Intentionality in Action: Lighthouse Church of All Nations Children's Ministry (PerSpectives 12)
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Lighthouse Church of All Nations Children's Ministry Rachel A. Cole, Director 4501 West 127th Street Alsip, IL 60803 BBP
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Intentionality in Action: Lighthouse Church of All Nations Children's Ministry (PerSpectives 12)
- 1. PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012 1
- 2. PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012 2 Move Forward → Intentional Multicultural Ministry Identify the multitudes + Take intentional actions to reach them Plan Bringing the body into oneness =
- 3. PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012 3 Next 10 Years = Diverse Church Growth Explosion “… it was God’s plan for His church from the beginning” (Rainer Research, 2011).
- 4. PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012 Google Translator Jesus Wants His Church to Be One in Him aleluya Алелуя alléluia Halleluja 할렐루야 αλληλούια Hallelujah ハレルヤ аллилуйя aleluia
- 5. 4501 West 127th Street, Alsip, IL 60803 http://www.thelighthousechurch.org 5 Learn From Others → 66 Nations Strong The Lighthouse Church of All Nations Chicago’s Bridging the Gap Church 3,500 + membership from a tri-state area
- 6. Highlights • Culturally-relevant curriculum • Multi-layered structure • Culture of love & brotherhood • Diverse, empowered staff • Reconciling communication • Strong cross-cultural relationships • Consistent growth over an eight- year period PerSpetives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012 Intentionality in Action: Lighthouse Church of All Nations, Children’s Ministry
- 7. Exploring Intentionality With Children’s Ministry Director, Rachel A. Cole PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012 Questions • How do you structure for intentional ministry? • What are the ministry’s intentional actions? • What are examples of intentional activities from the ministry? • Would you give recommendations?
- 8. PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012 How do you structure for intentionality? Bringing the body into oneness =
- 9. Identify the multitudes + Vision: Nurture and prepare a diverse body of children Core Belief: Forward the Gospel in a way that is understandable to children from different backgrounds Ministry Philosophy: Children from a wide-ranging ethnicities & complex geographic areas need a curriculum that meets their changing needs Critical Attitudes for a Sound Structure
- 10. Take intentional actions to reach them Plan • Is Christ-centered & biblically-based • Built on a foundation of prayer • Has culturally appropriate communication & discipleship • Embeds real-life application • Incorporates multi-sensory & culturally-responsive instruction • Uses contemporary worship that appeals to a wide range of children Key Actions That Strengthen Structure
- 11. What are your intentional actions? Plan using these actions
- 12. Make time for reconciliation with God PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012 Children unified as one Children pray for children Children worship together Children access the Good News Community Measurement BrotherhoodSharedPower Diverse TeamReconciliation Invitation Relationships
- 13. Invite & welcome the multitudes in all facets of the church PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012Community Measurement Relationships BrotherhoodSharedPower Diverse TeamReconciliation Invitation Each small cluster of children has a shepherd assigned to them. The shepherd cares for the children, making each feel welcome and part of a community.
- 14. Bring together a diverse ministry team 14PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012 Four generations Cross-cultural teams Adult and young adult training programs Community Measurement Relationships BrotherhoodSharedPower Diverse TeamReconciliation Invitation
- 15. 15PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012 Involve diverse team members in the circle of power Community Measurement Relationships BrotherhoodSharedPower Diverse TeamReconciliation Invitation Decision Make Members meet twice monthly with respect to the spiritual needs & cultural perspectives of children Design Plan
- 16. Live in brotherhood & esteem one another’s culture 16PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012Community Measurement Relationships BrotherhoodSharedPower Diverse TeamReconciliation Invitation Multiple generations work side-by–side. They love, support and care for one another.
