Orange Leaders Forum » Tag: parents

Orange Leaders Forum » Tag: parents - Recent Topics http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/tags/parents Orange Leaders Forum en-US Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:53:04 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/search.php lisamcc on "Partnering with Parents" http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/partnering-with-parents#post-112 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:24:12 +0000 lisamcc 112@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ In September we launched a new strategy to help our family's "Create Rhythm" in their daily lives. We call it "Live It, Learn It, Use It." Here's how it works. We have a family experience on the first Sunday of each month. At the family experience we launch the new month's virtue. In the launching of the virtue we ask families to accept a mission-which is to "LIve the Virtue, Learn the Verse and Use the Tool." We encourage families to "Create Rhythm" in their day by highlighting one rhythm time of the day each month and then we create an application tool that ties to that time of day. For example in September, we highlighted "BedTime" and we created a pillowcase that had all the virtues (for the season) and memory verses printed on it. Lots of GREAT feedback and stories on how families have "accepted" the mission and are literally "Creating Rhythm" in their week (at bedtime) to talk about wisdom and how they have applied it during the day/week! In October we will be highlighting "MorningTime" and we'll give them a glass cling with the virtue they put on their bathroom mirror along with a marker that writes on glass-so they can "Create Rhythm" and talk about the virtue while they get ready for their day. In November we will highlight "MealTime" with a placemat. Again to "Create Rhythm" in their day as they accept the mission to "Live the Virtue, Learn the Verse and Use the Tool" and talk about faith while they share a meal. In December, I'd like to highlight "DriveTime" with some type of CD, with Christmas music. Then we'll re-highlight each time of a families day through out the season. Our Small Group Leaders use this language to "Create Rhythm" within in their small group time and as they connect with families. We hope this idea is a blessing to all of you folks out their moving to His rhythm as we partner with families to raise a revolutionary generation who will Love God, Love People and Serve the World. We'd love to hear from you-Blessings! Lisa McCarthy Beth Nelson on "How can I get families to reinvent family time?" http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/how-can-i-get-families-to-reinvent-family-time#post-14 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:19:29 +0000 Beth Nelson 14@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ First, cast vision for what can happen at home. Fuel passion for their roles as parents, giving them reasons and practical ideas for the value of family time. Next, provide resources as tools and communicate the how and why of each resource (FamilyTimes Virtue Pack, God Time cards, Refrigerator Door cards, Small Talk, For Heaven’s Sake, HomeWork, etc. See the <a href="https://secure.rethinkgroup.org/store/home.php">reThink Store</a> for these resources.). You could package a month's worth of tools in a cool way (create a custom printed "toolbox" using a Happy Meal box, paper gift bag, folder, or plastic bag). Another way to encourage the dialogue is to set up a section of your web site where parents can share ideas on what’s been helpful to them. If your church website doesn't have space or bandwidth for this, you can set up a blog web site through <a href="http://www.wordpress.com/">Wordpress</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Blogger</a>, <a href="http://www.typepad.com/">Typepad</a>, or any other source. Beth Nelson on "In elementary ages is it more important to teach the Bible or character?" http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/in-elementary-ages-is-it-more-important-to-teach-the-bible-or-character#post-9 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:34:37 +0000 Beth Nelson 9@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ It is interesting that some leaders try to polarize those issues in order to promote a “survey of the Bible” or systematic approach to teaching, instead of being strategic about how they teach content. Asking which one of the two is more important - teaching the Bible or teaching character - is like asking Jesus if it's more important to love God or to love your neighbor. Both are connected and both are important. If you teach scripture, you are going to teach people how to treat the world around them and how to look at themselves from God’s point of view. As a result there will be a change in character, as described in the Fruits of the Spirit passage in Ephesians. What is important is to make sure you are not simply trying to get kids to behave or perform outside of a context of a relationship with God and His Spirit. We often remind children that character or a virtue is “something God does in them to change the world around them.” Our 252 Basics materials create an environment where kids are shown God’s character through Biblical illustrations and principles. They learn that the Bible is the source of truth and that it is like a sword, mirror, letter, seed. We teach them that God wants us to know Him