It Worked for Us

Best Practices for Ministry with Children and Families
Edited by Judy Comstock

A Comprehensive guide for children’s pastors, educators, and leaders.

Developed in partnership with the International Network of Children’s Ministry, this guide provides the strategic information needed to plan and implement a complete children’s ministry.

• Each article is written by a children’s worker who has actually “been there, done that”
• Provides comprehensive information for key areas of children’s ministries
• Supplies training for paid and volunteer staff
• A one-source guide for multiple topics
• Includes a CD-ROM with forms and information that can be customized for different settings and churches

The Quick Guide to Discipline for Children's Ministry

101 Good Ideas for Bad Behavior

Give this book to every leader on your children's ministry team!

Synopsis: You’ll love this at-your-fingertips handbook for discipline issues that frazzle your nerves and leave you wondering what to do. Look to this guide for effective techniques that eliminate and redirect behavior challenges.

From A - Z you'll find help for: anger, ADHD,bad language, biting, bullying, crying, disrespectful behavior, lying, sarcasm, safety risks, tattling...and more!

Shift

by Brian Haynes

What it takes to finally reach families today

Synopsis: Whether you’re just getting started ministering to families or you’ve got a full-blown family ministry, Shift helps you equip parents to become spiritual leaders in their homes.
And you don’t have to rework your entire ministry to make it happen!

Get a practical, workable plan for leveraging the milestones your church is already marking as families move through their faith journey together. You’ll tap into the natural patterns of childhood development and family life, equipping parents when they’re most open to shaping their children’s faith.

Turbocharged!

100 Simple Secrets to Successful Preschool Ministry

Synopsis: Studies show a child's spiritual formation begins in preschool - it's a critical, formative stage of life! For children's leaders at church, that means we must be equipped and passionate about preschool ministry. This book is the tool to make that happen.

Turbocharged! is all about helping you reach out to preschoolers and their families. It's about making a difference. One child at a time. All of the time.

The strategies, ideas, and philopsophies in this book flow from hands-on preschool ministry experience. We've seen them work for our kids. We know they'll work for yours.

What's a Bathtub Doing in My Church?

Fifteen Questions Kids Ask About Baptism, Salvation and Snorkels

By Kevin Spear

Synopsis: Explaining baptism is not always easy! Some parts of the whole baptism thing look very strange. What is that strange bathtub doing in the church anyway? Why should someone get baptized? Will people laugh at me if I look like a wet rat when I get out?

This little book helps take the mystery out of the baptism ceremony in a way that kids can understand.

Lasting Impressions

From Visiting to Belonging

By Mark Waltz

Synopsis: Discover how to create a church culture that encourages connections – lasting impressions – and continually draws people deeper into the life of your church…and the kingdom.

• Identify what you can   - and can’t do to help others grow.
• Develop experiences that encourage people to explore, discover, and grow in their personal journeys toward and with Christ.
• Understand the value of organic relationship.
• Honor God as you offer your best to your people – and your community.

Whether someone is fresh to your church or has been with you for decades, there’s a next step to take. A step closer to God. A step deeper into the mission and ministry of your church. A step from simply attending to belonging.

Emergency Response Handbook for Disaster Relief

Synopsis: Authored in partnership with The Salvation Army! This rapid-response field manual is designed for volunteers who want to assist in the recovery efforts of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, fatal car accidents, and more. Includes expert advice from disaster response professionals on what to say and do when you step on the scene of a natural or man-made crisis.

Every solution is backed by:

1. Counseling & care tips
2. Scripture connections
3. Case studies
4. Additional resources

Includes chapters on:

• Crisis of faith
• Bereavement/death
• Depression
• Suicide
• Financial crisis/material instability/unemployment
• Stress & anxiety/fear
• Managing expectations
• Special needs (children, the elderly)
• Isolation/loss of support system
• Dealing with multi-faith/unchurched issues & worldviews

Preteen Launchables

All the stuff you need to Launch YOUR Preteen Ministry!

