MELLOW WAVE: Recent Episodes
FourFiveSix.org: Great Ideas f
Looking for great (game, object lessons, worship, volunteer celebration, etc. etc.) ideas to take your preteen ministry to the next level? This podcast is created and curated by FourFiveSix.org, a community of leading voices in preteen ministry. Our goal is simple: a short (4,5, or 6 minute) podcast a few times a week (4, 5, or 6 times) that gives you a quick, easy, free idea that you can use in your preteen ministry THIS WEEK. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Want to get more great ideas right now? Come join the community of preteen leaders at fourfivesix.org
Today on the podcast, Sean shares an excerpt of Melissa McDonald’s session at the Preteen Leaders Conference. Melissa discusses the idea of building a team in your ministry. Not only building a team among the leaders but also with the preteens. In her ministry they stopped playing competitive games and started doing team building with the students. She wove it into the schedule, the first 20 minutes was set aside to build a team. It was never again one team against another it was, “We are all a team”. One example of a great team building game she gives is having all the students stand on a log and get in order on the log by their birthday with out talking to each other. She never left their side as they worked on it, instead she stayed and helped and encouraged them. Remain positive and continue to do it. It took her group two months to complete this team building by doing 20 minutes every time they met. Once they begin to work as a team then you can add back in the competitive team games. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Zach Matchett about the Recap Yearbook. Zach and his team have created a memento of the year for their students to reinforce what they learned over the year. It is a devotional and a yearbook all in one. They started from the very first meeting of the school year and recapped all the lessons into a devotional for the summer. Using the SOAP method (Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer) they created the devotional. They also included pictures from events, retreats and all the fun stuff from the year. This would be a great graduation idea for your preteens. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Michael Grady regarding a family devotional that he has created. Michael has a passion for what the Bible has for families and the knowledge it can offer when you really know it. He took this passion and created a devotional to allow families to spend time in the Word together. The title of the devotional is Making God Part of Your Family. This allows for a conversational element to occur between the parents and preteens. "If you are like most families, your schedule is probably busier than ever...making it difficult to find any time to spend together as a family, leaving little or no time for God. If a relationship with God and learning more about him is important to you and your family, this book is for you." Michael Grady The devotionals offer a 10-15 minutes story that will allow for 30-45 minutes of discussion time via the questions that it asks with each story. If you would like to get a copy of Michael’s devotional or as a tool to share with parents, you can do so at www.michaelgrady.org. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean talks about the concept of memorizing your lesson. The benefit is greater when you have the ability to memorize the message you will be teaching. Memorizing your message removes the barrier between you and your audience. It allows you to focus on the people you are speaking to rather that constantly looking down at a piece of paper. You are able to stay on track and not lose your place while teaching. Additionally, you have a greater peace when you are able to get into the message. You don’t nee to fear skipping over or missing pieces of the message because you forget a piece. Sean mentions that in those times he trusts that the Holy Spirit is guiding his words. He offers some great tips that will help you to memorize your message. It is worth the extra effort for both you and the preteens. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Zach Matchett about the Family Framework Event. Zach is from a multi-site church in Indiana, Northview Church. The framework is a series of mile marker events that students and families go through from when they are born to when they graduate. Discipleship is a partnership between the family and local church. An example would be that in 2nd grade every kid gets their first Bible. They are brought up on stage and it is a big event. With the preteens they do what they call the Blessing. There is a separate events for Father/Son and Mother/Daughter. If you would like more information on how the Family Framework is done visit this website https://www.northviewchurch.us/familyframework/. Additionally you can contact Zach by email at zach.matchett@northviewchurch.us. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Pastor Chris regarding Prayer Knight. Recently Elevate had a service, which was called Prayer Knight. It is a play on words to give the night a medieval theme. The whole night carried this theme even to the point of having a cardboard castle set up on stage. Preservice was themed the same way and was easy and the preteens enjoyed it. The message is what made the night so impactful. The service discussed the concept of prayer. Beginning the message with the Armor of God and transitions nicely into prayer. By breaking down the Lord’s prayer into four sections preteens were given a simple way of understanding how to pray. It allowed them to go from learning into actually doing it. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Yancy and Robert Quinn regarding Heartbeat Worship Curriculum. Heartbeat worship curriculum is a bi-weekly curriculum meant to help preteen and younger kids engage in worship. Yancey explains the background behind the curriculum and her mindset regarding what she wanted the curriculum to do for ministries. Looking at Psalm kids are able to see what the scripture specifically teaches them how to worship. Additionally, it can also teach the leaders how to guide and lead the preteens in worship. Robert is currently using the curriculum and discusses how it is working with his preteens. One of their favorite components is the resources and tools that it offers the leaders to engage the kids. They have seen preteens that have never engaged in worship in the past taking that next step and beginning to grow in their worship time. If you are interested in purchasing this curriculum, you can click on this link. https://promo.fourriversmedia.com/yancy-ministries-heart-beat/ Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Makenna about anticipating their behavior. You can’t expect preteens behavior. Recently in one of Elevate’s services, the preteens were given two choices of what they wanted to learn. As a leadership we felt that they would choose “A” but when it came down to it they choose the other and it left us with too many kids in a smaller class. When we think we have it all figured out for preteens we realize that we don’t. You may do an event for several years and on the fifth year, you get completely the opposite results. The preteens are at the stage where they will flip flop from week to week. How can we as preteen leader prepare for the fact that we can’t anticipate preteen behavior? We need to be flexible to adjust our mindsets when it comes to the preteens. Be perceptive and agile to be able to change your game plan on the fly. Also have a bag of tricks to change things as you go. