Family Fun Night
 
 


    Each year as we work to develop genuinely effective ministry to the children in our ministries we look at ideas, programs and possibilities for ways to grow and strengthen our ministry.  There are many options to choose from, but as you look at the choices you have available to you, keep the following tips in mind.

     First, as you consider what to do in/with your ministry think about the following question, “will this opportunity help strengthen and encourage the families in my church and community?”  Time is a valued and rare commodity.  We are all so busy.  When we look at opportunities for ministry to the children in our church and community if we develop and design these opportunities to include the entire family, we will find we are not only increasing our ministry to families, but are also building and strengthening the family as well.  When we do this, we multiply many times over the effectiveness of our ministry to children because when the family unit is strong and growing, so will the children in our ministry!

     Secondly, ask yourself, “will this new opportunity for ministry require additional volunteers to staff, plan and present?”  Recruiting is often one of the areas we struggle the most with, so if we want to add something new to our ministry, we often also have to add volunteers as well.  Along with considering your staffing needs, give time to looking at creative ways to attract the volunteers you need to make a ministry opportunity effective and successful.

     Finally, ask yourself, “why do we want to offer this ministry opportunity and why should anyone decide to participate in it?”  Know what you want to accomplish and how it fits with and strengthens your overall ministry goals.  If you do not have a written ministry goal, before you go any farther, take the time to develop one!

    These questions will help you continue to grow and develop genuine, real and effective ministry.  As you consider opportunities for growing your ministry, I’d like to outline an idea that keeps in mind all three questions.

Family Fun/Growth Night!
Goal/Purpose   To provide an opportunity, on a monthly basis, to model ways to grow a strong, close and healthy family!


    Staffing Needs    One or two people with a heart for growing and strengthening families  - their responsibility . . . to plan each monthly event, recruit families to take one night a year and lead other families in their favorite family games and activities.

    Event in a Nutshell    One evening a month, (I recommend Sunday Evenings as this is a night many families already plan to be at church and most families do not have schedule conflicts for Sunday evenings, but whatever evening works best for the families in your church is fine!), families gather at church for a time of games, activities, food, Bible study, stories and fun with the members of their own family and with other families from church and the community!

     Steps to Make this Work

    Always encourage families to invite one other non-church family to come along with them to the next Family Fun/Game Night - this is a tremendous outreach opportunity!

    Many families want to spend time growing together, but are unsure how to go about doing so.  The beauty of Family Fun/Growth Night is it provides a hands-on fun way to model what to do and breaks it down into a truly doable size for families to be able to continue at home on their own.  This event is fun, simple and not a burden to maintain as it provides opportunities for families to share with other families some of their family favorites and in the process to grow closer to their own family members as well as the other families from church!

    There are many excellent resources available to help you with a Family Fun/Game Night, so we will take a look at just a few of them here!

Fun, Music for Praise and Worship!

    One of the best sources for music is the curriculum your church uses for Vacation Bible School and Sunday School!  Kids love the opportunity to sing again the songs they learned and are able to sing them with enthusiasm!  Check with your church to see where they store the music resources from VBS and Sunday School and try using one of them!  Otherwise, I recommend the following:
 
 

songs from
FaithWeaver
Kid's Own
Worship songs
songs from
FW Friends
Publisher - Group Publishing

 
Sing & Praise
Video
Publisher - Group Publishing

      These make excellent resources to utilize in the praise portion of your Family Fun/Game Night!

Books and Devotionals for Family Fun!
 
 
A Treasury of
Bible Promises
Author - Helen Haidle
Illustrator - Neverne Covington
Publisher - ZonderKidz
Ages - 4 - 8
    Excellent choice for bed-time or family devotional reading as well as for Family Fun Night!  Extremely well done Helen, Neverne and ZonderKidz!


 
 
Because I Love You
Author - Max Lucado
Illustrator - Mitchell Heinze
Publisher - Crossway Books
Ages - 3 and up
    This story is well told to keep the attention of children - and adults - and has a powerful message we all need to hear, and heed!  Tremendously well done Max, Mitchell and Crossway Books!


 
Best Boat Ever Built
Author - Jennifer Rees Larcombe
Illustrator - Steve Byorkman
Publisher - Crossway
Ages - 4 - 7

 
Hip, Hip, Hip Hippopotamus
Author - Mary Rice Hopkins
Illustrator - Wendy Francisco
Publisher - Crossway
Ages - 4 - 7
    Both of these books would make excellent selections to share with other families for Family Fun Night!  Extremely well done Jennifer, Steve, Mary, Wendy and Crossway Books!


 
You Are Mine
Illustrator - Sergio Martinez
With You All The Way
Illustrator - Chuck Gillies
Author - Max Lucado
Publisher - Crossway Books
Ages - 4 - 7
    This book is one I would truly encourage you to include at some point in your Family Fun Night as both stories are well told, will keep the attention of all who are there and most importantly, has a message for all to hear, understand and live!  Tremendously well done Max, Sergio, Chuck and Crossway Books!

 
Family Friendly
Ideas Your Church
Can do
Publisher - Group Publishing
    Some of the ideas in this resource would fit nicely in your Family Fun Night - very nicely done Group Publishing!

 
The
Big Book
of
Instant Activities
Publisher - Gospel Light
Ages - Preschool
This book also has ideas that would work well for Family Fun Night - very nicely done Gospel Light  Publishing!

    Basically, any family favorite book or devotional - if it is one you enjoy with your family, it would work well to share with other families for Family Fun Night!

    Big Idea's first CD Rom computer game is a great choice for children to learn important lessons while having fun on the computer!  It is creative, challenging and great fun!  Tremendously well done, Big Idea!     Talicor took the familiar format of board games and card games, added Veggie Tale "friends" and made tremendous games for children, and their parents to play together!  These games are simple to play and will provide hours of fun!  Tremendously well done, Talicor!     Everyone loves crayons - these games combine the fun of crayons with simple, educational games children will truly enjoy!  Extremely well , Crayola/Cardinal!     Once again, I am pleased to see Cook/Faith Kids produce such creative, well made games for children to play with their families - they will learn basics of colors, counting, following rules as well as provide opportunities for parents to talk with their children about important lessons while they play.  Extremely well done, Cook/FaithKids!     Talicor made a game everyone will enjoy and learn together with!  This game is unique and a tremendous way for the entire family to learn about our great country!  Extremely well done, Talicor! This creative game combines the familarity of Crayola with an inventive game designed to help children learn about language - while truly enjoying themselves!  Very nicely done, Crayola/Cardinal! Games for Teens and Adults     Hasbro/Parker Brothers has been making games for years - many of the favorites I grew up with are still there, with some special added fun of Disney and Looney Tunes characters to make these games even more enjoyable!  Games are tremendous choices for kids to continue to grow in areas like following the rules as well as how to plan, stratagize, share and just have fun with friends and family!  These games are made with attention to quality as well as enjoyability!  Great way to bring parents, older children and teens together for fun and memories!  Tremendously well done, Hasbro/Parker Brothers!
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'Round About the Church - Family Resources

Copyright © Lynda Freeman
Last Updated Feb. 16, 2002
Web Page by Lynda Freeman
Send an e-mail to Lynda at LyndaFreeman@roundaboutthechurch.com