Synopsis: Whether you're launching a new preteen ministry or refueling a current program, here's everything you need to...

Understand how God wired your preteens - socially, spiritually, intellectually, physically, and emotionally

Connect with preteens - through great games, slammin' service ideas, wow worship, powerful parent involvement, rockin' retreats, and exciting events!

Plan to succeed with preteens - sure-fire, practical ministry solutions - including igniting the right vision, recruiting the right team, sharing the right message, and so much more!

Special Needs Smart Pages

Created by Joni and Friends (DVD and CD-rom Included)

Synopsis: This comprehensive resource from Joni and Friends will help you meet the great need to minister to children with disabilities such as autism, physical disabilities, developmental disabilities and emotional and behavioral disorders.

It's crucial that these cherished children and their families learn about Jesus' love for them and know Him as their Savior. This indispensable guide provides the resources that will help you meet the spiritual, physical, social, and emotional needs of children with disabilities ages 4 to 12.

Compass

A Guide for Character and Spiritual Formation in Children

by Vernie Schorr

Synopsis: Compass: A Guide for Character and Spiritual Formation in Children is a fresh, relevant, twenty-first century source of information and materials for integrating character and spiritual formation activities into family, school, sport, and church curriculum. In these pages, Christian educators, parents, and other leaders of children will find the rationale and resources they need to help children become people who reflect God's Character.

Energizing Children's Ministry in the Smaller Church

by Rick Chromey

Synopsis: Children's ministry in the smaller church has the same amazing potential to grow and thrive as a mustard seed. It's all in how you cultivate it. This practical guide provides insights that will encourage you in your children's ministry, along with ready-to-use tools for evaluation, budgeting, and teacher training. Energize your children's ministry with innovative strategies for mega-impact with limited resources, people, and money.

Comforting Children in Crisis

Know what to say, what not to say, and what you can do

Synopsis: Children face emergencies, too - and shouldn't endure them alone. When children are burdened by life's struggles, what do you say? What if you make things worse?

This go-to guide gives you the confidence to share God's love and comfort with hurting children and their families.

Each topic includes:

Real-life narrative - Learn from someone who has been there

Care & counseling tips - Support children through a wide range of their most common emergencies

What to say & what not to say - Respond in the most helpful way possible

Also includes: Scripture connections, guidelines for referring children to professional resources and caring ways you can stand by children in need.

Nursery Smart Pages

A Guide for Nursery DIrectors & Caregivers (Includes DVD with Training Video and Reproducible Resources)

Synopsis: Nursery Smart Pages is a step-by-step plan for your nursery. It begins with details on how to organize your nursery and includes sections on policies and procedures, volunteer training articles, recruitment helps, updated health and safety guidelines, nursery clip art,and two years of monthly parent newsletters.

We Want You! Easy Recruiting Commercials for Children's Ministry

Synopsis: Humorous, emotional, and thought-provoking… these powerful commercials immediately encourage and motivate new and veteran volunteers to get involved in children's ministry - and play an important role in kids' lives!

The New Breed: Understanding and Equipping the 21st Century Volunteer

By Jonathan R. McKee and Thomas W. Mckee

Synopsis: Adapt to the changing world of volunteer management. More than ever, today's volunteers work online, need flexible hours, and want to play a role in defining their jobs. They also want to feel a sense of responsibility for your organization's overall mission. Harness this passion and potential-with results that uplift your goals and enable your volunteers.

My First 90 Days in Ministry

Group Publishing

Synopsis: "Relax - here's practical, from-the-trenches advice to keep you on safe ground as you navigate a new church culture...settle into a ministry role...and sort through a pile of priorities.

This little book points you toward quick successes. Keeps you from stepping on relational land mines. And helps you remember why you went into ministry in the first place.

Ready to Go Fundraisers

75 Ways to Fund Your Ministry

Abingdon Press

Synopsis: Not many youth ministries can operate from their cut of the church budget alone. Mission trips, national and regional youth events, improvement of the meeting space, and contribution to worthy causes often require additional funds.

