Do you use games in your children's ministry?   Lots of people do.  A lot of times people do just because they are fun.  Other times people spend a whole lot of time thought and effort into making them fit into a life lesson.  For whatever reason you do utilze games I want to refer you to an article that was written I've posted on our website that deals with the whole issue of games.  It it well worth looking at.  Here is a snippet.

Why do we play games?

It is important to realise that we can connect with our children because:

• children love to play
• games can be relationship building and non threatening
• universal – children play all around the world and cross culturally

Is it a game or is it a sport?

Sports are the more traditional activities such as soccer, football, netball and basketball.

These activities include the regular rules, some adapted rules and some modified drill activities.

Games are the non sports specific activities. Most of these activities will still have an athletic aspect, but not always, and this is the area that we are going to concentrate on.

Now that we have sorted that out let’s get stuck into some games!

Consideration in choosing a Game

There are the obvious considerations when choosing the game that you are going to play:

• size of the playing area
• the range of your age group
• is it an elimination or competition game (more about that later)

The question that is not often asked is:

What is the aim of playing the game?

Are you playing a game just for fun or are you trying to use it to get a message across.

There is nothing wrong with playing a game for the fun of it, but if you are going to play a game why not use it to enhance the message that you have been teaching or will be teaching.

Games are a wonderful tool for children who learn through body intelligence. Body Intelligence is one of the seven intelligences. This intelligence involves using the body to skilfully perform sequences of movement, communicate ideas and emotions. Children who learn using “body intelligence” are usually very active, well-coordinated or graceful and enjoy physical movement or making and manipulating objects. These children usually enjoy and may be good at sport, games, gymnastics, dance or drama.

For these children playing a game can be a means to communicate a message to them.

Two aspects of Games

• Experiential (or Themed) Games
• Fun Games

Let’s begin with Fun Games!

You can download the rest of the article here:

 GAMES more than just the physical (90.5 kB)

As a follow-up from last week's letter and information regarding Geoff Surratt who is our Next Level workshop presenter, here is our schedule for the upcoming workshops.

Pastors

9-10:15          10 Stupid Things that Keep Churches From Growing

10:15-10:30  Q&A

10:30-10:45  Break

10:45-11:30  5 Ways to be Stickier

11:30-12:00  Secret life of pastors

Multisite

12-1:15          4 Crucial Questions for churches going multisite

1:15-1:30       Q&A

1:30-145        Break

1:45-2:30       5 Stupid Mistakes That Stop Multisite Churches

2:30-3:00       Q&A

Just a reminder that there is a separate registration for each workshop.  Session 2 on multisite includes lunch.  The schedule is full, but it should be absolutely incredible.  Call us today to reserve your team's spot.

(715)-258-8118

I just read Geoff's blog post regarding change.  The title is Change will do you good (no it won't)

  Just a small inkling of what Geoff has in store for us at the Next Level Workshops.  Click on the article to read more.

I can't wait to see you there.

We all know it we all accept the fact that boys and girls learn differently.  We know they develop differently and think differently.  Why then do we continue to teach them like there is no difference?   Here is a video resource that I think will be of tremendous benefit to you as you decide the best way to disciple boys.

The Blog is being updated.  We are working on a database

Driving down highway 10 I'm coming back from my Birthday dinner.  I had coffee.  Coffee is great, but usually during dinner I have soda.  But I'm thinking about nothing in particular.  Then it hits me there is the element mobile sign.  All of a sudden I'm hallucinating.  I'm imagining that it's really not an element mobile billboard.  It's morphing into a diet rite 12 pack.   Right there on highway 10 I'm craving Pure Zero. 

I know you're thinking it's nothing like it.  Not when you are driving down the road and that desire hits you.  It's right there.  And then to cap everything off, I get back to Waupaca and pull into Kwik Trip to fill up.   I look around and everyone has a large fountain drink.   I even see a lady walk in  fill up a large fountain drink and just walk right out.  She didn't even pay for it.   I couldn't believe it.  Everyone is sipping a fountain drink.  I know I'm hallucinating now.  Then I see the sign.  Due to the grand opening, large fountain drinks are FREE.  They never give them away free not everyone is drinking one all around me. 

