We REALLY want to help you!!

We really want to help you disciple your children.

Here are a list of online resources to directly help you connect with what we are doing at Emmanuel Baptist Church.

• This site, www.ekidzministry.com, is our brand new web address for parent resources.  This site contains family worship ideas and parenting resources.
• www.ekidzresources.blogspot.com is specifically designed for teachers but contains videos and other resources specific to Sunday lessons.  A great way to know what your kids are learning on Sunday mornings is to serve in our EKIDZ ministry.  Some parents serve in their kid's class and others serve in a different age group.  
• www.generationsofgrace.com is the curriculum we use on Sundays.  You can order family devotional books, additional copies of the coloring book and activity book we use.
• You can email children@emmanuelbaptist.com if you have any questions or suggestions. 

Here are a list of general online resources that are helpful for families.  We post other resources at www.ekidzministry.com

• Keys for Kids.  www.keysforkids.org  Under 5 minute devotionals with Bible verses, a key point and questions.
• Adventures in Odyssey.  www.whitsend.org   Fictional stories for elementary aged kids.  The stories have Biblical point and are about 25 minutes long.

Simple Sandwiches & Sinking Ships

First of all I want to write about the sinking ships.  
I recently found this quote from the book Why Men Hate Going to Church.

The church and the Titanic have something in common: It’s women and children first. The great majority of ministry in Protestant churches is focused on children, next on women... 

In our EKIDZ ministry we understand the importance of sharing God's Word with kids.
We also want to emphasize and teach the fact that parents are the primary disciple-makers in a child's life.
The main reason for spending the money we did on our children's wing wasn't to have a fun place for kids.  
We spent the money we did and designed the building the way we did is because we want to more effectively, passionately, creatively help families grow in Christ.
Even more specific, we want to challenge dads to lead their families.
That is why the blog exists. That is what teachers are regularly reminded of in notes and training times.

Our EKIDZ ministry is not all about the kids! 
It is all about our Great God! 
 It is all about providing opportunities for parents and kids to get into God's Word and worship our wonderful Savior. 

Now what about Simple Sandwiches?
One of the best ways to encourage parents towards godliness is to spend time with other parents who desire God.
On Sunday, September 20 (and a SECOND one on October 18), we are going to have Simple Sandwich Lunch for families with kids 5th grade and under.
It will take place in the fellowship after the service.  
You will be sitting with your family and discussing Sunday's EKIDZ lesson and the sermon.
Some family meal discussion starters will be provided.
There will be a brief (10 minute) challenge/resource sharing time for the spiritual leader of the family.
To reserve your family's table, email drodgers @ emmanuelbaptist.com
The menu is cold cut sandwiches and peanut butter sandwiches (Parents, we are making arrangements for those with peanut allergies)
We have limited seating so please email Pastor Dave sooner than later. 
This is the same Sunday that 1st - 3rd graders are in church.  So there will be some resources to help discuss the sermon.

Families, plan to join us for a simple meal and great family discussion!

The Crime Happening in Your Church & Preparing for the Beginning!!

This is taken from an article that was posted in 2013.

"Last year my oldest son went through a phase where he refused to finish his dinner and frankly his mother and I were tired of trying to meet his every whim. After going back and forth without any progress, I decided we would only feed him once a week. It was risky I know. As you can imagine the first week his energy level dropped and he wasn’t his normal energetic self. The good news however was every Sunday I took him out to eat at a nice restaurant and let someone else feed him. He was able to fill up, but then it was back to no food during the week.”Let me stop here. 

Obviously, THE ABOVE DID NOT TAKE PLACE. However, it is happening spiritually every week in homes around the world. 

THE PROBLEM:  The Crime 
Parents are outsourcing the complete spiritual training of their children out to church leadership and hoping for the best.  Most Moms and Dads have bought the lie that a couple of hours in Kid’s church will give their kids everything they need for their spiritual growth. Wrong.

To read the rest of the article go to http://www.nathanrouse.org/the-crime-happening-in-your-church/

To find out how EBC is trying to fight this PROBLEM continue reading.

We have several resources to help parents know what their kids are learning about and engage their kids in what they are learning.

WEEKLY TAKE HOME SHEETS:  Each week, in your child's classroom there are half sheets with the memory verse, some questions and application points from that week's lesson, prayer items which include one of missionary families and an EBC related ministry.

QUARTERLY FAMILY MINISTRY GUIDE:  This is a collection of the weekly guides for the whole quarter.  These are available in the rack by the check in area and online.

YEAR LONG FAMILY DEVOTIONAL BOOK:  This brand new resource from Generations of Grace is available for purchase at www.generationsofgrace.com.  This book contains 5 daily devotions for each lesson.  You can view a sample of the first two weeks HERE.

CHURCH-WIDE BIBLE MEMORY PROGRAM:  We have set up our EKIDZ Bible memory verse system for 2 years old through adults.  You can find out more at blog.emmanuelbaptist.com/biblememory

KIDS IN CHURCH:  At least twice a quarter, we don't have our regularly schedule 1st - 3rd grade program for kids.  On these Sunday's kids are in the church with their parents, grandparents or other adults.  You can find out more about this by clicking HERE

SOME SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES TO HELP FAMILIES:  On September 20, we are having a Simple Sandwich lunch for families with kids 5th grade under.  Read more about it HERE

Finishing the Bible Tomorrow & Preparing for Genesis Next Week.

FINISHING THE BIBLE TOMORROW!!!

We have gone from Genesis to Revelation over these last 3 years!
Thank you to all the teachers and parents that were so helpful and faithful
in teaching God's Word!
This review video is a great summary of what we have been teaching during this time!


The Big Story from The Gospel Project | LifeWay on Vimeo.


PREPARING FOR SEPTEMBER

Generations of Grace, the curriculum we use, has put together a new family resource. 

This Family Devotional Book has 5 days of devotionals connected with each week's lesson.

You can click HERE for a sample of this lesson.

This would be a great resource for families to do together.

How do I use the Family Devotional?

The Family Devotional provides five daily devotionals that correspond with each lesson in the teacher book. It was created to make children’s ministry what children’s ministry should be—a way to equip and encourage parents to fulfill their duty to train up their children in the Lord. Each daily devotional indicates the portion of the passage to be read, provides concise insights into the passage, and suggests questions and discussion ideas, some simple for young children and others requiring a lot of thought for older children and adults. It also includes pictures illustrating the lesson.

You can order one of these books at generationsofgrace.squarespace.com/products/
We may also have some copies available for purchase.

Family Worship Guide for 08.23

Children's Ministry Coordinator Diane Smith

Diane Smith, EBC's children's ministry coordinator sharing a little of her testimony and
the philosophy of children's ministry.


Emmanuel Children's Ministry Introduction - Director Diane Smith from Emmanuel Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Family Worship Guide for 08.16