Kids Friendly aims to equip and resource our churches to minister effectively to children and families in their churches and communities. Kids Friendly Coaches offer training, coaching, mentoring, resources, advice and encouragement to all those ministering to children.
We have developed many training workshops and resources in response to your requests and are willing to design training workshops specifically to meet your needs. We also love to share your expeirences and resources with other churches. Contact us if you'd like to organise a regional training event or a leaders training specially designed for your church. Read more about the training opportunities below:
Kids Friendly Connections are networking and training events for those who minister to children. An opportunity to join like-minded leaders in your church or region for a time of:
If you would like to participate in a Kids Friendly Connections Event or would like to help us organise one for children's leaders in your church or region, contact:
Jill Kayser at 09- 5850959, 027 2103784, email: jill@kidsfriendly.org.nz or Cheryl Harray at 03-4763932, 027-4896153, email: cheryl@kidsfriendly.org.nz
Download the Kids Friendly Connections information brochure and registration form.
The Kids Friendly Coach offers 2-hour coaching sessions with churches' ministry teams, sessions/parish councils and children's ministry leaders.
Topics could include:
And lots more topics and advice and resources to help churches meet the Kids Friendly ideals.
For more information or to discuss ideas or needs, contact Kids Friendly Jill Kayser on 09-5850959 or jill@kidsfriendly.org.nz
"We needed help with structuring our Kids Church and exploring ways we could more effectively welcome children and share our faith with them. We also needed some guidance on how to effectively and safely recruit volunteer leaders and helpers. Having a two hour coaching meeting with Jill helped us immensely. We went into the meeting feeling very discouraged, frustrated and weighed down; and left the meeting feeling excited, encouraged, and with restored passion. Jill gave us practical tools and ideas for how to structure the leadership and how to create an environment where children feel welcome." Tina Millar and Ruth Edgar, St Andrew’s Presbyterian, Manurewa
The Kids Friendly Coaches can provide training workshops on a number of Kids Friendly topics for your church or Presbytery (travel costs need to be sponsored by host churches or Presbytery). Below are a range of possible training topics. Workshops can also be specifically designed to meet the needs of your church and leaders.
This workshop explores reasons for including children in some part of the all age worship service and introduces creative ways to engage, involve and value children in worship.
This workshop explores how Kids Friendly churches welcome children, engage and involve children in all age worship (for or part of the service) and provide a Kids Friendly Sunday School.
This workshop explores why “We”, God’s church, should reach out to children and families in our communities and introduces some ideas and opportunities for effective outreach. A response to Jesus’ call to “Go” into our communities and serve.
“Parents are the primary faith teachers, mentor and role models for their own children with church as reinforcement – not replacement – of the parent’s duties.” (Faith Inkubators).
This workshop explores how we, “the church” can:
This is as fun and interactive workshop for parents to inspire them to share their faith with their children and explore opportunities and ways to do that. We aim to empower and equip parents to be the prime spiritual nurturers.
This workshop explores the power of storytelling and teaches creative ways to share the good news of Jesus with children in church and children’s programmes.
This workshop explores why we minister to children, what is children’s ministry in Aotearoa and helps you develop a strategic plan for your children’s ministry.
This workshop explores how children best learn and introduces creative and engaging ways to teach children including sharing scripture through storytelling and puppetry, learning memory verses, praying with children.
We also develop a template for planning a creative “Sunday School” lesson within each church’s context and culture.
This workshop normally requires up to four hours. We review your leaders values and gifts, current programme, set goals for making it even better and then explore many creative teaching skills together.
In this workshop we explore why we should encourage leadership in our young people and ways to do this. Lots of inspiring stories from our churches are shared and research on the benefits of mentoring and involving children is included.
Transformers is an initiative of Kids Friendly to develop young leaders. We believe that every child has the potential to be a leader and leadership skills can be taught and developed.
Transformers RUYL takes the form of weekend camps. The first camp was piloted in Christchurch Presbytery in April 2009. At Transformers camps children aged 10 to 13 creatively explore what it means to be a Transformer leader in training (LIT) inspired by Jesus – the greatest transformer of all. LITs commit to working with a mentor from their church for a year to achieve Transformer Awards and develop their leadership.
Tweens (10+) start making crucial decisions about their life and often leave the church during this crucial time of transition. If we’re serious about our future church, we must invest in these future leaders.
If your church or Presbytery would like to host a Transformers Camp and encourage leadership development in children contact Kids Friendly:
Jill Kayser at jill@kidsfriendly.org.nz or cheryl@kidsfriendly.org.nz
Download the Transformers RUYL information brochure.
