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Helping Parents in Their Vital Role of Nurturing Teens

By
Jim Burns
-
communicating with the unchurched

As a youth worker and a parent, I can safely say: Helping parents understand and nurture their kids is a tremendous need. Just by helping parents of teenagers in your church, you can see abundant amounts of ministry occurring.

Recently, I was speaking to several hundred parents. I asked, “How many of you received healthy, value-centered sex education from your parents?” Just three people raised their hands. Then I shared something that youth workers know. “The more positive, value-centered sex education kids receive from their parents, the less promiscuous they’ll be.”

As I talked about American teenagers, most material came from my ministry experience. Doug Fields presented a three-week parenting series at Saddleback Church, combining his ministry and parenting expertise. Those were some of the best message I’ve ever heard. He spoke with authority, in part because he’s a youth worker.

No matter your experience level, you too can vitally influence families in your church! And if you don’t feel comfortable preaching, other ways exist for influencing and helping parents. One of the most effective is to host regular seminars. During these events at your church (or combined with other churches), you can provide great content, allow sharing, and, frankly, serve parents (and win!).

When helping parents, consider these avenues:

  1. You can study a topic yourself and deliver the content.
  2. You or a volunteer can facilitate a video-based parenting seminar or small-group experience.
  3. Use an expert in your area on a specific subject. (Bring in a doctor to talk about sexuality or the police to discuss drug use.)
  4. Hire someone or some group to put on top-notch parenting seminars. (More on those in a moment.)

Even non-Christian parents show interest in seminars that build their relationship with their kids. Remember: By helping parents and reaching the family, you reach the world.

Below are a dozen of my favorite topics for parenting seminars. Some are more spiritually oriented than others. But I don’t know any parent of teens who doesn’t need some help.

Helping Parents: Seminar Topics Sure to Be a Hit

  1. How to Help Your Kids Get a College Scholarship
  2. Drug-Proof Your Kids
  3. How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex and Sexuality
  4. Energizing Your Teenager’s Spiritual Life
  5. Building Healthy Morals and Values
  6. Understanding Youth Culture
  7. Kids and Families in Crisis
  8. Consistent Discipline
  9. Communicating With Your Kids
  10. Pre-Marriage or Marriage Seminar
  11. Building a Healthy Self-Image
  12. Teaching Kids How to Handle Finances

All these seminar topics are practical and needs-oriented. And the good news: If you don’t want to pay for specialists, you often can find local people or congregants to present these subjects.

However, if you want to bring in someone, here are some of my favorites.

Resources for Helping Parents

Strong Families in Stressful Times Seminars

John Trent is one of America’s finest seminar leaders on the family. Plus, I love his positive, practical message. (www.Strongfamilies.com)

Life Skills for American Families Seminars

Tim Smith offers very practical and excellent material for helping parents. His background is in youth ministry, and he’s written extensively on parenting. (www.parentscoach.org)

Traits of a Healthy Family Seminars

I may be partial, because these are HomeWord-created seminars. But as one of the speakers, I love how parents respond. Topics include Building Healthy Morals and Values as well as Energizing Your Family’s Spiritual Life. (www.HomeWord.com)

“Parenting Teens for Positive Results” Small-Group Video

This series I created for the church is mainly discussion-oriented. In each segment, I speak for about six minutes and also present a fun drama. Topics include:

  • Attitude Is Everything
  • Self-Image Struggles
  • Communicating With Your Kids
  • Navigating Sexuality
  • Developing Media Discernment
  • Helping Teenagers Grow Spiritually

You can order this video with a leaders guide and participant manuals here.

Previous generations didn’t have the outstanding resources for helping parents understand their teenagers. Today we can do so much for parents, with the help of other ministries.

Care About Others: How to Cultivate Children’s Hearts

By
Jim Wideman
-
communicating with the unchurched

Everyone I know wants to be a success. But the world’s definition of success is a lot different from God’s definition. God’s Word says we achieve greatness by loving and serving. That involves respect, humility, and care about others.

In Mark 10:43-45, Jesus says, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The more I work with people, the more I realize that both children and adults are selfish by nature. None of us have to take a class on how to put ourselves, our wants, and desires before others. We get that on our own just fine. It’s just the opposite. We have to work at training both kids and adults to have and demonstrate a servant’s heart.

Teaching Kids to Care About Others

The only way I know to do this is to be intentional about cultivating a heart in kids to care about others. It all starts with giving them the word—God’s Word—on the subject.

Proverbs 3:3-4 says, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Whatever we want kids to do, we must always start with the Word.

We build kids’ faith on a subject by giving them the Word on that subject. That way, they can line up their thoughts with God’s thoughts. On a regular basis, be sure to teach kids about God’s love for others.

First Corinthians 16:14 says to “Do everything in love!” That same book, chapter 13 verse 1 says, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”

You just can’t separate loving God and not loving his people. They go hand in hand. When we teach kids to care about others, we teach them the true meaning of love, “the most excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31).

 

The Satanic Temple Relies on Religious Freedom in Fight Against TX Abortion Law

By
Jessica Mouser
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Adobestock #632729230

The Satanic Temple (TST), which is classified as a religious organization by the IRS, is challenging the abortion law that recently took effect in Texas. TST argues that the law violates the religious freedom of members who want to experience the “Satanic Abortion Ritual.”

“The Satanic Temple stands ready to assist any member that shares its deeply-held religious convictions regarding the right to reproductive freedom,” says The Satanic Temple website. “Accordingly, we encourage any member who resides in Texas and wishes to undergo the Satanic Abortion Ritual within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy to contact The Satanic Temple so we may help them fight this law directly.”

RELATED: Abortion Supporters Fight Back Against ‘Highly Punitive and Unfair’ Texas Law

The Satanic Temple: We Will Not Be Cowed

As ChurchLeaders reported last week, the Texas law, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed in May and which went into effect on Sept. 1., bans abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is typically at about six weeks into pregnancy. What sets the ban apart is its enforcement provision, which grants power to civilian whistleblowers and intentionally makes court challenges difficult. 

Private citizens enforce the law by suing, not the person seeking the abortion, but anyone who assists her. People can receive up to $10,000 for successfully challenging a clinic or individual facilitating an abortion in any way. Someone could even be held liable for giving pastoral advice encouraging an abortion.

