60 Seconds in Sparks Club!

 

Having trouble keeping parents connected?  

Catch their attention in just 60 seconds with this tool!

Last summer, I did a lot of thinking about our AWANA Sparks Club and what areas needed some improvement.  I knew right away that we really needed to improve how we communicate with and support our parents.  Parents are the number one missionaries of their homes, the spiritual training of their children is first and foremost their responsibility, however, in order to make AWANA Clubs work as a training resource for parents, we must include them and partner with them whenever possible.  

I realized, as I was thinking back on our club from last year, that any lack in handbook progress or inconsistent attendance can most often be linked back to a lack of connection with the family.  Of course, this isn't always the case, but it's my feeling that when parents don't feel connected to the club they are less likely to give it priority in their busy daily schedules, which means they are less likely to be encouraging their children to memorize their verses. And we all know that children are much more likely to complete their handbooks when they receive support at home.  

So, think about it....if the parents don't feel connected to the club, and they aren't working with their children at home, their children are most likely not making as much progress in their handbooks as they could be, and if their parents aren't seeing progress being made they tend to value club participation even less. It's a vicious cycle if you think about it, and it definitely builds a case for making parent involvement a priority when planning for the AWANA year. 

Last year, I sent a lot of emails to parents trying to keep them informed about club activities and their children's progress, but when I asked parents for feedback at the end of the year I was told that they don't really like lengthy emails, and they often go unread, or at the very least skimmed through. I was also told that they do not like to get take home papers every week because they end up either getting lost somewhere between club and home, or they get deposited into the dreaded "pile" of other school papers, daily junk mail and other forgotten items. 

I'm a parent of a Sparks clubber myself, so I understand how much papers come home from school, and other extra-curricular activities, and I have definitely been guilty of skimming an email for what seems important instead of reading the whole thing. So I decided that we needed to create a short, easy and engaging way of communicating with parents and keeping them connected. This is basically the story of how 60 Seconds in Sparks Club was born. 

60 Seconds in Sparks Club started as a weekly video clip for parents.  

• This short clip quickly goes over what the weekly lesson will be about so that parents know what's happening at club.  

• We also include short announcements and reminders, as well as tips for better success when time allows.  You probably guessed from the name that these clips are about 60 seconds in length, now I know that doesn't seem like a lot, but you would be surprised how much info you can get into a 60 second video clip! 

• These video clips are a short, easy, and fun way to get information.  Parents don't have to take time to read (or skim) through lengthy emails, and they don't have to worry about losing take home papers that may have important information on them. 

• We post these videos to our church AWANA blog and alert parents every Sunday that a new clip has been uploaded. 

• We also post a Parent Download with the video clip each week.  This download has a more detailed lesson overview for parents that want more. We also include Family Follow Up activities and suggestions. The Parent Downloads are a bit lengthy, but they are optional so parents don't miss out, necessarily, if they choose not to read the download. Some parents really like the downloads, other don't, but the point is that we are offering parents options so that they can be involved in a way that works best for them. Just be careful when creating parent downloads not to copy the complete lesson from the AWANA curriculum, make sure to paraphrase and keep it as short and simple as possible. We don't want to lose parents in the details, just tell them what they need to know. Remember, AWANA Curriculum is copyrighted material that churches must purchase from AWANA.

Results???

This was our first year to use 60 Seconds in Sparks Club, and we immediately recognized the success of offering bite sized options for busy parents.  We got a lot of feedback from parents that they liked the videos, however, we didn't see many parents taking advantage of the Parent Download of weekly lesson details.  We also realized over time that a weekly video was a little much, both for us to keep up with producing, and for parents to view. 

What did work was the short one minute format of the video, parents really liked that.  We also found success in providing parents with several options to get information through emailing out alerts, posting our videos to our YouTube Channel, and adding these links to our church AWANA Blog. So I would definitely suggest this tool to other clubs, but in the future we are going to be doing a Monthly video, and of course, use it for special announcements.  How clubs choose to use this tool really depends on their own specific clubs needs, but I thought it was definitely a tool worth posting about. 

Oh, and I should probably mention that I produced these videos using images and voice over. I have a Mac, so I used iMovie and my iPhone voice memo app to record the voice over.  No fancy equipment or skills needed here, trust me, I have neither!!!

Moments in Leadership - God's Hands

God's Hands

     Something happened at one of our recent club nights that really stood out to me, and so I have to share it with you.  

     It was club night as usual, nothing out of the ordinary until I was approached by one of my Sparks parents.  I knew this parent well, and her child had been in our AWANA club for at least two years, so I was very familiar with the family. I was a little caught off guard, however, when this mother told me that her daughter had recently approached her with concerns that she wasn't good enough for God. Apparently this poor little girl had been struggling with some guilt because she wasn't clear on what God's grace and mercy really meant. She thought she had to be perfect before God would accept her. Apparently, this had become such an overwhelming issue for this little girl that she didn't want to go to AWANA club anymore and seemed a little depressed about it.

