 0 Comments

Earlier I wrote the Introduction about the issue at hand in our Children’s Ministry about what to do with our Kindergarten age children as they transition between learning styles.  I said that I thought there were 3 milestone questions to consider.  Read about #1, “What does Kindergarten look like?”, and #2 “When do Children Start Reading?”

#3 When are parents comfortable making the change?

If the family at my church is a regular attendar, then they are very aware of the change from a classroom format in Early Childhood areas, to a large group/small group format of the Elementary areas.  For some families it’s seen as a big “My baby is growing up” moment and met with trepidation.  For other families, it’s seen as a “Finally my kid will get to be where the fun is happening” moment and met with excitement.

What does this mean for me? It means that I need to be sensitive to each parent, and offer options.  It’s difficult to insist that every family do things our way and move their own kids when I tell them to move them.  Not all kindergartners are created equal.  Some have early birthdays, and are bigger physically and more comfortable in large group environments; while others aren’t turning 6 until the last few months of Kindergarten and need a slower transition than the more comfortable peers.
For you it means getting to know your parents.  If you don’t have kids in this age range (of which I have a’plenty), then get to know those that do.  Trust me, Kindergarten parents are an opinionated bunch.  Get to know them today!
What have your parents told you that they prefer?  Do share your experiences!

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