Playing Around with Prayground: Creating an Atmosphere for Kids to Enter the Kingdom

By Callie Boyd

Welcome to a mind-shaking perspective of kids and God's Kingdom. Playing Around With PrayGround will introduce thoughts that are challenging to our minds concerning children, thus, producing more questions than I can answer. Only God knows it all. To start the journey on this road of discovering God's value of children in His Kingdom, there are

• Language: English
• Publisher: Prepare International
• Release date: Jul 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9781951769048

Book preview

A book for both ministers of

children and parents

Playing around with PrayGround

Creating an atmoshere that welcomes children into the Kingdom

Callie L. Boyd

Copyright © 2018 Prepare

International and Callie Boyd

ISBN (print): 978-1-951769-03-1

ISBN (digital): 978-1-951769-04-8

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018936841

Published in the United States of America

All rights reserved as permitted under the U. S. Copyright Act of 1976. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the expressed written permission of the author and publisher.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise marked, are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Cover Art by Lacey Quebe. Picture art by Kymber Ruthardt, five-years-old, when asked to draw a picture of PrayGround. Kymber proudly drew a playground because praying is fun!

CREDIT GIVEN TO WHOM CREDIT IS DUE

In shaping my simple thoughts and beliefs about children, the Holy Spirit used various people, experiences, books, my own children, other children, and of course, just time with Him. I’d like to credit some of those people who are especially involved in the journey in which I am still participating.

Esther Ilnesky, author of Let the Children Play, gave me a launching pad where implementing Kingdom life for children in the Church could be explored. I am eternally grateful.

George Dana Boardman, author of The Church, presented scriptural backing and argument for children participating in the Kingdom and the lessons we learn from children.

My own amazing children and now, their spouses, Josiah and Brandi Boyd, Boone and Bethany (Boyd) Tyson, and Nathan and Hannah (Boyd) Dockery have been my greatest teachers. It is through my love for them and desires to see them stand on Randy and my shoulders and go further than us with Christ and His Kingdom, that theories and scripture began to take on flesh. It is through our kids, their eyes, their responses, and their simple faith that the Kingdom has become clearer in my own life.

My husband, Randy, from the time Josiah was born until now, has lived by three principles that the Father revealed to him:

If I enter into our kids’ world of play, they will readily enter into mine.

I will push to be more passionate for Jesus than our kids. I will lead by example.

The ministry I do is to be shared and participated in by our whole family. It’s worth the effort.

My father and mother, Jimmy Joe and Wanda Robinson, Mom Droke, and my Great Aunt Mandy set my feet on a firm foundation of relationship, not a religion, with Jesus. As a result, my relationship always triumphs over the default of religion! I am forever grateful for my heritage.

Papa Jack and Mama Friede Taylor, our constant encouragers, sources of wisdom and family, are my prototype of true Christians—Kingdom living, Christ followers!

All these people, along with the multitude of others that the Lord has used to influence and shape me, will be evident throughout this book. Their influence is so overwhelming; it will be nearly impossible to reference each one, so please let’s give credit where credit is due—these are my mentors and influencers!

Contents

CREDIT GIVEN TO WHOM CREDIT IS DUE

FOREWORD

SECTION 1

BEGINNING OUR JOURNEY

PREPARING YOUR HEART FOR THE JOURNEY

HOW MY PERSONAL JOURNEY BEGAN

JOURNEY IN THE BOYD HOUSEHOLD

HOW YOUNG IS TOO YOUNG?

DEFINING PRAYGROUND

PRAYGROUND VALUES

PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING

PRAYING FOR YOUR CHILDREN

SOME WORDS FROM MY FRIENDS

SECTION 2

MAKING PRAYGROUND YOUR OWN

SOME MODELS WITH PROVEN IDEAS FOR PRAYGROUND

PRAYGROUND MODEL 1

PRAYGROUND MISSION TRIP

PRAYGROUND MODEL 2

PRAYGROUND MODEL 3

SECTION 3

ENGAGING KIDS WITH THE REALITY OF THE KINGDOM

GAMES TO GET IN TUNE

GAMES FOR COMMUNICATING THE GOSPEL AND EVANGELISM

OTHER GAMES

PRAYGAMES

KINGDOM KOMPANY

ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

MORE RESOURCES

ANOTHER RESOURCE EXAMPLE: PRAYER CALENDAR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT PREPARE INTERNATIONAL

FOREWORD

As a children’s pastor, I love how this program encourages leaders and kids to have fun while learning about who the Holy Spirit is to them personally. It also teaches kids to focus on others needs versus their own. It’s an incredible way to connect kids to the truth of the ONE living God in a fun way, while showing them that He is REAL now and always, to them and others around them.

As a mom of three girls who has experienced and enjoyed this program, its value is priceless! My girls know how to pray, and they pray wholeheartedly. They believe their prayers over and over again because they truly understand what PrayGround taught them—that God listens to them and that He is real in their lives NOW, at this very moment! PrayGround has taught my girls to know that God is fun and it has given them a tangible way to understand what they believe with a Biblical backing truly. When you experience this program, you will truly have delight as you play around with PrayGround! Enjoy!

Amanda Centeno, Children’s Pastor

Church on the Rock in Lubbock, Texas

SECTION 1

BEGINNING OUR JOURNEY

PREPARING YOUR HEART FOR THE JOURNEY

Welcome to a mind-shaking perspective of kids and God’s Kingdom. Playing Around With PrayGround will introduce thoughts that are challenging to our minds concerning children, thus, producing more questions than I can answer. Only God knows it all. To start the journey on this road of discovering God’s value of children in His Kingdom, there are a few preliminary tools you will need. My goal is to equip you with a few of those tools:

You need to determine to press into the Father heart of God, dropping any previous religious teachings concerning kids, allowing the Holy Spirit to stretch your mind and rework your theology. From this point, I pray that you will continue to seek God’s heart and put what He teaches you into action. In this way, we shatter religion and magnify relationship with Jesus!

The first part of the book will be our (the Boyd’s) journey. Scripture basis and practical application of these scriptural truths will be cited.

The second part of the book will be specifically about PrayGround. PrayGround creates an environment where kids are encouraged to encounter the King (Jesus). Although this is mainly for a corporate church setting, you can easily apply the information in your home as my friend, Dawn Brown, describes in the section, Bringing It Home, beginning on page 67.

As a result, in the two distinct sections of the book, many of the values and statements will be repeated. That is NOT by accident. We learn by repetition. The goal of this writing is for you to move from the repetitive head knowledge into the application and resulting joy of the reward of seeing the Kingdom advance in and through the lives of children.

Reflection:

Take a moment: Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate any previous religious mindset about children and His Kingdom you have. Write a few down:

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What are some cultural barriers that you have accepted concerning children in the Kingdom?

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HOW MY PERSONAL JOURNEY BEGAN

My raising began when I was born into a family consisting of a successful basketball coach as a father and a mother who was a teacher. I was surrounded by extended family that loved and cared for me, specifically my grandma, Mom Droke. She was my primary caregiver while my parents worked. She taught me math by playing dominoes, how to cook (always letting me lick the batter), that well water was better