Tags: COVID-19

One of the churches in my area, 12Stone Church, proposed a simple but profound analogy for talking about COVID-19 with its members and community. In the notes from their May 2020 message, they explain: A Traffic Light Green Light - Go Yellow Light - Proceed with caution Red Light - Stop There are 3 different groups of people and how they view COVID-19. Green Light - Don't wear mask or use hand sanitizer. Believes we should not shut down everything. Let people decide their own risk. Green will immediately return to church with no worries. Yellow Light - Believes there is a reason to be cautious and will abide by the rules set - will wear a mask and will obey social distancing. Yellow will return to church but not immediately. Red Light - Those who are afraid to leave their homes because the risk is not worth it. Red...

Usually, you're worn out by now because of all the excitement and energy that goes into prepping (or completing) VBS, but this summer, you might be exhausted for a completely different reason. Maybe you've finally got the hang of the technology you need to host Zoom calls and FaceBook Lives, but that doesn't mean it takes any less energy to be engaging over video. Maybe you feel like your creativity is spent when it comes to games that are Zoom-friendly. (We can help with that! See our best online-friendly games here.) Maybe you're wrestling with your own understanding of racial injustice and aren't sure how to equip your families to move toward racial reconciliation too. Maybe you're driving all over town to deliver Summer Fun Packs to every family since you can't yet meet in person. Maybe you're in the midst of reopening and...

As churches experiment with ways to gather their people in a safe and controlled environment during the pandemic, one popular idea is holding church in cars with either a drive-in or a drive-through service! What's the difference? A drive-in service typically involves participants driving to the church parking lot, parking their cars, and viewing the service from their vehicle. A drive-through service means the families drive through a designated route on the church campus, stopping by different stations to interact with the pastors or complete aspects of worship (like giving offering, taking Communion, picking up family devotionals from the kids department, etc.). Both offer ways for your church community to connect with you, see each other, and be on the church campus, all while staying safe.  Vanessa Myers, one of our DKM Marketplace Vendors...

Here in Georgia, Governor Kemp has given churches permission to reopen their doors and resume services, as long as we maintain strict social distancing protocols. This announcement has pushed churches to begin the discussion that causes excitement and makes our heads spin at the same time: What will reopening in-person church services look like, and what does that mean for children's ministry? Whether you're reopening this Sunday or not even considering it until June, here are some ideas & resources from a variety of denominational backgrounds and organizations to help inform your decision and plan. I'm still trying to figure out what everything will look like too, but I hope this list helps inform your discussions in planning the best possible options for your ministry. Keep these tips in mind when creating your reopening...

Whether life has slowed down or gotten even crazier since the COVID-19 quarantining began, you can use this unique season of ministry to grow as a leader if you... Make time to REST. Do this one first, and if you only pick one thing, let it be this one! As a ministry leader, your schedule is always go-go-go, so take advantage of this slower pace of life that we've all been forced into by social distancing and stay-at-home orders. Don't feel pressure to add something to your plate just because your normal schedule looks different or feels smaller, and don't let someone else's approach to online ministry make you feel guilty for the valuable way you're serving your flock. Repeat after me: It's OK if productivity looks different in this season. Enjoying a time of rest will help you reflect, recharge, and refresh so you can be the best leader...

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Did you know you can change your background on Zoom while hosting online kids church (how-to instructions below)? You can be teaching from outer space, under the sea, or even in front of the city of Jerusalem, and you don't have to use the same background the entire time. Using virtual backgrounds on Zoom is not only fun, but you can also use this feature as a teaching tool. You can easily change the background in the middle of your teaching to engage kids and involve them in the story! Zoom Background Teaching Ideas: Bible Story Images: Find pictures that fit your story or that include objects within the story. As you teach, change the background to match what you're talking about to help keep kids engaged virtually. Eye Spy: Create a background with a collage of various items (people, words, objects,...

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You may be trying to navigate the new normal of hosting kids church online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are a few apps to consider, and no matter which one you use, read these 5 tips for engaging kids through video to make it the best possible experience for everyone involved! FACEBOOK LIVE - So far, this seems to be the most popular platform for online children's ministry. Why? Because most parents are already on FaceBook and familiar with how to use it. When you go Live on Facebook, families can interact by leaving comments in real-time. Plus, the video stays on your church's FB page for those families who couldn't watch it live. I love this platform because it encourages parents to watch with their kids, giving them a glimpse into what Sunday mornings in the kids area looks like and encouraging family...

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As you're hosting kids church online through video during the Coronavirus pandemic, use the tips below to make it the best possible experience for your kids and families (and you)! And check out all of our COVID-19 ministry tips & resources here. Make a plan. Just like you wouldn't walk into a regular Sunday morning without a plan for the day, don't try to do that with a video either! Make sure you and your team know the order and flow of the video, and be sure to set any props off-screen but within reach. You may also want to have links ready to share, like links to a folder on Google Drive of activity worksheets that go with the lesson, links to worship videos, links to a video lesson, and more! (Just make sure your curriculum & worship songs allows sharing the resources in this way). Spend the...