This book gives you many ways to raise that much-needed revenue for your ministry. Types of fundraisers include:

• dinners and events for your congregation and community
• services to church members and other people in the neighborhood
• sale of products (including youth-made items)
• seasonal and holiday-themed events and projects

The CD-ROM contains supplemental resources such as forms and recipes that will help you make your fundraiser a success.

Ready to Go Service Projects

140 Ways for Youth Groups to Lend a Hand

by Ann Saylor and Susan Ragsdale

Synopsis: Teens want to help, but they're not always sure where to start. And even teens who are already serving others are not necessarily experiencing the richness and depth of personal and spiritual growth that is possible through service-learning.

This book explains to youth workers the theory behind service-learning, helps them identify meaningful but easy-to-do projects that will make a difference in their community, gives them practical tips on incorporating reflection and relationship-building into their service projects, and shows them how service-learning can change young lives.

Sticky Faith

52 Family Messages for Big Church

Includes CD-ROM of 52 ready-to-use, family-friendly bulletin inserts!

Synopsis: Just add one of these 3 - 5 minute activities and you'll see children sit up...lean forward...and hang on every word. Which means parents and other grown-ups will be more attentive, too.

You get 52 activities that...

• require little or no prep
• complement common sermon themes or passages
• make for memorable learning for kids...and adults!

Plus, with each Sticky Faith activity you'll get...

• an already-designed bulletin insert for families to take home
• suggestions for objects to display - to keep things visually interesting

Use Sticky Faith for Sunday services...children's sermons...anywhere you want to capture kids' attention and engage entire families!

Preteen Ministry Smart Pages

By Gordon and Becki West

Ages 10-14

Synopsis: Because most children's spiritual beliefs are in place by age 13, the preteen years are a crucial time to teach kids God's truth. This resource gives you a solid, practical and comprehensive understanding of how to build an effective ministry that reaches this vital age group. Topics include: Understanding preteens, making preteen youth groups work, motivating and nurturing preteens, ministering to the families of preteens, recruiting and managing ministry volunteers.

First Impressions:
Creating Wow Experiences in Your Church

By Mark L. Waltz

Synopsis: Before a service even begins, first-time guests usually decide whether they'll return to your church. This means church leaders need to create no-fail, practical ways to ensure a visitor's first impression is the best impression. When guests feel valued, they will return. And when they do, they'll have the opportunity to experience Jesus' love. Let visitors know "You matter to God, so you matter to us." Author Mark Waltz shares the strategies that work in his church – and takes "greeting" to a whole new level. Adapt these practical ideas to your church's unique setting, and it won't be long before everyone feels welcome.

Simply Strategic Volunteers:
Empowering People for Ministry

By Tony Morgan and Tim Stevens

Great for Volunteer Coordinators!

Power up your ministry with empowered people! These in-the-trenches authors show you how to help volunteers use their strengths to benefit the church – and their spiritual growth. This comprehensive resource offers 99 straightforward solutions to help you recruit, train, motivate and keep volunteers in ministry. The authors give you field-tested ideas on how to create a serving environment, structure unique serving roles, help people learn how God has wired them for ministry, and more.

Teacher Training on the Go

By Keith Johnson

Train and retain volunteers! Teacher Training on the Go is a year's work of painless, fun training volunteers desperately need! Reproducible handouts, an audio CD and more work around volunteers' schedules, giving them instant training – on their own time. You'll find 52 double-sided reproducible handouts to help volunteers be their best. Plus, you'll get a CD-ROM with 12 email blasts (pre-written encouragements and affirmations) and clip art. The CD-ROM also allows you to print the handouts – or email them to busy volunteers. The handouts will help to prepare volunteers in important areas like: how to lead a child to Christ, improving your small group leader skills, balancing your family and your ministry, how to make Scripture stick and many more!

