CATB Childrens Ministry

Bay Bucks for Toy Drive!

2011-12-01T10:18:00.000-05:00

Hey Parents!

This Sunday, December 4, and the next Sunday, December 11, elementary-aged children will have the opportunity to purchase toys at the Bay Store with their Bay Bucks for our Toy Drive.

Church at the Bay is partnering with Crossover Church in Tampa to distribute toys to 1500 people in their community. You can read more about the project on Hal's blog. We're still collecting new and unwrapped toys in the $5-10 range, which we'll help distribute on December 17.

Please encourage your child to bring some of his or her Bay Bucks to experience the joy of giving to the less fortunate!

See you this Sunday,

April McCullohs
Children's Ministry

3rd Graders

2011-09-21T15:15:00.001-04:00

Parents of 3^rdgraders,

Starting this Sunday, September 25, 3^rdgraders are going to be part of the fun in the new K-3 class. There willbe high-energy worship and games with grades Kindergarten through 3^rdgrade, followed by discussion time in breakout groups: Kindergarten and 1^stgrade together, and 2^nd grade and 3^rd grade together. Your kids aregoing to have blast as they learn about God and experience His love.

The BayKids Team

what's up with fun, trust and care?

2011-08-17T21:56:00.000-04:00

Check out these short videos that April McCullohs and Alexis Albright made for our children's workers and you'll catch a glimpse of the core values here in BayKids:

Keys to Success in Children's Minstry: #1 "Fun" from Church at the Bay on Vimeo.

Keys to Success in Children's Ministry: #2 "Trust" from Church at the Bay on Vimeo.

Keys to Success in Children's Ministry: #3 "Care" from Church at the Bay on Vimeo.

Oh, and did we mention there's a bloopers reel, complete with a spontaneous song written on the fly? Check it out:

Children's Ministry Video Bloopers from Church at the Bay on Vimeo.

Classroom Adjustments

2011-08-01T12:21:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, parents were informed of a few classroom adjustments that will take place starting August 14, 2011. Just in case you missed it, they are as follows:

Current	Starting August 14
3-K room	3-5 years old
1^st-3^rdroom	Kindergarten-Second Grade, K-2
4^th-5^throom	Third-Fifth, 3^rd-5^th

With moving to two services, these changes will help us create classrooms that continue to engage kids on their level. Good things are happening in BayKids!

Movin' on Up!

2011-07-20T10:32:00.000-04:00

This Sunday, July 24, we will be promoting students based on the upcoming school year. Children going into first grade will start attending the exciting 1st-3rd class. Children going into fourth grade will start attending the engaging 4th/5th class, and students going into sixth grade will start the Middle School class.

We're excited about the changes! See you Sunday!

Perfection is Impossible

2011-01-06T07:06:00.004-05:00

As you approach this new year I am sure you have a vision of how you want your kids to develop. Maybe its improvement in school, more consistent obedience, better relationships with siblings, or just keeping their room clean. We all want our kids to be better than they are.

I can tell you from experience that as noble as those goals may be, your kids will disappoint you. The older they get, the more they drift from your perfect picture- because they are not a clone; they are becoming an individual with a will of their own. And that will won't always match yours.

Get ready to accept that reality but know that you are not alone. God knows better than anyone what it is like to deal with rebellious children. If He couldn't always control His kids, you won't either(read the Old Testament!). So maybe its time to stop expecting perfection both from your parenting skills and their behavior. Realize it is a journey with plenty of bumps and detours. Strive for improvement but don't expect perfection.

I made the mistake of expecting perfection but I eventually realized that I was more concerned about them making me look good than coaching them to make good choices on their own. That is a huge shift in mindset. A coach knows he has to develop a player's skills and that includes working through the mistakes until they develop muscle memory and consistent decision-making.

But even that assumes the kid wants to improve; all coaches have found kids that just don't want to play the game that badly so they quit. Parents don't have that option- they have to keep working at it, even when the child's motivation is lacking. So how do you fix a lack of motivation?

If you figure out the answer to that question, be sure to share it with God because He struggles with that same issue with many of His kids. Dump the expectation of perfection and join God in the challenge to develop good decision-makers.

Is Santa Claus OK for Christian Families?

2010-12-14T11:31:00.004-05:00

Pretty sure I'll get some pushback on this from the Pharisees but I think Santa Claus is fine for Christian families. Couple of reasons why:

1. If you remove all fantasy from your child's life, you rob them of creative imagination. All fictional children's stories, including cartoons and comic books, have made-up characters and most people are OK with them.

2. When your kids get old enough, they'll figure it out. No need to fear them becoming emotionally devastated by the inevitable reality. Nobody ever committed suicide when they realized SpongeBob wasn't real either.

3. When they get old enough, teach them about the real St. Nicholas legend, a man who embodied the spirit of giving that Jesus demonstrated.

4. The story of Santa Claus does not necessarily exclude the true Christmas story. You can include both in your celebration until they get old enough to know the difference.

Whatever you do at Christmas, make sure your kids know that it's all about giving, not getting. Jesus' birth is the greatest model of giving and even toddlers can learn the joy of giving if you lead them correctly. Help them make a gift for somebody, something that they personalize and watch them light up at the reaction of the recipient. Let them help you make cookies for the neighbors, etc.- but whatever you do, teach them to give. Playing Santa Claus can be really fun for them!

Thankful Enough to Do Something

2010-11-23T07:03:00.005-05:00

Thanksgiving and Christmas are great times for kids and Church At the Bay is helping them focus on generosity. We believe gratitude is a great attitude but it finds its best expression in unselfish action toward the needy.

All of us have felt the conflict about giving money to people at intersections so we gave our kids a viable option. Last weekend, after teaching the story of Jesus feeding 5000 with the bread and fish given by a boy, we led our 4th-5th graders to assemble zip-lock bags full of food for the homeless. Each bag contained a water bottle, granola bar, package of crackers, cup of fruit and a plastic spoon. We instructed them to lead their family to prepare similar bags and keep them in the car to give out whenever they saw a needy person.

One of our kids, 9 year old Zack, told his mother, "Mom, sometimes I just don't feel like I'm doing enough to help." He got very excited about this opportunity to make a difference!

Now we are encouraging them to donate their BayBucks to provide essential supplies to poor kids around the world through Samaritan's Purse. They can purchase baby chicks, farm animals, sports equipment, clothing, children's Bibles, and more to improve the lives of kids in desperate situations. This is a great way to connect attitudes with action. By focusing on the needs of others, they will be less focused on what they GET for Christmas and will experience at the heart level the real joy of giving. Then when we teach them that Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive," they will understand what that means.

So parents, use these opportunities to shape you kid's heart. Instead of just being thankful for what they have, they will learn to be thankful for the opportunity to give.

Bullying

2010-11-09T13:14:00.008-05:00

This seems to be a hot topic lately, even though it has been going on forever. Just this week another parent approached me asking for advice about how to help their child deal with a violent situation. So let me try to give you some guidelines we share with our 4th-5th graders.

1. Don't allow yourself to be in a situation where you are alone. Bullies tend to go after kids when they are isolated from friends who can help. Teach your kids to stay with groups of friends and they will be less likely to be a target.

2. In the case of physical abuse, defend yourself, get away from the situation, and get to an adult who can stop it. Teach your kids basic self-defense techniques they can use to escape an attack. A good martial arts class will give them confidence to defend themselves and prevent intimidation. Most bullies are insecure cowards and will back down from somebody who displays confidence and security.

3. Tell an adult if you are being harassed- a teacher, bus driver, parent, or any adult who can intervene. Teach your kids not to retaliate other than to defend themselves. If you've seen the typical scuffle in a football game, you know the offender usually gets off but the guy who retaliates usually gets the flag.

I know some parents are reluctant to teach self defense tactics to their children for fear that it will encourage fighting. The exact opposite is true. First, self defense classes always focus on defense, not offense. They always teach kids not to initiate a fight. Your child will gain confidence and self-discipline that will be useful in many areas of life. Second, if you are working on shaping your child's heart, they will understand the proper time and motive for using their defensive skills.

Bullies rely on fear and intimidation. If your child learns to counter those tactics, they will probably avoid most bullying situations.

Finally, teach your child not to be overly sensitive about teasing. Let's face it, kids can be cruel and they can inflict emotional damage. But you can teach your child not to get offended every time somebody says something critical of them. Teach them how to reply with humor and defuse the verbal assault. You don't want them to become a whiner or a tattletale who runs to the teacher with every childish comment. Teach them to be secure enough not to be offended by every joke or juvenile word. There is a difference between bullying and teasing. You need to help them understand the difference so they can feel secure, safe, and confident in who they are.

