Christine Yount Jones

World Malaria Day

Thu, 25 April 2013 12:33:00

World Malaria Day is commemorated every year on 25 April and recognizes global efforts to control malaria. Here's a note from Tim Gilmour on why he supports Squash Malaria.
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Six years ago my daughter, Faith, turned 25 years old. Instead of celebrating her birthday, she and my wife sat beside my hospital bed, signing organ donation paperwork and waiting for doctors to share the results of an EEG to determine if I had any brain activity left. The culprit at the center of this drama? A bite from a mosquito with West Nile virus, which escalated into West Nile meningoencephalitis and left me in a coma.

Up until my illness in 2006, I considered mosquitoes as nothing more than a pesky nuisance. But that's not the case. Across the globe a child dies every 30 seconds from malaria caused by mosquito bites. The good news? Malaria is 100% preventable, and with your help we can change these statistics!

We're excited to support Squash Malaria, a campaign to help eradicate malaria by providing specially treated mosquito nets to children in developing countries. (Just one $6 net can protect two or more children for up to four years!)With help from our partners at World Vision, Group Cares launched the Squash Malaria effort through the Operation Kid-to-Kid Program with Group's VBS. Through that effort, Squash Malaria has raised nearly $2.5 million. Our ultimate goal is to raise $6 million-enough to save the lives of 1 million children.
You can still help Squash Malaria and save the lives of children! Get your free starter kit to get started. Although I didn't have malaria in 2006, my mosquito-borne disease was a nearly fatal experience that even our own doctors couldn't do much to treat. Thanks to hundreds of people who prayed for me, I experienced God's miraculous healing. I awoke from a four-day coma and have been healthy with few side effects. The power of prayer-and caring Christians like you and the kids in your ministry-can have that kind of impact on 1 million children.

And by the way, 18 months ago Faith gave birth to my first grandchild, Cannon. I'm so thankful I'm alive tosee Faith be a mom, to see Cannon grow up, and that we live in a country where I don't have to worry about a disease like malaria claiming the lives of my children and grandchildren. Please join us in our efforts to teach the children in this country to think and pray about a child in another country, and to understand that $6 can save a life!

Responding to Disaster

Tue, 16 April 2013 10:16:00

In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing, our thoughts and prayers have gone out for the victims and their families and friends. We are also praying for those ministers, caregivers, and brothers and sisters in Christ who are seeking to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this horrific situation.

In times like these, we're aware that it's difficult to know what to say and do. To help out, please download this free copy of Group's Emergency Response Handbook for Children's Ministry to use or share with others.

From the book, here are some quick tips of what to say...and what not to say--as you minister to these children and families.

What Not to Say

"You should be grateful. There are children who have it worse than you." This might be true. However, it sends the message to the child that he or she never has the right to complain of feel loss. If a child buys into this line of thinking, he or she will learn to repress instead of express feelings.

"This can't happen again." Avoid making false assurances. Instead, redirect kids to see God as their forever friend who will never leave them and who will be with them during every trial.

"It will all be better tomorrow." Reassure the child, but don't give false hope. It will take a while for things to get back to normal and for the child to start feeling better--it's better to be upfront about that.

"Be brave." It's natural for a child to have fears after a tragic event. Telling the child to be brave can give the impression that those fears are not OK to have.

What to Say

"I'm right here." Your physical presence is just as important as your words. Let the child know that you are here to help with whatever he or she needs.

"I'm so upset about what happened, but I'm glad you're OK." Acknowledge the event and don't minimize it, but also try to offer some positive thoughts.

"May I pray with you?" Prayer connects us to God, and that's where a fearful or grieving family needs to be. God is the only one who can truly calm our fears or heal our broken hearts. Offer to pray with a child and family, or pray for them if they're unable.

"What do you need?" At a time like this, everyday life can be overwhelming. Don't assume you know what the child or family needs. Ask and then be prepared to deliver.

For more insight into ministering to these children and families, download the free copy of Group's Emergency Response Handbook for Children's Ministry.

How to Lose a Volunteer

Fri, 12 April 2013 15:27:00

Volunteers are like gold--precious and something to hang onto. But if you're not careful, you can lose them without even knowing it.

I love serving in my children's ministry. I love my leader, my team, the kids, the families! I'm hooked on serving every Sunday morning.

Recently, though, I realized that my posiition had "volunteer creep." More was being expected of me than I felt that I'd signed on for. In defense of my director, I'm sure she clarified the expectations to me but somehow I misunderstood. Nonetheless, I was being asked to do things that were overwhelming me.

I was fine with being the classroom team leader. That involved teaching the lesson, showing up early to prepare the room, reminding and encouraging my team members during the week.

But then it grew to doing that for all the classes--we have three services. Okay, I tried to get on board with that.

But then it grew to not only reminding and encouraging the volunteers in all three 2-year-old classes, but I also needed to schedule them. It was at this point that I had to raise a red flag.

I let my director know I was feeling overwhelmed--and she was amazing! She quickly changed the expectations and my title. And I now feel that I'm back in my sweet spot of service--and not on the verge of wondering what I'd signed up for.

The lesson to be learned here is to be careful about adding responsibilities to your volunteers. Monitor their attitude--even when they've said yes to something but it seems to be too much. Be flexible and willing to change your expectations.

Never forget that volunteers are like gold. They increase in value over time so you want to be careful to not lose them.

Responding to the Risen Jesus

Mon, 01 April 2013 17:44:00

At our Easter service, our pastor, John Smith, reminded us that Easter to Christians is bigger than any Super Bowl event in any sport. Yesterday, our pastor did an amazing job of synthesizing four sound-bytes that Jesus said after he rose from the dead. They're challenges to us as well. Which one speaks to you the most in your walk with Jesus today?

Fear Not Jesus' disciples were freaking out that he'd died and then they feared that someone had stolen his body after he rose from the dead. When Jesus appeared to them, he said "Fear not." What is it in your life that strikes fear in your heart? What are you afraid to do or say or believe? Jesus calls us to "fear not."
Touch Me Thomas wouldn't believe that Jesus was alive until he saw it with his own eyes and thrust his hand into Jesus' pierced side. Jesus didn't scold Thomas; instead, he welcomed his doubts and lovingly called him to "touch me." Where in your life do you need a special touch from Jesus?
Follow Me No encounter with Jesus is complete without a challenge to respond to him. We either follow him or we walk away. And once we've followed him, we have the choice daily to follow or walk away in our words and actions. Where is Jesus calling you to follow him today?
Go Out We are people of mission--just as Jesus was a God/man on a mission. There's no room for sitting still and doing nothing. Where is Jesus calling you to go out? To change the world? To make a mark for his kingdom?

What is Jesus saying to you?

5 Questions to Avoid Asking Kids

Fri, 22 March 2013 10:33:00

We say we want kids to have a thinking faith, but we often create the opposite. A skill we need to get better at is asking good questions. Here's what we often ask: How many disciples did Jesus have? What were the disciples' names? Which disciple was with Jesus at the cross? Which disciple did Jesus appear to after he rose from the dead? All of these questions are closed-ended and basic recall--which are two types of questions we need to avoid.

Instead, imagine asking these questions: Why do you think Jesus chose 12 close disciples? Why do you think some people wanted to be Jesus' disciple while others didn't? Why do you think Thomas couldn't believe in Jesus until he saw with his own eyes? When have you been like Thomas?

A world of difference!

In our editing of FaithWeaver Now, we're eradicating 5 types of questions that do nothing to create a thinking faith for children. You can do the same with the curriculum you're using. Here are the five questions to avoid asking children.

1. Basic Recall Questions--The first set of questions above are basic recall. Some might argue that we need to ask these questions to check whether kids got the basic truths or facts. I would argue instead that asking deeper questions that get at kids' understanding will reveal whether kids got the basic facts or not. In my opinion, basic recall questions are a waste of time and should be avoided like the plague. Take kids deeper in their understanding and you'll nurture transformative discoveries!

2. Close-Ended Questions--Questions that can be answered with one answer are closed ended: yes, no, maybe, good, bad, etc. The point of asking children questions is to create a dialogue--not to test them! One little girl felt so drilled by closed-ended questions that when she came home, she told her mom that she had taken a test at Sunday school. Use open-ended questions to create a vibrant conversation.

3. Guessing Questions--We ask so many questions where kids are just guessing: "What did Mary feel when Jesus died?" How would they know? They're just guessing. "Why did Judas betray Jesus?" Again--guessing. Simply adding "what do you think" to these questions helps because kids don't have to guess about what they think. So ask, "How do you think Mary felt as Jesus died on the cross?" or "Why do you think Judas betrayed Jesus?" Even better, ask: "Why do you think Jesus didn't kick Judas out of the group before his betrayal?"

4. Projection Questions--Often, in an attempt to move kids to life application (which is important), we ask kids to project into the future: "What would you do if an angel appeared to you?" or "What would you do if someone challenged your faith in Jesus?" Again, they're guessing about the future. Instead, we can ask kids to think through options: "What could you do if an angel appeared to you?" or "What could you do if someone challenged your faith in Jesus?" A great follow-up to that last question would be "Which of those options do you think would be the hardest or the easiest for you to do?" Another great antidote to Projection Questions is to ask kids to tell about a time where they actually experienced what you're talking about: "Tell about a time someone made fun of you for being a Christian."

5. Not Age-Appropriate Questions--(I can't think of a term for the opposite of Age-Appropriate). It's frustrating for children and teachers when questions are above their ability or their knowledge base. As I edited the three younger age levels of FaithWeaver NOW, I was excited to see the questions become even more age-appropriate since we'll use this curriculum in my 2-year-old class this fall. No more blank stares from my little ones!

Here's to you getting the kids in your ministry developing a thinking faith that'll give them a strong foundation not only in what they believe, but also why they believe!

Kids and Debate on Gun Control

Thu, 31 January 2013 11:15:00

In the wake of the Newtown tragedy where 20 children lost their lives to a gunman, kids have taken center stage in the debate about gun control. And both sides of the debate question these tactics.

Some believe that the NRA was wrong to point out that President Obama's children have armed security guards in their schools. There's been a lot of controversy about using President Obama's children in this anti-gun-control ad: "Are the President's Kids More Important Than Yours?" New Jersey Governor Chris Christie called it "reprehensible." The White House called it "repugnant and cowardly."

Yet the White House released this video of children who'd written letters to President Obama for gun control. Children were included in the President's January 16 press conference. When Obama signed 23 gun control orders, he had these children stand behind him. He high-fived them, then signed the orders and hugged them afterward.

Is it exploitative to use children in the media in these ways?

Because of the horrific mass murders of the children in Newtown, is there any other way to have this conversation without talking about--and involving--children in some way? I grew up in a "children are to be seen and not heard" era. As an advocate for today's children, I actually appreciate that children are being seen and heard in this debate.

I appreciate that the conversation orbits what's right for children and their schools and their future.

Are there better ways to do this? Most likely. But I appreciate that the images of children we're seeing now are not the images of precious slain children, but the images of children whose lives are worth fighting for.

This isn't to say whether I'm pro or anti gun control or gun rights. I'm simply saying that children have a rightful place in this debate since so many of them (in addition to Newtown) have been victims of a broken system.

3 Reasons I Serve in Sunday School Every Sunday

Thu, 17 January 2013 12:11:00

Every-Sunday volunteers are becoming more and more rare in Sunday schools everywhere. For directors, this is unfortunate for a prime reason--it increases the number of people you have to recruit. For teachers, I'm afraid they're being robbed of huge blessings. And for children and families, I'm afraid that they're missing out on amazing ministry that happens when someone is willing to commit weekly.

For me as a teacher, there are three key reasons that I want to be with my 2-year-olds every Sunday at 9:30 (that I'm in town).

1. Consistent Presence--Studies are showing that "regular church attendance" means twice-a-month attendance. So my kids and their families are coming to church inconsistently. Who knows which Sunday these kids will attend? When they come, I want them to have some consistency--and someone who knows their name. If I'm there every week, the one consistent presence for them--other than God himself--is me. This consistency pays off. When little ones are hesitant to come to class, they see me and I know something about them that I can use to pull them into class. "Hey, Logan, we have trains! Want to play trains with me?" Other than that, parents have told me that their children have struggled when I've been gone--they want to see the same face every week!

2. Family Ministry--We talk a lot about family ministry and how important the family is to reach children today. But where do we think that really happens? I believe that for many parents it happens at the drop-off/pickup time in Sunday school. Just a few weeks ago, Elijah's mom said, "I see you here every week but I don't even know your name." We introduced ourselves and the next week enjoyed the new budding relationship we're building. A single mom recently told me that her son is stuttering and she didn't know what to do. So I asked a former speech pathologist for help then emailed the mom with some advice. That kind of trust and intersection with one another's lives comes from being there for those parents week in and week out.

3. Delight--I say it over and over: Being with my 2-year-olds on Sunday morning is the highlight of my week. I love helping them know that Jesus loves them! I enjoy sharing God's Word with them. I love hugging them, playing with them, feeding them, and taking care of their needs. Serving them and loving them meets needs in my life that nothing else does. Yeah, it's selfish but the rewards keep me coming back week after week.

Ode to my Church

Sat, 12 January 2013 19:06:00

For my church, 2012 was a tough year. It's good that it's over, but having weathered it has given me an even greater appreciation for our church--and our church leaders.

For my husband and me, it all started with a business meeting early in the year that turned contentious. We hadn't been aware that there had been secret meetings and a lot of unhappiness with some of our church members until this meeting. You wouldn't believe the things that came to light: a disgruntled group of folks made hurtful accusations about our pastor, hired a private investigator to follow him, and demanded that they get their way (or else). They even sent emails telling people to stop giving and attending until they got their way.

Of course, this all ended up with this group not getting their way and they split the church. You can imagine what having half the church leave did financially to our church. It was--and is--tough. But in the midst of what I think would be any pastor's nightmare, our church continued to reach the lost, minister to the needy, preach the Word, and thrive.

And this is my ode to the great leadership I saw in our staff who weathered the storm.

To you--our leaders:

I see in you gentleness to listen to scathing criticism and still try to receive it and learn.

I see in you maturity to absorb the hurt, the attacks, the cynicism and not strike back.

I see in you self-control to know that the whispering, gossip, and slander were like a wildfire, but you didn't create a firestorm on your side.

I see in you great trust in God as you chose not to speak against those who left but instead encouraged us to bless them and their new church.

I see in you humility to stay aligned with a denomination that provides accountability and consultation in and out of the storm.

I see in you renewed passion and commitment to focusing on what God has called us to.

I see in you godly leadership to lead us to move forward and straight toward what's on God's heart.

In the middle of the storm, Ray and I prayed about where God wanted us to land. It was all so confusing. We told God that we didn't know what to do and that if he would just tell us, we'd be obedient--either way. Unlike so many of the folks I knew best, God led us to stay.

Much like Jesus broke the bread and multiplied it for the multitude, our staff was wounded and broken. But from those wounds, we've seen God multiply great fruit in ministry since then. And we've seen a healing within our church.

I'm so grateful for our leaders. My prayer for them in 2013 is that they will be refreshed, healed, restored, and buoyed for the great ministry God has entrusted to them!

Seeking God's Will

Mon, 07 January 2013 14:31:00

An interesting thing happened to me in church yesterday--God spoke to me! And specifically about a Scripture to claim as my theme verse for 2013.

It's 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."

I love its simplicity and its profundity! We often wonder what God's will is for us. And here it is--clear as a bell: joy, prayer, gratitude.

I don't know what 2013 holds, but I do know that God holds 2013. And this is his will for me--what he is calling me to:

Joy

Prayer

Gratitude

What is God calling you to? You may find his will waiting for you in his Word!

Light Shines in the Darkness

Wed, 19 December 2012 10:59:00

Where is God when tragedy strikes like the one in Newtown, Connecticut? Where is Jesus when children are slain?

Jesus is and was right there. If we think back to the first Christmas, we'll find Jesus in the midst of the worst scenario. In Matthew 4:13, King Herod had discovered that Jesus had been born. In response, he did a monstrous thing: He decreed that all boys in and around Bethlehem 2 years old and under were to be killed. His parents fled with Jesus to Egypt.

It's unthinkable to me that this is the world that Jesus was born into! A dark, violent world. And yet the light shone in the darkness.

As an adult, Jesus told his followers in John 16:33: "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." It breaks my heart that 26 people (20 of them children) lost their lives so tragically. Talk about trials and sorrows for their loved ones.

The promise, though, is that Jesus overcomes the world. This is what I experienced in my own life when my husband was tragically killed in a snowmobile accident: Jesus has overcome the world. In the midst of such great sorrow and loss, the one thing that sustained me was Jesus' presence in the midst of it. I felt undergirded by a comfort that can only be described as supernatural. I finally knew what "the peace that passes understanding" means. And that's what I pray for the families and community of Newtown--peace that passes understanding.

Where is Jesus when children are slain? I can't stop thinking of something a children's minister told me once. Tragically, her husband was murdered in front of their 2-year-old granddaughter (by the child's father). When the child relayed what had happened to her grandmother and counselors, she continued to talk about the third man who was in the room. It was Jesus. He was right there, weeping for what evil had wrought. And he was with the child.

Elie Wiesel wrote in his Nobel-Peace Prize-winning book Night about his time in a Nazi concentration camp. On a ghastly day, three prisoners were executed and the others had to file by the gallows. Elie heard someone ask, "For God's sake, where is God?" Elie writes, "And from within me, I heard a voice answer: 'Where He is? This is where--hanging here from this gallows."

Those who've journeyed through the trials and sorrows that this world brings, can attest that God is right here in the midst of this broken world, providing comfort and support.

I believe with all my heart that our loving God was present with comfort for those slain. He was right there with them, weeping over the evil the shooter chose by his free will. And he was right there with them, holding them in his loving arms. His light was shining in the darkness.

12 Days of Christmas Family Devotion Kit

Fri, 07 December 2012 16:56:00

12 Days of Christmas

What you'll need for each family; a kit with a penny, paper clip, used staple, pebble, cotton ball, crumpled paper, heart sticker, thumbtack, aluminum foil, tissue, rubber band, string, and the below handout. In addition to the items provided, you'll need an empty egg carton, wrapping paper, tape, scissors, a permanent marker, a flashlight, a pen, and a soup can.

Place each item provided in the kit in its own slot of your empty egg carton. Cut a small circle of wrapping paper and tape it over each hole as a cover.
Tell your child the egg carton is full of items that'll help your family get to know Jesus, your Savior. Beginning 12 days before Christmas, have your child choose one of the egg carton slots to open each day. Your child may remove the paper and discover the item.
Read the Scripture below and follow the directions for the item your child chooses.
- Penny: Read Philippians 4:19. Have family members take turns naming a need God has supplied. See how long you can go before you run out of ideas!
- Paper clip: Read Ephesians 2:13. Hook the paper clip to a keychain, zipper, or other item. Talk about how that resembles being united with Christ.
- Staple: Read Romans 8:39. Talk about what a staple does, and how that compares with God's love.
- Pebble: Read Matthew 7:24-25. Try to flatten the pebble with your finger. Then set it out as a reminder that Jesus is your rock and your firm foundation.
- Cotton ball: Read John 10:14-15. Use a permanent marker to draw a face on your cotton ball. Move the cotton ball around like a sheep, and make sheep noises. Talk about why sheep need shepherds.
- Crumpled paper: Read Philippians 3:8-9. Throw the paper in the trash and call out reasons why Jesus is more valuable than anything else.
- Heart sticker: Read Romans 5:8. Stick the sticker to something dirty, like a shoe. Talk about why you think Jesus would love us when we were still sinners.
- Thumbtack: Read Isaiah 53:5. Gently feel the tip of the thumbtack. Talk about the pain Jesus endured to show his love to you.
- Aluminum foil: Read Hebrews 1:3. Shine a flashlight on the foil, and watch how it reflects off of it. Share ways you've seen God's glory.
- Tissue: Read Hebrews 2:18. Write your sufferings on the tissue. Then crumple it up and offer it to Jesus in a prayer.
- Rubber band: Read Ephesians 3:18-19. Wrap the rubber band tight around a can. Then see how many other things you can fit in the rubber band, such as forks, spoons, pens, pencils, and other items. Talk about how God's love never runs out.
- String: Say, "Sometimes people tie string around their fingers to help them remember something." Have everyone take turns tying the string around their finger and naming three things they've done wrong. When each person removes the string, read Isaiah 43:25.

Thanksgiving for Kids

Fri, 16 November 2012 11:26:00

Some time ago, if you'd asked, I would've told you that Thanksgiving isn't one of my favorite holidays. Growing up, it just seemed too focused on food and football. That's why I'm thankful for friends and family who've helped me find activities for Thanksgiving that make it so much more for my kids.

My mother-in-law (who is a former teacher) taught my kids about the "5 Kernels." This is a great activity we've used to teach our children about the true meaning of Thanksgiving and the original Thanksgiving. You can find it here at childrensministry.com.

Another wonderful idea from my creative mother-in-law is yummy Thanksgiving Turkey Cookies. Every year, one of my children makes a turkey for each person's place setting at our meal. This is a fun tradition for us! You can find it here at childrensministry.com.

This year, we'll be sure to pull out our vinyl Thanksgiving tablecloth and permanent markers. We started this many years ago so it's a record of every year's blessings and our thankfulness. Each family member will draw a picture or write on it what they're thankful for this year.

And, finally, I'm looking forward to using this idea from my creative friend RoseAnne Sather. It's a Tree of Thanks that'll make a meaningful centerpiece--and a new family tradition. You can find it here at childrensministry.com.

I hope you enjoy these Thanksgiving activities to make Thanksgiving for kids meaningful in your home.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What Are You Doing for Christmas?

Tue, 06 November 2012 09:25:00

Christmas!? Are you kidding me, you wonder, I just put our Fall Festival to bed. Who's had time to think about Christmas?

Well, if you're not the uber-children's minister who chose what you're doing for Christmas at least six months ago, join the club! You've got a lot on your plate! And that's why we created easy (almost instant) resources for Christmas that'll make your job easier--and still wow your church and community!

If you (like us) are tired of the multiple rehearsals, complex costumes and staging, and the Grinch stealing every moment you have just to get ready for Christmas, check out these two surprisingly easy kits.

Nativity: Lights! Camera! Action! It's multigenerational! It's easy! And it's low-cost! In one night, you go from first rehearsal through cast party! In one night! You get the four scenes, original music, and speaking parts for two actors. Families and people of all ages rehearse their scene, create simple costumes, and learn a new song after they arrive.Then everyone gathers to put on the play. Afterward, your cast (that's everyone) gathers to celebrate a show well done! All this in only two hours? It's a Christmas miracle!

You'll get 1 director guide, 4 assistant director guides, 4 music CDs, 1 director media pack, 1 sample family devotion booklet, and 1 sample keepsake photo frame--all for under $60! Click here to learn more about Nativity: Lights! Camera! Action!

If drama's not your thing but you love immersing people in a multisensory environment, check out this next kit.

One Starry Night Imagine a place where families can experience what Joseph and Mary did on that starry night long ago! With the easy-to-prepare instructions in this kit, you'll create such a place where families see, touch, smell, and taste what life was like when Jesus was born. Experience what was happening at the census taker's office, the city gate, the inn, the stable, and more.

You'll get 1 director manual, 1 music and sound effects CD, and a sample pack of these family goodies: follow-up photo frame, family-time devotions booklet, Bible memory makers and carabiner, denarri sample, stellar constellation craft, double wood catch-it craft, crown craft, canvas pillow craft, and wandering toy sheep craft. Wow! Families will talk about this event for years to come. All for under $60!

Click here to learn more about One Starry Night!

Showing Up...Even When I Don't Feel Like It!

Tue, 09 October 2012 15:37:00

I didn't want to show up this last Sunday morning. We'd had a late night (getting to bed at 11 is late, right?). I almost texted my director that I wouldn't make it, but I didn't. Then I woke up in the morning and repeatedly hit the snooze alarm. I almost texted my director that I wouldn't make it, but again I didn't.

I drug myself out of bed finally, threw on clothes, and swung by Starbucks. The line was long but I didn't care. It'd be okay if I was a little late. And I was.

There were two teachers in the room already, surrounded by happy 2 year olds. They probably really didn't need me this morning, I complained inside. Then Carson ran up to me with a toy and his cowboy boots that lit up. A hug from this sweet little boy reminded me why I was there.

Against the window, Martha sat with a little guy sobbing in her lap. He'd been in our class two weeks ago and cried the entire time. I figured we were in for the same again. But he saw me and toddled over with a pacifier planted in his mouth and tears streaming down his face. He plopped down in my lap. I wrapped my arms around him and could feel his little heart beating out of his chest.

Either this stopped or we'd call his mom soon. So I took him out of the room (where we have floaters in the hallway). He wanted his mom and pointed to the parking lot because he thought she was out there. I walked him to the sanctuary to show him where his mom was. He calmed down. Until we came back and he realized I wasn't taking him to her.

We sat on a bench outside our room because when we went in, his heart pounded and he sobbed. Our director said it was okay to stay out because of our hallway floaters. One of them got us a few books so we read on the bench. And he continued to ask for his mom--but no more crying.

Soon a 3 year old joined us on the bench. He wanted his mom too. So I read to him.

Our sweet floater got coloring pages, crayons, and toys. So we set up a little classroom in the hallway. We read, played, colored, fretted, walked, and finally sang "Jesus Loves Me."

