Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Children are the Future Church and the NOW!
As your Conference Coordinator of Children's Ministry, I am here to support, advocate, educate, equip, and most importantly serve your ministry needs. Tell me how I can serve you and your church. melinda.shunk@arumc.org or call/text
515-707-5537
Are you collaborating with another church for Bible Boot Camp?

Bible Boot camp is an established tradition with many churches. It may happen in the fall or the Spring and it is usually for 3rd and 4th graders who receive their Bibles and then spend time together learning how to read and navigate the pages.
It is a wonderful overnight retreat to do with several other churches at camp Tanako.
if you would like to collaborate with other UMC churches in your area, reach out to your Children's Ministry Council Representatives to ask what has already been planned or how you could get involved.

Your district reps should all be in the know on how to get you to the closest Bible Boot Camp. It may not be in your district either. Your District Rep. will be able to let you know if there is money available to help defray costs for Bible boot camp when there is multiple churches from one district involved. There is also some curriculum for BIble boot camp on our website if you want to try your own.
Third Grade Bible Recommendations
Always check with your senior pastor on what they prefer you to use, before purchasing because they may want it to carry into Confirmation Class.
If they don't have a preference or they get a new Bible as a Confirmand, here are the two I like and here is what I like about them:

CEB Navigation Bible: I like that it is in common English for 3rd graders so they don't get stuck on the words while reading text. I like the navigational directions that are at the beginning and how they clearly explain the symbols that further explain passages in the Bible .The front few pages teach Bible navigation!
NRSV Children's Bible: It has the the icon page but doesn't really say how to navigate the Bible. The icons really highlight and explain important verses. It does have more of younger vibe with cartoonish Bible characters spread throughout the pages. Many churches use NRSV in worship for reading scripture so it matches gospel readings.
Tanako Announces Confirmation Dates
5th -7th Grades
5th
Fall Confirmation Camp October 18-20, 2019
Spring Confirmation Camp March 6-8, 2020

Registration and more information can be found at:


Communicating with Kids Parents

It can be really hard to get parents to come to classes about parenting or teaching faith formation to them. Well, where are their faces when they have a few minutes after running kids to sports or waiting for dance practice to be over? They are on their social media. So I asked our very own, very talented Karen Swales to take some faith formation ideas I gave her and create them into memes.

So you now have a tab on our Children's Ministry page where you can copy and paste helpful faith formation memes to your phone and weekly post them on your social media outlets. It is also a great discipleship tool when you encourage parents to share them on their own personal pages. Check the tab every couple months, because creative Karen says she will create more! I will be posting them on our Facebook page as well.


Please See the Promotion KIT for detailed directions.
It was sent July 25 email from Constant Contact.


Online registration ends September 17, 2019!

These amazing churches offered to host those who would have to travel over 2 hours to get to Quest. You may contact them directly about making arrangements to sleep overnight in their church on sleeping bags with your students. You would need to plan to take your children to breakfast before the 10:00 a.m. Quest time starts. They will let you know if they have been reserved or are able to host your church. They are willing to host Friday night Sept. 27 so that you don't have to drive it all in one day and you can create overnight bonding experience with your tweens.

First UMC Downtown Tammy Felder tfelder@fumclr.org
Bryant United Methodist Jessica Butler sledbetter@arumc.org
Jacksonville First UMC Stephanie Dunn dunn.stephaniem@gmail.com
Highland Valley UMC Crystal Taylor crystal@hvumc.org
Little Rock - Trinity UMC Anne Stocks anne@tumclr.org

Keep checking emails because more churches may come available!

What will you find in this month's Living Our Faith digital magazine about Children's Ministry in the Arkansas Methodist Conference?
Click on article image to take you to a readable link!

Would you find it helpful if CCCM held a Worship and the ARTS Workshop for leaders and the students? The workshop would consist of attendees choosing to learn from one area of worship music, canvas art, digital projection, drama, black light mime, puppets, liturgy, banners/ liturgical calendar and video making. It would be for kids 1st-6th grade.The goal would be to teach students the many creative and traditional forms of worship. Your feedback would help us know if it would be worth budgeting time and money to offer this workshop.
Would you find a Worship & ARTs workshop helpful for you & your students?
Yes
No
We now have the ability to offer a scholarship to help defray the cost of hiring a Wonderfully Made trained educator to come your church. Please be sure to check out the Children's Ministry Web page to read the scholarship requirements and application process.

Dates to remember :


  • Quest -September 28, 2019
  • Beyond 2020 January 24 & 25, 2020
  • Annual Conference Hot Springs May 27 & 30, 2020