“I love seeing the energy and enthusiasm of the children each week we meet”
– Vonda DenBoer, Sarnia, Ontario
Topics:
pastor | children’s ministry | Develop Disciples to Serve | JAM (Jesus and Me) Kids Club | Children’s Peace Book Club |
I have been teaching Sunday school since I was 14 years old, so I guess it is in my blood. When I became Pastor at LaSalle Road congregation, one of my passions was for children’s ministry, which I guess could be interpreted as “Developing Disciples.” Seeing a lack of attendance by children, I aspired to start something just for them. But today’s children don’t necessarily respond to the lesson strategies of fifty years ago. I needed ideas. Having multiple responsibilities in our aging congregation meant I had to be creative in developing something for the children. This became a matter of prayer.
On a visit to Calgary, my Aunt Shirley Smith told me about their “Jesus and Me Club” and the spark was lit. What evolved was JAM (Jesus and Me) Kids Club: a 90-minute program for the children that included music, lesson, craft, games, and food. My Aunt Mavis McDonald, who at 90 years of age questioned how she could still contribute to this ministry, was a wonderful mentor and encourager, who provided ideas, pictures, and books from her vast accumulation. JAM was enriched.
One of the moms — Amanda White — was my regular assistant and a well of resources for music and games that fit the lessons. We had between 7 and 9 children, almost all boys, regularly attend, so we started with ways that Jesus is their superhero and then evolved into Bible stories such as “the Good Samaritan.” They loved wrapping one another in toilet paper as they role-played the Good Samaritan. They each got to fill a little bag with Band-Aids and other things that might come in handy if someone was hurt. Several weeks later, one boy told how he used his little Good Samaritan package at school to help someone, so the Lord reassured me that the lessons were being understood and applied in life.
When Covid curtailed our in-person activities, our congregation quickly transitioned into virtual church services but there was nothing for the children. This weighed heavily on my heart as these children were not receiving any ministry aimed at their level and needs. Nor were the adults being blessed by the ministry of children. As I was already feeling burnout from the responsibility of weekly church services along with all the other aspects of pastoring during a pandemic, I knew I did not have the answers nor the resources to begin something new. But the Lord works in mysterious ways and his timing is perfect. At a pastor team meeting held in the fall of 2020, I posed the question “What is being done for the children?” —hoping for some suggestions and resources.
I learned about a Bible club that had been offered in the United States. My question percolated with Cathy Baker, who was also at that meeting and who later that very week learned about the Children’s Peace Book Club being done in other parts of the world with details about recommended books, how to get permissions from publishers for online reading of a book and strategies for best practice for children’s safety.
Within days Cathy had connected me with resources from that initiative and a willing volunteer in Amy Unrah of the Guelph congregation: and the Children’s Peace Book Club was born! Every two weeks, we read a book focussed on peace, via zoom. We talk about what the book teaches and try to relate it to a child’s everyday life and then we do a mindfulness activity and challenge the children to use those strategies in their daily life.
I thank the Lord for his timing, for responding to my prayers for the children, and for connecting me with the right people to make miracles happen. I love seeing the energy and enthusiasm of the children each week we meet, and I hope and pray that the lessons learned about peace for self, others and our planet, become a lifelong approach to their discipleship.
On a visit to Calgary, my Aunt Shirley Smith told me about their “Jesus and Me Club” and the spark was lit. What evolved was JAM (Jesus and Me) Kids Club: a 90-minute program for the children that included music, lesson, craft, games, and food. My Aunt Mavis McDonald, who at 90 years of age questioned how she could still contribute to this ministry, was a wonderful mentor and encourager, who provided ideas, pictures, and books from her vast accumulation. JAM was enriched.
One of the moms — Amanda White — was my regular assistant and a well of resources for music and games that fit the lessons. We had between 7 and 9 children, almost all boys, regularly attend, so we started with ways that Jesus is their superhero and then evolved into Bible stories such as “the Good Samaritan.” They loved wrapping one another in toilet paper as they role-played the Good Samaritan. They each got to fill a little bag with Band-Aids and other things that might come in handy if someone was hurt. Several weeks later, one boy told how he used his little Good Samaritan package at school to help someone, so the Lord reassured me that the lessons were being understood and applied in life.
When Covid curtailed our in-person activities, our congregation quickly transitioned into virtual church services but there was nothing for the children. This weighed heavily on my heart as these children were not receiving any ministry aimed at their level and needs. Nor were the adults being blessed by the ministry of children. As I was already feeling burnout from the responsibility of weekly church services along with all the other aspects of pastoring during a pandemic, I knew I did not have the answers nor the resources to begin something new. But the Lord works in mysterious ways and his timing is perfect. At a pastor team meeting held in the fall of 2020, I posed the question “What is being done for the children?” —hoping for some suggestions and resources.
I learned about a Bible club that had been offered in the United States. My question percolated with Cathy Baker, who was also at that meeting and who later that very week learned about the Children’s Peace Book Club being done in other parts of the world with details about recommended books, how to get permissions from publishers for online reading of a book and strategies for best practice for children’s safety.
Within days Cathy had connected me with resources from that initiative and a willing volunteer in Amy Unrah of the Guelph congregation: and the Children’s Peace Book Club was born! Every two weeks, we read a book focussed on peace, via zoom. We talk about what the book teaches and try to relate it to a child’s everyday life and then we do a mindfulness activity and challenge the children to use those strategies in their daily life.
I thank the Lord for his timing, for responding to my prayers for the children, and for connecting me with the right people to make miracles happen. I love seeing the energy and enthusiasm of the children each week we meet, and I hope and pray that the lessons learned about peace for self, others and our planet, become a lifelong approach to their discipleship.