CHILDREN S DEPARTMENT

The Redeemed Christian Church f Gd Rehbth Assembly, Calgary CHURCH OPERATIONAL MANUAL FOR CHILDREN S DEPARTMENT Nvember 2013

Cntents 1 Children s Department Operatinal Manual 2 1.1 Intrductin 2 1.1.1 The Children s Department 2 1.1.2 The Visin f the Children s Department 2 1.1.3 The Divisins f the Children s Department 3 1.1.4 The Cre Values f the Children s Department 3 1.2 Expectatins frm Children s Department Teachers 4 1.2.1 Spiritual Respnsibility 4 1.2.2 Respnsibility t the Children and their Parents 4 1.2.3 Respnsibility t the Rehbth Assembly 5 1.3 Children s Department Rles and Activities 6 1.3.1 The Rles in the Children s Department 6 1.3.2 The Activities Perfrmed in the Children s Department 7 1.3.3 Mnthly Prayer and Fasting 7 1.3.4 Children Teachers In Huse Training 7 1.4 Mnthly Children s Department Rstertemplate 8 i

1 Children s Department Operatinal Manual 1.1 Intrductin This has been put tgether t prvide guidelines n what is expected frm the teacher f the Children s Department in fulfilling their ministry as being part f the Children s Department f Rehbth Assembly. The dcument may be used by existing and new teachers f the Children s Department fr them t understand hw things wrk in the Department. Any questins shuld be directed t the leadership f the Children s Department r the Pastrate f the Rehbth Assembly. 1.1.1 The Children s Department The Children s Department is the Department that versees the care f the children wh attend the Rehbth Assembly. It cmprises f children that are belw 12 years f age. These children usually have their parents als attending the Rehbth Assembly. Hwever there may be cases where the parents d nt attend. The Children s Department has a special attentin with Gd because this is the place where future generals, champins and leaders in the kingdm are being frmed and nurtured t fulfil destiny. Therefre we take the ministry very seriusly. It is imprtant t nte that the Children s Department is nt just place where children are kept busy while their parents attend church but it is a place where valuable spiritual depsits are made int the lives f the children. 1.1.2 The Visin f the Children s Department The Visin f the Children s Department is based n the scripture in Prverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he shuld g: and when he is ld, he will nt depart frm it. Therefre the Children s Department fcuses n getting the kids t knw Gd and His ways as early as pssible. In rder t achieve this, the Children s Department aims t 1. Intrduce Gd and His ways t Children in a fun and lving envirnment. 2. Help children knw abut key characters in the Bible and their stries 3. Learn gd Christian sngs t help them lve the Church 4. Teach them Christian Character and Behaviur thrugh games and custmized teaching methds. 5. Help children t start memrizing scriptures and shwing them ways f keeping the Wrd f Gd in their hearts. 2

1.1.3 The Divisins f the Children s Department T effectively drive this visin, the Children s Department is t be divided as fllws: 1. Ages 1 t 3: This will be called the The Glrius Class. This class fcuses mainly n taking care f the yung nes while teaching Bible Characters and shwing Christian cartns t them. These will help intrduce Gd t them at an early age. They als participate in ther hands-n activities a. Children belw 1 year f age are better left with their mthers as many are still breast-feeding 2. Ages 4 t 5: This will be called the The Overcmers Class. This class fcuses n telling stries f Bible characters and learning sngs and playing Christian games. The class will als emphasize gd Christian character and behaviur. 3. Ages 6 t 8: This will be called the The Hliness Class. This class fcuses mre n different bible characters and the lessns we can learn frm their stries. The children will als be learning Christian sngs and memrizing scriptures. There will als be greater emphasis n Christian games that imbibe gd Christian Character. 4. Ages 9 t 12: This is called the The Ptters Huse Class. This class fcuses n memrizing mre scriptures and imbibing gd Christian Character. As at this age certain character traits are being frmed, it is imprtant that special attentin be given t this class. Mre s as they are entering int Teenage. 1.1.4 The Cre Values f the Children s Department There are cre values which shuld guide the character f every teacher f the Children s Department. 1. LOVE: Children are very energetic and smetimes it can be tiring fr adults t keep up with them. This becmes mre difficult when the children are nt yurs. 2. YOUNG-AT-HEART: T effectively impact children ne needs t cme t their level, speak their language, relate with them. Every Children Teacher needs t be yung at heart s the children wuld lve and respect the Teacher. This is required if the Teacher is t make an impact n the lives f the Children. N Teacher must be seen as Old Schl. 3. INNOVATION: The children are grwing in a fast pace wrld where technlgy is changing quickly. The Children s Department will cntinue t develp new exciting and fun ways f passing n knwledge t the Children. 4. NEATNESS: Children require a safe playing envirnment s the Children s Department will ensure that at all times the envirnment is safe and suitable fr children t have fun and learn. 3

