Latitude – a weekend retreat for families who have a child with complex needs

 

 

Kay Morgan-Gurr posts on the Children Matter! blog:

Next year Children Worldwide and *Partners hope to do a pilot for a rather special family residential at our conference centre, Dalesdown, in West Sussex.

We want to be a blessing for families who have a child with complex medical needs or mobility difficulties, so we are planning a holiday retreat weekend especially for these families.

We want to give space for these families to:

• Be a family
• Have fun
• Be pampered
• Share & pray
• Let grown ups be themselves
• Let children be children

This amazing event will take place 15th – 18th February 2013.

It is still very much in the planning stages, but we will be looking for volunteers who would be willing to:

• Work as a designated assistant to one of the families attending
• Run Workshops
• Help in the Kitchen
• Work with the children
• Anything else you can offer!

We are also looking for families who would benefit from this retreat, so do pass on information.

All details are on the attached Flier – if you want to help, please contact us!

(*We hope to tell you who those partners are very soon!)

Should you write your own children’s ministry curriculum?

Mimi Bullock discusses this topic on the Ministry to Children website:

An easy-to-follow, power-packed curriculum helps teachers reach the kids they teach but finding lessons that fulfills a specific criteria challenges many. Every children’s church is different and factors like church doctrine, time and volunteer constraints make selecting a curriculum even more of a task. According to some estimates, up to 18% of churches do write their own kids ministry curriculum. Is that a viable option for you? Before setting pen to paper, consider the pros and cons.

Read more here.

3 tips for training teens as leaders

Meredith Teasley write for The Inclusive Church:

Teens can be a great help in children’s ministry and special needs ministry… when they are trained and equipped to succeed in their role! Use these tips to equip teen helpers in your ministry and invest in future leaders.

Read more here.

 

How to partner with parents in children’s ministry

Mimi Bullock writes on the Ministry to Children blog:

Great success in evangelism brings big challenges for kids’ ministries. One of those is working with parents, many of whom choose not to come to church – at least in the beginning. The church today is often the only moral voice in the life of a child; at this critical juncture, it’s easy to fall prey to a dangerous mindset. We give so much love and attention to our ministry kids, sometimes; we seem more like replacement parents.

It’s a logical pattern of thought but here’s where we can fall down. We can’t parent everyone and God never intended us to. Our job, as ministers, is to empower parents with the gospel, provide support and be an example to them, all while ministering to kids. I know from experience, partnering with parents is not our first instinct but it needs to be our focus. Here are some effective tips for partnering with parents through your kids ministry.

Read more here.

South Hants Bible Camp

 

 

South Hants Bible Camp is a fun packed holiday in a Christian environment, specifically organised to suit each age-group. Activities on and off site may include swimming, shopping, day trips, sports, drama, music, craft and much more! Morning and evening sessions provide practical Bible teaching, as well as exciting challenges and games. It is based at Lockerley Water Farm, near Romsey, in Hampshire. Camps offer the opportunity for campers from a wide range of churches especially those without large youth groups to build personal relationships with Christians of their own age.

There are three weeks of camp which are:
SENIOR CAMP – for 16-19 years: 21st – 28th July
INTER CAMP – for 13-15 years: 28th July – 4th August (very few spaces available)
JUNIOR CAMP – for 9-12 years: 4th – 11th August

A week at camp costs £125 per camper – for more information, contact details, and to book online, click on the link: http://southhantsbiblecamps.org/

Coaching and Mentoring training day – 19 June

We’re very sorry, folks, but the Coaching and Mentoring training day that Pete and Andy were to lead on Tuesday 19 June has had to be cancelled.

Make them count

We’ve heard of a national ecumenical strategy group which is aimed at supporting Christian parent and toddler groups.  There is a website for information, events and where groups can register. http://www.1277.org.uk/

They have also identified Sunday 10 June 2012 to be dedicated to praying for groups.  Click here for a poster and here for a prayer card.