Curriculum and Ministry Resources


Round About the Church
Curriculum

Gospel Light Publishing
 

Dare to be a Daniel
- D2BD		 Top Pick Ribbon
 
 
      Gospel Light has teamed up with Billy Graham Ministries to release a new curriculum, D2BD - Dare to be a Daniel - for children ages 9 –14 designed to specifically engage children in learning to obey and follow God so they are able to point the way to God for others! This new resource is a 13 week curriculum complete with leaders manual, student field manuals, CD-Rom with reproducibles and a DVD with lesson segments. Students will be excited to find a special “code” each week allowing them access to a safe web site where they are able to learn more about what they discovered in class! This flexible resource is an excellent option for Sundays, Wednesdays – anytime! D2BD curriculum engages children and helps them understand what it means to obey and follow God, how to talk with Him, read God’s Word, live God’s Word with weekly mission challenges, pick godly friends, and tell others by pointing the way to God! I found this resource to be an excellent tool to help you equip/challenge your kids to live a life for God that matters, makes a difference, take a stand and win souls!
 
D2BD Field Manual includes -
  • full color throughout
  • Bible background for each lesson
  • memory verses
  • application questions with journaling space
  • heroes' stories with challenge to do the same
  • d2bad.com/daniellog weekly code
  • D2BD dog tags
  • Mission Possible Challenges - excellent!
Kit includes -
  • 1 leader's manual
  • 10 student field manuals
  • 1 CD-rom with reproducibles
  • 1 DVD with lesson segments
  • 25 tracts
  • 1 sample D2BD dog tags
Full color leader's guide includes -
  • how to info and tips
  • overview of curriculum and each segment
  • web site home connection with Daniel log pass code
  • help for planning 45 minute, 60 minute or 90 minute sessions
  • tips to involve kids throughout
  • flexibility to email weekly mission possible challenges
Each lesson includes -
  • session overview
  • key point
  • leaders prep
  • activity, worship time, Bible study, discussion time, memory work, heroes of the faith, application, video clip, closing prayer and challenge
   
    Tremendously well done, Gospel Light and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association! I hope to see more resources released in the future!  
 
 
 

iExplore!
Ages - 3rd and 4th Grade 		Top Pick Ribbon
 
 
    Gospel Light has revised their 3rd & 4th grade Sunday School Curriculum with a number of new features sure to capture and challenge your middle elementary age children! Those of you who have been utilizing Gospel Light Sunday School curriculum will be happy to see the strengths you have enjoyed are still in iExplore – excellent teacher devotions each week to challenge and encourage your volunteers; Scripture memory available in NIV and KJV; options, options options!; lesson overview chart; Bible Tuck-Ins; scripturally sound lessons and reproducible music kids will love, remember and learn from! Gospel Light has added a number of new features you are sure to be happy about – Light of the World Sunday School Class Mission Project . . . this is an excellent way for kids to live what they are learning!; Large Group option for each week!; and I’m truly pleased to see such a strong focus on helping kids think through how the Bible lesson would live out in their real everyday lives with the Discussion Starter questions in each lesson! Gospel Light has up-dated the artwork and student guide/family flyers so they will appeal to 3rd & 4th Graders! Gospel Light is an excellent “bridge” curriculum option for churches. Tremendously well done, Gospel Light!
 

  kidz Connection

kidz Connection
- it's all about the GROWTH!
Ages - Preschool through Elementary		 Top Pick Ribbon
 
 
 
    kidz Connection is a relatively new line of curriculum - actually written by me:^) I know there are many curriculum options available for churches, but through the years as I've worked with churches the one overriding concern practically universally expressed has been the concern over how children move through our children's ministries and really do not understand what God's Word is about, still do not really remember the Bible lessons and virtually have no understanding of how to live God's Word in their everyday lives. I released kidz Connection to provide a tool to equip churches to engage their children so they truly understand and live God's Word!

    The one main reason churches like traditional and even non-traditional curriculum models is because teachers like to "teach" and we think we have to do the teaching at church so kids will learn. How many times have you heard a teacher tell all the wonderful things their class has learned only to discover the kids didn't actually really "learn"? This is because we all remember 90% to 95% of what we teach others, so of course our Sunday School teachers are able to tell what they and their class has learned, or at least what they as the teacher has learned. We only remember 10% to 20% of what we hear and see, so naturally our children are not actually learning as much as the teachers may think they are. This is why kidz Connection is designed to involve kids, of all ages, in "teaching" the lesson through dramas the kids present or other creative teaching methods. If the children are "teaching", then they are the ones who will be able to tell all the wonderful things they actually have learned in class! What is our goal for children's ministries? Is it to allow adults to learn or is it for children, and adults, to learn how to understand and live God's Word?

    If your goal is for children to understand and live God's Word for changed lives, then kidz Connection is for you! We have released the second year of our curriculum—Talking with God!  kidz Connection is available for $100 per quarterly cd, is completely reproducible and each quarterly disc includes bonus second service or mid-week lessons as well as bonus Holiday lessons for Christmas and Easter! kidz Connection involves your kids in learning not only about Talking with God, but actually gets kids praying! The service projects kids will work on this year with Talking with God are—

    kidz Connection’s first year on Grace and second year on Talking with God are both available from www.kidzconnection.us and Kregel Parable Christian Stores Ministry Resources Department mr@kregel.com Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have and visit our kidz Connection web site for free sample lessons, more information and our scope and sequence - when it is completed there will be six years of curriculum available for children preschool through elementary age!