When the two moms came to pick up their sweet children, the boys were elated to leave. The older one happily showed his mom the page he'd colored, and my little one just clung to his mom.

I told her how we'd spent the hour (not mentioning that I'd checked the clock every 5 minutes!). I explained that he was making progress and we'd keep working on it. She was grateful and relieved.

Who knows what God wanted to do in these two moms' lives and hearts while we spent the morning in the hallway. Who knows what might not have happened if I'd given into my feelings and just stayed home that morning.

I'm so grateful I showed up to volunteer in our children's ministry that morning--for those two little boys and for their moms. God helped me see that my little acts of service really do matter and that I need to keep showing up even when I don't feel like it.

KidMin 2012--Wow!!!

Thu, 04 October 2012 15:09:00

We've all returned home from KidMin 2012...tired...full...content. Our team continues to share stories with one another of the amazing things God did in people's lives. For all of this, we're so grateful!

Hearing how God deeply touched so many people's hearts and transformed them--not just as ministers but also as his children--is amazing!

This I know: There is no substitute for the presence of God in our ministries. Nothing would've impacted these wonderful children's ministers if God himself hadn't shown up and loved on each person.

We serve a big God! The work that he has called us to is mysterious and wondrous. We get to partner with the Creator of the Universe to create something new in the hearts and lives of our teams, children and parents.

Again, for all of this, we're so grateful!

Thank you to all of you kidmins who were at KidMin 2012. Your generosity, openness, and spiritual maturity is the stuff that God took and wove into us becoming the body of Christ for one another in Chicago.

Let's not let it end there! Let's stay in touch on facebook, through email, by phone, or visit.

This was our prayer--and God was faithful! "And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and SPLASHES over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:12 MSG)

Make a SPLASH!

Praying for KidMin12

Tue, 18 September 2012 06:17:00

It's less than two weeks away--KidMin 2012! A year's worth of prayer, planning, and preparation will come together with a full house of the most amazing people in ministry...and look out! Who knows what God wants to do!

And really...that's the most important thing, isn't it? What does God want to do? How will God show up in amazing ways to transform people's lives and ministries?

Here's what I know: We can't program a move of God. Yes, we can create an environment based on the best practices we live and breathe by. But if that's all we do and we don't invite God into our midst...it'll be a waste of time.

So here we are with so many details to wrap up and so many sleepless nights because we're waking up like a kid at Christmas time--so full of anticipation! And yet we're very aware that the most important thing we can do--and ask others to join us in--is to pray.

I'm praying that God will show up at our conference and that he will meet each person individually with power and grace. I'm praying that our speakers and team will bless others in our radical hospitality and deeper learning, but I'm also praying that each person on our team will be blessed in big ways.

Our team has prayed for every single person who's coming. We don't know what the specific needs are, but God does. We are so excited to see what God will do!

I'm praying that God will anoint our general sessions (that are full of all kinds of creativity and surprises again this year!). That every word will be God-spoken and that he will be the main attraction. I'm praying that Jesus will have top starring role in all we do as we make him the center of our conference, our lives, and our ministries.

I'm thinking of the verse in Psalms that says unless the Lord builds the house they labor in vain who build it.

God, please don't let our labor be in vain!

KidMin 2012 Training Is Amazing!

Thu, 23 August 2012 09:50:00

The training at KidMin is going to be off the charts!!!

One of the great privileges I have in preparing for Group's KidMin Conference this Sept 28-Oct 1 is ensuring that the training is REAL (relational, experiential, applicable, and learner-based). That means I've gotten to review (are you ready for this?):

* Six 7-hour preconference sessions

* Twelve 8-hour deeper learning tracks

* Eighteen 4-hour half-tracks

* Thirty 2-hour workshops

Wow! Each time I partner with these amazing presenters, I'm in awe of the content that they'll cover. I truly believe that our friends at KidMin will come away equipped for greater ministry!

Whether it's ministry management, volunteer leadership, personal growth, age-specific ministry, or something else...there's a LOT for everyone.

We're running out of spots for people to register, so if you need deeper learning, authentic connections, and renewed passion, please register today. (There are two more days to save on advanced registration!)

Just go to group.com/kidmin to learn more and register.

I'm eager to sit in on all this training and have God transform my life and ministry! Won't you join me?

6 Things to Learn From Brave

Fri, 17 August 2012 09:10:00

I finally convinced my teenage son to go to the movie Brave with me (my husband doesn't go to animated movies!). And, frankly, I was disappointed. It makes sense to me now why it's not a Disney blockbuster.

I think there are some things we can learn from the movie for our ministries.

What Not to Do...

1. The plot was thin. Thank God that the narrative of the Bible is full of twists and turns and conflict that keeps kids interested. We need to ensure we don't flatten it out, though. It'll lose interest.

2. It lacked humor. It's true--you have to make 'em laugh and make 'em cry. This movie lacked genuine kid humor. How are you ensuring that kids laugh in your ministry?

3. It was inappropriate at times. Naked adult bottoms, violent fight scenes, and a bear crushed graphically all say to me that this wasn't appropriate for kids. Let's be honest, the Bible is R-rated at times. How do we expose kids to God's Word--even when it's unseemly? If you wonder this, check out an article we did recently in Children's Ministry Magazine--"The Bible Uncensored." It'll make you think!

4. The music wasn't that great. 'Nuff said.

What to Do...

1. Merida is a strong female. I get tired of the girly princesses from Disney. I like that they showed a "cool" girl who loves being active and sporty. In the same way, we can help children of all kinds see that they have value.

2. There are consequences for actions. Merida makes a choice that almost costs her dearly.

Have you seen the movie? What are your thoughts?

What Do You Say to a Killer's Parents?

Mon, 23 July 2012 18:57:00

Evil erupted in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, on July 20, 2012. Twelve people dead; 58 injured. We're all horrified.

One of the images of the last week is the alleged shooter's father exiting a plane at DIA. I watched him and wondered, "What would you say to your son?" Would you enter his jail cell with rage, tears, confusion, or stunned silence? I can't even imagine.

And then it made me wonder: What do you say to a killer's parents? Rage, tears, confusion, or stunned silence? Or why not compassion? After all, aren't these people victims as well?

We've had experience in Colorado with these things. After the Columbine shootings on April 20, 1999, people vilified the parents who "should've known better." There was very little compassion for them. They became pariahs in all the circles they would've turned to for support in the past.

Dave Cullen wrote in his book "Columbine," about a pastor who reached out in compassion to the Klebolds--parents of one of the killers. Reverend Marxhausen, pastor of St. Phillip Lutheran Church, let the Klebold family know he was available--and even officiated at a service for their dead son.

Cullen wrote: "Don Marxhausen made some of his parish exceptionally proud. That was their pastor--a man who could find compassion in his heart for anyone. A man capable of consoling the couple who had unwittingly produced a monster...Some of his parish, and much of the community, was appalled."

It makes me wonder: What would I say to a killer's parents? What would you say?

Tearing Down Obstacles to Reaching Parents

Fri, 13 July 2012 09:34:00

Many Millennial parents today (those born between 1980 and 2000) don't care how great your children's ministry is. They already have a compelling reason not to attend church. According to Dave Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons in UnChristian, Millennials are less likely to return to church after starting families because they perceive the church as promoting bigotry.

Why? One of the biggest values the Millennial generation has is tolerance. And Millennials perceive that Christianity has nothing to do with tolerance. Rather, Christianity excludes by the simple nature of its beliefs--that there is one way to God and that's through Jesus. So how can you possibly reach these parents and their children if the very basis of our faith is repulsive to these parents? Try these ideas.

1. Watch your attitude. Cleanse your heart of any "holier than thou" remnants. Approach all people and all faiths with the humility and awareness that it is only by grace that we are saved--not something we've done.

2. Watch your language. Do you refer to people outside of your faith or church as "heathens" or "pagans"? Find a more loving term to communicate that you're no better than those who haven't yet come to faith in Christ.

3. Let Jesus do the talking. Express how much you and your ministry love ALL people and remind people that Jesus said he is the way, the truth, and the life--and that no one comes to God but through him.

4. Pray. The work of drawing people to God is God's work--not yours. Rely on him to turn parents' and children's hearts to himself.

For me, it is a mysterious thing how someone comes to faith. And it is a tremendous privilege that we get to partner in that. My prayer is that God continues to help us get out of his way and on his team more and more as he lovingly draws people in.

A Quick Way to Destroy Kids' Faith in the Bible

Mon, 25 June 2012 10:16:00

There's one big way to destroy kids' faith in the Bible--and if you're doing it, you may be doing more damage than you realize. It seems benign, but I always think about the warning in Galatians that says "you will reap what you sow." Are you sure you're sowing the right things in kids' hearts when it comes to the Word of God that'll bear fruit for a lifetime?

I'm always struck by how modern culture refers to things in the Bible. They often call them "Sunday school stories." STORIES! Are stories to be believed? A case in point: My son and I went to the Avengers movie this weekend. One of the super-heroes asked another, "Have you ever heard of the tale of Jonah?" THE TALE!? Is a tale to be believed?

No! Stories, fables, tales, myths--all ficton.

So what do we do at church? We have Bible story books. We have Bible story time. We refer to the truths in Scripture as Bible stories! How are we to expect children to believe for a lifetime that these things actually happened?

Even worse--I've heard many referring to the entire Bible as the "Big God Story." Some in this camp even refer to God as the "main character" in the "Big God Story."

Yikes! We will reap what we sow! If we are guilty of fictionalizing God's Word, how will our children ever believe in its truth?

Here are a few things to change.

Cut out Bible story lingo. Instead of saying, "In our Bible story today," we write into our lessons, "In the Bible today."
Never refer to anyone in the Bible as a character--especially God! The people we read about in the Bible were actual people who interacted with a living person--God. The Bible is a historical account. Would we refer to Winston Churchill as a character from history? No!
Change your lingo. In my 2-year-old class, we have "Bible time" instead of "Bible storytime."
Affirm the truth of Scripture. When you open up the Bible with kids, tell them that "this is God's special book that he has written to us." Treat the Bible with great honor and respect because it is more than a book.

If I ruled the world--or at least the church (and I don't)--I'd cleanse these things from our vocabulary in hopes that we'd turn the tide that the truths in the Bible are just a collection of "stories and tales." Rather, it is truth from God to stake our lives on!

For more insights, check out this article from Children's Ministry Magazine: "Once Upon the Bible."

4 Ways to Bridge Graduating Preteens to Youth Ministry

Tue, 19 June 2012 13:09:00

Preteen ministers are poised at the precipice of what's next for kids. You have the tremendous opportunity to lead these graduating kids in anticipation of the wonderful things God has in store for them in youth group. Give them a vision of how God can use them. Entice them with the excitement of how amazing youth group will be. Paint the picture of hope and fulfillment that only God can provide.

Use these four ideas to help your preteens bridge from children's ministry to youth ministry.

Mark the milestone. Make a big deal with kids and their families of moving from childhood to adolescence. Speak into family's lives and hold an all-church celebration with Family Faith Celebrations: Preteen Passage. You'll be able to equip families and celebrate with your entire church with this helpful resource.
Start early. Bridging from children's ministry to youth ministry isn't a one-time event. Hopefully, you've spent the entire year introducing your kids to your youth minister. If you haven't, start now. Have your youth minister come to your venue and just spend time with kids, then come back and lead part of your program the next time. Then take your kids to a youth group time to just hang out for awhile. The next time, let them stay the entire time. This way when it's time for them to move on, they won't feel quite so strange.
Buddy up. Partner your preteens with kids in the youth group who'll take them under their wing--especially in the beginning--and notice if they happen to go AWOL. These older kids can answer any questions and pull preteens into the group.
Be sensitive but firm. Some of your preteens, after graduating from your children's ministry, will all of a sudden develop a strong desire to serve in the children's ministry. Sound techs, anyone? That's fine if they're also plugged into the youth group. But if they're not, they might be avoiding making the transition. Partner with the youth minister to figure out how these kids can make the transition--and perhaps serve as well.

What else have you done to help preteens bridge from children's ministry to youth ministry?

#@!!%...What to Do When Kids Swear

Thu, 14 June 2012 11:31:00

I'm a word person...so words matter. I hear some people say that words are just words today and we shouldn't be uptight about the words people use. I'm not so sure.

I always think about the Scripture where Jesus says that out of the abundance of our hearts, our mouth speaks. So words come from what's in our hearts. And as we guide children to grow in their relationship with Jesus, we're cooperating with God to shape their hearts.

1. Determine which words are and aren't acceptable. Words matter because they reveal our hearts, but words also matter because as a society we've determined what is and is acceptable in normal discourse. There are definite words that we consider acceptable and unacceptable. Which words are on your list?

2. Convey your no-no's to your team. You may have a set of words that you find totally reprehensible while others think they're no big deal. I'll refrain from listing what these words might be, but for the sake of explanation let's talk about the word "crap." This word in many circles has become no big deal; when I was a child I'd get disciplined for using this word. It may be on your no-no list--along with other words--but it may not be on everyone's list on your team. Communicate what is and isn't acceptable in your ministry for consistency.

3. Stay calm. What'll you do when you hear these words come out of the mouths of babes (and preteens)? The first thing is to not freak out; stay calm. Often kids are looking for a reaction and that reaction serves to reinforce the use of the word.

4. Give another option. We all need words to express our emotions. For kids who are around adults who use swear words, they may believe those are the only words possible. Instead, give kids other words to exclaim. My family used "crayola" in place of the aforementioned C-word (in case my mother is reading this).

5. Confront in private. For an older child who swears, take the child aside and explain that swearing is inappropriate. If necessary, have a conversation with the child's parents.

For more tips on why kids swear and what to do about it, read this article by Barbara Bolton from Children's Ministry Magazine.

5 Ways to Involve Men in Your Kidmin

Thu, 31 May 2012 14:19:00

Good news! From 1985 to 2000, fathers doubled the time they spend caring for their children--from 3 to 6.5 hours, according to the Pew Research Center.

It's a great time to grab hold of that involvement by recruiting men in your ministry. Here are five of the best tips we've published in Children's Ministry Magazine that'll help you "beef up" your team.

1. Intentionally recruit men. Since it's often easier to get women to join our team, we may overlook some great men who'd say yes if we only asked.

2. Focus on the positive. No man wants to join a "whiny" team or sinking ship. So don't focus on what's wrong. Instead, celebrate how amazing your team is and what God is doing.

3. Pair new male volunteers with male mentors. Guys like learning from other guys.

4. Recruit guys to male-like roles. Most guys would probably rather lead games than crafts. There are exceptions but for the most part, don't recruit guys for traditional female roles.

5. Man up your ministry. If your annual volunteer appreciation event is a tea, you're not attracting men. Take a look at your visuals, colors, themes, decor. Is it more attractive to women or men? Ask guys in your ministry how you can make your ministry more masculine--or at least gender-neutral.

Here are more great ideas for recruiting men from Gordon West (the man himself!).

5 Ways to Use an iPad in Your Ministry

Fri, 18 May 2012 14:00:00

If you feel like Joy Feemster (posting on facebook), when it comes to technology "I feel like we're banging two rocks together sometimes," it's time to catch up with the times. How do you do that?

First of all, spring for an iPad. There are so many great things you can do with an iPad in your children's ministry. Take a look at these things that children's ministers posted on our Children's Ministry Magazine facebook page when asked: "Do you use a tablet in your ministry--and how do you use it?"

Lesson Delivery--Many kidmins teach straight from their iPad. And why not, with great downloadable curriculum options like Group's Children's Ministry Live.
Multimedia--Run your worship and video time straight from your iPad. It's easy with sites like Group's music store and iTunes for music. Plus you can download videos at Group's video store or watch them on YouTube (the fastest growing search engine).
Games!--With apps galore, you can let kids play games on your iPad to capture their attention. We'd love to know the best apps and games you've used. Post them here as a comment.
Administration--Many kidmins have families sign in at the registration area, using iPads.
Interaction--I use my iPhone to take photos of our 2-year-olds on Sundays and then show them their photos (then delete immediately after!). I suppose I could use my iPad for the same reason, too. I also show them photos of my family and our new puppy. They love that!

If you're planning to buy an iPad, spring for 4G so you can access the internet practically anywhere. It's worth every penny!

How do you use an iPad or other kind of tablet in your children's ministry?

How to Ensure Crib Safety

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:53:00

Did you know that over 11 million cribs have been recalled since 2007? And 32 infant deaths were reported due to drop-side cribs since 2000? The church is often dependent on hand-me-down cribs and items from well-meaning folks. But what if those cribs don't pass the latest safety standards passed in June 2011?

To keep the babies safe in your ministry, you could read the giant document of regulations at www.cpsc.gov or you could simply call the manufacturer to ensure that the crib has passed standards. Here's what the regulations require: (1) stop the manufacture and sale of dangerous, traditional drop-side cribs; (2) make mattress supports stronger; (3) make crib hardware more durable; and (4) make safety testing more rigorous.

To watch a quick video to learn more, go to www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2010/06/watch-and-share-check-your-crib-for-safety

Conditional Salvation?

Mon, 14 May 2012 09:17:00

I heard George Barna speak at the FAM Conference here at Azusa Pacific University this week. I would say that Barna is the most quoted voice in Christianity, so what he says--and what he believes--is important.

I took issue with something he said in his talk. (God--and George--forgive me if I misheard him, but this is what I walked away with.)

Barna said that we have "marketed salvation" wrong. We've made it free when there's actually a cost to it. Yes, it cost Jesus, he said, but we've made it too simplistic with "free." He said that in our culture "free" means you don't have to do anything for it. But, in his view, for there to be salvation, there must be brokenness--that the person must experience brokenness to genuinely receive salvation.

Huh?

The Barna Group research (of which George is no longer a part because he sold it in 2009) revealed in 2003 that a person's response to the meaning and personal value of Jesus Christ's life, death and resurrection is usually determined before a person reaches eighteen. In fact, a majority of Americans make a lasting determination about the personal significance of Christ's death and resurrection by age 12.

How broken can a child be to receive salvation? And how biblical is this view? I've kept thinking about Ephesians 2:8-9: "It is by the grace of God that you are saved--and that NOT of yourselves. It is the free gift of God--not of works--lest anyone should boast."

I once believed that for people to receive salvation, they also needed to understand lordship--that they were giving up everything and following Jesus as their "boss." I don't believe that anymore. I think whenever we add conditions to receiving what Christ did for us on the cross, we are acting against God's will. Who among us fully understood the Christian faith when we chose to follow Christ? Like a child, we come to him and he receives us. Our understanding is limited.

While it may be true that conversions are dramatic and spiritual growth steep when someone comes to Christ in a time of crisis, it is no less true that those who come to Christ without crisis aren't also fully accepted and received into the kingdom of God.

Leading a Narcissist

Mon, 14 May 2012 09:05:00

In just one day, 250 million photos were uploaded to Facebook and 864,000 hours of video to YouTube, according to fastcompany.com. We minister in the midst of a narcissism epidemic. "Look at me, look at me, look at me now!" People long to be the center of the universe today. Now, not everyone is a narcissist who tweets or uses facebook. In fact, while studies show that narcissism is on the rise, I rarely run into one. Managing a narcissist, though, is a unique challenge.
How can you lead a narcissistic on your team? Here are a few key narcissistic characteristics I've observed that you have to manage:

Star Role Mentality-A narcissist already believes she's the star of her life. Evidence of this is excessive tweeting, blogging, facebook-posting about the ever-so-interesting minutiae of her life. A narcissist believes the rest of us are just waiting on every post to know just how amazing life is in her world. A narcissist may listen politely to others' ideas in brainstorming, but deep down she believes that her ideas are really 10 times better than others. So the idea of "brainstorming" is just an idea.

How to manage: Cautiously give upfront roles to this person. The "stage" is like crack to a narcissist addict. Once you give a mic to a narcissist who doesn't fully represent your values, you're in trouble. It's very difficult to maintain your values/DNA with a narcissist who'll do anything to get a laugh or attention. In brainstorm sessions, to get the best teamwork when you have a raging narcissist, continue to coach her on allowing others to also speak and being kind in her critique.
Teflon Mentality-A narcissist believes he does everything amazingly well. In fact, a narcissist believes that if there are problems with his work, it's probably you who has the problem. If only you could see how amazing he is, he thinks, you'd quit correcting him. It's very difficult to correct a narcissist who won't acknowledge the need for correction.

How to manage: Repetition seems to work for awhile. Continue to stay on message and reiterate the areas that need correction over and over and over. At the end of the day, it'll go right back to the problem being you, but at least in the short-term you'll see small improvements.
Fool Mentality-A narcissist believes that there's nothing you can teach her since she's great at everything already. Proverbs 17:10 says "A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool." Try as you might, pointing out areas that need improvement may not get through to a narcissist-even if you do it a hundred times. A narcissist won't work on learning what you need her to because, after all, she has no deficits.

How to manage: Like it or not, you may have to say goodbye to a narcissist on your team. If she absolutely will not heed correction, you need to help her see that it's time to go. You may even need to fire the person. Upholding your ministry's DNA and values outweighs the narcissist's need to do it her super-awesome-amazing way that only she is the star of.

If you'd like to read more about the narcissism epidemic, click here.

What I Like About Kidmins

Mon, 12 March 2012 16:16:00

I just went to Group's Simply Youth Ministry Conference, and it was...amazing! While there, I got to think a lot about the difference between youth ministers (2,500 of them) and the children's ministers I'm privileged to serve.

To keep this from being a big comparison thing, let me just tell you what I love about the amazing people who serve in children's ministry (some of it is different and some of it is the same--I'll let you guess which is which).

I love children's ministers' maturity. And, no, I'm not talking about age. Hey, I've seen some pretty immature old folks. What I mean by maturity is a seasoned approach to faith development, family and child issues, ministry challenges, and more that surpasses how old or young a kidmin is. This maturity is a well-worn mantle of experience that engenders trust.

I love children's ministers' hunger for Jesus. At the very core of their being is an undying love for our Savior. I love that! And I love how that love propels them forward through discouragement and victories. I love how kidmins don't get distracted by "success" or "failure"; rather, they keep serving week in and week out because of faithfulness to the one they love.

I love children's ministers' noble attitude about learning. While I regard children's ministry leaders as some of the most educated and professional people around, I rarely find an "I know it all" attitude among them. I love how they're always eager to learn more and evaluate what they already know. Kidmins are always on the prowl for new and better ways to reach kids for Jesus. I love that!

Going to SYMC made me even more excited about our KidMin Conference in Chicago Sept 28--Oct. 1. I can't wait to gather with hundreds of amazing kidmins who love kids and families and most of all--Jesus. We're going to have a rockin' time--and learn tons--and grow closer to our Savior. Sign up today! Check it out at http://group.com/childrens-ministry/kidmin-conference I'll see you there!!

Small Churches Rock!

Wed, 22 February 2012 23:47:00

I love the small church where I grew up in Dougherty, Oklahoma! It was there that my first touch with a children's ministry (even though they didn't call it that back then) changed my life forever.

I'm grateful for the small congregation that loved me, taught me, and prayed for me. I'm grateful for the little ragamuffin choir that would assemble by the songleader telling us to just come up front. And I'm grateful for the ways this church embraced me when I came back from college as an onfire Christian who ministered to our youth group from ages 3 to 16!

I guess I'm thinking about this because I just read an article from the May/June issue about Small Church Challenges from Rick Chromey (on newstands in mid-April). And I'm thinking how grateful I am that my small church met all those challenges--and more!

If you're part of a small church and sometimes get discouraged that you're not Big Church on the corner, I hope you'll be encouraged today. Someone--like me--will sing your praises throughout eternity because of your faithful love and service.

What you do matters--in big ways!

Beth Moore Confirmed at KidMin 2012

Wed, 15 February 2012 17:23:24

We're so excited about Beth Moore speaking at our KidMin Conference September 28--Oct. 1 in Chicago this year! This is such a God thing that she’s joining us!

We tried to get Beth to come through the regular channels and it wasn't working out. But God introduced us to a sweet man named Steve Seelig who just happened to be Beth’s lifetime friend. Steve explained what this unconventional conference is all about—renewed passion, deeper learning, and authentic conversation for children's and family ministers. He painted a beautiful picture of who our guests are--the most passionate, visionary, compassionate, creative, fun-loving ministers around!

And, basically, Beth said, "You had me at 'children.' " She's a grandma now and said she's so grateful for people who are investing in her grandkids in her church. And she wants to be able to speak that to you--if you’re there!

I know, Beth Moore is a big women's ministry speaker, but at KidMin, she's coming to speak to the heart of children's and family ministers--whether you're male or female!

Don't miss out! Every week, we're adding new, amazing people to our speaker and trainer lineup. And we're creating new surprises to bless you.

It's the truth when I tell you that seats are filling up fast. Register today! (and bring your team because there's so much to experience, you'll want to divide and conquer!)

Top 10 Ways to Love Your Volunteers

Wed, 25 January 2012 19:57:51

Valentine's Day isn't that far away. Plan ahead and use one of these ideas to let your volunteers know how much you appreciate them.

