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“I missed the entire ocean”

George Barna

DOUBLE THE FUTURE!6 Simple Saint-Making Success Strategies

JOE NOLAND

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e Salvation Army, Camp Homelani, North Shore, Oahu

THINK DOUBLY BIG!Our first two appointments were corps (church) plants, having been thrust into these communities with nary a clue on how or where to begin. is was pre-Church Growth Movement days, no books, tapes, seminars or Fuller church growth guru types pointing the way. We were flying by the seat of our pants.

Where to begin? Find a storefront in town (minimal parking), spruce it up, tack a big sign on the building and place a creative ad on the church page of the local newspaper. Not! We did and nobody came. Panic! What now?

I’d heard about a Nazarene Minister who claimed he could double your Sunday School in a week. We called. He came. “Focus on the children,” he said. We did. “Location, Location, Location!” He said.

We found a Middle-School auditorium on one side of town (ours on weekends for a $50 janitorial fee) and a Community Center on the other side, ours whenever we wanted it - two congregations instead of one. is before anyone had thought of using borrowed or rented public facilities; we had our pick of the lot - parking galore.

“ink big,” he said. We did, shooting for 300 in attendance on the following Sunday. “Visit, visit, visit!” he prompted. Did we ever, handing out invitation flyers aimed at the children living in those homes. We knocked until we dropped, literally. “Work, work, work!” he admonished.

He taught, and out of that teaching came an outreach acrostic that we have modeled and retaught throughout the years, passionately:

•Selection: Select the population (TARGET) / 6 •Attention: Get their attention (HOOK) / 10•Invitation: Give the invitation (COMPEL) / 15•Need: Meet their need (LOVE) / 21•Tenacity: Follow up (PERSIST) / 26•Saturate: (PERCENTAGES) / 29

We have followed this plan consistently, adapting where necessary to each situation and community, with attendances on those Sundays ranging anywhere from 300 to 1000. Out of those first-time Sunday visitors, a percentage became the core of our corps (congregation), including parents, siblings, friends and relatives, and it all began by first reaching out to the children.

Listen to what George Barna had to say in his book, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions:

I didn’t just miss the boat, I missed the entire ocean! If the family is central to a healthy society and a strong church, shouldn’t we invest our resources predominantly in the adults who lead those units?

He (God) changed my mind… I’d been seduced into believing the great myth of modern ministry: Adults are where the Kingdom action is… Upon reprioritizing ministry to children, my perspective on ministry in its entirety has been revolutionized.

is group (children in the 5-to 12-year old age range), some 31 million strong, represents nearly half of the under-18-year-olds in the country… it is during these crucial eight years that lifelong habits, values, beliefs and attitudes are formed.

We discovered that the probability of someone embracing Jesus as his or her Savior was 32 percent for those between the ages of 5 and 12; 4 percent for those in the 13 to 18-age range; and 6 percent for people 19 or older.

Every year, tens of thousands of parents are brought to faith in Christ because one of their children was so changed by his or her own relationship with the Lord that the parent could not ignore the power of Christ any longer… peer evangelism… is one of the most prolific and effective means of evangelism… Among those who have children in tow, the largest share who get involved in congregational life select their church because of the quality of the children’s ministry.

Wow! It can’t be said any clearer than this. If you want to attract the entire family, begin with their children. In other words, to think big you must first...

Think SmallerClick Here

THINK SELECTION(The Target Population)

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Least LikelyBefore we can do children’s ministry we must first find the children. Outreach is an art form in and of itself. It is my contention that e Salvation Army was raised up, in part, to reach children-at-risk, those living on the edge. And we should continue to lead the way in this realm.

ink about it. Who did Jesus select as his target audience? He reached out to the “least likely,” didn’t he? And in the most least likely of places! ‘Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. (Luke 14:13 TM).

‘What kind of example is this from your teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?’ (Matthew 9:11) ‘I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders,’ said Jesus. (Matthew 9:13)

Matthew Henry in his commentary on these verses writes:

“Many times the gospel has the greatest success among those that are least likely to have the benefit of it, and whose submission to it was least expected. e publicans and harlots went into the kingdom of God before the scribes and Pharisees; so the last shall be first, and the first last. Let us not be confident concerning those that are most forward, nor despair of those that are least promising.”

