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Controlling the Chaos of a Children’s Ministry

Editors Note: As a general rule I don’t share pictures displaying the faces of chldren in my blog posts. However because this post is about a Bible club that these children attend and it celebrates their maturity, I’ve included the unedited photos. I apologize to anyone who may be offended by my doing this.

Yesterday afternoon one of my missionary co-workers came by for a visit and since it was almost time for my Bible club, decided to stay and watch. I began these clubs at the Church in January after school so kids could meet there before going home, but wasn’t able to start them again till last week since I wasn’t living in town. The Lord blessed yesterday with a decent group (10-12 I believe) and they worked very hard for me.

My co-worker later told me he was impressed with how hard I was on them (was tougher than he expected me to be) and their obedience. I’m grateful for the compliment but couldn’t help but smile because in the earlier days Bible Club was much more chaotic.

The truth is in the beginning my ministry with the children was far less structured…it started with glasses of water on the porch, and soon became glasses of juice (koolaid) with Bible stories

Now I’ve worked with children long enough to know if you offer something they want for free lots of them would come, but to be honest I was surprised at how quickly as many as seventeen children started coming to the house after school. Editors note: Let me clarify only four to six glasses of juice were given to the best behaved children, I wasn’t giving out seventeen glasses.

As you can imagine having this many children in a small space meant things didn’t go as well as yesterday in the early days, in fact often it could be described as “chaotic.” In order to combat this I made some big changes to the children’s ministry after returning from a two-week break in the States during Christmas 2015. The biggest change was moving everything to the Church, but there were smaller ones that I honestly believe did more to help keep things under control, and hold chaotic days to a minimum.

Let them be silly

One of the biggest challenges for children’s ministries (particularly those right after school) is the kids have way too much energy stored up. Most of them have been asked to sit down and be quiet all day long during school, so asking them to do the same thing in a Bible club is almost impossible if you don’t give them an outlet for energy. I do this by allowing the kids to have five-minutes of “silly time” which just allows them to be active and loud children.

After this we always have a game…their favorite is “good morning mr. frog” where one sits in a chair with their back to us, then children sneak up and say “good morning mr. frog” in a disguised voice. If the person guesses correctly then they get to stay in the chair, if they’re wrong the person who tricked them sits in the chair. On days when they are particularly rowdy we also play simon-says, or red light-green light but I’ve learned from experience taking 10 to 15 minutes for fun and games makes them a much calmer bunch.

CONSTANTLY recognize and reward the right behavior

I’ll admit it took me a while to figure out a system for positive reinforcement for the right behavior, but finally started using the back of a cereal box for a “tick sheet”. The idea was after someone got twenty good ticks they got to play with my tablet for 30 minutes, since returning we have turned into a monthly contest with extra ticks for people who come to Church.

The tick sheet has really helped in a number of ways

I don’t have to raise my voice in order to get kids to calm down, instead I just get the sheet and start giving ticks for those who are doing the right thing
It allows me to personally call out children who are working especially hard (Samuel you are being really good today, I’m giving you two ticks!”)
It adds a positive competitiveness since they all want to get the most ticks (so they listen and answer questions)
This kind of reinforcement is done constantly and every time the children are reminded about their responsibility to listen and obey

The best part about the tick sheet is it makes the end absolutely painless. Getting the kids to leave can be incredibly difficult because their having lots of fun. In the past this may turn out into a game as they tried to get me to chase them around the building, now I just say “okay if you leave right now you get a tick.”

You must have a lesson/story that keeps their attention

One of the worst things that can possibly happen during a Bible club is for a child to get bored during the Bible lesson. All it takes is one person to say “this is boring” and suddenly you’ve lost everybody! This is why a lesson needs to be short (10 minutes max) and have pictures that capture attention.

I absolutely love using the “Jesus Storybook Bible” for clubs and the kids really enjoy it because of the pictures. Unfortunately holding the book up so the kids can see the pictures means I have to read upside down (harder than it looks) but its worth the effort because not only the words but the pictures capture their attention. This also helps because I’m able to constantly move the book and no children can say they didn’t see the pictures.

Todays the last day of school in Barrouallie so tomorrow we are starting on a totally new adventure in Summer Bible club!!! With the summer days I’m sure we will experience new challenges, problems, and forms of chaos but that’s okay. Because with a bit of work that chaos can be controlled for the Glory of God.

The Adventures of JB, Uncategorized

Ephesians 4:31 and My Quiet Anger

A few weeks ago I began taking Bible Memorization seriously again. This is actually something I should have done a long time ago, and became convicted about it while reading “The Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges. He does an excellent job of explaining how the memorization of Scripture helps us apply Scripture to life (or combat specific sin) so it’s a spiritual exercise instead of a mental one.