Give a gift certificate from a local restaurant.
Have children use a permanent marker to sign a thank-you T-shirt.
Give 2 movie tickets.
Give a small plant.
Personalize a tote bag.
Clean a teacher's classroom.
Fill a coffee mug with a bag of ground flavored coffee.
Create a bulletin board that features volunteers serving children.
Have Psalm 71:18 printed in calligraphy and framed for a volunteer: "Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come."
Give Whoppers candies with this note: "Thanks for your whopper ideas!"

For more ideas, go to http://www.childrensministry.com/articles/thanks-a-million!

Top Three Ways to Handle Snacks in Kidmin

Wed, 11 January 2012 19:46:01

What do we do with snacktime in children's ministry when there are so many food allergies with kids?

It's a real issue and one we need to grapple with. I remember one of my fondest memories as a kid at church was eating an orange pushup at a VBS--regardless of the fact that we were standing on hot pavement for snack time. And now, it makes me sad in my 2-year-old class when little ones say to me "I hungy" and I have to say that we're not allowed to give them snacks anymore. Is this what we've come to?

We asked children's ministers on our poll at www.childrensministry.com how they handle allergy policies. Here are the top three ways they do it:

1. We rely on parents to inform us if there are any allergies we need to know about (79%).

2. We provide food but post the ingredients and make sure parents alert us to allergies (16%).

3. We don't allow any food in our programs (5%).

The fourth option was "We allow kids to bring their own food, but don't provide any." (This is actually what our church does.)

So how does your church handle food allergies in your children's ministry? Post to help us all grapple with this issue.

Are New Years Resolutions Wrong?

Tue, 03 January 2012 17:47:32

I can't bring myself to make any resolutions this year. Maybe it's because I know that all of my past self-willed hopes and dreams fall short year after year. So why bother? Or maybe there's something bigger.

This last year when I was in the Dominican Republic, I was struck by the humility of the pastors and leaders there. When asked what they did, they would humbly preface their answer with "by the grace of God." So..."by the grace of God, I am the pastor of..." or "by the grace of God, I am the site director for..." Over and over, we heard them speak like this.

Would I ever have the humility to talk like this..."by the grace of God, I am..." Would I be self-conscious about it? Would it become an issue of pride for me to show how humble I am? Would it matter?

As I stand at the beginning of another year, I'm reminded about what the book of James says about resolving to do things in the future. James 4:13-16: Some of you say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to some city. We will stay there a year, do business, and make money." But you do not know what will happen tomorrow! Your life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away. So you should say, "If the Lord wants, we will live and do this or that." But now you are proud and you brag. All of this bragging is wrong. Anyone who knows the right thing to do, but does not do it, is sinning.

Strong words. What if we learned from our brothers and sisters in Christ from the DR? What if we prefaced all our hopes and dreams and resolutions with "If the Lord wants..." or "by God's grace, I will..."? Are we afraid we'd feel antiquated and embarrassed? Part of me thinks so, but if I know to do right and I don't...it's sin.

I'm thinking this is my one resolution for this year: By the grace of God, I acknowledge that I'm nothing without God's grace and to purpose to know that every day what I do and don't do is in his hands. By the grace of God, I submit to his good and gracious will.

Heart Matters: Apples We Got

Fri, 30 December 2011 17:51:59

In “Apples We Got,” Amy Beth Larson confronts what seems like insurmountable need. She writes, “For every kid we pick up, there are at least a dozen others staring at our van from finger-smudged windows, street corners, and dirt lots. We've run out of van seats, room in the parish hall, resources, and volunteers. It's an impossible situation. An unfillable need. We can't keep up. Nor can we stop. We can't seem to walk away.”

Find out how God encourages her by reading her article on childrensministry.com.

Heart Matters: What Really Counts

Thu, 29 December 2011 18:56:33

In “What Really Counts” by Amy Beth Larson, she writes in the “Heart Matters” column from Children’s Ministry Magazine about what really matters.

When measured by a supervisor’s critical eye, Amy wonders what success really looks like. She writes, “It felt like an inquisition. She was attempting to create a report to bring back to a church that had given money to our inner city after-school program. Though well-meaning, her questions were ones I'd heard far too many times. How many kids have committed their lives to Christ? What kind of success stories can you tell me?...But is this what matters? Is the gospel a generator of statistics? Do we have the courage to believe that it's something more?”

To read the entire column, click here: http://www.childrensministry.com/articles/heart-matters-what-really-counts

Heart Matters: Living on Life's Fringes

Wed, 28 December 2011 16:56:05

“Living on Life’s Fringes” by Amy Beth Larson is one of my favorite “Heart Matters” columns because Amy helps us see into the heart of a little boy who faces so many challenges but longs to believe.

Amy writes: Tony became a Christian a year ago, but has struggled living this lifestyle out. His family members have been in and out of jail, and his greatest role model is a cousin who now resides in a residential treatment center. Because his peers naturally follow him, Tony, though only 10, is at high risk for the neighborhood gangs and youth violence. I know he believes in Jesus, but the arms of the world are wrapped so tightly around this boy that heaven seems awfully far away.

To read the entire column, click here.

Heart Matters: His God Is Not

Mon, 26 December 2011 17:22:44

“His God Is Not” by Amy Beth Larson is one of my favorite “Heart Matters” columns. I like it because I think that Amy is an amazing writer who artfully shares things from her heart. I love to read her writing. And the other reason I like Amy’s columns is because I know about the amazing ministry she was involved with when she wrote for us—an inner city mission. Amy lives what she writes about.

Here’s part of what she writes: So it's a few weeks before Christmas, and what does Filimon have? Not much. His situation is desperate, but his God is not. I must admit, though, that sometimes it's hard to believe in an active God when the kids I spend my days with are born and raised in such filth, poverty, hatred, hunger, and abuse that it damages their small bodies and threatens to destroy their souls. It doesn’t add up, but we still believe.”

To read the entire column, click here.

Merry Christmas, Angel!

Fri, 23 December 2011 23:44:12

As you close the door on the last classroom this weekend….clean up the last piece of tinsel and reset rooms for future programs… and drive away from the church building, take this thought with you.

Your gift of service to “the least of these” matters for eternity! The baby you rock in the nursery. The toddler’s nose you wipe clean. The songs you sing with little ones. The Word of God you open up with all ages.

Your yearlong gift—not just at Christmas—to children is seen by a loving God who cared so much about children that he sent his son AS A CHILD!

God values you. God values your service. Know that God sees all the little and big things you do—and God says, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

And now, just rest. Enjoy the holiday. Read a good book. Eat some cookies (no guilt!) Watch a few movies. And nestle in with your family.

In my next few blogs, I’m going to feature some of my favorite “Heart Matters” columns from Children’s Ministry Magazine. I love the title of this column…it’s got that double message—your heart matters…and these are matters of the heart.

Enjoy! And let God love on you and minister to your spirit!

12 Days of Christmas for Children’s Ministry: Recap

Thu, 22 December 2011 17:23:33

We had so much fun giving away all sorts of children's ministry resources to our friends in ministry! Here's a quick list of who won what.

Day 1 - Nativity: Lights! Camera! Action - Joy Feemster
Day 2 - One Starry Night - Diana Scarberry
Day 3 - bulk subscription to Children's Ministry Magazine - Suzanne Olmsted Thorenson
Day 4 - Christmas Extras: Faith-Filled Ideas for Celebrating Christmas - Tina Marie Bentley
Day 5 - Group's Christmas Songbook - Susan Wilson Holbrook
Day 6 - The ParentLink Children's Ministry Edition - Shandra Ward Hathaway
Day 7 - All-in-One Sunday School Series- Michelle May
Day 8 - 25 Flair buttons and free registration for a preconference training session - Laura Aranda
Day 9 - Play-n-Worship: Play-Along Bible Stories for Babies - Vanessa Jones
Day 10 - Entire case of My First Hands-On Bible - Kimberly HolyGhost Carroll-McLean
Day 11 - Pockets, Whiskers, and Cuddles - Anette Shanks
Day 12 - LIVE Children's Curriculum - Tina Smith

God bless us, everyone, as we minister to children at Christmas and throughout the year!

12 Days of Christmas for Children’s Ministry: Day 12 Giveaway

Sun, 18 December 2011 00:12:25

Update December 18, 2011: Congratulations Tina Smith!

On the twelfth day of Christmas, we’re giving away a free subscription to our all-new LIVE Children’s Curriculum!

You’ll get three years of digital curriculum that you can customize and calendarize to make it your own. It’s great lessons that get kids into the Bible in fun and creative ways! You also get a great online system for communicating with your teachers and other volunteers.

Not only that, but we’ll send you 12 music CDs and 3 sing-along DVDs you need in one fell swoop with your subscription.

Your teachers can even download a free app to their smartphone or tablet to review lessons and/or teach from their device.

This really is an amazing curriculum delivered in the way our friends in ministry have been asking for—all digital. And you won’t believe the bells and whistles that come with this. Check it out here.

To enter: Tell us why you’d want the new LIVE Children’s Curriculum. Comment on this blog, our Facebook page, or send a tweet (using hashtag #LIVEcc) with your reason and you'll be entered to win! The winner will be announced Sunday, December 17, 2011.

12 Days of Christmas for Children’s Ministry: Day 11 Giveaway

Fri, 16 December 2011 20:52:57

Update December 17, 2011: Congratulations Anette Shanks!

On the eleventh day of Christmas, we’re giving away our three favorite puppets for children’s ministry: Pockets, Whiskers, and Cuddles! All three are used in our popular curriculum, and kids love them!

You’ll find these characters in Hands-On Bible Curriculum. Cuddles greets toddlers and 2s. Whiskers is the friend of preschoolers. And Pockets brings God’s Word to life for preschoolers and kindergartners.

You can learn more about Hands-On Bible Curriculum at http://group.com/sunday-school/hands-on-bible-curriculum.

And to enter, all you need to do is tell us how you’d use these three puppets in your children’s ministry. Comment on this blog, our Facebook page, or send a tweet (using hashtag #hobcpuppets) with your answer and you'll be entered to win! The winner will be announced Saturday, December 17, 2011.

12 Days of Christmas for Children’s Ministry: Day 10 Giveaway

Thu, 15 December 2011 17:46:20

Update December 16, 2011: Congratulations Kimberly HolyGhost Carroll-McLean!

On the tenth day of Christmas, we’re giving away an entire case of My First Hands-On Bible. That’s 18 preschool Bibles!
   And these Bibles are so unique! For one thing, these aren’t Bible “stories,” but they’re the abridged version of the actual Scripture. (That means we took out the hard words and topics for preschoolers.)
   The art rocks! Preschoolers will love looking at the pictures.
   And there are activities and talk-starters for parents and/or teachers to do with preschoolers.
   So here’s another gift that keeps on giving! We’ll send you 18 of these wonderful preschool Bibles…and you can bless 17 other people with God’s Word!

Check out the recent review Kenny Conley wrote about My First Hands-On Bible. Kenny is the Next Generation Pastor at Gateway Community Church in Austin, Texas.

To be entered for this giveaway, tell us your favorite Bible story to share with kids! Comment on this blog, our Facebook page, or send a tweet (using hashtag #myfirstbible) with your answer and you'll be entered to win! The winner will be announced Friday, December 16, 2011.

12 Days of Christmas for Children’s Ministry: Day 9 Giveaway

Wed, 14 December 2011 20:38:34

Update December 15, 2011: Congratulations Vanessa Jones!

On the ninth day of Christmas, we're paying homage to the sweet baby Jesus by giving away Play-n-Worship: Play-Along Bible Stories for Babies. It's Sunday school for babies!

We're banishing from churches the idea that all the nursery does is babysit! Oh contrare! We know you're establishing a lifelong foundation of faith for the "least of these" when you cuddle a baby, sing "Jesus Loves Me," read a Bible story, and love in the name of Jesus.

And Play-n-Worship for Babies helps you do all that—and more! You can check it out online, but let me tell you what I love! You repeat the story Sunday to Sunday—and that's good educational theory that's called interval reinforcement. And then you give the babies Softees that they can hold as you show them the colorful visuals.

Enough of me trying to describe it. Let Brian explain it to you in this fun video:

To be entered for this giveaway, tell us why you know for a fact that children's ministry is WAY more than babysitting! Comment on this blog, our Facebook page, or send a tweet (using hashtag #playworship) with your answer and you'll be entered to win! The winner will be announced Thursday, December 15, 2011.

12 Days of Christmas for Children’s Ministry: Day 8 Giveaway

Tue, 13 December 2011 18:38:58

Update December 14, 2011: Congratulations Laura Aranda!

On the eighth day of Christmas, we're giving away enough Flair to share with your entire team! I like the ring of that: Flair to Share!! You'll get 25 of the Flair button shown here.

What's Flair, you wonder?

It's just a clever way someone on our team came up with for you to declare who you are, what you value, and why you're in children's ministry! Cute buttons with fun sayings will let your entire team declare that they serve Jesus by serving kids!

And because Flair is a big part of our national KidMin Conference (hang onto your hats!), we're also giving away a free registration for a preconference training session at KidMin 2012 (September 28—October 1, 2012 in Chicago).

You won't want to miss out on all the fun and training and connections and conversations and worship…and, whew! You won't want to miss out on the unconventional conference for children's ministers!

Check out these photos to see what Cynthia Crane's preconference "Idea Lab" was like! So fun! So real! So Cynthia!

To be entered for this giveaway, just tell us why you'd like to win this gift! Comment on this blog, our Facebook page, or send a tweet (using hashtag #kidmin2012) with your answer and you'll be entered to win! The winner will be announced Wednesday, December 14, 2011.

12 Days of Christmas for Children’s Ministry: Day 7 Giveaway

Mon, 12 December 2011 20:18:03

Update December 13, 2011: Congratulations Michelle May!

On the seventh day of Christmas, we’re giving away a full set of the All-in-One Sunday School Series. That’s four books of the most amazing Sunday school lessons around!

And here’s maybe one of our best kept secrets: It’s a full year of Sunday school when you have kids of all ages in one classroom (from ages 4 to 12). And it’s less than $80. Shhhh! What if everyone catches on to how great this is!?

Seriously, the All-in-One Sunday School books are perfect for small churches or church plants where you have all ages in one room. And it’s fun, interactive, and creative!

To enter the drawing for this giveaway, just tell us what you like best about Sunday school. Comment on this blog, our Facebook page, or send a tweet (using hashtag #cmallinone) with your answer and you'll be entered to win! The winner will be announced Tuesday, December 13, 2011.

12 Days of Christmas for Children’s Ministry: Day 6 Giveaway

Mon, 12 December 2011 00:49:41

Update December 12: 2011: Congratulations Shandra Ward Hathaway!

On the sixth day of Christmas, we’re giving away a free subscription to The ParentLink Children’s Ministry Edition. It’s a monthly newsletter delivered right to your inbox. Then you can edit it and send it on to parents.

We know you want to connect with parents and there are important things you need to communicate to them. But who has time to create a newsletter every month?

That’s where ParentLink comes in. It’s professionally created and designed, and get this: It’s entirely customizable. Add ideas or articles. Write a letter. Add calendar items. Tweak a word. Edit a section. It’s all at your fingertips.

It’s brought to you by the editors of Children’s Ministry Magazine so it’s full of easy ideas for parents to do with their children, faith insights, and current trends to keep parents in the know.

Our gift to you is not only great content, but it’s also the gift of time!

To be eligible to enter this drawing for the giveaway, tell why you think it’s important to partner with parents to help kids grow in their relationship with Jesus. Comment on this blog, our Facebook page, or send a tweet (using hashtag #cmparentlink) with your answer and you'll be entered to win! The winner will be announced Monday, December 12, 2011.

12 Days of Christmas for Children’s Ministry: Day 5 Giveaway

Sat, 10 December 2011 18:32:38

UPDATE December 11, 2011: Congratulations Susan Wilson Holbrook! Susan is the winner of Group's Christmas Songbook

12 Days of Christmas for Children’s Ministry: Day 4 Giveaway

Fri, 09 December 2011 21:50:31

Update December 10, 2011: Congratulations Tina Marie Bentley! Tina won the 10 pack of Christmas Extras: Faith-Filled Ideas for Celebrating Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas for Children’s Ministry: Day Three Giveaway

Fri, 09 December 2011 00:55:57

UPDATE December 9, 2011: Congratulations Suzanne Olmsted Thorenson! Suzanne, you won the bulk subscription to Children's Ministry Magazine!

12 Days of Christmas for Children’s Ministry: Day Two Giveaway

Wed, 07 December 2011 21:10:25

Update December 8, 2011: Congratulations goes to Diana Scarberry! Diana, you won the One Starry Night product!

12 Days of Christmas for Children's Ministry: Day One

Mon, 05 December 2011 20:41:02

** UPDATE Dec. 7th, 2011: Congratulations to Joy Feemster! Joy won the Nativity: Lights! Camera! Action!" kit**

Say Thanks to Your Volunteers

Wed, 30 November 2011 21:58:09

Gracias! Dankeschon! In any language, these ideas will help you express your gratitude to volunteers' hearts!

Here are some of my favorite ideas for saying thanks from the "98 Thank Yous for Volunteers" by Mary Van Aalsburg in Children's Ministry Magazine.

1. Write three to five quick thank you notes each week.

2. Give a video rental coupon and a bag of microwave popcorn.

3. Give a long-stemmed chocolate rose.

4. Feature a teacher each month in your church bulletin, newsletter, or worship folder.

5. Make button pins for all your volunteers: "KIDS LOVE ME!"

6. Place classroom supplies such as stickers, stamps, and stamp pads inside a basket and wrap it in colorful cellophane.

7. Set up a Sunday Siesta Section in a quiet room, stocked with flavored coffees and teas, bagels or muffins, and inspirational music.

8. Leave a plate of homemade cookies in each classroom.

9. Volunteer to take leftover "gift with purchase merchandise" off a department store's hands to use as thank you gifts.

10. Find a prayer partner for each volunteer. Send this card: "Pray-er's name is praying just for you and Jesus' kids!"

11. Leave gold-wrapped chocolate coins or Hershey's Kisses® with this note: "Your work with children is more precious than gold. Thanks!"

12. Thank all volunteers with a children-hosted "After-Holidays Open House." Serve appetizers and festive punch or hot apple cider.

13. Surprise a volunteer with a balloon bouquet.

14. Have children complete "You're special to me because…" slips. Then present the slips to teachers.

15. Surprise each volunteer with a gift subscription to Children's Ministry Magazine (www.childrensministry.com/subscribe)

16. Take class pictures. Frame them and have kids sign each frame.

17. Develop a "Homeroom Parent" program to help teachers with tasks such as attendance, follow-up, encouragement, and snack preparation.

18. Provide a place and time for prayer with volunteers before the hectic morning begins.

19. Make a mural with candid shots of teachers and children.

20. Give a gift certificate for dinner out.

Want the other 78 ideas? Click here: http://www.childrensministry.com/articles/98-thank-yous-for-volunteers

Operation Kid to Kid: Looking Back

Wed, 16 November 2011 14:27:45

We're back in the states now and it's hard to communicate our experience to people. I wondered often about the difference we were making in kids' lives. And I think the DR Compassion Communication Director helped me get a glimpse of that at our last meeting.

He said so often these kids are pushed aside at home, in the streets, everywhere they go. But then a group of 30 people come to town and what they most want to do is spend time with them. We loved them, gave to them, photographed them. Yes, it was brief. But for a day we gave them a happy time. He said that communicated to these kids that "I really am important." That's pretty cool!

The other thing I think I'm impacted by is that I need to think globally in my actions. As we drove through neighborhoods, I started to judge the people who were just sitting around not being productive. And God convicted me that I spend a lot of time doing nothing...just sitting by the side of the road. How can I be more productive to give more, serve more, pray more? I'm asking God to change me in this area.

If you are looking for a great mission trip experience, I just want you to know that I highly recommend LifeTree Adventures (that's the group that organized our trip). It was safe, well-organized, and meaningful. Check it out at www.lifetreeadventures.com. The trip was worth every penny!

Operation Kid to Kid: Day 2

Wed, 09 November 2011 02:52:50

Another amazing day delivering backpacks and Bibles to kids in the DR! These kids are so precious and beautiful! It really is wonderful to do this.

At dinner with Shannon (from Boston!), we talked about our God Sightings for the day. We both sponsor kids through World Vision and this trip has challenged us to be stronger sponsors. So many children today could tell the names of their sponsors. They even asked Shannon if she was their sponsor. They really do have relationships with sponsors and feel genuinely loved. (How great it'll be some day to meet the children we sponsor in the Congo!)

Shannon and I thought about what the kids' lives would be like without the Compassion International sponsors who help them have access to loving Christian role models, tutoring, English training, Christian education, a warm meal daily, and more. The Compassion projects here give the kids hope for a better future and an introduction to the God who loves them dearly.

I have to admit that I haven't always taken the time to write meaningful notes to our sponsored kids. I think I'll be a much better sponsor after being here (and I would challenge you to consider sponsoring a child or more than one, too...through Compassion International or World Vision). There are many kids here in the DR who are still waiting for someone to give up a latte or two to help them experience the love of God!

You can even have a class or your entire ministry sponsor children. Learn more at www.compassion.com and make the difference in a beautiful child's life!

Operation Kid-to-Kid Day 1

Tue, 08 November 2011 03:55:57

First day to get to be with kids in the Compassion International Projects. And, wow! They blew us away with their joy, love for Jesus, and amazing talent as they greeted us and performed for us.

We visited Iglesia de Dios de la Profecia Los Mameyes and Iglesia Asamblea de Dios de Villa Duarte.

Take a look at these photos that I think will say it all.

Here's a photo of the area these children live in...a lot of poverty.

Here's our team (and my son Reed!) delivering backpacks (mochillas) and Bibles (biblias) from kids in North America to kids in the Dominican Republic.

Robin is delivering backpacks.

Delivering Bibles to Kids in the DR

Sat, 05 November 2011 01:40:34

This week, my son Reed and I join a group of people with LifeTree Adventures to deliver Operation Kid-to-Kid backpacks and Bibles to children in the Dominican Republic. It’s such a cool opportunity to do this together!

Already, we feel immersed in a different culture as the plane is full of Dominicans. We’re surrounded by Spanish!

Right now, we’re on a red-eye flight to the Dominican Republic. We’re sleep-deprived and my teenager is cranky.

Even though we’re tired, I’m full of hope. Hope that we’ll be able to make a difference. Hope that God will expand our world vision. Hope that we’ll see material things in an all new light when we return home.

I’ll keep you posted along the way.

Group KidMin Conference: Looking Back

Wed, 12 October 2011 16:57:49

Wow! God is so amazing! The #1 thing I prayed for the KidMin Conference is that God would show up in powerful and surprising ways. And he did!

No amount of planning and creative programs can make God show up. That's simply the amazing thing where we need to depend on the Holy Spirit to do what only the Holy Spirit can do--refresh, encourage, convict, challenge, restore, heal, comfort, and more.

Thank you, God, for doing God-only things at KidMin! We heard so many stories about lives transformed...people who said they were ready to quit, but God has restored their vision/passion/calling! People who said they came dry, not even able to sense God's presence anymore...yet God touched them in a way that they feel transformed and connected. People who felt like perhaps they were too old or too young to be in children's ministry, yet God showed them they're exactly where he wants them!

The stories are still rolling in! And we're floating around here at Group because we're grateful to have been with our wonderful friends in ministry...and we're grateful for all that God did in them and through them.

We love you guys...and can't wait until KidMin 2012 to see you again! Stay tuned for more details soon.

Group KidMin Conference: Tomorrow!

Fri, 07 October 2011 04:03:46

We've put the final touches on all our preparation and welcomed our amazing speakers, Inside Track Team, volunteers, and staff. Tim Gilmour shared our core values and how we aim to be a different kind of conference. Our goal: deeper learning, authentic conversation, and renewed passion.

All our speakers are so amazing! After our pizza dinner and getting to know one another better, we all dove in to unpack the Xorbee sack chairs our guests will enjoy this weekend. What servants! We were told this is the fastest this chair setup has ever gone. Go team!

Enjoy the pictures! Here we go! We're going to trust God to do amazing things.

http://tinyurl.com/3cjq54z

Countdown to KidMin Conference: 2 Days!

Wed, 05 October 2011 20:12:26

Here we are in Chicago, working hard to get everything set up for our KidMin Conference guests in just two days! We are SO excited to welcome everyone and serve them in a way that's transformational!

Just this morning we met with the hotel staff (20 men and women in black suits!) to give them a vision for the amazing, humble, visionary, passionate, (and a tad tired) folks who are coming. We all agreed that we're eager to give to them in a way that sends them home refreshed.

Take a look at this photo and just imagine what our Angry Pigs game is going to be like during our opening session Friday night! We have crazy fun and giveaways planned.

But more than that, we're excited about what we've planned for our conference guests to have authentic conversations, deeper learning, and renewed passion!

Can't wait to see everyone in just 2 days! And if you're not coming, follow us on twitter: @groupkidminconf and look for this hashtag everywhere: #kidmin11

Countdown to KidMin Conference: 6 Days!

Mon, 03 October 2011 02:02:18

Never in my life would I buy purple shoes on my own...but that's exactly what I just bought this weekend for the KidMin Conference this week!

Why? This purple shoe thing seems to have taken on a life of itself. People in our Inside Track Team are bringing purple clothes and shoes to the conference. And I want to catch up on the trend.

That's how cool this KidMin Conference is. It's not just our staff creating the culture, but it's conhference guests--and right now, especially our Inside Track Team (you'll learn more about this amazing team at our conference--and how to join it).

