Comments on: a new name for attraction children’s ministry! http://whyismarko.com/2007/a-new-name-for-attraction-childrens-ministry/ life, faith, youth ministry, emerging church, leadership, whimsy Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:12:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Carissa http://whyismarko.com/2007/a-new-name-for-attraction-childrens-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-204988 Carissa Tue, 29 May 2007 16:17:01 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=1632#comment-204988 As sad as this concept of "Chuck E Church" may be, there is so much truth to it.I am a children's pastor and I see it all too often. It seems as though many churches will do anything to draw children in, including forgetting what it is all about. We've recently shifted our focus on Sunday mornings from a consumer type class to a hands-on and involved class. We used to use video-based curriculum in hopes of hooking the kids, but after 2 years of entertaining them, we realized that the meat was missing on Sunday mornings. I want kids who love Jesus and know His Word and love church b/c they feel loved and connected, not kids who come and watch a movie and then go home thinking, "that was fun"... As sad as this concept of “Chuck E Church” may be, there is so much truth to it.I am a children’s pastor and I see it all too often. It seems as though many churches will do anything to draw children in, including forgetting what it is all about. We’ve recently shifted our focus on Sunday mornings from a consumer type class to a hands-on and involved class. We used to use video-based curriculum in hopes of hooking the kids, but after 2 years of entertaining them, we realized that the meat was missing on Sunday mornings. I want kids who love Jesus and know His Word and love church b/c they feel loved and connected, not kids who come and watch a movie and then go home thinking, “that was fun”…

]]> By: marko http://whyismarko.com/2007/a-new-name-for-attraction-childrens-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-195252 marko Thu, 24 May 2007 15:10:02 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=1632#comment-195252 tom -- you must be new to my blog. i have pointed that finger to the youth ministry world in general, and to ys in specific, dozens of times. my post was not a hypocritical slam of children's ministry, but more of a funny anecdote about a conversation that acknowledges that other ministry areas in the church are often caught in the same attractional trap that youth ministry has been caught in for four or more decades. fun is wonderful. god created fun. our ministries should value fun. that wasn't the point of the post at all. tom — you must be new to my blog. i have pointed that finger to the youth ministry world in general, and to ys in specific, dozens of times. my post was not a hypocritical slam of children’s ministry, but more of a funny anecdote about a conversation that acknowledges that other ministry areas in the church are often caught in the same attractional trap that youth ministry has been caught in for four or more decades.

fun is wonderful. god created fun. our ministries should value fun. that wasn’t the point of the post at all.

]]> By: Sam http://whyismarko.com/2007/a-new-name-for-attraction-childrens-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-195200 Sam Thu, 24 May 2007 14:40:14 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=1632#comment-195200 I think you need both. The problem lies in the extremes of both sides. Kids are kids they need to have a good time. Church should be fun, but you should also preach the Word in a powerful relevant way. I think you need both. The problem lies in the extremes of both sides. Kids are kids they need to have a good time. Church should be fun, but you should also preach the Word in a powerful relevant way.

]]> By: Tom http://whyismarko.com/2007/a-new-name-for-attraction-childrens-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-195029 Tom Thu, 24 May 2007 13:02:15 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=1632#comment-195029 Wow! Marko, Hey man, take a look at alot of the old YS stuff, what was it about, FUN, create fun enviroment to attract teens, have a game room,etc. Children's ministry has just been slow to catch up. I think most of us CM's are trying to create an enviroment that kids identify as something for them, not teens or adults. A place to feel safe, bring their friends and meet Jesus. Don't assume just because there are video games the thats the only reason they are excited about coming to church. Wow! Marko, Hey man, take a look at alot of the old YS stuff, what was it about, FUN, create fun enviroment to attract teens, have a game room,etc.
Children’s ministry has just been slow to catch up.
I think most of us CM’s are trying to create an enviroment that kids identify as something for them, not teens or adults. A place to feel safe, bring their friends and meet Jesus.
Don’t assume just because there are video games the thats the only reason they are excited about coming to church.

]]> By: Dan http://whyismarko.com/2007/a-new-name-for-attraction-childrens-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-195009 Dan Thu, 24 May 2007 12:47:01 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=1632#comment-195009 Children's Ministry? Some of the JH/Middle School Ministries I have seen. Children’s Ministry? Some of the JH/Middle School Ministries I have seen.

