During this year and now, as we enter into another dangerous variant of Covid-19 for our children, I get asked what others are doing at their church. I am a huge supporter of collaboration and best practices in all areas of ministry.

However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach in this instance because each church has different outdoor assessability, Dashboard county recommendations, size of the church, in-door large space, and sheer numbers of participating members, not to mention their public school's approach once school starts. All these conditions decide how a church's ministry to children will look today and in the coming fall semester.

This is what I can tell you that is true:

Do you need some child-friendly graphics to share important Covid steps for ministry direction? Check out Kari Bolt's easy downloads on Teacher Pay Teachers!

Great for making signs around the church classroom, hallways, or for social media.

I have found three great sources that you may want to use as a supplement for at-home ministries for parents or for in-person ministries!

I have loved everything Phil has done since his days creating Veggie Tales. He has taken his creativity in sharing God's word with children and their families to a new level.

The Mr. Phil website is jammed packed with 5 min or less Bible stories and introductions to amazing people who have applied their faith to help the world.

This would be a good recommendation to parents to subscribe for their kids' video tech time. So many kids watch YouTube for entertainment. His videos capture the same draw but are filled with a great Biblical message. I could also see children's ministers subscribing for $4.99 a month to use in small group lessons or in a zoom class!

Rachel Benton works at a UMC church and has a subscription service that helps small churches that have a volunteer offer helpful ministry to children. She will consult with you and send you emails and download lessons just right for your church's needs. She offers a free download lesson so you can check out her quality. She comes HIGHLY recommended by Rev. Kathy Pittinger from the Michigan UMC Conference. Her service does have a fee, but if you are a church with no paid staff this would REALLY help your volunteers!

Downloadable all church curriculum by Peer Ministry. It looks to me that it has a lot of the same lessons from the last year's Make Mealtime Family Time so if you ordered it last fall you may want to check for the new upgrades. I love Peer Ministry lessons because they have sound theology and are simple enough for anyone. The key is bringing people closer to God and each other in every lesson. I also like that once you buy it for $200 you download it as a PDF and it is yours to use and copy!

·     Collaborate with another church in your district and plan a one-day Quest event for the tweens.

·     Use it as a 4 Sunday or Wednesday night curriculum with your 4-6^th graders.

·     Use it once a month as a particular Sunday focus.

·     Save it for a retreat you want to have for just the 4^th-6^th grade.

·     Add it to your Confirmation class when you talk about discipleship and vocational call.

·     All four printed lessons.

·     Links to pre-recorded Opening and Closing worship by the Quest band.

·     Links to pre-recorded lessons by Deacons and Pastors introducing the scripture, task, and activity.

·     Most materials for the games.

·     Key elements of the craft supplies.

·     Color Printed Room signs with the name of each lesson. Quest logo available for digital promotion for your church.

·     Children are kept healthy in their community.

·     You can collaborate with another church in your community and build relationships among volunteers and students.

·     It is a helpful curriculum resource for you this fall.

·     It fosters interest in your church attending Conference Quest in 2022.

·     Most importantly, your students learn that a most loving God calls them to be Disciples who make Disciples.

In mid-July, I was asked to come to help a few days at Tanako! Of course, I would love to spend time with some AR kiddos! Kayla asked me which grade I liked, and of course, I quickly replied First Grade! For those of you who didn't know, I was a first-grade classroom teacher before becoming a Children's minister.

On our second day together, we were ready for a hike down to the lake. Once we got there, we did the normal "I spy with my little eye _____wildlife." The water was beckoning, so we went to the boat ramp to safely exam the water. I ask the kids to go around and find a piece of tree bark and imagine it a boat to set float from the ramp. Then one child says, this is just like Jesus and disciples floating on the sea! They were delighted, and all sent out many "bark boats" afloat.

This is why we tell the stories from the Bible! Children will make connections with them and hide them in their hearts until one day they float some bark on a lake, and it reminds them of a story about Jesus!

Thank you, Kayla, for giving me the chance to work with such amazing children at camp Tanako!

Dates to remember: