I give God all the glory for giving me the grace to study at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Margret Blackburn and Beechwood Baptist Church of Louisville, Kentucky, for the opportunity to do this project at the church and for their valuable input in making this project happen. I am grateful to all the teachers of the children's service for their cooperation in carrying out this project.
It would not have been possible to complete this project without the gracious support of my dear husband, Emmanuel Olusola Fasipe. Thank you for encouraging and supporting me to undergo this study at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary;. I am grateful to our dear children Oluwaseun and Paul, Titilayo, Emmanuel, Oluwatunmise and Marley for their prayers, encouragement and valuable contributions to the successful completion of this project.
INTRODUCTION
Assessing the Current Understanding and The practice of Teaching the Children
The first objective was to improve the current children's ministry teachers' . understanding and practice to teach the children. The survey data collected was used to 1) analyze whether there is a correlation between the age groups and the .. ministry work, and the degree of understanding of their ministry work; 2) discover what degree or percentage they spoke positively and negatively in their understanding of ministry or teaching work in the children's ministry; and 3) understand the participant population to design a program that fits their need. The goal was considered successfully achieved when all the teachers returned the completed survey for analysis.
The analyzes provided a clearer picture of children's ministry teachers' understanding and practices, as shown in the analysis in chapter 4.1.
Developing the Training Manual
Equipping the Teachers
Developing the Ministry Plan
Based on the data analysis of the pre- and post-survey responses in Chapter 4, the data were analyzed based on the perspective of each question to determine which areas showed the most significant changes. As shown in the explanatory charts in Chapter 4, these questions show a clear increase in the degree to which participants agree or strongly agree in the post-survey (81.8 percent) than in the pre-survey (23.3 percent). There was a noticeably smaller range in the answers to questions 16 and 20 after the survey compared to the answers before the survey.
While questions and 18 show no significant change in the pre- and post-survey responses, the training had no significant impact on these questions. The project contributed to the increase in the children's ministry teachers' knowledge about what a biblical children's ministry entails. The teachers were exposed to the biblical truth of the vocation and teaching gift in their lives.
Another strength of the project is that it focuses on a specific ministry within the church and a small number of participants. Further, the project provided a process by which to assess prior knowledge of children's ministry teachers' understanding of children's ministry. Participants learned from each other as they participated in discussion questions and answers, scripture.
One of the weaknesses of the project is measuring the participants' years of experience. No steps were taken to determine participants' lifetimes of service in children's services. Teachers with years of experience may have a better understanding of the service than those who have just joined.
Another weakness of the project is that the training manual is designed only for the teachers. Also, during the training, some sessions were cut short due to the following reasons: (1) some teachers were not available to complete the training. Some of them had to leave the city to settle family or household problems.
Would Do Differently
Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise you because of your youth, but set an example for the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (ESV). Children's Ministry Teachers Should Be a Godly Example for Children In this passage, Paul admonishes Timothy to be a godly example to other believers in Christ. In the same vein, teachers of children's ministry should be models for children by demonstrating a godly example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity in their dealings with children.
Their actions every day, anywhere and in every situation should be in line with God's word so that children can imitate such behavior in life. Timothy's grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice, were able to make a difference by teaching Timothy the way of the Lord. Children's ministry teachers should allow God's love to flow through their lives to others, and as the children watch, learn and interact with the teachers, they will know what Christlike love is.
Teachers should live their lives in such a way that the children they teach will see Christ in them.
The Ministry Plan
Appointed children's ministry teachers will be taken through a study of the teaching materials by the church leadership for at least a month before they are allowed to teach the children. The teaching materials must be revised annually to address the current needs of the children. Teachers must understand the expectation of the church, parents and the children in the organization of the children's ministry.
Teachers can spend time with children who arrive early for more activities that prepare them for what they will experience in the larger groups when other children have come. As the children learn the truth of the scriptures, they should have opportunities to associate with their peers and teachers to practice and demonstrate what they are learning. Evaluate each learning activity and learn from activities that went well and need to be reviewed.
The New Interpreter's Bible: General articles and introduction, commentary and reflection for each book of the Bible, including the. How a biblical worldview shapes the way we teach our children." The Journal of Discipleship & Family Ministry 4, no. 34;The Church's Role in Teaching." In The Teaching Ministry of the Church: Integrating Biblical Truth with Contemporary Application, edited by Eldridge, Daryl, 89-104.
The purpose of this project is to equip the children's ministry teachers at Beechwood Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky to teach children about biblical basics. First, the chapter examines God's command to teach children to love, obey, and fear God.
