Monthly Archives: July 2020

“Be prepared”—the old scouting motto—is a good one. The more adequately we prepare for something, the better we are able to thrive and adapt if necessary. This is especially true as we anticipate the coming Sunday school year in our churches. Therefore, it’s important to start off the year by clearly communicating to parents and children what the year will entail—especially highlighting any changes that may be in store due to current events.

Recruiting volunteers for children’s and youth ministry has always been challenging, even downright difficult. This year, there is an additional hurdle: Many faithful volunteers had their service completely upended this spring when lockdowns were fully implemented. In the midst of this upheaval to the church at large, many people became less fully engaged with the body of Christ and with their specific ministries. Some have gotten used to a new “normal.” That is why now, more than ever, children’s and youth ministry leaders need to earnestly remind the church of our sacred calling to disciple the next generation—pandemic or not.

Which particular Truth78 resources will be the best fit for your church and home? Although, we can’t factor in all of your specific variables for the coming year, here is a list of helps and accompanying links to guide you through some common questions.

This coming year, there is no “one size fits all” regarding programming and resources for churches and homes. Some churches will be offering in-person classes. Will there be additional midweek programs, or not? Some will have their teachers video lesson presentations for viewing in the home. Some churches will come up with other creative solutions. But, when all is said and done, committing to the essentials is what is most important. Let’s refocus our efforts this year on the comprehensive discipleship of our children and youth.

The dedication of children is an act of faith in the presence of God and His people in which we solemnly and earnestly offer our children up to God for His wise and sovereign purposes in their lives, and offer ourselves up to God for the holy responsibility of being biblical parents and raising our children in the fear, knowledge, and joy of the Lord.

Most of us are entering a type of “road construction” season with regard to children’s and youth ministry. Challenges abound. That is why it is so important to begin this journey with a clear, compelling goal in mind—one that will inspire the church, parents, teachers, and volunteers to join together for what may be a rough road ahead. We need a goal worthy of our greatest efforts and relentless perseverance.

It’s now mid-July, and we still don’t know what the fall may bring. Cancel everything? Press on as usual? Take the resources we have and configure them in a new way? Whatever the way forward for your church and family, now more than ever, it’s important to keep the ultimate goal front and center!

There are piles and piles of camping and hiking gear in our basement. Each piece of equipment reflects a specific need for the type of environment we face when we head out into the wilderness. Over the years, we provided our children with instruction on how to use each piece properly. But imagine if we had simply stopped there and never actually took them out camping and hiking. Or what if we took them out into the wilderness and they noticed that dad and mom seemed totally disinterested or spent the whole time grumbling and complaining? Would that make them more or less likely to become avid and skillful campers?

Proper instruction and joyful modeling. Both are essential, and even more so as we seek to pass on to our children the most important realities in the universe.

Psalm 78 is just as relevant to this generation as it was to the generation that first heard it centuries ago. As a way to incline this generation to meditate and act on these words for the good of the next generation, we want to encourage you to mark July 8 (7/8) as a day to focus on Psalm 78.

Our mission is to inspire you, our partners, with a biblical vision of ministry and equip you with resources for the comprehensive discipleship of the next generation. In order to equip you, we need to deliver those resources to you. Most curriculum resources are available in either print or electronic format. Recently, we introduced a new delivery system for our electronic resources with new and improved features.