Leading Small to Yield God-Sized Results

"If we want to influence what kids believe about God, themselves, and the rest of the world, we need to give them somewhere to belong." Reggie Joiner

Mavis' Art Class

Kreek Kids has recently made a decision to 'Lead Small' while looking for God-sized results! What does this mean in actual practice?

1. In order to impact the next generation, we are creating intentional small group experiences where kids can have fun learning and where relationships can grow.
   
   
2. For us, this means Sunday morning breakout groups have started for our 4th & 5th graders where kids may explore the arts, learn something new or review what they've learned in their large group time for the day in a creative way. 
     
3. Starting in October, we are opening a weekly small group, for 1st & 2nd-grade girls, during Sunday morning 10:30am services with Miss Dea! Dea currently teaches our preschool class once-a-month on our Saturday team and wants to do more to impact the next generation of heroes at AC3. This group of girls will meet in our Orange Room which we love! Why? We believe the Orange strategy of partnering with parents and caring adults is a winner and we have attended the Orange Tour the last three years! What a great room to start this weekly group!
   

Below is an email from Miss Dea to our parents. Feeling the nudge?  This can be your invitation to 'Lead Small' with us. Enjoy!

Choosing to Lead Small

Dear Parents, 

For those of you who don't know me my name is Deanna Braaten. Many of you may know me as Miss Dea.

My husband and I have been long-time supporters of Kreek Kids and our adult children have all been part of children's ministry in one way or another. Our youngest daughter is currently a Kreek Kid.

I have been praying about where God is leading me in Kreek Kids. Over the last few years, several key things have taken place in my life. 

First, with my own daughter beginning elementary school, I see the need for strong faith conversations in this developmental age range. Secondly, attending the annual Orange conference reinforces my belief in partnering with families to build a strong faith foundation. And finally, I have a deep desire to serve in ministries that promote legacy.

With all that said, I'm joining Twila in the development of Kreek Kids breakouts and small group leader implemented lessons.

Your child is invited to join me and Michelle Daniels on Sundays in the orange room for small group lessons and activities. Your child will begin in 'big' church as usual and be dismissed during the service. They will meet in the blue room for the big idea and the large group time. We then will bring our small group to the orange room (Prepare the Way Classroom) for our lesson. You are able to pick up your child from us there at 11:45. This small group time is set aside specifically for 1st and 2nd-grade girls.

We are very excited to see how this small group builds strong faith foundations and positive and encouraging relationships. The idea that each child grows and develops a sense of identity, belonging and purpose in Christ is at the forefront of our approach to children's ministry.

Our initial plan is to implement our breakouts and small groups each Sunday from October to May.

Please let me or Twila know if you have any questions. You may also be thinking this sounds like something you may be interested in joining too! Come talk with us. We'd love to chat over coffee or tea.

Thank you,
Most Sincerely
Miss Dea

AC3 + Kreek Kids Parents = A Great Partnership

Video Blog Option

As we head into one of the biggest KidMin seasons ever, I'd like to share a couple of reasons why partnering with Kreek Kids is a great idea, and hopefully, in a way, you may have never thought about before. Because when we combine the LIGHT of the church with the LOVE of the home*, we create real opportunities to help entire families grow in their faith!

When someone chooses to help in Kreek Kids, they help fulfill AC3's #1 mission…to create a SAFE place for seekers to become fully devoted followers of Christ. And yes! That includes our littlest seekers at AC3.

Now I know not everyone feels they have what it takes to work with kids, but one of the best ways you can help support our kids is to support those who do; our parents, teachers, and helpers. Kreek Kids, A Co-op Ministry.

So when you help in Kreek Kids, you provide parent support. Helping as little as just once-a-month, you help provide SAFE staffing ratios in Kreek Kids, giving our visiting parents, the confidence that their child will be SAFE with us! And when parents feel their kids are SAFE and having fun, they can relax and soak in the weekend’s message.

And when you help in Kreek Kids, you provide teacher support. Our teaching teams need and deserve a healthy support system. Even the most committed Kreek Kids volunteers are sometimes left feeling alone and wondering if what they do matters. When you choose to serve along-side of them as little as once-a-month, you can encourage them (be there cheerleader when needed) helping them feel valued and supported. When you do, they will become better at what they do and be reassured that they are making a difference and are part of the bigger picture at AC3!

Now, I’ve saved the best reason for partnering with Kreek Kids for last…This next year we are projecting to have our biggest group of 1-5th graders ever in one room; Saturday or Sunday depending on when families choose to attend. So we are actively looking for age-level teachers or something new we're calling Breakout Buddies for our 1&2 or 3-5th graders; boys, girls or both. An example of a Breakout Buddy’s day would look something like this: You would start in the main classroom with our 1-5th graders for about 20 min. during large group teaching time. You would then be dismissed with your small group of kids (5-6) to another room for a craft, carpentry project, baking or game time, sewing project, science experiment, music, dance or another activity of the Breakout Buddy’s choice!