In July, Texas Right to Life (TRL) created a site called ProLifeWhistleblower.com where people could inform on others who wanted to get an abortion. After the Texas abortion law went into effect on Wednesday, Sept. 1, abortion advocates attempted to overwhelm the site and get it to crash. Then web hosting provider GoDaddy kicked the group off its platform, and TRL has had difficulty finding another.

“S.B. 8 is cynically designed to avoid judicial review of the law and creates enforcement mechanisms against TST and its lawyers who dare challenge the law,” says The Satanic Temple. “We will not be cowed into silence by an unjust law or a tyrannical state government.”

The Satanic Temple’s website says that its mission is “to encourage benevolence and empathy, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense, oppose injustice, and undertake noble pursuits.” It was President Trump’s 2017 executive order on religious freedom that prompted TST to seek tax-exempt status as a religious entity. 

Tim Keller Posts Cancer Update; Says Chemotherapy Will Increase

By
Jesse T. Jackson
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communicating with the unchurched

Tim Keller posted a Facebook update for his followers on Sunday regarding his cancer diagnosis. Keller revealed that his doctor increased his chemotherapy after discovering a “mystery lump” that tested cancerous.

The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith author, Keller, thanked his friends for praying for he and his wife Kathy as they are navigating “treatment, isolation, COVID,” and asked specifically for prayers that they’d “run the race God has set before us with joy.”

Keller had surgery to remove several nodules this past May, and while a recent August scan showed that the primary tumor has not progressed, a “mystery lump” was discovered under the scar from May’s surgery. That lump was removed and “proved to be cancerous.”

Therefore, Keller, who is 70 years old, said his doctor is playing it safe and returning to the level of chemotherapy he was regimented to a couple of months earlier.

Related article: Tim Keller Congratulates Atheist on Harvard Chaplain Presidency; Evangelical Defends Vote

Although chemotherapy side effects can include neuropathy and other challenges, the retired pastor said he is hopeful he won’t miss any of his obligations or scheduled teachings.

Please join us at ChurchLeaders as we keep Tim Keller and his family in our prayers.

Read Keller’s entire social media post from this past Sunday below:

Friends,

Thank you so much for your continued prayers for my cancer treatment. We are well aware of your prayers and their power in holding us up to God and holding us together as we navigate treatment, isolation, and Covid.

After surgery last May, I was granted a “chemo holiday” (missing one treatment) and was able to get out of town with my family for several weeks. On August 23, I had a scan and the primary tumor had not progressed. However, a mystery lump underneath the May surgical scar was removed and proved to be cancerous.

Just to be safe, my doctor has increased my chemotherapy back to the level it was before, which has more side effects, but, we hope, more therapeutic effects. Pancreatic cancer is able to learn how to evade medication, so it is only God’s power that we look to for complete healing.

Please do pray that I will be able to fulfill my teaching and other obligations, and that the neuropathy and other side effects will be minimal while the medication will be effective against the cancer, and that we will run the race God has set before us with joy.

Franklin Graham: One Political Party Is to Blame for People Avoiding ‘Hard Work’

By
Stephanie Martin
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communicating with the unchurched

In a series of tweets Monday, evangelist Franklin Graham addressed America’s labor shortage, blaming Democrats for disincentivizing work. Graham’s Labor Day posts coincided with the end of pandemic-related federal jobless benefits, which some experts say made it difficult to fill open positions.

Franklin Graham on a ‘Troubling’ Situation

Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, tweeted: “Today we celebrate the American worker—the entrepreneurs [with] their dreams & the workers [with] their skills who built this nation. But it’s troubling to see the disregard we now see for hard work. Almost every business is trying to hire people, but so many don’t want to work.”

Graham, who supported former President Trump, says under that administration “the US had the strongest economy, some say since Eisenhower, & we had more people working than at any time in our history—but it’s evaporating. COVID had an impact, but political mismanagement has dealt a debilitating blow. Repeated stimulus payments & giveaway packages have encouraged people not to go to work. The Republicans seem to know how to get people to work and the Democrats seem to know how to tax your money and give it to people as an incentive not to work.”

He concluded, “God created us to work. On this Labor Day, join me in thanking Him for His hand of blessing on this nation through the years. And pray for America and our leaders to turn to God and ask for His forgiveness, His mercy, and His continued blessings. That is what we need most.”

Critics Accuse Franklin Graham of Misrepresenting the Holiday

Franklin Graham’s tweets trended on Twitter, with many replies taking issue with his perception of Labor Day’s origins. “Wrong!” one person writes. “Labor Day is a recognition of the power of the American people to rise up and make changes to unfair employment practices.”

Another replies, “Labor Day is about workers. It is not about entrepreneurs. I have my own business, I work hard but I am not ‘a worker.’ Labor Day is not the day to pretend you know how little workers value labor. Workers know how much you ‘value’ labor. It’s printed on their paycheck.”

Other people responded by urging employers to pay workers a living wage and provide benefits. “If you think hard work in the service industry is so great,” one asks Graham, “why don’t you apply?” That commenter adds that the evangelist “never worked hard or struggled and got to where he is because of nepotism and wealth.” Graham is the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham.

On Facebook, responses seem more favorable to Graham’s posts, with many of his social media followers decrying the impact of America’s current “socialist” government.

The Dangers of the Mountain Bottom Experience

By
Chet Gladowski
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communicating with the unchurched

You go up the mountain to receive something: a beautiful and inspiring view. Moses went up the mountain to receive the 10 Commandments. Or you go up to achieve something. But when you come down the mountain, all the excitement is over. You’ve learned or received the revelation, insight, wisdom, knowledge. Now, you’re returning to the land of the normal once again. That’s the mountain bottom experience.

Each year, about 800 people paying upwards of $75,000 sign up to climb Mount Everest. (This includes $11,000 climbing permit, $5,000 Sherpa, $3,700 bottled oxygen, $7,000 gear, and a lot of miscellaneous: travel, insurance, tips, etc.) They each have their own, unique reasons for the years of training, cost, and risk. Many climb Mount Everest to show that they can achieve anything. Some want a once-in-a-lifetime experience to talk about the rest of their lives.

