Lighthouse Church of All Nations,
Children's Ministry
Rachel A. Cole Director
4501 West 127th Street
Alsip, IL 60803
http://www.thelighthousechurch.org/
708-385-6020, ext. 109
From PerSpectives 12 Training
Contact Jan Paron at spectives12@yahoo.com for information
2. Move Forward →
Intentional Multicultural Ministry
Plan
Take
Bringing the Identify the
intentional
body into multitudes
actions to
oneness = +
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reach them
3. Next 10 Years =
Diverse Church Growth Explosion
“… it was God’s plan
for His church from the
beginning” (Rainer
Research, 2011).
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4. Jesus Wants His Church to Be One in Him
Алелуя
Hallelujah Halleluja
ハレルヤ αλληλούια
aleluia
alléluia 할렐루야
aleluya
аллилуйя
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Google Translator
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5. Learn From Others →
3,500 + membership
from a tri-state area
66 Nations Strong
The Lighthouse Church of All Nations
Chicago’s Bridging the Gap Church
4501 West 127th Street, Alsip, IL 60803
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http://www.thelighthousechurch.org
6. Intentionality in Action:
Lighthouse Church of All Nations, Children’s Ministry
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
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7. Exploring Intentionality With
Children’s Ministry Director, Rachel A. Cole
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?
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8. How do you structure for intentionality?
Bringing the
body into
PerSpectives12-Jan Paron
oneness = All Rights Reserved 2012
9. Critical Vision: Nurture and prepare a
diverse body of children
Attitudes
for a
Sound Core Belief: Forward the Gospel in
Structure a way that is understandable to
children from different backgrounds
Ministry Philosophy: Children from
a wide-ranging ethnicities & complex
geographic areas need a curriculum
Identify the that meets their changing needs
multitudes
+
10. Key Actions • Is Christ-centered & biblically-based
That
• Built on a foundation of prayer
Strengthen
Structure • Has culturally appropriate
communication & discipleship
• Embeds real-life application
Plan • Incorporates multi-sensory &
culturally-responsive instruction
Take • Uses contemporary worship that
intentional appeals to a wide range of children
actions to
reach them
11. What are your intentional actions?
Plan using
these
actions
12. Reconciliation Invitation Diverse Team
Shared Power
Make time for reconciliation with God
Children access Children worship
the Good News together
Children unified
Children pray
as one
for children
Brotherhood
Community Measurement
PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012 Relationships
13. Reconciliation Invitation Diverse Team
Shared Power
Invite & welcome the multitudes in all facets
of the church
Brotherhood
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.
Community Measurement
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14. Reconciliation Invitation Diverse Team
Shared Power
Bring together a diverse ministry team
Four generations
Brotherhood
Cross-cultural teams
Adult and young
adult training
programs
Community Measurement
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Relationships
15. Reconciliation Invitation Diverse Team
Shared Power
Involve diverse team members in the circle
of power
Decision
Make
Plan
Members meet
Brotherhood
twice monthly with
respect to the
spiritual needs &
cultural Design
perspectives of
children
Community Measurement
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Relationships
16. Reconciliation Invitation Diverse Team
Shared Power
Live in brotherhood & esteem one another’s
culture
Brotherhood
Multiple generations work side-by–side.
They love, support and care for one
another.
Community Measurement
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17. Reconciliation Invitation Diverse Team
Shared Power
Develop cross-cultural relationships with
those of a different culture
Brotherhood
Create a culture of love and unity in
Christ within relationships
Community Measurement
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18. Reconciliation Invitation Diverse Team
Shared Power
Use spiritual measures of growth1 with a
diverse population (Acts 2:42-47)
Growth rates by
# Sunday Disaggregated Parent survey
people groups
School feedback about about different Growth in Numbers
participants working in components of
broken down by harmony within children’s
different cultures the ministry ministry
# Youth interns Structured Growth in Favor
working w/other observations of
teachers from
Brotherhood
cross-cultural
different interactions
generations Growth in Unity
# Children
praying with &
for children
across cultures
Growth in Maturity
See slide notes for other examples (1 Whitesel, 2000, pp. 206-21)
Community Measurement
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19. Reconciliation Invitation Diverse Team
Shared Power
Learn about the community’s culture and
felt needs
The ministry understands its
immediate and broader
communities. ?
They determine
children’s & families’
Brotherhood
felt needs. They learn about the
cultural backgrounds
? of families and
children within and
outside their church.
?
Community Measurement 19
Relationships
20. What are examples of intentional activities?
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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
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.
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25. What are your basic recommendations?
Let the Holy Spirit lead you…
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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.
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28. Jan Paron
?
PerSpectives12
http://specs12.wordpress.com/
drjparon@yahoo.com
Training,
Jan Paron
drjparon@yahoo.com
Lighthouse Children’s
? Ministry,
Rachel A. Cole
708-385-6020,
Ext 109
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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