GLCC Children's Network

Cell, January 15 - The Mask
Monday, January 18, 2010

While we (hopefully) don't celebrate Halloween at Gospel Light, we do understand the concept of masks, costumes and disgiuses.  These things keep people from seeing who we really are. Also, being either kids or former kids, most of us can get our heads around pretending to be someone else.

We asked the kids if they ever pretended to be someone else, and who.  We got a lot of answers from "a Power Ranger" to " Hannah Montana" to "mommy."  Someone even said they pretended to be God!   (Hey, if you're gonna pretend, pretend big!)

What's the point of pretending like this?  Well, when we pretend to be someone else, we imagine that we inherit their abilites as well.  So pretending to be "Hanna Montana" means pretending you are a famous singer. 

But sometimes, people pretend when it's not even playtime.  Some people "pretend" to be Christians when they are in church - but then they act differently when they are in school or out with friends.  Which "personality" is "real?"     Hard to tell, but since Jesus wants your whole heart, chances are one would not have ot pretend if they were being who they were in Christ all the time. 

Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 11:57 AM 0 comments  

Labels: christian, leadership, updates

Traffic Jams and Leadership Building
Tuesday, October 13, 2009

We did something different in cell group this week.  We didn't have our usual bible study.  In fact, we didn't crack a bible open at all.  (Before you grab the pitchforks, remember that "cell group" is not "bible study."   Though sometimes they go hand in hand, there is more to a cell group than just that. 

So this week we did a little stealth leadership training.   The weapon of choice was a nifty little game called "Traffic Jam."   Traffic Jam works like this:  you set up two groups of four, and line up nine chairs.   You seat each group at the end so it looks like this:

           A  B  C  D  [empty]   W X Y Z


Here are the rules.   Each group has to move to the opposide side.  Only one person can move at a time, and only to the next empty seat.  You can only "jump over" someone coming in the opposite direction, and only jump one person.   And no talking. 

They did accomplish it, eventually.  Then I laid some more rules on them:

You have to wind up in the same order you started, but on the opposite side.   And you have to accomplish it in 24 moves.  So really, they did not accomplish the desired result.

In other words, the result must be:

      W X Y Z  [empty]  A B C D
  
After 50 moves, they still could not do it.  So I told them that now they could talk.   There was a lot of yelling and ordering going on, but after 50 moves they still didn't accomplish much.

So I told them that they could select a leader, and only that leader could speak.   They got closer this time - a lot closer.  But still, no joy.

Then I told them that I would be their leader, and I would direct them.   Since I had the solution written down, it was easy - done in 24 moves exactly!  

One kid asked me - what was the point?    "I don't know." I said.  "What happened?"

First, there were no clear directions  - FAIL!!!

Then there were directions, but no communication  - FAIL!!!

Then there was communication, but no organization.  Just noise.  - FAIL!!!

Then there was organization, but no plan.   -- FAIL!!!

Finally, there was a leader with a vision, with authority, and with a plan   - SUCCESS!!!



What can your leadership team learn from this example???

Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 7:54 AM 1 comments  

Labels: fun, leadership, ministry