     I think this is something that a lot kids struggle with today.  Think about it, in our society we are constantly sending the message that if we do this right, or achieve that, then we will be rewarded or respected, even loved. So, it makes sense why she would have this misconception toward salvation as well. I know as a child, I also had a hard time with this. I can remember when my Grandmother explained the gospel to me for the first time...I was confused.  I didn't understand why God would give us such a gift for nothing, why He would be so loving and kind toward sinners. I just couldn't wrap my head around it, it was unlike anything I had experienced or heard of in my short existence.

     The amazing part of this story, however, is that I had struggled that week deciding on what lesson to give during Council Time. I finally thumbed through one of my AWANA curriculum books and picked a lesson by random. I have to say that I usually don't struggle with lesson planning like this, I usually know what I'm doing and have everything already planned out, but this week was different. I now can look back and understand that it was different because God had His own plans for our lesson that week.

     Our lesson was all about the Grace of God and how we don't have to be perfect to be saved.  Anyone have chills yet???  I know I did!  When that mom started telling me about her daughter's struggles, I immediately thought about our lesson we were about to present and told her about it. She smiled and let out a sigh of relief. We both knew that God was stepping in and had everything under control.

     During our council time lesson that evening, that little girl was front and center, and she began asking questions and sharing her thoughts.  The more we discussed and the deeper we got, the more excited she seemed to become. After the lesson, the little girl approached me and told me that she and her mother had been talking about the same subject at home, but only after hearing our lesson did she really understand. She seemed happy and amazed, and my heart was happy for her.

     I am thankful for experiences like this that remind me just how important and powerful the AWANA program is for the children who attend. When I can see God's hands moving in our club, I feel blessed to have the opportunity to volunteer for such a wonderful ministry. May I never take for granted this blessing in my life and the lives of the children I have the privilege to serve.

For Leaders:

     This moment in leadership has also shown me just how important it is to be present and available for the families of our clubbers.  We often put building relationships with the parents on the back burner, after all, there's so much else to do!  I have been guilty of not thinking I have time to spend talking to parents because I have to see who's here, and get prepared for handbook time, and if we don't start on time then we will be rushed all night.....the excuses go on.

     The bottom line is, we must take time to develop relationships with the parents.  They know their children best and can give us a lot of insight into what their children are struggling with or what their family needs most. It's almost as important as listening to the still small voice that says, "no, we're going to do it differently this week!"  Always seek God's leading, while being present for the parents. 

BARF Visitor Gifts

BARF....Bring A Real Friend!

Next week is our first BARF "Movie" Night of the year, and I am really excited about it. BARF nights are so much fun because our clubbers get to bring their friends and show them how much fun we have at Sparks Club! Of course, we hope that our new friends will have so much fun at club that they will want to keep coming, and that means reaching more children with the Gospel of Christ!

For those of you that know me, I am always trying to think of ways to make what works, even better! And BARF night is no exception! So I came up with this fun and simple idea to give all our new friends BARF Cups! 

For our BARF Cups, I purchased these little plastic cups from the online AWANA Store. I love these cups because they have the Sparky character on them and you can fill them with all sorts of stuff. We filled our BARF Cups with treats and an AWANA braclet. 

These cups are really cute and colorful, and the best part is, kids that visit club can use them at home. Every time they use their Sparky cup they will hopefully think about Sparks Club and want to come back. 

My son has brought home cups from places like Chuck E. Cheeses, and every time he uses it he asks to go back. Seeing the cup must trigger memories of the fun he had at Chuck E. Cheeses, so why not trigger some memories of the fun they had at Sparks Club?

For leaders looking for a lower cost option, try BARF Bags! You can use little paper bags and decorate them with AWANA Clip Art.  Add goodies inside that visitors can take home as reminders of club! Party stores, and even Walmart, sells colorful little baggies that would work great too! The bags in the picture below are from Party City, and they come with the colorful star ties, so they are a quick and easy option!

However you choose to do it, it's a great idea and I know clubbers will love it.  Sometimes, it's the little details that make a big difference!

Sensory Tubs

Sensory Tubs for AWANA Sparks Club!!!

Previously on my blog, I shared with you all that I have a son who has been diagnosed with Autism. He is in first grade this year, so he's not new to Sparks Club, however, every year seems to present it's own set of challenges for him.

Last year we recruited an individual who agreed to be his "Buddy", and stay with him throughout club nights to give him support and direction where needed. We are so blessed that his Buddy agreed to work with him again this year, however, even with support his first club night ended up being very difficult for him.