Intentional or Accidental

2010-11-04T15:05:00.004-04:00

One of the big challenges in parenting is to be more intentional and less reactionary. This principle applies to most areas of life- if you plan ahead and work your plan, you succeed much more than when you simply react to circumstances. Because very few of us have formal training in parenting, our default reaction is to do what we remember our parents did or just make a snap decision, usually based in emotion.

I thought about it this week while watching a football team practice. They were trying to anticipate situations they would face in the coming game and rehearsing how they would respond to that scenario. Then in the pressure and speed of the game, they would not have to think up a response because they had already decided what they would do. Their coaches had looked at film and reviewed scouting reports to come up with a game plan for how to handle the coming challenges.

What if we tried to do that in parenting? Imagine a mom and dad sitting down once a week and game-planning their parenting for the week. They could talk about where the kids were in their development, what issues were pressing at that moment, what events they would encounter, what was going on in school, etc., all the issues their kids were facing. Then they could talk through a strategy for how to respond when various situations developed. In some cases they could get together with the kids and teach them what to do in various situations and coach them with the game plan in mind, all the while giving life skills to their kids. That way they would be proactively training instead of reacting in the heat of the moment.

What about trying that? Think about having a weekly planning meeting and instead of reviewing game film, talk about what's going on in your kids lives and figure out some strategies to make them more successful. I'll bet you do better than just waiting for something to happen and I'll bet you grow closer together in the process. You might even want to pray for the kids as a part of this exercise. Now there's a novel idea!

I know this- the kids will see you as a unified team and won't be so inclined to
play one of you against the other. They will feel more empowered to handle things that happen. And if you monitor their behaviors and coach them along the way, not criticizing but coaching, they will feel like you are on their side instead of working against them. Remember to catch them doing right and reinforce that with plenty of praise and encouragement. What do you think?

No Quick Change

2010-10-28T10:40:00.006-04:00

I'm guessing that most parents fall into the trap of wanting immediate results for the things we do to shape our kids. When traffic stops in front of you, you want your brakes to work quickly and keep you from plowing into the trailer hitch on the Monster truck in front of you- and yes, I speak from experience. When something happens at work that needs to be adjusted, you make the changes with an expectation of fast improvement. But unfortunately, kids don't usually respond that quickly and we get frustrated. Most relationship/behavioral issues don't operate at the speed of your computer; ask anybody who works in HR.

So when we get accustomed to the ability to affect outcomes quickly, we set ourselves up for failure in the parenting arena. We have a choice- 1. force immediate behavioral change by stopping the wrong and forcing the right. This is the scenario where you make your son say he's sorry to his sister for decapitating her doll when in fact he is quite proud of his accomplishment. He reluctantly recites the words you prescribe and you walk away thinking it's fixed. 2. sit down with your son and have a conversation about what motivated him to disrespect his sister's property. This takes some probing questions and much more time but in the end you uncover an opportunity to teach respect and self-control and deal with the issue at the heart level.

The simple truth is that unless we make corrections at the source, the heart, we have only postponed the correction until a more severe catastrophe has happened. This may be a paradigm shift in your parenting thinking because most of us did not have that approach modeled for us when we were growing up, me included. But the sooner we can implement this strategy for change, the less mess we will have to mop up after the fact.

Of course I understand that the age of the child will dictate the precise details of how this is applied. It is the proper transition from cop to coach that should happen during the elementary years as maturity allows. But having this strategy as your ultimate goal will allow you to gauge the development of your child's heart and know when to put it in practice. Just remember that it takes years to see the results, not minutes.

Now's the Time To Fix It

2010-10-19T13:17:00.003-04:00

I hear about and see a lot of parents who are frustrated with their teens- kids who pretty much ignore any input the parents may try to have in their lives. There is an obvious disconnect and the parents seem helpless to restore any level of meaningful influence. How does that happen?

There are many possible explanations but one of the most common comes from a relationship that was damaged during the transition years- the years from about 9-12. During that developmental stage, kids are learning to make choices and they are thoughtful enough to want reasons for parental expectations. Their self-image is emerging and peer pressure is playing a big role in decision-making. Mom and Dad are not the only influence in their lives anymore so conflicting values begin to creep in and vie for their allegiance.

As kids begin to explore other options, parents often feel threatened by what appears to be a competing external influence and they tighten their grip to maintain control, fearing that their child is rejecting their standards. Just at a time when the grip should begin to loosen, parents do the opposite and the resulting power struggle gets ugly. Letting a child make a poor choice and feel the consequences is one of the toughest things a parent will ever have to do.

Transitioning from cop to coach is hard. And if you miss that transition, it can be very difficult to recover. Trust me- I know from experience. I didn't do a very good job of that with all of my kids and it cost me. What I missed was shaping my kid's heart more than their actions. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us to "guard your heart above all else for it determines the course of your life." I was more focused on actions and I was ignoring the heart attitude that drove the actions. I tried to control behavior instead of shaping a heart with godly principles.

So for those of you with young kids, work on their heart now and stay closely connected to them. Understand that your influence will one day be challenged and your kids will need a solid foundation to be able to make wise choices. Helping them learn how to choose what is right will be far more important than whether or not they spill their drink in a restaurant.

You Have More Influence Than You Think

2010-10-06T13:10:00.004-04:00

Have you ever thought about the fact that choices you make can influence children several generations into the future? I know I often get caught up in the routines of life and tend to focus on immediate results in the decisions I make. I also catch myself being very self-centered in those decisions, often thinking more about the consequences to my own comfort and desires than the long-range impact of what I choose to do.

The truth is that the consequences of our choices will live longer than we do. I think of my grandfather who was on the verge of becoming an alcoholic before he was 30. But something happened and he became a Christ-follower. I don't know what was the tipping point for him but that decision changed the direction of his life and ultimately shaped the course of my father's life. Grandpa started taking the family to church, my Dad became a Christ follower and eventually became a pastor. That meant I was then raised in a Christian home and chose to follow Christ too.

Subsequently my children were then taught to follow Christ and they are now teaching my grandchildren to do the same thing. A few months ago I helped baptize one of my granddaughters. So now, about 90 years later there is a 4th generation Christ follower, all because of a choice grandpa made. That challenged me- what choices am I making that influence other people's decisions? What decisions will my grandchildren make because of my influence in their lives?

A study of your genealogy will illustrate the way a family tree is shaped. Your life is not lived in a vacuum. Your are shaping others by the person you are. Your tree is not perfect anymore than mine is but with all our imperfections and dysfunctions, God works to tell His story through us. Let me sum it up in the words of Reggie Joiner in his book Parenting Beyond Your Capacity:
"God is at work telling a story of restoration and redemption through your family. No matter what your family looks like or how limited your capacity might be, you can cooperate with whatever God desires to do in your heart so your children will have a front-row seat to the grace and goodness of God."

The Perfect Family?

2010-09-29T14:01:00.002-04:00

What's your image of a perfect family? I'll bet when you got married you had an ideal in mind and you thought for sure you were going to become that family. You thought your kids were going to be compliant and cooperative, in spite of the fact that you never were. Or at least that's what you hoped for. You had all kinds of mental pictures of how your family was going to be better than the one you grew up in and you weren't going to make all the mistakes you'd seen other parents make.

So as you think back to those idealistic images you had when you brought that baby home from the hospital, how's that working out for you? Has that "white picket fence" image come true or have you run into a little thing called everyday reality? The truth is that our image of family is changing, and I'm not talking about the legal definition that the politicians are arguing over.

Guess what? You don't have a perfect family and neither do I. You know why? Because we aren't perfect people and never will be. And that means our kids won't be either. We are all broken to one degree or another and our families reflect that. I say all that to encourage you to drop the guilt you feel for not measuring up to your ideal and get real about the imperfections in your kids that frustrate you.

Maybe instead of trying to create this unrealistic image of our family to impress other people, maybe we should accept the reality of our imperfections and dysfunctionality and allow God to use us as a model for redemption and restoration. I can promise you that if they haven't done it already, one day your kids will break that picture for you and everybody will know the truth. Maybe we should focus more on getting better, not being perfect in public. Maybe we should be real and authentic.

I think that would take the pressure off of us as parents, off our kids, and allow us to be believable in the eyes of those we really want to influence. And in the process, your relationship with your kids will be much more effective because they will see a model of transparency in you that is attainable.

New Tool for Parents

2010-09-24T10:54:00.009-04:00

I'm taking a break from our current theme to share an interesting new site that may have value for your family. It's called D6 and its a concept designed to link church and family together by providing resources for parents. They recognize that the church is incapable of being the most important, no less only, spiritual influence in the lives of your children. By empowering parents to shape the spiritual development of their kids, the Biblical blueprint for parenting found in Deuteronomy 6 becomes a reality.

One of the tools is called SPLINK. "It’s a FREE weekly email packed with ideas to help connect your family. Splinks are creative ways of interacting with your children with family devotional starters and ideas for family time. Splinks can also help you use teachable moments to pass along spiritual truths and life lessons while making memories or just having fun together."