The Mountain Bottom Experience

But interestingly enough, most of the deaths on Mount Everest occur on the descent. Depending on your source, somewhere between 73% – 85% of deaths on Mount Everest occur on the descent. It’s not the climb up, but the trip down that’s the most dangerous.

The same is true in our spiritual lives and small group experiences. It’s not the climb up as you struggle to take one step closer to God. It’s not the mountain-top experience or the “camp high” that’s the most dangerous. No, it’s the return to reality–the mountain bottom experience–where people trip, fall, injure themselves.

It’s in this most dangerous environment that Jesus gives Peter, James, and John his most demanding instruction.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

Mark 9:9,10

They are NOT to talk about the great experiences and truths they experienced on the mountain top. They saw Jesus transformed and shine like the sun. They heard the voice of God declare that Jesus was God and that the Father was hopelessly and eternally in love with his son. But God did not stop there, the command and instruction directly from the voice of God was to listen to him, obey him, change and conform our lives to follow him.

I don’t know about you, but this sure sounds like something I’d want to talk about! Shout about. Grab strangers on the street, at work, in the grocery store, and tell them my story, my experience.

How many people, after experiencing something like this, would go crazy writing about it on social media? How many videos would they post about their spiritual ecstasy?

But Jesus goes in another direction. He gives them an order, an explicit command that cannot be misunderstood. There is no question about the fact of what they saw and experienced on the mountaintop. And there is no question or misunderstanding about Jesus’ wishes, instructions, commands.

They must have been about to bust. Holding this experience and news inside was a great test of controlling themselves.

And here’s the great and unexpected news; they kept it to themselves! They actually obeyed Jesus and only talked about it between the three of them. Unlike so many people that had been healed by Jesus, told not to talk about it, but then proceeded to blab it to just about everyone they met.

We need to treat our small group conversations like the gift that they are; with grace, love, and confidentiality. Each of us has secrets. And when someone shares their secrets, it’s a mountain top holy ground experience. And we are to treat it as such. To do otherwise can easily cause someone to stumble as they come to the the mountain bottom experience.

There are no such restrictions about talking to Jesus about anything, everything. There are no deep secrets that he doesn’t already know. There is nothing you can say that will shock him.

And there is nothing you can share that will keep him away. He’s not like that.

Don’t we all want a relationship with someone like that? Don’t we all need a relationship with God like that?

And a small group is where many find that kind of relationship with God.

 

This article about the mountain bottom experience originally appeared on smallgroupnetwork.com.

The Secret That Keeps Men from Singing in Worship

By
David Murrow
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men worship
Lightstock #80283

Have you noticed that when men worship, very few of them actually sing? It happened again yesterday. I was attending one of those hip, contemporary churches—and almost no one sang.

Worshippers stood obediently as the band rocked out, the smoke machine belched and lights flashed. Lyrics were projected on the screen, but almost no one sang them.

When Men Worship

A few women were trying, but I saw only one male (other than the worship leader) making the attempt.

A few months ago, I blogged “Have Christians Stopped Singing?” I did some research, and learned that congregational singing has ebbed and flowed over the centuries. It reached a high tide when I was a young man—but that tide may be going out again.

And that could be bad news for men.

First, a very quick history of congregational singing.

Before the Reformation, laypersons were not allowed to sing in church. They were expected to stand mute as sacred music was performed by professionals (priests and cantors), played on complex instruments (pipe organs) and sung in an obscure language (Latin).

Reformers gave worship back to the people in the form of congregational singing.

They composed simple tunes that were easy to sing, and mated them with theologically rich lyrics. Since most people were illiterate in the 16th century, singing became an effective form of catechism.

Congregants learned about God as they sang about God.

A technological advance—the printing press—led to an explosion of congregational singing.

The first hymnal was printed in 1532, and soon a few dozen hymns became standards across Christendom. Hymnals slowly grew over the next four centuries. By the mid-20th century, every Protestant church had a hymnal of about 1000 songs, 250 of which were regularly sung.

In the church of my youth, everyone picked up a hymnal and sang every verse of every song.

About 20 years ago, a new technological advance—the computer controlled projection screen—entered America’s sanctuaries.

11 Great Online Small Group Resources

By
Andrew Mason
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communicating with the unchurched

What small group curriculum should our small groups study? Where can we find good small group resources? These are questions I frequently get asked at Small Group workshops and in conversations with pastors. Before I share some quick links and resources, allow me to share with you a few things to consider.

First off, it’s a best practice to consider study themes and topics that would be attractive to people who aren’t already plugged into group life. If you want to get new people connected into groups, your language and focus should be aimed at that target audience.

The next thing to consider is the length of your study. People have shorter attention spans than ever before. The most attractive small group studies are typically around 4-6 weeks long. This doesn’t mean you can’t do a longer study, but you should definitely make sure that at least one to two times a year (the Fall and the New Year) you’re offering shorter studies to get new people connected into groups.

Lastly, you want to make sure the small group resources are put together well and fits within the culture of your church. See 4 Lenses For Selecting Curriculum for more on this.

Small Group Resources

Below is a list of 11 Sources for Small Group Bible Studies. They’re not the only sources, but I wanted to share some options that are really focused on a simple menu of various small group studies (in no particular order or ranking)…

1. Resources at GroupLeaders.org: 

These are small group resources from North Point ministries (Andy Stanley).

2. Nelson Searcy’s List of Approved Small Group Resources:  

Nelson Searcy has a pre-approved selection of small group content for his groups to choose from when they are not doing a churchwide campaign. Once you go to the web page, just click on the link toward the top to download the document with the list of studies.

3. Small Group Studies from Saddleback: 

I think Rick Warren and Steve Gladen have learned a thing or two about small group curriculum. Saddleback is a great example of what happens when churches are fueled by good small groups. Enough said.

4. Right Now Small Group Bible Studies: 

“Right Now” has a great selection of studies from leaders like Craig Groeschel, Francis Chan and more.

5. Small Group Churches Free Group Curriculum

The #1 Parenting Passage in the Bible

By
Paul David Tripp
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communicating with the unchurched

Today’s devotional on a parenting passage is adapted from my book, Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family. Notice the title of the book. These are gospel principles. Just because I’m applying it to parenting doesn’t mean it only has relevance for moms and dads, but for every situation, location and relationship in the Christian life.