Well it's all for a good cause.  It's all for BGMC.  It's all for the Pop Out Challenge. 

Maybe if I have time, I'll upload what this morphing process looks like.

If you want to help a boy or girl help BGMC, give them your spare change this Sunday.  It will be worth it.  Make sure you tell them it's for BGMC.  :-)

Obviously one of the benefits of BGMC is that it helps facilitate the needs of missionaries all over the world.   And it is true.  Since October 1949 boys and girls have been filling their Buddy Barrels with pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.  To this date they have raised in excess of over 100 million dollars.  That is no small change.

So why did they do this?  Sometime in 1949, someone in the National Sunday School Department said something sensational. In essence, they said, "If children are to grow up to be adults concerned about missions, then they must be taught about missions in their formative years." And so the basis for a new children's missions education program—BGMC—was established. The National Sunday School Department realized "that the not too distant future of our missionary work depends upon the vision of our children of this generation."

The genesis of BGMC was to help boys and girls see the need for mission throughout the world.   Since that time Gospel Publishing House has been producing missions curriculum to teach boys and girls about the critical needs throughout the world.   To accompany this educational effort BGMC also collected money to produce literature for missionaries and then ship it throughout our missionary efforts.

It has been a wonderful tool to equip missionaries and an even better tool to raise up the next generation of missional givers.

The image you see attached to this article is the kids BGMC website.  Yes, children have their own BGMC website.  On this website boys and girls learn all kinds of new things and be challenged to be the answer to needs all over the world.  There are games and activities as well.  The emphasis is to pray, give and go.   One of the things that is critical is that we pray for our missionaries.  They need prayer.   The also need the funds necessary to reach people throughout the world.   The last challenge is go.  Boys and girls can go.  Some of them will be called to missions.  Others will equip and enable new men and women to go.   It is a team effort.  When the missionaries go, we go with them.

Sometime during this Pop Out Challenge I will do a walk through for the kids website.  It is a treasure trove of information and inspiration.  Thank you boys and girls for being the answer to the needs around the world.

If you would like to sponsor me in the Pop Out Challenge I have attached a form for you to download.  Just send it in to:

BGMC Pop Out Challenge
PO Box 309
Waupaca, WI 54981

BGMC Pop Out Pledge Form (128.23 kB)

I cannot remember a time that we have ever had 9 cans of Soda Pop in our refrigerator, but I open the door and there they are.   Staring at me.   Reminding me of what I am missing.  Normally we keep the soda in a pantry and pour it over ice.  But not during the Pop Out.  They are right there arms length away cold and ready for consumption.   It's time to call on will power.  Or is it time for more drastic measures?

Here is what I am thinking.  Maybe I should take the tempting soda and put it away in the pantry.   At least then I could place it in a paper sack.   So let me know.  Should I leave it there and prove my iron resolve, or should I put it away so it isn't a constant reminder.  Don't tell me to leave it there and never open the door again.  That is not going to happen.   Then there is the incident this morning.  I open the back hatch to my truck, and there are more soda cans -- they are full.   ARRGHHH!

But I am reminded why I am doing this.  There are boys and girls men and women who need to hear about Jesus.  I'm reminded about my trip to Africa.  It seemed like when I stepped off the plane I was instantly thirsty and that thirst never went away.   But the availability of clean safe drinking water was not there.  Often I had to wait until I could procure a bottled water or bottle of Stoney Ginger Beer.  That was very good.

Here is a three minute video of my trip to Africa.

Drilling at the cross in Zimbabwe 2011.

Missionaries Steve & Glenda Evans of Africa Oasis Project share a video on youtube of a great new well that was drilled at a church in Zimbabwe.   BGMC was instrumental in making certain that this well was not only drilled but also in providing buckets for the families to place cool drinking water in.