So check it out and see if it is helpful for you. Click the link above to subscribe for free!

Cop or Parent?

2010-09-14T09:20:00.006-04:00

I'm on my way home from work, relaxed after a busy day, come around a lazy corner, and my heart skips a beat because of the instantaneous surge of adrenaline. There is a cop car sitting in the grass facing me. I instinctively look at the speedometer and heave a sigh of relief because for some strange reason, I'm actually doing the speed limit!

Then I get to thinking- why have I developed such a visceral relationship with this cop, that a momentary glance can put my body into panic mode? I don't know him personally, probably have never met him, and yet he scares me to death. Why is that? Well, it doesn't take much analysis to figure out that my attitude about him is shaped by my assumption that his sole purpose for sitting there today is to catch me doing something wrong. That instinctively makes us adversaries. Now I know cops have a much bigger role than that and much of what they do is positive and helpful but when he takes that position to trap me, I resist that.

Then is hits me- as a parent, I have many responsibilities in shaping my kids, most of which should be positive and helpful. But when I focus on catching them doing wrong, I set up an adversarial relationship that is counter-productive to my mission. I create an atmosphere of fear, avoidance, and dislike. Nobody likes being corrected and when I see that as your primary role, I'm not focused on changing my behavior; I'm focused on how to do a better job of not getting caught- and continuing my wrong behavior. My heart is not interested in change; it is merely trying to avoid penalties.

Why do we parent like a cop? Several reasons-
1.My guess is that its easier to say "No, don't do that" than it is to demonstrate proper behavior and explain why it is the best way. That takes time and we're usually too busy being focused on something else to be interrupted by a long explanation and modeling session.
2.I haven't thought through the reason for doing something well enough to explain it, so I resort to the "Because I said so" routine.
3.We live in a culture where bad news gets the attention and good stuff goes unnoticed so we transfer that mindset into our parenting style.

So the "cop" model of parenting is not a good one. It weakens the relationship and diminishes your influence. The alternative is far more effective and productive. Rewarding good behavior, positive reinforcement, and encouraging praise are far more likely to produce the behavioral change you want because you will be operating at the heart level and strengthening the relationship influence. When correction and/or discipline are necessary, remind them that this is unfortunate and unnecessary and then show them how it can be avoided by dealing with the motive that produced the wrong action and reviewing the proper response.

Yea, I know, it takes a lot of time to do that and you have to be fully engaged in their lives but its a "Pay me now or pay me later" kind of thing. And the truth is, if we do a good job at being parents, the cop won't have to step in later and fix what got messed up. And the best part is, you will enjoy a lifetime relationship of love and respect with your kids that will carry into adulthood. And that's pretty rewarding!

The Importance of Your Relationships

2010-09-07T13:13:00.007-04:00

So I'm sitting in the Home Depot parking lot, waiting to turn in to a parking space, while this lady in a car is screaming at the top of her lungs at her kids in the back seat. She stops in the middle of the road, blocking traffic, yells again, and as she drives off, reaches into the back seat and gives her kid the middle finger!

There are just so many things wrong with this picture that I could write for weeks on multiple topics but let me stick to the theme we began last week- getting to the heart of the problem. This lady was obviously struggling with her own inability to control her children and given her actions, I think we can safely conclude that the relationship side of this equation is so damaged that this scenario is not going to end well.

I know from personal experience that there comes a time when no amount of control will work. Eventually the only influence you will have will be from the strength of the relationship. So if that is the inevitable endpoint, we have to keep that in mind as the goal as we transition out of control mode. Even as you operate out of control during the toddler years, you have to focus on building a relationship of trust so that you will have a foundation in place as the relationship begins to take over.

Nurturing that relationship means connecting to your kids at the heart level. That begins with unconditional love. Perhaps the most important foundational concept you can teach your kids is that your love for them is not affected by their behavior. Now that may be a disconnect for you if you grew up in a home where love was dispensed or withheld based on your ability to be good. But think about it- God's love for you isn't based on your performance. In fact Romans 5:8 says "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."

Since all of us were created with a basic social need for love and acceptance, demonstrating unconditional love meets that need and provides a relational safe place that kids will always run to. I've told my kids, "You can't do anything bad enough to stop me from loving you." In that kind of environment a kid knows he or she is loved and protected and the magnetic force of that relationship will allow you to have influence in ways you never thought possible. And as they get older, that influence will be more effective than any other control mechanism you could ever devise.

So remember, you are never more like God than when you love unconditionally. That's the foundation on which a strong parenting relationship is built.

Getting to the Heart of the Problem

2010-09-02T11:21:00.004-04:00

"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" Jeremiah 17:9

ANSWER- any parent! Sure your baby looked so innocent when first born but it wasn't long before you realized that he or she had a will of their own and it didn't gravitate toward doing good.

So we typically go into the "battle of the wills" mode and make sure they understand who is in charge. And that carries through the toddler years and into the elementary stages and by the time they reach their teen years, we're still controlling them by invoking Bill Cosby's parenting rule- "I brought you into this world and I can take you out!"

One of the most common parenting mistakes is never shifting out of the control mode that worked during the toddler years. Out of frustration we default to forcing kids to behave instead of training them to make good choices on their own. So we employ things like "time out" and "restriction" because they produce the short term control we want but unfortunately they don't produce long-term change.

In his talk about dialing into your child's heart, Reggie Joiner asks his audience to think about their own experience with restrictions- did you ever come out of a restriction thinking something like- "You know, I've had a real awakening here. I need to change my behavior and do things differently!" Nope, me either.

Why is that? I think it is because we have handled the symptom and not the problem. We have controlled behavior but not changed it. And that gets to the heart of the problem- many of our defective parenting tactics are designed to control behavior, not change the heart where the behavior originates.

In the weeks ahead we'll look at some things that contribute to heart change since that is the real source of the behavioral challenges we face. Change the heart and you change the actions.

Parenting- Establishing Routines

2010-08-25T11:34:00.005-04:00

With school starting this week it is the perfect time to set some routines in place if you do not already have them. Kids need structure- they get it in school and they need it at home. All our lives work better when things are organized and well-planned.

So here are some tips:
1. Establish a consistent routine for the kids from the time they get home till they go to bed. The key to success here is consistent enforcement early. Make it flexible enough to handle unexpected events but firm enough to be reliable. The sooner you lock it in place, the sooner you can enjoy the stability it produces. As with most parenting issues, the success will be determined by your enforcement.

2. Use visual charts and rewards to reinforce good behavior. Let them check off each completed task or routine and reward them weekly for the behavior you want. You can schedule homework, chores, bedtime prep and play/free time with this system. And I would involve them in the scheduling process so they have some ownership in the system. Positive reinforcement is a wonderful learning mechanism and it teaches them to control their own outcome.

3. Be extremely clear about expectations. Make sure they understand what they can and cannot do; emphasize the rewards they can earn by following the chart. Then make a big deal about their successes.

Remember, enforcement is toughest in the beginning but once the habits start to take hold, it gets easier. Be the parent and maintain control. The more effective you are at an early age, the less trouble you will have later.

Next week we will begin a series on how to influence your child's heart, not just their actions.

New Blog Focus

2010-08-19T09:27:00.003-04:00

I have made the decision to focus my blog in a new direction. For a long time I have wrestled with finding a way to communicate with parents in our church and until I find something better, this will be my vehicle of choice. Here's why-

I believe my role as Children's Pastor is incomplete and ineffective if all I do is focus on kids for 1 hour a week. Do the math- parents have influence 167 hours/week and I have 1. Now I know our staff is good but that just doesn't add up. And in case you were wondering, the Bible clearly places the responsibility for a child's spiritual development on the parent (Deut.6), not the church.

So for my ministry to be effective, I have to equip parents to do a good job of leading their children to follow Christ and live with the Bible as their life map. This blog will now focus on that task.

That being said, let me add that I do not claim to be a parenting expert. There are plenty of them out there and I will certainly draw on the expertise of many of them. AND, there are a myriad of parenting styles so I'm not going to advocate strictly for one to the exclusion of the others. I simply want to place some tools in your hands so you can be better prepared to be the parent God has called you to be.

Having raised 4 kids into adulthood myself, I know how challenging a job it can be and while I am proud of my kids, they will readily tell you how imperfect my parenting skills were. Its tough because we're dealing with people, not scientific formulas, and there are no easy 10-step programs that will guarantee success. But we do have the Bible to guide us and the benefit of many knowledgeable resources so we can have reasonable expectations that this can be done effectively.

So feel free to dialogue back with me if you want. I'm making the commitment to post a parenting blog every week. If you find it helpful, refer your friends to it and we'll try to help as many people as possible.

