Moving Up & Moving On

::Moving Up::
Our Coastline kids get so excited at their birthday. Not only do they get a party & presents at home but many parents have mentioned that their 5 year old talks non stop about moving up into Lil Rippers!
When a child moves up into "the big kid class" they get a really cool moving up gift that has a t-shirt, cd, info letters, and some toys!

Experience ADVENTURE In serving

a.      Experience fulfillment & growth through serving. ::Find Purpose :: Legacy

The first couple weeks can be scary or overwhelming but as leaders in any class it's our job to help the kids feel welcome and meet new friends. Match up two kids and ask them to sit together or to show their new friend things around their cool new room! A little attention goes along way.

Logan Benton just moved up into little Rippers in March when he turned 6 years old. He was an outstanding kid in Treehouse- helping the younger 4 & 5's but now he's a little fish in a big pond and he can't get enough of it! Mom says it's so different waking him up for school vs. waking him up for church!

You are making church FUN and EXCITING for kids of all ages! Thank you for your efforts in being yourself and a little goofy to make kids feel at home in God's house! It wouldn't be the same with out you! You are creating a legacy through FLM!

::Moving On::
Let me take another moment to share what a great job Susan Zipperer did while I was away on maternity leave! Things kept going without a hitch thanks to her leadership and your dedication to FLM. So great to know that I work with such a valuable team that the wheels keep turning without me. Thank you Susan and everyone else for supporting Ben and I during my time off to be with little Piper!

I'm officially back, working Sunday, Monday, and Tuesdays. Please resume contacting me with any Early Childhood things. You'll see Susan around as she resume volunteering with the Lil Rippers. I know those kids missed her too!


Here's Susan with her Thank you flowers from the team!

… & incase you haven't met our baby, Piper Emmalene Kingdon, here's a blog post of her from Lil Rippers volunteer Angel Gray from AngelGrayphotography.com
Piper Kingdon on the blog

Open invitation to impact

Each Sunday Parents are trusting us as a church to keep their children safe, happy, and learning for an hour and 10 minutes. What a privilege that is!

We have an open invitation to impact these children.

We need to GUARD that God given opportunity and continue our rapport with parents.

Ben and I are so grateful that our team gets it. You all are so excellent at remembering the small and repetitive details that keep our children safe.

2. Impact with  INTENT Through training

 a.      Guard the opportunity to plant a seed (safety/ distractions)

Here's a few highlight reminders about safety in FLM:

-Our numero uno policy- No child is ever alone with a volunteer. This means an adult 18+ and another volunteer must be present anytime children are present.

-Check in safety  Check for security badge numbers, names, and Lil Rippers stamps to match. This world is getting scarier and just because people are moms and dads doesn't make them safe. Those numbers need to match before a child leaves your care.

-Bathroom procedures- brush up on your very important bathroom procedures and other policies in the volunteer packet posted on our secure volunteer site!

All in all, God gave us a great opportunity, parents are in trusting us, and children are counting on us to not only show them their first impression of our Savior but to keep them in a safe environment while we do so.

Thank you all for being so efficient in our efforts for safety at Coastline!
Ashley and Ben Kingdon

//Side Note
-Spring Blockbuster is coming at you this week! Yeah!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!
We are so excited to kick off 2014 with such an excellent, giving, and humble team for Family Life Ministries!

As a staff our year goal is "Go Higher". We are going to take every hour on Sunday, every extra event, every hug, video game,  cry, dirty diaper… as an opportunity to love more, give more, and impact the children God has placed under our care in this coming year!

Will you take the challenge to be on purpose and Go Higher with us in 2014?
We are expecting great things!

Check out your e-mails today for an updated version of the Winter schedule attached as a PDF. The schedule also has a couple important notes for January you need to be aware of as we are expecting our little girl due Feb. 9th!

Thank you all for your continued commitment to our Coastline kids and families through this Winter Blockbuster. We love you!
Ashley & Ben Kingdon

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect

I read a book a few years ago by John Maxwell called "Everyone Communicates, Few Connect."
Everyone in the world communicates in some form or another, but not everyone actually connects on a deeper level with others.

It takes skill, patience, practice, and willingness to connect with people.
We've all had that teacher who just idly sat by, waiting for the next bell to ring and never left an impression on you. And hopefully you've also had a teacher who's impacted you because they CONNECTED with you. Maybe they spent extra time specifically with you, or they were simply more fun than other teachers. Maybe they were able to relate to where you are and not just helping you get a passing grade, and they chose to see you as someone who is valuable.

2. Impact with INTENT through training a.      Empower through training to be intentional.  //FLM Volunteer Vision

Each month YOU have the opportunity to not only communicate with kids who are curious about God, but you can connect with them and leave an impact that lasts a lifetime. 

Connecting with a child in your area of ministry can be the difference between them being dragged out of the house week to week, and them dragging their parents out of bed to get to church on time each week. 

In our experience with kids there have been three key points that have helped us to connect with them. 
1.) Words of Affirmation - A kid will light up if you give them encouraging words when they first walk into a room. Tell them their shirt is cool, their hair is nice, or compliment a toy they brought with them. They feel connected closer to you when they know you like the small details in their life. 

      2.) Memory - Memorize something about a specific kid and strike up a conversation about it. If they love LEGO's and you don't know a thing about them, ask them questions then tell them about your favorite toys when you were growing up. If they love American Girl Dolls ask them to tell you their favorite character and her story.  They love when you remember their favorite things and feel valued when you want to talk with them about it.

       3.) Physical Touch - Many kids don't always get a hug from their parents or their hand held when they cross the street. Appropriate physical touch is something kids strive for. A simple tap on the shoulder or a good high-five let's them know that your not just an adult, you can relate to their world. Get down on their level, look them in the eyes and ask for their best high-five this Sunday. I bet they smile right before they rear back and try to knock your hand into the sun. 

Do a combination of those three things or try all of them the next time you serve. You'll notice that you've started to connect with a kid, leaving a lasting impression for years. 

*Side Note: As we are in the winter season, we are praying for you & your families health! If you are feeling under the weather and showing symptoms please make sure to let us know prior to your Scheduled Sunday so we can find you a replacement. Thanks for helping us to keep our classrooms clean and safe for everyone!

Thanks for being intentional every Sunday you serve!
Ben & Ashley Kingdon