Reading “The Pursuit of Holiness” along with another book by Bridges “Respectable Sins” helped me realize certain areas of spiritual weakness in my life. One in particular was the sin of what I like to call “quiet anger” which means frustrations in life lead to a few seconds of annoyance [1]. By itself this isn’t a very serious problem…however every time something like that happens (especially if it comes from the same source) that quiet anger grows.

the Lord used Ephesians 4:31 to show me the danger of my quiet anger

Ephesians 4:31 Let all Bitterness (quiet anger) and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speech be put away from you with all malice

the interesting thing about this passage is Paul’s saying all of the violent forms of anger find their source in bitterness. It’s not normal for someone to suddenly display wrath, most of the time it starts as small frustrations.

With the Lords help I’ve begun quoting Ephesians 4:31 to myself whenever that quiet anger arises, and even verbally rebuking this attitude of frustration when it was out of control. I did this because part of me knew someday that habit of putting away quiet anger would be tested…and last Friday was that day.

One of my biggest needs right now is a vehicle so last week I contacted Baptist Mid Missions about getting an electronic transfer of the funds necessary to buy one, and started setting up a bank account in Barrouallie. A lady at the bank helped me figure out what was needed, and then I came with the necessary documents last Friday.

Unfortunately since banks in SVG have been used in the past for money laundering by foreigners the application process took a lot longer than expected. Particularly frustrating was the fact that I had to leave the bank three times in order to have new documents printed at a fellow missionaries house, and then bring them back [2].

Coming to their house the third time I was not in a very good mood to be honest, but that’s when the Holy Spirit brought Ephesians 4:31 to my mind. That truth along with an understanding of God’s Sovereignty [3] helped me remain calm and patient instead of growing in bitterness

I would memorize Scripture as a child to get a badge in Awana’s or a sticker, which is a good thing because God’s Word was hidden in my heart. But today I do it for a much better reason; to make sure when Satan’s temptations come, in the power of Christ I can stand firm.

I am not exactly sure what would have happened if Ephesians 4:31 wasn’t on my mind, but I do know without it I would be one step closer to wrath.

eye rolling, deep sighs, muttering to myself ↩
new information was needed in addition to the original paperwork ↩
It was the plan of God that all this happened ↩

Adventures of JB

The God Who Provides Luxuries

While preparing to move into my new rental property I made a list of things that were needed, and with the Lords help I’ve been able to check most of those off [1]. Part of preparing that list was thinking about things that I would like to have in my home, and then deciding which ones were legitimate needs.

During the brainstorming process air-conditioning came to mind, but I didn’t even list it as a possibility since;

Fans and sea-breeze can keep a person cool
The air-conditioning units you can buy here are WAY too expensive, and cost a lot to run
And to be honest this was something I could just do without (along with Krispie Kreme donuts and Pepsi)

Thankfully the fact that I could live without air-conditioning didn’t keep God from providing it 🙂

While visiting my missionary partners in town last Friday they showed me an ad in the paper selling a window unit air-conditioner for less than $250 US dollars. At first I thought it was a mistake, but a phone call to the man selling it confirmed that was the price!

The reason it’s so cheap is he had bought it from the States so the voltage is different from SVG (they use 220) and hardly anybody here uses US appliances. After the man realized that air-conditioning unit wasn’t big enough for his house, he was forced to sell it for a low price.

The fact that I will soon have an air-conditioning unit (perhaps as early as tomorrow afternoon) is a reminder that God knows all of my needs…even the ones that I can live without.

Each of us have had to take give up on things we really wanted because those were “luxuries”- Something that would definitely bring happiness but isn’t absolutely necessary. Most of the times we do without the luxuries of life. In a sense this is a good thing because it teaches us many of the things we desire are luxuries, and can be lived without. At the same time giving up these things can make us believe God doesn’t want us to be comfortable.

When giving up luxuries (particularly ones important to us) we must remember God sees all of our needs….even the ones we can live without. This doesn’t mean that He will provide for all of them of course [2] but we can know God takes great joy in providing things that make us comfortable as we follow Him faithfully.

sometimes it’s frustrating being away from the comforts of home, but I’m so grateful that on those days I’ll be able to stand in an air-conditioned room, and know God loves me enough to provide the things I can live without.

currently working on a car, which is the last big expense ↩
God’s goal is my spiritual growth instead of comfort ↩

Adventures of JB, Uncategorized

A Bachelors Hospitality

Editors note: this post was originally written on June 1, 2016

According to my watch it’s 1:24 Wednesday afternoon, which means in just over three and a half hours Lord Willing, I’ll be officially moving into my new rental property in Barrouallie.

