'This is an excellent resource for those wanting to start up a Parent and Toddler group, or for those seeking to improve the running of an existing group. It provides practical guidelines and will support you in all aspects of running a successful Parent and Toddler group. I highly recommend it.'
Sharing Ideas
Resources for children's work
exercised. 
be adapted.
Sharing Ideas ...
... for reaching adults
Lunch and Listen is used in a variety of ways to develop relationships with contacts in the community;
- Retired People
- Mums/Carers from the Parent and Toddler Group
- Parents of children in the Sunday School/Youth Club
Holiday at Home is an activity week (like a holiday club) for people who have retired. Various activities are organised throughout the week; visits to gardens or museums, walks, demonstrations, lunches etc. Each day ends with a short epilogue.
Prayer Fellowship - For those who have retired or for those not in full-time employment - why not have a regular day-time prayer fellowship with others in your church? Commit yourselves to pray for the spiritual growth of every member of your church. Pray for the nation.
Taster Days - If there is someone in your church who has a particular hobby, interest or profession - use it! A church in Dorset recently had a 'golfing taster day' led by a church member who was a professional golfer. The day ended with a brief talk about Christianity.
Daddy and Me - If you have a successful Mothers and Toddlers Group - why not extend it to include Dads too? Dads are invited to come along with their children on Saturday morning. They can watch their children play, snack on the food provided (bacon sandwiches are popular) and get to know other men from the church.
Off-site evangelism - If a number of members from your church all have the same interest or hobby - why not join a Club or an Adult Education Class together? Use it as an opportunity to develop contacts with people who wouldn't normally go to church, with a view to sharing the Gospel with them.
Coffee mornings - If your church is near a busy shopping area - invite shoppers in for coffee. Use the coffee mornings to raise the profile of the church and to develop relationships with local people in the community. Try having a coffee morning during:
- Fair Trade Fortnight (usually in February/March). This year Fair Trade Fortnight was from 22nd
February - 7th March 2010. - The World's Biggest Coffee Morning (an annual fundraising event for Macmillan Cancer Relief). This year the coffee morning will be on Friday 24th September 2010.
Church Fun Days - A rounders match and BBQ held on sunny Saturday afternoons does wonders for the church family (even if only watching) and for those who are on the periphery of church life.
Church Meals - Invite groups from the church (eg the mums or carers that come to Mothers and Toddlers), out for a meal with other church members.
Women's Meetings - To make the programme varied, use:
- Testimonies.
- Topical news discussed from a scriptural perspective.
- Get everyone to read a set book (e.g. 'Bold I approach' - a book on prayer or 'A grace disguised' - a book dealing with loss) and then come together to discuss it.
- Bible Study - Two or three weeks prior to meeting, give out a Bible passage with three or four questions relating to that passage. The Bible study starts by discussing the answers to those questions.
- Quizzes to familiarize people with the Bible.