If I were to ask you what the best, most practical, most helpful parenting passage in all the Bible was, what would you answer?

Most biblically literate Christian parents would run to Ephesians 6:1–4: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.’ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (ESV)

Those are wonderfully helpful verses, but there’s another parenting passage that’s almost never mentioned in the context of parenting. These words, straight from the mouth of the Messiah, contain everything you need to know and understand in order to experience the rest and courage of heart that fuels good, godly, perseverant parenting.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

The Great Commission? Yes! I cannot think of any directive more appropriate to every Christian parent than this one. Here’s why:

Your job as a Christian parent is to do everything within your power, as an instrument in the hands of the Redeemer who has employed you, to woo, encourage, call and train your children to willingly and joyfully live as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This calling is more important than how they do in school, or how positively they contribute to the reputation of your family, or how well they set themselves up for a future career, or how well they do in sports and the arts, or how well they are liked by adults and peers. These things aren’t unimportant, but we must not let them rise to the importance of this one thing: discipleship.

I have to ask you: How well are you making disciples of your children?

3 Simple Connection Ideas for Small Groups

By
Jackie Van Hook
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communicating with the unchurched

In many ways, the pandemic has made it harder for people to get connected. Maybe they have been attending church online; or maybe there just haven’t been a whole lot of events and/or new groups to promote. Whatever the case, there’s no doubt that people are craving connections — and being connected into a small group is more important than ever! One of the lessons learned in this past year is to simplify. When it comes to connection ideas, “simple” means just providing opportunities! Below are three simple connection ideas you can try to help foster connections with those who are new and/or still unconnected (be sure to highlight you are reaching those specific individuals). Whatever you do, the end goal is the same: to get each attendee connected into a small group! With each of these ideas, you can make it what you want by targeting specific age groups, making them gender-specific and/or family-friendly — whatever you feel is needed and would work best for your church.

3 Simple Connection Ideas

1. Couples Night Out Connection Event

Host a simple “night out” where couples (no children) can come out and meet other couples. To keep it simple, ask everyone to “BYO-dessert” to share! Assemble a small team of seasoned small group leaders and small group members to be present to interact with the guests and make them feel welcome. While most of the time will be spent casually interacting with everyone, you can incorporate a simple connection activity, such as “Getting to Know You” M&M game where people have to answer specific questions about themselves. Another great connection activity to try is “Pandemic Pivots” where you call out random things that people did throughout the pandemic (this can be tweaked to anything, such as “Summer Fun” or “Holiday Happenings”). Participants simply raise their hand or stand up if they did the specific item called out, and everyone is able to see what they have in common with each other! To give attendees a little taste of what small groups are like, you could also ask one of your seasoned small group leaders to share a very short devotional, with a few questions for people to respond to. Last, but not least, this is a great time to also have someone to share a brief testimony about the value of being connected into a group.

2. “Pizza & Picnic”

Sometimes, it can be challenging for people to come out during the weeknights. So why not make it easy to reach even more people, by holding a simple event right after church, when everyone is there! This can be a great way to reach families. If you have outdoor space to use, you can create a “picnic-style” event (this can also be done indoors, but depending on number of participants, can be more challenging). Provide pizza for all attendees, and invite them to BYO-dessert to share. You’ll want to have a team of seasoned leaders and group members on hand to help interact with the guests, and some volunteers to assist with the children, if needed, so that parents can enjoy some adult interaction without distractions. Help foster connections by using easy interactive connection activities, which kids can also participate in, such as 4-corners. If the group is fairly large, you could offer both large and small group activities. You can put together the smaller groups ahead of time based on registration info (such as if they have kids or no kids, where they live, etc….) Seasoned group leaders would help facilitate these small groups. One great activity for the smaller groups is to simply hand each group a pen & paper and ask them to find as many things that they have in common with each other (in 5 minutes or less)!Then, invite each group to share those things with the larger group.

3. Ice Cream “Meet Up”

Who doesn’t like ice cream??! This is probably one of the easiest things you can do — you’re simply providing an opportunity for people to come out and have some face to face interaction with others. Pick a date, pick a place, promote (you can choose to have a registration – or not!) and just show up! As always, have a small team of seasoned leaders and group members on hand to assist in welcoming everyone, talking with people and making connections. The beauty of doing this at a local public place is also that it can double as an outreach opportunity too! It’s a win-win all around.

Why not give some of these connection ideas a try? You’ll encourage others by helping them meet people and make connections, and most importantly, they’ll want to get connected into a group – especially with those they’ve made connections with. This is a great way to start some NEW groups. Helping others make connections doesn’t need to be complicated — keep it simple, and see what God will do!

 

This article about simple connection ideas originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Why Women Don’t Like Women’s Ministry

By
Bianca Olthoff
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communicating with the unchurched

We know that some women love women’s ministry, but there are others who’ll never attend. Why is that? Have you ever stood knee-deep in a bad situation, yet believed good could prevail?

Have you ever seen a company losing customers, yet saw the intrinsic value the company possessed in the community?

Have you ever seen an ugly duckling you believed would morph into a swan?

I have.

Maybe it’s my optimistic nature or my naivety or my unwavering hope in humanity, but I could look at a situation and see the value, potential and redeeming qualities when people are proverbially adding fuel to the burning building.

Lately I’ve been involved with several conversations regarding the future of the church and the future of women’s ministry.

Something Is Missing in Women’s Ministry

I’ve read the blogs and heard the gripes from both men and women, but I can’t help but see the future. A future filled with passionate, smart, educated women helping advance the Gospel through more than just Bunko nights, tea parties and Creative Memories scrapping gatherings.

This comes on the heels of a conversation I had with my dear friend Lindsey after she attended a women’s ministry event with me. We’ve had numerous conversations about this topic, so her view isn’t new. She posted a comment on Twitter and garnished a number of legitimate responses.

Though pink table cloths and flower centerpieces still exist in older paradigm models of women’s ministry, does that take away from the power of this demographic within the church?

If statistics are correct, the American Evangelical church is comprised of 61 percent females who are more likely to serve in ministry and more likely to tithe when compared to their male counterparts. So why all the hate?

Because something is missing.

The model for women’s ministry is very much based off the social circle founded in the conservative south. The growth of traditional women’s ministry advanced circa 1950 when young women were getting married and starting families before the age of 23.