2010-07-26T09:31:00.005-04:00

You can make a difference for some urban kids in Tampa by providing them with a backpack full of school supplies through one of our church plants, Common Ground Church. This event gives them an opportunity to share Christ with their neighbors in a very tangible way.

Here are ways you can help:
1. Purchase backpacks and supplies from the list below and bring them to CATB through Sunday August 1st. We will put a New Testament in each one.
2. If you have a van or truck, help us deliver the backpacks to Common Ground on Friday August 6th at 10:00AM.
3. Help us distribute the backpacks on Saturday August 7th. Two shifts: 8:30AM - 10:30AM and 10:30AM - 12:30PM.

Supply List-
1. Backpack (none with wheels)
2. 2 pkgs. of notebook paper (wide ruled)
3. 2 boxes of tissues
4. 2- 8oz. bottles of hand sanitizer
5. 2 pkgs. of standard #2 pencils
6. 1 box of colored pencils
7. 1 canister of wet wipes
8. 1 rain poncho (optional)

Let's bring a ton of backpacks to these kids and help Common Ground connect with their neighbors!

Baby Dedication 2010

2010-04-21T15:10:00.002-04:00

May 16th will be our annual Baby Dedication Sunday! During that service, Pastor Hal will introduce all the families with their babies, talk about the importance of raising kids in an environment that honors God, and pray a special dedication prayer for them. After the service those families will have their pictures taken and those pics will be mounted on a beautiful plaque to commemorate this special day. If you'd like to participate or want more information, email Pastor Don- don@churchatthebay.com

Big Easter Celebration

2010-03-30T14:10:00.009-04:00

Lots of stuff for kids on Easter Sunday-
1. The traditional Easter Egg Hunt hosted by none other than the Easter Bunny, live and in person. Follows each service near the bounce houses. Find the Golden Eggs and get an extra prize! Bags will be provided for kids to collect their eggs.

2. Elementary kids will begin a month long contest to bring 1st time friends. They will score points for each friend they bring in April and then get additional points for each Sunday that friend comes back. The winner at the end of the month will get a Land Shark kneeboard!

3. Some of our BayKids will be getting baptized- what a terrific experience on Resurrection Day!

4. Preschool and Elementary classes will clearly explain the meaning of the Resurrection in age-appropriate terms. We want every kid to know that Easter is about Jesus and His amazing love for them!

So bring all the kids you can find- it will be an awesome day of fun and celebration at Church At the Bay!! Find out more at www.churchatthebay.com

Parenting Rx

2010-02-20T08:22:00.002-05:00

Sunday Feb.21st Pastor Hal will be speaking on the prescription for parenting. If you have kids, don't miss this valuable lesson that will improve your parenting perspective and help you shape your kids to follow God.

BayKids Christmas Going Global!

2009-12-07T11:37:00.005-05:00

This year we are going global with our Kids' Christmas focus. We are encouraging them to spend their BayBucks to help needy kids by purchasing things like blankets, baby chicks to raise for eggs, Bibles, clothing, etc., through Samaritan's Purse. They can also bring in their gently worn shoes or sneakers to be distributed through Soles4Souls to kids who have no footwear.

We all know Christmas is about giving, not getting, and we really want to instill that in our kids in very practical ways. Get your kids involved and lead by example. Together we can make a difference and impact people who really need our help. Let's lead kids to experience the joy of giving!

New Schedule

2009-11-04T13:45:00.000-05:00

I love the flexibility and "whatever it takes" attitude of our BayKids volunteer team. You guys have adjusted to a lot of changes and you consistently step up to handle whatever challenges we face. Now with our new service schedule, we want to be sure you get to enjoy the services with Pastor Hal every week, even the weekends when you serve.

Beginning this Sunday, you will be able to watch the entire service, music and all, right here. You will be given a card with the password on it and you can sit back, relax with a cup of coffee, and enjoy the complete experience. We're doing this to ensure that one of our core values holds up- we want every volunteer experiencing the weekend so you will be encouraged and challenged to grow in your faith. You will be better equipped to serve in your classes when you are on the right path toward God.

The video will post at approximately 5PM each Sunday afternoon and you can check it out anytime after that, even throughout the week as your schedule permits. So thanks for all you do to help our kids learn about God. Let's keep growing together!

Wisdom for Parents and Kidmin Volunteers

2009-10-12T09:58:00.000-04:00

Follow this link to a blog post by Michael Hyatt outlining a talk given by Reggie Joiner, a pioneer in kidmin and parenting philosophy. There is a foundational principle here about the role of parents and the church in the spiritual development of a child. If you understand this, it will help you as a parent and kidmin volunteer.

Why We Do What We Do

2009-10-08T11:17:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to share some feedback for you volunteers who give it your best every weekend. You don't always see the immediate impact of your work but here are a few examples to fire you up!

Two comments left on Facebook recently:

David Spencer wrote: I am so proud of William (my 5 yr. old son). He announced that Darth Vader does not scare him because God is on his side. Wow!

Crystal Greene wrote: It's amazing the impact CATB has had on my family. Just yesterday Kaylee and Hannah had a 20 minute conversation about a song we have heard 1,000 times before on the radio but now the song has a whole new meaning for me I never realized before...Long Black Train by Josh Turner...Hannah said the devil drives the train and Jesus saves people so they don't get on and ride with the devil...I'm so proud. Thx CATB!

When Brian Heckman saw this last one, he sent an email to some of the volunteers in those classes: I hope Crystal’s comment keeps your personal passion going for what YOU do by serving other people’s kids at church. Personally, my naturally-selfish 1^st choice for Sunday mornings is FAR from waking up/leaving home early to serve at church. But I get WILDLY ENCOURAGED through comments like Crystal’s, when God shows up SO CLEARLY around us, and literally plucks people off one path and sets them down on His path...using ordinary people like you guys to do it. Its times like these that I’m glad I get out of bed early on Sundays, and ask God to use me however/wherever.

So don’t miss God moving here…what you, personally, do on Sundays is obviously a huge part of changing this family in massive ways. And, our kids are watching/learning from us making such a huge difference for Christ.

Hope this encourages you to keep doing what you're doing. All of you are making an impact and here's the proof!

2009-09-22T14:54:00.000-04:00

This weekend we launched our new "BayKids Rock It" theme, complete with outer space designs everywhere. I don't have enough pictures of the new areas yet to redo our slide show but that will come soon. The coolest part of the weekend was seeing all our volunteers serving, (including some astronauts) especially some of our older kids.

For me, one of the evaluation markers I watch is kids serving. I know it primarily applies to the older classes but it represents the culmination of our ministry philosophy. If we can see kids getting plugged into service before they move up to middle school, I feel like we have succeeded in instilling some of the core values of our faith.

Adults modeling this with enthusiasm and excitement make it a natural step for a kid who is developing a relationship with God. They grow up expecting service to be a normal outcome of their belief system and early in life they begin to discover how God has gifted them. Ultimately that should produce a generation of men and women to whom service is an instinctive part of their faith.

Steinbrenner Pictures

2009-08-10T16:09:00.001-04:00

Hey BayKids Volunteers,
Here are some pics of our new digs. Check it out and start dreaming of rooms full of kids!

Summer Backpack Bonanza

2009-06-25T12:47:00.000-04:00

Last year we partnered with one of the church plants we support in a drive to connect with their local neighborhood. We provided over 300 backpacks filled with supplies to Common Ground Church in Tampa and they lit up the neighborhood!

They set up inflatables and games for the kids, provided hot dogs and sno cones for everybody, and then distributed the backpacks to these needy kids. They heard back later from schools in the area that teachers were thrilled to see so many kids coming to school with the necessary supplies. It made a huge impact on many of the homes right around the church.

So it's time to do it again. For the whole month of July, CATB people will be purchasing backpacks and filling them with stuff for school. Here is a supply list of what you will need:

1. Backpack (none with wheels)
2. 2 pkgs. of notebook paper (wide ruled)
3. 2 boxes of tissues
4. 2 8oz. bottles of hand sanitizer
5. 2 pkgs. of standard number 2 pencils
6. 1 box of crayons (24 count) or colored pencils
7. 1 canister of wet wipes
8. 1 rain poncho (optional)

You should be able to buy a backpack and the supplies for $20. We will also place a Bible in each backpack because this is about more than providing a sack of supplies; it's about connecting people to a place where they can find God- who can supply all their needs!

This year Common Ground has set a goal to provide 2,009 backpacks to distribute in Sulpher Springs Park on August 1st. If you'd like to help during the July collection or for the delivery, email Tina and she'll get you plugged in. Bring as many filled packs as you can any Sunday in July and let's help them make a huge difference in their neighborhood.

Baby Dedication

2009-06-19T08:21:00.000-04:00

Baby Dedication is such a cool time to see families celebrate the wonder of new birth. The framed certificates we give out provide a lasting reminder of the commitment of the parents to raise their kids in a godly environment. Love the idea of celebrating new births.

