(Looking for mini-class ideas? See bottom of article.)

CHRISTIAN COOL IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

I love fifth graders. I enjoyed teaching in the fifth grade department of our church’s Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years, and learned to love their enthusiasm for life, their desire to learn, and their maturing personalities.

In many schools, those fifth graders will promote into middle school next year. It’s an enormous transition time, both for preteens and parents. How can a church assist students who are entering middle school this year? Here’s an idea we’ve used in our church.

The “Get-Ready-For-Middle-School” School

“Get-Ready-for-Middle-School School” is an info-packed, fun event whose sole purpose is to encourage preteens to excel as Christians during middle school. It’s exclusively for students entering middle school (usually sixth graders). If desired, you may include parents in the introductory session. The event is scheduled on a Saturday shortly before school begins. Ready to plan a Get-Ready-For-Middle-School School at your church?

Plan Well

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Recruit a top-notch team of instructors and helpers. Make a huge “welcome to middle school” sign. Plan extra special snacks, nametags, handout packets and a youth group t-shirt. Every incoming sixth grader in your church must be personally invited. Youth leaders can call parents about the important event. Older youth may hand-deliver invitations. Publicize via Facebook, email, snailmail, church newsletter and website.

Carefully select relevant topics and godly instructors for eight mini-classes. Each power-packed class will last just ten minutes, and preteens will rotate from class to class. Instructors use handouts, visuals, activities and practical tips to encourage and challenge Christian youth.

Mini-class teachers may be youth Bible teachers, enthusiastic adults, church members who work as faculty or staff at the middle school, and perhaps a carefully selected older youth. An etiquette class taught by a college student was a huge favorite. A vice principal led a “tips for Christian middle schoolers” class and promised to pray every Monday morning for them. Offer how-to classes about Christian growth, resources and inside tips for middle school life. (See mini-class topic ideas below.)

Opening Session

Provide name tags and snacks for a few minutes of informal fellowship as parents, students and youth workers arrive. The youth minister or youth leader shares a lively, well-prepared presentation to passionately challenge youth to be God’s representative in their school and compel parents to pray faithfully for their student. He introduces youth workers, and overviews the church’s plan for Christian education, discipleship and fellowship. Info packets include church brochures, annual youth calendar, church newsletter, contact info for youth leaders, and so on. The pastor may lead in prayer before parents are dismissed.

Many Mini-Classes

Students rotate from class to class for a couple of hours of fun, fast-paced learning experiences, interspersed with snacks and a few games. It’s like inspiration overload, but kids respond well to the exciting topics.

Prayer Points

The youth minister prays for each preteen by name, asking God to bless, guide and protect them. Students are given a list of prayer points to remind them to shine for Christ in middle school.

Party Time

End the Get-Ready-for-Middle-School School with a fun activity to promote new friendships. Plan a memorable fellowship time, such as Frisbee golf in the park, a cookout at a church member’s pool, or a photo scavenger hunt.

You’re in the Youth Group!

On Sunday morning after the event, incoming sixth graders are officially welcomed into the youth Sunday School department.

Annual Event

Get-Ready-For-Middle-School School will likely become an anticipated annual event that will impact many young lives.

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Mini-Class Topic Ideas

Talk with faculty and previous students so you can address needed topics at your local middle school. Here are a few examples of mini-class topics:

• · How to be a lady/How to be a gentleman – separate etiquette classes for guys and girls. Ours was taught by two godly college students. This was a big favorite every year!
• · A Heart for My School – share stats about the middle school, number of lost students, and help learners make a commitment to win their lost friends to Jesus.
• · Locker Lessons and Other Tips - Practical ideas for daily school life
• · Tips for the First Day of Middle School – hints from someone who knows.
• · How to find Christian friends – ten ways to be a friend.
• · Fashion with a Capital M (a girls class about how to look stylish + modest!) – this could be a quick fashion show and tips by older youth
• · How to Get to Class on Time – a middle school teacher shares hints for success
• · The Value of Church Youth Group – a panel of godly older youth share testimonies about living for God
• · The Best Brownie for the Buck – a loved middle school cafeteria worker and member of our church taught a wonderful class about where to sit, what to eat and how to pray.
• · How to Follow God Daily – tips could include journaling, Bible reading, Scripture memory, priorities.
• · Resources for Middle School Christians – gather all kinds of web, printed and people resources
• · How to Invite Friends to Church – simple ways to impact the lost for God.
• · How to Lean on God – specific ways to let God lead.
• · Success Secrets for a Christian in Middle School – perhaps a faculty member or mature Christian youth could share these.
• · Small Ways to Make a Big Difference – Give lots of ideas for vibrant Christian living.
• · How to Set Priorities – Juggling lessons for school, church and life, with Jesus as priority.
• · Helping Your Parents Survive Living with a Middle Schooler – How to treat a parent, respecting authority, and showing love to your parent.