Singles Church Events – Please Give Us Space to Mingle

By
Justin Megna
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communicating with the unchurched

Churches: please know that we’re discouraged. We’re frustrated. At times, we face deep emotional pain. We’re the singles within your congregations who earnestly desire to marry but can’t seem to find a marital match. You might not be aware of the difficulties and pain we experience in persistent singleness. That’s because we don’t talk about these things openly on Sunday mornings. Expressing deep pain of persistent singleness is reserved only for the closest of confidants. And the worst moments, when tears flow, are often only witnessed by God.

Another reason you might not be aware of these things is because those who occupy positions of church leadership tend to be married. This isn’t anyone’s fault. It’s a natural effect. The passing of time increases both the likelihood that a person will enter church leadership and the likelihood that a person will marry. The natural effect is that church leaders—especially senior leaders—tend to be married.

Singles Church Events

While there’s nothing wrong with being a married church leader, there is an issue inasmuch as married church leaders (especially those that married young) might not understand the distress of persistent singleness. This can result in married church leaders failing to address the needs of their single congregants through providing singles church events—not because of neglect or malice—but because of the natural reality that insulates their awareness from the needs of single congregants. However, there’s much attentive churches can do to serve their single congregants.

1. Why Christian Singles Don’t Meet

Many single Christian men and women wonder where all the good Christian bachelors and bachelorettes are. It might seem peculiar that these single groups have a hard time finding each other in spite of wanting to meet so greatly. There is, again, a natural reason.

The typical Christian adult spends most of his or her time in three places: home, work and church. Home offers no opportunity to meet a romantic partner. Work might offer opportunity, as office relationships are known to occur. But many vocations offer little or no opportunity to meet eligible Christian singles.

That leaves church. One might think church would be a place to recommend for a Christian to seek an eligible mate. However, churches, you need to understand two problems with this idea:

2. At a Smaller Church Singles Can be a “Small Pool”

The first problem is that it’s easy to exhaust the pool of available singles at one’s home church. This is especially the case if one attends a small church. At one small church I attended years ago, there were no eligible bachelorettes my age at all. Another church I attended later had only one. After getting to know her through church functions, I knew we weren’t a good romantic match.

3. Sunday morning worship services are terrible places to meet other Christian singles.

This is because there’s precious little time for mingling. People tend to arrive minutes before the service starts. Once the service starts, everyone must turn their attention to worshipping, preventing further conversation. Once the service ends, it may again be only minutes before the congregants, including the singles, leave. This Sunday morning reality leaves only two minuscule windows of time for a bachelor or bachelorette to attempt to meet and start a conversation with someone who appears to be an eligible single.

So let’s imagine a person visits a new church in hopes of meeting eligible Christian singles. If he or she fails to connect with anyone new during those two narrow windows of time, he or she must wait an entire week to try again at a Sunday morning service. This is incredibly costly in terms of time. Moreover, every week a person spends visiting other churches in hopes of meeting singles is a week that person is absent from his or her home church.

Youth Retreat: Take a Deep Dive Into Discipleship

By
Doug Fields
-
communicating with the unchurched

Years ago, we held a youth retreat with the theme of discipleship. Only about one-fifth of our regular students attended. For many youth workers, a turnout that low might arouse feelings of anguish and failure. But I wasn’t surprised by the turnout, because the youth retreat called for a very big commitment. As I’ve learned, when spiritual commitments increase, attendance typically decreases.

Of the attendees at that youth retreat, most wanted to be there. And all were challenged to go deeper in their faith. First of all, we spent an intense amount of time in discussion. Then in the large-group time, we raised the bar pretty high. Next, we also gave teens plenty of quiet time to read their Bibles and journal.

Each year, I approach this youth retreat expecting students to complain about the schedule. I figure they’ll be unhappy that the event isn’t very “fun.” But every year, without fail, the students rise to our expectations. As a result, they leave with a stronger faith than they had when the weekend began.

When it comes to numbers, I’d rather have one-fifth of students getting a lot out of an intense program than 100 percent attending with meager results.

Here’s some youth retreat insight I want to share with you:

If I ran my youth ministry as a personal popularity contest—needing every student to attend every event—then our youth ministry would be very shallow. My challenge to you is to have events for the few who want to grow. Give students opportunities to explore following Christ. But then don’t be surprised that most won’t take you up on the offer. Raising the bar helps teenagers reach new heights in their relationship with God.

When I first started in youth ministry, I struggled with this concept of attendance decreasing as spiritual commitment levels increased. It worked against my self-esteem. I’d come off an event that had a low turnout and tear it apart piece by piece trying to figure out why kids didn’t want to participate. Now that I understand this increase/decrease concept, I’m able to work with students who want to grow their faith without questioning my effectiveness and calling to youth ministry.

Follow these 3 helpful values for your own youth retreat:

1. Keep costs down. 

Don’t let money prevent students from attending. One way we keep costs minimal is to use the church campus for our meetings and have students stay together in private homes for the nights. They love it!

2. Raise the bar high. 

Students are giving you a weekend to help them grow in their faith. Take advantage of the opportunity by giving them a variety of ways to learn and connect with God.

3. Build strong relationships.

Have interaction times that encourage friendships to form. We provide a couple of hours on Saturday afternoon for home groups to spend time together. By then, their minds are ready for a break. Plus, they’re ready to relax and have fun.

What other suggestions do you have for a meaningful youth retreat? Please share them in the comments below!

Tim Keller Congratulates Atheist on Harvard Chaplain Presidency; Evangelical Defends Vote

By
Jesse T. Jackson
-
tim keller
Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

On August 30, 2021, Tim Keller, the Christian apologist and former senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, congratulated his friend Greg Epstein on Twitter for being elected the president of Harvard’s Chaplain group. The controversy for some reading Keller’s tweet is the fact that Epstein is an outspoken atheist.

Keller’s post read: “Congratulations, Greg, on your appointment. Greg is a friend whom I have debated and while I don’t agree with him on many things, I do wish him well.”

Some of Keller’s followers were confused by the best wishes tweet and responded by asking, “Pastor @timkellernyc, would you help me understand why this should be celebrated?” and ” Do u [sic] really think the apostle Paul would be congratulating him???”

