So for the last three months, I’ve been writing… Alot. We’ve really been trying to push to write devotions relevant to kids that there parents can guide them through. We’re hoping these would help parents begin to start a conversation on spiritual issues.
I just wanted to share a few things that I try and include in every devotional that I write.
1) Relevance
This is always where I start. The Bible is always relevant so I try and find an issue to talk about that kids are dealing with. You can actually find a list in most Study Bibles. Issues like anger, peer pressure, trying to fit in, etc. Then I try and imagine that issue in our context and write based on that.
2) Application
This is difficult but I always try and push the family, kid or even parent to an action. We can’t just be hearers, we must do. Application is key in these devotions because they give kids something tangible to do.
3) Promote Discussion
Does that mean that I have questions at the end of each devotion? No. But it does mean that you should find something that will cause discussion. Maybe ask them to think about a funny story or their favorite color, anything to get parents to have a conversation with their child. Let’s start with that and then move them to the Spiritual.
4) Prayer
Getting them to pray together. It’s profound having a conversation with God together as a family. It really is cool to see everyone being honest and I hope that the families that use these devotions would get to experience that. I try to give them a guide, also trying to promote discussion, even if it’s just in their heart.
I have seriously been thinking about buying a digital reader. It seems a bit weird to me though. I’m not gonna lie, in this area of my life, I am pretty hesitant about being ahead of the curve on technology.
I mean I love books. I love the smell, the feel of the pages, and the feeling you have when you see exactly how much you have read by the size of the wad of paper on the left side of your thumb.
But knowing that I will probably make the switch sooner rather than later, here is a write-up that might help you make a decision.
I know I don’t post alot of my production stuff, but I thought this might help someone. The following video is week 1 of a set of 8 week Basketball Devotions for 1st and 2nd graders. We had a volunteer draw some pictures of key parts of the story. I scanned those pictures in and used some simple keyframe animations to help “illustrate” the story. I used Motion 3 for this project but the keyframes could have been done in another video editing program just as easy. Anyway, this was a year ago and gives you a great alternative to professional illustrations!
Now usually I’ll give you my own personal insights but I really want you to go check out this post by Kem Meyer. And if you don’t already subscribe to her and you are loving this Marketing Series, then you would be hurting your growth in this area if you didn’t subscribe to her blog.
Now she goes very corporate to give you a picture of what the Identity Crisis looks like with brands. However, when you look at your church, can you say that all aspects from Communication to Assimilation to Environment to Content to Message are all unified in their apparent purpose?
If they aren’t then what does that communicate to prospective “shareholders”? What are you leaving out of the loop when it comes to the heart, core, nucleus of what you do? By leaving that thing out does it communicate something different than the message you intend for people to receive?
I’ll give you an example for #kidmin that most of us probably never think about. Preschool-check in. What value do our preschoolers get from checking in to a desk where they can’t see the attendants and they have nothing to occupy their attention?
Where is an area that you think the church might not be considering when trying to communicate the heart, core, and nucleus of what they are about?
I'm the Elem. Prod. Director at Brookwood Church in Simpsonville, SC. I love Jesus, my wife, technology, sports, and kidmin 
