The Preteen Voices at KidMin

(Scroll down to watch some videos at the conference of some your favorite kidmin leaders)

Patrick Snow, Director of SuperStart, and I led an 8 hour track at the KidMin Conference: Preteen Ministry That Will Knock Your Socks Off. Oddly enough, our socks are still on 🙂 Ha! Ok, my sense of humor isn’t funny. Actually, my wife tells me that all the time. Moving on…

I thoroughly enjoyed co-leading the sessions with Patrick. I enjoyed equipping preteen leaders from around the country, learning some things from Patrick’s sessions and connecting with other preteen leaders.  In addition to all that I feel Patrick and I were a preteen ministry voice at the conference. As we shook hands with Thom & Joani Schultz, Group Publishing Owners, and other influencers in the world of children’s ministry, our presence made a statement. The statement was that preteen ministry matters. Our unified cry was to put preteen ministry on the radar. Don’t let them slip through the cracks. Design a ministry that effectively reaches preteens. In our conversations with them, they sensed our passion and excitement for preteens. We didn’t have to say much, just the fact that we were there said a lot. I’m excited about the voice of preteen ministry we represented at the conference and the support of Group for having us there.

I was also really pumped about connecting with the many preteen leaders who showed up for our sessions. In the world of kidmin, many see the need for a preteen ministry. But they don’t know what to do and feel alone in their pursuit. All who attended went away with lots of new tools to reach preteens. Patrick and I had breakfast with a couple this morning with a heart for preteens. I had lunch with a preteen leader. We made some new friends. And even more importantly, most of those that came to our session made some new friends who share a heart to reach preteens.

Here’s my takeaway from Patrick’s sessions. Four key elements to make the message stick with preteens when their attention spans don’t:

1) Student Interaction: When you involve preteens in the teaching, they pay attention.

2) Theme Repetition: Get the message down to a single point; think of a creative way to say it & have preteens repeat it several times throughout the session.

3) Energy Injection: Adding active activities allows preteens to release built up energy. From a developmental standpoint, when not active energy builds up. If you don’t channel it constructively, they’ll release it inappropriately. So, use active learning. Play a fun game or activity (related to the lesson or not).

Below are some videos of kidmin leaders at the conference. I had hoped to get more, but my calendar got filled up pretty quick. Oh well. Watch as they answer this question: Why is preteen ministry important?

Chris Yount Jones – Editor of Children’s Ministry Magazine
(note: If you’re device doesn’t display a video below, watch it here: http://www.vimeo.com/30215380)

Gordon & Becki West – Preteen Ministry Pioneers & Kidz At Heart Presidents
(Note: if your device  doesn’t display a video below, watch it here: http://www.vimeo.com/30221648)

Kenny Conley: ChildrensMinistryOnline.com Blogger & KidMin Leader
(Note: If no video appears below, watch it here: http://www.vimeo.com/30222110)

Patrick Snow, Director of SuperStart Live
(Note: If you don’t see a video below, go here: http://www.vimeo.com/30214217)