From the Back Cover
Children's ministry areas should be "kidatoriums"-just as colorful, alive and exciting as the children themselves! Dream Themes will help you create fun, visually appealing ministry areas that make kids feel warm and loved. Captivating design isn't just for VBS anymore! Tap your creativity for year-round appeal that will make an unforgettable impression on kids!
In Dream Themes you'll go wild over award-wining designs from Children's Ministry Magazine's room-decorating contest and other innovative churches' ideas.
You'll be equipped to:
*Follow an easy process for creating an overall theme for your children's ministry!
*Discover how to envision the dream décor that reflects your kid-friendly ministry themes!
*Find practical help for turning your dream ideas into reality!
Plus! You'll find jazzy ideas for decorating the nursery for your smallest learners. And "quick fixes"-wonderfully creative ideas that require very little money and time!
Dream Themes is perfect for creating ministry space that welcomes kids and makes them smile!
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Take a moment to transport yourself into your children's ministry area. Walk through your Sunday school rooms, either literally or figuratively, and examine them through the eyes of a child attending your Sunday school. What do you see? Is the environment immediately welcoming? Do you feel comfortable and safe? Are the decorations, graphics, furniture, and other visual items kid-friendly and fun? And most important, what does the space itself communicate about church and about God himself?
The areas in which we worship, learn about God, and fellowship with one another can speak volumes about our attitudes toward God. Are we on fire for God? Does it show in our ministry? Children, especially, are attuned to their environment because they have so little control over it. Make no mistake-the very look of your children's ministry area can convey whether learning about God is boring and dull, or fun and exciting. In children's ministry, we have tremendous opportunities to reach out to children with the love and grace of Christ-shouldn't the space we use reflect our desire to share Christ with them?
Dream Themes: Dazzling Decorating Ideas for Your Children's Ministry gives you the inside scoop on how to create a children's ministry design that will wow your kids and keep them coming back for more! You'll be guided through the process of creating an overall theme for your children's ministry, envisioning décor to reflect that theme to children, and making your dream a reality.
Part 2, "Dynamite Dream Themes," contains detailed instructions about how to create fifteen themes that will spark your imagination and get those creative juices flowing. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to transform your children's ministry location into a dynamic, fun-filled adventure.
Each theme is divided into several sections, each packed with ideas to get you started. First, you'll see an illustration that depicts the finished theme so you can envision the end result (very helpful for visual learners!). Next, in the margin, you'll see a logo for each theme. Photocopy the logo from page 7 to use on newsletters, in bulletins, and on posters.
Then each theme is broken down into specific subgroups to make your job that much easier. "Setting the Stage" provides ideas for decorating your stage area or large-group area. Even if your children's ministry area doesn't have a stage, you'll find plenty of adaptations you can use for your own unique space. "From Top to Bottom" provides ideas for extending the stage décor onto the walls, floor, and ceiling of your meeting space. "Have a Seat!" gives you several theme-specific seating ideas.
The "For Extra Fun" section provides a wealth of ideas for ways to go the extra mile in your ministry or to just create more of an atmosphere for your theme. Finally, "Dream Theme Ministry" suggests several specific Bible stories and verses, and ways to tie them to your theme.
You can use the themes in this book in a variety of ways: You can follow the instructions verbatim to create your own dream theme, you can combine ideas and make them fit your own area and situation, or you can use the ideas as a "jumping-off place" to help you create your own new, unique dream theme! Use a little or use a lot-the choice is yours! Create dramatic new ministry areas, or use the ideas to tweak and improve what you already have.
As you consider the themes presented in this book, prayerfully keep your kids in mind. The relationship you build with them may very well influence the relationship they build with God. What an awesome responsibility! But what an opportunity! Let Dream Themes help you and your ministry be the best they can be.
Blessings to you and the space you're in!
P.S.-Not long ago, Children's Ministry Magazine held a room-decorating contest for churches throughout the country and then honored "the best of the best." In the margins of the next section, you'll find some of the winners' own thoughts on their "adventures in decorating." (Or check out the September/October 2000 issue of the magazine for complete details.)