That got me to thinking- I wonder if we should be doing more to celebrate the new birth of salvation when a child chooses to follow Christ? I wonder if our volunteers think of themselves as spiritual parents when they help a kid cross the line of faith? Do they see their role as providing a nurturing environment for that faith to grow and mature?

I don't want to manipulate kids into following Christ by using some extravagant celebration to appeal to their desire for attention but I don't think it would hurt if we applauded that choice in a big way. Baptism certainly accomplishes some of that and maybe that's enough. What do you think?

Graduating Kids!

2009-06-10T14:17:00.000-04:00

School's out and that means my fifth graders are moving up to Middle School! Love the way they grow up and change into mature Christ followers. It's especially cool when I know they are moving into a jacked up Middle School program at CATB. They're gonna' love it!

Last weekend our Middle School kids did a 30 hour fast and raised over $1000 for World Vision. They go on mission trips during the summer to help with church planting and lots of other cool stuff. Makes my job so much more rewarding to know that I can send our 5th graders into an environment where I know they will continue to grow under the leadership of Hal 4 and his team.

Having an intentional strategy of spiritual maturity keeps kids engaged and transitioning through their developmental years. If we can steer them onto the right track during these impressionable years, they have a better chance of making it successfully into adulthood. Way to go CATB BayKids Team!

The Ministry of Bowling

2009-05-31T19:24:00.000-04:00

Children's Ministry is all about relationships- connecting kids to kids, kids to leaders, and kids to Christ. Everything else we do, from environment design to curriculum choices is all about facilitating relationships that ultimately lead to Christ.
Yesterday's bowling party was just that, a time to build relationships in a fun environment that will create lasting memories- memories of happy times with other kids who are following Christ. Not a very spiritual environment if you're a Pharisee, but I can tell you that parents and kids connected with each other at a deeper level than they normally do when passing in the crowd on a weekend.

I got a kick out of watching some little guys try bowling for the first time. You could see the excitement on their faces. And to rephrase a verse, if I smiled at their happiness- and they aren't even my kids- I know God was laughing at their joy as He watched His kids playing and having fun.

And that makes the point of my ministry mantra- Kids learn best when they're having fun!

BayKids Overview

2009-05-20T10:49:00.001-04:00

It Really Works!

2009-05-19T10:31:00.000-04:00

If you've ever driven in a whiteout or a torrential rain storm, you know how stressful it can be to be unable to see where you are going. Under normal circumstances you can see the lane markers and know you are making progress toward your destination. That makes the journey much more fulfilling but not knowing where you are or if you are making any headway is very frustrating.

Anybody that has worked with children for any length of time knows that there are times when you wonder if what you are doing is getting through. Even as parent, you will have those moments when you ask yourself, "Are we even speaking the same language?"

Rather than waste the money on an ENT to see if the audio channels are actually open, just know that kids catch a whole lot more of what you do and say than you think. The absorption factor is very subtle and so you may rarely get any tangible feedback that validates what you are doing. Since life change is a key measurable for ministry effectiveness, any observable feedback is very helpful and reassuring.

This past weekend a parent who has been attending CATB for 2 months commented that her 2 year old son prayed at dinner this past week, apparently something new for that family. She was sending kudos to the teachers in his class for the evident impact they were having on her boy. I'm not sure she actually told the teachers in person but I wanted to make sure they knew that they were making a difference.

And that's what it's all about. Who knows- discovering the value of prayer at 2 may shape the spiritual path of that young boy for life. That's life change and that's why we do this. So even if you don't see the evidence of your influence as much as you would like, keep moving forward, knowing that God is honoring your faithfulness. And I'd bet that some day you will be amazed at what God was able to do through you.

Books For Your Family

2009-05-05T09:26:00.000-04:00

I am not in the habit of promoting products or websites but this has value for families in lots of ways. For very little money, you can publish a full-color book using your own pictures and text. The possibilities are unlimited- make a personalized book about your kid or your family, a vacation journal, a holiday compilation, a very special gift for another family member, etc. Let your imagination run with ways to make your family or someone special with their own book.

I got one for my birthday, a story written by my daughter about an adventure with my grandkids, filled with pictures they had drawn. It was amazing!

My grandkids love to have books read to them. Imagine how much fun it would be for your child to have their very own book about them or your family. Check it out at Blurb.

Anticipation!

2009-04-13T10:31:00.000-04:00

Lot's of fun at the Easter Egg Hunt this weekend. Gave out over 2400 eggs and some Golden Egg prizes! Kids loved the bubbles almost as much as the eggs. Best part of the weekend was baptizing three of our kids. Makes the resurrection come alive again when you see kids taking next steps with God.

Spring Break Parenting Ideas

2009-04-02T11:34:00.000-04:00

Last year someone suggested that we provide some ideas for parents about what to do with kids home from school during Spring Break. Apparently boredom is rampant in Florida! Anyway, here are some possibilities.

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine has some suggestions like a Picnic in the Park, fishing, fossil hunting, sand castle building, etc.

Wiregrass Shops in Wesley Chapel has a Spring Break Carnival on Wednesday, April 8th.

Thursday April 9th from 9:30 - 1:30, Jennifer Allinder is hosting a CATB Mom's Day at the Park. She says, "We will have different folks bring sidewalk chalk, balls, bubbles, etc. Please let me know if you can make it (jen_allinder@hotmail.com) Everyone will be responsible for bringing your own lunch, snacks, and drink. It will be at Safety Harbor City Park, 940 7th Street S. in Safety Harbor."

Other possibilities include many of the local attractions like MOSI, Florida Aquarium, Lowery Park Zoo, Rolly Pollies, Pump It Up Party, and the Oldsmar Spray Park. Also, Florida has many good State Parks within reasonable driving distance and are a very inexpensive day out.

Good luck and have a ball!

The Day She Met Her Prince

2009-03-12T21:13:00.000-04:00

It was a magical day for my granddaughter Kristen. A huge fan of the Chronicles of Narnia movie, she visited the Narnia exhibit at Disney's Hollywood Studios last week and as only Disney can do, she was transported into that enchanted land. She stepped into the forest and there, to her utter amazement, waiting to greet her was Prince Caspian himself. It was a little girl's dream come true.

I can only imagine the emotion she felt as he knelt before her and took her hand and talked to her. Everything she had loved about the story was coming true right before her very eyes. It was a dream come to life.The picture says it all.

I got to thinking about what it will be like when I step through the portal of time into heaven. Suddenly the world behind me will be replaced by a magical kingdom I have read about all my life. And there waiting to greet me will be Jesus. Only I'll be the one kneeling before Him. I bet I'll be as captivated by Him as Kristen was of her Prince. Maybe more.

I love children's ministry because I get to create those kind of opportunities for kids who will someday get to meet the Prince of Peace face to face. And I bet that Jesus will take them by the hand and guide them through the wonders of the kingdom He has created just for them. Only this time it will be forever.

Just a Typical Sunday at the Bay!

2009-03-08T18:55:00.000-04:00

When Jesus said, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," is this what He meant- a baptism of slime?

No wait- this is a "pouring" baptism. Since we believe in baptism by immersion, we would have to immerse a kid in slime. Think about how cool that would be.

I love children's ministry!

Children's Bibles

2009-01-22T09:46:00.000-05:00

Last night on our church's live Internet chat, a question came in about where a child should start to read in the Bible and what version. So I promised some recommendations about that today.

Before I give you some specific Bibles to use, let me address the whole issue of what kids should read in the Bible. Obviously we believe the whole Bible is inspired by God but certainly there are areas that are not age-appropriate for children. I'm even appalled by some "Sunday School" curriculum that goes over some pretty gruesome stories that I wouldn't recommend for young kids, unless you want to give them nightmares about being swallowed by the family goldfish or having to spend a night in the lion's cage at the zoo for spilling their milk. And the story of Abraham sacrificing his son Issac on the altar is not exactly bedtime reading either.

The key is to understand the developmental stage of the child and target their reading to stories they can understand and grasp the life lesson. With that in mind, here are some age-appropriate Bible books I would recommend. You can probably find any of these at Amazon.com

The Beginner's Bible
This is targeted at ages 4-8

The Adventure Bible
This is targeted at ages 6-10 and uses the NIV for Kids version.

The Comic Book Bible
This is targeted at ages 9-12 and really has a comic book feel.

So be wise in your selections and your kids can learn to love the Bible and benefit from memories that will guide their choices for a lifetime.

Christmas At the Bay

2008-12-31T20:44:00.000-05:00

Volunteer Caught on Camera!

2008-12-26T09:35:00.000-05:00

This blurry picture caught one of our volunteers (her initials are CB) sneaking a snack before service started. She was trying to run away from my phone camera but I got her. So now you know what goes on behind the scenes at CATB Children's Ministry. And you trust your kids to these kinds of people? LOL!