There's so much the Inside Track team has shaped and gotten involved in. They'll create the vibe and environment of the Prayer Room. They're getting plugged into panels in so many Ministry Conversations. They're blogging and spreading the word. And they'll be critical volunteers to make everything happen.

I can't wait to see what else they do and create at KidMin! I'm thrilled to get to serve with these folks--even if it means wearing purple, polka-dotted shoes!

Learn more about the KidMin Conference at www.childrensministry.com/kidmin

Countdown to KidMin Conference: 14 Days!

Fri, 23 September 2011 17:53:49

In just two weeks, we'll be greeting the most amazing people at our KidMin Conference in Chicago! I can't wait! We're excited to meet the teams and the folks coming by themselves to welcome them to our team!

Speaking of team, it amazes me what a great team we have here working on KidMin. We have Bambi, RoseAnne, and Joey who've done an outstanding job on all our visuals, Adam and Shannon who are ready to lead us in fun preshows, Karen and Jon who've innovated to get the word out, Jeremy who has probably talked to almost everyone on the phone for registration, Leneita who fills in the gaps and partners with our presenters, Danielle who is the bridge to another amazing team--the Inside Track team, Sherri who is a wizard at details and grace, and Tim who leads us so skillfully.

Our Core Team has grown together as we've prayed and planned for our conference guests. We've learned from one another and we believe we're creating a conference that'll be like no other.

I'm celebrating our amazing team today. And I didn't even mention all the other folks who are pitching in to make this happen. Can't wait for you to meet my dear friends we call the KidMin Team!

See you soon!

KidMin Conference: 18 Days!

Mon, 19 September 2011 19:58:01

We're bathing the KidMin Conference in prayer! We know there are lots of details to still attend to, but we also know that if God doesn't show up at our conference, then we've just been wasting our time.

One of the things that I've had the privilege of doing is praying for each KidMin Conference guest. I've asked God to reveal what's on his heart for these wonderful folks. Some of the things I've prayed for are that God will show up in amazing and surprising ways, that God will bless each person big time, and that God will help them find whatever they're seeking.

I've also felt led by God to pray for unity, vision, big dreams, equipping, hope, encouragement, and so much more.

As the day draws closer, we're praying that God will bring every single person that he wants at the KidMin Conference.

If you haven't yet signed up, it's not too late. In fact, if you sign up and use this code, YountJones, we'll buy you a meal at KidMin! Pray about it. If this is where God wants you--at the KidMin Conference--don't miss out! Go to www.childrensministry.com/kidmin to sign up!

Countdown to KidMin: 23 Days!

Wed, 14 September 2011 14:13:59

It's like Christmas around here! Our heart is to bless our conference guests by giving and giving and giving. And our chief elf to make all this happen is Karen Hennings--who's one excited gal about KidMin!

She called me from WalMart last night. My ringer goes off (which is a duck quack), dogs go wild, kid stirring them up...and Karen asks if we need plastic bags for the IncrediBalls we're giving away at KidMin. She's shopping around the clock. (And these IncrediBalls are IncrediBle! Can't wait for you guys to get them.)

Karen has lined up so much amazing SWAG. You'll get pens that twist, toys to take home, gadgets, books, and even Bibles! Okay, I need to stop so I don't spoil every surprise Karen has in her gift bag!

But, be forewarned, if you're coming to KidMin, leave some extra room in your bag for all the goodies you'll want to take home.

And, if you're not coming...yet...get signed up and join us for all the amazing fun and learning and celebrating Jesus!

Go to www.childrensministry.com/kidmin to register today!

Countdown to KidMin: 28 Days!

Fri, 09 September 2011 15:57:58

I can't believe we're this close to our national KidMin Conference in Chicago Oct 7-10. (www.childrensministry.com/kidmin)

There's a blur of activity around here as we pray and plan for all the details. Right now, I'm working on the details of the general sessions. I've been talking to our keynotes and love their hearts for Jesus, ministers, and this conference.

When I talked to Gina McClain about her topic of Bounce: Jesus Loves You!, she said that God had been working in her life to help her see it's not about what she does or doesn't do, but her identity is in Christ. (Thank you, God, for preparing Gina to minister to us!)

And in my phone conversations with the hilarious Jim Wideman (I can't talk about him without reverting to my Okie accent), he said that he's really looking forward to the conversations with ministers at KidMin! He pointed out that this is so rare that it's intentionally planned for in an event. I love that we value our conference guests talking to speakers and one another. It's a huge value for us!

We're doing something creative with both Jim's and Gina's keynotes, and I couldn't be more pleased with how open they are to being REAL. Their talks will be interactive and meaningful. So excited to see what God does through them!

Stay tuned...I'll keep you posted on the ins and outs of behind-the-scenes stuff (and try not to show you how much sleep I'm losing because I feel so behind!).

Hope you can join us at KidMin! There's still time. Check it out at www.childrensministry.com/kidmin

KidMin Conference: Behind the Scenes

Thu, 01 September 2011 23:55:50

I'm so excited about the three bands that are coming to our KidMin Conference this October 7-10 in Chicago! Not just because they're extremely talented and make great music, but mostly because of their hearts!

Let me tell you about their hearts. Early on, we had a band coming that didn't work out. So we started searching for a replacement. When we contacted bands, we were a little shocked by their sticker price. So we said nope to those bands.

Then we contacted the manager for Leeland and explained to him that the most amazing people who minister to children and families will be at our conference. And that we want them to experience Jesus in meaningful ways.

He checked with Leeland and came back to tell us that they wanted to come. And not only that, they wanted to bring Building 429 and Royal Taylor since they were all starting their tour together. They were so excited about ministering to children's ministers and family ministers that big money wasn't an issue for them. They wanted to serve and minister!

Their humility...hearts for God...and hearts for kidmins were the exact fit for our conference. We've said from the beginning that this conference is about you...it's about conversation and connection...it's about everything but "the show." We're thrilled that these three bands are joining us in that endeavor!

Volunteer Leadership Tip #5: Just Ask!

Mon, 15 August 2011 22:51:43

It seems like a no-brainer, but statistics show the #1reason people volunteer is because someone asked them! Here are 3 quick steps for inviting someone into ministry. It’s kind of like having a party—and your prospective volunteers are the VIPs.

Step 1 – The Guest List: Make a list of people with the right qualities. Need someone friendly? Organized? Tech-savvy? Use this as a primary filter.

Step 2 – The Invitation: When it comes to inviting people, get personal. Either face-to-face or in a brief note. In your note, share how they will make a difference and briefly describe why you enjoy serving in your position. Positive, high-energy statements are contagious! End your note with a personal invitation to meet up and discuss the possibilities.

Step 3 – The Party – A Face to Face Meeting: Follow up to arrange a time to meet. Share what God’s doing in your ministry, and how your “guest” could benefit from getting involved. If they’re not ready to commit, invite them to observe. There’s nothing like seeing God at work!

Learn more best practices on inviting at www.churchvolunteercentral.com.

Volunteer Leadership Tip #4: Equip Your Volunteers

Wed, 03 August 2011 19:30:36

I taught my son how to drive a stick-shift last night. It was frustrating when I sat on my side of the car and told him how. Once I said, "let me show you," I realized I'd been teaching him wrong. Actually driving the car reminded me of how to do it. Within seconds after we traded spots, he got it!

So the lesson learned? We can't equip others to do what we're not equipped to do. So even before we equip our volunteers, we need to get in touch with what's current, what works and doesn't, and how to do things ourselves...then pass that on.

I can't encourage you enough to keep learning...and then help your volunteers keep learning. Training meetings impossible to get volunteers to? Then reinvent your training with posts on facebook, tweets, quick emails or links sent, or send them to a site to watch a quick video.

So many volunteers quit their positions because they feel ineffective. But yours can feel equipped and sense the blessing from God of "well done, good and faithful servant" when you help them enjoy the ride!

Volunteer Leadership Tip #3: Make It Clear

Wed, 27 July 2011 17:01:09

One of the most common reasons volunteers share for quitting is that they didn’t have a clear understanding of what was expected of them. It's frustrating for volunteers to answer God's call and then feel confused, overwhelmed, or under-utilized in service.

So make it a goal to develop job (ministry) descriptions that include the following elements: title, goal of the position, who they're accountable to, a brief summary describing the role, approximate time required per week, the duration of service (a year?), and finally the benefits the volunteer will receive for doing the ministry.

If that feels overwhelming, check out www.churchvolunteercentral.com. Members of Church Volunteer Central can view and customize over 500 ministry descriptions as a benefit of their membership.

Volunteer Leadership Tip #2: Plug People Into Relationships

Thu, 14 July 2011 22:05:30

One of the most amazing tips I've learned about leading volunteers actually came from my experience of recruiting volunteers.

Tip #2: Plug People Into Relationships

People will leave a task before they'll leave a relationship. So it's important to always have at least two people assigned to serve together on a given task.

Here's how this worked for me. We had a large group/small group ministry. So we needed people to do things behind the scenes to make our ministry shine. For example, we had a Supply Team that gathered supplies for the small group leaders and put them in boxes each week.

I'm sure one person could've done this all by herself each week, but instead I recruited four different women who became the best of friends. Each week they would gather to sort through the supplies. While they worked, they laughed, shared needs, and got to know one another.

Their longevity in our ministry was directly tied to their friendship with one another. Let's be honest, it's easy to leave a thing, but when you partner people with each other, they become friends. And saying goodbye to a friend is always tougher.

I know...it doubles your recruiting work on the front end if you have to get twice as many people. But just imagine how much easier it'll be when you don't have to fill holes because people are committed to serving with their friends.

Volunteer Leadership Tip #1: Never Say "Thanks for HELPING Us"

Wed, 06 July 2011 20:51:16

In my blog over the next few weeks, I'm going to share with you the most amazing tips I've learned about leading volunteers through the experts in Children's Ministry Magazine.

Here's Tip #1: Never Say "Thanks for HELPING Us."

Words matter. And the way we say things to our team members matters even more.

It seems like such a benign thing, but when we say to the folks on our team "Thanks for helping us," it puts them in a less-than-important role. It's as though "us leaders" are the ones who really matter and these other people are helping "us."

Instead, thank your team members for their contribution. Say things like "Thanks for making a difference in toddlers' lives!" or "Thanks for making this outreach event a huge success by setting up and tearing down." or "Thanks for putting together those gift bags to make our teachers feel valued."

See the difference? It may feel nuanced, but when you point out the value of what people are doing, it actually makes them want to keep doing it.

Hey, thanks for reading this blog to invest in your amazing skills to lead volunteers. You rock!

(See how that works!)

God, Give Me Patience!

Mon, 20 June 2011 19:44:50

There's something I need patience with. And it might surprise you.

I need patience with people who say this: "Don't ever ask God for patience, because he'll fill your life with trouble."

Really? I just don't agree. Remember the teaching where Jesus said that if you ask your earthly father for a fish, he's not going to give you a rock (or something like that). How much so does our heavenly father give us good things? The point is that God is a good and loving heavenly father who isn't out to get us.

If we ask for patience, he'll give us patience--not trouble.

This kind of thinking would be like saying, "Don't ask God for wisdom because he'll fill your life with confusion."

Maybe people are trying to be funny, but I just don't like it. God give me patience with the comments we make that reveal that we don't believe you are truly good.

That's my two cents today.

Schizoid Parent Views

Mon, 13 June 2011 21:37:59

I just went with my daughter to her college orientation/registration week at MTSU in Tennessee. And there I heard very disparate things from what I hear about parents when I'm at church gatherings.

The VP of student affairs spent time with us parents and she talked about what she knows about us. She said that we're the generation of parents who had our kids on preschool waiting lists when we were pregnant with them, bought the "baby on board" signs, coached our kids' little league teams or called the coach to complain about why they weren't getting enough play time--and more. She called us "helicopter parents." And she did it all in such a congenial way that parents laughed as they saw themselves in her descriptions. She also said that we parents have been known to be too involved in our students' college life and job searches.

Enter schizophrenia. Because what I hear at church gatherings is how checked out today's parents are and how they don't care about their kids' faith development. I hear how parents won't volunteer, won't get plugged in, won't disciple their kids. (Are these the same overinvolved parents the VP talked about? What's true?)

Then I saw a post on facebook from a parent who was glowing about the family devotion time their family had had. Kids had acted out the Bible creatively and more. (And I wondered what century am I in?)

Is that the big divide? Can we in the church not stop holding up parents to this unrealistic standard of what "caring about their kids' faith" looks like? Unrealistic family devotion nights? Are we at risk of missing out on just how crazy involved parents are and what they are willing to do to pass on faith to their kids?

At the orientation, I spoke with a mom who said she didn't go to church but there's a reason she's raising her kids in the "buckle of the Bible belt"--morality. She said she and her girls spent hours in the car every day going to what we in the church would call distractions--soccer, ballet, school. That is where, I can guarantee, this mother is passing on her values to her kids. Like so many other parents today.

Maybe that's what Deuteronomy 6 is about. It doesn't say we need to do involved devotions, but instead that we need to pass on our faith throughout the everydayness of our lives--in the car, at the table, watching TV, while texting.

I pray that God will open our eyes to see parents and families accurately so we can indeed impact families and reach them in ways they'll understand and respond to.

New and Improved!

Mon, 16 May 2011 23:01:14

I've worked here at Group for 22 years. And in that time, I've never seen Group and our staff stop learning. Just the other day I was in a meeting with Thom and Joani Schultz who modeled a learner's heart with something they're in charge of that could be improved. They were eager to hear critique and look at a new direction.

That learner's attitude is in all that we do here. It leads to us listening to hundreds of children's ministers every week on the phones, conducting research, holding focus groups, reading your emails, and more. It also leads to aggressive field-testing where we come out a little bloodied and bruised, but that's OK.

We're right in the middle of some enhancements for Buzz--even though it is still a new innovation at Group, we're ready to improve. We've listened to our friends in ministry and we're making Buzz even better! We've spent hours the last few weeks fine-tuning Buzz directions to ensure that they're crystal clear. We've brought in folks who walk through the directions while we take notes and ask questions--all in the name of ensuring that the revised Buzz will be exactly what we've promised for your volunteers--Instant Sunday School--yes, so easy that you just add kids!

We've learned a lot in the last two years. And we're making great changes. Thanks to field testing, we know for a fact that we're delivering extremely clear lessons! Things that may've been confusing to your volunteers in the past are gone! And we're excited to see your volunteers and kids get their hands on Buzz!

If you haven't checked out Buzz, go to group.com/buzz to learn more. And even if you've checked out Buzz in the past, check out our new and improved Buzz! You won't be disappointed!

Talking With Children About Osama Bin Laden

Tue, 03 May 2011 15:54:18

I asked this question on our Children's Ministry Magazine facebook page: "I'm just wondering...and would love to hear what people who serve children think. With the death of Osama Bin Laden and the ensuing celebrations, how do you think that influences the way children see the world? Good, bad, or indifferent?"

For this blog, I'd like to highlight a few from very insightful responses to give you tips on how to talk with children about Bin Laden's death--from a biblical perspective. You can also share this with parents in your ministry.

Don't avoid the issue. It's highly unlikely that your children--even young children--have heard nothing about this issue. So ask them if they have any questions about it. This will help you to gauge what they're thinking.

Talk about good vs. evil. Osama Bin Laden was a man who did very evil things, and the government's role is to stop criminals. As Christians, we are never happy when evil occurs. Dina DeLucchi Moriarty said, "I told my daughter that Osama bin Laden was a man who did evil deeds. I referred to Romans 13:1-4 about govt. I am glad he was caught because he caused terror and trained terrorists; his deeds were EVIL."

Don't rejoice over someone's death. While it's appropriate to rejoice over the end of evil acts, be careful that you're not rejoicing over the death of a specific person. DeLucchi Moriarty also said, "Now, I did tell her this was not ...cause for celebration because while the Lord hated his deeds, he was still a soul that the Lord died for and wanted. The Bible speaks of angels rejoicing over a repentent sinner, not rejoicing over a sinner who goes to hell."

Talk about God's heart for sinners. Talk about how even though Bin Laden did very evil things, our loving God still loved him. God longed for Bin Laden to turn from his evil ways and turn to Jesus. That's not to say that God didn't want him to stop doing evil deeds; of course he did. Laurie Hoover-Atwood said, "Personally I believe God would be sad to see all the celebrations over his death, even though he did evil things. The Bible clearly tells us God is saddened and would rather they turn from their wicked ways and have life. (Ezek 18:23)."

Mary Calawa told her third and fourth graders: "An evil man who killed others was himself killed. I said that I was glad he was dead, so that he cannot hurt others. But sad that he would never, ever get to be with God because of the choices he made."

Explain the difference between relief and rejoicing. Susan Bunning Querfeld said, "There is no doubt that Osama bin Laden was an evil man who embraced evil practices; I understand the reasoning behind the operation that took his life and I am glad that he will no longer be able to harm others. However, I believe that as ...Christians we can NEVER rejoice in or celebrate the death of someone who does not know Christ as his Savior. 1 Peter 3:9 says that God is not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance. That includes men such as Bin Laden."

Talk about justice. Whenever someone commits a crime, they must pay. Jessica Stemmerding said, "We are a military family...we don't exactly celebrate Osama's death so much, but we do believe that an enemy of God is an enemy to our family. My husband is currently deployed...so this event has special meaning. Daddy's risking his LIFE for us as well as for the world... I can't 'hide' the ugliness of war. My family lives it (spiritual battles), and my husband (both spiritual and physical)."

In closing, Heather Henry said, "This is the most thought provoking quote I have come across today. "I will mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy." MLK Jr."

All in the Cards

Mon, 25 April 2011 16:38:12

This Easter as I stood in the card aisle, hunting for a card for my husband, I overheard two conversations between parents and their children.

"No, son, we don't want that one," a dad said. "Well, how about this one?" the boy asked. "That's great. She loves flowers."

And another conversation: "We should get her a first Easter card," the boy told his mom. "Why would we want to do that? She's 3." I couldn't help but laugh at this one.

As I listened to their exchanges, I realized that they were effectively passing on their values: caring for loved ones, giving, finding things that mean something to the recipient, celebrating Easter.

The truth is every day and in every way parents are passing on values. What they talk about--and what they don't. How they model life. How they deal with conflict. How they are in relationship with others.

Our great privilege in ministry is to encourage parents to see that they are already discipling their children. It's not that hard! It's just doing life with them. And I think perhaps the greatest equipping we can give these parents is not even tools and tips but help to fall deeply in love with Jesus so that the overflow spills all over their kids.

It's not more cowbell we need; it's more Jesus! And perhaps it's not more techniques we need, but it's more Jesus in our families!!! And when we have that, parents won't be able to keep themselves from sharing their love for Jesus with their kids.

Ministry Isn't Perfect

Mon, 18 April 2011 21:58:16

When I took on new responsibilities several years ago, I experienced those unsettling moments when everything wasn’t working the way I thought they should. And my poor husband would get an earful on our nightly walks. Finally, he told me, “You need to understand that 30 percent of your job is going to be icky—and just accept it.”

So I started expecting that one-third of my job could go wrong because it was out of my control. And learning to accept the things I couldn’t change helped me find peace (sounds a little like The Serenity Prayer, doesn’t it?).

So if you, like me, get frustrated with things in your ministry not going the way you want them to, embrace the 30-percent rule and consider what you can and cannot change.

You can deliver a creative lesson. You can’t control how many kids show up or how many parents make church a priority that weekend. You can’t even control whether kids’ lives are changed for eternity (or even just for a moment). That’s up to God.

You can offer amazing training for your teachers. However, you can’t control how many will forget to come even though they rsvp’d on your Facebook page.

You can control what you think about someone who wrongs you. You can’t control whether that person spreads nasty rumors about you. Then again you can control going to that person and communicating directly. You may not be able to control how you feel about the situation, but you can control what you say about the person.

You can control your ministry’s policies and procedures. However (and this is the one that gets to me), you can’t control whether people follow them. You can’t control when people disrespect you by taking your equipment without asking or making a decision that was really yours to make. But you can control what you do to their cars (just kidding!).

You can’t control whether someone takes credit for an amazing program you led. Or whether you lead in obscurity week in and week out and no one seems to notice or affirm your wonderful service. You can, though, take comfort in the fact that God sees your sacrifices and holds them dear and tells you, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Grapple On, Preteens!

Mon, 28 March 2011 19:58:36

You know that encounter Jesus had with the woman who asked him to heal her daughter, and he basically calls her a dog? Our pastor preached on that yesterday. It's in Mark 7.

When asked if we thought Jesus was just being rude, most of us raised our hand. But then John (our pastor) said that Jesus was simply being the master teacher. Already, the disciples had asked Jesus to send her away, not understanding that Jesus came for everyone. So Jesus masterfully used the moment to create cognitive dissonance in his followers to make the point.

And I sat there thinking--that's exactly what we do in Grapple for Preteens curriculum. In the large group setting, we create dissonance or "ask the question" so kids get in touch with what they're wondering about: What if Jesus is a liar? How can I know the Bible is true? Why can't I go to PG-13 movies? Do I really have to love everyone?

Then after that, they're challenged to dig into the Word and find God's answers.

I love Grapple for this very reason! I was talking to Deb Helmers, one of our assistant editors, just last week and she said she loves Grapple because that's what we all need to do in our faith journey. When we have questions, grapple with them and go to the Word of God for answers.

If you've never checked out Grapple for your upper-elementary kids, do it today. You won't be disappointed (Oh! and I didn't even tell you how the take-home piece is a website community for your class.) Go to group.com/grapple for more.

When You Feel Overwhelmed

Mon, 14 March 2011 19:39:59

I recently asked this question on our Children's Ministry Magazine facebook page and loved the answers I got. So I'm sharing here.

Q: Ever feel like the job might be a little too much for you? What do you do when you feel that way?

Answers:

Cynthia Marley Parkes pray, asking for wisdom, power, and discernment, and remind myself of the obvious God-arranged journey that brought me to this point.

Valerie Dull-Norton Panic....haha. No- I pray! And study to know how to do the job well!

Ally Thomason Freeman Pray & prioritize!! Evaluate if the main thing is still the main thing and delegate even if it means letting go of doing some of the fun things myself. ;-)

Annie Willems That feeling is a sign for me that God and I need some alone time together.

Melia Warren I love that Annie! I love all of these! such wonderful reminders!

Christi Goodkey Whitford I remind myself that God does not call the equipped he equips the called and He will give me everything I need.

Angie Buchanan just keep swimming! just keep swimming! just keep swimming, swimming, swimming! or if you want a movie quote (haha), "Keep moving forward!" (thank you, Meet the Robinsons.) i think we would be wrong if we didnt feel humbled at such an amazing calling! but taking it one day at a time, continuing to press on despite fears or frustrations, and regular evaluations of what things are working & what things could work better are what have helped us keep moving forward.

Kate Radford First I cry. Then I pray. I have to keep reminding myself that I didn't ask for this, I was truly called into it by God. That is humbling yet so comforting.

Russell Howe I think of all the blessing that God has given in the last month and year and then after that, I try to be a blessing to the workers by giving them some encouraging letter or bookmark! Nothing cheers the soul like being a blessing to someone else :)

Great answers! So how would you answer the question?

You Were Made for This

Thu, 03 March 2011 19:56:05

This morning I awoke and felt that old familiar stress rising in my chest. So much to do. So much to learn. Overwhelmed by projects and deadlines.

And then I heard the voice of God: "I was made for this." Immediately, peace replaced the stress.

God was telling me that I have the right stuff for the task he's called me to do. And so do you.

Whatever you're facing today, know that You Were Made for This. You have the right personality. The right temperament. The right gifts. The right skills.

God in his wisdom has placed you where you are...and you were made for whatever you're facing!

And because of that, my friend, don't let stress steal away the joy in knowing that you're the right person for the job! Relax and enjoy seeing God do great things through you since he's equipped you fully for what you need!

Parents Writing Scripture on Kids' Hearts

Thu, 24 February 2011 17:13:49

Fresh from our Family Ministry reGroup (here at Group) with Dr. Brian Haynes, author of Shift: What it takes to finally reach families today.

Here are some ideas we brainstormed for helping parents easily write Scripture on their kids' hearts weekly:

* Write a verse on a chalkboard weekly that sits at the breakfast table (Brian's family does this).

* Print a verse and post it on the fridge for the week.

* Write on the bathroom mirror with a dry-erase marker.

* Put it on a 3X5 card and put it on your car's dashboard.

* Save it weekly as your family's computer's screensaver.

* Text it to your kids.

* Put a note in their lunchbox.

* Use the "Talking Tom" app to have them say it and the app repeats it.

* Play it as music in your car.

What else would you add?

Aha Moments at Sea

Wed, 16 February 2011 18:56:49

So my other two aha moments on the cruise (I mentioned one in my last blog posting). We rented a beater car from Tony off the side of the road on Grand Turks Island. And when we stopped for lunch, we had an amazing conversation with a restaurant owner (we were the only customers). She poured out her heart to my husband and me (he's an IT guy who's also a trained counselor). We were able to minister to her and I have to tell you that was the most meaningful moment on the entire cruise. It made me want more. In fact, I said to Ray that we could go on counseling missions just to let people talk to him!