God’s PocketKake is a small fishing village in Southeast Alaska with a strong Salvation Army presence. Fishing is their livelihood, and when the fish are scarce the villagers turn their boats toward “God’s Pocket,” named for a body of water close by where the catch is always plentiful. In essence, when necessary, they cast their nets “on the other side of the boat.”

e time for, “when necessary,” has come. Statistically speaking, we’re casting our nets on the wrong side of the boat. Jesus is telling us, in this parable, to find God’s Pocket within our communities and cast our nets there. “Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks.”

Because of George Barna’s research and surveys, we now know that children are most receptive to the gospel. It was during that “crucial eight year” period, when at 9-years of age, I was invited to Sunday School at e Salvation Army by neighbor kids who lived down the street. It was there that I became an important statistic – one of the 32 percent, along with my brothers, sister, cousins, mother and dozens of friends. Since then two succeeding generations have now been added to the statistical Book of Life (Saint-making), including an unknown number directly and indirectly influenced otherwise.

ink of this age group (5-12) as one of God’s most prolific and productive pockets. Target this age group and your “catch” numbers will soar. Target this age group in “at risk” neighborhoods—“misfits from the other side of the tracks”—and the “catch” percentages will soar even higher. And you will do your part in shaping the future for God and His church.

When you think about God’s pocket, think about low-income neighborhoods, housing projects, children who are frequenting our daycare centers, youth centers, social service programs, hospitality houses, day camps, and summer camps. ese pockets are oen overlooked. In other words, don’t wait for them to come to you; take the Gospel to where they already are.

Location, Location, Location!Tips for establishing Children’s Pocket Ministry locations in your community:

√ Drive your neighborhoods when children are at play.√ On a map, target those locations that fit your “pocket” parameters√ Pinpoint facilities that might be available for use one aernoon a week, i.e. schools, community centers, churches, lodges, homes, etc. You’d be surprised! Another denomination once let us use space in their church for a mid-week Sunday School. In one community a Salvation Army ri Store was used on Sunday aernoons for Club 3:16 (not opened on Sundays). Ever think about McDonalds as a perfect space? Let the imagination soar.√ Read succeeding chapters for tips on where to go from here.

Prayer: “Lord, help me to see the ‘least likely’ of faces and places in my community.

THINK ATTENTION(Set the Hook)

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Jesus said, “Compel them to come” (Luke 14:23 NIV). iDictionary offers this definition: “Compelling: evoking interest, or admiration in a powerfully, irresistible way.” Do whatever it takes to get their attention. Find the ‘hook’ that will attract them. We need to think of ways that will make our children’s ministries powerfully irresistible! We’re facing fierce competition out there.

Aer deciding upon a location(s), it’s now time to get their attention. What will compel the children to want to get involved? And how do we reach them in a way that is captivating? We have found that a well-designed flyer, with an irresistible hook, works every time.

Creating the HookFollowing is a sampling of “hooks” that have worked for us. ese are shared to whet the appetite. Let your imagination take over from here. Google the Internet and you will find a Cyberspace full of innovative ideas.

√ Lucky Number, Lucky Seat and Lucky Penny Day, or any variation thereof, is guaranteed to evoke interest. Design the flyer accordingly. Select the numbers, seats and penny dates in advance, with a prize for those selected. Be generous.

√ Be An Artist Day. Create a flyer with a Bible character on it. Ask them to color the drawing, artistically, and bring it for judging. Let the children select the winners, but everyone gets a prize. The Bible Story will also be the theme of your program. Go to:

http://www.free-coloring-pages.com/bible.html. Here you will find 100 free printable Bible Coloring pages.

√ Connect the Dots Day. Select a Bible story and create numbered dots around the drawing for them to connect. For example, go to:

http://puzzles.about.com/od/familyfun/a/KidsBible_4.htm. Here you will find a host of “connect the dot” Bible designs. Again, reward them all.

√ Ronald McDonald Day. is was one of our most popular hooks. McDonald’s is happy to make Ronald available to you because it’s good publicity for them. ey will even give you free gi certificates to pass out. ink of other costumed characters you might invite. e possibilities are limitless.