After some conversations with his Buddy, we determined that the overall club environment just tends to over stimulate him to a point where he cannot focus and function as he does in a more typical environment. When he gets over stimulated his ability to maintain eye contact, respond to directions, as well as his overall behavior suffers, so it was clear that we had to do something to help him!

Our first step was to set up a quiet area where he and his Buddy could sit and talk or play before entering the main club room.  The main room where we all meet for opening ceremony is a big room with laminate flooring and lots, and lots of space to run around, which is great! However, for my son this environment tends to be too loud and seems to invite him to run around like crazy. Last week, we kept my son in his "small quiet space" until opening ceremony started, and this seemed to help a lot. By the time my son entered the room, all the other clubbers had settled down and were ready to do pledges and sing the AWANA song, so we basically just skipped exposing him to all the chaos in the beginning.

We also brought in a Sensory Tub that he could use as a quiet escape if he needed it throughout the different club segments. His Buddy was thrilled with the results.  Turns out, the tub worked great and my son really seemed to like it. He ended up using the tub during transitions and "pick up" time, when things tend to get louder and there is more movement among the other clubbers. 

For our Sensory Tub, we used dried beans as a base and added little Sonic The Hedgehog figurines, because my son really likes Sonic The Hedgehog. We also added little gold Bible verse coins from Oriental Trading, and a shovel.

Our tub is small because it is intended for individual use, so it is very portable, but we decided to place it in a corner of the room that was somewhat shielded from the florescent lighting and noise. This space worked great because it allowed my son to get away from some of the overwhelming stimuli in the room, while also offering him a sensory activity that helps him to regulate. 

I love the Sensory Tub because the items can be easily exchanged over time and can also be used as a fun way to explore bible verses and lesson activities. Sensory tubs or other activities may not work for every child, but I thought I would go ahead and share our success with it.

If you have any ideas or tips for including Children with Special Needs in AWANA club, please share! As a parent, I thrive on sharing ideas and learning from others, so I invite everyone to share their successes so that we can all benefit from them.

Moments in Leadership - Keeping Your Torch Lit

Our church emails out a daily devotional, and today's devotional included this quote:

"The Greeks had a race in their Olympic games that was unique.  The winner was not the runner who finished first.  

It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit.  

I want to run all the way with the flame of my torch 

still lit for Him."

J. Stowell

This quote communicates exactly how I fee about this AWANA year.  I don't want to just get through it, I want to go through this year with joy and a constant passion and motivation for teaching the Gospel of Christ to our Sparks clubbers.  I don't want to grow so weary with ministry work that I lose my saltiness or am tempted to hide my light.

If there is one thing I have learned in the little time I have spent in ministry, it is that ministry is hard; harder than you expect when you first dive in.  Getting prepared for an AWANA year is a lot of work.  You spend a great deal of time recruiting and training volunteers, promoting your club to the congregation and community, planning curriculum and activities, and gathering materials.  Not to mention all the work that has to be done weekly in order to prepare for club might games and lessons.  And now that I am three weeks into our AWANA year, I am definitely starting to feel all the work and time I have put into this over the last two months. 

I woke up today feeling sore and tired.  The sore muscles are probably just an indication of my age.  It's not as easy as it used to be to run around with a group of young kids at game time, or to continually squat down to get eye level with our clubbers throughout the night.  However, the overall tiredness is more likely just an indication that I need a rest.

I read in Isaiah today:

Don't you know?  Haven't you heard?  

The Eternal, the Everlasting God, the Creator of the whole world, 

never gets tired or weary?  His wisdom is beyond understanding.  

God strengthens the weary and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care.  Young people will get tired; strapping young men will stumble and fall.  But those who trust in the Eternal One will regain their strength.  They will soar on wings as eagles.  They will run - never winded, never weary.  They will walk - never tired, never faint. 

Isaiah 40:28-31 (The Voice Bible)

I am so incredibly thankful that in my weakness, there is God.  He never leaves me and is able to strengthen me and give me the spiritual nourishment I need to continue on the race with my flame still lit.  As AWANA Sparks Leaders, we don't serve for our glory, but for His.  And it is through Him alone that we are able to complete the work.  If we take our eyes off of this truth for even just a moment, we begin to feel the reality of our limitations and invite in feelings of weariness and discouragement and the attitudes that come along with it.  Ministry work may be hard at times, but it is amazing that even through this Jesus is showing us our need for Him everyday. 

Lord Jesus, I am so thankful that even in the little things that may seem so spiritually insignificant, such as a sore muscle, or a tired morning, we are reminded that even though our ministry work is important, we are first called to know and love you.  May it be through you alone that I seek strength and rest.  Show me Lord, where my life may be out of balance and allow your light to shine on those areas so that I can live a life more closely aligned with your will.  Forgive me, Jesus, for times that I have sought my own way or my own glory through this ministry and allow me to be humbled in the light of what can only be accomplished through your power and leading in the hearts of these boys and girls.  It is in Jesus' name that I pray these things, Amen. 