So if you like to bake for example, and we’re talking about the Israelite's eating Manna, you can become a Baking Breakout Buddy for the day and help the kids bake a yummy cookie to help them remember their lesson.

And did I said you can serve as little as once-a-month in Kreek Kids? 😉

So during July, pick up your copy of our Kreek Kids Entry Level Positions at the Info Desk and let's chat about options over coffee! Just sign up to have coffee with me this month and you'll be able to ASK ANYTHING about Kreek Kids!

Our Kreek Kids Team looks forward to partnering with YOU,
Twila  360-659-7335 EXT. 202

AC3 + Kreek Kids Parents = A Great Partnership   

*https://thinkorange.com

What We're NOT Looking For...

When someone is involved in a leadership position in ministry, it quite often requires finding others that are willing to join them in achieving the ministry’s mission and vision. It’s not the most popular task on a leader’s To Do List but it certainly is one of the most important. I have never felt comfortable using the term ‘recruiting’ someone to fill a position in children’s ministry. Although it's only a word, I truly would rather ‘invite’ them in, encouraging them to see how God just might use them, even without all the skills they think they may need.

Recruiting has never been an easy task for me and yet Kreek Kids is currently in need of an elementary team teacher which offers a flexible and rotating schedule. One of our key teachers and ministry leaders, Michelle Turner, is moving to Eastern Washington. She will be greatly missed at Allen Creek Community Church and I'll be one of her biggest cheerleaders from afar! So in the mean time, it looks like I am in a position that requires me to extend an ‘invite’ to someone to join us in children's ministry. But instead of listing a few things we may be looking for in this person, I have decided to share a few things that we are NOT looking for:

• We're NOT looking for someone who is ‘perfect’ for the role but for someone who has a willing heart and has a desire to grow.
• We're NOT looking for a ‘professional’ but someone who cares more about what they can learn than what they can teach.
• We're NOT looking for someone who is so 'proud' of their gifts and talents that they could easily fool others into thinking they have their spiritual walk all figured out.

We're looking for a ‘potential’ large group leader or teacher. Someone with a willing heart, who wants to learn and to be part of a team that works together, providing a fun and safe place for elementary children where they can grow in their faith. Is that 'person' you or someone you might know?

With NO 'pressure' applied, I would love to talk to you! (over coffee...if you're a latte fan) You can contact me at twila@ac3.org and 425-319-8043. Feel free to 'share' this note with others who may be looking to get their gifts in the game at AC3.

Join us as we continue our efforts to be the BEST HOUR in every family's week!
Twila & Kreek Kids Leadership Team

Trina Perry - Saturday Night Kids Program
Norma Osotio - Check-In & Safety
Sarah Barci - Nursery/Toddler Dept.
Chandra White - Preschool Dept.

BTW...you can take a 'Test Run' during the month of April on Sunday mornings with no long term commitment. Consider it a one-time serve opportunity! www.ac3.org/kids

Make Your Presence Known in the New Year

As Christmas is behind us and we are heading into a new year, I am reminded that what we do matters when it comes to making an impact on the next generation. Just watch the face of a child light up as they open a Christmas present! You can almost feel the anticipation and excitement that resonates throughout their entire little bodies. If a simple present can influence what a child feels so deeply, just imagine how much more our daily ‘presence’ in their lives and the words that we say, can and do, impact our children.


Children long for unconditional love and our presence. They desire to belong to something bigger than themselves; to live in a healthy community of family, friends and mentors. They need to make real life connections with us as their parents, family members and other caring adults that are brought into their lives. Our presence makes a lasting impression on them and writes on the slate of who they are.


The statistics remain the same. Parents are the #1 influence in their child's life while family members, teachers and caring adults are a close second. No matter what your role, large or small, you are making an impact on the next generation.


As a children’s ministry leader, one of my passions is to help families and children’s ministry volunteers to find ways to share their ‘presence’ together with the next generation. We do this in part at AC3 by running our weekend children’s programs as a co-op. Parents and volunteers are both involved in the staffing of our weekend children’s programs.

Parent & Volunteer KK Co-op Meeting

It is my hope and prayer that in the coming year, our families and children’s ministry volunteers will feel even more connected, loved, encouraged and well equipped to raise up the next generation, and doing so in healthy and biblical community.

If you have ideas or family events you would like to share or see posted at Kreek Kids TEAM Central or at 411.kids to help us grow as a ministry team, please let one of us on the Kreek Kids Leadership team know.

Together, we can make our presence known to the next generation!


Mission 3:16

Twila Crain
Psalms 78:4