Idea for Jump Starting Your Fall Children’s Program

For many of you, this is not your first year working with children in award of Life Ministry in your local church. You have your routine down. You can pinpoint the troublemakers before club even begins. You already know what areas you want to improve on from last year. You might be a new leader who just attended the orientations and you are excited to be a part of molding young person’s life. Regardless of your experience level, you’ll want to start out this year with an exciting ministry that bears fruit. Here are a few ideas to help jump-start your fall program.

Scripture Memory

Write out the first four memory verses on paper leaves, writing one word on each leaf. Then allow the older children to find all the words to each verse and place them in order. If you are working with younger children you can write one verse on all red leaves and another verse on all orange leaves so they can participate in the game. Then you can help them put the leaves in order.

Quiet Time

Start a contest between the Personal Training or Discipleship groups to see which group completes the most days of Quiet Time. Don’t forget to include the coaches, as they set the pace for each small group! Winners could receive a prize awarded during their small group time.

Christian Service

Meet on a Saturday at the church and divide into groups. Travel to homes of church members and rake leaves. (See “Games” section below.)When the job is done everyone can return to the church for cider and doughnuts. This is especially good ministry for your church’s shut-ins.

Games

You can play some games while you are doing your Leaf Raking Christian Service. Make sure the person that you choose doesn’t mind letting the children have fun while they are working. Divide your group into two or more teams and play the following games:

• See which team can make the largest pile of leaves (give them five minutes to do this)
• Bury the leaders – pick at least two leaders from each team and have the children bury them in the leaves. (See which team can completely bury their leaders first)
• Have a leaf pile diving contest (Make sure the leaders are out of the leaves!). Judge them on style, height, and creativity.
• Give each team a section of yard to rake. See which team can rake their area the cleanest and the fastest.
• Leaf bagging contest – See which team can bag their leaves the fastest and leave their area spotless.

Fall Décor

Hang leaves from the ceiling. Write a child’s name on each leaf. Then make a sign that reads “Falling in love with Jesus”. Change the leaves to snowflakes in December and you can keep the same idea through the winter!

Halloween Since Halloween falls on a Wednesday this year, use the opportunity to minister on that date. Dress the Children up as Bible characters and send them out to homes in your church’s neighborhood. Make sure each group has a Coach with them. Have the groups hand out tracts instead of asking for candy. Have all groups return to church for games and candy so they won’t feel that they have missed out on getting candy.

[Bonnie Wertz and her husband, Jordan, are Word Life missionaries in eastern Michigan. They make their home in Corunna, MI. Comments or questions about this article may be directed to Bonnie at jordanwertz@wol.org.]