“Congratulating a man who doesn’t believe in God to teach and represent as a man of God is antithetical…do better Keller,” another wrote.

Keller directed unhappy commenters to an article Pete Williamson, the team leader for InterVarsity’s Graduate and Faculty Ministries at Harvard, wrote for Christianity Today. Williamson’s article explained what being the president of Harvard’s Chaplain group entails.

Williamson Explains Voting for Atheist Chaplain

Williamson, who for the last seven years has worked at Harvard as an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship evangelical campus minister, explained in an op-ed for Christianity Today why he voted for Epstein to be the president of Harvard’s Chaplain Group.

The campus minister said his reasoning is based in the “unique, decentralized approach of the Harvard Chaplains and how that group of leaders from many faiths (or no faith) has opened doors for gospel-centered ministry on the campus of a prestigious Ivy League school.” Williamson blasted the media’s coverage regarding Epstein’s hiring, saying, “The real Harvard Chaplains Group—not the one poorly represented in the media—tells a different and very significant story of how evangelicals can flourish in interfaith spaces without compromising faith, truth, or mission.”

Related article: Harvard’s New Chief Chaplain Does Not Believe in God

But Williamson also said he might have had the same negative reaction as people who only read the media reports had he not been in the “room” when the vote took place. “That room was of course a Zoom call.” Williamson along with the group of about 30 chaplains voted for Epstein. Epstein had been Harvard’s humanist chaplain for 15 years prior to being voted in as the president of Harvard’s Chaplain Group.

Williamson also attempted to clarify what the president’s role is comprised of. Williamson said, “Harvard has no ‘chief chaplain,’ and the president of the Harvard chaplains does not direct spiritual life on campus.” Explaining that the group is a “decentralized, nonhierarchical community of independent chaplaincies, with about 40 chaplains spanning roughly 25 denominations, organizations, traditions, and religions.” The president coordinates, assembles, and leads meetings, is the spokesperson between the chaplain group and the office of the president of Harvard University, and sometimes is the group’s representation at certain events.”

Williamson said presidents are “selected because they are trusted and competent members of our group.” He shared that his vote for Epstein was “motivated in part by my desire to build trust in an interfaith space where people hold sharply conflicting views and do not pretend otherwise.” Elaborating on why building that trust is important, Williamson said without it, “evangelicals would be relegated to the fringes. Instead, we are at the table, discussing truth in partnership with our fellow chaplains and being looked to for leadership in the diverse religious life of Harvard.”

Related article: What Is It Like to Be a Team Chaplain for the NFL?

Epstein’s mission as a chaplain isn’t to persuade others to become atheists, Williamson pointed out. The new president is there to serve students at Harvard who are without faith.

As the team leader for InterVarsity’s Graduate and Faculty Ministries at Harvard, Williamson boldly but gently rebuked some evangelicals’ reaction to an atheist being name the president of Harvard’s Chaplain Group. “Underneath the overreaching headline is a model of how evangelicals can flourish in interfaith spaces and do so without compromise. It’s a model evangelicals would do well to emulate rather than condemn,” he said.

Abortion Supporters Fight Back Against ‘Highly Punitive and Unfair’ Texas Law

By
Stephanie Martin
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Texas Law
FILE - In this Thursday, May 23, 2019 file photo, Demonstrators chant slogans during a rally in support of abortion rights in Miami. Republican lawmakers in at least a half dozen GOP-controlled states already are talking about copying a Texas law that bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. The law was written in a way that was intended to avoid running afoul of federal law by allowing enforcement by private citizens, not government officials. Democratic governors and lawmakers are promising to take steps to protect abortion rights, after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Texas law to stand.(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

After a controversial abortion ban took effect in Texas this week, pro-lifers declared victory while abortion-rights supporters expressed anger and started fighting back against the Texas law. Some turned to digital activism, some pledged to help women cross state lines to receive medical care, and others are encouraging boycotts.

The Texas law, which bans abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, is designed to be tough to challenge, giving enforcement power to citizens. Opponents, who say the law will prevent about 85% of abortions from being performed in the state, accuse Republican politicians of “deputizing” Texans and promising informants large bounties. President Biden is promising to lead a “whole of government” effort against the ban.

Because the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 against blocking the ban, it took effect at midnight Thursday. Before that deadline, Whole Woman’s Health, a Fort Worth clinic that sued to try to block the ban, performed 67 abortions in 17 hours. “We’re going to help everybody that we can,” director Marva Sadler told the clinic’s small team. “We are not the bad guys here.”

Texas Law: Digital Activists Try to Crash Pro-Life Website

As ChurchLeaders reported, an initial target of people upset by the Texas law is a “whistleblowing” website. Launched by Texas Right to Life, the site accepts anonymous tips related to the abortion ban. Social media users are urging people to bombard and crash the site by submitting false information.

TikTok user Sean Black developed an iOS shortcut to make that easier. By bundling predetermined commands, he was able to work around an IP ban. And his next challenge is bypassing a “captcha” hurdle used to prevent spamming. “To me, the McCarthyism-era tactics of turning neighbors against each other over a bill I feel is a violation of Roe v. Wade is unacceptable,” says Black. “There are people on TikTok using their platform to educate and do their part. I believe this is me doing mine.”

Vice.com, which describes Black’s efforts, encourages other digital activists to share (“using a non-work phone or computer”) their tech-related strategies against the “draconian” law.

Twitter Fills With Talk of #TexasTaliban

Other people are expressing outrage against the Texas law via Twitter, posting memes that compare Texas lawmakers and Christians to the Taliban. Some tweets ask when the “airlift to rescue women from Texas” will begin, referring to the recent U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan.

Objecting to the use of the hashtag #TexasTaliban, one person tweets: “I know you think you’re being cute, but trust me, white American Evangelicals have never needed to look abroad to get ideas about how to enact oppression here at home. The Texas abortion law is rooted in whiteness, Christianity, and Americanism.”

Could the New Texas Abortion Law Be a Model for GOP-Led States?

