Children need to feel they belong and are welcome as an integral part of the church community; the thoughts, feelings and attitudes developed at church carry over into adulthood. This is of critica

Should children be involved in missions? Are they too young to be missionaries? Is it a waste of our time and effort in training them? I believe not.

Research studies have confirmed again t

Sabbath School is over! Johnny was pulling the stuffing out of a padded chair, Sarah was talking nonstop, Josh was leading a group of boys in some disruptive behavior. You ask yourself “Why d

It all started with a simple plan. I would go into a small Sabbath School class (four children) for eight weeks and do some field testing for the GraceLink Beginners (Infant to 3 years) curriculum.

Zack stood in the middle of the hungry crowd, clutching his lunch while he listened. The teacher was speaking to a few men and nodding toward the crowd. A man with dark, curly hair turned away from

Although many children do not go overseas to participate in a mission project due to their age, we can still get them involved in missions at home and abroad. There are many ideas you can try to in

Jesus was an unforgettable teacher—the Master Teacher—and He is our example. He went to where the people were—the well where the women were drawing water; the home of Lazarus, Mar

Make male involvement the rule, rather than the exception. It’s hard for men to want to get involved when they see only women working for children in the congregation. But once you turn that around

(from a director's perspective)

I interviewed the Vacation Bible School director from our church who has led our program for the past five years. Here are her tips to ensure a succes

It's a delight and a challenge when young children are enthusiastic about baptism!

At what age is a child ready for baptism? What do I do when my child asks to be baptized

Do you know which spiritual gifts are sprouting in your class?

In the spiritual realm, we and all our children are equals in God's sight. The Holy Spirit is busy in their he

As a supervisor in a Sabbath School I found that my teachers and other volunteers weren't disciplining the children in our care with positive guidance techniques. Instead they were using punitive m

"Do not let any part of your bodies become tools of wickedness, to be used for sinning; but give yourselves completely to God every part of you for you are back from death and you want to be too

Did you know that dynamic training seminars are fundamental to the success of your Sabbath School? Whatever level workshops are offered, they have been found to facilitate an exceptional learning

Friend, be alive--in Jesus. The great emphasis comes on "living" or "Alive to God."

It goes without saying, living constitutes the greatest part of life. We are alive. We

Gather a team. Study this issue together and expect to be energized. Become excited about reaching the children in your community. Rethink your options if you're thinking of Vacation Bible Schoo

Because women are running a tight ship in the Sabbath School department, we sometimes don't realize that men are needed or why they don't volunteer.

"Hey, Church, look at me," the small girl called excitedly. She tugged at my sleeve, eager for me to see what she was doing.

"Church," she sang out repeatedly whenever she wanted me t

Have you ever wanted to give up? Have you agonized, wondering "Why?" "What can we do now?" "We didn't even give GraceLink a fair chance." "New leaders just voted a different curriculum for our chil

"And then I'll marry you for good forever! I'll marry you true and proper, in love and tenderness" (Hosea 2:19, Message*).

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite bedtim

Why Do We Teach the Children?

Turning slowly, I look around the classroom. What joy! The words to the music are hanging on the felt board. Stuffed animals are carefully arra

You remember the story, I'm sure! Three little piggy brothers in a competitive family construction business, and each thought he had the smartest answer for building a house.

Why, when, and where does a child decide to "get baptized"? Because other children are doing it? They love Jesus and the pastor ends a sermon with an altar call or they are invited during a Week

Don't Let Your Volunteers Fall Through the Cracks!

Volunteers are the heart and soul of any ministry. It's the leaders' responsibility to see that they are happy in their

How many times do we hear the phrase "Praise the Lord"? It has almost become a cliché among us. However, helping our children learn to really praise Him is important. Creative ways to do th

Do you recognize the merit of quality staff seminars, and does your church have the resources to offer a program? If not, a fund-raising event might be a good idea.

Have y

We live in a world that is often quite stressful. Everything seems to be high tech. Many things seem uncertain to us at times. We strive to do what is best for ourselves and our families. At one

Through the years, students of human nature have emphasized the importance of an individual's outlook, viewpoint, attitudes, or expectations in life. What we accomplish is in direct proportion t

"Our church has decided not to have VBS this year. There aren't enough people to help; and even if we could find helpers, it's just not in the budget."-- Sally Deadchurch

When Chuck Davidson, a member of the Orchard Adventist Church, first saw Sidewalk Kids he was fired up with energy and enthusia

When I think of puppets and puppet ministries, I think of kids using their gifts to preach the gospel. What better way for children to not only minister, but gain a better understanding of the p

How many children have come into your life for only a week? a month? a year? Will your efforts in their behalf be memorable?

Vacation Bible School, Adventurers, Pathfinders, etc., br

The Bible says that the living God "gives us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17, NIV).

Do you have a cat? Have you noticed things about your cat? For instance, does

1. Traditional: 1 to 2 weeks; day or evening.

2. Day Camp: 1 week to whole summer; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

3. Family Camp: 5 weeks; 1 evening per week.

4. H

Recognizing Each Child's Unique Gifts

Growing up, I was a well-behaved child. Even in my teen years I had the reputation of being a goody-goody. Memorizing verses for church