Ashley had suggested that I take some questions from the comments on this post, so here's another one from there: What are ways you involve kids in your ministry presentations to supporters?
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Ooh, I'm curious to hear responses, as I haven't had the opportunity to get my son involved in presentations. :)
ReplyDeleteWe've been very cautious about forcing ours to be part of a family song and dance routine. However, we have sung together as a family in Russian, and on this last trip our 4-year-old recited a poem at every church, which is a very Russian thing to do. I think we'll always pretty much leave their participation up to them.
ReplyDeleteWe don't ask our children to help during presentations. My kids hate being on "show".
ReplyDeleteWe fully intended to, but with one all-too-eager-show-off, one I-won't-do-anything-you-ask-unpredictable, and churches that assume only Daddy will actually get up front... it hasn't happened. In smaller group contexts, they get involved by sharing pictures and answering questions about daily life - which inevitably involves ministry. All in all we are pretty content with that for now.
ReplyDeleteWe usually haven't had our kids be a part of our formal presentations other than in pictures as of yet. We've found that people do like pictures of the kids at ministry events or participating in traditional Russian events, etc. though. Then our kids can feel like they are a part of what our family is doing if they see the presentation. Our kids have not yet shown any distaste for being "on show" (they're still young, so it probably will come with time), but we usually don't include them in formal presentations just because it is just easier to present without them! Our oldest did sing a song in Russian once at a smaller gathering (a song that she really likes and sings for everyone). I can see that she would probably like to be more a part of presentations as she is getting older since it seems very in keeping with her outgoing personality, but our son is pretty shy in front of groups and would probably resent having to be a part. I think a lot might depend on personality and what they're being asked to do. In informal gatherings we've had our kids participate in Q&A times. They enjoy sharing about their life in Russia when asked questions about their experience.
ReplyDeleteWe have kept our kids out of presentations outside of pictures of them in El Salvador, or doing ministry related things. I always ask their permission before posting a picture of them...I don't want them to feel like they are "on show" as mentioned above. In the future it will be up to them what they want to do, but so far they have enjoyed "blending in" when we are in the States. Many times people ask them to say something in Spanish and I leave it totally up to them if they want to answer or not.
ReplyDelete