Got the idea? Work with the resources God has given you, design the classes to fit the problems and opportunities at your local schools, and point every class toward to the Most High God.

[Adjust to your school district. Some begin middle school with 7th grade.]

©Diana Davis 2012 www.keeponshining.com

by Diana Davis

It happens on Sunday morning twice each year, and it may affect your church attendance. Need fresh ideas to plan ahead and capitalize on Daylight Savings Time?

“Spring Forward” Ideas

Remind. Remind. Remind. They’ll lose an hour of sleep. That could negatively affect church attendance, so use every means to help folks remember to change their clocks.
- Teen texters. The youth group could register church members who want to receive a Daylight Savings Time Sunday wakeup text message.
- On Saturday, send a mass email note or text message to all members and recent guests. Even better, create a brief, funny video reminder to email.
- Post a reminder (or the funny video reminder) on your church Facebook page and website.
- Offer free wakeup calls. Our church’s fifth graders gave friendly wakeup calls to their classmates and had an all-time high attendance. Your church could allow all members who want a Sunday morning wakeup call to register for one.
- Prepare a short, clever message and use a phone tree to send a reminder to each church member.
- Ask members to twitter it and post a personal Facebook note. Perhaps “CTC on DST! Come to church on Daylight Savings Time day.”
- Print reminders of the upcoming time change in preceding church bulletins and newsletters.

Great day for doughnuts. They’ll have less time for breakfast. Why not offer “Breakfast with Bible Study” or serve coffee and breakfast snacks in the foyer as they arrive.

Red-faced latecomers. It’s inevitable. A few stragglers will arrive just before worship is over, embarrassed that they forgot the time change. Rope off rear pews so the alert ushers can seat them unobtrusively. Give latecomers a coupon for a complimentary recording of the sermon, available immediately after the worship service.

One-day schedule delay. Some churches actually delay their schedule one hour on that Sunday, providing a complimentary breakfast for those who want to arrive at the regular time.

“Fall Back” Ideas

High Attendance. That extra hour of sleep for the fall DST creates an ideal day for “No Excuse Sunday”, “When the Role is Called Up Yonder,” “Friend Day” or “Really High Attendance Sunday.”

Early Rise? Advertise! Place an ad this week in your local paper to invite newcomers. Post an exterior church sign: “After your extra hour of sleep on Sunday, come to church!” or “Best Idea for Daylight Savings Day: Come to church here.”

Great Day for Sunday School. Make a huge push for Sunday School attendance this day. Publish a current list of classes. Double-staff greeters to escort guests to classes.

Reward Earlybirds. Ask several greeters to arrive an hour early to warmly welcome accidental-early-birds who forgot to reset their clock. Signs can list early opportunities.
- Glad you arrived early today. Right now, you may:
- Go inside the worship center to watch our musicians rehearse.
- Stop by your church library. It’s open early just for you.
- Enjoy breakfast snacks and visit with friends in the foyer. (Add a dish of gummy worms with a fun sign, “The early bird gets the worm!”)
- Step in the prayer chapel for live meditation music and private prayer time.

Yes, Daylight Savings Time may be somewhat inconvenient on the Lord’s Day. Plan well, asking God to touch lives during those two Sundays each year. After all, every hour belongs to Him.

©Diana Davis. Excerpted from her Fresh Ideas-1000 Ways to Grow a Thriving and Energetic Church (B&H Publishing) www.keeponshining.com

31 Days to a Better Deacon Wife…Oh, we could go on and on! But I do hope that you’ve taken these 31 days seriously, and that God has used these simple exercises to encourage you to joyfully serve alongside your deacon husband. Drop me a note and let me know how you’ve done.

 So here’s a quick review, along with a reminder of your Scripture verse at the end.  Keep on shining!

Day #31 – Did you find a way to “lavishly” serve in God’s name? Will others see your life lavishly lived for  God?

Day #30 – Did you find one person who needs God today? Did you invite her to church, tell her something God’s done in your life, tell her how to know Him?

Day #29 – Are you parenting your children in a God-honoring way?

Day #28 – Do you have Scripture visible in every room of your home now?

Day #27 – Did you find the date of your pastor’s church anniversary and begin planning to acknowledge it?