]]> By: Christy http://whyismarko.com/2007/a-new-name-for-attraction-childrens-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-193451 Christy Wed, 23 May 2007 19:01:54 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=1632#comment-193451 This is a good reminder that we need to make sure our fun, kid-friendly environments are backed up with solid teaching and good theology and a biblical vision for spiritual formation! Thanks from a kids ministry person who likes to read your youth ministry blog! This is a good reminder that we need to make sure our fun, kid-friendly environments are backed up with solid teaching and good theology and a biblical vision for spiritual formation! Thanks from a kids ministry person who likes to read your youth ministry blog!

]]> By: marko http://whyismarko.com/2007/a-new-name-for-attraction-childrens-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-193434 marko Wed, 23 May 2007 18:44:03 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=1632#comment-193434 ken -- no one's saying it's not a good thing for kids to look forward to sunday morning. yes, that is nice. the problem is: the pragmatism of "do whatever it takes to get kids to love coming" has theological/ecclesiological, consumeristic, spiritual formation, and "what's the future we're creating?" implications, big time. so, yes, if kids are ONLY excited about coming to church because it's the same as going to chuck e. cheese, then something is considerably wrong on many levels. ken — no one’s saying it’s not a good thing for kids to look forward to sunday morning. yes, that is nice. the problem is: the pragmatism of “do whatever it takes to get kids to love coming” has theological/ecclesiological, consumeristic, spiritual formation, and “what’s the future we’re creating?” implications, big time. so, yes, if kids are ONLY excited about coming to church because it’s the same as going to chuck e. cheese, then something is considerably wrong on many levels.

]]> By: Ken http://whyismarko.com/2007/a-new-name-for-attraction-childrens-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-193415 Ken Wed, 23 May 2007 18:19:05 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=1632#comment-193415 Okay...I'll bite. I'd LOVE for my kids to look forward to Sunday morning instead of asking me, "Do we have to go to church?" While the pendulum swings far and wide, I wonder where the happy medium is between using media and fun and games and having Ma Fricker teach with her trusty flannel graph. Okay…I’ll bite. I’d LOVE for my kids to look forward to Sunday morning instead of asking me, “Do we have to go to church?”

While the pendulum swings far and wide, I wonder where the happy medium is between using media and fun and games and having Ma Fricker teach with her trusty flannel graph.

]]> By: bethany http://whyismarko.com/2007/a-new-name-for-attraction-childrens-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-193386 bethany Wed, 23 May 2007 18:00:22 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=1632#comment-193386 FINALLY, somebody said it! I'm in elementary ministry and we have decided as a whole (meaning leaders and volunteers) that we are tired of the constant "entertain me" attitude of kids today. Instead, we are transitioning to a "involve me" attitude through student leaders (yes, it can happen in elementary ministry too), small groups that meet in homes throughout the week and worship is starting to be student-driven as well (which means David Crowder and Audio Adrenaline's "Big House" all the way). Funny thing is, we took away the game systems back in December...and now the kids don't evennotice they are gone. We have a basketball goal, but we use it as a team building activity...and yes, it keeps the kids occupied too! I'd love to hear what other ministries are doing... Marko, quit slamming childrens ministry! FINALLY, somebody said it! I’m in elementary ministry and we have decided as a whole (meaning leaders and volunteers) that we are tired of the constant “entertain me” attitude of kids today. Instead, we are transitioning to a “involve me” attitude through student leaders (yes, it can happen in elementary ministry too), small groups that meet in homes throughout the week and worship is starting to be student-driven as well (which means David Crowder and Audio Adrenaline’s “Big House” all the way). Funny thing is, we took away the game systems back in December…and now the kids don’t evennotice they are gone. We have a basketball goal, but we use it as a team building activity…and yes, it keeps the kids occupied too! I’d love to hear what other ministries are doing…
Marko, quit slamming childrens ministry!

]]> By: Laura http://whyismarko.com/2007/a-new-name-for-attraction-childrens-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-193364 Laura Wed, 23 May 2007 17:48:22 +0000 http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=1632#comment-193364 btw, there were "rant" tags on most of the above...but I'm comment inept and they went away. btw, there were “rant” tags on most of the above…but I’m comment inept and they went away.

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