Seriously, we have some of the best volunteers in the country and I love to brag on them. You should have seen the Kindergarten kids singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus on Christmas Eve. It was awesome. And then watching their eyes light up when they saw the snow coming down and Santa Claus and his elf- it's what I live for.

Guys, you lit it up this week. Thanks to all of you who gave so unselfishly so these kids could get it. I can't wait to see what God does in the coming year!

Christmas Trains

2008-12-23T21:45:00.000-05:00

When I was a little boy, every year at Christmas my Dad put the Lionel trains under the Christmas tree. One year he took a picture of me kneeling in front of the trains, watching as they circled the tree. Last year I took this picture of my grandson doing the exact same thing at my home.

It's amazing how much influence we have on our kids. They imitate us is so many ways, often when we least expect it and frequently with behaviors we don't want to duplicate. Ever heard your kid say something bad and then realize they learned it from you?! Whether you want to be or not, you are a role model to the kids who observe your life.

But the good news is that imitation is a great teaching tool and when we leverage it for positive outcomes, everybody wins! I'm convinced that most of what kids learn from us is caught from observing our behaviors and attitudes, our responses to life situations- and not nearly as much from what we say as from what we do. That means that we will improve our influence- by improving ourselves- by being passionate Christ followers. The more we imitate Christ, the more kids will imitate us- and ultimately Him.

I want to lead by example and the best way for me to do that is to chase God as hard as I can. It's cool that Tyler kneels to watch trains like I did. But I'd be more impressed if he learns to kneel and pray from watching the example of my life.

Correction

2008-12-02T07:42:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the wrong link on my last post. It has been corrected. Here is the correct link for The Gift Revolution.

Generosity Plus!

2008-12-01T19:39:00.000-05:00

Today I went with some of our volunteers to deliver all the Angel Tree gifts that our CATB family provided for the Salvation Army. This is the third year we have done this and every year we have exceeded the previous year. It was so rewarding to hear how these families will be blessed by our generosity.

It took 4 vehicles to carry all the stuff. I calculated that it represented over $10,000 worth of gifts! What a church! I am so happy to be a part of such a caring group of people. As we launch the Gift Revolution, I know we will see even more examples of unselfish caring as we focus on others. As we taught the kids this weekend, "Christmas is not about what I get; its about learning to give like God, my best."

Whatever you do over the next 25 days, look for ways to express God's love to people around you. We can change the world, one heart at a time.

2008-11-26T18:33:00.000-05:00

What more could a guy want- a huge turkey dinner and football on TV! If you can't be thankful for that, you've got issues. But quite honestly, as much fun as those things are, they really don't express my gratitude for so many more important things. Like my family, my health, the fact that I get to serve in a great church with some of the best people on the planet, and that's just a start.

But even as valuable as those things are, there is one thing for which my gratitude can never do justice. It is the one thing that I need more than anything else and without which I have no hope and no future. I cannot provide it for myself and yet I am hopeless without it. It is the greatest gift I could ever receive. It is FORGIVENESS.

Without God's forgiveness, nothing else matters. If I don't have that, I have nothing of any value. And since God offers it so freely, I could easily take it for granted. And given the price He had to pay for it, my gratitude seems feeble and insignificant. But it is all I can offer.

And so on this Thanksgiving Day, I say, "Thank You, God, for forgiving me and letting me into Your family." And now I'll go and enjoy my turkey and football!

Rockin' Weekend!

2008-11-17T12:42:00.000-05:00

Lots of cool stuff at CATB this weekend. Its just fun hanging out with kids.

* Heard another story of a family who is coming regularly now because the kids just love their classes.
* Christina Box and Sarah Shea launched Discovery Play this weekend. It went great and helped relieve some pressure from other classes.
* Jennifer Allinder found a train table on Craig's list to add to our SandBox class where the kids just love playing with Thomas the Tank Engine!
* Love watching the increase in boys in the Pier 45 class. 4th & 5th grade can be a tough age for boys because they usually get bored with typical church fare. Our classes are now dominated by boys!
* Love the enthusiasm of new volunteers and the excitement they bring to kids. Want BayKids to be too much fun to miss.

**And you heard it first right here- BayKids Volunteer Christmas Breakfast- Sunday December 14th, 8:30-9:00AM Coffee, donuts, Christmas stuff, and prizes in the cafeteria. Mark your calendar NOW!

Keep up the good work, Gang!

Jelly Telly is here!

2008-11-13T13:10:00.000-05:00

I am very excited that Jelly Telly has launched their Beta version of a new website for kids. This is a safe site where your kids can play games and watch cartoons and videos, produced by the guys who created Veggie Tales. It looks really cool.

I know my grandkids love to play games online and now they can do it with a Christian theme. There is a free trial version you can test drive and then an inexpensive subscription if you like it. And this is just the beginning. I expect lots more to come as they grow and develop the idea.

So check it out for yourself and let me know what you think. http://www.jellytelly.com/

Another great weekend!

2008-11-10T13:17:00.000-05:00

Here's another "Go God" story from this weekend. Got an email from one of our Friday set-up team members who brought 2 kids on Sunday. Here's what she said: "both were VERY RELUCTANT to attend this morning. I've been trying to get her to come for a few weeks now. When I picked her up today at noon, these were her exact words: 'I LOVED it & I want to come back every single Sunday!'"

That's why we do this thing, Gang! Lots of fun stuff happened this weekend, including a visit from Alicia's cockatoo! The kids loved the bird and it was a great visual illustration for one of our classes.

For all you volunteers, you are creating memories and experiences that will last a lifetime and beyond. Thanks for your passion and dedication. You bring it every weekend and it is making a difference!

RayHawk Fun!

2008-10-30T10:59:00.000-04:00

We had some fun last Sunday with some of our kids getting RayHawks! Unfortunately the Rays lost last night but we're still proud of them.

Lots of cool stuff coming in the next few weeks. Our Angel Tree goes up this weekend as we start the drive to collect Christmas presents for needy kids in our area. Last year we sponsored 135 kids and we expect to blow by that number this year.

We're also going to participate in a Fall Festival at Westchase Elementary on Friday Nov.14th. If you can help between 4-7pm, let me know. We want CATB faces to supervise an inflateable and pass out balloons and stuff to kids.

We're also looking at visiting some kids at the Shriners Hospital around Christmas to bring some cheer to them. If you want to go, email me.

Don

Kids Love It Here!

2008-10-15T14:55:00.000-04:00

Nothing makes my day more than hearing about a kid whose life is being changed by CATB's children's ministry. This weekend we will see that clearly in the kids who are being baptized. Every volunteer, from the nursery to the elementary groups, gets credit for creating an environment where kids can find God and take their first steps with Him.

This past Sunday a Dad told me that, on their way home the week before, his daughter said to him, "Daddy, I love this church so much. I don't ever want to leave it." WOW! Unlike the NFL, we don't penalize for celebrations or taunting so I'm thinking of some hyper ways to vent my excitement when I hear stuff like that. Makes me want to stand over the crumpled body of the enemy and yell, "That's one more you won't get on your team, Loser!", followed by a fist bump to heaven for another victory.

Don't ever give up on reaching out to kids. You are changing eternity for them and that's one investment that will never fail.

Taking Adventure Play to a Whole New Level

2008-09-25T10:57:00.000-04:00

Our Adventure Play program has been retooled and upgraded to an exciting new opportunity. AP is designed to provide an alternative environment for elementary kids who have already attended the 9:30 service and who are staying while their parents serve at 11:00AM. Our new focus will be on Positive Coaching in athletic skills, personal character, fitness, and coordination. Our coaching team will consist of Anthony Box, Chuck Bolles, and Bill Oakley, all experienced coaches with a passion for making a difference in the lives of kids.

Kids will be encouraged to improve their personal skills through exercise, practice, and teamwork in a variety of sports. Since sports are a great metaphor for life we will use the opportunity to build character and self esteem in a fun environment of competition and challenge.

If you know kids who are into sports, encourage them to go to AP after attending the 9:30 Pier classes. They'll have a blast!

Weekend Review

2008-09-15T15:29:00.000-04:00

BayKids Rock! You guys are the best and I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve with you. Here are a few props:

1. Volunteer staffing was great- lots of help and everybody was so unselfish and flexible.

2. We had almost 20 new kids on Sunday! That's a whole new class in 1 weekend!

3. Good feedback from people who escorted new guests to their classrooms- that really made the new environments comfortable for the parents.

4. One new kid said to his mom as she was picking him up- "Mom, can we come here every day?" That makes me want to scream!!

5. We doubled our sno-cone team! The kids consider it an honor to get to do sno-cones. I want more volunteers like that!!