and become a reflection of His character so we can let others see Him. It not only teaches the knowledge of Scripture and God’s character through Biblical teaching, but encourages practical application in their lives so that they won’t just come to church or do church, but be the church shining light and showing others who God is. Weekly Bible stories are arranged around a monthly theme or virtue as a way to create a focus and to help parents get on the same page. The virtue themes have proven very helpful in engaging parents to participate in the strategy, even parents who are not Christians or are new to the faith. paulluna on "How to Cast Vision to Families" http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/how-to-cast-vision-to-families#post-133 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:44:44 +0000 paulluna 133@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ I am looking at new ways to cast vision to our families so I read through every wall post I could find on the subject. I then took the ones I thought were helpful to me and combined them into this one post. I did not come up with these ideas, I simply compiled other people’s ideas. This one comes from lisamcc Lisa McCarthy <a href="http://orangeleaders.com/forums/topic.php?id=49" rel="nofollow">http://orangeleaders.com/forums/topic.php?id=49</a> In September we launched a new strategy to help our family's "Create Rhythm" in their daily lives. We call it "Live It, Learn It, Use It." Here's how it works. We have a family experience on the first Sunday of each month. At the family experience we launch the new month's virtue. In the launching of the virtue we ask families to accept a mission-which is to "LIve the Virtue, Learn the Verse and Use the Tool." We encourage families to "Create Rhythm" in their day by highlighting one rhythm time of the day each month and then we create an application tool that ties to that time of day. For example in September, we highlighted "BedTime" and we created a pillowcase that had all the virtues (for the season) and memory verses printed on it. Lots of GREAT feedback and stories on how families have "accepted" the mission and are literally "Creating Rhythm" in their week (at bedtime) to talk about wisdom and how they have applied it during the day/week! In October we will be highlighting "MorningTime" and we'll give them a glass cling with the virtue they put on their bathroom mirror along with a marker that writes on glass-so they can "Create Rhythm" and talk about the virtue while they get ready for their day. In November we will highlight "MealTime" with a placemat. Again to "Create Rhythm" in their day as they accept the mission to "Live the Virtue, Learn the Verse and Use the Tool" and talk about faith while they share a meal. In December, I'd like to highlight "DriveTime" with some type of CD, with Christmas music. Then we'll re-highlight each time of a families day through out the season. Our Small Group Leaders use this language to "Create Rhythm" within in their small group time and as they connect with families. We hope this idea is a blessing to all of you folks out their moving to His rhythm as we partner with families to raise a revolutionary generation who will Love God, Love People and Serve the World. We'd love to hear from you-Blessings! Lisa McCarthy This one comes from Beth <a href="http://orangeleaders.com/forums/topic.php?id=14" rel="nofollow">http://orangeleaders.com/forums/topic.php?id=14</a> First, cast vision for what can happen at home. Fuel passion for their roles as parents, giving them reasons and practical ideas for the value of family time. Next, provide resources as tools and communicate the how and why of each resource (FamilyTimes Virtue Pack, God Time cards, Refrigerator Door cards, Small Talk, For Heaven’s Sake, HomeWork, etc. See the reThink Store for these resources.). You could package a month's worth of tools in a cool way (create a custom printed "toolbox" using a Happy Meal box, paper gift bag, folder, or plastic bag). Another way to encourage the dialogue is to set up a section of your web site where parents can share ideas on what’s been helpful to them. If your church website doesn't have space or bandwidth for this, you can set up a blog web site through Wordpress, Blogger, Typepad, or any other source. This one comes from Beth <a href="http://www2.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic.php?id=12" rel="nofollow">http://www2.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic.php?id=12</a> Vision leaks, so it must be done constantly, creatively, and in as many ways as can be done. Here are some ideas that might help: Launch a new ministry season with Orange Night. Cast vision for why you are doing what you do (the strategy behind Orange) as well as the content you might be covering, but make it fun. You might hand out Orange glow sticks and play some great music. If you want to make it a true family event, try showing the "Skeeples and Lomes" DVD to parents and kids together. Finish off the night with orange sherbert, vanilla ice cream, and orange toppings. If you do a monthly FX (Family Experience), it’s a great chance to cast vision. Give parents the monthly Parent Link Live parenting podcast to help them understand how they can win at home. Some churches even start the family experience a few minutes early, and while the kids warm up with some songs, parents gather for a few minutes with the senior pastor or another