√ Contests will work wonders. A “Bible Bucks Contest” worked best for us. Give the child so many bucks for bringing a new person, attendance, double Bible Buck days, etc. At the end of a 10-week period, have a Bible Buck’s Auction or Carnival where they can spend their bucks. Following is a free template for creating your own unique bucks:

http://www.kidsmoneyfarm.com/biblebucks-2.htm

Bible Detective is another variation of this contest:http : / /www.kidssundayschool .com/Gradeschool/Act iv it ies/BibleDetective/1activity26.php

√ Build each program around a theme and then creatively decide upon the “hook” for that day. Let the imagination flow.

Delivering the Hooke hook has been selected and the flyer created. Now, how do you get it out to the children in a selected location? e following is a sampling of ideas. Let your imagination run.

√ Use children who live in that community to help deliver the flyers door-to-door and distribute to their friends. ey love to do this, especially if there is a treat awaiting them at the finish. Friend or peer evangelism is the most productive of strategies. A “Bring your Friend’s Day” theme will prove extremely productive.

√ Find where children and their parents are congregating, a playground, park, McDonald’s or other similar location. Give them a flyer, along with a verbal invitation. Believe me, they will be responsive. Free babysitting, are you kidding?

√ I know of one ministry that waited at school bus drop off stops, with flyers in hand. In this instance they offered tutoring help with homework, followed by games and a Bible Story. When they arrived back at the corps (church) building, the phone was ringing off the hook. Free tutoring, are you kidding!

To my mind, Google is the 8th Wonder of the World. And to think that we were doing this before the Internet even existed. In a way it’s pretty miraculous. Who needs imagination any more; someone, somewhere has already thought it up. Take full advantage of the unlimited resources out there. “Get eir Attention!” and your children’s ministries will prosper.

Prayer: Lord, free up our imagination in order to make your Gospel compelling!

THINK INVITATION!3

(Make Contact)

Boldly and broadly extend the invitation. Notice that Jesus couples the invitation with the inducement (meal). is is the hook in His parable; it is the attention getter. ese people are hungry. His parable doesn’t instruct them to hang out a sign or to send out fancy invitations. It instructs them to go out into the city streets, alleys and country roads. Go! “Visit.” Compel. Induce. Invite. Create a buzz!

“Invite: to offer an incentive or inducement, to increase the likelihood of, to urge politely” – Webster’s Dictionary.

Evangelism is a contact sport A well-designed flyer le in a screen door is better than nothing; a flyer coupled with a polite, personal invitation (emphasizing the inducement) increases the odds of acceptance a-hundred-fold.

It’s a long story, but when our boys were young we inherited a Basset Hound, Geraldine. ey loved that droopy, sad-eyed dog, jumping on her mercilessly, and pulling her ears ruthlessly as she lay there supinely, or perhaps stupidly, as I was so inclined to believe.

One day we returned home and the wind had blown the gate wide open. Geraldine was gone. e boys wailed and Doris cried, whilst I grinned ear-to-ear. (Inwardly!) My prayers were answered. But, to keep peace in the family, something had to be done.

I called the local newspaper and ran an ad in the Classifieds that read, “Geraldine, come home!” From there it was into the basement where I built a doghouse, painted it white with red trim, the name “Geraldine” lettered above its door. I placed it out in the front yard, went upstairs, sat in my easy chair, TV clicker in hand, and waited for Geraldine to come sauntering home.

Yeah, sure! Not! We had attractive flyers made, announcing a reward with a picture of Geraldine predominantly displayed thereupon. en we distributed them broadly, boldly and personally.

out into the highways and byways, ringing doorbells, talking to everyone we could find, the postman, and newspaper delivery boy, those waiting at the bus stop, the whosoever, creating a buzz.

e following day there was a knock at our door. On the other side was a petite little girl, flyer in hand. She asked, “Did you lose your dog?” “Yes,” we answered. “I think I have her,” she pouted. “Where do you live,” I asked. “Right across the street,” she said, pointing. Geraldine was lost and now is found, the Noland clan rejoicing happily (Save one)!

Extend the InvitationWhat is the moral of this little happy-ending story? Create a buzz. Extend the invitation broadly, boldly, personally, compellingly and the lost will be found.

Lost and Found!