By
Stephen Groves
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texas abortion law
FILE - In this June 25, 2018 file photo, pro-life and anti-abortion advocates demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court in Washington. Republican lawmakers in at least a half dozen GOP-controlled states already are talking about copying a Texas law that bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. The law was written in a way that was intended to avoid running afoul of federal law by allowing enforcement by private citizens, not government officials. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Republican states that have passed increasingly tough abortion restrictions only to see them blocked by the federal courts have a new template in an unusually written Texas law that represents the most far-reaching curb on abortions in nearly half a century.

On Thursday, Republican lawmakers in at least half a dozen states said they planned to introduce bills using the Texas law as a model, hoping it provides a pathway to enacting the kind of abortion crackdown they have sought for years.

In Mississippi, Republican state Sen. Chris McDaniel said he would “absolutely” consider filing legislation to match the Texas law after a sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court let it stand.

“I think most conservative states in the South will look at this inaction by the court and will see that as perhaps a chance to move on that issue,” he said.

The Texas law, which took effect Wednesday, prohibits abortions once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity, usually around six weeks and before many women know they’re pregnant. While a dozen states have tried to enact bans early in pregnancy, those laws have been blocked by courts.

Texas may have found an end-run around the federal courts by enacting an unusual enforcement scheme that authorizes private citizens to file lawsuits in state court against abortion providers and anyone involved in aiding an abortion, including someone who drives a woman to a clinic. The law includes a minimum award of $10,000 for a successful lawsuit, but does not have government officials criminally enforce the law.

In addition to Mississippi, GOP lawmakers and abortion opponents in at least five other Republican-controlled states — Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, North Dakota and South Dakota — said they were considering pushing bills similar to the Texas law and its citizen-enforcement provision.

“Even though you may have pro-life legislators, you do not always have pro-life bureaucrats who are willing to do enforcement inspections,” said Indiana state Sen. Liz Brown, a Republican who has been the sponsor of several anti-abortion bills adopted in recent years.

China Bans Men It Sees As Not Masculine Enough From TV

By
Joe McDonald
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effeminate men
FILE - In this Oct. 21, 2017, file photo, Chinese women walk past advertisement featuring teen idol Lu Han, also known as China's Justin Bieber in Beijing. China's government banned effeminate men on TV and told broadcasters Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021 to promote "revolutionary culture," broadening a campaign to tighten control over business and society and enforce official morality. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

BEIJING (AP) — China’s government banned effeminate men on TV and told broadcasters Thursday to promote “revolutionary culture,” broadening a campaign to tighten control over business and society and enforce official morality.

President Xi Jinping has called for a “national rejuvenation,” with tighter Communist Party control of business, education, culture and religion. Companies and the public are under increasing pressure to align with its vision for a more powerful China and healthier society.

The party has reduced children’s access to online games and is trying to discourage what it sees as unhealthy attention to celebrities.

Broadcasters must “resolutely put an end to sissy men and other abnormal esthetics,” the National Radio and TV Administration said, using an insulting slang term for effeminate men — “niang pao,” or literally, “girlie guns.”

That reflects official concern that Chinese pop stars, influenced by the sleek, fashionable look of some South Korean and Japanese singers and actors, are failing to encourage China’s young men to be masculine enough.

Broadcasters should avoid promoting “vulgar internet celebrities” and admiration of wealth and celebrity, the regulator said. Instead, programs should “vigorously promote excellent Chinese traditional culture, revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture.”

Xi’s government also is tightening control over Chinese internet industries.

It has launched anti-monopoly, data security and other enforcement actions at companies including games and social media provider Tencent Holding and e-commerce giant Alibaba Group that the ruling party worries are too big and independent.

Rules that took effect Wednesday limit anyone under 18 to three hours per week of online games and prohibit play on school days.

Game developers already were required to submit new titles for government approval before they could be released. Officials have called on them to add nationalistic themes.

The party also is tightening control over celebrities.

Broadcasters should avoid performers who “violate public order” or have “lost morality,” the regulator said. Programs about the children of celebrities also are banned.

Praise God! Seven Soldiers Spontaneously Baptized Using the Bucket of a Large Excavation Loader

By
Jessica Mouser
-
communicating with the unchurched

Seven soldiers with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division were baptized Sunday, Aug. 29, at the National Training Center (NTC) in Fort Irwin, Calif.—despite there being no chapel or “proper” baptismal at hand. 

“Chaplains from across our brigade made it happen yesterday when seven of our Soldiers wanted to be baptized,” said the division in a post on its Facebook page. “With no chapel or equipment to facilitate, our chaplains came together and created a makeshift tub at the National Training Center/Fort Irwin and got the job done. A fine example of Lancers being experts at their chosen field craft!”

RELATED: The Quiet Spiritual Revival Brewing in the US Army

2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division 

The 2nd Infantry Division “is the last remaining permanently forward-stationed division in the U.S. Army.” Its mission is to maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula. When the division wraps up its time at the NTC, it will conclude its 400th training rotation. 

Brig. Gen. Jeff Broadwater told the El Paso Times in 2017 that the National Training Center offers training “like no other place in the world.” Troops go through exercises in 116 degree heat on little sleep, making it challenging to accomplish even the most basic tasks, as they prepare for various missions in the field. 

“Everyone has stories about NTC,” said Broadwater. “I can still remember what we did well when I was a squadron commander and a brigade commander in my NTC rotations—and things we didn’t do well.”

On Aug. 27, the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division posted images of troops in the midst of such training “perfecting their craft.”

L.A. Is Struggling. Here’s What Motivates Me To Stay and Serve

By
Matthew Barnett
-
communicating with the unchurched

The pandemic has hit the city of Los Angeles in unprecedented ways, the battle being on two fronts: the loss of lives through the virus and the loss of livelihood. Two fights at the same time is a massive challenge. While the hospital workers continue to do heroic acts of courage fighting the medical battle of Covid-19, the Dream Center is “holding down the fort” dealing with the loss of people’s quality of life due to job losses and the overall economic impact.

According to the Brookings Institution, “More than three out of five low-income households with children reported that they had experienced an income shock due to COVID-19. Income losses related to COVID-19 are associated with a host of material hardships, including food insecurity and difficulty paying bills.”

This city that I love is devastated by this pandemic. Many have asked us, “Why do you stay? Isn’t it a hopeless effort?” It can feel that way. However, staying in hard times has allowed us to experience the greatest demonstration of God’s love in the history of the LA Dream Center’s rich legacy.