church leader who gives a short (5-7 minute) talk on parenting values or the church’s Orange strategy. At the end of the year, throw an Ovations event where you celebrate your volunteers. Many of your volunteers are parents, and while you are appreciating their hard work, you have yet another opportunity to remind why what they do is so important. Create a highlights video of what goes on "back there" so parents can see what it looks and feels like, and play these videos prior to the adult service when appropriate. Work with your church’s senior leadership, lead pastor, and eldership for their communication and support. Talk with your senior pastor about possibly doing an Orange series for adults. Encourage parents to tap into Amber Sky, where the vision gets reinforced once again through music and creative arts. This I read from "Learning to Lead : Bringing Out the Best in People" by Smith, Fred and I simplified it. p.34-36 1. Define it specifically. In my view, nothing is properly defined until you write it down. 2. Express it so other people understand it. A good statement of purpose is straightforward. It comes right to the point. 3. Get both organizational and personal acceptance of the vision. Gather Others around the Vision. Organizational acceptance means the majority will vote for the motion. 4. Repeat the purpose over and over. One very effective leader used this phrase in his vision setting: “Say it simply, boldly, and repeat it often.” I hope this can help someone else. Paul Luna Beth Nelson on "How do we cast vision for parents and engage into the strategy?" http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/how-do-we-cast-vision-for-parents-and-engage-into-the-strategy#post-12 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:54:18 +0000 Beth Nelson 12@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ Vision leaks, so it must be done constantly, creatively, and in as many ways as can be done. Here are some ideas that might help: <ul> <li>Launch a new ministry season with Orange Night. Cast vision for why you are doing what you do (the strategy behind Orange) as well as the content you might be covering, but make it fun. You might hand out Orange glow sticks and play some great music. If you want to make it a true family event, try showing the "Skeeples and Lomes" DVD to parents and kids together. Finish off the night with orange sherbert, vanilla ice cream, and orange toppings. </li> <li>If you do a monthly FX (Family Experience), it’s a great chance to cast vision. Give parents the monthly Parent Link Live parenting podcast to help them understand how they can win at home. Some churches even start the family experience a few minutes early, and while the kids warm up with some songs, parents gather for a few minutes with the senior pastor or another church leader who gives a short (5-7 minute) talk on parenting values or the church’s Orange strategy. </li> <li>At the end of the year, throw an Ovations event where you celebrate your volunteers. Many of your volunteers are parents, and while you are appreciating their hard work, you have yet another opportunity to remind why what they do is so important. </li> <li>Create a highlights video of what goes on "back there" so parents can see what it looks and feels like, and play these videos prior to the adult service when appropriate. Work with your church’s senior leadership, lead pastor, and eldership for their communication and support. Talk with your senior pastor about possibly doing an Orange series for adults. </li> <li>Encourage parents to tap into Amber Sky, where the vision gets reinforced once again through music and creative arts.</li> </ul> todd4h2 on "First my first attempt at going Orange..." http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/first-my-first-attempt-at-going-orange#post-31 Sun, 17 May 2009 20:29:44 +0000 todd4h2 31@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ We had our first parent meeting today. I gave a very quick over view of the Orange strategy and laid out some opportunities to serve. I think it went great. Keep us in your prayers. Our student ministry has been extremely program driven and we have been very much our own silo. This is going to be a major overhaul for us. Beth Nelson on "How do I engage unchurched parents?" http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/how-do-i-engage-unchurched-parents#post-15 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:32:06 +0000 Beth Nelson 15@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ Vision casting is essential when engaging unchurched parents. Help them to see the need met by your ministry by keeping in mind that parents are silently asking you to do three things: 1. Give me the plan. 2. Show me how it works. 3. Tell me what to do today. God Time cards, Refrigerator Door cards, and other resources included in reThink curriculums will help incorporate parents into the Orange strategy. Family Experience productions are another way to invite unchurched parents into your ministry in a relevant and non-threatening way. Additionally, at the appropriate time, enlist these parents on the team by explaining, "I partner with you and you partner with me to help develop your child's spiritual life." You can also incorporate quarterly "one phone call" family social events into your calendar. These are events which are easily set up with only one phone call - hayrides, renting an ice skating rink or bowling alley, etc.