6. We put a DVD player at the info kiosk to show new people what happens in class.

7. And here's the best of all, even though it isn't directly related to kids, 7 first-time guests jumped off the path to hell and joined the family of God!!!!

This thing works, people! What a way to celebrate our 3rd birthday! Go God.

We're Printing More Money!

2008-09-09T11:23:00.000-04:00

No, the economy in BayKids is not in a recession but we are printing more money! Starting this weekend we are giving DOUBLE BAYBUCKS for the month of September! That means if a kid brings a friend to church, they will get 10 BayBucks for that guest, plus all the other ways to earn BayBucks! In anticipation of increased spending, the presses are cranking out new money!

These next few weeks will be exciting as we see lots of new kids coming into our environments and we're ready to plug them in to all the cool stuff at CATB. We've even doubled our Sno Cone Team and we'll be ready to serve everybody this month. When you see some of our kids volunteering, be sure to tell them how cool it is for them to serve!

New Kids Network

2008-08-27T13:53:00.001-04:00

Have you ever wished there was a Christian version of Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel so your kids could watch some safe programming that would teach them good stuff? Coming this Fall- Jelly Telly! Its being produced by Phil Vischer, the creator of Veggie Tales. It's in the developmental stages right now and may have some promise. Time will tell if it develops into something big but I like the concept.

The video intro is almost 30 mins. long but if you want to stay up on what's hot with kids, you should check this out. It's worth the time to watch it.

http://jellytelly.com/

Persistent Kids

2008-08-19T08:06:00.000-04:00

One of my goals in Children's Ministry is to make a kid's church experience so much fun that they can't wait to get there. CATB volunteers are making that a reality.

This past weekend a dad told me this story. They had gone to Disney on Saturday, come home late and tired, and decided to let the kids sleep in on Sunday morning. But to his surprise, he was awakened by his 3 year old daughter. She had gotten up, dressed herself, and came into her parents bedroom to announce, "Come on, Daddy, we've got to go to church!"

You guys rock! You have made the God experience so compelling that our kids don't want to miss it. When a kid grows up associating God with good things, they are much more likely to follow Christ as they grow to know Him better.

Ya'll did it again! Way to go, Team!

Crying Kids

2008-08-05T14:22:00.000-04:00

Of course we hate to see kids crying at church but last week I got very excited when it happened. One of our volunteer families was helping with the gym set-up and had their young boy with them. It was time to leave and he pitched a fit. He didn't want to go. Mom tried to console him but he kept saying, "But I want to go to church, Mommy."

When I heard that I did a Tiger Woods fist pump. That's the kind of environment I want to create, where kids fuss about having to leave church. Sure beats my experience as a child, huh?

I guess I say it too much but you guys that serve with BayKids fulfill our mission statement every weekend by being a Difference Maker. You have made God and church a vital part of the life of a boy who is only 3 years old. How cool is that?! Imagine what kind of Christ follower he might turn out to be! I love working with you guys. Let's nail it again this weekend.

The Big Move

2008-07-30T21:15:00.000-04:00

Wow, do we have a terrific team or what? People have been working overtime this week to make our gym move a reality and its going to be killer. BayKids rooms will be bigger and better. And the gym- well, you'll have to see it to believe it.

Then, if that weren't enough, our church people have donated over 300 loaded backpacks to a local church we helped start and we're going over there on Saturday to help hand them out to neighborhood kids. Several of us took the backpacks over today and that church is really excited.

I love being a part of what God is doing at CATB. If you want to help this weekend, email me at don@churchatthebay.com and we'll get you plugged in.

It's Infectious

2008-07-21T08:15:00.000-04:00

I love the simplicity of a child's faith. Last weekend we had a big baptism party at the beach and 5 of our kids got baptized. This past week, one of those kids had a friend over to her house and she was taking about her baptism the week before.

Her friend asked her what baptism was all about. She explained it and how it was a next step in her relationship with God. Bottom line- a few minutes later, after hearing the story of salvation, the girl prayed to make Jesus the leader of her life! Woot!!

That's why I do this stuff and I hope its why you volunteer. How cool is it to see a kid experience the excitement of leading a friend to Christ at such an early age.

I know sometimes volunteering with kids can get a little tedious. Sometimes they have a bad day too and we get the frustration of trying to deal with their issues but stories like this should make it all worthwhile. Helping kids learn to cope with life's challenges and make God a part of their experience is an awesome privilege. Let's get ready to rumble and see what God has in store for us as we move to the gym and see our church grow to the next level.

Kids Are Wet Cement

2008-07-16T09:48:00.000-04:00

Whether you are a parent or a volunteer, you are shaping the lives of kids in very permanent ways. Remember carving your initials in wet cement when you were a kid? When they poured a new sidewalk piece at my parent's house in Pennsylvania, we got our kids out there and they each put a hand print and their name on one section of the walkway. Many years later when Mom and Dad moved to Florida, those prints were still there.

Every day and every weekend you are imprinting kids with information about God. On Monday one of our leaders met a family that had visited our church on Easter weekend. They have a 3 year old little girl and they were raving about the fact that their daughter can still remember her memory verse from that Easter Sunday- and its July! I'm telling you, your influence is powerful, probably more than you realize.

This coming weekend you will again make an impression on some kid that will last for years. And statistics show that a kid's world view is pretty well set by the time they reach 12 years of age. Let's make a mark for God while the cement is still wet. Thanks for being such a Difference Maker!

Dunkin' Kids

2008-07-07T10:49:00.000-04:00

This Sunday we will be having a Beach Party & Baptism at Honeymoon Island and we'll have several kids from our BayKids classes getting dunked! For me there is nothing cooler than seeing a kid get baptized- I take that back- seeing parents baptize their own kid- now that is as good as it gets!

At CATB we ask kids to wait until they are 8 years old before being baptized. I know, its an arbitrary number and some kids make a commitment to Christ at an earlier age- save me the theological lectures. But we believe baptism is important enough to be remembered as the next step of a life-altering commitment and we want kids to be old enough to remember it for the rest of their lives. We also want this to be a conscious choice they have made, not something they do because they are pushed into it. That's why we interview them to be sure they understand what they are doing and why.

This may sound even more heretical but we don't even push kids into making a commitment to Christ. We work very hard at creating an environment where they will hear the message of Christ loud and clear but we want to LEAD them to Christ, not manipulate them into a childish decision that has no roots. In a room full of kids I could get them all to recite a prayer and then declare them all Christ followers but I won't do that. We want to provide the environment where that choice will be a logical and natural result of their understanding of God and His love for them.

So if you are a volunteer with Baykids, every one of you should share in the celebration of each kid that is baptized this weekend. At every age level, you have contributed to the environment that produced that commitment, regardless what age that decision was made. I can't wait until our church is old enough to have kids who started in the nursery and worked their way through preschool and elementary classes and then come to Christ and get baptized. That will be way cool! I hope all of you will come out and see first hand what a huge difference you are making every weekend. And let's celebrate with these kids and let them know what a big deal it is to become a Christ follower!

Check out a Beach Baptism at CATB!

Where are you leading them?

2008-06-26T16:20:00.000-04:00

Are you good at following directions or do you, like I, think you know how to get where you are going? I have a pretty good internal compass so I usually don't get lost. If I've been somewhere before, I can get back there. But going to someplace new is a little different. Now, thanks to Garmen, I can get wherever I need to go.

If you are a parent or volunteer, you function sort of like a Garmen to the kids in your life. You are giving them directions for living in situations where they have never been. Every day for them is a new learning experience and your influence, by example and instruction, will guide them. You can shape the direction of their development by your actions and your words.

I'll bet if you think back over your childhood you can recall someone who was a guiding influence in your life, someone who pointed you in a certain direction that had long-term implications. Now you have become that person. You are the one giving direction, even when you aren't aware that you are. You are an influencer. You are a world changer. You are a guiding force in the lives of kids- so let's do good job of it.

Now here's the question- if kids follow your directions for life, where will they end up?

It's working!

2008-06-19T14:00:00.000-04:00

This morning I was talking with a dad whose kids had recently invited some neighborhood friends to come to church with them. He told me how excited these new kids were about coming back to church because they had so much fun. They had even taken some of their BayBucks to school with them and were showing them off to other kids.

I share that story to encourage all of you who volunteer with BayKids. It's working! All your time and energy is making a difference in the lives of these kids. Imagine how cool it must be for them to grow up with such a positive experience from inviting somebody to come to church. When they become adults it will be the most natural thing in the world for them to invite people and become a difference maker.

You guys are literally changing the world by shaping the future for these kids and pointing them in the right direction. Every weekend you are adding another stone to the foundation of their lives and solidifying the basis of their world view. Make it count. Give them all you've got and let's watch as God changes our community one kid at a time!

