Trusting God for the Growth

Sometimes in Children’s Ministry there are days when the team walks away from a Sunday morning thinking, “What just happened? This morning was crazy! Did these kids learn anything?!” These thoughts cause us to lean closer to God, asking him to continue to move in the hearts and lives of the children we serve. You see, their growth is out of our control. We can’t change kids. Only God is in the life changing business. We have to trust that seeds are being planted into the lives of these children and God will bring the growth. I’m reminded of a passage of scripture from 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 where Paul is setting the people of Corinth straight on a few things regarding the church.

I planted the seed, …but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

It’s easy sometimes to get caught in the trap of believing everything hinges on what we do and teach instead of asking and believing God for the change. I can’t change kids, but I can pray for them. They are young, I won’t always see the change in their lives, I have to trust what Proverbs 22:6 promises me.

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Notice the "when he is old." I have to laugh because I want to see the change now. To be honest, I want to see it yesterday. In His time. And sometimes, God will throw us a bone…evidence of the change.

This past Sunday, our theme was secret service. We asked the question, “What in the world are you doing that only God knows about?” You see it’s easy to do things when you know you will get praise or recognition. We challenged the kids to serve others in the way Jesus talks about in Matthew chapter six. We asked the kids who would like to be a secret agent for Jesus. Their mission was to do things for others without telling them, as a way to serve in love. In addition, we taught the kids that Jesus says their reward will come from God. And then it happened.

I received a text from a mom:

I know it’s 9:00 but my son (who is in kindergarten) just cleaned his brothers room and made his bed. He says he’s a secret server and I’m not supposed to give him a prize. Awwww!!!!! :)

I replied:

That is SO awesome! Thanks for making my night and sharing that with me!!!! God is good!

The mom added:

I wish I could have gotten him on video b/c he really did it in secret. I thought he was playing in his room. It made my night too! Yes God is good!!!

There’s one thing I know about this mom, she is fervently in prayer for her kids. She knows she can’t change her kids. But she has hope because she knows the One who can. Lord Jesus, help us to continue to plant Your seeds in the lives of our children and help us to trust you for the growth. And bless the secret server kid BIG TIME, increase his faith in You.

Adventureland in May!

God Made Me, God Loves Me, Jesus wants to be my friend forever. These are the three truths we teach our children in Adventureland. This month, toddlers and preschoolers will participate in activities that will teach them the first truth, God made me. We hope that this outline will help you as you strive to teach your children Biblical principles. We pray that God will bless you abundantly as you train your children in the ways of our Lord, Jesus!

Basic Truth: God Made Me
Key Question: What does God love about you?
Bottom Line: God loves everything about me!
"I am wonderfully made." Psalm 139:14

May 2nd
I am special to God
Psalm 139:13-15a
Jeremiah 1:5

May 9th
God made my body.
Genesis 1:26-27

May 16th
God made me to do many things.
Psalm 47:1, Psalm 86:11, Proverbs 4:11-12,20-22 Proverbs 20:11-12,
Acts 9:36 Acts 20;35

May 23rd
God made me with a purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 2:10

May 30th
God made me to praise Him.
Psalm 1-2, Psalm 34:1, Psalm 110:171-175, Pslam 150

New Message Series for Adults and Kids!

He's touching me! She used all of my hairspray! Who ate the last oatmeal cream pie? Didn't I ask you a thousand times to clean up your room? Because I said so! That's not fair! Who took the hammer out of my toolbox? You got how many F's on your progress report? Who do you think you're talking to?

Conflict...all families experience it. So, how does YOUR family respond to it?




Starting this Sunday, whether you're kindergarten aged or golden aged, you'll be learning how to respond to conflict God's way. Visit www.peacemaker.net for tons of great resources to help create a culture of peace in your home.

Merry Christmas!

Hope you have a wonderful time as you create Christ centered family experiences this Christmas!

Love Our Schools

I would like to share with you an exciting outreach opportunity that our children’s ministry team has started back in August as an effort to partner with the schools in our community. The program is called Love Our Schools and is designed to provide teachers and school staff members with support and encouragement throughout the school year. Some of the ways we have been loving our schools have included the following:

Praying for students
Praying for faculty & staff by name
Donating supplies

Here are a few ways you and your family can get involved.

Offer your time .

Join us during our prayer time on Tuesday’s and Thursday in the PRF Prayer Center from 7:00am-7:45am

Tell your child’s teacher about the program and ask them to sign up at www.iloveschools.com.

Donate http://pineridgefellowship.iloveschools.com

Each month we will choose one school to offer more personalized acts of kindness such as:

Sending notes of encouragement
Sending goodies for faculty and staff
Offering our time to take on a project like helping with school clean up or any other suggested service project that we may be able to help with.

Please contact the children’s ministry office 407-324-1614 ext 22 if you would like more information about Love Our Schools.