Day #26 – Did you evaluate your appearance to the lost world as you represent Jesus to them? Did you do something to improve and look your best?

Day #25 – Did you visit someone in the hospital? Do you watch for changes to do this?

Day #24 – Did you invite someone to your home for dinner, and make a commitment to use your home to practice hospitality?

Day #23 – Did you practice showing respect to your favorite deacon? Has this become your lifestyle?

Day #22 – Did you learn the name of a child, with the intention of showing God’s love to her regularly?  Have you followed up with that child?

Day #21 – Have you begun to systematically read every word of the Bible this year? Now this will be your best habit ever.

Day #20 – Did you do something to make your home more comfortable and presentable for your family and guests? Are you using it for His glory?

Day #19 – Did you commit to fully participate in worshipping God during Sunday worship every Lord’s Day?

Day #18 – Did you make a new commitment to avoid complaining? Be SURE this has become a habit!

Day #17 – Did you get out of your rut and show God’s love to someone sitting alone at church? Do you watch for changes to do this regularly now?

Day #16 – Did you write a note of encouragement? Has this become a habit?

Day #15 – Did you practice focusing on others instead of yourself in conversations? Have you changed your “I” vocabulary?

Day #14  -  Did you intentionally prepare for a future ministry opportunity? Are you watching for ways to minister in His name?

Day #13  –  Did you complete the long list of those you know who may not know Christ personally? Have you begun to share Him with each of them?

Day #12 – Did you study the Scripture and take the sample test to determine your spiritual gifts? Did you find a way to use that gift in God’s church?

Day #11 – Did you memorize 1 Timothy 3:11? (below)

Day #10 – Did you begin to intentionally mentor a younger Christian woman?

Day #9 – Did you express sincere appreciation to someone who serves behind the scenes at your church? Do you do this regularly now?

Day #8 – Did you write your “elevator praise” so you can quickly and enthusiastically tell what God is doing at your church? Has this become a habit?

Day #7 – Did you begin a habit of serving God with absolute joy?

Day #6 – Did you say something nice about your pastor’s wife? Will you do it often?

Day #5 – Did you take a widow to tea? Will you do it again?

Day #4 – Did you spend half an hour alone with God? Has this become a habit?

Day #3 – Did you find a need and meet it? Has this become a habit?

Day #2 – Did you order personal business cards and begin to use them for ministry and outreach? Has this become a habit?

Day #1 – Did you tell your deacon/husband how much you admire him? Has this become a habit?

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1 Timothy 3:11 – Your verse – bolded below –

“Deacons,  likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And they must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons.  Wives, too, must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled,  faithful in everything. Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently. For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 3

Day #31. Lavishly serve. 

 Would the word “lavishly” apply to your service to God? 

 TODAY’S ASSIGNMENT:  Consider some way that you can LAVISHLY serve God.

 If you teach a Sunday School class, pour your energies into discipling those students and growing that class, lavishly.  If God has called you to invest in college students, lavishly love them and help them and serve with them.  

 There is no greater way to invest your life, your time, your resources, than in lavishly serving your great God through his bride, the church.

Will you be the one who volunteers when needed? Will you seek new ways to honor God and serve others? Will you give freely of your resources? Your energy? Your creativity? Your love?

Okay, “lavish” seems to be an over-the-top word, but as I’ve prayed about how to end this little exercise of “31 Days to a Better Deacon Wife,” that word just keeps reverberating in my heart. If we love our God lavishly and serve Him with all our heart, all the other details will fall into place. 

So today, consider some way that you can be lavish about serving Him. Put the word “lavish” on your computer screensaver to remind you. Give a lavish gift in His name, or a lavish offering to His work. Make a lavish, anonymous gift in His name. Lavishly love a homebound friend. Make a commitment to lavishly serve God, as a joyour priority in life.

 Of course, it takes a lifetime – not 31 days – to become the woman God wants you to be. But I hope that you’ve enjoyed these simple exercises in forming habits to be the best Christian woman you can be.  Keep on shining!

(and tomorrow I’ll post the “review.”)

“If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.” Romans 12:7

“Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” Romans 12:11

“He said: LORD God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven or on earth,  keeping His gracious covenant with Your servants who walk before You with their whole heart.” 2 Chronicles 6:14

“And if anyone forces  you to go one mile, go with him two.”  Matthew 5:41

Day #30 – Find One.

TODAY’S ASSIGNMENT. Begin a new one-a-day habit today. Find one person, and influence them for Christ today. Invite her to your church. Tell her about something God did in your life today. Tell her how to know Him as Savior.  