√ Broadly: Plan for the invitation to go out far and wide. Focus on the children, first, and parents, relatives and friends will be influenced by the influence. In other words, provide a positive experience for the children, and the result will be telegraphed far and wide.

√ Boldly: Give the invitation confidently, knowing that you are the messenger; God is the Message! He is extending the invitation through you: “Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]” (Amplified Bible).

√ Personally. Where possible, the invitation must be extended personally. e hesitation comes because we fear rejection. is is the beauty of focusing on the children, because they are less likely to reject the invitation. For example, when approaching parents for the first time they are likely to be suspicious of your offering. at’s why it’s important to extend the invitation with the children present. Our experience has been that, if presented properly, they will always respond something like this: “Mommy, can we go? Please! Please! Mommy, please let us go!” Once the hook is taken, and the program right, it won’t be long before Mommy answers the invitation as well.

√ Compellingly: With children, especially, the initial inducement must be intentioned to get their attention. Once they have experienced the power of the Gospel in a loving, caring environment, this will compellingly become the everlasting incentive.

Prayer: “Lord, embolden me to create a buzz by personally extending the invitation broadly and compellingly!”

Create A Buzz!

THINK NEED4

(Compassion In Action!)

For our purposes, need is broken down into 4 parts: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. ree are temporal; the fourth is eternal. In order to get their attention, initially, we focus on the temporal by appealing to physical, mental and emotional needs. Children want and need to be entertained, especially in this fast-paced, visually oriented, digital age. e competition is great out there and the church must be creative and inventive enough to keep up with it, otherwise we will be le behind.

A Compelling CurriculumAn entertaining and compelling curriculum will attract and hold children temporarily. is is necessary and represents a window of opportunity, opening the way for things eternal.

ere is no need today to purchase an expensive curriculum program, nor is there a need to create your own, unless you are particularly gied and driven in that direction. Cyberspace is filled with every resource needed, expensively created yet free for the using, by and large. And it is visually oriented.

I’m going to share here a couple of Internet resources that appeal to me, but please do your own search. e first is:

http://ministry-to-children.com/

is site also has a page for searching other websites. On the Home page click on “More” in the upper right hand corner, and then on “Sunday School Lessons.” Scroll down to “Search Other Websites.” One example:

Another appealing site:

http://www.smileofachildtv.org/.

ese may or may not be applicable in your part of the world, but the Internet is full of imaginative resources that will meet your individual needs. Editing each site before use is recommended.

First, we must appeal to their temporal needs, physically and mentally. And we do this entertainingly with a variety of incentives and inducements.

More Important an the CurriculumSecond, we must appeal to their emotional needs. Make them feel important. Love them. e care (compassion) is more important than the curriculum. e inducement gets their attention. e invitation gets them there. e entertainment holds them there, temporarily. Love will keep them there.

I think of Mrs. McFadden, who was one of a number of Sunday School teachers I had. She was not well educated and her teaching skills were inherited from the dark ages. We would take turns around the circle reading the portion of the lesson assigned. I knew that my turn was coming and concentrated on making sure I had all the words right. I was as oblivious to what the other kids were reading as they were to me when my turn came. As a teacher, on a scale of 1 to 10, Mrs. McFadden was probably a 1. Her classes were dull and boring.

But she was the finest Sunday School teacher I ever had. She made me feel important. She took a personal interest in me. When I missed a Sunday, there was a post card reminder in the mail followed by a telephone call and finally a visit to my home. She prayed for me, and I knew it. She remembered my birthday and other special occasions. She invited me to her Oceanside home during one summer vacation. She knew how to make me feel important and special. She went out of her way to take a special interest in me when I needed it most. ere were not many who did during those days. I wouldn’t have put up with me. She cared and it came across loud and clear!

A in Lineere is a thin line between compassion and eternity. God is love. Modeling this love – Compassion in Action – transcends that line. If we meet their spiritual need, they will last forever!

What did Jesus say? “You’ll be—and experience—a blessing. ey won’t be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be returned—at the resurrection of God’s people.’”

Prayer: Lord, teach me to emulate you in children’s ministry: “Compassion in Action!”

Be A Blessing!

THINK TENACITY5

(Persistence)e evangelist in the parable said (and I paraphrase), “I went out and extended the invitation just as you had commanded and there is still room.” Jesus said, “Well, go out again. I want my house full. Keep going out until it is filled.”

