Club Leaders Discuss: "How Do You Cope with Early Arrivers?" Build Relationships I love it when kids arrive early! It lets me get to know them and the parents in a more casual setting. I try to arrive 45 minutes early, to take care of preparations. Then when the club members start arriving, I can give them my full attention, greeting them by name. If they arrive really early, I put them to work (getting out flags, making copies, cutting verses). This makes them feel important, too. -Carol Abell, Chantilly Bible Church, Oak Hill, Virginia No “Drop and Drive” We do not allow parents to “drop and drive.” We require that they escort their children to the club room and pick them up there after club. The club coordinator or co-coordinator runs a Pioneer Clubs information desk in the church foyer and arrives 30 minutes early. Parents who come early are told that our Opening ceremony begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. and that we will not have a leader in that room until 6:25. Parents wait with their children until then. This rule was created for safety, and we have never had a parent complain. They seem to appreciate that we are concerned for their children’s welfare. -Diane Crook, First Baptist Church of Pontiac, White Lake, Michigan Help with Setup We try to greet early arrivals with a smile and by name and involve them in some part of setting up for the meeting. -Dan Smith, Delano Evangelical Free Church, Delano, Minnesota |