Look everywhere for her! She may be  at work, in the grocery store line, walking her dog past your house, sitting next to you on the bus. She’s waiting.

Make a promise to God that you will not let another day of your life pass without telling at least one person about Him, beginning today. 

You may want to begin a journal, and list the name of the “one” person that you speak with every day, making yourself more accountable to be alert to those opportunities.

Those ones will add up. 

  One week = seven ones.

  One year = 365 ones.

And eternity will be impacted.

 ^“This is eternal life:  that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent —Jesus Christ.”  John 17:3

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Find more ideas for deacon wives at Deacon wives—Fresh Ideas to Encourage Your Husband and the Church (B&H Publishing), Fresh Ideas (B&H Publishing) and Deacon Magazine (LifeWay)

Day #14 – Get Ready

Your assignment today is to prepare ahead for some type of ministry in God’s name.

Spend some time to consider your own  church and community. Think of ways you enjoy serving others. Consider how God has stirred your heart in days past about needs and opportunities to show His love to others. Now think of ways you can prepare ahead and be ready on a minute’s notice. A few examples:

- Prepare cookie dough and freeze it with a label, “ministry cookies.” Now when someone moves into your neighborhood, you can deliver steaming homemade cookies before the moving van drives away. You can take hot cookies to a homebound member or church member with a new baby. You’re ready.

- Make a huge pot of homemade soup. Serve some to your family, then freeze several containers, labeled “ministry soup.” When you learn that old Mr. James has the flu tomorrow, you’ll quickly deliver homemade soup to his door (and run!) You’re ready.

- If you’re a computer geek or scrapbooking diva, create pretty bookmarks  with a Scripture and the words, “Praying for you! Diana Davis” (substitute your name).  Make dozens of them. When you make a hospital visit, nursing home visit, bereaved visit, you’ve got a personal reminder to give them. You can give one to a teen headed off to college as a promise of your prayers. To a woman dealing with divorce or physical pain or personal problems.  You’re ready.

- If your ministry area involves visiting homebound or members in nursing home, consider ways you can prepare ahead for great effectiveness.  Keep their names and phonee contact information on your cell phone or a list in your car’s glovebox. If you have a few minutes and  you’re nearby, you can easily call and stop by. Keep a list of their birthdays, and consider purchasing cards ahead of time. Go ahead and prepare them for the entire year and mail on the appropriate day. If you stop by on their birthday with a lighted cupcake, keep candles and matches in your car. If you like the idea of a portable tea party, pack up a picnic basket with two teacups, two saucers and pretty napkins. Then you simply fill a thermos with hot water, grab a couple of cookies and serve her tea.  You’re ready.

- Perhaps you help with 25^th or 50^th wedding anniversary celebrations when they occur in marriages at your church. Gather gold or silver items, appropriate signs, reusable décor that may be used. Keep a card file of ideas used in the past, then loan them to families who are planning. You’re ready.

- Another example, as a pastor’s wife, I often was one of the first to arrive at members’ homes after a death occurred. I began to notice a pattern—many times, Janet (a deacon’s wife) had either already stopped by or came by while my husband and I were at the bereaved person’s home. She simply rang the doorbell, shoved a grocery sack into the arms of the person who answered the door, told them their church family was praying for them, said a one-sentence prayer asking God to comfort the family, and left. The grocery bag held these contents:

Paper  plates, napkins, plastic forks, Paper towels, toilet paper, a note of sympathy and prayer

Often a bereaved family has not expected or prepared for masses of family and friends to arrive, so those paper products were appreciated. Gather those items, put them in paper bags on a top shelf in your garage, and you’re ready.

You get the idea.  Get ready! Consider how God has called you to serve. Dream big about ways you can accomplish that task even  better by planning ahead. When you’re prepared, you’ll be watching for ways to use those preparation. You’ll be surprised to find that you’ll be doing lots more ministry with less  effort.

Assignment: Start getting ready today.

DAY #5 – Have tea with a widow.

Call a widow you know and invite her to tea. If you don’t know a widow personally, ask your pastor or pastor’s wife for a suggestion.

Whether she’s a long-time friend or just an acquaintance at church, let her know you’d enjoy just spending some time with her. Take her to a nearby coffee shop or invite her for tea in your living room.  Ask about her wellbeing, her family, her health. Listen carefully to hear concerns or needs. Promise to pray for her. If she’s a Christian friend, ask about how God has worked in her life in recent days. Begin a friendship as you sip your tea. Pray for her before you leave. Consider sitting by her in church occasionally or inviting her to your home for dinner with your family.  As you have tea with her in your home or at the local coffee shop,  pray silently to God, asking Him to allow you to be a blessing to His child.