The other thing is that I got assaulted by cruise staff to buy really expensive stuff to "cleanse toxins" from my body. I tried to explain to them that it was an issue of conscience that I didn't want to spend loads of money to "prioritize my health." I just kept thinking of a man from Africa who recently asked me to come do some training and I told him I couldn't afford it. How could I buy this stuff and not afford to minister to his leaders and kids? (I've been in touch with him since returning.)

So the outcome? As soon as I got back, I talked to Dave Thornton who leads our LifeTree Adventures (part Indiana Jones/part Mother Teresa), and said "sign me up." When I travel (with an exception here and there), I want to make a difference--not just get waited on!

So I'm planning to go on the LifeTree Adventure trips to deliver Operation Kid-2-Kid items to children in the Dominican Republic (Nov 5-12, 2011) and Costa Rica (March 10-17, 2012). Want to join me? Dave says my job will be to "love on" fellow travelers and children. I can't wait!

Check it out at www.lifetreeadventures.com

We Rise or Fall

Sat, 12 February 2011 06:48:44

My husband and I just got back from a cruise. And, yes, we had a great, relaxing, wonderful time. That said, I also had three "aha" moments or God sightings that weren't courtesy of the cruise line.

The first one: So the last day I'm waiting in line for breakfast (after being pampered and waited on all week). And things are taking a little longer than usual. Okay, by the time I got back to our table, Ray was almost finished. And the line just kept passing me as I stood there and waited and waited and waited.

Then I got a little choked up. Not a lot...just a little.

And I thought...Really? Really? This is what chokes me up? It was a big aha moment. If that's what upsets me in life then God help me!

And I realized that we rise or fall to the level of luxury or deprivation we allow in our lives. I think it would be so easy to become so pampered that every little irritation becomes a big thing--and my flesh craves falling to that level. I had a "come to Jesus" moment where I decided that's not who I want to be. I'd rather rise to a deeper level of doing without so I learn to persevere and put up with hardship. That's where real living is. I don't think that's what the cruise line had planned for me, but it is what God had planned.

What about you? Are you rising or falling right now?

Found My Word!

Thu, 27 January 2011 21:05:36

Previously, I posted that I wasn't able to come up with a word for my New Year's Resolution. So God was faithful to deliver the word to me---OPEN!

Soon after that blog, Group laid off 26 people and reorganized our business structure. The emotions of going through that and saying goodbye to much-loved co-workers was gut-wrenching. I totally agree with the business decisions; it's just hard to see people hurting, as you know.

Soon after the layoff, I duginto my new responsibilities. Needless to say: I have a LOT to learn! But thank God for an amazing team of people who have positive can-do attitudes and really know their jobs well.

I have a feeling I'm going to be stretched beyond anything I could ever ask or imagine. I've been asking God to help me be open to all the new ways of doing things, new responsibilities, and new people.

I love that God knows what's best for me--even when I don't. I'm open to what he has in store in 2011!

New Year's Resolutions--Not!

Mon, 17 January 2011 17:55:30

I'm not a big fan of New Year's resolutions; they just seem to heap more guilt and a sense of failure on me when I don't achieve them. That's not really something I need--ever.

But last year, I heard about choosing one word as a goal for the year. I liked that. And I chose accomplishment. And as I look back on the year, I do have a sense of accomplishment--and that feels good! I think I probably accomplished more at work than I did in my personal life, but I'll still take it.

So this year, I've grappled with what my word should be. And I've thought of all kinds of words and can't land on one: finish, grace, learning, power in weakness (that's three), and more. I've stressed more about my one word than I really want to. So I'm letting it go. It shouldn't be this hard. And I'm back to no New Year's resolutions.

That doesn't mean I won't pursue growth or change; it just means I'll do it like I always do--one day at a time--with ups and downs along the way, but no overarching goal to shine a spotlight on my failures. Maybe then my word really is grace (oh, here I go again....let it go...let it go!)

How do you approach New Year's resolutions?

Learning More at Kidmin 2011

Tue, 11 January 2011 19:02:06

What's my biggest need that I think KidMin can meet in 2011?

I have a voracious appetite for learning from real people in real ministries. While I've learned a lot from speakers and workshop leaders, I always want more and I wonder what the people around me are thinking, but there never seems time to stop and talk.

I want to be able to have a meaningful conversation with people who are in the workshops/sessions with me. I want to find out what they're struggling with and what's bringing them great joy in ministry. I want to ask them questions and grapple with real-world problems together. I want to make discoveries by the grace of God together.

That's what I think KidMin 2011 (www.childrensministry.com/kidmin) will provide me. I'm so excited that we're going beyond the show and focusing on creating authentic conversations. We won't let a packed schedule stop conversations; instead we'll actually plan for these times in everything we do. I'm glad that KidMin will have a relaxed atmosphere with environments that encourage such conversations.

I'm really looking forward to getting to know real people in real ministries at KidMin 2011! #kidmin11

New Year's Rant

Wed, 05 January 2011 17:00:20

Just got back from a trip where I got to be exposed to Christianity on the road. One radio station is challenging its listeners to listen to only Christian music for an entire month and see how their lives change. For some reason, that made me change the channel immediately.

Maybe it was seeing the Christian ghetto in road signs and church marquees that doesn't yet know how to communicate to a non-Christian world. So asking us to become even more insulated and out of touch with the real world just turned me off.

Take note of these signs I saw along the way and you decide. Do we Christians really know how to communicate to people outside our world?

A church marquee: "What's your focus? Joshua 1:7-9." (I ask you, what non-Christian is going to know what that means?) So maybe our audience really is just the church.

But then we saw this sign on the interstate: "Are you going to hell? Give your heart to Jesus to be saved." (I admit, I actually laughed at this one.) The fact that we think that someone is going to answer yes to the first question and be converted on the spot is mind-numbing to me.

I know...sounds harsh...and for that I apologize. But I don't apologize for imploring all of us Christians to figure out how to communicate the most amazing message of salvation to a lost world that really is going to hell without it. (And burying our heads in only Christian things doesn't help us be more effective.)

My Christmas Wish: Protect Kids

Tue, 14 December 2010 23:27:43

One of the things I do is post the daily news on the childrensministry.com site. I love doing this to keep up on what's new with kids. However, finding the positive news means digging through a lot of really horrible things that happen to kids day in and day out--usually at the hands of their parents or other trusted people. Children are abused, neglected, tortured, and killed...all over the place...and every day.

So this is my Christmas wish. In addition to children's ministers being mandated reporters of abuse, I wish that we in churches and clubs and schools and anywhere else that children come would say to kids upfront and regularly and loudly: "This is a safe place. And no one should EVER hurt you. Not your parents. Not a teacher. Not a sibling. NO ONE! So if anyone ever hurts you with their words or their actions, that is NOT ok! We're here to protect you. And if you tell us that someone is hurting you, we will make sure you are safe now and forever." And then we do just that.

I wish that children knew that all they have to do is tell us that they're being hurt and they don't have to keep the secrets of evil people who hurt them...but they won't know that if we don't tell them.

Nativity: Lights! Camera! Action!

Wed, 08 December 2010 20:08:05

One of the best Christmas gifts I've gotten this year is seeing our dream-child of an instant Christmas play come to life at a friend's church. It's fun to dream up something and then see it happen! So I asked my friend, co-worker, and local children's minister to share with you her experience of Nativity: Lights! Camera! Action!

Here in Teresa's own words: "FUN! FUN! FUN! was the buzz word at our church after performing our Nativity:Lights! Camera! Action! instant Christmas show. Although some had their hesitations as to how it was all going to come together, we were all pleasantly surprised at how smooth everything flowed. It was very clever to use the two main actors...the Director and his Assistant...to connect the scenes together. Some said it was the most fun they'd ever had doing a Christmas show. Some said it was great to be reminded how children think and act...we forget what it's like to be childlike...it was great to be able to act like a child again! They loved that the program was intergenerational.

"We started our program with a sloppy joe dinner at 5:30 so families could just come after work and spend the evening together. We pre-registered as many as we could (only one week ahead of time) and assigned them to their scenes. We put stickers that went with their scenes on their name tags so they'd know which scene they were in. For Scene one we used stars, scene 2 we used animal stickers, scene 3 we used smiley faces for the puppets, and scene 4 we used butterflies because we couldn’t find angels, but at least we had wings!! This made it very easy for people to know what group they were in when it was time to get into their groups. Walk-ins were put in groups that needed more people...very easy.

"We used our outgoing families for scene one. For scene two, we used preschool families to be the animals. The families with teenagers, we put into scene three to make the paper bag puppets. Scene four we used our seniors and walk-in families. If scene four got full, the registration staff would assign the walk-ins to the scene according to their children’s age.

"At 6:20 we split into our scenes and did the family devotion, practiced the song motions, and created costumes. We did make sure our costumes were very easy...no glue, just glue dots, staplers, and stickers. We had multiage groups so parents and grandparents were involved in making their costumes and helping the younger ones. YES!! Each scene was ready to go in just ONE HOUR!!! Seventy people in all.

"We were ready to go by 7:30. There was laughter as we saw some of our more serious members ham it up on stage as stars for the paparazzi. We laughed as the animals crawled on stage, weary from the journey, then pretended to die if Kind Herod killed them...even the adults fell to the floor...all while pregnant on a horse!!! We clapped to the music as the puppets (the shepherds) sang their songs, then laughed as the teens and parents threw their puppets off and danced freestyle at the end of their scene.

"The finale was full of Angels from 1 month old to 80 years. We put our Seniors in this group because the song was slower as well as the action and they loved it. At the end we added a manger, Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus (2 month old baby sister) and their mom in her star costume. Then we had everyone come back on stage. The God Sighting was that the people who came to just watch the show didn’t realize that only the scene participants were to go on stage, so they all joined us at the stage and all eyes were on the baby Jesus!!! This while the whole cast sang “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”! Then the flashes from all the cameras just made the finale the best ending to a easy Christmas show that only took a little over an hour to put together and 26 minutes to perform.

"We ended with our Cast Party...cookies. Then as families left, we took their pictures in front of the Christmas Tree for the ornaments that we'll give them before Christmas. We also handed them their family devotion to use during the Christmas season.

"It could not have been any easier. We were done by 8:30 with everything...cleaned up the church and were home by 9:30.Thank you for the experience of our church and guests participating in the Christmas story together....it was awesome to be a part of this Christmas Show!!!! Cut!......That’s a wrap!"

Thanks, Teresa! It was a blast to watch!

So if you're still looking for something to do for Christmas that involves everyone in your church and is ultra-easy, it's not too late. Get your Nativity: Lights! Camera! Action! kit at http://outreach.group.com/christmas/nativity

And check out this photo of Teresa's church's grand finale!

The 80/20 Gap

Wed, 01 December 2010 18:18:45

In our current childrensministry.com poll, we ask "What's the greatest gift you'd like to get for Christmas this year for your ministry?" The top answers? People! (in the form of more volunteers and paid staff)

So I thought I'd blog a bunch of recruiting ideas from our magazine archives, but instead ran across one of my all-time favorite articles we've done in the 20 years we've been creating CMMag. It's an article by Ann Murphy called "The 80/20 Gap."

In it, she writes, "What's the 80/20 Gap? It's the distance between the resources we define to be required to support an area of ministry (100%) and the actual resources we work with (80%). The 80/20 Gap is a fact of life in this world. For all of us, when time, volunteers, or funds fall short of our stated needs, God calls us to step out in bold ways."

I love this article and want to "gift" it to you as you, like all of us, live in that space where we have to rely on God: http://childrensministry.com/articles/the-8020-gap

Drop Off or Drop Out?

Mon, 29 November 2010 18:55:14

I was a drop-off kid. There was something in my heart that longed to be in church, but my family was unchurched. So God bless my mom...she dropped me off or allowed me to walk to church, and eventually joined me there.

Over the last few years, I've heard of a trend that churches won't allow kids to attend church if they're not accompanied by a parent or a guardian of some sort. That's what inspired our current poll at www.childrensministry.com.

We asked people to respond to this statement: We allow kids without parents at church:

Always--40 people

Never--4 people

Only the first time--1 person

Other--2 people

Just makes me wonder where I'd be today if the folks at the churches I attended unchaperoned would've turned me away. And, yes, I know there are security concerns and it's a different world today. Surely we can figure out the ins and outs of the security issues to indeed "let the children come."

If you'd like to read more about this topic, go to "Drop Off or Drop Out?" by clicking on this link: http://childrensministry.com/articles/drop-off-or-drop-out

KidMin Conversation, Part 2

Mon, 22 November 2010 15:20:06

Listen in on a conversation between Phillip Moody (our first KidMin Conference Registrant) and myself.

CYJ: Wow! Thanks for your trust! When you say you need help moving your children's ministry to the next level, help me understand what that level will look like for you when you get there.

Phillip: For me/us it is completing (if we can or ever do) the place where volunteers are lining up to serve and stay committed. Where the children's ministry is another "front door" for our guests to our church alongside the worship services. Plus our church/children's ministry is growing. I think it is time (or soon will be) to put on our big boy/girl pants, and continue to prepare the way for the growth.

CYJ: Oh my gosh, Phillip! I used the "put on your big girl pants" in our KidMin dreaming session, and our dreamers thought that was hilarious. Glad to see I'm not the only one who uses that for "don't be a victim and take charge"! So tell me what your dreams would be that we could create for you at KidMin to take you to the next level. What do you need most at our conference?

Phillip: I think pretty much any seminar you are considering, but if the schedule could have time to reflect. I am into Spiritual Formation (or want to be into it more), but I'm not talking about that as such. I wish for time or an experience that would allow individuals to soak in all the ideas they have been exposed to, then write/plan out three ideas that are realistic for the individual/team/and their church situation. Before they get on the plane, they begin their planning before the chaos that greets them when they get back home off the plane. And who knows maybe a spiritual exercise/activity could/should be a part of that.

CYJ: Yes! Yes! Phillip, we want to provide that time and processing! This is a God thing to hear this from you to keep pursuing that time for processing and a conference action plan. How can we bless you for being our #1 registrant? (Phillip and our team are working on that blessing!)

I’m looking forward to meeting Phillip and all the wonderful children’s and family ministers at our first-ever KidMin Conference October 7-10, 2011, in Chicago. Want more info about our first-ever KidMin Conference? Our site will be live with tons of great info the first week of December. Hang on! Then go to www.childrensministry.com/kidmin

KidMin Conversation--Part 1

Thu, 18 November 2010 21:17:57

Listen in on a conversation between Phillip Moody (our first KidMin Conference Registrant) and myself.

CYJ: Phillip, we just learned that you're our #1 registrant for our first-ever KidMin Conference! Thanks so much for jumping in so quickly! If you don't mind, I'd like to ask you some questions and post our conversation (or parts of it) in my blog. So are you willing to have a little email chat with me?

Phillip: Yes, that would be fun and good.

CYJ: Great! So you're the first registrant (and not with a lot of info on the conference yet). Why did you sign up pretty much "sight unseen" for the KidMin Conference?

Phillip: This may sound lame, but I trust Group. (Our church is 14 years old, and Group has been our lead curriculum material provider since we began.) And I need such an experience that I know you all will create/provide that will help me help move our growing children's ministry to the next level. (I have considered CPC conferences and others before, but this timing is just simply right.)

(Stay tuned. In my next blog, Phillip responds to this question: Wow! Thanks for your trust! When you say you need help moving your children's ministry to the next level, help me understand what that level will look like for you when you get there.)

Want more info about our first-ever KidMin Conference October 7-10, 2011, in Chicago? Our site will be live with tons of great info the first week of December. Hang on! Then go to www.childrensministry.com/kidmin

Thankful Kids, Thankful Families

Wed, 10 November 2010 19:19:35

Mom always said to “say thank you” and “don’t forget thank you notes.” Turns out, she knew what she was talking about (Go, Mom!) – studies show that people who have an “attitude of gratitude” are happier, healthier, and more successful. Wow! That’s a lot of gain for a simple “thank you.”

God wired us to be thankful people. We know that, in addition to teaching our children good manners, we need to help our children develop an “attitude of gratitude,” and to appreciate the amazing gifts God has given us and continues to give us every day.

Mom knew that thankfulness – like so many other things – takes practice. And practice works best when we make it fun and creative for our children. Group has put together some fun, simple, low-cost ideas that any family can use to increase their “thankfulness factor.” Plus, we’re giving away free downloadable music to help add to a more thankful mood.

Please visit us at www.group.com/groupmusic today. And thank you in advance for passing this link site along to families who might need more thankfulness in their lives!

Dear Girls: You Are Beautiful!

Wed, 03 November 2010 16:50:00

Demi Lovato just checked into a rehab center for reported eating disorders. I learned this because I post the daily news on childrensministry.com. And as I searched the news story, I see the sad report of her illness at this site: http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/11/03/2010-11-03_adult_issues_for_tweener_fight__prior_woes_drove_lovato_to_treatment.html

And right next to the story are multiple ads to lose "belly fat." I feel sorry for girls. The messages that they're not ok are so rampant in our culture. My prayer today is that we'll help the girls in our lives see their beauty before God and to be okay in their skin.

Let's pray for Demi...she needs to know the same thing.

Say Thanks to Your Volunteers

Mon, 01 November 2010 18:47:05

November--the month we focus on gratitude. Use this month to let your volunteers know how thankful you are for them!

From our archives, here are 3 P's from Bob D'Ambrosio, Consultant and Training Supervisor for Church Volunteer Central that can shape your volunteer appreciation efforts.

Personal -- While formal appreciation events are important, they don't take the place of the face-to-face ways we say "We couldn't do it without you!" These are often low-cost, quick, and heart-touching expressions of our love and appreciation. The pack of gum with a note that says, "Thanks for sticking with us," a "World's Greatest Helper" ribbon, and a reserved parking space for the "Teacher of the Week" are simple ways to communicate value.

Powerful -- A generic form letter thanking everyone for helping with vacation Bible school is well-meaning, but it doesn't have much impact. Appreciation needs to have a certain "wow" effect. Powerful appreciation is personal, sincere, and timely. Don't delay in your response. A thank you note received three months after the event loses its effectiveness.

Plentiful --People need to be reminded over and over that their time and ministry matters. They matter to God, to your church, to you! When we limit our appreciation efforts to an annual event, it lessens the impact. Don't get me wrong; an annual volunteer recognition program serves a great purpose, but it doesn't take the place of continuous praise and ongoing affirmation.

To read the complete article, go to http://childrensministry.com/articles/the-3-ps-of-affirmation

Halloween: A Christian Response

Tue, 26 October 2010 17:41:31

With debate about what to do as a church in response to Halloween, I asked Ricardo Miller, children's pastor and one of our top-20 children's ministry influencers, to weigh in. Here's what he said.

Q: What are you doing for kids around Halloween this year?

Ricardo: For more than a decade at our church, Pathway of Life in Dallas, Texas, we have hosted what we’ve termed as “Fall Festival”--a fun, family friendly event where we open our campus up to the community with an outdoor fair. We have bounce houses, food and games and give out candy. We don’t encourage anyone to dress up, but don’t turn away those who do. It’s in a safe and secure environment and we have security patrolling the premises at all times. This year, we’re even introducing a Car and Motorcycle Show & a Barbeque Cook-off to encourage an even broader group to come. In each of our giveaway bag,s we include witnessing literature so people aren’t just getting goodies, but a Godly message as well. There is a large evangelistic team that also is ready to minister the gospel to the more than 3,000 children who are expected to be at the Fall Festival. This is our church’s 2nd largest annual event that is centered around reaching children in our community.

Q: Why aren't you just avoiding it?

Ricardo: We aren’t avoiding it because this is one of the largest family night outtings in our community where children in the public schools and the public at large are encouraged to go trick-or-teating. We take advantage of this opportunity to reach the thousands of families and allow them to engage in a good Christian-based alternative for their family. If we don’t seize this moment, we miss an incredible chance to engage and bring in those who may not know Christ and may never come to a church for a regular church service. We use this as an opportunity to show people the love of Christ. It’s all free and open to the public. I also believe one of the mistakes we make in the Body of Christ is trying to avoid or turn a deaf ear/blind eye to the things around us that we perceive as not godly. My position is that we were not placed on earth to allow the devil to take over, rather to allow the light of Christ to shine through us and for us to take territory for His Kingdom.

Q: What "fruit" have you seen by engaging with Halloween in the way you do?

Ricardo: Each year we see thousands of individuals give their lives to Christ on our church grounds as they gather during the Fall Festival, our Christian alternative to Halloween. Children and parents alike have been re-introduced to the local church and because of our fast-growing surrounding community we are able to introduce young growing families to the many services our church has to offer the community along with good Christian fun, fellowship and food. We see tons of new families joining our church shortly after this event and see a renewed level of excitement with our children as they get a chance to invite their unchurched friends to church, not only to participate in the activities but get a chance to be introduced to Jesus Christ through our Each One Reach One Campaign.

Q: What challenge would you give to kidmins who say "it's from the devil and we should just avoid it"?

Ricardo: For any kidmin who would say “it’s from the devil and we should just avoid it,” I would agree that Halloween has its origins outside of the church. However, I believe the church should not allow any customs, practices or traditions to take over our communities and we not have a counter attack to better reach our community and provide a better alternative to practicing something that was once dedicated to the devil. We ought not give the devil any days, weeks, months or years. Nothing belongs to him and one of the mistakes I’ve seen made consistently is handing over our schools, and our communities, to the hands of the devil when it is our responsibility, as kidmins to go wherever children are with a positive Christian-based program that will attract them to the Kingdom.

To learn more about Ricardo, go to www.ricardomiller.com.

Let us know what you think by posting comments here!

Taking the Boo! Out of KidMin

Tue, 19 October 2010 13:54:06

What scares you the most in children's ministry? Not being effective? Losing your job? Offending people? Making the wrong choice? One of my biggest fears is no longer being relevant--and not realizing it.

The good thing is that our fears can give us an edge. They can make us hungry, teachable, and more sensitive.

But they're also something that's not from God. He doesn't want us to be fearful and driven by our insecurities. Instead, he wants us to trust him, to lean on him, to acknowledge that without him we can do nothing.

So how do we take the Boo! out of KidMin? We simply give our fears over to God--day in and day out. There's no trick in that, but there's definitely a great treat in the peace and the confidence that results from handing it over!

Finis Was the Finest

Thu, 14 October 2010 17:55:25

Last night in the car, I told my daughter Abby about a pastor who'd made a huge difference in my life as a child. Three things he did in particular endeared me to him.

1. He let us decorate the loft of the church for Halloween--even though that was kind of controversial. I think he loved that we wanted to spend an afternoon in his church.

2. He took us swimming in a little creek at Falls Creek during junior music camp because we were too old for the classes. He dozed and let us play around after we walked forever to get there.

3. He opened his home on numerous afternoons when my friends and I would ask him for theological direction because our friends from another denomination had a different view on baptism than we did. And, of course, we were arguing with them.

I loved Finis Steelman. He was an amazing Indian Cowboy who loved God and loved us. He welcomed us just as we were--little children. He's gone on to heaven, but I just wanted to memorialize this sweet saint today in my blog!

The First Shall Be Last

Tue, 12 October 2010 16:59:14

I'm so inspired today by the Chile miners who've endured hardship together underground for two months. Now that freedom is so close they can taste it, they're arguing. Not about who will go first, but who will go last. That actually gives me goosebumps. How many of us would do the same?

It just reminds me of what Jesus said that the first shall be last and that if we want to be a leader, we must be servant of all.

God bless those men and their families--and may they arrive home safely very soon!

Halloween: Be the Light

Fri, 08 October 2010 17:03:36

It's October which brings out spooky things related to Halloween. And it brings out varying views from church folks. What do you do with it?

Our family has done everything from leave town, stay home with the lights out and cringe at every doorbell ring, give candy to kids with scary masks, go to/throw fall festivals, not carve pumpkins/do carve pumpkins. Back in the day when we were a "leave town or turn off the lights" family, I felt like Halloween was evil and we just needed to avoid it.

Then I read an essay by a Christian man who talked about being a light in the darkness. His approach was that he didn't want to be the one house in the community--on a night that children came to his door--that wouldn't receive them. And I remembered those curmudgeons from my childhood. For whatever reasons they didn't open their doors to us, I wasn't sure of, but they weren't someone that conveyed love and acceptance for us trick or treaters.

So, now I take a more moderate approach. We don't decorate or dress up, but we do have a giant bowl of candy that has way too much candy left over at the end of the night--even though we give handfuls to kids no matter what age they are.

Is it the right approach? It is for us. Everyone must decide before God how to handle it.

Last year on Halloween, we were at my parents' house in Oklahoma and I was "uptown" when the Halloween parade started. I saw costumes with kids with their heads cut off and lots of gore. The word that came to mind at the time was "vapid." It was so empty. But it was one community's desire to be there for their kids (they've been doing this since I was a kid). Then they gathered for a carnival type of thing (again, a tradition).

I came back with renewed vision for the two fall festival kits we were working on: Slime Time and The Great Tomb Raid (where Jesus is the greatest tomb raider). I know that people want to give kids a safe alternative on Halloween, why not make it an alternative with a message and have kids gather at the place that always has its arms and doors open wide to them? Your church!