Download the Transformers RUYL LIT News to read about some of our 100 leaders in training are doing to serve their churches and communities and grow more like Jesus.
Rev Glenn Livingstone, Minister of St Andrews Rangi Ruru/St James Spreydon, Christchurch said this in his report to PSDS as follows:
As the children arrived it occurred to me that we were seeing the future of the church walk through the door. “Transformational” is a rather under-stated word for what took place. The children began working immediately upon their arrival, breaking into groups with their mentors, focusing on a faith based activity and a practical exercise that gave expression to activity. Going into this weekend I never considered the possibility of a transformative effect on my own faith and ministry, yet this is what took place.”
Glenn also shared feedback from two girls that attended the camp: “One young girl who is a member of our After School Group programme, was a real challenge prior to camp. Recently I needed assistance and called on her to provide it. Not only did she respond to my request but she led with a maturity beyond her years.
The other girl arrived at the camp as somewhat of a loner but during the camp she was linked up with children in her own area. She now attends another of our Presbyterian churches where she is mentored. Her mother is grateful for the camp and especially grateful that she now has Christian friends.”
Mary-Jane Konings, Minister from St Stephens/Trinity Church Timaru accompanied her two children to camp and wrote in Candour magazine: “What excites me about this model is that it directly addresses one of the key “drop out” areas in our ministries to children and young people. Transformers is inherently relational but it is also intentional about those relationships. What would happen if every Presbytery ran one of these Transformers Camp? What is essential is a faith commitment by each of the children involved, and the potential to be leaders, remembering that leaders come in all shapes and sizes and ages. The camp is one of those catalyzing events, where children are set to succeed.”
Rev Anne Mills from Chartwell Co-operating Parish in Hamilton: “Transformers is the best children's leadership programme I have ever come across. Our group of 6 LITs is going strong with leadership activities planned now until Christmas. They recently worked together to raise over $400 for Pakistan by running a car wash. We now have others wanting to become “Transformers” so will need to book another camp for next year!”
Feedback from our third Transformers Camp in Dunedin, April 2010
Sandy Gorman, leader from Otago Peninsula Presbyterian church said: “Not only did I come away inspired, I came away knowing what a true blessing my kids are! They all stepped up into that "young leader" role and were comfortable in showing their gifts and talents to others. I think what sticks out in my mind was the final worship service and the contributions of my youth. There were 2 of my girls who are not keen to be up at the front singing or speaking but absolutely blew me away with the puppets! They are very ready to write a script for next week’s service! Fantastic! Anyway I have heard nothing but raves about the weekend if Face book is anything to go by, and I have kids that are keen to get right into the worship service next week.
Carolyn Sims, leader from Flagstaff Union said: “I really liked the way the workshops directly related to the worship service. Amazed at the way our children participated in workshops and then brought it to the worship service. I.e. I wouldn’t have thought my kids could have done the puppet show they performed. It shows we just need to give them the opportunity. The Commissioning service was a very special time. I am looking forward to working with the young Leaders in Training now as a mentor, as we set goals and keep an eye out for opportunities where they can serve and lead!”
Then Kids2Kids is definitely for you. Each year Warrick Baty of First Presbyterian Church in Papakura trains a team of young people to run a January holiday programme in churches like yours. The holiday programme caters for children aged 7–10 years and usually runs for 3 or 4 days from 9 am – 1pm. The fun-packed programme includes games, crafts and biblical teaching. for more information see the Kids2Kids information brochure.
On-site training with the Kids Friendly Coaches is available for children’s ministry workers who are able to meet with Jill in her Auckland office or Cheryl in her Dunedin office. Whether you are a Sunday School leader/teacher, holiday programme coordinator or creche facilitator our aim is to help you be the best at what you do and encourage you in your ministry. To find out more download the Kids Friendly on-site training application form
November 15 - 7.30pm
General Event - Christchurch
Spreydon Baptist
Cnr Lyttleton & Cobham Streets
Spreydon
November 16 - 7.30pm
General Event - Wellington
Hope Centre
8 Downer Street
Lower Hutt
November 17 - 7.30pm
General Event - Auckland
Greenlane Christian Centre
17 Marewa Road
Greenlane
November 18 - 12.30-2pm
Pastors' Lunch - Auckland
Greenlane Christian Centre
17 Marewa Road
Greenlane
Entry to General Events by gold coin donation.