June 2007

Welcome to WWM Talk, the e-newsletter for Walk With Me coordinators and teachers. If you have any questions about information in this issue (or anything else), give us a call at 1-800-333-8300 or e-mail us.

In This Issue

Preplanning for next year . . . before the summer sails away!

Happy Endings

Another Sunday school year has gone by. It’s time to breathe a sigh of relief and whisper a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s continued faithfulness in your midst! As you stroll through empty classrooms, notice the stained carpet and crusty Play-Doh remnants. Smile at the drawers full of dry markers, knotted balls of yarn, and left-behind projects. These are signs of life and evidence of ministry—reasons to rejoice!

Fresh Starts

My vacation packing ritual always includes household chores. I can’t stand the thought of coming home from summer paradise to face dust bunnies and dirty dishes! As your faith formation programs switch gears for the season, consider these preplanning ideas to help you face the coming year with a smile.

Nuts and Bolts

To keep the ministry going . . .

• Check on teachers
Is everyone still smiling and on board for next year?

• Update the lists
Note the kids that have moved and check for changes in phone numbers or addresses.

• Revise the forms
Does your church ed. registration form still say 1998? Update the paperwork and safety procedures to include the most current information for registrations, volunteer applications, and abuse prevention policies.

• Enlist new leaders
Cast the vision for your programs by telling stories of the way God worked this year! Let people know that Sunday school is a vital ministry that has an eternal impact. Look for ways to include people in your summer programs who don’t usually serve in children’s ministry. They may just get hooked and stick around!

• Order the materials
There’s nothing like the panic you feel when a teacher says, “Hey, doesn’t Sunday school start soon?” and you realize you haven’t ordered the new material! Those summer days sneak by quickly, so get this chore out of the way before you forget.

• Count the cash
Peak at the books to make sure your records and spending are on track. You’ll need the numbers to put together next year’s budget proposal . . . and to convince the committee that Popsicle sticks are a worthy investment.

• Save the date
Schedules fill up quickly, so choose dates for the Sunday school kick-off, parent orientation, and teacher training while there is still some room on the church calendar.

• Restock the supplies
. . . But make sure you keep them under lock and key during the summer ministry programs!

Dreams and Visions

To keep the ministry growing . . .

• Remember
Set aside time to remember the highs and lows of this year. Wonder and imagine what God might have in mind for the next time around!

• Reflect

Revisit your ministry goals—the ones you have written down and the ones deep within your heart. Do they still reflect your passions and your church’s sense of calling? Where have you seen progress? Where is there room for growth?

• Receive

Begin to pray for God’s leading, direction, and provision for the new ministry season. God is able to do immeasurably more than all you could ask or imagine!

Preplanning Resources:

Conferences

Teacher training is easier than ever with the annual conference at Kuyper College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and new regional mini-conferences in the U.S. and Canada! Come on your own to the workshop and receive resources to train your teachers next fall. Or register your whole teaching team to learn together and connect with other teachers who are passionate about nurturing faith growth in kids! Click here for conference details and to read the bios of our featured presenters. Or click here to download a brochure.

Here’s what coordinators said about the 2006 Conference:

“I LOVED the music lady!!! I loved all the movement and involvement with older to younger students.”
Note: The “music lady,” Sherry Merz, will be back again this year!

“I think it was an outstanding idea to give us materials we can duplicate at home—and we have every intention of doing so.”

“The time to sit with other Sunday school ministry leaders and talk is important. . . . I always come home excited to start the year.”

Workshops

Did you know that the Walk With Me website has a section for support that includes workshops you can download to use for teacher training? Check it out here.

Preventing Child Abuse
	This great resource will help you update the forms and policies you have in place to create a safe environment for your kids.

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