Know That You Make A Difference

Here is an article from a recent issue of Christian Standard Magazine. Although you may not nessacarily lead a group of fourth grade boys I hope you find this article as inspiring as I did.


Mentoring Fourth-Grade Boys!
Andy Hansen
1/13/2008

Have I told you I’m an assistant teacher for fourth-grade boys on Wednesday nights?
Those who know me realize my skill set is much more in line with the junior high and senior high level. I’m much more comfortable with that age group. So . . . why fourth-grade boys?
A Problem in Our SocietyIn a recent article in Newsweek (September 17, 2007, page 44), a 24-year-old male teacher told how numerous fellow teachers and even parents asked him to be a “buddy” and mentor to certain at-risk students. Josh Holt quickly realized why. “The principal is the only other guy in the school. Some of these kids don’t have any men in their lives, and they really need a male role model.”

The article said the number of male teachers is at a 40-year low. The problem is especially acute in elementary schools, where only 9 percent of the teachers are male (down from 18 percent in 1981). Most children’s ministry coordinators would tell you this trend is reflected in the local church! Where are the male role models?

More and more, boys are demonstrating more difficulties with reading and writing—they are giving up, dropping out, and falling behind the girls in graduation rates. So what happens to these thousands of boys nationwide? What does their future hold if they don’t receive the encouragement to stick with school, to succeed in society, to work toward a purpose, to put in the sweat equity to achieve a dream? What happens to our society if the next generation of men exhibits such low self-esteem, lack of drive, and expectations of leadership (especially spiritual)?
Reg Weaver, president of the National Education Association, identifies a downward spiral: as boys continue to see no male teachers, they conclude that teaching is only for females. William Pollack, author of Real Boys, says most elementary and middle schools have a dearth of male teachers. This sends an early and faulty message to our boys—that education and learning are primarily for girls and women. I wonder what elementary boys think about the church when they encounter no male teachers year after year?

A Solution in the Church?Where in the church are the mature, spiritual men who could mentor elementary-aged young men?

How many men will be sitting in Sunday school class this week, just as they have been for the past 20 to 30 years? There is nothing wrong with seeking more knowledge of God’s Word; as a matter of fact, I highly recommend it. However . . . what about graduating from the student’s chair and heading to an elementary classroom as a teacher?

Even if you are not comfortable being the lead teacher, you can read Scripture, help students find the proper chapter and verse in their Bibles, take attendance, assist with discipline, and talk to the students before and after class. Show an interest when Josh tells you he is going to get contact lenses, when Austin tells you he will be visiting a doctor for asthma treatment this week, and when Todd tells how he recovered a fumble in his football game.
Praise them when they ask good questions or work hard on their student pages, help organize game time, and pass out snacks (squirt the Cheez Whiz on the crackers—the higher you can make the orange pile the more the boys love it). By doing so you are building relationships with young men who are begging for positive male role models and mentors.

It was a typical Sunday when the announcement on stage included a plea for someone to please volunteer to teach the late elementary boys class! This had been going on for some weeks, but the tone was becoming more desperate. Most people knew the reputation of “that class of wild boys” and remained distant and unaffected by the appeals.
Mr. Shepherd never considered himself a teacher, but he couldn’t stand the pleading announcements any longer. Though in his 70s, he decided to volunteer. Mr. Shepherd had no teaching skills. His hands were so arthritic he couldn’t write on the chalkboard. His voice was monotone, and any hands-on style of teaching was totally foreign to him.
The 15 boys were quick to lose attention, fidget, talk, and outright scrap with each other while Mr. Shepherd attempted to teach. That any boy caught any depth of biblical truth was almost certainly an outright miraculous work of the Holy Spirit.
But Mr. Shepherd never gave up. He was the first to arrive in class and the last to leave. He would station himself in the narrow hallway outside the classroom, hook every young man as he went by with his arthritic hand, and let him know that he was praying for him, that he was so glad he had come to class, that God had a purpose and plan for his life.
It almost became a game to see if anyone could scoot by Mr. Shepherd and not be pulled into his grasp. It was a game never to be won, and Mr. Shepherd continued to tell these boys Jesus cared for them despite how they had so rudely conducted themselves in class.

Is it any wonder that almost all 15 of these boys, who are now grown men, are active in their churches and spiritual leaders in their families? Many are also serving in vocational ministry, approximately 40 years after experiencing Mr. Shepherd’s class. I’m so glad he was in my life and chose to mentor us with his consistent classroom presence and love!

Did I tell you I’m an assistant teacher for fourth-grade boys on Wednesday night? Did I tell you there are typically 15 boys who attend? I can’t help but wonder what influence Ben, Walker, Brayden, Kale, Cade, Evan, Josh, Hunter, Devon, Logan, Jeremiah, Westley, Byron, Jacob, and Austin could have with their lives and potentially do for the Lord in the next 40 years!
A Need We Can MeetBoys are four times more likely to drop out of school and to commit suicide. They are twice as likely to be labeled as “slow learners” and assigned to “special-education” classes. Boys murder 10 times more frequently than girls. Though such statistics may not describe most young men in America, the figures are disturbing.

Michael Gurian, a family therapist who has studied some 30 cultures, concludes that American boys are noticeably slighted in two key areas. First, American boys have the least emotional bonding (with mom, dad, grandparents, uncles, etc.) than any other boys in the world. Second, boys are increasingly enamored by exposure to television, computer games, and the Internet. This causes a separation from parents and other important adults, which creates a vacuum of moral development and spiritual value that only comes from relationships.
Are there spiritual men out there who see and catch the missional opportunity to share life with third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade boys? What would Jesus choose to do in today’s church? Would he stay in the auditorium or would he choose to serve during Sunday school or on Wednesday night?