If you'd like to learn more about these two fall festivals (and order one in a hurry), go to http://search.group.com/search?p=Q&w=fall+festival

What Matters Most: Love

Tue, 05 October 2010 16:30:24

So many kids in the news recently are killing themselves because they've been bullied for being gay. That breaks my heart! And when I listen to Dan Savage, creator of the "It Gets Better" campaign, say that the pain these gay and lesbian kids are suffering is due in part to the "religious right," I get even sadder.

What have we as a church communicated to these kids--or to Mr. Savage--that makes him not know that Jesus loves them and wants to give them hope? What are we communicating to a lost and hopeless generation about the love of God?

What matters most in the church? It's not being right! We need a new definition of "righteous."

We need a loving response to kids who are struggling with their sexuality and trying to come to terms with their creator--were they made that way? is it sin? is it a choice? Does it matter if these kids don't know Jesus' love?

How can we show kids our amazing Jesus who's full of love and compassion first and foremost? It's the work of the Holy Spirit to grow all of us to be like Jesus--and every single one of us in process. I heard someone recently say that our job is to encourage what the Holy Spirit is doing--and will do--in others' lives if we allow them to draw close to God.

My heart is broken that these kids who killed themselves--and those who are struggling still--don't know our loving Savior. What can we, as the church, do to change that?

Would You Get an A?

Mon, 04 October 2010 22:47:50

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life recently conducted a survey of what Americans know about religion. I just took the 15-question quiz, and I scored a 100. Does that mean I'm a better Christian than others? Does it even mean I'm a good Christian?

Does it matter if I know Mother Teresa's religion? Or what Ramadan is? Or which one of four statements is not a Ten Commandment? (Take the quiz for yourself: http://features.pewforum.org/quiz/us-religious-knowledge/index.php?)

It makes me wonder when a research organization makes sweeping statements about how ignorant we Christians are about religion, what is it that they're measuring? our level of faith? our relationship with Jesus? our trust in him? our contentment in tough times? the measure of our character?

I don't think God looks at the things the Pew Center measured because after all, God looks at our hearts--not our knowledge base.

What is it that we're aiming for when we teach our kids in children's ministry? A body of knowledge or a relationship with the living God?

And, can you have one without the other? I'd say yes, because I've known some pretty illiterate people who love Jesus with more passion than many learned people I've known.

We need to focus on what really matters in our ministries--and not take studies like these to heart.

The Church's Role

Sat, 25 September 2010 13:10:10

What's the church's role in an information age? Honestly, what's the church's role in any age?

I have multiple conversations--inside and out of Group--about this topic. I listen to visionary leaders talk about the way to nurture kids to be fully devoted followers of Christ, the way to impact families so parents take their role as primary faith influencers, and more. And the one thing I hear--a lot of--is information.

In one conversation recently, I asked a children's pastor where his parents go for information. Is their immediate reaction to see if the church has a brochure on a topic...or do they google it...go on facebook and ask their friends...read a blog about it...order a Kindle or iPad version of a book on it? He said their first default is not the church.

Hmmm...not the church. If we're not the repository of all authority on every subject, then what is our role? We scramble to teach on every topic--and we often struggle when people don't show up for classes on things like parenting, don't we? (I'm not saying the Word of God doesn't speak to all of life, by the way. It does!)

Again, if people today aren't looking to us for information on the topics of their daily life, what is the church for?

What is the unique God-given mission that the church has that no other entity in all of culture is geared to, nor equipped or empowered to meet?

#1 on my list is to encounter the living God in ways that are transformational. (And in all honesty, the information model we use could be getting in the way of that.) It's about transformation, not information. We like to say around here at Group that "faith is not a subject; it's a relationship." I think the unique role of the church is not to just inform people about God but to introduce them to God and help them experience God--while they're at church!

#2 on my list is the wonder of the body of Christ and everything that entails: community, sharing, fellowship, support, encouragement--just look at all the "one another" verses in the Bible to make a list. The Bible says that they'll know we're Christians by our love. I believe the church's role and what we need to experience at church is this amazing love and community that'll transform us. Sadly, our information model of all of us sitting in rows and listening to a sermon, then filing out at the end gets in the way of this kind of community. Every single time we're in the body of Christ's presence, I believe we need to facilitate relational connections. (We do this every week in our Buzz curriculum for kids by having what we call Buzz Bond--where kids strengthen their relationships with one another.)

But beyond any resource or tool, I think God is calling the church to come back to what it's meant for. And I don't think that's going to happen by reading a blog (like this one), googling for information, going to a conference, or taking another class. I think it's going to happen when we cry out to God and ask him by the Holy Spirit to do a work in us that is impossible without him showing up. I think we've worshipped long enough at the altar of information as leaders and in our church practices; and it's time to wake up to what we're really meant for.

What's the Church's Role?

Thu, 23 September 2010 19:58:36

This will be brief, but it's the one burning question that's on my mind right now: What is the unique role of the church in an information age?

I'd love to dialogue with anyone about this. I venture that it's not information.

Speak Your Volunteers' Love Language

Mon, 13 September 2010 18:33:23

Last week, I was talking to Todd and Jay Hostettler (son/father) at the Mile High Children's Ministry Fellowship luncheon about what says "I appreciate you" to volunteers. One of them said that some volunteers want you to acknowledge them by spending time with them--coffee or a basketball game at the park. I said I wouldn't want that as a volunteer--nor would I want to attend a volunteer appreciation banquet. What I love about my preschool coordinator, Jana Jones, is that she makes me feel so appreciated and valued in every conversation on Sunday morning and in every email.

You see, my "love language" is "acts of service" and Jana serves me by being sensitive to how busy I am and making me feel appreciated. But not everyone has the same love language. And we risk making our volunteers feel unappreciated when we're not fluent in their love language.

To learn more about what your volunteers' love language is--check out this article from childrensministry.com: "Say It With Love" http://childrensministry.com/articles/say-it-with-love

In Over Your Head?

Wed, 01 September 2010 18:55:44

This morning in my home, I saw this tiny spider with two strands of a highly ambitious web from the floor to the ceiling (our ceilings are 20 feet high!). It just hung there; I think kind of exhausted. Not sure what it had bitten off and contemplating what to do next. Once it got started, it didn't know where to stop.

I owed it a debt because it made me think of me in all those times I get in over my head. I just came out of one of those times. I take on things I really shouldn't. I do too much. I work on the wrong things. And I get overwhelmed.

Maybe you do that, too...oh, yeah, you're in ministry. Of course you do that sometimes!

Let me tell you what I've figured out that motivates me to get in over my head. I like to rescue people...and the reason why? I've got this odd "hero complex" that I hope when I save the day, everyone will applaud me and ultimately like me. (My friend who does the same thing does it because she's afraid of failure.)

In one of these "I'm doing too much times," I had a VP here tell me how he'd told the president of the company how heroic I'd acted. "Stop!" I told him. "You're feeding the monster!"

To climb out of the pit I dig for myself, I have to cut off the sick monster's need to be fulfilled with accolades. I have to acknowledge that I'm making decisions for the wrong reasons. I have to let things fail.

And, in the end, you know what? I get healthier and so does the team. Hmmm...who would've thought? I think that's why God sent that little tired spider into our living room this morning. To remind me--and you maybe--that it's ok to hold up a white flag and admit that whatever you're doing isn't working. It's okay to quit rescuing. Or leading a program. Or doing a project. Especially if your sick monster is motivating you--instead of the right reasons.

By the way, I didn't have the heart to kill the spider (now it'll probably bite me when it grows up!).

Buzz--Not for Every Volunteer

Fri, 27 August 2010 17:56:27

After developing Buzz and watching how people have responded to it, I know something for sure--Buzz is NOT for every volunteer.

Here's who it's NOT for: The volunteer who goes the extra mile to prepare the lesson. The volunteer who goes online to find better crafts, games, or whatever to improve the curriculum. The volunteer who's a trained educator. The volunteer who doesn't bat an eye at an hour of reviewing the lesson ahead of time.

Here's who it IS for: The volunteer who loves kids but hates preparation. The volunteer who has 10 minutes to pray and read a devotion to prepare his/her heart. The volunteer who doesn't have a clue about educational theory. The volunteer who's said no to you for years because he/she doesn't have enough time to prepare or isn't an educator.

So, trust me...don't use Buzz if your team is full of the first kind of volunteer (I'd recommend FaithWeaver instead). But if your church is full of the second kind of volunteer, I can guarantee that Buzz is the curriculum you're looking for.

Check it out at group.com/buzz today!

Pastoring or Pasturing?

Fri, 27 August 2010 17:46:41

So I keep typing the word "pastoring" in something I'm working on and Word defaults to "pasturing."

So I looked up "pasturing." It means to feed. While I won't to be correct, of course, I love that meaning--to feed. Jesus said to "feed my sheep" three times to Peter. That's what we do in children's ministry, we feed Jesus' sheep--we pastor them and pasture them, I suppose.

God bless you as you feed his sheep throughout this coming weekend!

Be Willing to Delete

Tue, 24 August 2010 22:42:12

One of the toughest things in writing is falling in love with our words. They're so beautiful, artful. How could we ever cut them? But fitting great writing into a magazine or a book requires deleting excess. So cut we must. And what we find is that the piece is often better--more concise but still a thing of beauty.

The same is true in our ministries. We can so fall in love with a program that we'd never delete it. Yet, I just heard this line that I thought was really good (and I've edited it a touch): "Your ministry is only as good as your worst program."

It's true for us here with resources, too. We may have amazing resources, but if we let one languish or in any way become weak, that's what most strongly could represent our brand. And the weakest resource can be death to our brand.

Is there any program you're holding onto that if you get really honest with yourself is harming your ministry's brand? Feel free to prayerfully and sensitively hit the "delete" button. Your entire ministry will be stronger for it!

Celebrating Changed Lives

Thu, 12 August 2010 16:16:58

During our Celebration Station workshop yesterday at the Celebrate Recovery Conference, Lori Keller shared a story about a child whose family's life was changed because of Celebration Station.

So here's the story...a little girl was spending the night with her friend Mary (whose family goes to Celebrate Recovery on Friday nights). So she went along with this little girl to Celebration Station, and she loved it! The next week, she told her mom she wanted to go back. So Mom went too. The next week, at Dad's house, she told him she wanted to go back. So Dad went too.

Soon, Mom on one side of the room and Dad on the other and the child in Celebration Station. They all found that they liked it.

And here's the kicker: God healed their family and brought the couple back together, restoring their marriage! (That's what I call a goosebump story!)

If you haven't yet checked out Celebrate Recovery and Celebration Station (and now the new Landing for youth), do it today. There are broken families who need healing in every community!

You can learn more at group.com/celebrationstation.

What Price, Integrity?

Thu, 29 July 2010 21:02:02

Our family went to an amusement park this week with a water park. As we waited in line to get our tubes for the lazy river, a boy (around 11) asked me, "Can we cut?" I just looked at him. "My family is right down there and we need to stay with them," he said. I actually considered it. Then I looked down at the water to a family that wasn't even the same race as this child--and they weren't looking back in concern as though they were leaving their child behind.

Whoa! It's amazing how long lines can compromise someone's ethics.

But then it happened to me. My son and his friend had bought "rapid passes" that got them to the front of the line. They were tired of riding so he offered it to me. And I actually considered taking it for awhile. Then I thought about what I'd be modeling for him and declined. But I considered it.

It made me wonder: As a kid, long lines are enough to compromise a child's ethics. What inconvenience is it in our lives that would get us to compromise our ethics?

Just wondering...

What Price, Integrity?

Thu, 29 July 2010 20:59:33

Our family went to an amusement park this week with a water park. As we waited in line to get our tubes for the lazy river, a boy (around 11) asked me, "Can we cut?" I just looked at him. "My family is right down there and we need to stay with them." I actually considered it. Then I looked down at the water to a family that wasn't even the same race as this child--and they weren't looking back in concern as though they were leaving their child behind.

Whoa! It's amazing how long lines can compromise someone's ethics.

But then it happened to me. My son and his friend had bought "rapid passes" that got them to the front of the line.

They were tired of riding so he offered it to me. And I actually considered taking it for awhile. Then I thought about what I'd be modeling for him and declined. But I considered it.

It made me wonder: As a kid, long lines are enough to compromise a child's ethics. What inconvenience is it in our lives that would compromise our ethics?

Just wondering...

Hey, What's Your Name?

Wed, 21 July 2010 16:52:37

I had one of those spacey moments at Sunday school where I couldn't remember a regular kid's name--first or last. And I was doing check-in. The mom and child stood there smiling sweetly while I scrambled mentally--or maybe I was mentally scrambled (I'd only been gone two weeks).

Anyway, I fumbled with the last name in the system. Got it wrong. I couldn't ask! He's a regular! So I said, "Can you hold on a minute? I need to ask Abby something?" I went into the classroom and asked her. She told me with one of those "good grief, Mom" looks. But disaster averted!

So, I thought how do other folks handle forgetting a child's name who's waiting expectantly to be acknowledged. And I asked on our facebook fan page. Here are some of their great answers:

* Use a generic nickname. Names like "sweet potato," Buddy, Sweetie, Girl, Friend, Honey, Mshana Wam (means young man or lady in Zulu), Chickadee.

* Admit it. Sylvia Hagopian says, "I usually blame it on being "old" and then ask their name again. It really is important to them to feel accepted, included and special by having their name remembered so I pray for all of us that we get better at it. It isn't always easy - agh!!!" Vanessa Jones says, "Sometimes I'll do the whole, "Hey sweetie," "Hey dude!" etc thing but if it's a kid I haven't seen in a long time, it's usually not a problem to say, "You know how silly forgetful I am with names! Can you tell me yours again--I won't forget this time!" I've never had a kid get upset--they just usually laugh at me like I'm a dork and go on. Then I'm exrta careful to use their name a lot during the service lol."

* Fake it. Jon Dixon suggests: "Smile and say "Hey! Great to see you!" Add a brief conversation, then after they leave I use my phone to look their name up in our church database if I remember any part of it. If I find them I send a quick "It was great to run into your kid..." email to their parents."

* Play with it. Tina Kirk Fussel says, "With my preschoolers, I tease and say something like , "Do I know you? Oh, that's right. You're Bob (or some other random name like Esmerelda or Zacheaus)." They always start giggling and correcting me."

* Pray. Tina also says, "With the older kids, I'll just start talking to them like I know exactly who they are and pray that it comes to me. It often does."

* Wait. Joni Lum suggests, "I give them a hug and keep talking until I remember their name--lately we've had more visitors from vbs , thx Group :0), so I've had to fake it more than normal."

* Use nametags. Many said that's why they love nametags, because they do forget at times and it's so important for us to know kids' names. Mimi Keeler Leach uses the nametags to find the name with this: "It's really great when I can write them a name tag, or write their name on their paper. Then I ask them, "Can you tell me the letters in your name?" (Of course, this works best with preschoolers or kindergartners, who are just learning how to spell their names.)"

So there you go! If you ever space out on kids' names, try some of these great ideas from my friends on facebook! I know I will!

Just Like Family

Fri, 16 July 2010 17:31:45

Every month, our leadership team meets at Thom and Joani's house for breakfast--and Thom makes us amazing meals! Then we take turns leading one another in a devotion.

So, this week Joel (our VP of marketing) led us in a devotion about families. Our families. And then our leadership family. We were asked to consider what we could do to strengthen our bond with our leadership family. Here are three things I came away with:

1. Work on relationships with one another--not just being task-oriented. Take time for coffee and to get to know one another's stories.

2. Don't say anything behind someone's back that I wouldn't say in front of the person--not even if it's true but it has a certain tone or sarcasm.

3. Be FOR one another. Competition and comparison lead to icky stuff in families; and they do in companies too. So pray for one another and never secretly hope that an area will do less than the best--just so my area can look better.

I love my Group family! I hope some of these insights help with your church leadership family too!

Brian Haynes--the Real Deal

Tue, 13 July 2010 17:01:28

We spent yesterday in the studio with Dr. Brian Haynes (author of Shift: What it takes to finally reach families today). Brian is also our family ministry columnist for Children's Ministry Magazine.

And...he's the real deal! Brian is the expert voice for the parent-training sessions on our six new Family Faith Celebrations (from Baby Blessing through High School Graduation). We didn't script him. We simply gave him topics to talk about...and then we sat back and marveled.

It was an affirmation that Shift and Family Faith Celebrations flow from Brian's life and heart..and they've been tested in the real-world of his church. As he shared the philosophy and practical encouragement to parents, I was inspired and felt hopeful that it really isn't overly complicated to impact my children's faith. I think all parents will feel the same way as they listen to this authentic Christian man share from his life and ministry.

Learn more about this great resource (coming soon): http://familyfaithcelebrations.group.com/

New KidMin Conference

Fri, 25 June 2010 15:18:53

Ta-da!

That’s my way of telling you that we’ve been working on something so stupendous…so fantabulous…so just-what-you’ve been-hoping-for…and we’re finally ready to unveil it! Are you ready? (I’ve been sitting on my hands to keep from tweeting about this until now!)

It’s the Group KidMin Conference—coming to Chicago from October 7-10, 2011. And you and your team have got to join us!

Yes, it’s a year away, but we want you to prepare now to join us for an amazing time of deeper learning that leads to transformation, authentic conversations that become supportive relationships, and a renewed passion for the God you serve.

Here’s what’s true about our conference.

Jesus is the real “celebrity.” We’re inviting amazing people to speak and lead, but they’re not the “stars.” They’re here to challenge us to grow in our relationship with Jesus as we grow more effective in our ministry to children and families. Jesus is our biggest headliner at the KidMin Conference.

Relationships trump the show. The KidMin Conference facilitates connection more than a staged show. Sure, you’ll get great speakers and musicians, but what happens off-stage is way more important than that. Simply put, we’re all more attracted to, and feel more comfortable in, authentic environments rather than performance-oriented, showy settings. Ministry is about relationships, and this is a ministry conference.

You matter to us. Our KidMin conference is a conference by children’s ministers, for children’s ministers. This is for leaders and volunteers—everyone who ministers to children. When you come to our conference, it’ll be like a giant reunion—with people who love you, support you, and believe in you! We want you to feel known, seen, celebrated, and challenged. And we’ve planned everything with you in mind—we want your team to come away refreshed and renewed.

Learning isn’t about lecture. REAL learning (Relational, Experiential, Applicable, and Learner-Based) is threaded through every facet of our conference. You’ll learn through interactions and experiences—more than you ever would from a long lecture. You’ll find tables in meeting rooms that are more conducive to conversation. We’ve also created places for informal conversations and we’ll formally connect you with a networking group that’s facing the same issues you are. You won’t feel alone at this conference!

Going deeper instead of wider. We’ve formed this ministry experience around 8-hour tracks that dig deeper into a subject so you have the space to really learn. And we’re giving you tons of other workshops to meet more of your specific needs. You won’t worry about how one workshop fits with another because we’ll help you connect the dots. At the end of our conference, we’ll help you put all the pieces together to create a workable plan to use back at home.

So…excited yet? I hope so because we’re really excited to be with you at our first-ever Group KidMin Conference. Don’t wait to sign up because space truly is limited. And we don’t want you to miss out. Go to childrensministry.com/conference to learn more and sign up for updates! See you there!

The Fine Art of Delegation

Mon, 21 June 2010 16:23:26

I messed up last week! It was a classic case of poor delegation!

Here's what happened. I told Reed, 14, that I'd pay him to prune the bushes in our yard. Since he was eager to get started the next day and it was late, I cut a few fronds off the top to show him how much to take off. Then I waved my hand around the bush and told him the rule of thumb is to never cut away more than one-third of the bush.

Next day...I'm on the way home and call him to check in. "Is it OK if the bushes are knee-high?" That was the first sign of trouble. Between my appointment and having to grab Abby to register her for soccer, I got a firsthand look at the much-changed bushes. It made my stomach hurt...and the only word I could think of was "demolished." (It was good I was getting out of there lest I say what was on my mind.) Once I was home again, I vacillated between "it's not your fault" and "oh my gosh!" Poor Reed!

The next day...I owned that I didn't delegate well. And that he's 14 and had never done this before. If I'd had it to do over, I would've modeled for him by completely pruning one of the bushes. Then I would've helped him prune another bush. Once I was confident that he understood, I would've released him. But I didn't do this and this was a classic example of poor delegation.

So has this ever happened to you? Maybe with VBS decor or a big outreach event? You delegate quickly, walk away, and then you finally see what your volunteers are working on...and you're shocked and appalled. Before you say the things that jump to your mind, step away and figure out if you truly provided the best delegation possible. Own your part too! And, like a friend said, know that nothing's fatal...bushes do grow back...and usually things in ministry do too!

(Reed gave me permission to blog about this.) And if you'd like more on how to delegate better than me, check out this article by Jim Wideman at childrensministry.com: "Delegate or Die" http://childrensministry.com/article.asp?ID=899

A Servant's Heart

Tue, 15 June 2010 15:53:58

One of our featured articles on the childrensministry.com homepage this week is "Leading Up." In it, David Staal interviews his former pastor Bill Hybels about how children's ministers can best work with their senior pastors. Let's dig into it some more.

Hybels said: "I've never seen a day where it's harder to be a senior pastor than this day, and I've never seen senior pastors under higher levels of stress. And that's for good reason. The world is changing, ministry is harder, preaching is harder, team-building is harder, and fund raising is harder. Capturing the attention of lost people is more difficult, and people are more broken. So there's a lot going on in a senior pastor's mind."

What can we do to support our leaders? The first thing is to have a servant's heart. I can share with you a few ideas.

* Ask "How can I serve you?" Sure, our plates are full (whose isn't?). But when our leaders need something done, is our first response to tell them how busy we are and how long it'll be before we can get to that item? Or do we communicate to them that their agenda is our agenda--and we're here to serve? When a leader works with a staff person whose heart is to serve, it truly is like taking 20 pounds of stress off that leader's shoulders.

* Align with your leader. Is your children's ministry's mission statement in perfect sync with the church's mission statement? Or are you building your own kingdom? If you can't align, perhaps you need to find a new leader to follow. Your heart needs to be 100 percent sold out to contributing to your leader's success in achieving what God has called him or her to do.

* Stay in the game. Some people think alignment with leadership means we need to be "yes people," saying "Just tell me what to do and I'll do it." Not at all. When I was in college, our ministry was led by a director and an associate director. The associate director once told me that if she disagreed with the leader, she would passionately communicate her views behind closed doors. But if the leader didn't agree, once she walked out that door, no one would ever know she disagreed. Truthfully, you're no good to your leader if you stop thinking, dreaming, working as hard as you can. Stay in the game--fully engaged!

What have you done to support your leaders?

PandaMonium Ensues!

Tue, 08 June 2010 20:00:06

I just spent the morning at Group's VBS field test for next year's VBS: PandaMonium.

I have to be honest. When I first heard the theme, I had one of those "what are they thinking!?" moments. Yeah, that's right. It went through my head: Who wants pandemonium in their ministry?

Then I went to the field test and saw the cuddly, lovable panda swinging from the branches. I heard the music. I saw the kids' eyes light up. I was taken in by the decorations, the experiences, the leaders. Everything about it now makes me ask "who wouldn't want PandaMonium in their church?" It's where God is wild about you!

So, check it out to see what you think. Here's a link to the Group VBS site: http://pandamonium.group.com/intro

The Puppy Chronicles

Thu, 03 June 2010 16:51:38

We just got a puppy. Take a look at his photo at the bottom of the page! Sweet Teddy! And here are the puppy chronicles (which might just mirror your ministry right now).

Pre-Puppy: Reed asks, "Whose puppy is it more? Is it mine more?" Abby rolls her eyes.

Day 1: Reed and Abby text me simultaneously with numerous complaints that the other isn't sharing the puppy enough.

Day 2: Abby states that she's tired of having to watch the puppy constantly so he doesn't chew, pee, or poo. She's not so sure she likes the puppy. Reed hangs in there with constant care.

Day 3: Abby's done with the puppy. Reed hangs in there with constant care.

Day 4: Reed complains that Abby isn't doing enough.

Sigh...such are the puppy chronicles in our home. And, how is this like ministry? Let's compare our days to seasons of ministry.

Season 1: Excitement, anticipation of all the great things that are going to happen. Setting the vision. Dreaming.

Season 2: Obstacles appear; perhaps disillusionment enters in.

Season 3: Checking out; giving up.

Season 4: Feeling alone and overwhelmed in ministry.

In all honesty, for ministry and for puppies, all of these are a reality check. What do we do? We press on; we dig deep and we acknowledge that nothing is perfect but if we hang in there (in our case with puppy training) the reward will be great (in your case for eternity).

Here's a great article about the seasons of ministry: http://childrensministry.com/article.asp?ID=1855

I Forgot...

Fri, 28 May 2010 18:51:57

Do you ever spend so much time trying to dig up something you forgot that you just give up? Maybe it's just a lifestage thing but I feel like I may be forgetting more than I'm remembering these days. And will it matter?

Watch me wax philosophic here. Maybe it won't. Maybe it's only the things that I do remember...not all the little details that I try to keep up with...that will ultimately shape who I am. And maybe whether I remember them or not doesn't really matter. Maybe the very fact that I was impacted by them at some point or exposed to them is all that mattered. That those things did their work in the moment shaped who I am today. I'm reminded of the book of James where the writer says that being exposed to the Word of God can be like looking in a mirror and forgetting what we look like. So we have to keep coming back over and over...one look is not enough--even a really good look.

