Fresh Ideas for Families, Youth & Children

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When the midweek program for kids sometimes even outpulls the Sunday school in attendance, a successful idea clearly has been born. Here's what's happening at the Baptist church in Vinton, Ohio.

Wednesday night is split into two halves:

1. Six age-level classes for the first 30 minutes, "conducted much like a Sunday school class, except with more freedom to innovate," says Don Ratcliff, Christian education director.

2. For the second 30 minutes, all school-aged children gather for a special activity:

• First Wednesday of the month: a crafts project

• Second Wednesday: recreation at a ball field or gymnasium

• Third Wednesday: mass birthday party for everyone born in that month

• Fourth Wednesday: sing-along with guitars, piano, other instruments

• Fifth Wednesday (once a quarter): Christian movie, complete with popcorn.

"This schedule gives us both continuity and variety," says Ratcliff. "Since the classes are only 30 minutes, they are not an overwhelming burden on the teachers. The second half-hour involves a large number of people, but each is committed to only one evening a month—so more are willing to participate."

The church runs the program throughout the school months only, changing pace in the summertime. "The result is a bulging church on Wednesday night," Ratcliff reports.

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