George Barna makes the following bold statement, “Ministry to children is the single most strategic ministry in God’s kingdom. There are many viable ways to use your gifts, talents, and resources. However, if you want to have the greatest possible impact (i.e., to achieve a lasting legacy of spiritual dividends), then consider employing those resources in ministry to young people.”

Sharing the Gift

Some of you have your presents bought and even wrapped and are ready to sit back and enjoy the holidays. Well, not me! I walked from one end of the mall to other several times and thought my feet would surely give out on me and then I thought of the three kings. They traveled for two long and hard years to bring gifts to Jesus. We should remember while we are running around to find the perfect gift for the ones we love that God has already given us the perfect gift of His Son, Jesus

This week, challenge your kids to share some things they can do to remind people that God loves them this Christmas? (Tell people about Jesus’ birth, give gifts to people we love, donate food or money to people who need it, help our parents prepare for Christmas)

Don’t forget to enjoy your holiday Season! Take the time to enjoy the gift God has given you and to share the gift of Jesus with others: spend time with family and time with Jesus!

Read a Good Story

Read through the book of Luke during the month December and spend some time on the magnificent story of Jesus’ birth found in Luke 2:1-20.

Bad Christmas Humor

Why does Santa have 3 gardens?
So he can ho-ho-ho.

Why was Santa's little helper depressed?
Because he had low elf esteem.

What do you get when you cross an archer with a gift-wrapper?
Ribbon hood.

What do you call a cat on the beach at Christmastime?
Sandy Claus!

If Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus had a child, what would he be called?
A subordinate claus.

Why did Santa spell Christmas N-O-E?
Because the angel had said,"No L!"

What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus?
Claustrophobic.

What do snowmen eat for breakfast?
Snowflakes.

Did you hear that one of Santa's reindeer now works for Proctor and Gamble?
Its true....Comet cleans sinks!

What do you call a bunch of grandmasters of chess bragging about their games in a hotel lobby?Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer!

When you stop believing in Santa Claus is when you start getting clothes for Christmas.

There once was a czar in Russia whose name was Rudolph the Great. He was standing in his house one day with his wife. He looked out the window and saw something happening. He says to his wife, "Look honey. Its raining." She, being the obstinate type, responded, "I don't think so, dear. I think its snowing." But Rudolph knew better. So he says to his wife, "Let's step outside and we'll find out." Lo and behold, they step outside and discover it was, in fact, rain. And Rudolph turns to his wife and replies," I knew it was raining. Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear!"

I did say bad Christmas Humor. Hope you enjoyed.

Just One More Thing

I had an interesting conversation with my eight year daughter tonight regarding the Golden Compass. She came home from school with the latest edition of the Scholastic Book Club brochure and was eager to start circling her picks for books for Christmas. I noticed her circling the Golden Compass and I decided to let her know that she was not going to get that book and that we would not be seeing the movie together. I got the puzzeled look and the 'why' that I expected from her so I dived in with answers. My daughter is a very concrete and logical thinker so that is how I tackled her question. My saying that the author was unfriendly toward Christians and that by the third book the characters had killed God was not enough for her. We went to Snopes.com and read through, together, what information that site had on the author and the books. She was sad to realize that someone would intentionally write a book to make kids, as the author says, decide against God and Heaven. I explained to her that kids who see this movie or read these books and don't grow up in a good church or Christian home may have a hard time later on believing in God. My daughter summed it best when she said, "So if I tell my friend about Jesus and God and they think that God is what this book and movie say he is they might not believe me?" Don't miss an opportunity to talk with your kids.

Don't See the Movie!

Okay, now I have your attention and I know you are curious. By now, most of you have heard about or received emails urging you not to see The Golden Compass. I don't know about you but when I was a kid if I was told not to see something it made it all the more appealing to me and I would find a way to see it. Don't worry, I am not telling you not to see the movie or read the series of books it is based on rather I am asking you get to know more about the movie and the author, Phillip Pullman.
The children's story is a dark tale of science fiction and fantasy in which the ultimate goal is to destroy God. Sounds like something I think my young kids would have a hard time understanding but that is who the movie is geared for and if you have the seen the commercials they have done a good job of reaching those kids.
Do I agree with the books, the author and the movies, no. But what I am looking forward to is some great conversations with friends who don't have a strong belief in God. Use this movie as a discussion point with your older kids and friends. Ask yourself and others what would life be like if God wasn't present anymore?

Opening Dialog

Four times a year our teaching teams have the opportunity to present to our second through fifth graders the message of salvation. Today was one of those days. We use these opportunities to open dialogs between the kids and their parents. At the end of their small group time we have the students fill out a card and check one of three boxes; I have been baptized, I want to be baptized or I want to think about it some more. These cards help us to do two things, the first is to learn were they are spiritually and the second as a discussion starter for parents.

I was amazed as I received feedback from our small group leaders to learn how many kids had genuine questions. For me, there is nothing more real than sitting with a kid who wants to know more about what Jesus means in their life. Not just the eternal I want to go heaven part but the everyday stuff like dealing with tough choices with friends and rough family stuff.

We will take these cards and call the parents of the kids who checked the box to be baptized. The parents have all received a letter after service letting them know what our message was about in the classroom. The letter also included a list of verses for them to reference with their kids. We let the parents know their child checked the decision box and we encourage them to use this time to talk to their kids about Jesus.

In a couple of years, some these kids will make the choice to follow Jesus and to be baptized. For now we are just opening the dialog.