iRock Ministries

intentionally Reaching Our Community Kids

Excuses vs. Reasons

Acts 11:29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help…

“Cut! Cut! Cut! No more excuses. It’s time to seek out reasons to help. I’m directing a movie that confirms the need to help people suffering from social injustices throughout the world. There are people inflicted with, poverty, hunger, illness and homelessness that need our help. This film will help viewers recognize the need and help them to realize ways in which they can provide help.

As the director of this film I know that there is a huge amount of talent in this room. It’s up to me to bring out that talent and to help each of you discover how you can provide help to others. I will not stop searching until each and everyone of you has had the opportunity to audition and become part of the movie.”

I was portraying the director of a movie bringing about the awareness of social needs throughout the world. As leaders you are directing an even more important movie. Your movie/ministry directs children everyday and it is up to you and I to help them discover their gifts and talents and how they can help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world. We can not allow excuses to prevent them from taking action. Rather, you and I need to help them recognize reasons why and how they are able to provide help.

Acts 20:35 “And I have been a constant example of how you can help the poor by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‚ÄúIt is more blessed to give than to receive.‚Äù

Kids-N-Ministry Festival

One of my favorite times of the year is when I am able to direct an event that brings kids from all over our district together to share their gifts and talents with others. Kids come prepared to present human video, puppets, dramas, short sermons, poetry, photography, vocal, instrumentals and so much more.
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Kids-N-Ministry (KNM) is an opportunity for kids to present their gifts and talents before the Lord and a panel of coaches in a safe and encouraging environment. They are evaluated and given suggested on how to improve. They are evaluated on their individual skills and are not competing against one another. It is a time of discovery for some kids as they step out and try different ministry gifts. Kids come filled with excitement and joy as they anticipate their time to share. They get to watch other kids in their area of gifting and often times go back to their church and want to try themselves.
KNMgiftsIt is so important to give kids an opportunity to discover who God has created them to be. We have to provide opportunities for them to use their gifts and talents and to encourage them to minister to people around them. If we are going to see healing in a people that have turned from Christ we must entrust ministry to our children. They will impact their families, communities and the world if given a place of value and importance.

1Tim. 4:12 “Don‚Äôt let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Let us all be the ones to encourage our children and strengthen them in their faith as they step out into the world to reach people with the love and forgiveness that only Christ can give.

It has to become personal!

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I share about the homeless, the poor, the needy and the abused children throughout the world but until it becomes personal, it is just another story. It became more apparent this past weekend that the kids we minister to each week in our childrens churches have very little experience or first hand knowledge of those who are in need, physically and spiritually.

So, how can I help them realize that they are the ones that can make a difference in the lives of other children that need their help? They must see through my eyes as I describe the conditions these children live in every day. It’s important that they¬† hear the deep concern in my voice as I talk about children that are spiritually dying. they must believe that they can make a difference when they choose to help and they need to know that I am not asking them to do something that I am not already doing myself. Being an example is the most powerful way to influence people. Jesus knew this better than anyone.

If we want to influence this generation we need to be the kind of example that will bring about change in the world around us. “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1Cor. 11:1

Kids and Gospel Illusions

Recently I’ve been adding a few gospel illusions to my services and both the kids and adults have responded well. They are great fun and amaze the viewers. To begin I’ve used relatively simple illusions and have even been making a few. Here is my latest creation. It’s used in conjunction with a dove pan as I taught about how God can take someone ordinary, add the EXTRA to make you EXTRAordinary. EXTRAordinary

I know that there may be people that question the use of Gospel Illusions so I visited www.kidology.org to see what they had to say. If you would like to read more about the use of Gospel Magic Tricks, which we like to call “object lessons with a surprise ending” then click HERE to check out these articles posted on the site.

Eternal Differences? You Can Help!

Six straight weeks of kids camp, two United States missions trips and 126 souls later I’m humbled how God chose to use me this summer. As I sit down to share what God did in the lives of children over the past four months I continue to think, ‘what more can I do to reach the children that have yet to know Jesus?’ God opened the doors for me to minister to children throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland. In the 3,700 miles I traveled, I led 126 children in first time decisions to follow Jesus.
clownsThe summer started in Appalachia where I partnered with Pastor TJ Wolfe from Warwick AG. We trained and prepared a team to go into Oak Hill West Virginia where we did street ministry and then held a three day evangelistic outreach for the children in that area. Over 26 children invited Jesus into their lives that week.
COHNext I headed to Dallas Pennsylvania where I spent a week at Camp Orchard Hill as the guest speaker. Using “Deeply Rooted” as the theme, I challenged the campers to evaluate their personal relationship with Jesus and to grow deeper in their faith. 76 children gave their hearts to Jesus and many others fell deeper in love with Him. When testimonies were shared one girl stood up and said, “Before coming to camp I really didn’t know Jesus and didn’t care but today I want everyone to know that I know Him and want to live for Him forever.” One of the boys stood and shared, “Now I know that Jesus will provide for me and I don‚Äôt need to worry about things.” The most touching was a girl that said, “I’ve learned that I can still have happiness even though my dad just died.” There are children here in the United States that are hurting and need the hope and love that only Jesus gives.
KeyserThe summer was rounded off with five more weeks of kids camp and then I headed to Keyser WV with a team from 1st AG in Harrisonburg VA led by Trevor Whetzel. We had been invited to participate in a city wide outreach and minister to the children. All of our efforts were rewarded with 24 children making decisions to follow Jesus.
There are many more children to be reached. I want to continue to prepare people, train teams and minister to these children but we need your help. We’ve raised 28% of our budget. To remain on the mission field we’re asking you to invest in our ministry through a monthly Faith Promise. We are making an eternal difference in the lives of children, now you can help.
Click on our Donate page for instructions how you can partner with us. Please prayerfully consider investing in the lives of children through our ministry!