Handbook Helps!

If you have been in AWANA Sparks Club for any length of time, you are familiar with "Helps!"  

As a part of a set of standards for completing handbook sections, Clubbers are allowed to receive up to 2 helps per section they recite.  When they get stuck on a verse, they can ask their leader for help, and the leader gladly responds by saying a word or two to get them going again. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, I have learned that it is not always that easy, and I have seen leaders and listeners struggle with this seemingly simple standard.

We've all been there, you're happily listening to a clubber recite and you give them one help, and then two helps, and then they stop and ask for another help, and....... It should be easy to stop the clubber and remind them that they are only allowed two helps..... but sometimes it's not!

I have seen leaders cringe when a clubber stops for the third time and stands there with that angelic smile on their face. I have overheard listeners sneak in that third help a time or two, and I have witnessed the passionate and determined clubber who hears the words, "I can't give you another...", frantically respond, "Wait, wait, I know it...it's....I know it, just give me a second..."And then a second turns into to half a minute with the listener trying to make sense of random guesses and a choppy version of something that use to resemble a bible verse.

Now, I will admit, there are times that I have definitely wanted to give that third help because I know how hard the clubbers work at memorizing verses.  And sometimes, the looks on their sweet little faces just makes your heart melt...... but stand strong leaders!  Don't cave into the pressure, and don't feel like you have to be the bad guy who always has to say NO!  Instead, train your clubbers and listeners to use Help Passes!

The idea here is that you want to be able to hand your clubber two help passes and have them understand that once those two passes are gone, they cannot get another help. This is a tangible way to help clubbers see the limit without having to be told over and over again, or without them feeling like they need to test the "help boundaries" every time.

When a clubber has already used their two help passes and gets stuck again, give them a quiet moment to think before handing them back their handbook.  Let clubbers know that you will allow them 8 seconds of "think time" if they need to pause a third time, but after that you will hand them back their handbook so that they can return to practice before trying again.

It's important during "think time" that leaders do not count down the 8 seconds with their hands or voice, this will only stress out the clubber and interrupt their efforts to recall the verse. When the 8 seconds is up, simply hand them back their handbook and offer them some encouragement before they return to their seat to practice. 

Taking time at the beginning of the AWANA year to train clubbers on these procedures will help eliminate frustration for both leaders and clubbers.  If clubbers know what to expect, they are much more likely to be able to self monitor and react more favorably when redirected to practice.

Club leaders may want to use this tool for their entire club or just keep it available for clubbers who are struggling with the help boundaries. However you choose to use it is fine, just as long as your leaders and listeners remain consistent.

I do not have a template for "Help Passes" yet, but I am working on getting a downloadable version created so please check back later. 

Moments in Leadership - Prepare Your Hearts

Prepare Your Hearts!

Our first club night is tomorrow night, and I have to admit that I have butterflies in my stomach already. I'm excited and nervous all at once! Earlier in the week I emailed our council time lesson plan to our Sparks volunteers and I included a little section called, Preparing Your Heart, so I thought I would go ahead and share it here as well.  

As we go into our first club night, please take some time beforehand to pray and prepare your heart for the activities of the night.  First club night always tends to be a little hectic as we are welcoming both new and veteran clubbers. We do our best to plan ahead, however, we have to be flexible because sometimes club nights just don't go according to plan.

Here are a few things to think about before club night:

•  We will have new clubbers who may have never attended an AWANA Club before and don't know what to expect. They need your guidance and support. Try to introduce them to veteran clubbers and encourage friendships.

•  We will have new kindergarteners who may be experienceing an organized learning environment for the first time. Remember that not all children attend preschool or daycare before entering kindergarten, so they may not know what behavior is expected of them. Be loving and consistent when teaching them what's expected!

•  Be mindful that for some clubbers, our AWANA Club is one of the few stable environments in their lives, let's ensure our club environment is both safe and welcoming.

•  Above all else, remember why we do this - to share the Gospel of Christ with boys and girls!  Club night might not always go perfectly, but that's not the point, don't worry...let go and let God work!

Lord, I want to take a minute to praise you today as I personally take some time to prepare my own heart for the beginning of a new AWANA year. A lot of hard work has happened already just to get our club ready for this moment and I know that it is not by my strength that any of this was accomplished. I am thankful that through the strength and guidance that you provide that we are now ready to welcome more boys and girls to Sparks club this year. May the gospel of Christ penetrate their hearts and souls for your glory, Lord! And may your faithful servants in this ministry be blessed with strength,courage, and wisdom this year. In Christ Jesus' name, Amen.