It was two-weeks ago today (Wednesday) when I signed a contract for the home and since then I’ve been very busy.

Buying a stove and refrigerator then having it delivered
Purchasing furniture and a mattress
Getting internet hooked up
And bringing over things from the other rental a little at a time, then one of my large barrels last Monday

When setting up a new home people always have a choice; they can either set it up in a bachelor [1] or family style (which has more comforts). The truth is because of the large amount of expenses (and the fact that I have to buy a car soon) I chose to begin setting my home up in a bachelor style, then raise it to family a little bit at a time over the next year.

Now to be honest keeping my home set up for a bachelor isn’t a very bad thing because I am one! However it’s meant to be a ministry tool for things like discipleship, counseling sessions, fellowships, and bible clubs for children. Unfortunately those things are kind of hard to do with cheap furniture :-), But at the same time I remember that hospitality speaks louder than comfy chairs.

the word “hospitality” makes us think of elaborate meals served on the finest china and desserts amazing enough to make everybody in town jealous. But it can also be a kind word, glass of water, bible story, snack, or glass of koolaid (if your lucky). The reason a culinary masterpiece and a glass of water can both be an act of hospitality is hospitality itself emphasizes acts of kindness.

Seeing hospitality as acts of kindness instead of world-class cuisine is hugely important for me since as a missionary (1) I don’t have the money to create these kinds of meals and (2) I definitely don’t have the cooking skill to do it! But anybody can give out glasses of water and jolly ranchers.

So with God’s help my new house will become known as a place where people can receive hospitality; it may not have the most comfortable furniture, delicious food, or surround sound system. But it will have an attitude of love that won’t turn people away…and in the end that’s what matters.

very basic with small amounts of furniture and cheapest items ↩

Uncategorized

Surviving Life Without Internet

SAMSUNG CSC — On Tuesday it was officially three-weeks since I returned to St. Vincent and the last sleep before moving into my new rental property in Barrouallie. A Believer graciously allowed me to stay at her rental since May 10 in a nearby area pronounced “Curtain” which is over the hill from town (about a fifteen-minute walk) but I’m very excited to be living in Barrouallie starting Wednesday.

The Lord used that time in Curtain to challenge me physically as the walks back and forth got my body back into shape while developing self-discipline. But the greater challenge was a mental one since the house didn’t have internet. Usually this didn’t bother me since I walked to town at least twice a day [1]to check email, but it made nights pretty frustrating.

Like most of you after a long day of work I enjoy relaxing, and the Internets a big part of that

I use it to watch sports or news [2]
Check news websites
Communicate with friends through social media like Facebook
Listen to music
or enjoy something on Netflix

to be perfectly honest without the use of wifi I had no clue how to relax for the first week! However the Lord since then has shown me it is indeed possible to live without internet.

Around 7:00 on day three lack of internet was making frustrated (and to be honest in a pretty bad mood) when I remembered a copy of “the Lord Of the Rings” trilogy was downloaded on my laptop. So I started reading a few chapters into the second book and quickly found myself extremely interested.

Since that night I was able to download the book on my Ipad (makes reading easier) and finished that trilogy along with David Copperfield [3], “Kidnapped“by Robert Louis Stevenson, and started through “Uncle Toms Cabin”. I’ve also been able to finish “A Pursuit of Holiness” and “Respectable Sins” by Jerry Bridges, while reading half of a recent book “Good Faith.”

At first I read those books because to quite honest there wasn’t much else to do for entertainment, however soon I continued reading them (and others) because of the way that they touched me emotionally. Over the last few weeks I’ve sat weeping on my porch more than once, and laughed hysterically quite a few times because of the treasures in those stories.

Somewhere during that time reading became my response to frustration or weariness…not because it was the only choice…but because I knew it would speak to my heart.

Last Thursday I felt blah from morning till about three [4]in the past my responses to these days was to lay down on the bed and watch Netflix, but on Thursday my sickness led to finishing “Respectable Sins” and starting another book. While there’s definitely something to be said for getting rest when we aren’t feeling well, I truly believe those books do more by ministering to my heart.

Last Monday I got internet at the new rental fast enough to stream, FaceTime, and post all day long. But when weariness comes I pray it will drive me to books that nurture my soul instead of just simple entertainment.

once in the morning, and once in the late afternoon ↩
by the way there was no television either ↩
technically I cheated on this one since most of it was listened to as an audiobook but it still counts 🙂 ↩
Nausea and tiredness probably from a few exceptionally hot days last week and walking back and forth from Barrouallie ↩