So what does this have to do with children's ministry? For years, I've longed to create resources that'll help you impact children for a lifetime (I still do). But maybe, just maybe, in God's greater plan it's enough to impact a child for today. And then we have to entrust that child to God and his faithfulness to bring others (planting, watering, reaping) in the child's life even as a teenager or adult. Impacting a child for today (every today) may just be the impact God calls us to.

These are ramblings. I hope they'll mean something to someone. If not, I'll forget I wrote about this soon enough!

Single Moms

Mon, 24 May 2010 19:32:26

I spent lunchtime this last Sunday with a group of 20 single mothers. Our church has an amazing ministry to these (plus 20 more moms who weren't there yesterday) and their children. After lunch, volunteers took the kids swimming and to play in classrooms so moms could talk and explore a topic.

I was their topic-deliverer. And we explored "be still and know that I am God." We started out, though, by doing the Stroop experience. First, I had them read the words in their correct colors--outloud. Then do the same with the words in different colors--outloud. Then I had them discuss how the second reading was like or unlike being a single parent. We made some great discoveries: frustrating, requires focus, tough, makes me feel stupid, hard work, exhausting, and more.

Then we talked about finding space in life to 'be still." There were tears and laughter. And I learned more about the challenges single moms face when they've experienced a divorce. It's not just about trying to parent their kids; it's about accepting that their family is ok...not waiting for the day when they'll be a "real family." They are a real family now.

There are also struggles beyond just trying to have enough energy for the day. There are real challenges when they get caught up in the court system and they pray to God that their attorney is better than their exes'...or at least that somehow their kids won't lose even more in the court system. There are financial struggles while money goes to legal battles; one woman is seeking to create a ministry where these families can live in others' homes while they fight these battles. There's loneliness, exhaustion, despair...and yet hope, joy, and love. It's an extremely complex venture.

I'm grateful to have gotten to spend time with them. It'll certainly change how we equip children's ministers with ideas to minister to these wonderful families.

To learn more about single parenting, check out Anne Doud's blog: http://annedoud.wordpress.com/

Check out the Stroop effect at http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/words.html)

Make Your Ministry Shine 3

Tue, 18 May 2010 17:18:41

This is my last installment for Making Your Ministry Shine, so here's a zinger.

If you want to make your ministry shine, "don't play hooky"! (Says Keith Johnson: "Attend at least one church service each Sunday. It'll do your heart good, too. Attend with your family and sit together. For extra credit, sit together toward the front.")

I'll never forget the day our executive pastor Tom Davis asked me why he hadn't seen me in church. I hummed and hawed and couldn't come up with an answer. I was busy! I was doing ministry! There was so much to get done on a Sunday! Thankfully, he didn't let me off the hook! He challenged me and told me that it wasn't acceptable for me to miss Sunday services just because I was leading the children's ministry.

Oh, and the other thing...it's not okay to be there physically but not mentally and spiritually. It's so easy to sit there and remember things that didn't get done or worry about the new volunteer in the room with the challenging class. Pray...ask God to calm your heart and mind. And then discipline yourself to not sit there and make lists and be absent in heart and mind but present in body. If you need to, jot a note to yourself and then get back to listening for God's voice!

Believe me...people are watching...and they want to see if we value the church as much as we want them to. So don't play hooky! It'll do your heart--and your ministry--good!

For more great ideas, go to http://childrensministry.com/article.asp?ID=2191

Make Your Ministry Shine 2

Fri, 14 May 2010 18:48:23

Here are more helpful tips to make your ministry shine with internal public relations.

One of my favorites is "Share your stories with "megaphone members." Keith Johnson writes, "There's always someone in your church who's the first to know everything...take them to breakfast once a month to fill them in on your secret successes...your stories will become legend as they're repeated throughout your church."

I think another twist on this is to use "holy gossip." Talk about the good things people are doing in your ministry. When that bit of "gossip" comes back to the person, it'll be a positive affirmation. Plus, the good stories get shared with others. For example, say "You'll never believe what Tom is doing with his small group" or "I've discovered that Roma has a secret musical gift that our kids love in worship time!" Always share the good news about others!

Here's more:

* Attend the right meetings (when your ministry is being discussed)

* Make the good better.

* Change the wattage of your light bulbs (no more dim hallways)

* Freshen up the smell in your nursery area

I have to tell you that I often share "holy gossip" about you as a children's minister. I tell everyone who'll listen in our company that you are the most noble, idealistic, vision-filled, loving, creative people I've ever met! And you can definitely share that with others!

Make Your Ministry Shine

Wed, 12 May 2010 22:35:49

Over my next few blogs, I'm going to share some great tips for internal public relations (adapted from an article written by Keith Johnson for CMMag).

#1. Publish your good news. If you don't tell people about the amazing things that are happening in your ministry, how will they know? I used to create a weekly one-page newsletter for our ministry. Not only did I give it to every child and parent, but I also put it in the mailboxes of our elder board and staff. I included big and small successes in this newsletter. And it was amazing to see how "for" our ministry our church leaders were because they knew God was moving.

So include stories about kids coming to Christ, families joining your church, great discoveries (those are the big ones). But also include stories about a child who shared his faith with a friend, a child who prayed outloud for the first time, a team member who expressed great joy in service.

I can tell you that because we did this, whenever we asked our leaders for something (a new VPU, window coverings, whatever), they were more than eager to help us out. (That and they were amazing people who loved to see Jesus on the move!)

The next two ideas are:

2. Deliver more than you promise.

3. Celebrate EVERY success.

Check back for more next time!

I'm JUST Saying...

Mon, 03 May 2010 15:49:19

Don't say "just"...even if you're talking to your spouse, your friends, or your kids! Don't do it!

Here's why...I was chatting with Sophia Winter, our advertising director, and she said that a common communication mistake we make is to say things like "I'm just a children's minister" or "I'm just an editor" or "I'm just a mother" or "I just teach 4-year-olds."

Sophia says that adding "just" to the sentence minimizes us in our own view and in others' views of us. So let's just stop it...now! Just like that! Without any just cause other than we're more than we often think we are. And we're certainly more in God's eyes than "just" makes us out to be. So we don't need to say we're "just anything."

The funny thing is that this weekend my husband and I were driving through Fort Collins, and we saw a store called "Just Office Furniture." Guess what? Out of business! Could it be that "Office Furniture" would've made it, but "just" gave the lethal blow?

We may never know. But, today, let's cleanse "just" from any reference to ourselves! (And while we're at it, let's keep "only" out of the conversation, too, when referring to the amazing callings God has given us!)

What It Means to Be a Pro

Sat, 24 April 2010 23:10:43

I got acrylic nails today (yes, it is weird to type with them), but Abby was getting ready for prom so we had mother/daughter time at the nail salon. We were bonding.

And I was thinking...the gal who did my nails was a real professional. And it inspired me to think about what it means to be a professional.

* She was quick because she was experienced. It's the same kind of quick decision-making that happens when you stick in there in ministry and hone your skills.

* She knew exactly what to do when. A Pro makes quick decisions that are informed because they've made so many decisions that they know which will fail and which will succeed.

* She was adept with her tools and had them within easy reach. We don't have to be able to do everything, but over time we become amazing with the tools we have. That's a Pro.

* She took responsibility; she'd ask "am I hurting you?" (the pain came later...it's weird). A Pro doesn't blame others for her actions. Oh, and she only nicked me twice. Not bad.

* She did great work. In the end, a Pro is known by the work produced. Is it excellent? Error-free? Polished to the nth degree? People will know you're a Pro by the kind of ministry you create--what's immediately visible...and in every hidden corner.

Today, strive to be a Pro! (And if you'd like a little extra help along the way, check out our Children's Ministry Professional Edition newsletter. It's completely digital and affordable (but I can't remember how much). So check it out by going to http://www.childrensministry.com/leaders/ I can tell you that I depend on it for refining my ministry to you! It's amazing!

Copycats, Imitators, and Lookalikes

Wed, 21 April 2010 18:32:57

My frustration today...

Just having been at several conferences recently, I marvel at how much resource providers look alike. In fact, I asked a children's minister how in the world she could tell the difference between VBSes. "I'll tell you how I'm choosing this year," she said. "My husband is a beekeeper...so I'm choosing the one with the bee." "Well, you should try Buzz," I told her. "Nope...my volunteers like what we're using," she said.

So...wait. One decision is based on a bee...the other decision is based on volunteer satisfaction. Not on theological framework or the learning experience.

And that makes me wonder how to do a better job of helping children's ministers have an established framework to make decisions when it comes to selecting resources. It's much more than the art on the box or making volunteers happy. It's about having a strategy and a philsophy of ministry that are build on a mission and values that breathe into every decision. It's about understanding what's behind the box. It's taking a deep look at how kids will learn, what the outcomes will be, how God is revealed.

I just breathe a huge sigh of frustration when I listen to how these big decisions are often made. And, sadly, it's not from a well-informed framework or strategy all the time. And if it's not, how in the world will people be able to tell the difference between copycats, imitators, and lookalikes--deep within where it really matters?

You're the Gold!

Tue, 13 April 2010 12:29:33

We had 40-plus of some of the most amazing children's ministers here for our first-ever reGroup! We explored all kinds of topics that I'm sure will eventually get revealed in this blog.

The thing that struck me today about reGroup is how every single person had so much to offer one another. I kept telling them "You're the gold!" And I mean it...their life experiences, their walks with God, their woundedness and their healed woundedness, their personalities, their perspectives, their passion!

The cool thing about reGroup is that every session's content is built by the participants. So all that great stuff I mentioned just oozes out in brainstorming and sharing and discovery.

I learned SO much from these folks. And I could tell by the way they were bonding, that they were connecting and learning from one another too.

It's the beauty of REAL learning...instead of lecture-based settings. And I love it!

This is an invitation-only event...but if you get an invitation to the one we'll do in Nov., don't miss it! (Oh, and if you want an invitation, email me at cyjones@group.com).

Taylor Swift: A Girl's Girl?

Thu, 08 April 2010 21:49:54

I took my 16-year-old daughter and her friend to a Taylor Swift concert this week. There were 13,000 fans...mostly girls younger than my daughter. The girls sang every song with Taylor; it was like a huge singalong. They screamed! They danced! The four 12-year-old girls in front of us danced like something straight out of MTV. That was a jaw-dropping experience for us.

Taylor put on a great show. She even went out in the audience to play a couple songs then proceeded to hug 100-plus people (most girls cried). That was a really nice touch.

I like Taylor Swift; don't get me wrong. My favorite Taylor Swift song is "Fifteen." http://tinyurl.com/yjn5rok Every mom should play that over and over with her daughter.

I have to tell you, though, Taylor's show and lyrics raise concerns for me. For all her lyrics, go here: http://tinyurl.com/qsn5nr

I thought that maybe instead of this being called her "Fearless" tour, it should be called the "Angry" tour. She's got bad issues with guys, lots of displays of anger. The joke is that she writes a song about her exes. When asked if that might keep her from dating in the future, she answered, "They shouldn't do bad things." That was then pasted all over the stage as she sang. She also said that she doesn't believe in fairy tales and that in real life there are no happy endings. In her song "Picture to Burn," fire raged on the stage. She drummed angrily; she head banged dramatically. In other songs, she threw furniture.

Now, of course, this sweet girl wasn't acting angry all the time. And I get that it was a show. But I want people to help me understand: What's it mean that Taylor's lyrics resonate with young girls so much? Does being an empowered woman these days imply man-hate? Are all boys bad and just waiting to break your heart? What consequences are there if girls come to believe that?

Secrets to Longevity

Fri, 02 April 2010 13:21:49

I got to have coffee with the uber-sharp children's pastor Anthony Prince after reGroup last week. And he asked me what my secrets were to longevity (I've been here 21 years). After some thought, I told him that I'd made it this long because I work for an amazing organization, then I itemized what's great about it that's led to me staying for so long. Afterward, though, I kept thinking about this question and realized that in essence the things that make for longevity in an organization are also the things needed for the individual. So...here are my secrets I shared with Anthony (and my after-thoughts in parens).

* Healthy culture--Group is healthy relationally because we practice direct communication and people-friendliness. It's healthy in the way it's led and managed. It's healthy in its business practices and in its finances. It's healthy because it's God-seeking and God-honoring in every corner! (In the same way, individuals must be healthy in all these things to avoid burnout. If one of these areas isn't healthy on a personal level, it makes it difficult to thrive in a job.)

* Integrity--There is never a smack of shadiness or bending the rules here. I respect and am attracted to such stellar character in all our practices. (Ditto for people.)

* Vision--I'm committed to our mission: We equip churches to encourage Christian growth in children, youth, and adults (and yes, that was from memory this time!). It drives me forward and energizes me. (Without vision, the people perish.)

* Philosophy--Not just any philosophy, but I believe in REAL learning. It's powerful, memorable, and life-changing. I believe in all our developed philosophies: The equipping church, the externally focused church, our family ministry approach, and more! Beyond these, I love working here because we're always asking why? We don't just do things the way others do, but we do them innovatively. (That keeps me stimulated and challenged, but I also have to be a learner and striving for the very best on a personal level in my work.)

* Loyalty--I love and adore our leaders. I respect their wisdom and I trust their hearts. It's a joy to align with their vision and direction every single day. (For people to stay for the long haul, they need to be able to make their agenda the agenda of their leaders.)

* Personal Value--That said, above, I love that I'm still encouraged to be a critical thinker. I'd never thrive in a setting where I had to be a "yes man." I know that my "let's analyze that, dream it, rethink it, look at it in a new way" is perceived as a value to my organization. And I feel tremendously valued. (Enough said.)

So...I think that about sums it up. Thanks, Anthony, for asking the question. And thanks for being a young man, father, husband, minister who's committed to finishing well. That gives me goosebumps!

For the Children...

Thu, 25 March 2010 17:29:24

People! People! Can't we all just get along? Whether you agree or disagree with the passage of the healthcare bill isn't the issue I want to talk about. We all have opinions.

What I'm wondering about is the disappearance of civility in our culture. If we as adults can't handle disagreements with grace and dignity, how will our kids be able to do so?

Broken windows. Veiled threats. Actual death threats. Putdowns. Cursing.

It's always intriguing to me when people's values conflict even in their actions. They say they're concerned about the debt we're passing on to the next generation. Are they as concerned about the moral debt they're modeling for the next generation?

Your thoughts?

Top-5 Easter Faves from CMMag: #5 The Old Rabbits' Home

Thu, 18 March 2010 02:04:21

This is an idea from CMMag that was actually first published in "Instant Skits for Children's Ministry" (a great book). It's about rabbits in a retirement home.

The Characters:

N.R. Jizer, a nonstop talker
Trixie Rabbit, who's obsessed with fruit flavors
Plugs Bunny, a hard-of-hearing wise guy
Codger Rabbit, who's cranky and feeble
Stranger, who's friendly but quiet

The characters in this skit are all rabbits; four of them parody "famous" rabbits (the Energizer batteries bunny, the Trix cereal rabbit, Bugs Bunny, and Roger Rabbit from the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit.)

Your kids will love this skit and it makes the point of the true meaning of Easter. (Do it with live actors or puppets.) Caution: Use it with older kids who don't still believe in the Easter Bunny.

http://childrensministry.com/article.asp?ID=467

Top-5 Easter Faves from CMMag: #4 Palm Branch Crosses

Sun, 14 March 2010 04:36:51

This is so cool and a great way to use palm branches. We even have a video for it here: childrensministry.com/article.asp?ID=2392

Palm Crosses

Recycle the palm branches you wave at services on Palm Sunday to create these beautifully woven crosses.

The Stuff: Palm branches and scissors

Create It: Follow these steps to create your palm cross. Go to Web Exclusives at childrensministry.com to view a step-by-step video.

1. Tear a thin strip off a palm branch. Form a loop at the top of the strip. Form a loop at the long end.

2. With the long end, bend and crease the palm (at an angle), diagonally.

3. Bend the creased strip around to form a cross.

4. Wrap the palm around the vertical portion of the cross, bringing down the strand.

5. Weave the strand around the middle—under and up, over and down, under and up.

6. When the palm strand is near the end, tuck the end in the middle of the weave to finish.

Top-5 Easter Faves From CMMag: #3

Wed, 10 March 2010 03:05:08

This is a most amazing drama that communicates the truth of the gospel.

THE BOX OF STONES
An impactful drama that’ll turn kids’ hearts toward Jesus

Child Characters
•Main Character (female)
•Friends #1 (male), #2 (female), and #3 (male)
(The above four characters wear regular "kid" clothes.)

Adult Characters
•Therapist (female; wears a suit)
•Jesus (wears a white robe and a crown of thorns)
•Person dressed in dark clothing
•Narrator

Props
•Each character (except Jesus) carries a large cardboard box filled with stones. The Main Character has stones that are labeled "lying," "disobedient to parents," "cussing," "cheating on a math test," "shoplifting," "cheating," "making fun of people," "telling a big lie," "hatred," "complaining," and "lying."
•Set a card table and two chairs stage left for the therapist’s office.
•Position a large cross stage right.
•Give each child in the audience a small stone to hold before this drama.
•For the song segments, you’ll need a CD player and the "Surrender" CD by Joe Strock. (Available for $12 by calling [303] 979-7948.) You’ll also need the song "Arise My Love" from Newsong’s People Get Ready CD.

Optional: This drama can also be pretaped and performed as a pantomime.

Monologue Script
(Main Character enters from stage right, slowly moving toward center stage during the first paragraph. Main Character struggles underneath a heavy load—a large, heavy cardboard box filled with stones.)

I’m not exactly sure where it came from...this box of stones. It seems like I’ve been carrying it around all my life. It didn’t used to be this heavy. It’s sort of strange, but the older I get, the heavier it becomes. (Looks tired; droops shoulders.) And as each day goes by, more and more stones get in my box. (Sets box on the floor and sits beside it.)

I can barely remember finding the first stone. I think I was around 4 years old. I lied to my parents about breaking a vase. It was no big deal...but after I lied, that’s when I noticed this box with a single stone inside. I pulled out the stone (Reaches in the box and searches through different stones, not finding it.) Yeah, here it is. The first stone. I pulled it out of the box...It was filthy. (Wipes stone on jeans.) It had the word "lying" on it. I just tossed it back in the box. (Puts it back in the box.) No big deal...after all, it was just a little lie.

Yeah, right. It was no big deal...so why did I feel so bad? Why did I feel that no one could ever love me?

But now I have so many of these stones. (Reaches in and pulls out a stone.) This one: "disobedient to parents"...so what? All they ever do is gripe at me anyway. (Puts the stone in the box and pulls out another.) "Cussing"...It’s really tough to keep from letting a bad word slip out every now and then. (Pulls stones out faster and reads them.) Cheating on a math test, shoplifting, cheating again, making fun of people, telling a big lie, hatred, complaining, lying again. (Hangs head in desperation, then puts the stones back in the box.)

Before I knew it, I was carrying around this heavy box of stones. (Slowly struggles to lift the box again.) Each stone is a reminder of filth in my life...each pound...the heaviness of sin in my life.

I feel so bad. Why have I done all these things? Could anyone ever love me enough to forgive me? (Bows head.)

(Play "He Is All You Need.")

I’m afraid to talk to my parents about all my stones. I know they’d really be disappointed in me.

I tried talking to a friend about it. (Friend #1 enters from stage right.) He took a stone out of the box. (Friend #1 sets down his box and takes a stone from the Main Character’s box. Friend #1 smiles as he looks at it.) He said, "What are you worried about? It’s just a little sin!" And he put the stone back in the box. (Friend #1 exits with his box stage left.)

(Friend #2 enters from stage right.) Another friend was so shocked by what she read on the stones that she put them back in the box...looked at me with disgust...and walked away. (Friend #2 sets down her box, peeks into the Main Character’s box, looks shocked, picks up her own box, walks away, and exits stage left.)

(Friend #3 enters from stage right.) A close friend even helped me carry the box of stones around...but over time, it got too heavy and wore him down too. (Friend #3 tries to carry the Main Character’s box and his own box...eventually stumbles and lets go. Looks apologetic as he exits stage left with his box.) It’s okay; he had his own box of stones to carry. It was nice of him to help...but it was just too much weight to carry.

Somebody told me I should see a counselor. (Counselor enters from stage left and sets her box on the table. Main Character carries her box and joins the Counselor at the table.) That was okay...for a while. I would go into her office and empty the box of stones onto the table. (Empties box of stones onto the table.) We talked about the stones...and believe me, that wasn’t easy. (Both look at the stones as though analyzing them.) After analyzing my stones, she told me it wasn’t my fault. I was a victim. It was everyone else’s fault.

It felt good to talk about it, but after every session I’d pack the stones back in my box and drag them home. (Places box on floor and drags it to center stage. Counselor exits left with her box.) I wish someone could help me. I’m so tired of stumbling under this load. I want some help! I want some relief! I want someone to love me and forgive me. (Bows head with shoulders drooped and hand to forehead.)

(Song segment: Play "How Could You Say No?" as Jesus enters from stage left and slowly walks to the Main Character. He places his hand on her shoulder, takes the box of stones, and slowly walks to the cross. Jesus empties the stones one by one at the foot of the cross, takes his place on the cross, and dies. Main character and the person dressed in dark clothing take Jesus off the cross and slowly carry him as they exit stage right.)

Narrator: Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. God made Jesus—who knew no sin—to become sin that we might be made right with God. Jesus was wounded for all our sins. He was bruised for all the things we’ve done wrong. And by his punishment, we are healed.

You’ve been holding a stone that represents sin in your life. In a moment, you’ll have time to give it to Jesus and lay it at the foot of the cross. You’ll take nothing away. The weight of your sin can be taken away by Jesus only. Because of our Savior’s death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, you are free!

(As children lay their stones at the cross and return to their seats, play "The Cross.")

After the last person is seated, darken the room.

(Play "Arise My Love" by Newsong.)

(Main Character slowly enters and kneels at the cross. On the third chorus, turn on the stage lights as Jesus enters in a white robe. He walks over to the character by the cross, places his hand on her shoulder, and whispers in her ear. The Main Character is startled as she stands up and steps back from Jesus. Jesus opens his arms to her. They embrace and exit arm in arm.)

This drama was written by Rick Clark and originally presented in Group Publishing’s 1998 Summer Workcamp program.

Top-5 Easter Faves From CMMag: #2

Mon, 08 March 2010 17:47:34

Before I was a Christian, there was a wonderful Christian girl in my school who honored Jesus at every turn. She gave me a tin of these amazing buns that later I made for my kids and called "Resurrection Buns." My family loves them! Thank you, Jamie McElvaney!

So these rolls...yum!...are doughy and round (like a tomb). You wrap the dough around a marshmallow, dip it in melted butter, roll it in cinnamon/sugar, and then bake. The marshmallow becomes a sweet syrup on the inside, but the roll stays round. When you serve them to your kids, they bite into the roll and discover that it's empty--just like Jesus' tomb was on Easter morning.

So, there are two ways to make them. If you really like the whole process of making yeast dough, use the "Resurrection Buns" recipe here: http://tinyurl.com/yclydh2

If you prefer an easier approach, look for "Empty Tombs" here: http://tinyurl.com/ybu2sgb

By the way, you'll see a lot of other great Easter week ideas at these links, too.

Top-5 Easter Faves From CMMag: #1

Thu, 04 March 2010 18:42:29

Easter's coming! I love Easter! And so does our magazine!

So I thought it would be fitting to share with you my top-5 favorite Easter ideas that we've published in the 20 years we've been making Children's Ministry Magazine.

"An Easter Journey" by Jennifer Hooks.

http://bit.ly/hcHTJI

I'm starting with this one first because it takes some time to pull it off, but it's amazing! Just imagine your families traveling through a step-by-step journey with Jesus.

From the article, here's the promised result: "Go far beyond Easter egg hunts and chocolate bunnies—send families on this sojourn to Christ that’ll give them deeper understanding about his crucifixion and resurrection, and the powerful, everlasting truths of his teachings."

Ain't She a Beauty!?

Tue, 23 February 2010 22:02:54

You know how when you have a baby and you can't stop talking about her or showing off pictures? Of course, you do!

Well, after our team "gave birth" to Buzz Sunday School Curriculum (if it's in the lesson, it's in the box), I just can't stop showing snapshots of what people are saying about it.

Look at what Amanda Zaengle from First Presbyterian Church in Bonita Springs, Florida, said when asked "What do you like best about Buzz?"

"The complete package. I love that everything is so well thought out and put together. Each box has a theme and everything is seamlessly connected to that theme. The graphics are kid-friendly and fun (even I get excited to open everything up when the curriculum arrives!). Everything needed is truly in the box, and teachers love teaching it. I haven't had any curriculum complaints in months. To summarize, I guess what I like best is that I no longer have to worry about finding a good curriculum, that works (or changing the curriculum to suit our needs). I used to spend so much time looking for a curriculum that would be more appealing to our kids and teachers, and that wouldn't require a ton of editing on my part to make it work. Thanks to Buzz, worrying about Sunday School curriculum is one less thing on my very long to-do list. Buzz is the perfect fit for our church. Thank you so much for this wonderful resource!"

Ain't she a beauty! We're excited about what God is going to do through Buzz to transform your volunteers' and kids' experience with the Word of God!

Check it out at group.com/buzz

Who Are We?