Children's Ministry
Volunteers that Stick

By Jim Wideman

A great book for all church sizes! It's tough to recruit volunteers--so hang on to those you've got! You'll keep volunteers longer and keep them happier by giving them more than just a volunteer job. Instead, give them a volunteer career. Help them become leaders as well as volunteers! Here's everything you need to know to get your volunteers in the right job, then help them to grow in their skills and enthusiasm. Noted children's pastor Jim Wideman, from Church on the Move in Tulsa, Oklahoma, offers practical strategies for any size church. Learn the secrets of retention, and ideas that really work...instill proven leadership skills...and grow your church volunteers to be happy, inspired, and in it for the long haul.

Treat 'Em Right!

By Susan Cutshall

Standard

Age: Adults

Synopsis: Great ideas for encouraging your volunteers. Includes 70 Reproducible Messages, which incorporate scripture, candy, cereal, cookies and other sources to encourage.

Growing a Healthy Children's Ministry

A Step-by-Step Handbook to Cultivating
Christian Kids in Any Environment

by Steve Alley

Synopsis: Growing a Healthy Children's Ministry walks children's ministers – professional and volunteer leaders and teachers – through the steps of preparing, planting, and pruning a vibrant children's ministry. This comprehensive handbook helps experienced "gardeners" and novices evaluate the landscape of their church's children's ministry, lay out the plots of policies, procedures and programs, and get their hands dirty as they help kids grow up in Christ.

Protecting Your Church Against Sexual Predators

by Voyle A. Glover, Esq.

Synopsis: They sit in our pews. They come to our church picnics. They may even teach Sunday school or serve on a committee. They are sexual predators, and no church or ministry is immune to the devastating effects of child sexual abuse and the resulting litigation.

Good intentions alone will not stop the physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual damage resulting from just one incident of abuse. This invaluable guide, written by an experienced attorney and active church member, provides must-have information on important questions such as:

This book is easy to read, written in an honest and straightforward way. It contains vital information no church should be without.

Children's Ministry in the 21st Century

by Craig Jutila, Jim Wideman, Pat Verbal and more!

Synopsis: Ten front-line Children's Ministry experts peeked out over the horizon to identify ten trends shaping ministry in the next ten years. See inside to discover…

How current culture is rewiring kids' brains- and secrets for connecting with children. The latest education trends embraced by schools – and how they'll impact your Sunday school Morphing Children's Ministry into Family Ministry – and how that supersizes your impact. What kinds of children are about to land in your ministry – and how to be ready for them. Plus six more must-know insights - and practical activities that help you take advantage of shifting trends in your Children’s Ministry

Nursery Smart Pages

A Guide for Nursery Directors & Caregivers

Age: Adults/Teachers

Synopsis: Jesus loves the little children, and with Nursery Smart Pages you have everything you need to guide little ones as they take their first steps in His kingdom. Nursery Smart Pages lets you provide babies and toddlers with much more than just great child care. This indispensable manual equips you and your nursery workers to nurture little ones physically, emotionally and spiritually!

How to Have a Great Sunday School

By Wes and Sheryl Haystead

Gospel Light

Age: All

Synopsis: Instructional Course on Sunday School programs for all ages. Includes questionnaires that target the students' interests and basically everything necessary for a Sunday School program so leaders don't have to think of all the details on their own (does the work for you). Great for beginner Children's Directors. Easy to ready format with graphics. Valuable liability information.

Preteen Ministry Blueprint

Building an Effective Program

Synopsis: Launching a preteen ministry? Shoring up a sagging program? Either way, here's expert advice that helps you…

Ideas that Work

Leading Kids to Own Their Faith

Group

Here are the Six Big Ideas you must hardwire into your preteen ministry! Attract and keep kids with…

Leading Preteens

By Patrick Snow

Synopsis: Preteens don't quite fit!
Preteens don't quite fit in children's ministry any longer, and they're not ready for junior high ministry. What do you do with preteens?
If you're a teacher or leader of preteens, Leading Preteens will help guide your intentional ministry with them. Discover how to help preteens get a super start to their relationships with Jesus. Whether you have been doing preteen ministry for years or are just beginning to think about it, this book is for you!

You-Can-Do-It Family Ministry Events

Building faith and community in the families of your church.