- 17. Develop cross-cultural relationships with those of a different culture PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012Community Measurement Relationships BrotherhoodSharedPower Diverse TeamReconciliation Invitation Create a culture of love and unity in Christ within relationships
- 18. Use spiritual measures of growth1 with a diverse population (Acts 2:42-47) 18PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012Community Measurement Relationships BrotherhoodSharedPower Diverse TeamReconciliation Invitation Growth in Maturity Growth in Unity Growth in Favor Growth in Numbers # Sunday School participants broken down by different cultures # Youth interns working w/other teachers from different generations # Children praying with & for children across cultures See slide notes for other examples (1 Whitesel, 2000, pp. 206-21) Disaggregated feedback about working in harmony within the ministry Structured observations of cross-cultural interactions Parent survey about different components of children’s ministry Growth rates by people groups
- 19. Learn about the community’s culture and felt needs 19Community Measurement Relationships BrotherhoodSharedPower Diverse TeamReconciliation Invitation ? The ministry understands its immediate and broader communities. They determine children’s & families’ felt needs. ? They learn about the cultural backgrounds of families and children within and outside their church. ?
- 20. PerSpectives12- Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012 What are examples of intentional activities?
- 21. Puppeteering Illustrated Sermons Culturally-Relevant Teaching Interactive, Engaging Games Treasure Chest Tithing Technology Assisted Youth-Led Worship
- 23. Process Children rotate through different rooms each week, learning about the same biblical topic but in various formats Learning Engaging, interactive, critical thinking Culturally responsive teaching Multiple intelligences Rooms Heaven.com, Treasure Cove, The Tent, The Coliseum, Creation Station and Holy Word Studio.
- 24. Youth Training 24 Train young adults in children’s ministry They work along side the adults as they train, as equal partners in ministry As they mature, young adults become teachers, shepherds and lesson designers Later, they also train the next generation of children’s ministry members.
- 25. PerSpectives12- Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012 What are your basic recommendations? Let the Holy Spirit lead you…
- 26. Be flexible Be strategicBe patient
- 27. PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012 27 References Hunter, K. (1997). Your church has personality: Find your focus-maximize your mission. Coruna, IN: Church Growth Center. Lighthouse Church of All Nations. (2012). Various Images. Alsip, IL. Whitesel, B. & Hunter, K. (2000). A house divided: Bridging the generation gaps in your church. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
- 28. 28PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012 PerSpectives12 http://specs12.wordpress.com/ drjparon@yahoo.com Jan Paron ? ? Training, Jan Paron drjparon@yahoo.com Lighthouse Children’s Ministry, Rachel A. Cole 708-385-6020, Ext 109
Editor's Notes
- Lighthouse Children’s Ministry is comprised of three different entities: Kidz Quest Kidz JamAdult and young adult training component.Multi-layered structure Hands-on experiences are provided to ensure real-life application of biblical principlesKidz Quest is run in small-group, workshop format. Every workshop features different intelligence (linguistic, logical- mathematic,musical,bodily kinesthetic, spatial, interpersonal and intrapersonal) Each takes place in a different environment, around the same theme, Intentionally designed curriculum culturally responsive, inquiry based, multiple intelligences, integrating multi-media, fine arts, and high interactionDiverse, empowered staff – cross generational cross cultural
- Visionto nurture and prepare a diverse body of children Goal: Provides expansive ministry for ages birth to 12 (?)