As I consider the most important mentors in my life, some were widows. You may just receive a blessing in return!
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27

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Find more ideas for deacon wives at Deacon Magazine (LifeWay) and Deacon wives—Fresh Ideas to Encourage Your Husband and the Church (B&H Publishing).

NEXT MONTH:  “31 Days to a Better Women’s Ministry”

Day #3 – FIND A NEED AND MEET IT.

Look carefully today at the people in your workplace or exercise class, your fellow believers in your church, the stranger who’s checking your groceries or checking out your library book…all the sea of people you encounter in your everyday life today. 

Ask God to show you one way you can help someone today. Be sure that you do it “in His name” – not just as a random good deed, but as a follower of God.

Warning: Showing God’s love through meeting a need might cost money, time or energy.  As His ambassador, however, we must develop a habit of watching and listening for His prompting. Start looking!

And don’t go to bed tonight until you’ve found some need, and met it.
“For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.” Ephesians 6:20

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Find more ideas for deacon wives at Deacon Magazine(LifeWay) and Deacon wives—Fresh Ideas to Encourage Your Husband and the Church (B&H Publishing).

NEXT MONTH:  “31 Days to a Better Women’s Ministry” 

Take a couple of minutes to watch this Youtube video I found. It’s by Shane Chapman, a sand artist.  It will put you in the true mood for a great Christmas celebration!

Do You Hear What I Hear – Sand Art

(By the way, on my computer the music doesn’t start for a minute.)

Praying your Christmas in full of JOY. Keep on shining…

Fresh Ideas

Creatively Thankful

By Diana Davis

Looking for creative ways for your church to celebrate Thanksgiving? Try one of these:

• 24-Hours of Thanks. Host a 24-hour prayer chain of thanksgiving to God. Church members sign up for a half-hour shift to pray in the church sanctuary or a special prayer room. Each person prays briefly with the previous pray-er, then spends time in thanksgiving prayer to God.   
• Senior Saints & Six-Year-Olds. A tech-savvy teen could work with a senior adult Bible class and the six-year-olds’ class to make a video clip to use on Sunday before Thanksgiving. Record each person, with head bowed or raised toward heaven, praying “I thank you God for ____.”  
• Turkey Smoking Party – A few men at one church smoked dozens of turkeys on Thanksgiving Eve. They invited church members and neighbors to bring their turkey to the church parking lot, where the cooks enjoyed hours of horseshoes and cornhole games while they lovingly prepared scrumptious birds. 
• Thankful Art Show.  Plan ahead to host a city-wide art exhibit at your church next Thanksgiving. Use the theme “Thankful…” and accept all mediums of art from all age groups. Begin by asking artists in your church to create a piece of art and help with planning. Anyone in the community can exhibit, and special invitations are sent to teachers and art students at nearby art studios, universities and schools. Artistically incorporate Scriptures in the display, and use easels, walls and small columns for art displays. Invite the community to view the exhibit during Thanksgiving week.     
• Sharing Thanksgiving. Assign members to deliver a homemade pie to each homebound member. Encourage members to plan family celebrations to include a single adult, university or seminary student, widow, widower, international student, immigrant and others who are far from home. (Psalm 68:6).
• Digital Thanks. Ask church members to use a digital camera or camera phone to take photos to complete this sentence: “I thank my God for…”.  Make a PowerPoint to use during Sunday worship. Viewing photos of pets, pals, pizza, and policemen will remind worshippers to thank God for them.   
• Picket Signs in Church. Elementary-age children’s Sunday School classes make picket-type signs, using large words or drawings to show their thanks to God. During worship, they march around the worship center during a song, holding their picket signs as a thanksgiving to God. 
• Blessing Baskets. Purchase baskets to provide one for each family in your church. Families put the blessing basket on their dining table and deposit notes of thanks to God each day. On Sunday before Thanksgiving, they bring their basket to the altar and offer thanks to God.  
• Wall of Thanks. One church created a huge “wall of thanks” by covering a foyer wall with paper during November.  Teens, children and adults used markers to draw and write words of thanks for God’s blessings. 

Don’t skip over Thanksgiving this year. Celebrate a focused time of giving thanks to our great God. Happy Thanksgiving!

©2009 Diana Davis. For more Thanksgiving ideas, see her book, Fresh Ideas (B&H Publishing, 2007) and blog www.keeponshining.com