If I wasn't the one who wrote kidz Connection, I'd say it was, "Tremendously well done!" :^)

 
 
Group Publishing

Outflow
Publisher – Group Publishing
Authors – Steve Sjogren & Dave Ping 		Top Pick Ribbon
 
    This book clearly explains how to know God and let His love flow out of your life into the lives of others. I like the book, but again, my experience causes me to seriously question if people really want their lives to "outflow" into other's lives. If they do, this book has a lot to say about what this involves and how to do it. I'd recommend this book for everyone on your list - who knows??? Maybe people would read it and want to make it "real". Overall, this is an extremely well written book and it will make you think. Tremendously well done, Steve, Dave and Group Publishing!
 
 

Preteen Launchables
Publisher – Group Publishing
 
    Fun in a box – excellent resource, must have for preteen classes! Excellent tool for your substitutes to keep on hand so when they are called at a last minute to serve, they have something interesting ready to go!
 
 

A Night in Bethlehem
Publisher – Group Publishing
 
    This unique resource allows churches the opportunity to present more than a “living nativity”, but a truly “experiential nativity” as families rotate through a number of stations to experience life in a small town like Bethlehem when Jesus was born. Children and families move from station to station and have the opportunity to make perfume as they learn about the spices the wise men brought, make a shepherd’s flute and learn about the angels who sang to the shepherds and visit the stable where Jesus was born. Unique, easy to pull off and an interesting opportunity to reach out to families in your church and community! I'd like to see the "extras" cost less, but this is a unique, fun and effective tool for outreach into your community. Extremely well done, Group Publishing!
 
 


Sing & Praise Worship
for Kids DVD
Publisher – Group Publishing 		 
 
    Excellent resource allows your children’s ministry to involve kids in singing and praising with fun songs and motions. Consider adding to your music resources! Extremely well done, Group!
 
 

Make it REAL
– Group’s Easy Teacher Training and Recruitment DVD
Publisher – Group Publishing
 
         Group’s training dvd allows you the flexibility of presenting it to a group of your volunteers at a training event you plan, or you could send it home with your volunteers for them to watch on their own. Trainings involve your volunteers in active participation and are full of valuable tips and information! Extremely well done, Group!
 
 

Girl’s Night Out Party Kit
Publisher – Group Publishing
 
    Simple, fun and unique these parties can be used for friends, neighbors, small groups and youth group girls slumber parties. Sure to get women talking and involved with each other, these are a great way to reach out to people you work with or who live in your neighborhood! Consider holding a Girl’s Night Out for the ladies who teach in your children’s ministry as a fun “thank-you” they will love and never forget! Simple, unique tool for volunteer appreciation! Again, I'd like to see the "extras" more affordable, but this is an extremely well done resource!
 
 


No Surprises
Publisher – Group Publishing
Authors – Melanie Herman & Peggy Jackson 		 
 
    Unfortunately safety issues are one of the biggest areas of concern churches need to face and yet so many churches think they “know” everyone in their church so there is no danger to the children in their ministry. Most of the time this is true, but sadly there are far too many churches where they thought this same thing and yet had tragedy happen to the children in their care. We must do all we can to insure the safety of the children in our ministries and this book is an excellent tool to help churches evaluate their own ministries to help them do all they can to make their church as safe as possible. Read this book, have everyone in a leadership position in your church read it and then implement the lessons you learn. Extremely well done, Melanie, Peggy and Group!


 Simply Youth Ministry
Author - Doug Fields 		Top Pick Ribbon
    New way to look at curriculum for teens. Topical, relevant and designed to engage students, tremendously well done, Doug and Group!

Couple's Night Out
Listen up - Enhancing Communication in Marriage 		Top Pick Ribbon
    Easy to plan and pull off - this is a great resource to reach out to families in your church and community! Tremendously well done, Group and Family Life!

 

 
Women's Ministry Retreat Kits
Top Pick Ribbon
  the Bloomery - grow new relationships with women and cultivate friendship with Jesus  
  Chocolate Boutique - develop trust  

HeartSpa - focus on worship
    Excellent, creative, easy to use resources! Tremendously well done, Group!
 


Grapple Pre-teen Sunday School
Publisher – Group Publishing 		 
    Grapple involves kids in fellowship, games, activity, small group time, prayer and learning about things they care about! Unique plan to involve kids in choosing part of each week’s lesson through your own grapple on-line. Excellent mid-week resource for preteens! Tremendously well done, Group! Grapple is available through Kregel Parable Ministry Resources!

Favorite Features –
    Inventive, unique and extremely well done, Group!




 "it" Top Pick Ribbon

    “it” is a truly useful resource for any size church. LabOra is an excellent tool as you are able to access ideas from the book, adapt as you like and print for use, or just print lessons as they appear! I’ve reviewed resources like this for youth ministry, but this is the first complete “tool box” for children’s ministry! “it” is the perfect place to turn for help and ideas when you have a special event or for lessons and ideas for your Sunday evening children’s ministry or prayer meeting children’s ministry! Tremendously well done, Group!

Favorite Features –


 Wild West Fall Fest Outreach Event
Publisher – Group Publishing

    Wild West Fall Fest is the ideal outreach tool for any church, but particularly churches where they used Avalanche Ranch VBS this summer as the activities and artwork tie together! I love the design - Fall Carnival - kids and their parents are sure to find the game stations a lot of fun! The format is easy to use - I really like how each section of the director's book may be removed and given to specific area directors . . . for example, your games director, preschool director, decorations director, etc. This is a fun way to re-connect with community vbs kids and their parents! Tremendously well done, Group Publishing!

kit includes- director's manual includes-
Favorite Features-     Creative, fun, excellent outreach kit - I'd like to see the "extras" cost less, but this is an extremely well done resource!

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Copyright © Lynda Freeman
Last Updated Oct. 25, 2007
Web Page by Lynda Freeman
Send an e-mail to Lynda at LyndaFreeman@roundaboutthechurch.com