FourFiveSix

The 2012 FourFiveSix Preteen Leaders’ Conference is just 9 weeks away!   The centerpiece of our conference this year is what are calling, “Delivery Methods”.  And we are so excited to experience these with you…we can hardly contain the anticipation. What is a “Delivery Method” exactly?  Well, I’m glad you asked. The first two years [...]

Each winter and summer our Wednesday night programming “takes a break” for a couple of months. This year, with the way Christmas and New Years’ fall, and our “big church” Christmas program, we will have a couple of Sundays off as well from our preteen program. Each time we take a break, I’m grateful, because [...]

Here’s an idea I came across while reading an article written by Shawn McEvoy, the Managing Editor of Crosswalk.com. Taking an arrow, I point out the feathers and ask why the feathers are important. Without the feathers, it’s just a pointed stick, and doesn’t fly too well. Now I point out the one unique feather [...]

“Last night,” I said to the preteens sitting in front of me, “I went to the grocery store and bought ONE breast of chicken. I had to go to the meat counter to buy just one, because otherwise you have to buy a package of three. Then, I took that ONE breast of chicken home [...]

I love using props and gimmicks to help make a message stick in the mind of a preteen. I have to admit – it’s an idea I stole…from Jesus. He’d use things that were in people’s everyday experience to help explain abstract concepts. He uses seeds and soil, water and clouds, children and widows as [...]

In Elevate, having preteens lead in ministry has been an essential component.  It’s one way that we are helping preteens to take ownership of their faith.   From the check in table to setting up the chairs to leading worship to running the tech booth, there are preteens running areas of the ministry.  As the [...]

“Daddy, are you going to die?” In late November, my 5 year old started asking this very interesting question. She asked it every couple of days, and I’d always answer, “Not today, sweetheart.” But then on December 9th, something happened that forever changed the way I would answer her question. It all started with Christmas lights. [...]

When it comes to Sunday service planning, I’m a risk taker…and many times it pays off. Being shot at with a paintball gun, dropping eggs from the roof, renting a school bus and having the entire service on the bus as we drove around town…these all worked great. BUT, it’s not always like that… There [...]