resources for effective children's ministry

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    Over the past three and a half years I have reviewed many resources to include in issues of "About the Children's Department" and "About the Youth Department" and while I have reviewed only those materials I believe to be quality resources designed and written to help parents and teachers effectively pass on a legacy of faith to their children, I have hesitated to hold up one resource above another.  However, this Fall, 1999, a new curriculum is available, one that meets all three of the main criteria I look for in curriculum - 1. Biblically sound, 2. encourages parent ts to teach their children as families continue to learn throughout the week together and 3. teaches not for facts only, but focuses on teaching for understanding and application.  Not only does this new curriculum meet all three standards for effective curriculum, but it is the only curriculum I have reviewed that does so, therefore;  I am recommending "FaithWeavers" as the most effective and best curriculum resource I have had the joy to review!

    FaithWeavers
    Sunday School Curriculum
    Publisher - Group Publishing
    Ages - all, infants through adults

    FaithWeavers is a unified curriculum - this means every age level studies the same lesson the same week.  Most curriculum have different ages studying different lessons the same week, which makes it very difficult for families to talk and learn together during the week.  With everyone studying the same lesson the opportunity is there for parents to follow up on what began on Sunday and to "weave" it into their family's lives during the week.  This is so important.  It is the parents responsibility to teach their children and this curriculum provides the parents genuinely effective resources to equip parents and help them teach their children throughout the week!  FaithWeavers is a very complete curriculum resource with a variety of components - we will look at each of them.

    FaithWeavers Director's Manual

    This resource is for your DCE, Children's Pastor or Director, Sunday School Superintendent or for whomever heads up your Sunday School ministry.

    Favorite Features:

•  excellent information to explain FaithWeaver and how to utilize it effectively
•  scope and sequence
•  tips for recruiting, discipline, etc.
•  four teacher training sessions - excellent!
•  six skits
•  extra ideas for fun throughout the year

    This Director's Manual is complete and filled with information and ideas to help churches get the most out of FaithWeavers.  Extremely well done Group Publishing!

    Pastor's Handbook

    This unique resource is specifically for the Pastor to help him stay in touch with what everyone is learning.

    Favorite Features:

•  information to explain FaithWeavers
•  scope and sequence
•  12 ideas on how to tie the sermon in to the Sunday School lesson throughout the year
•  six activity ideas to bring the church together throughout the year

    I firmly believe the Sr. Pastor needs to be the strongest supporter of the CE ministry in the church.  This resource is an excellent tool to help the pastor stay on top of all that happens in the CE ministry.  Extremely well done Group Publishing!

    Driving Home The Point

    These little flyers are an additional resource for parents to help them continue to build and teach on what everyone began to learn on Sunday.

    Favorite Features:

•  one for each family, each week
•  includes:
•  key questions for the week
•  Bible story reference
•  key verse . . . the family can learn together
•  "Where The Rubber Meets The Road!" - application thoughts and questions
•  "Memory Maker" - activity for the family to do together and includes application questions
•  "Our Family Prayers" - activity to encourage family prayer time
•  "During the Week" - additional activities to help the family continue to learn
•  each week there is a comic with a point

    These flyers are an excellent resource to encourage families to learn together.  Extremely well done Group Publishing!

    FaithWeavers Curriculum

    FaithWeavers teacher's guides are extremely well laid out and easy to understand - each age level is laid out the same and includes the same features.

    Favorite Features:

•  information on FaithWeavers to help teachers understand how it all fits together
•  each lesson includes
•  key question
•  lesson focus
•  key verse
•  "A look at the lesson" - outlines lesson, lists supplies needed, explains point of activity, lists needed time to complete
•  age level insights
•  Bible background
•  Scripture passage to be studied
•  "teacher skill builders" - excellent, helpful information!
•  "tips from the trenches" - additional excellent helpful information
•  "For extra impact" - extra ideas to make lessons unforgettable
•  each lesson begins with an activity, goes right into the Bible lesson and ends with the application
•  active learning
•  solid Bible content throughout
•  focus on understanding and application

Special features for individual age levels:

    Infants, Toddlers & Twos

•  reproducible resources
•  activities specifically for infants, toddlers and twos
•  class time set up with "Sing", "Say" - Bible Lesson, and "Play" - activities
•  reproducible take home page
•  resource pack includes CD with all the songs

    Preschool - 6th Grade

•  student books include take home paper with family activities
•  resource pack includes CD with the songs

    Youth

•  reproducible resources
•  teacher's book includes the CD with songs
•  "Music Connection" gives youth an opportunity to listen to contemporary Christian songs, look at the lyrics and talk about how they compare with the Bible
•  each lesson has information to help the teacher plan their lesson for older or younger teens
•  activities to help teens understand the historical and cultural context of each Bible lesson
•  reproducible "taking it home" page with activities for teens and parents to do together
•  "Faith Journal" option provides opportunity for student and teacher to interact individually - excellent!
•  "Observation Log" reproducible for use during class

    Adult

• reproducible resources
• optional "Parents Portion" to help adult classes of parents with children learn how to tie together at home during the week what all of the family learned in Sunday School - extremely excellent!
• reproducible paper to take home with activities to help adults grow and families to continue to learn

FaithWeavers Children's Church

    The Children's Church resources come as a complete kit each quarter with everything you need to plan, prepare and present genuinely effective children's church for preschool through elementary age children.  Each lesson corresponds with the Sunday School lesson each week to reinforce the point for that week.

    Favorite Features:

• information on FaithWeavers to help teachers understand how it all fits together
• each lesson includes
• key verse, same as in Sunday School
• worship theme
• scripture passage
• "a Look at the Session" outlines lesson, lists supplies, explains point of activities, lists time to complete
• Bible background
• includes both activities for preschool and elementary
• Worship leader tips
• tips for using FaithWeavers Children's Church
• children's worship teams - excellent idea!
• leader skill builders
• Theophilus the puppet - excellent
• preschool leader's tips
• skits and puppets
• CD with songs and lyrics included
• reproducible resources

    This is a genuinely effective children's church resource - one children will truly enjoy and learn from and which teachers will actually enjoy utilizing!  Extremely well done Group Publishing!

    FaithWeavers Children's Messages 1

    For Churches who like to utilize a children's sermon FaithWeavers has provided a resource with a children's sermon for each week in the year to coordinate with the lesson for the week!

    Favorite Features:

• builds on or helps prepare kids for the Sunday School lesson
• includes Scripture passage
• Bible verse is the same as the one in Sunday School
• lists any supplies
• complete, easy to follow directions
• bold print verse throughout
• includes prayer

    These Children's sermons are ones kids and adults will learn from, enjoy and remember!  Each sermon takes approximately five minutes.  Extremely well done Group Publishing!
 

    Each component of FaithWeavers may be utilized on it's own - for example a church may decide to only utilize the children's curriculum, but maximum effect will clearly come when it is utilized across the board!

    FaithWeavers is on a three year scope and sequence with the Bible being covered chronologically - Old Testament stories in the Summer and Fall and New Testament lessons in the Winter and Spring.

    I cannot recommend highly enough churches give FaithWeavers a try in their Sunday School and Children's Church classes.  These lessons are solidly grounded in the Bible and will make a genuine and lasting impact in the lives of children, youth, adults and families!  Extremely well done Group Publishing!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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About The Children's Department - Volume 3, Edition 2

Copyright © Lynda Freeman

Last Updated December 1, 1999

Web Page by Lynda Freeman

Send an e-mail to Lynda at dfreemansr@earthlink.net