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Amanda Davis and Kathy Pitrat from Mt Zion UMC in Bel Air, Maryland about learning at conferences and implementing that information. A conference is not like anything else you might do to get ideas for your ministry. By setting aside time away from distractions you are able to take in so much more. They started by thinking it was a luxury to be given the opportunity to attend the conference but later realized it was really a necessity. They came away from the conference with a bunch of ideas that were very doable and a very quick change. Upon returning from the conference they offer some of the ideas that they were able to put into practice. Two things they learned and took away including allowing the preteens to make decisions and be leaders over an aspect of your ministry as well as developing relationships with the preteens through simple things like games and question of the day. Conferences are beneficial when you can take what you learned while attending and turn around and implement it into your ministry upon return. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean talks about sanctification in the preteens in your ministry. What can we do to come along side of our preteens and help them to become sanctified? When we teach the preteens lives, we tend to want to see the application that the lesson can be used in their lives. There are benefits to application, but his hope is more for transformation. Transformation is a more holistic response because it applies to all aspects heart, mind and soul. It is deeper and more meaningful for them to be transformed by what they learn. Sean has seen the difficulty in getting preteens to apply the truths that they hear to their lives. They have recently found a magic word and that is “so”. This word can help you to have discussions with your preteens about transformation in their lives after they have heard facts and truths to tie it to. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean shares a portion of the Peer Group Level 2 discussions recently regarding their most engaging lessons. During the most recent Peer Group Level 2 meeting, Patrick Snow asked the attendees what their most engaging lesson was recently. Through the groups discussion there were some interesting ideas of the needs of our preteens these days. Some ideas you wouldn’t even think about like, the basics of the bible or boys having self-esteem issues. Hopefully some of the ideas that you hear in today’s podcast will offer you some direction on lessons you might think about doing with your preteens. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean talks about an activity to use with your preteens, the two-colored prayer. At a recent pastoral meeting the pastors were given a journal and two different colored pencils. The pastors were directed to write down their questions, thoughts or needs to God in one color and then sit a listen and try to perceive the Holy Spirit’s voice and write that response in the other color. It is great if this response is in the form of a scripture but if not still write down what is perceived and then go back and see if it goes along with scripture or confirm with a more mature Christian. This is a great tool for even the preteens. Sean actually plans to use it with the preteen leadership students. Allowing them to do the activity and share if they would like what they feel the Holy Spirit was saying to them. An easy activity for you to do or something to have your preteens do and all you need are two colored pencils and a piece of paper. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean talks with Makenna about the idea of offering preteens a place where they can make an impact in the ministry. Preteens are at the age where they can begin to make the decision about how they want to give back to the church. They are at the age where they can make the choice to serve or just continue to be an audience like in children’s ministry. By giving the preteens and opportunity to take ownership of the ministry it is allowing them to feel like they are contributing to it. Makenna explains how in the Deeply Rooted Curriculum there is an emphasis on knowing who you are in God and that you are created with a purpose. That purposes causes us to do certain things to show God to the world, be it through worship, evangelism or serving. In Elevate this year we have given the preteens lots of opportunities to serve in our ministry. Not just for the leadership students but for everyone. For example, with the Surprise Party it has given every preteen a chance to get involved in putting the party together. Our goals should be to activate their faith and the need in them to give back to the ministry. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Jaime about the idea of alternating big events with ones less taxing. Jaime’s favorite thing from 2018 was the Friendship, which required the putting up and tearing down of a giant spaceship every week in Elevate. Although this was a lot of work it was fun for her because it brought joy to the preteens to walk into a giant ship for service. The problem is when you do big events like this it brings about stress which is good, but when you continue week after week having these stressful events is creates distress which is actually unhealthy. The preteens remember these big events but you have to be intentional about when you are doing them to not distress those responsible for putting it together. Big events are not always about doing a lot of stuff. You can go to a concert with your kids or a conference that doesn’t require you doing all the work. Alternating between things that require investment, energy & stress and those that don’t require anything is the big ide for this week. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Pastor Chris about the 6th grade leadership program in Elevate. Having Pastor Chris join the Elevate team as the 6th grade pastor has allowed us the opportunity to expand our current leadership program. Chris has found that these oldest preteens are able to take on more responsibility and are ready to expand their service to the church. The 6th grade champions program allows them a chance to see what best suits them and their personalities and strengths. It gives them an opportunity to get plugged in and engaged in a ministry in the church where they feel God is calling them. It is a graduation of sorts from the 5th grade helpers program. It offers them various areas throughout the church to serve: younger kids (preschool and elementary), greeting with the adults, leading worship in the younger kids, helping with a performing arts aspect of the 6th grade class, as well as running the tech booth in Elevate. The preteens move from a generalized program with the 5th grade helpers to a more individualized program in the 6th grade champions. Additionally, on Sundays before they head to where they are serving they meet with Pastor Chris and his wife Jaime to pray and talk about how they are doing. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Zach Matchett about the idea of changing up your normal. The idea of changing your normal routine in your ministry can bring about so many positive results. It is the idea of what can be done during our normal service that isn’t normal. For Zach it is his different special events like the “Pre-winter Party” or “Breksgiving” which are done during there normal service time. These are themed events that allow the preteens to invite their friends to a light-hearted fun event. These events are a great opportunity for your ministry to build community by simply changing up the routine a little. What is amazing is the amount of participation that you will get with these types of events, the preteens really enjoy having a chance to be something different. It is also a great opportunity to develop character. So how could you change up your routine slightly and add in a themed event to allow your preteens a chance to invite friends? Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Dan Istvanik at Victory Church in Lancaster, PA about learning from Fortnite. Dan recently wrote an article about Fortnite. It wasn’t the standard discussion about whether you should be using Fortnite in your ministry. Instead Dan asked the question of why is Fortnite so popular. Like anything that is popular in the preteen population it is a great idea to ask the question of why it is so popular. That question can help us to meet the needs of our preteens better. Dan writes for ministrytoparents.com. Two things stuck out to Dan during his research for the article. 1. There is a risk of reward element to the game that taps into a preteens brain. We are all built to feel like we need to be rewarded. Your brain easily becomes addicted to something that you get a sense of reward from. Fortnite offers a risk, a reward, a prize and an emotional high which draws them into it. 2. Popularity really surged during the summer months. This is when students are looking for community because they are out of school and away from their friends. Fortnite offered them an opportunity to connect with other. It gave them a social network online and offline. Dan and Sean discuss how thinking about these two things can help us in ministry to create a space that ministers to the felt needs of our preteens. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean and Makenna talk about video announcements. When ministries have announcements, there are two basic ways during service to go about this: video announcements or live announcements. The problem with live announcements is they can quickly use up a ton of time. A plan for 2 minutes of announcements can quickly turns in to a lot more because we want to make sure the information is clear and that the students know everything about everything. Here are 3 reasons why video announcements are better: 1. It takes less time, 2. You can make sure ahead of time that everything you want to say is said, and 3. it is more engaging and more can be done with video announcements. Announcements can be way more interesting and gather the preteens attention better than live announcements. Makenna and Sean talk about some different options for doing video announcements, even with limited time and budget. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Scott Santee from Indiana who works with churches and organizations to bring water filters to poverty-stricken places around the world. Getting preteens involved in raising money for those in poverty around the world can be an abstract concept for them. Having something that makes this idea more concrete allows them to understand it better. Allowing your preteens to see a water filter in action could fire them up to raise money to fund a water project in another country. Scott explains how the practicality of the filters allows preteens to see how they can make a difference in other kids lives around the world. By offering something that helps leaders change the lives of preteens while in turn the preteens are saving the lives of these children all over. teams have distributed filters to 9-countries in Central America and Caribbean area, but the filters are being currently used in 62-countries around the world. If you want more information about the Kids Clean Water Project click here. The project is fully customizable to what you feel would work with your ministry. Scott is also available via email at Scott@filterofhope.org. Click here to watch a 2-minute demo. Click here for a 3-minute video you can show your preteens about these water filters. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.
Today on the podcast, Sean talks about having a service focused on cleaning up the church. To clean up a giant cardboard maze which was spread over 5 different locations with 40+ preteens during a Sunday morning service sounds like an awful idea. It turned out to be an amazing service with every preteen being fully engaged in the activity. The service began with a short message about being “Doers of the Word; not just hearers.” Allowing the students to put into action what they heard allowed them to see how the Word comes to life. Has anyone else done a service Sunday with your preteens? If so please let us know in the comment section what you did, and how it went. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org. Looking for a great community of preteen leaders that you can plug into? Join us at http://fourfivesix.org/.