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

2008-06-13T10:30:00.000-04:00

If you've ever watched the TV show, you know there are some pretty smart 5th graders out there. AND, you may also have concluded that you are not as smart as you thought you were! I'll confess that I don't always know the facts as well as those kids do but it does challenge me to step it up when it comes to ministry to kids.

I want children's ministry to push kids to think about how to connect God into their lives. I want to challenge them to think big about God and to see Him as a normal part of life, a personal friend without whom they could not function. A lot of the facts they memorize in school (remember all the dates you had to learn?!) are necessary for a well-rounded education but they don't necessarily translate into life application. Similarly, knowing a ton of Bible trivia might help a kid in a quiz format but unless he or she KNOWS God personally, they will find those facts to be of little help when they need spiritual direction. I want them to know God, not just know about Him.

It's the difference between knowing about prayer and knowing how to pray. I know about flying but you wouldn't want me in the pilot's seat because I don't know how to fly a plane. Whether you are a parent or a BayKids volunteer, let's be sure we know what we're teaching because we practice it ourselves and let's push kids to experience God at their level and learn to know Him for themselves.

BackPack Bonanza

2008-06-06T12:00:00.000-04:00

You can be a “Difference Maker” for some urban kids in Tampa by providing them with a backpack full of school supplies through one of our church plants.

* Get their education off to a good start next year.

* Help a local church share God’s love.

Purchase these items and bring the loaded backpack to CATB any weekend in July.

1. Backpack (none with wheels)

2. 2 pkgs. of notebook paper (wide ruled)

3. 2 boxes of tissues

4. 2 8 oz. bottles of hand sanitizer

5. 2 pkgs. of standard number 2 pencils

6. 1 box of crayon (24 count) or colored pencils

7. 1canister of wet wipes

1 rain poncho (optional)

Do Kids Really Matter?

2008-06-04T10:42:00.000-04:00

I often tell our volunteers that they are "Difference Makers." It is actually a slogan for CATB. The reason I say it so much is because it is true, but also because it hits one of the basic drives we all have- the need to feel significant. Volunteers need to feel that their contribution is valuable. And all of us need to know that we matter to God.

In 1943 psychologist Abraham Maslow formulated a heirarchy of basic human needs. In his book, "Effective Parenting in a Defective World," Chip Ingram reminds us that "the most important thing you can do to help your children reach their potential is to meet their two primary emotional needs: significance and security. In other words, your kids need to know that they matter, and they need to know that they're safe."

As we work with kids, whether as parents or CATB volunteers, we can make a difference in their development by treating them with the significance they deserve. Why is that so important? Because, as Maslow theorized, until that need is met, a person will struggle to find that significance and they might find it in places that are not helpful to them. I know a lot of adults who are still looking for that answer and their behaviors reflect that unmet need.

So you can really make a difference by treating a child as if they mattered, to God and to you. Call them by name. Get down at eye level and talk with them. Listen to what they say and give them personal attention. You'll be amazed at how kids gravitate to you when you act like they are important. And here's another reason- if they don't think they matter to you, what are the chances that they will believe they matter to a God they can't even see?!

Summer is Here!

2008-05-22T16:52:00.000-04:00

"School's Out!" My memories of those words are nothing but positive. Can you remember the way you felt as those last few days dragged on? But that last day of school was so exciting, to think that I could play all day, not worry about homework, and just do whatever I wanted- way cool. Your kids are probably getting excited about that day and some have even finished already.

Anyway, I want to encourage you to be very supportive of your kids as they close out the year. Of course they didn't get it right every time and they had some misses along the way but let's focus on the positive growth that they achieved. Praise them for their effort and the things they have learned. Don't drill them for what they didn't do; that will only set up unreachable expectations that discourage them from trying harder. Find some good and let them know how proud you are of them as your child. Rewarding achievement is far more motivational than punishing failure.

One of our most exciting family traditions was a scavenger hunt I would set up on the last day of school. When the kids came home there would be a series of clues that they would have to follow to find their reward for the school year. It was a blast and they loved finally discovering the last clue that led to the treasure- something like a box full of tokens to Chucky Cheese or something like that.

These are prime opportunities to create lifetime memories. Seize the moment and make achievement a big deal. Your kids will never forget it!

Parenting Is a Stretch

2008-05-15T14:24:00.000-04:00

Hey Parents,
Hope you don't think I've got all the answers to your parenting struggles cause I don't! Back before I had kids of my own I used to tell parents how they should be doing it. Not any more! So I suspect that like me you have concluded that parenting just might be the hardest job you will ever have. If you don't feel that way its because your kids are too young to have pushed you over the edge yet!

Anyway, rather than come across as some infallible know-it-all, I hope we can focus on some practical ideas with a Biblical foundation so all of us can get a little better at this before our kids turn into Bart or Cartman. And maybe we can take a serious look at the subject while making it a little more fun.

With summer rapidly approaching you must be thinking about what to do with the kids when school gets out. It won't be long before you hear the inevitable complaint, "I'm bored!" So what are your plans, if you have any? Summer camps are usually good but that only covers one or two weeks. Talk back and maybe we can share a few ideas and learn from each other. It's not an issue for me cause my kids are all grown but if I get any helpful suggestions I'll be happy to pass them on (for a small fee). Just kidding.

CATB will be hosting Summer Bible Clubs in July and you can be a host or just join a group as one way of plugging your kids into something constructive. Those will target neighborhood elementary kids and give them a taste of our weekend programming along with some messy games. Watch for more info on that soon. If you'd like to host one in your home, let me know.

2008-05-09T08:54:00.000-04:00

Sno Cones are back and that means summer is near. Sno Cones are fun but they are also strategic. We do it for two reasons: 1. Kids love it and we want their church experience to be fun. 2. It encourages families to stick around instead of jumping in the car and missing all the hang-time with other kids and families. Building relationships is a key part of our church family experience.

Yesterday I got a new flavor for sno cones this weekend- Root Beer! First reaction- not sure how visually appealing a brown sno cone would be! But heard it is very popular so we'll see. That got me to thinking about some bizarre possible colors and flavors for sno cones:
1. Black- licorice
2. Brown- chocolate
3. Green- jalapeno
4. Green- pistachio
5. Brown- barbecue
Got any other weird suggestions? Maybe we'll have Weird Sno Cone Weekend when school let's out!

Welcome BayKids Volunteers

2008-05-01T11:01:00.000-04:00

You guys sure make church fun! I love getting to work with you and see the difference you make on the faces and in the hearts of our kids. As we get this thing rolling, I want to review some of our core operating principles or COP's, just in case you forgot (like I do too often these days) or didn't get it when you were enlisted to serve.

The first one is huge because it reflects our mission as a church, which happens to be,

To help people establish a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and equip them to become difference makers in the world.

Part of a growing relationship with Christ involves managing your own spiritual development. Unless that is happening, you can't make a difference to anybody else. It's like the preflight speech you get on the airplane- "In case of an emergency, please put on your own oxygen mask before you attempt to help anyone else." So, unless you are growing in your own journey with God, you will not be effective in ministry. That's why we require all BayKids volunteers to attend one of our weekend services in addition to the service in which they serve. I know most of you do that but if you need to adjust your schedule to make that happen, let us know.

In addition, make sure you are taking time every day to meet with God. It doesn't have to be a long, boring task; it can be and should be a relaxing time to reflect on God, what He is trying to do in your life, the challenges He is calling you to, and to express your heart to Him in prayer. I find early morning to be the most productive time for me, but if you're not a morning person, don't freak out. Just make it happen at a time every day that works for you. Then you'll find this journey to be a true relationship, not a religion and it will become a source of strength and growth. Few things will impact your ability to serve effectively more than a daily, growing relationship with Christ.

Here we go!

2008-03-28T14:11:00.000-04:00

Leaving my world and entering the Bloggosphere! So as we launch this thing, let me give you some ideas about where we're going. My plan is for this to help us connect with stuff about helping kids chase God. Whether you are a volunteer or a parent or both, you know that interacting with kids is both fun and challenging. It's also a huge task and we want to do it with the best tools possible. So I'll be sharing lots of ideas, most of which will not be original, to better equip us to help kids get a good start in life.

I'll also keep you up to speed on what's coming at CATB BayKids. Our purpose there is to build a solid spiritual foundation so that when a kid gets to the age where he or she can consciously choose to follow Christ, they will naturally and easily make that choice. So the first few posts will probably deal with our beliefs about how kids understand God and what we can do to connect with them at their level of understanding. And we'll lay out the strategy for why we do things so you can see the big picture.

I also want this to be a vehicle for dialogue so feel free to chat back. I don't plan to do this every day; maybe once a week or so. It's not about me but about kids so you probably won't get a lot of silly details about my personal life, unless it helps illustrate a point.

So if you find this helpful, pass the word to your friends and tell them to sign up, or better yet, invite them to volunteer with you and let's take a run at this together.