By Susan Martins Miller

Synopsis: You-Can-Do-It Family Ministry Events offers specific plans for church-organized events that minister to the family.

Teaching Kids Authentic Worship

By Kathleen Chapman

Top Pick by Parents, Educators & Children's Ministers

Synopsis: In a time of spiritual decline, this book is dedicated to keeping children connected to Jesus for life! Gives insightful reasons why children turn away from God, while providing priceless ways to teach children how to really worship God. A must read for parents, teachers, children's ministers…anyone who works with or has children of their own.

Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions

By George Barna

Regal Books

Top Pick by Children’s Ministers

Synopsis: A brilliant resource for children's ministers, pastors, Sunday school teachers, and parents. Includes statistics from Barna Research on what effective churches are doing to reach the largest hidden mission field in America-our children!

Group's Emergency Response Handbook

Synopsis: You want to help. But don’t know how… Here are practical ways to love kids through their greatest challenges.

Amber just lost her mother to cancer. Sam's parents are divorcing – and he's torn in his loyalties. A job change in Dana's family means she has to move – immediately.

Children face emergencies, too – and shouldn't endure them alone.
When children in your care experience life's struggles, what do you say? How can you help? What if you make things worse?
This rapid-response handbook gives you and your children's ministry leaders the confidence to share God's love and comfort with hurting children – and their families.

Understanding Your Preteens

Inside Their Hearts and Minds

Synopsis: They're all heart…no, all head…no, all hormones…
Who are preteens? They're all over the map!
You can't minister effectively to preteens until you understand them and their world… and here's your cheat sheet for making those connections.
You get clear crisp insight into how God's wired your preteens socially, spiritually, intellectually, physically, and emotionally.

The Fabulous Reinvention
of Sunday School

by Aaron Reynolds

Synopsis: The Fabulous Reinvention of Sunday School is an indispensable guidebook to transformational teaching in children's ministries of every size and setting. Designed with whimsical quirkiness and written with humor and passion, this book will transform the way you – and your kids – experience the life-changing potential of Sunday school.

Teaching with Heart

"A Guide to Cherishing and Challenging Children in the Christian Classroom"

by Jody Capehart

Synopsis: This valuable guide helps teachers develop the spiritual understanding to cherish the unique personalities and learning styles of each child, while challenging them [to] grow up to be like Christ. This handbook also familiarizes teachers in the Christian classroom with the vast array of information available on educational theory while providing this information in a practical, useful, and reproducible form.

Serving with Eyes Wide Open

by David A. Livermore

Synopsis: Short-term mission trips are a great way to impact the kingdom. Yet they can lack effectiveness because of mistakes or naiveté on the part of participants. In this insightful and timely book, David A. Livermore calls us to serve with our eyes open to global and cultural realities so we can become more effective cross-cultural ministers. Serving with Eyes Wide Open is a must-have book for anyone doing a short-term mission or service project, whether domestic or overseas.

The Creative Storytelling Guide
for Children's Ministry

by Steven James

Synopsis: Whether you're new to storytelling, or you've been telling stories for years, this book will help you tell God's story more creatively and effectively than you ever imagined you could! You'll learn to improve your teaching through more effective storytelling, prepare and tell Bible stories in less time, master a step-by-step process for developing your own way of retelling stories, and adapt your lessons and curriculum to connect with the students in your class.

The Five Love Languages of Children

By Gary Chapman & Ross Campbell, M.D.

Synopsis: Sometimes parents speak different love languages than their children.  This book can help you to discover your child's primary love language: quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service and physical touch.  Learn what you can do to effectively convey feelings of respect, affection, and commitment that will resonate in your child's soul.

Turbocharged!

100 Simple Secrets to Successful Children's Ministry

by Dale Hudson & Scott Werner

Synopsis: "I can do that!" ...is what you'll say after you discover these easy-to-apply tools and techniques to put your ministry in four-wheel-drive. One hundred high-octane "how-tos" are brought to you by children's ministry leaders who began from the ground up. They'll give you tips to make small changes that gain big results. Plus, they'll share their success stories and ideas for instant tune-ups and major repairs - all in a manual that makes your ministry easier to drive.

