By Karen Kogler on May 15, 2013
When you welcome new members to your church, help them volunteer! Most appreciate the help and Scripture teaches its value. (See last week’s blog, “New Members Make Great Volunteers” above) This is how we do that at St. Peter Lutheran in Arlington Heights, Illinois. First, we teach our new members, including those who transfer to [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Christian Worker, Church Volunteers, Encouragement, Encouraging Volunteers, Men's Ministry, Teachers, Women's Ministry, Youth Ministry Tagged Recruiting volunteers, spiritual gifts, using volunteers
By admin on May 14, 2013
Spring is here and VBS will soon be in full bloom in churches across North America. Here are three new resources for VBS and summer Sunday school you won’t want to overlook! 1. Teachable Moments. These are unique teaching tools designed for those awkward five- or ten-minute gaps after the lesson ends and before it’s time [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Sunday School, Teachers, VBS, Youth Ministry Tagged help for Christian teachers, Summer Sunday School, VBS resources
By Karen Kogler on May 8, 2013
Looking for volunteers? Talk to your newer members. Only about 10% of church newcomers have the self-confidence and initiative needed to jump into volunteering at a new church on their own. The rest need a warm, personal invitation and our encouragement. When newcomers read the ‘help wanted’ announcements in the weekly service folder or monthly [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Christian Worker, Church Volunteers, Encouragement, Encouraging Volunteers, Men's Ministry, Sunday School, Teachers, Women's Ministry, Youth Ministry Tagged getting newcomers involved, Recruiting volunteers
By admin on May 7, 2013
This coming Sunday, May 12, 2013 is Mother’s Day. Are you looking for an easy project that even the youngest members of your Sunday school or midweek classes can do to express their love and thanks to Mom and Grandma? Then check out the free downloadable Mother’s Day card CTA is making available. Scroll to [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Free Resources, Mother's Day, Sunday School, Teachers, Youth Ministry Tagged free Mother's Day card, Mother's Day, Mother's Day and children
By admin on April 23, 2013
Editor’s note: Are you looking for a way to help the kids in your VBS, Sunday school class, or Bible club share the love of Jesus? Then check out this activity! The devotion below is adapted slightly from the free downloadable Ministry Message that accompanies it. Getting Started This devotion suggests that you read several [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Devotions, Encouragement, Pastor, Sunday School, Teachers, Youth Ministry Tagged children's ministry, children's pastor, DCE, DRE, free devotion
By admin on April 16, 2013
Editor’s note: Are you looking for a way to deepen and personalize Jesus’ love for the kids in your VBS, Sunday school class, or Bible club? Then check out this new activity from CTA’s Teachable Moments series. The devotion below is adapted slightly from the free downloadable Ministry Message that accompanies the Discover Jesus! hidden message [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Devotions, Ministry, Pastor, Sunday School, Teachers, Youth Ministry Tagged children's ministry, children's pastor, DCE, DRE, free devotion
By Gail Marsh on April 15, 2013
Editor’s note: This devotion is taken from CTA’s new devotion book for women’s ministry and Mother’s Day 2013, Woman of God®. Read Matthew 13:31–32. It wasn’t a mustard seed, but it grew to treelike height! I was hesitant, at first, to plant sunflower seeds. I wasn’t sure that their eventual size and shape would complement [...]
Posted in Christian Worker, Church staff, Devotions, Encouragement, Encouraging Volunteers, Ministry, Mother's Day, Pastor, Sermon Ideas, Sunday School, Teachers, Women's Ministry Tagged free devotion, Mother's Day
By Andrea Lohman on April 10, 2013
Change is inevitable. How do you deal with it on a personal level? How can you use it to improve the organizations you lead? Here are some hints: 1. We all like our routines. Change happens every day. However, few of us like to give up all the control over our circumstances. We develop comfortable [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Christian Worker, Church staff, Church Volunteers, Encouragement, Encouraging Volunteers, Free Resources, Men's Ministry, Pastor, Sunday School, Teachers, Women's Ministry, Youth Ministry Tagged change in church, organizational change
By admin on April 9, 2013
Editor’s note: Are you looking for a way to deepen and personalize Jesus’ love for the kids in your VBS, Sunday school class, or Bible club? Then check out this new activity from CTA’s Teachable Moments selection. This devotion is adapted slightly from the free downloadable Ministry Message that accompanies the activity. Getting Ready Familiarize yourself [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Devotions, Encouragement, Pastor, Sunday School, Teachers, Youth Ministry Tagged free devotion, woven cross activity kit
By Gail Marsh on April 3, 2013
How will you honor your volunteers during National Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 21-27, 2013)? Here are ideas for saying thanks all week! Use or modify them to fit your situation. Sunday Begin with a “Sunday Sundaes” event after church. Invite volunteers and their families to make their own sundaes following church services. In addition to [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Christian Worker, Church staff, Church Volunteers, Encouragement, Encouraging Volunteers, Men's Ministry, Teachers, Women's Ministry, Youth Ministry Tagged thanking volunteers, Volunteer Appreciation Week