Watching that water gush dozens of feet into the air makes my heart leap.   Giving up a can of soda seems like a small price to pay.

Clean water is so vitally important.  Men and women boys and girls are dying because they can't drink clean water.   Water born illness is one the greatest killers in Africa.

There are so many stories about water in the Bible.  I think of the woman at the well who was promised "living water" and that she would never thirst again.   I know it is fitting that this well is at a church site.   Not only do they offer water in the name of Jesus, but they offer "living water" for spiritually thirsty people.

Let's partner with them and see wells drilled all over Africa.

Well today marks the first day of the Pop out challenge.   I usually have a couple of Diet Rites each night at home.  Our whole family is going pop free.   Why are we doing this?   We are doing this to help build water wells in Africa with the Africa Oasis Project.   Every day we take for granted the ability to turn on the tap or crack open a soda pop.   It's so easy, but in Africa men and women, boys and girls have to go for miles just to get drinking water.  Sometimes it is not even clean.  Clean disease free water is what they need.   We can help.  But it is expensive to drill a deep water well.  Sometimes they have to dig very deep to get clean water.  With the draught that has been devastating over there, it has not made things any easier.

So our family said we can help.  We can sacrifice for a month without pop so we can help drill wells in Africa.   Obviously we can't do this on our own.  Others need to help.   We're asking families to come alongside the Kilcoyne's and give up pop during the month of November and donate the saved change to BGMC (Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge). On Thanksgiving day you can crack open that pop as a celebration and Thanksgiving.   I know maybe you don't drink soda.  You can give up something else.  Maybe it's candy bars, or ice cream, whatever.  The point is that you can easily sacrifice something you like to help provide something others need.

I'm attaching a giving form from BGMC that can be used to help with the Africa Oasis Project.

BGMC however helps in so many other ways.  Missionaries all over the world need supplies.    Whenever you give to BGMC you help missionaries reach boys and girls, men and women with the Good News of Jesus Christ.  I am committed to helping these missionaries with whatever they need.

So, for this entire month I am going to blog about something that BGMC is doing around the world.  Sometimes it will be a missionary story, sometimes it will be about a boy or girl here in America that sacrifices for missions.

I will crosspost this to Facebook.  If you have your own stories, I'd love to hear them.

Let's make this a great year for BGMC.   December is coming.  Let's challenge boys and girls to give sacrificially.

If you’d like to partner with the boys and girls of Wisconsin/ Northern Michigan let me know. Our goal is to raise $150,000 for BGMC this year. With everyone chipping in we can do it.

Africa Oasis Special Project Form (518.82 kB)

I found this new site online that offers a really cool interface for kids to memorize Scripture.  It is called Verse Hero.  It can be adopted to any Bible Memory plan that your kids church utilizes.  It can be something that you can challenge kids each week to see who has the highest score.  It will reemphasize the importance of Bible memory.  I think you should check it out at www.impresskids.com

Yes you read that right, I just sifted through 500 billion words in a second.  No I am not taking an Evelyn Woods Speed Reading course on steroids.  I'm using the ngram viewer developed by Google Labs.  They have digitized more than 15 million books from the 1500's through present day. They then pulled 5 million books from which to use in their database.   They have calculated that those 5 million books have approximately 500 billion words.   If you enter a phrase, in less time than you can say nanosecond, it will shoot back results that will give you the recorded history of that word being used.  So for instance, I found that the term "scrambled eggs" grew unbelievably at the start of the depression and peaked as we pulled out of the depression.  I would venture to say that scrambled eggs were a mainstay during the depression and a way to get protein into the diet.  Soup follows a similar pattern.   So I decided to mess around with it just a little.

I entered into the search engine 4 American political figures, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, and Abraham Lincoln.  I did a search from 1790 to 2000.