Tenacious: “tending to hold fast” – “persistent in maintaining or adhering to something valued as habitual.”

Follow Up TenaciouslyTwo things are implied here. Keep going out and getting new converts. Follow up on the converts you already have so that they will keep coming back. Follow up tenaciously. Love tenaciously. Care tenaciously. Follow up! Follow up!

Follow Up!

Again, there are multiple forces out there competing for the attention of our children. David Myers, in his book, e American Paradox, writes: “All told, television beams its electromagnetic waves into children’s eyeballs for more growing-up hours than they spend in school. More hours, in fact, than they spend in any other waking activity.” And this was written before the exploding digital revolution.

e invitation must be creatively extended again and again until they are hooked. For Sunday School, we visited every home on Saturdays with a “Last Minute Reminder.” is reminder always included a creative, compelling hook in order to get their attention again and again.

Today you will be better served doing children’s ministry aer school, rather than competing with the weekend entertainment industry, TV fare included.

Today you can also visit tenaciously from the comfort of your home through Twitter, Facebook and text messaging (always secondary to personal contact, however).

√ Follow up visit a day or two before the weekly event. Children already in your program make good visitors. Split into teams.

√ Personally plan to visit every home at least once a month. is way, parents and other family members get to know and trust you, many of them eventually getting involved.

√ Leave them with a “Last Minute Reminder” flyer, incentive (Hook) clearly communicated.

Prayer: Lord, help us open wide the gates of Heaven by extending your invitation again and again!

THINK SATURATE6

(Play the Percentages)

Jesus said (paraphrase) “Go anywhere, everywhere and collect all you can find – saturate the city with invitations. e more invitations you give, the more who will visit. e more who visit, the more who will bridge into the body. e more you follow up, the higher the percentage of those who will stick. e more who stick, the more His Kingdom will increase. e “Some” will be joining us “at the resurrection of God’s people.” “I am all things to all men so that by all means I might Save Some” (1 Cor. 9:22).

e invitation is extended to many. Out of the many, “some” will respond. e more the “many,” the greater the response. Let’s play the percentages!

Prayer: Lord, help us saturate our communities by extending your invitation again and again!

THINK “MORE!”It Was More an ProgramsJunior Soldier (member) Jenna Gleason sums up the “Saints-making” process in her “Welcome Speech” to new denominational leaders:

It is my privilege to represent the junior soldiers of the Western Territory in welcoming you to the West as our new leaders, at the start of a most important year—the Year for Children and Youth.

I was first acquainted with e Salvation Army about eight years ago through summer day camp and then invited to join Sunbeams and singing company. I enjoyed the activities, but it was more than the programs that kept me coming back—it was the people in the Army, the youth leaders who reached out to me—they accepted me, listened to me, encouraged me, and most of all they loved me.

Today kids are basically the same as we’ve always been, but there are more things than ever before vying for our attention—more activities for us to do. It used to be that young people came to e Salvation Army through Sunday school, but statistics show Sunday school attendance is down. What can the Army do?

In a world of increasing technology, maybe it’s the human interest that’s important. It was, aer all, the humanity of Jesus, and his love, that brought people to God over 2,000 years ago.

Jesus believed in children; the gospels report that he told those who would turn children away to “let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14 NIV)

So, while we do need programs that will first grab our interest, what’s even more important are the leaders who serve in these programs. Give us leaders who will acknowledge us, listen to us, model for us and mentor us, encourage us, pray for us, and empower and equip us to meet the challenges ahead, fully in the arms of Jesus, surrounded and shielded by the light of God.

We need to feel the love of Jesus through our leaders. With this guidance, we will be able to discover and realize God’s purpose for our lives. ank you and God bless you.

And Jenna’s mother, Karen, has been added to the Saint-making “some” total. She is now editor of the denominational publication, New Frontier – “It won’t be long before mommy answers the invitation as well.”

•Selection: Select the population (TARGET) •Attention: Get their attention (HOOK)•Invitation: Give the invitation (COMPEL)•Need: Meet their need (LOVE)•Tenacity: Follow up (PERSIST)•Saturate: (PERCENTAGES)

Think 32%!(Just like the number of pages in this eBook)

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