Friday, July 31, 2015

Rock Solid Series

The one nonfiction topic I enjoy reading about is Children’s Ministry. Here’s some summaries of my favorites:

 The Rock Solid series, mostly by Larry Fowler, executive director of program & training for Awana Clubs International

Book #1: Rock-Solid Kids: Giving Children a Biblical Foundation for Life by Larry Fowler, Gospel Light Publishing, 2004

Genre: Nonfiction
Target Audience: Parents and Children’s Ministry Workers, Church leaders
Subjects: Children’s Ministry, the Gospel
Summary: How important are children? Are they are future? Are they a tool we use to gather their parents into church? Or are they important for themselves? How did Jesus view children? How clear are we when presenting the Gospel to children? Do we confuse children with our language? When is the key time to try to reach people with the Gospel? This book covers the answers to those questions and more through eight simple “foundation rocks”.
Notes: The value of this book comes in it’s simplicity and in the importance of it’s message. As soon as I got to Jr. High I began volunteering in children’s ministry. Yet, the breakdown of what the Gospel really is, simplified the way Larry Fowler does in this book is not something I’d heard until I attended a conference where this material was being taught. We often confuse people with our language, especially children. There’s a great chart in this book that compares the various ways we present the Gospel with what the Bible actually says the Gospel is. For that chapter alone, this book is of value.
Recommendation Scale:  5/5




Genre: Nonfiction
Target Audience: Parents and Children’s Ministry Workers, Church leaders
Subjects: Children’s Ministry, the Gospel
Summary: What should be our true goal in children’s ministry? What is the connection between knowing Scripture, practical application and relating Scripture to life? How can discipline be used to benefit instead of hinder our ministry? What is the measure of success in our ministry? And where can we find the power needed to carry out our ministry? This book lays out seven principles of effective children’s ministry.
Notes: Just like the last one, the value is in the simplistic, clear layout of the book. It’s summarized in simple and clear terms that can have applications easily drawn from them. The last one challenged the specifics – the words we use and such. This one challenges our focus. That’s clear from the first principle where it talks about targeting the heart of children. I highly recommend this book too.
Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Book #3 – Rock-Solid Volunteers by Larry Fowler, Regal/Gospel Light, 2010
Genre: Nonfiction

Target Audience: Parents and Children’s Ministry Workers, Church leaders
Subjects: Children’s Ministry, the Gospel
Summary: If you asked leaders of children’s ministry programs what their biggest struggles are, finding and keeping volunteers would be near the top of the list with nearly everyone. In recognition of that, Larry Fowler uses the story of Nehemiah to address the issue. He highlights how Nehemiah was a great leader in terms of how he motivated his volunteers.
Notes:  The neat aspect of this book is how the author uses an actual Biblical figure as the role model for us to look up to. He has a lot of good ideas for how to find and keep volunteers. This one focuses on the challenges that both us and Nehemiah face. And it focuses on seven steps to solving these challenges. I also highly recommend this book.
Recommendation Scale: 5/5



Deuteronomy 32:45-47 – When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you--they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."

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