No, we haven't abandoned our plans for Bridge 45! I've just been compiling thoughts, creating lesson plans and doing lots and lots of research. We'll be having a creative brainstorming session to get the final details on paper for the first quarter of our curriculum. But for now, here are some quotes I've found about why the need for a specialized 4th & 5th grade ministry is so great, and how people have gone about meeting that need.
"In order to reach kids, we must know kids. Not only must we show them what God's Word has to say, but also show them that we know the world they live in, and God's Word is applicable." -Aaron Reynolds, Conspire Conference
"You cannont reach kids if you do not know them." -Aaron Reynolds, Conspire Conference
"The stakes are higher for us [children's ministers] because the stories we tell will transform eternities. When we focus on teaching them to transform, they will do just that." -Aaron Reynolds, Conspire Conference
Fourth and fifth graders behave in ways that contrast with the younger grades. "They are switching from pleasing parents and teachers to pleasing peers. They no longer accept anything an adult says as true... As their teacher, you need street credibility." -David Rausch, Conspire Conference
"Our values for ministry to fourth and fifth grades are: relationships, to know and love Jesus more, self discovery (They are tired of people talking at them. Lessons should be interactive adn experiential. Let them do the thinking.), skills, and fun."
-David Rausch & Mindy Stoms, Conspire Conference"Preteens need to be treated as exactly what they are: PRE-TEENS. They are not young children anymore... But they are not teenagers either... They need something designed just for them... They want to think for themselves and make their own decisions, but they don't mind you guiding the way." -Carl Bastian, Kidology
