Childrens Ministry Update

8 November 2012

Children’s Ministries Update by Angela Moyer

Cross Factor is held on a Friday night and includes a number of activities for children 3-15 years old.  We started the year with 20 Children and we now have 30 children who attend on a regular basis and 11 leaders who help out in the different activities. 

The night begins with Choir which is for children 7 years and older.  We currently have 13 children in our choir with David Dobbie as the leader.  While the older children are at Choir we have Music Fun for the younger children.  This involves the children singing fun songs and playing a few games.  Music Fun is led by Samantha Wilkinson and we have 15 children attending.

Following Choir and Music Fun the children, leaders and some parents all share dinner together.  We are very fortunate to have our dinner supplied and prepared for us by Robyn and Alan Moyer and Vicki and Bruce McNeill. 

The children then move into our Kids Club program (Sunday School).  The children split up into 3 different groups.  The first one is for 3-5 year olds and Charlotte McNeill is the leader of this group of 14 children with the help of Samantha Wilkinson and Alan Moyer.  The second group is for 6-10 year olds, we have 11 children attending this group with Diana Perry leading and Scott Dolan assisting her. Our final group is a new group we have just started this term for the older children (11-15 years). Rhys Wilson has taken on the responsibility of this group of 4 children.

The children then all join together for Praise and Worship.  This is normally led by me and the children enjoy singing together as well as sharing some time in prayer.

The children finish the night with Junior Band and Junior Timbrels.  We have 8 children in Junior Band which is led by Brad Strong with Alan Moyer and Daryl Watson helping.  Junior Timbrels consists of 5 children and Charlotte McNeill is the leader of this group.  The younger children who are too young for Junior Band and Junior Timbrels are supervised by Samantha Wilkinson.  These 8 children spend their time watching a movie or playing some games.

As you can see Friday nights are very busy with lots of children doing many different activities.  Although we do have a number of leaders there are still some activities in which we need more help urgently, these include Music Fun, Kids Club (6-10 years), Kids Club (11-15 years), Timbrels and the supervision of the younger children.  I ask you to prayerfully consider if you could help out in any way on a Friday night.  You do not need to commit to every week; maybe you can help us fortnightly or monthly.  I firmly believe that Friday nights are a success and we have seen God working but we need your help.

 Street Dreams commenced in July and is held on a Monday afternoon for children 8-18 years.  This program is run by dancers from MMAD and the children are encouraged to come along and have some fun while learning dance in a positive environment.

We hold a Junior class which currently has 20 children attending on a regular basis and the Senior class has 10.  Rhys Wilson and I come along every week to join in so we can get to know the children and build relationships.  We are also there as a link to the Church and our children’s activities.  In the short time this program has been running we have formed a number of relationships with not only the children but their families and been able to support them in a number of ways.  We have also made the link with one family who now attends Cross Factor and another 2 boys who are now attending our Junior Youth Group.

I am currently supplying afternoon tea for the children because they come straight from school to Street Dreams however if you think that this is a way you could help support this program it would be greatly appreciated. 

 SAGALA has been running at this Corps for many years and is still a very effective ministry.  It is held on a Tuesday night at 6.30pm and currently has around 50 boys and girls attending regularly.  A number of the SAGALA leaders have been working in this ministry for many years and have watched hundreds of children come through this program.  At this stage we have the boys and the girls working together with the Moonbeams and Explorers being led by Lorelle Hamilton and her helpers Kylie Thompson, Kimberly Richards, Jo Setter and Bill Setter.  Marilyn Rule is the leader of the Sunbeams and Adventurers with Lyn Lines, Mrs A, Kylie Saville and Edwin Murphy as her helpers.  The Guards and Rangers are led by Shannon Sanderson and she is supported by Raelene Rule, Neryl Young and Mandy Richards.  If you feel you could be an asset to this team of SAGALA workers and would like to help I would be more then happy to hear from you.

 Junior Soldiers meets on a Sunday morning at 8.45am. Peter Johns and I work with this group of 6 children as we teach and encourage them to grow in their love for God.

 Mainly Music is held on a Friday morning at 9.30am.  The children and parents enjoy singing and dancing led by Renae Strong.  After this the children all share morning tea together before the toys are put out for them to play with.  While the children play the parents then enjoy their own morning tea. 

We currently have around 56 parents and children that attend on a regular basis.  This would not be possible if it wasn’t for all those helpers who supply food, those who help in the kitchen and those who help with our session.  Thank you Christine Rees, Betty Adams, Ella Stegmann, Gayle Harlow, Samantha Wilkinson, Petrina Dolan, Mrs Walton, Major Walters, Thelma White, Marj Berghoffer, Elsa Harlow, Raelene Irland, Lauren Bonar and Joy Whybird for all your help with this ministry.

Although we have a number of helpers we really need more to keep this ministry running effectively.  If you feel you could help in any way please let me know.

 Junior Youth Group is a new program that has just started for children 10-13 years of age.  This will be held on a monthly basis with the first one held last Saturday night.  We had 9 children, including children from Cross Factor and Street Dreams as well as some friends come along and enjoy a night of Wii games.

At this stage I am the leader and Aaron Johns has come on board as a Junior Leader.  I urgently need someone else to help out with this group so I ask you to prayerfully consider if this is something you may be able to do.

As you can see we have many children’s activities happening in our Corps throughout the week.  Overall as a Church we have the chance to reach out to over 100 children, not to mention the families that are linked to these children.   Can I ask you all to pray for our Children’s ministries; I believe that God is working and wants to see the children of this Church grow and see us, as a Church, reach out to not only the children but the families as well.  However this would not be possible if it wasn’t for our great leaders and we need more just like them. 

 I ask you to prayerfully consider this;

• What are you doing to reach out to the children and the families involved in our Children’s Ministries?
•  Is there more you could be doing?

 If you would like to help in any way or would like some more information please come and see me, I would love to hear from you!