1.2 Expectatins frm Children s Department Teachers 1.2.1 Spiritual Respnsibility All teachers in the Children s Department are expected t maintain a high level f spirituality at all times t enable them effectively minster t Gd s Children. Therefre, each teacher is expected t: a) Spend quality time praying and studying the Wrd f Gd in rder t effectively minister t Gd s children Acts 6:4 But we will give urselves cntinually t prayer, and t the ministry f the wrd i. A teacher must be prayerful fr herself and the children ii. A teacher must be a student f the Wrd as this is the fd by which we grw. b) Be full f the Hly Ghst such that it shws in his/her character. Acts 6:3 Wherefre, brethren, lk ye ut amng yu seven men f hnest reprt, full f the Hly Ghst and wisdm, whm we may appint ver this business i. Teacher shuld be a persn f hnest reprt i.e. a gd reputatin. A bad reputatin makes it difficult fr the parents f the children t trust the teacher. ii. The teacher must seek t be filled with the Hly Spirit as He helps t build the right character in us. (Gal 5: 22-23) iii. The teacher must be a persn f wisdm. It takes wisdm t wrk with children. The teacher will need t chse which methd is best fr passing n knwledge t the Children. She/he will need t chse frm talking, singing, playing a game, shwing a mvie, acting a play and thers. All these require wisdm. 1.2.2 Respnsibility t the Children and their Parents Since yung peple learn mre frm what they see than what they hear, it is imprtant fr all Teachers t demnstrate a behaviur that will be a psitive influence n the Children and the Parents. The Respnsibility f the Teachers t the Children includes: a) Being a Mdel: 1 Cr. 11:1 Be ye fllwers f me, even as I als am f Christ. It is vital fr ur children t have examples that they can fllw. At their age, they want t emulate smene. The examples yu set g a lng way in influencing them. b) Ensuring Equality: Jas 2:1 (NIV) My brthers and sisters, believers in ur glrius Lrd Jesus Christ must nt shw favuritism. It is imprtant that the teacher treats all children equally as the children must nt feel that a teacher is treating smene better than him/her. It can be damaging t the self-esteem f the child. c) Enfrcing Discipline: Heb. 12:6 (NIV) because the Lrd disciplines the ne he lves. It is imprtant that Teachers enfrce the right behaviur amng the children and shuld be 4

ready t discipline in lve. The leadership f the Children s Department will give regularly give guidance n hw the discipline shuld be dne, but in all cases it shuld be in lve and the Parents f the child shuld be fully invlved. d) Prviding Fllw up and Feedback: Cl 4:8 (NIV) - I am sending him t yu fr the express purpse that yu may knw abut ur[a] circumstances and that he may encurage yur hearts. Teachers shuld understand that they are in partnership with the parents fr the building up f the children. S the line f cmmunicatin must always be pen t give feedback n the gd things and areas that need imprvement. The leadership f the Children s Department will prvide guidance and avenues thrugh which this can happen in a psitive way. e) Being a Friend: Jhn 15:15 - Hencefrth I call yu nt servants; fr the servant knweth nt what his lrd deth: but I have called yu friends. All the earlier listed pints abve will nt be pssible if the Teacher des nt becme a friend f the Children and the Parents. Remember A man that hath friends must shw himself friendly (Prv. 18:24) 1.2.3 Respnsibility t the Rehbth Assembly The Children s Department as a sectin in the Rehbth Assembly is expected t abide by the regulatins f the Rehbth Assembly. Accrdingly, every Teacher is expected t be: a) Subject t Authrity: Heb.13:17 Obey them that have the rule ver yu, and submit yurselves: fr they watch fr yur suls, as they that must give accunt, that they may d it with jy, and nt with grief: fr that is unprfitable fr yu. The kingdm f Gd is a Thecracy and nt a demcracy; as such Teachers are expected t bey instructins given by the Pastrate and the Leader f the Children s department. b) Invlved in Church Activities: Heb.10:25 Nt frsaking the assembling f urselves tgether, as the manner f sme is As respnsible wrkers in His vineyard, teachers are expected t cme regularly and punctually fr church services. These meetings include: Wrkers Meeting Sunday Services Sunday Schl Midweek Services Huse Fellwships Special Services/Meetings c) Regular and Punctual fr Wrkers Meeting as this helps t prepare the Teachers fr the ministratin f the day and t receive imprtant infrmatin meant fr wrkers nly. As instructed by the Pastr, any teacher wh des nt attend the wrkers meeting fr the day will nt be allwed t minister withut a special apprval frm the Pastr. d) Respectful and walk in Lve twards the children, parents and ther Children Teachers. Teachers are expected t give and receive crrectin in lve. e) Regular and Punctual fr all meetings rganized by the Children s Department Teachers f) Prayerfully prepare fr any activity he/she may be assigned t perfrm 5

