Fourfivesix.org: Great Ideas For Your Preteen Ministry

What tradition needs to be scrapped to get your ministry moving in ways that are more intentionally aligned with your mission statement? Are you trying to "canoe the mountains"? Today on the podcast, Melody Pfeffer talks about getting out of the canoe.

Today on the Podcast, we get an update from Clint May of L.I.T. Preteen Ministries, who is celebrating 20 years of ministry! 

In today's episode, Sean looks at a strategy of engaging preteens in Response Stations by teaching the whole lesson through the response stations.

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Preteens are in transition, and often, significant transitions take place during the preteen years. Today on the podcast, Sean discusses a message he’s taught as he’s walked with preteens through times of transitions. Whether preteens are moving up to the next ministry, moving into a new space or building, or any other transition, this is a message that will help the preteens at your church. There are many the disconcerting things during the topsy-turvy preteen years, so helping them to know God as Emmanuel can help them have a anchor for their soul. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.

On today’s podcast, Sean talks with Paula Mazza about her new project, PreteenMentalHealth.com. Paula’s goal with this website is to create a hub of resources to help ministry leaders as they address the growing need for mental health tools in preteen ministry. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.

What do you do when preteens have answers to questions that don’t line up with the truths of God’s Word? How do you help guide them toward correct answers? Today’s podcast is an excerpt of a Deeply Rooted Curriculum Subscriber Training about answering preteens questions. You’ll hear several subscribers offer their wisdom on how to handle a situation where a preteen gives a false answer, as well as a helpful analogy from Sean regarding helping preteens to deconstruct and reconstruct their ways of thinking. So how about you? How do you help preteens when they give wrong answers? Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.

Are you looking for a way to ramp your RE-ENGAGEMENT of Volunteers and Preteens. One great way to re-engaging your preteen ministry is through special events. Today on the podcast, Rob Watson of CIY's preteen division Superstart! talked with Sean about the power of events to re-engage and energize a group of preteens and their leaders. In response to the shutdowns and restrictions that exist for many ministries, CIY has altered its preteen event strategy this year to provide a great preteen event that you can do at your own church. As part of your re-engagement strategy, check out FourFiveSix’s Event Packs, which contains 5 fully developed events ready for you to use with your preteens. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.

As a ministry leader, do you see volunteers as those who fill roles in YOUR ministry, or those in whom you are there to serve and make an investment in as they develop THEIR ministries? God’s Kingdom is not built by using people. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.

As preteens move into early adolescence, play is a vital piece of healthy development for them, and an important part of Intentional Preteen Ministry. In the last 12 months, there have been many lost “play opportunities” for kids who’ve been isolated due to quarantines and other restrictions. Today on the podcast, Sean talks about how play benefits preteens, and what he’s noticed lately about how 4th-6th graders are engaging differently during this time with play opportunities in his ministry. Play is critically important for the healthy development of preteens, and a critical part of Intentional Preteen Ministry. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.

Today on the podcast, Sean talks with Chip Henderson about his journey as a ministry leader over the past 12 months. Chip discusses how counting his blessings helped him in 2020 to have a perspective that allowed him to minister in powerful ways and find GREAT JOY, even in the face of uncertainty and major challenging. Chip exhorts us to count the blessings of the past year! You have permission from God to know that you are blessed. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.

Are you building (or rebuilding) a volunteer team. Cookies and Cocoa is a concept that can help as part of your volunteer recruitment strategy. On today’s podcast, Sean talks about this event which turned out to be an unexpected recruitment tool for volunteers. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.

“…in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” -1 Peter 3:15 Preteens are reaching a point where they will face questions and attacks on their faith and can even start to wonder if there is a reasonable defense for Christianity. Today’s podcast is a discussion of equipping preteens to do this. In today’s podcast, Heather Daley, a preteen ministry leader at Destiny Church in Rocklin, CA, talks with Sean about the Deeply Rooted series “Defending the Faith” that she’s been leading the preteens of destiny through during the past month, and how the preteens have responded to learning some basic apologetics. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.

Looking for a fun and surprising element to add to an online service? Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Angela Yracheta as she explains the details of something surprising, fun, and meaningful that she’s been doing for the preteens on her ZOOM services. This is an idea that you could also use for in-person services with a little creativity. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.

Today on the podcast, Sean talks about re-engaging preteens after the 2020-21 lock downs and quarantines. Sean discusses 3 techniques for helping to rebuilding a vibrant and intentional in-person preteen ministry as families reemerge from their isolation and look to reengage with others in the community. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.

Preteens don’t only love to be in the spotlight themselves, but they love to see other preteens on video, on stage, and in the spotlight. Why is that? In today’s podcast, Makenna, a preteen ministry leader at Destiny Church in Rocklin, CA, talks with Sean about why that is. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast? Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.

Among Us is a computer game that preteens have become interested in playing lately. As a result, Donna Pianalto, at Cross Pointe Community Church in Springdale, AR put together an Among Us event, which took the themes of the game and created a live experience for her preeteens. Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with Donna as she explains the details of her Among Us event. You’re sure to get some ideas you can use for your next themed service or event. BONUS: If you’re using the Deeply Rooted Curriculum, the Among Us event could work really well this quarter since we are learning about Emmanuel, God “Among Us.” Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.

Today on the podcast, Sean speaks with James Powell from the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York. James is part of the FourFiveSix Leadership Council and has worked with preteens in Brooklyn for many years. James shares with us the new calling on his life developed a vision and a mission for his ministry which involves “breaking the cycle” of the fatherless home. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.

If you like what you’re hearing, subscribe to the FourFiveSix podcast by clicking here and you’ll get great ideas for your preteen ministry four, five, or six times a week. Today on the podcast, Sean discusses the new scripture memorization strategy that Destiny Church unveiled for their preteens in 2020. It is built upon the memorization wall, an idea discussed in Episode 135. With the A to Z memorization wall, preteens have a strong hook to remind them of the Scriptures they have memorized, and a built in method to keep the preteens reviewing the verses they’ve already remembered. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.

Content from today’s episode is from the Megacon Online Conference 2020. You can get the entire set of recordings from this conference here. Today, you’ll hear a small portion of Patrick Snow’s presentation as he discusses the importance of active learning methods that we can use in preteen ministry. He’ll discuss why preteen ministry should be “more lab and less lecture” and give some practical ways to accomplish this in your Intentional Preteen Ministry. Have a question about preteen ministry or a unique preteen ministry idea that we can feature on our podcast?  Send it to podcast@fourfivesix.org.