Following is a list of 'best practices' in the children's and teen ministries of Grace Communion congregations in the U.S. We encourage you to consider these testimonies - not for the purpose of copying - but to glean ideas, inspiration, encouragement and cautions. We encourage you to send us descriptions of your best practices so we can all share them here. Send these to Ted Johnston and we'll post them here.

What is working particularly well for you in either teen or children’s ministry?
Eric Shaw – Pasadena New Life	We only have a couple of teens at this point who attend regularly.  Discovery weekends seem to go well as we get a lot more then.  For children, kids church seems to be a hit.  Nancy Akers could give you more info.
Lee Berger – Austin, Texas	For the small kids we use a Group Resources curriculum that includes a Bible lesson, songs on CD and hands-on projects each time.  The kids like that class time is not solely "lecture."  The kids class is before services twice a month.  We try to do some social outings with the little kids, but there are just a few of them, so we don't have many activities solely for them.  We try to include them with teen, family or general church activities. For the teens, our class is mostly Bible topic discussion.  Maybe the most helpful thing we've done with our teens is that I made a formal "Agreement" with our teens that we will have two different types of activities.  One is a "learning time"--a class time--when we open our Bibles and talk about God, Jesus, beliefs, lifestyles, life challenges, family issues--from a God perspective.  The teen class meets twice per month before services.  The other type of activity is "fun time"--social outings, campouts, hikes around the lake, bowling, movie night, sleepovers, etc.   So if they'll work with me, when we come to learn I don't want the occasion turned into a party (although I hope they have fun as we learn---I try to not make it boring).  And when we have fun activities, I won't turn it into a Bible Study (although I hope they also learn while we play---you know, the "teachable moments" concept).  Whenever our learning time begins to get too rowdy and look like a party, I remind them of our Agreement.  And if I get too serious and boring during a fun time, they have the right to remind me to loosen up.
Ron Hickman – Cincinnati, Ohio	Teen ministry: we are having a monthly meeting with parents. Sunday after services we have lunch with the parents of teens and then meet to go over a chapter in a book on parenting teens. It has become somewhat of a support group for parents of teens, as parents listen and encourage each other over teen parenting issues. We have the parents meeting upstairs, and at the same time, the teens are meeting downstairs with our teen leaders. Teen ministry: we have a monthly outing that includes a fun afternoon with teens, followed by a dinner together and bible study at the home of one of our youth leaders. Teen ministry: we have quarterly open gym activity that includes a meal with a guest speaker to share some life experience with our teens. Teen ministry: we have a Teen Talk class during weekly worship service twice monthly. We use an object lesson approach to get the teens involved in learning biblical principles. Teen / young adult ministry: We have an annual urban mission to selected Cincinnati communities. We partner with a local church and help them reach out to children and families in their communities. This is a 4 day event preceded by a prayer walk and followed by a fun day for the missionaries. Our entire church has the opportunity to get involved in supporting this event in various ways, from prayer to cooking and delivering meals to the mission site, for the children. Young adults ministry: We have a young adults group that meets twice monthly to learn biblical life principles, spiritual disciplines, how to follow Christ. Children’s ministry: we have children's church every other week during our weekly worship service. This includes a variety of activities, music, and other learning events that include hands on participation. Children's ministry: once a month during the weekly worship service, we have children's message that is part of the worship service. It lasts about 10 minutes and is totally focused on the children, who sent up from while the entire church listens and observes.
Bob Persky—Dallas, Texas	We have a small but vibrant and healthy teen group. They have a very interactive discipleship class each week. Presently they are covering “Juicy Fruits of the Spirit”.  They have a teen “fun night” once a month which usually has one or more teen guests. Each month at church we have a “First Sunday” which is dedicated to the youth giving announcements, worship, etc. All is geared to teen involvement. The teens are involved in several outreach projects, one of which is supporting two children in World vision.  I am impressed with their care of the needy. We also have a very effective children’s church each week.
Paul David Kurts – Boone, North Carolina	We have teen and children's discipleship classes consistently each week no matter how many kids are there. We involve children each week in worship leading, serving, etc. We include the teens and children in sermons by speaking on their level. We take our children and teens to the WCG Higher Ground Camp where our adults are actively involved as staff members.
Frederick Moore – Memphis, Tennessee	Our Children's Minister has, among other things, effectively solicited mentors from among the teens and has thusly enriched both programs. Her methods of instruction are highly interactive.  The kids have fun and look forward to coming back the next week. Our current Teen Minister is new to the job, but already has developed a rapport with the teens. They respond well to his instructions. Previous teens ministers have also been big on mentoring. Our teens routinely take part in every aspect of the worship service -- worship leading, prayers and messages, plus skits, dances, and special recitations. Teens plan social events, not just for themselves but for the whole congregation. Our goal is to make Community of Faith "their church" not just a place they go with mom and dad.
Todd Fox – Rochester, Minnesota	Children’s and Teen’s Message time during the sermon/message portion of the local weekly service is one key. A second key is a lesson that is interwoven with Biblical instruction but very interactive and hands on. The youth are with friends (no matter the age) and also the sound Biblical principle of love and respect is received by all… in addition to a purposed lesson. A word of caution here: it is particularly difficult to orchestrate for teens. We face a lack of adequate materials as well as the typical “hot/cold” levels of participation/interaction from the teens - especially when three or more are gathered.