Here are the results:

There are a few details that are quite remarkable.  The first obviously is that Lincoln was not mentioned until the Civil War.  There are blips and mentions during the time of his birth and I'm not sure what those are exactly.   However, both Abraham Lincoln and Samuel Adams had huge followings and writings about them during the Civil War.  If you know anything about Samuel Adams he was important in the States rights movement, so I think you can see where his bump came from.   Also, I found it interesting that there was another bump for all of these founders around 1885.  That was the year that the Washington Monument was dedicated and it was around that time that the Statue of Liberty was given to us from France.  So it was a very patriotic time.  Also around WWII there is another bump in the popularity of the founders.  All except Samuel Adams.

Finally, I decided to add one more name.  I added the name of Jesus.  Be prepared for what you are about to see.

Just in case you missed the video, here is a link to the Junior Leadership Training Camp 2011.  A great bunch of boys and leaders

It is now officially erected at Camp Wilderness in Waupaca.  The new GMA (Gold Medal of Achievement) Wall of Honor.  This new wall will honor past GMA recipients in the Wisconsin/Northern Michigan Ministries network.

 The Gold Medal of Achievement (GMA) is the highest honor a boy can earn. It is equivalent to the Eagle Scout award in the Scouting program. It was first offered in 1963 with the first recipient completing its requirements in 1964. In its 47-year history the GMA has been earned by over 6000 boys ages 12 through 17. The average age of a boy earning the GMA is approximately 16 years of age. This indicates that a boy has been involved in Royal Rangers for at least 4–5 years before earning his GMA. At this time, slightly less than 1% of the boys involved in Royal Rangers each year earn the GMA. As a result of its challenging merit trail, it is truly a coveted award for any Royal Ranger boy. The youngest boy to receive the GMA was Christian Miller in 2009. He received it the day he turned 12, it was presented at a ceremony in Montgomery, Ohio, by National Commander Doug Marsh.

 Requirements

• Be at least 12 years (and at least in the 6th grade), but less than 18 years old or high school graduate (whichever is later)
• Have been a Silver Medalist for at least 3 months
• Have completed 24 merits, 16 of those chosen from a required list and 8 personal choice
• Have served in a (junior) leadership position for at least 6 months
• Have written a 500 word essay on “The Value of Royal Rangers to Me”
• Have completed a Christian Service Project

Check out the new wall that is erected at Camp Wilderness here in Waupaca.

Teacher Enrichment Clinics are one-day events that assist in shaping the character and sharpening the skills of those involved in teaching ministry.  Each TEC is led by a knowledgeable and experienced Christian education professional focused on a specific topic.  Topics are selected in consultation with the local pastor.  The typical schedule is on a Saturday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.

In Fall 2011 a series of TECs are scheduled on the subject of Christina Education Teacher Certification.  This is a primer for anyone who teaches in Christian education of all ages, small groups, kids clubs--any of the teacher/leader areas in your church.

A trained teacher is more excited and successful in their ministry.  The process of teacher certification, based on the Christian Educaiton Teacher's Reference Manual covers subjects such as: Finding and Teaching the Truths of the Bible Classroom Discipline Building Strong Relationships Learning Styles and Teaching Methodology Lesson Planning and Implementation Teachers having completed this subject will be prepared to take the open-book exam.  Successful completion qualifies them for national certification.

September 10
Cornerstone AG
New Richmond

Registration Link

October 1
Oak Creek AG
Oak Creek

Registration Link

October 15
First AG
Waupaca

Registration Link

October 22
Hillside AG
Gillett

Registration Link

Junior Bible Quiz (JBQ) was created and designed to help children develop a love for the Bible and an understanding that its truth can guide their lives daily. Junior Bible Quiz offers a fun, exciting way to motivate children to understand the all-important truths in God’s Word. Through cooperative learning, children work together on teams to learn and understand the questions and answers from the Bible Fact-Pak. Then using cooperative competition the children meet with other teams for a fun quizzing match. There are twenty questions in a match, with two teams of quizzers trying to beat each other to the buzzers to get the first shot at the answers. It has been said that JBQ is the fastest growing discipleship program in children’s ministry.