- Four generations work side-by–sidein both Kidz Jam & Kidz QuestThere is both an adult and young adult training program
- Acts 2:42-47 provides backdrop for spiritual growth measurements. It highlights four different measurements: maturity (v. 42), unity (v. 44), favor (v. 47a) and numbers (v. 47b).1 You measure for the purpose of monitoring the extent to which you accomplish God’s vision and purpose for humankind. This helps ministry members keep their focus on the spiritual realm, as opposed to the worldly. Let’s look at two contrasting examples of measurements. An example of spiritual growth measurement is the number of people baptized, while a worldly is dollars raised in a bake sale. Although fundraising plays an important role in ministry that you do want to monitor, it does not directly relate to a person’s salvation. The act of fundraising is for naught unless people come to Christ. Sometimes people get caught up in secular measurements and lose sight of spiritual. Let’s take a closer look at the four spiritual growth measurements by reviewing the definition and examples from the Lighthouse Children’s Ministry to each.Growing in Maturity"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42, KJV).DefinitionWhen a person grows in maturity you see evidence of a transformed life in Christ. Since every believer is in a constant state of maturation in their walk in holiness and relationship with God, you measure this state with every believer. By monitoring a person’s or people’s spiritual maturation, you gain feedback on ministry methods that equip and disciple them (the multitudes). In essence, the end result for ministry is to help people regularly practice the spiritual disciplines of Acts 2:42 , in turn, that these people would replicate the same with others. When you integrate intentionality with spiritual growth measures you also monitor the extent to which everyone comes together in unity and one accord as the body of Christ.Examples from Children’s MinistryNumber of regular participants in Sunday School classes, broken down by cultural factors (i.e. race, ethnicity, SES, family structure, language, physical abilities (special needs) Number of children who study the Bible at home, independently or with their parents, broken down by cultural factors (See above)Number of young adult interns integrated into the ministry, working alongside other generationsExtent to which cross-cultural and generational small and whole groups study, pray, fellowship and break bread together in unityOccasions when there are unity, whole-group fellowship events Growing in Unity "And all that believed were together, and had all things common" (Acts 2:44).DefinitionGrowing in unity shows the degree that people are in one mind and accord, united It is characterized by unity, harmony and interdependence in Christian communities.Examples from Children’s Ministry:Staff feedback about how well they work in harmony within the ministry communityStructured observations of cross-cultural interactions among ministry members and childrenInstances of table fellowshipGrowing in Favor"Praising God, and having favor with all the people" (Acts 2:47a).DefinitionFavor in this verse, is a condition of acceptability or benefit through the eyes of others regarding your ministry. Scripture quantifies favor by specifying the number of people as “all.” This means that ALL people view your ministry as being beneficial or acceptable to them. To know this you find out how people view your ministry, either formally or informally. Think about who you reach and don’t reach. You want to determine whether you intentionally reach the multitudes. The multitudes include ministry members and those who you reach.Examples from Children’s Ministry:Parent survey about different components of children’s ministryInformal parent pollsStaff surveys about whether the ministry accomplishes children’s ministry vision and purposeGrowing in Numbers "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47b).DefinitionGrowing in numbers works with maturity, unity, favor and numbers. You use this in conjunction with the other types of growth measurements. In fact, they all work together as lead by the Holy Spirit. Simply stated this tracks the growth rate of the target population. It could be youth participants, but also the volunteers.Examples from Children’s Ministry:Number of children baptized by water immersionNumber of children touched by the Holy SpiritNumber of children baptized with the Holy Spirit (as evidenced by the initial evidence of speaking in tongues)Growth rates that are by service, as well as monthly, yearly or decadal1 For more information about the four types of church growth, see Bob Whitesel’s book, A House Divided: Bridging the Generation Gaps in Your Church (pp. 202-221). He provides a thorough analysis of the measurements in terms of church growth.
- Get to know your immediate and broader communities. Since Lighthouse has children from a large metro area, it must look through a wide lens. They think about who they need to reach & how. Find out children’s & families’ felt needs. For example, do you have a population with a high unemployment rate? How many children are from single parent homes?Learn about the cultural backgrounds of families and children within and outside your church. Lighthouse uses this information in ministry design.
- Children learn biblical topics by rotating through different rooms each weeks.Rooms feature one or more of the multiple intelligences.Learning experiences are engaging, interactive and focus on critical thinking.Instruction is culturally responsiveRooms are Heaven.com, Treasure Cove, The Tent, The Coliseum, Creation Station, Prop Room, Holy Word Studio, and Miss Penny MachineThe same shepherd stays with the children for one year and travels with them station to station