g) Available fr any tasks assigned during the services and meetings. h) Time cnscius in perfrming any assigned tasks within the Children s Department. 1.3 Children s Department Rles and Activities 1.3.1 The Rles in the Children s Department a) Anchr Teachers: This is the main teacher assigned fr the class and he/she will be respnsible fr crdinating all the activities fr that day and teaching whatever has been assigned fr the day. b) Supprt Teachers: these are the teachers assigned t supprt the anchr teacher in taking care f the children and standing in if the anchr teacher needs t attend t sme ther things. There may be mre than ne Anchr Teacher assigned fr each church service. The supprt teachers als assist with feeding and changing. c) Games Teachers: these teachers have the speciality f cming up with fun games which the children can play and still learn varius Christian lessns. These teachers will be respnsible fr lking fr new games/activities. d) Sngs Teachers: these are the teachers that have the speciality f teaching the children new sngs that teach Christian lessns. This teacher als crdinates their music rehearsals fr presentatins t the main church. These teachers will be respnsible fr lking fr sngs fr the Children. 6

1.3.2 The Activities Perfrmed in the Children s Department a) Teaching the Wrd: the place f the Wrd f Gd is nt t be cmprmised as this is what will help the children grw. Hwever varius methds will be emplyed in teaching t ensure the children d nt find the sessins bring. b) Playing Vides: varius Christian Vides will be shwn t the children. All vides shuld have a lessn t be learnt and shuld be apprved by the leadership f the Children s Department. c) Fun Games: varius games can be taught and played amngst the children t engender Christian learning. Games shuld be a regular part f the children s activities. The aim f the games shuld be clear and shuld be apprved by the leadership fr the Children s Department. d) Singing Sngs: children have a lt f energy and ne f the ways t fully engage them is in singing sngs that praise Gd and teach Christian lessns. This shuld als be a regular part f the Children s Activities. e) Children s Day Out: at least nce a quarter, the lder children classes will be taken fr an uting t help the children build friendship utside f the church envirnment. 1.3.3 Mnthly Prayer and Fasting a) Being a spiritual assignment, the Children s Department will nly excel by giving attentin t ur spiritual welfare. Accrdingly, the Children Teachers will dedicate ne day t prayer and fasting every mnth. b) Prayer pints shall be distributed by the leadership f the Children s Department via email t all teachers. c) It is mandatry fr all Children Teachers t fast and pray fr the Children Church n that specified day. 1.3.4 Children Teachers In Huse Training a) T further strengthen the spirituality f the Children Teachers and review the activities fr the past quarter, a quarterly retreat shall be rganised. b) The essence f the retreat is fr the teachers t pray, share the Wrd, evaluate ur apprach and cntributin, and discuss the way frward in actualizing ur gals. c) It is mandatry fr all teachers t attend these meetings. Accrdingly, the retreat shall be rganized utside f regular church time t ensure that all Children Teachers are able t attend. 7

1.4 Mnthly Children s Department Rster template S/N Date 1 st Service 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Rle Teacher: Supprt: Back-up: Rle Teacher: Supprt: Back-up: Rle Teacher: Supprt: Back-up: Rle Teacher: Supprt: Back-up: Rle Teacher: Supprt: Back-up: Name Name Name Name Name 8

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