NEW!  2011-12 Season Registration Form 

JBQ-PBQ Current Calendar

JBQ/PBQ Information Sheet
BQ Buzzer Set Information 
JBQ Guidelines 
JBQ Official Scoresheet 
JBQ Quotation Club Info

Junior Bible Quiz will help all 3rd-6th graders master important Bible facts and teachings. It is a motivational tool to help children know what we believe and the Bible basis for that belief.

 All teams study from the Bible Fact Pak (NIV). The Fact-Pak, JBQ guidelines, and other learning helps are available from the national Junior Bible Quiz website or from Gospel Publishing House. Refer to the schedule below for the current year study sequence.  Click here for information about online certification for JBQ officials.

Ryan Frank has posted a blog post that made me think.

If you don't subscribe to Ryan's blog you are missing some great material.  Ryan is the creator of K magazine and an excellent communicator.

I appreciated his comments regarding these issues which are really issues of the heart.

Look at the post here:  http://www.ryanfrank.com/2010/11/7-childrens-pastors-i-stay-away-from/

I've just returned from a missions trip to Kenya Africa.  The purpose of the trip was to partner with BGMC (Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge) to see the critical needs in Africa and how BGMC is there to help.

There were about 13 of us who were part of the trip.   District Christian Education directors from around the U. S.  met in Nairobi for what would prove to be ten days that changed our lives and what we know about missions.

Let me just say that the church in Kenya and the missionaries there are awesome.  There are so many needs there and the church is mobilized to make a difference.

One of the things I was so impressed by is the wisdom and thought that goes into making sure that BGMC funds are strategically utilized in Kenya.   Last year Kenya was in a severe drought.   Clean drinking water was a precious commodity.   Even without a drought in Africa clean drinking water is rare.  So this severe drought made things much worse.   A few of our team members attended a lecture by some members of the the Masai tribe in Kenya.  Our speaker told of losing all of their cattle.  One of their leaders who had over 500 head of cattle lost them all due to the drought.  For the Masai, having cattle is life.   This was more than this Masai leader could handle.  His life as he knew it was over and he took his own life.   I imagine what many businessmen felt as they went through the great depression or what many people feel today who lose their business.   It was devastating.   It was with great joy that I learned how boys and girls through BGMC were providing cows to people of the Masai tribe.   These were strategically important to the work of the gospel in the Masai tribe.   For years we have spoke about how the Masai are one of many unreached nomadic people groups on our planet.  Through BGMC and the missionaries in Kenya we are making inroads.  It was also wonderful to hear about the work that our own Spencer Jones pioneered among the Kenyans and the Masai.   What a privilege to see his work continuing to flourish in the church in Kenya.

Our trip was filled with visiting orphanages, children's' homes, doing school assemblies and church meetings.  Every day was a testament to the impact of boys and girls giving change to change the world.   One day as we drove through a slum the dire conditions of many who live in those slums was overwhelming.   Imagine hundreds of thousands of people packed into a mere square mile living in tin sheds. It really was heart wrenching. But then we pulled into a missions compound and were greeted by 300 pre-school age orphans singing, "Thank you BGMC." You see it was boys and girls who gave through BGMC who provided 6 months of food for them. The food is simple, but it is keeping them alive. They were the most joyful kids you would want to meet. Amazing when you consider that they were almost all orphaned due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic that has ravaged Africa. You'll have to see some of the video footage. They were exhuberant.