Many of the community landmarks have been shut down during the last 18 months. The best way to explain it is like when Nehemiah assessed the damage to the structure of the city every day in the Bible. I can also relate it to Ezekiel who visited the graveyard and was confronted with the question, “Can these dry bones live again?”

One particularly disheartening trend I’ve observed during the pandemic is how many single mothers are becoming homeless. Our drive-thru food line at the Dream Center was flooded by young mothers who were first to be cut during the business closures. One day, a lady I saw many times pulled up to receive her lunch and groceries and I asked her, “Where have you been?” She apologized for not coming back but then explained that she ran out of gas and couldn’t make it to the food line. She then said something that shook me greatly: “Gas money is my rent money.”

We rallied together a few gas cards and told her we could make sure she always had a gas card to keep the air conditioner on in her car. Day after day, she started to make it to our food line. For days on end she would tell me about her dead-end search for work, but remained hopeful that she could always be fed at the Dream Center. Out of the blue one day she made a shocking confession. She confessed to me she had a gun in her car and was going to take her own life. She followed up by telling us, “Thank you Dream Center for taking the gun out of my hand.”

My team here in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles gave her hope that she would never be alone. She might have troubles, but she doesn’t have to fear losing all of the basic needs in life because the Dream Center keeps showing up, never forsaking the daily demand of meeting people’s needs.

I can say both confidently, and proudly, that we are literally saving lives. We are doing it by keeping our kitchen open now for 10 hours a day for anyone to get a free meal. We’ve never been able to do that in the past. We also have a strong relationship with local law enforcement officials who help bring people off the streets and into the Dream Center in hopes of rehabilitating them, rather than locking them up.

We are currently living in the most outrageous ministry era that looks like the set of a motion picture. At the end of a day, we’re exhausted, and it often feels like we’ve served for years.

We are tired and overwhelmed; but we are happy. If you too are finding yourself running on fumes at times, constantly waiting for the dust to settle, I pray God grants you another day of his mercy and his supernatural strength. I pray you find reminders, as I have, that your labor is not in vain.

This moment could break us, but I’m determined to press on. I’m clinging to the hope that there is a silver lining in this storm, and that God’s promises are never out of reach.

DIY Oversized Games: 4 XL Activities for Extra Fun

By
Gary R Linn
-
communicating with the unchurched

Games are an integral part of every children’s ministry setting. At children’s church, Sunday school, VBS and camp, attendees enjoy fun activities that reinforce the day’s lesson. Why not increase the fun with some DIY oversized games?

To use games as review tools, you have several options. When children answer a question correctly, they can take a turn at the game. For example, someone can make a move for their team in Tic-Tac-Toe. Another option: When kids complete the task of the game, they have the opportunity to answer a question. For example, after hitting a balloon with a Nerf bow and arrow, they can earn extra points by answering a question.

Most any game will work. Just make the game large enough for the class size. In fact, DIY oversized games are even better! Read on for some ideas you can try.

4 Simple, Effective DIY Oversized Games

1. Plinko 

This popular game is from “The Price Is Right” TV show. Players drop a disk from the top of a board. Then it bounces down through a maze of pegs. Eventually, it lands in a slot with a point value assigned to it.

This game is a great way for kids to earn points after answering a question. Or use it to determine how many Bible Bucks a child may receive after answering a question. Plus, Plinko is one of the easiest DIY oversized games to make.

Here’s what you need:

  • 1 – 4′ x 4′ sheet of peg board
  • 2 dowel rods that fit securely into the peg board holes
  • 3 – 1 x 2 x 8′ boards
  • 1 wooden ring (curtain rings work well)
  • 2 hinges

Cut the three 8′ boards into 4′ lengths. Frame up the two sides and bottom of the pegboard with 3 of the 4′ pieces. Next, attach two 4′ sections to the top, back sides with the hinges. That creates legs for the board to stand up at a slight backward tilt.

Then cut the remaining 4′ piece into three strips. If your wooden ring is about 3 across, then place the 3 pieces vertically across the bottom every 3 1/2. That creates slots for the ring to fall into. (Some guesswork is required to evenly distribute the three pieces.)

Finally, cut the dowel rods into two lengths and randomly insert them into the peg board. Be sureto leave plenty of room for the ring to bounce around and make it to the bottom. Now decorate it as you like!

2. Quarto

The object is to get 4 of a kind in a row. The trick is that the opponent chooses which piece you have to play.

Here’s what you need:

  • 1 – 2′ x 2′ piece of plywood
  • 8 square styled post tops
  • 8 round styled post tops
  • Paint (yellow, red, blue, green)

Create a 4×4-foot checker-style playing board by dividing the plywood into six squares. Paint every other square blue and every other one green. Paint two round post tops yellow and two round post tops red. Finally, paint two square post tops yellow and two square post tops red. That’s it!

The team that gets four of a kind in a straight row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally wins. The combinations can be 4 red, 4 yellow, 4 round, or 4 square.

3. Mancala 

Because the directions for this game are a bit difficult to explain, consider purchasing a smaller version or look up directions online. For now, here’s how to make an oversized version:

Here’s what you need:

  • 12 – 5-quart ice cream buckets
  • 2 – 10 gallon plastic tubs
  • 36 multi-colored 3 foam or plastic balls

Make two rows with 6 buckets in each row, placing 3 balls in each bucket. Then place a tub at each end. Follow the Mancala rules!

4. Tic-Tac-Toe

When it comes to DIY oversized games, this is a favorite standby.

Here’s what you need:

  • 1 – 8′ 4 x 4 fence post
  • Paint (red and blue)

Cut the post into four cubes. On one side of the cube, paint a large red X. On the opposite side of the cube, paint a large blue O. Then stack four cubes so the X is to the left and the O is to the right. Blank sides should appear on the front, back, top, and bottom.

Next, place the next stack several inches to the right of the first stack and the third stack several inches to the right of the second stack. This will give you room to rotate the cubes.

When a child gives a correct answer and chooses a block, rotate that cube to display the correct emblem, X or O. (Behind-the-scenes joke: Though the winning team sees its emblems in a row, the other team actually has theirs in a row on the back side. I guess we’re all winners!)

What DIY oversized games have you tried in your ministry? Share your creative ideas in the comments below!

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