The Kid Book

By Vicki C. Barnes

For Kids Only, Inc.

Age: Adults

Synopsis: Excellent resource for both parents, teachers, future parents, and ministry leaders; will help them understand their own personalities as well as the children they are impacting. Uses four different colors as personality types and refers to the best methods for dealing with each of the different personality types.

The Kid Book Surveys

By Vicki C. Barnes

Vicki Barnes Seminars

Age: K-3 or 4-6 (2 different surveys)

Synopsis: Quick, easy survey that children can fill out to discover their individual personality types. Personality types are given a name, symbol and color and are described for adults to go over with kids.

Price $3.00 Now $2.00!

Reclaim your School!

10 Steps to Practically and Legally
Evangelize Your School

By Brad and Susanne Dacus

Pacific Justice Institute

Synopsis: This book is an excellent tool for those who recognize the need to share Christ in our world. Written for students, parents, teachers, and pastors, it is an effective motivator for those who want to impact the public school system in powerful, legal ways. Offers ways to legally share Christ in the public school system, and gives excellent explanations and resources.

Whirl-n-Worship

Groove-Along Songs for Preschoolers and Parents DVD

Synopsis: God put the whirl in children so let them groove-along to great worship music! Drop this instant boredom-buster in your DVD player - and spark kids' enthusiasm for worshipping God with songs that make them want to sing out. Kids and parents will love to sing along with these fun, memorable songs and engaging videos filmed in kid-friendly locations.

You Are Special Video

Impact/Crossway

Synopsis: In Wemmicksville, the wooden villagers are awarded with stickers: golden stars for the talented and clever and ugly gray dots for the less talented and clumsy. Punchinello is covered with gray dot stickers, but through a mysterious wood carver, he discovers his true worth. This animated story by Max Lucado is sure to become a classic.

Baby Praise

DVD

Age: Infants and Toddlers

Synopsis: A high-energy music video designed to hold the attention of infants. Includes popular children's songs-Jesus Loves the Little Children, etc; with babies clapping and moving along to the tunes. **Babies love to see other babies on video.

You Got It All

Dean-O and the Dynamos

Song titles: Rad-Dude Attitude (Philippians 2: 5-11); He Is Really God (Colossians 1:5-17); For God So Loved (John 3:16); God’s Way Right (Ephesians 2:8-9); Never Alone (Psalm 139:9 & 10); Rulers of the Jungle (Hebrews 11: 32-34); You Got It All (Romans 8:32); One Way to Godsville (John 14:6); Train to be Godly (1 Timothy 4:7 and 8); Faith Will Do (Hebrews 11:6); You Can’t Run (Jonah 3:1-3); Loving God Is Great (Acts 1:8).

You Got a Lot

Dean-O and the Dynamos

Song titles: Pray (based on the Beatles song "Help"); You Got A Lot (Ephesians 1:6 & 7); Train to Be Godly (1 Timothy 4: 7,8); Loving God is Living Great (Acts 1:8); You Have Been So Good; Big House; High Adventure (Hebrews 12: 1,2); For God So Loved (John 3:16); Be Confident (Philippians 1:6); Never Alone (Psalm 139: 9,10); I Know (Job 19:25); I’m A Believer (based on the Monkeys song "I’m A Believer").

Soul Surfin'

Dean-O and the Dynamos

Song titles: Soul Surfin’ (Acts 17:2-3); Up for the Word (John 20:31); Speed of Sound (Acts 4:20); Free Inside (2 Tim. 3:15); Hey, Hey, Hey! (2 Peter 3:9); G-Mail (1 Thess. 2:13); Outta Sight (Acts 17:24-25); He’s Got Plans (Jeremiah 29:11); I’m in Good (Romans 10:9); Believe His Promises (1 John 4:9); He’s the One (Acts 4:12); Bye for Now (3 John 14)