One of the wonderful organizations that the local church has started is the Kenya Kids Homes. We were able to visit a couple of them while we were there. These are homes for boys and girls who were abandoned in the streets of Nairobi by parents who couldn't take care of them. The first day we were welcomed by over 100 of them in their Royal Ranger uniforms. David Boyd, Jay Risner, and myself held and inspection as they sang for us. Afterwards we were able to do a program for them. Almost every compound that we visited did not have their own well. They have to collect rain water to bathe and water their crops. While at the Kenya kids home we were able to visit their small garden and visit their two Buddy Barrel cows from which they receive daily milk. Each boy and girl had one toy usually a stuffed animal that they kept on their bed. These are kids who have been abandoned and emotionally they feel that. I am grateful that we have a church in Kenya that has committed that they won't abandon them again. Thank you to all of our churches who have partnered with them to make a difference in their lives.

I intend to keep writing about our experiences there. I want to write about the church and doing school assemblies, the culture, etc. I can't wait to write about Joyland and a home dedicated to helping disabled kids.

But first I want to ask you to challenge your kids to partner with BGMC. We have committed to Pray, Give, Go.

Ask your boys and girls to pray for Kenya and the work of the Gospel there. Ask your boys and girls to give sacrificially. As we approach Thanksgiving, I am blessed to know that God has given to me so much more than I deserve. I am certainly thankful. But this year I am committed to turn my Thanksgiving into another form of giving. Boys and girls are without clean drinkable water in too many places throughout Africa. My own children are participating in the Pop Out campaign with BGMC. They have committed to give up soda pop for one month and donate their savings to BGMC to help with clean water throughout Africa.

When I was in Africa I met our missionary whose sole job is to strategically place water wells. When a church can offer a water well, it becomes the central hub of the village. This has become a mission not only to provide places to receive clean drinking water, but a message of hope and salvation through Jesus. Everyday in Africa the story of the woman at the well is being told in real time.

For $5,000 we can drill a well if all the conditions are just right. Sometimes if it is difficult, it can cost much more. But a simple well is just $5,000. I think this is within the reach of nearly every church within our district.

While I was in Kenya I heard the story of a community that was known as "bad-water" That was the name of the town. People tried drilling but they kept hitting bad water. Our local church there through the help of BGMC gave it a prayerful try. They hit sweet water on the first attempt. It was such a miracle that they changed the name of the village. Now that church is the central spot to get water and good news.

It is our goal to reach $150,000 for BGMC. I pray that we can do it. I see what it is doing in just one spot in Africa. I am humbled. I have never been on a foreign missions trip in my life. I just had felt I had too much to do here. That was true. There is too much to do here. But having gone to Africa I know that I have to do more to spur on the cause of the Gospel and missions. I will never be the same. I cannot be more impressed with our kids who sacrifice to give to spreading this message of Jesus. Let's keep it up! Let's not give up. I know our economy may be bleak, but I believe that God can and will bless us when we give to those who cannot possibly give anything back in return.

If you wold like to know how to target a water well for Kenya Africa.  Please contact our office and we will make sure that you get the right forms to designate an offering for clean water in Africa.

Blessings to you,

Mark Kilcoyne

NEXT LEVEL 2011

Scott Wilson Steering Through Chaos   Mapping a clear direction for your church in the midst of transition and change Registration $35 pp  -  Please register by February 25  Click here to download a registration form.

	KIDS CAMP 2011 Grades 3-6 KIDS CAMP1 - August 8-12 KIDS CAMP2 - August 15-19 with... RANDY CHRISTENSEN Registration Fee: $175
	2011 Camper Reg & Parent Info If you are the camp coordinator for your church, please let us know. Coordinator Instructions-Guidelines Church Pre-Registration Form 2011 SLYC Staff Application 2011 SLYC Staff App - Health Services Health Services Qualifications Download the Camp Montage Video

Kids Camp Montage Video

Download the Camp Montage Video Click Here

Download the Camp Promo Video Here

Download Aqua Track Video here

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR MORE DETAILS ON YOUTH CAMP FOR GRADES 6-12, CLICK HERE.

Click on the links below to let the pictures tell the story of Kids Camps 2010:

Photos of Kids Camp 1
Photos of Kids Camp 2