Need More Men in Children's Ministry

On Wednesday, three from our staff here at Warner Press were privileged to attend a reVITAlize luncheon at Kidzmatter in Marion, IN. ReVITAlize was wonderful! For just $25 a person, we had lunch, laughed, had devotions in motion (modified Zumba), got lots of neat free stuff, and were blessed to hear Larry Fowler, from Awana Clubs International share his heart about children's ministry.

I don't want to bore you with statistics but I may anyway. In children's ministry, 91% of workers are women. YEAH for us women! In church attendance, 69% are female and 31% are male. More than 1/2 of kids in America will spend a significant part of their childhood WITHOUT a father. In our schools, 97% of teachers third grade and below are female, with just 3% of those teachers being males. So, if a single mom wants her kids to experience godly influence from a male, where does she go? (these statistics were shared by Larry Fowler). Kids need mothering and fathering—nurturing and admonition—balance in the home. It's not so much about parenting as it is about mothering and fathering. Here are two scriptures for you to look up, read, ponder, meditate over, and then ask the Holy Spirit to give you a new vision. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 ESV and 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 ESV.

Kids need a positive godly male figure in their lives. I'm praying for some men at our church to step up and be that for our kids. (Oh, when the 85 people in attendance were poled, only about 10% of each children's ministry represented was made up of men.

Friends, this was an eye-opening seminar for me, enjoyable, engaging, convicting—all at once.

At Warner Press, we care about kids. We want them to learn about God and His love for them as early as possible. That's why we produce resources for those who work with/for kids. One of our authors, Tina Houser, has written 5 books for WP. Check them out at our web site: www.warnerpress.org. Then check out all the other resources available for teachers and kids.
God bless you as you minister for Him!

Just a Minute!

I'm reading Just a Minute by Wes Stafford, president & CEO of Compassion Int'l. I purchased the book on Kindle and have been reading it this morning. This quote has been going over and over in my mind and heart since I read it, and it doesn't just count for children but all who cross our paths.

"I have become convinced that if God stands a child before you, for even just a minute, it is a divine appointment."

That brings tears to my eyes and a jolt to my heart, just thinking of the many times I have let opportunities pass by because I was in a rush or too busy or too focused on me and mine. And I'm talking about times when my kids were little and I was too busy to stop, sit and listen to what they wanted to share with me. Thank God they turned out well and love the Lord—in spite of me!

I don't know why God brought this book to my attention. I don't even remember where I was introduced to it—I think through email, but don't know from where. But I believe it was a God-thing because He's been doing that to me more lately—surprising me with emails, blogs, etc. And I'm trying to stop. To listen. To read. To learn where He wants to lead me, and then follow Him. I don't know what that looks like or where it may lead; I just know I want to be obedient and follow Him.