Wed, 17 February 2010 20:33:30

We're redesigning Children's Ministry Magazine. You'll see our amazing updated look in your May/June 2010 issue! RoseAnne (our art director) has wowed all of us--as usual!

One thing that we always consider in a redesign is our tagline--who we are. So, our current tagline is "The leading resource for those who serve children in the church."

What do you think of it? Is it accurate? Would you say it in a different way?

Help us shape the new and improved Children's Ministry Magazine!

Great Valentine's Day Ideas!

Fri, 12 February 2010 18:59:46

This Sunday is Valentine's Day! Are you poised to let all your volunteers, staff, and kids know how much you love them? Let them know how much God loves them too! It's the perfect day to fill their love tank.

So we just asked amazing children's ministers what they're doing for Valentine's Day. Go to our facebook fan page to check it out (and become a fan if you haven't yet).

Mary Smith is hanging valentine pockets with kids' names on them throughout her children's wing.

Kimberly Rockett is giving all her teachers Sweethearts.

Randy Dulin is putting them to work. lol

Angela Moore is throwing a party!

There's more, lots more. Click here and check it out and tell others your great ideas!

http://tinyurl.com/ybo4qe9

God at Work in You

Tue, 09 February 2010 16:17:40

I'm reading in Genesis (in the God Sightings Bible), and something captured my attention.

In Genesis 24, when the servant went to find Isaac a wife, he did exactly what Abraham said. And when he found Rebekah and knew that God had led him, verse 26 says, "The man fell down to the ground and worshiped the Lord."

Interesting...I've always found that curious, but I feel like I understand it more now. Someone shared with me recently that God had led her to do an outrageous thing and as she obeyed, God did a work in her. I think God had done a work in this servant's heart as he traveled (who knows how long?). God had built into him along the way all he would need to accomplish the task. I'm sure he had observed Abraham's faith in God for decades. Now the God of Abraham became very personal to the servant. He waited and trusted and hoped that this God was real. And when Rebekah did exactly what he had asked God to have her do, he fell to the ground and worshiped.

What about us? I believe God is passionately involved in whatever mission he has called us to. Yet more than anything, he's at work IN US. He's building our faith, nurturing our hope. He's building our intimacy with him along the way.

That's exciting to me. It really isn't always about the destination, but about the journey. So while I feel God calling me to something that I think is near impossible and all I can do is see the multitude of obstacles, God persistently and gently calls to me. It makes the doing of the impossible that much more possible because I know that my loving God wants to do a work of healing in me.

Sensing God's Presence

Thu, 04 February 2010 22:14:16

God is up to something at my kids' school. It's very cool!

My daughter asked me if we'd ever do an article about her school. I said "probably not, but why?" "Because I can really sense God's presence at our school," she said. I told her that a lot of schools and churches could probably say the same thing, but I asked her to elaborate.

That my daughter was celebrating the nearness of God was so amazing to me! We may not write an article about it in the magazine, but I've certainly written this blog about it!

Take the Sting Out of Curriculum!

Thu, 28 January 2010 23:13:11

Two years ago, we started asking children's ministers, "What's the biggest thing you struggle with?" "Getting volunteers," they said!

Then we took a hard look at curriculum. "Maybe all our creativity is making it hard for volunteers," we thought. So we created an initial concept (that would become Buzz curriculum), but it didn't look anything like Buzz does now. We talked to children's ministers across the country and asked them to help us shape it. And, God bless 'em! Children's ministers have lots of great opinions.

We went back to the drawing board several times...until we reached a version of Buzz that people said YES! YES! That's exactly what we need! It truly is "if it's in the lesson, it's in the box"!!!!

It was an amazing process...a huge learning experience...and something that I'm so grateful I got to be a part of. Recently, Becki Manni, our senior editor, sent me this email from someone who's using Buzz: "I have been thrilled with this curriculum! It is wonderful. I run the children's department and we had been using Faithweaver for most of their lives. It was time for something drastic! This was the answer. It is fun, engaging and most of all it hits on our top priorities: Bible and Prayer! I am also the parent of a 5 and a 3 year old. For the first time they are getting it - they are able tell me what they learned - we actually do the homework (sorry we didn't do the Faithweaver stuff). Our children are really thriving with this curriculum - keep up the great work!"

God is so good! We asked him to show us how to serve the church with their biggest need...and God faithfully answered! So if you struggle to get volunteers because they say they're too busy, they don't have time to prepare or collect supplies, or they're not a teacher, you have to check out Buzz...Go to group.com/buzz. I think you'll be amazed!

Realistic Parent Training

Mon, 25 January 2010 17:29:28

I just saw this posted in a blog for communicating expectations to parents about discipling their children:

Every parent must read and study their Bible with their children every day.

Every parent must attend a corporate worship experience every week.

Every parent must join and regularly attend a home fellowship group.

Every parent must be involved in at least one meaningful Bible study each year.

Every parent must be involved in at least one mission activity each year.

Every parent must be in a meaningful discipleship group with their children every week.

Every parent must serve in the children’s ministry as scheduled.

My response? Are you kidding me? How are we ever going to reach the majority of parents to make a huge and lasting impact on the next generation? This list smacks of responsibilities for the highly motivated Christian parent already. I'm afraid lists like these and expectations like these leave regular families in the dust and empty-handed.

Grapple Good News

Fri, 22 January 2010 21:39:27

Back in the day...okay, just a couple years ago, I got to work with our amazing team to create Grapple preteen! It's one of my favorite things that we do!

I just got this email about what people are saying about Grapple (preteen and junior high). So cool! Read on...

“Recruiting and keeping volunteers is easier since I have switched to Grapple. In the past teachers would have a hard time volunteering because the curriculum did not provide enough resources to keep students pulled in….. This was the main reason why I switched to Grapple because I wanted to make sure my teachers had all the resources they need to provide great learning opportunity to our jr. high and preteen students.”

“I find Grapple to be the most effective road map to guide me through the lessons. For me the lessons are down to earth….Grapple is simple to use”

“We use the pre-teen Grapple with our 4th and 5th graders. We split our rooms between boys and girls. One of our congregation members owns a trophy store and I had them make a huge trophy that passes back and forth between the boys and girls when we have our Grapple competitions, i.e. who answered the most questions from the internet, when we play games etc. The trophy stays in our large group room but moves between the "boys" side and "girls" side.”

“One thing that we’ve done with our grapple curriculum is we have senior high youth come to the class to lead the small group portion. Our Junior highers love having the older kids take an interest in them and model their faith.”

Check it out at group.com/grapple

Hope for Haiti

Thu, 21 January 2010 20:36:32

As some of you know, my husband, Ray, works at the Denver Children's Hospital. He sent me this email today and I thought it was something you'd want to read.

"Wanted to share – a team of doctors and nurses from TCH went on their own to Haiti to help. The Hospital donated a bunch of supplies to this team, and one of the doctors who went is somebody we work with quite a bit in CAS – so we have a personal connection to the team which makes it special.

" Here is from a blog TCH setup about their night last night:

'There is a man here named Mark who does a lot of work in Haiti and likes to sing with them and educate through song. After dinner he led all the children staying here around the camp singing songs and dancing. Pretty soon we all either voluntarily joined in or where coaxed in by the crew. They love to sing and jump and dance. They love to interact with us, play, have their pictures taken. It was almost a blessing it was dark because we couldn't take pictures or video much. Instead we simply had to join in.

This is the hope of Haiti. You will hear different reports everywhere about how efforts are going down here. We are here for the heart of these people. For the kids who love to dance and sing and continue to do so despite the tragedy around them.'

"Right in the middle of all the destruction, all the trauma, and the horrendous hurting in Haiti – what is happening? God is present. God is especially present and there for the children – for the least of these. God is leading the children in actions that give the adults hope. I find it so amazing that in trauma – it is the children who often lead us back to hope."

Here’s the blog address:

http://denverchildrenshelpshaiti.blogspot.com/

Secret Shopper for Churches

Mon, 11 January 2010 19:52:59

My son Grant took me out to breakfast at IHOP this weekend (the day they had to fly back to Camp Pendleton). I noticed the waitress wasn't taking our order by memory like she usually does, so I asked her why. She told us it's because they've gotten in trouble with secret shoppers who've come in and complained that their order wasn't just right. So, thus, the pen and paper.

I, of course, asked a lot more questions about the secret shopper program and then explained to her that I thought it would be cool for churches. Because churches can think they're friendly, for example, but someone from the outside could help them see if that's really true.

While I thought of what a great service this would be to churches, Grant explained to me that I really shouldn't blurt out stuff like that to people. She was interested, I told him. He said, no, she was just interested in her tip. Oh well!

What do you think? Would churches open themselves up to the scrutiny of a secret shopper to get better at meeting people's needs?

CMMag Resolutionaries

Tue, 05 January 2010 22:31:01

It's that time of the year where we celebrate all that God did in 2009 and look forward to 2010 with hope and anticipation...otherwise known as making resolutions.

Here are resolutions from the Children's Ministry Magazine staff:

Carmen (associate editor) is "making a goal for this year to run (or maybe walk!) the Boulder Boulder." (The rest of us will cheer her on from the sidelines with lattes and doughnuts!)

Craig (staff photographer) is resolved to make no resolutions, but he asked "Did I just make one?"

Jennifer (managing editor) is going to "stop beating up myself for the little failures that add up to everyday life." (So wise for one so young!)

RoseAnne (art director) says "Resolutions? Me?? What are you implying? That I need to change?" (never!)

Celia (administrative assistant) says "My resolution is to stop using my treadmill as a place to store my books and actually get on it and turn it on." (So maybe Celia will do the Boulder Boulder with Carmen!)

Kathy (associate editor) wants "to be more aware of self-inflicted busyness and spend more time with friends." (and all her friends rejoice!)

Suzi (computer graphic artist) will be sending "more handwritten notes, letters, etc. to friends and family." (no more facebook, Suzi?)

And, me, well I'm with Craig...I don't like making resolutions much but I'm resolved in 2010 to "not sweat the small stuff, and it's all small stuff in light of eternity."

So...what are you hoping and praying for this year?

Happy New Year from our team to you!

Why I Weep on Weekends

Wed, 23 December 2009 20:19:38

Tim Miller wrote this...it's amazing!

Why I Weep on Weekends
Because I did not have to stay around longer on Saturday evening to do a last-minute walkthrough.
Because I did not have to arrive an hour early to pray with my loving team of ministry partners.
Because I did not leave it all on the floor in the morning, I did not need a nap in the afternoon.
Because I did not have to stay after the last service to talk to parents about the decision their child made this weekend.
Because I did not have to take time between services with my worship team to go over the new song one more time.
Because I did not have to take money out of my own pocket to buy coffee for my tech team.
Because I did not have to prepare for a training meeting.
Because I didn’t miss lunch with my wife so I could meet with staff.
Because I wasn’t asked at the last minute if I could find a sub for a 4th-grade small-group leader.
Because no one threw up in the middle of the main entrance.
I weep on weekends because I am not currently ministering to children.

For more from Tim, check it out his blog: http://timmillerblog.wordpress.com/

Children--Our Greatest Treasure

Wed, 16 December 2009 23:49:02

Children are loved and treasured--everywhere!

My husband and I just got back from a trip to Malta and Italy and one of the things that struck me was how much people dote on their children. Families out walking on the beach on a Sunday afternoon. Families in airports. Families in church. Families at restaurants. While I couldn't understand all the languages, I could tell that they delighted in, protected, and valued their children.

I just couldn't help thinking about how good it is to know that (for the majority of children) no one will ever love them here on earth more than their parents do. I think we may forget that sometimes.

I'm such a big fan of parents!

When Is Enough Enough?

Tue, 01 December 2009 13:52:08

If you haven't read the Time magazine article about overprotective parents, make sure you do. Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/ycrxfj2

It adds to the discussion we have around here at times about how much safety and security is enough in a children's ministry. In a conversation we had with about 60 children's ministers a few years ago here at Group, we asked them to list how many safety and security procedures they had in place for their ministries. All together, there were over 80 items on the compiled list.

Whoa! 80 items! When do we know that we've crossed the line into an overprotective ministry and we're not just doing "due diligence"? When do we contribute to the culture of "freaking out" that parents find themselves in? What, in your opinion, is enough in providing a safe environment for children in your care? I'd love to see your brief list of absolute safety measures.

I think we all may need a wake-up call!

A Christmas Letter From Jesus

Tue, 24 November 2009 14:13:46

It's rare that I pass on a fwd email, but this one captured exactly how I feel about the kind of Christians we need to be. So I'm passing it along in my blog.

Letter from Jesus about Christmas --

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :

I LOVE YOU,

JESUS

It is God's will that those who are still in this world should communicate heavenly gifts to one another by means of prayers.......St. Therese

My Cup Overfloweth

Tue, 17 November 2009 20:35:56

My cup overflows, I'm spread too thin, my rubber band's about to pop. No matter what metaphor I use, you get the picture. I'm overwhelmed! I'm doing so much work with much less time. And when I share that with my co-workers, looking for some semblance of sympathy, they say "welcome to the club" or "who isn't?"

And, seriously, who isn't these days? Who isn't doing more with less in this economy and cutbacks in churches and businesses? We're all stretched to the point, I'm afraid, of breaking.

And, the truth is when we're about to overflow, that's when people learn what's really in our cups! I'm grateful that here at Group we work really hard on the foundations of having a healthy culture. One of the key things we emphasize and practice is "direct communication." I have a feeling that when all of our cups are overflowing, we may just have a bigger "side order of conflict" (which our pastor preached on this Sunday). I'm not looking forward to conflict or having my stuff overflow, but I'm grateful that I live and work in a culture that treasures keeping short tabs.

I hope this is some encouragement to you as well. Because in my heart of hearts, I know we're all maxed out. God, give us grace to live among one another with peace and mercy in the midst of being overwhelmed! Amen!

Choosing a Curriculum

Wed, 04 November 2009 16:43:46

I had a question from a pastor this week about the process I would take a team through in choosing a curriculum. Specifically, he wanted questions to ask. Thought I'd share with everyone what I told him. What would you add or change?

1. Why does this ministry exist? What’s our goal or mission? (Are there Scriptures that specifically speak to that goal that inspire us?)

2. The second thing I would dig into is what do we value? A great way to do this is to give everyone a chance to brainstorm all the values they have for the ministry: kids loving Jesus, faith transformation, teaching the Word of God accurately, fun, community, creativity, relevance, parents taking the lead….etc! (Let them come up with these and write them on the board or on a big sheet of paper.) The next part of this is to force people to narrow the values so your ministry knows what the top-3 or top-5 are. (Give them stickers or markers for each person to mark their top-3 or top-5.) Then step back and discuss whether they all agree that these are the things they value most. Write these down as your ministry’s core values.

3. Here’s a biggie. What’s your ministry’s philosophy of learning? Of course, for us we’re proponents of REAL Learning (relational, experiential, applicable, learner-based). And every publisher has an underlying learning philosophy that will be present in every lesson. How do your leaders believe that kids learn best? Do they think it’s appropriate to have a video-based curriculum or is that too passive? Are they strong proponents of multiple intelligences—teaching to how every child is smart? Is a lot of teacher talk (lecture) okay or do they want kids doing things that are much more hands-on and discovery oriented? (This doesn’t have to be academic; just have a discussion about what they believe. And if they don’t know, agree to learn more about this. It’s critical!)

4. For the curriculum you’re considering, take a look at the Scope and Sequence (every website should provide this and you can download these ahead of time). Some resources have a chronological walk through the Bible, some are focused on the point (or the topic). What does your team want to focus on? (We’re finding that a lot of people are tired of the same-old stories alone and are looking for more Bible that’s rarely taught—that’s how we’ve created the Buzz Scope and Sequence.) You have to determine what kind of Scope and Sequence your team resonates with.

5. From there, choosing a curriculum/resource becomes much clearer. Yet, there’s one more area you need to hone in on. What’s the ministry model that you’re trying to resource? I’m attaching a link here so you can see the variables, but basically determine if you’re resourcing a classroom setting, children’s church, large group/small group format, or activity center rotation. (Resources work better in certain settings depending on if they’re designed for those settings.) http://www.groupvbs.com/istore/curriculum/curriculum_chart.html

6. I love your question about guideposts/measurements. How will your team know that they’ve been successful? Some ministries measure by verses memorized. But is that enough? Go back to your mission—if it’s kids walking with Jesus for a lifetime, how will you measure that? I’m giving you some links to articles in our back-issue archive for Children’s Ministry Magazine that’ll get you guys thinking.

Game Plan for Growth http://www.childrensministry.com/backissues/detail.asp?ID=5992

Faith That Figures http://www.childrensministry.com/backissues/detail.asp?ID=4400(I love 2 Peter 1:3-8 as a measurement of spiritual maturity.)

7. In all honesty, after this, it really does come down to aesthetics. What does your team like? What looks like they’d enjoy teaching? What would kids want to come back for week after week? There’s no right/wrong answer here. You want your team to love what they’ve chosen.

Fact or Fiction?

Mon, 26 October 2009 20:28:57

One of my biggest pet peeves about Christian education today is that we're fictionalizing the Word of God. And then we wonder why people who've grown up in our ministries aren't sure if the Bible is completely true or not. (Barna cites study after study where even churched Christians don't accept that all of the Bible is true.) I think it's time we step back to see if perhaps we're reaping things we've sown into kids' worldviews.

This Sunday, one of the 2-year-olds in my class brought me a book to read. He had several to choose from: Disney books, Sesame Street books, etc. The one he brought me was on Jonah. The only thing was that it was the "Alice in Bibleland storybooks series." No kidding! It exists! Alice (a fictional character) learns about real-life people that God interacted with. How is this 2-year-old supposed to know that Alice is fictional and Jonah isn't?

Add to that the lingo we use related to the Bible. We tell kids Bible "stories." We ask them which "character" in the Bible they most relate to. People, these aren't characters...they are real people who lived in history and had real things happen to them! We would never say "I'm going to tell you the story of Winston Churchill. He's an important character in the story of World War II." No! We'd say "Winston Churchill was an important man who lived during World War II." What happened to him was real--not a story like Big Bird going to a farm and learning about manners.

What's to be done? I can tell you that from a publishing perspective, we're trying to clean up the way we refer to these real people and real historical accounts. But what else can be done? I remember long ago that a children's minister told me she wouldn't allow all the cartoon characters in her facility because it blurred the lines between fact and fiction. In my class, I've stopped calling it "storytime" and the "story rug," and instead call it "Bible time" and the "Bible time rug." Little things, but I think they may add up to cementing truth for our little ones.

What do you think? What can we do to help our children see that the Word of God is not a bunch of characters in stories...but it's the amazing retelling of God's movement with real people in real time--just like with us?

What's Up for Halloween?

Wed, 21 October 2009 20:45:14

We asked our CMMag Insiders on our facebook fan page this question: What are you planning for Halloween? Are you avoiding it on philosophical or no-time factors? Are you doing a fall festival or similar event? Hitting the neighborhoods to collect candy for your ministry? (just kidding) Share what you're doing and why!

Here's what we learned...

Jeannete and her church in Castroville, CA are having their 6th annual fall festival. TrentnCheryl and Betsy are having Operation Christmas Child Shoebox wrapping parties. Henry and his church had a pumpkin-carving party and then encourage families to be the best neighbors with the best candy on Halloween night. Brenna's family is going for "great neighbor" awards too! Tiffany's church is partnering with all the other churches in their community to "Light the Night." Joni and her church will enjoy a concert with Jana Alayra. Heather's church is serving hot chocolate and coffee to trick or treaters. Gary--10th year for a fall festival! Lisa (yeehaw) and her church are having a Hootenanny. Belinda is treating her community with a Treatsville trunk-or-treat and carnival. Susan's church is doing a trunk-or-treat also. Ellen, Brenna, Lymandia, Cassie, and Krishna are all throwing fall festivals. Lindsey's church had a Royal Princess and Mighty Warrior party. And Shannon is taking in all the candy that kids get trick-or-treating and their parents have them donate!

What are you doing?

H1N1...How Is Your Church Responding?

Tue, 13 October 2009 17:04:27

When Debbie Thomas sent an email asking if churches are doing anything specific in regard to H1N1, here's how children's ministers responded.

Danise McMillen: We have a health policy that has been sent home, is online and is in the weekly program. We also have placed hand sanitizer around the building along with tissues. It is here and happening, so we are following local community and state Health Department guidelines.

Larry Shallenberger: We took the above precautions and now wipe door knobs and tables with Lysol wipes between services. Children's Pastor to children's pastor: I think the best cure for swine flu hysteria would be to turn off CNN.

Karen Stefacek: We put a Plan A, B and C in place this fall.

Plan A – done in September -- was to review all of our health and safety policies with our leaders and volunteers so we knew we were actually doing what we say we do. The primary help for avoiding H1N1 is not accepting children who exhibit any of our posted symptoms.

Plan B – started in October -- was to place hand sanitizer in all welcome stations in obviously places, and re-design the posted health policies so they would capture attention again. For childcare settings, we have the children wash their hands as they get checked in, because there’s plenty of time. We don’t do this for church, because of large attendance and little time. We agreed as a staff to stay home when we are sick. We had been bad about that.

We also are scheduling extra volunteers because of the frequency of people calling off at the last minute because they are sick.

Plan C is what we will implement if pandemic conditions impact our attendance significantly. We will monitor check-in for symptoms with a written record (or maybe a sticker for the kids) and will ask parents to wash their children’s hands with soap before checking them in to church. We may experiment with asking them use hand sanitizer as well.

And we pray.

Mike Bulkley: We contacted two pediatricians in our church and they helped us craft this letter which we have sent to all our parents and made available at out check-in stations:

Dear parent,

I wanted to inform you of our church’s response to the current swine flu alert you are hearing much about in the media. First off I want to remind us the words of the apostle Paul who said, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” 2 Timothy 1:7. It is very easy to get caught up in the spirit of fear being fed by our mainstream media. Just the same we are called to use wisdom in all our ways. Thus I wanted to let you know our current approach. So far this virus, while having the potential for rapid spread, does not seem to be any more dangerous than the typical strong flu. For this reason, so far we are taking basically the same approach as we would to any other strong flu season. I have attached our infection control policy for your information. Further I wanted to make you aware of a few extra details not listed in the policy.

1. We have alcohol gel dispensers in every classroom. Children are encouraged to use these and we will be encouraging our volunteers to help remind the children on a regular basis to clean their hands.

2. We have disinfectant wipes in every classroom and will encourage our volunteers to be liberal and regular in their usage.

3. We will have our volunteers be more proactive in the check-in process to ask parents screening questions regarding basic health of their child (i.e. any fever, persistent coughing, diarrhea, etc.) and we will ask parents to please keep their children with them if they have any of these symptoms.

As a parent you can help us in a few ways,

1. If your child exhibits any symptoms of flu (symptom of influenza include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and, in some cases diarrhea), please take the precaution of keeping them home until at least 4 days after the symptoms completely pass.

2. If your child comes down with any of the symptoms within 2-4 days of their attendance in church please notify us immediately. You may call the church office or e-mail us at kingdom.kids@kingdomlifecc.org.

3. Be patient with our volunteers as they take a little extra time checking children into the classrooms. Remember, we desire to set a safe environment for our children.

Finally I want to remind you of God’s promises found in Psalm 91:1-7 “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Then you will say to the LORD, "You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you." The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases. He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall. You won't need to worry about dangers at night or arrows during the day. And you won't fear diseases that strike in the dark or sudden disaster at noon. You will not be harmed, though thousands fall all around you.” Let’s be vigilant and wise but ruled by the peace and joy that comes from knowing we are in the hand of the Master.

SO...how are you responding? Also, take our poll on the H1N1 scare here on the childrensministry.com homepage.

Shift: For Every Church--or Not?

Mon, 12 October 2009 15:53:00

I love Henry Zonio's description of his blog: "Long gone are the days of cookie cutter children's ministry!" Henry challenges us to adapt, change, and grow! Amen to that!

And as always, I hang on every word that Henry writes because I think he's one of the sharpest children's ministers around! Yet, I was disappointed by Henry's one comment about Shift: "Brian readily admits that what works in his church probably won’t work in other churches."

Henry, he does? I've read the book several times and haven't ever seen that to be true. I think what Brian says is that the strategy won't work exactly the same in every church, yet the principles are transferable to any and every church. In fact, Brian has told me that he's acted as a consultant in churches of all sizes and denominations to enculturate this strategy into each church's culture. And it works!

Other than that one comment, I enjoyed your review (and that you set up this entire blog tour!). I've learned a lot as I've journeyed through such smart children's ministers' reviews. Thanks for making this happen!

To read Henry's entire review, go to http://www.elementalcm.com

To check out Shift, go to http://shift.group.com/

Intentional Touchpoints in Shift

Mon, 12 October 2009 15:43:01

Gina McClain's review of Shift:

"Brian presents a model implemented at his church in Katy, Texas designed to lead & equip families through spiritual milestones from birth into adulthood. I love the idea of having a system of intentional touchpoints where the family is prepared for what to expect in the next season of parenting. Brian makes it clear that the system laid out in this book works for his church and may not apply in the context of the reader’s church. I appreciate that."

To read her entire review, go to: http://www.ginamcclain.com/

To check out Shift, go to http://shift.group.com/

Shift: Just a Starting Point...

Fri, 09 October 2009 18:25:30

Check out what Jesse Smith says about Shift:

"However, that is not to say that the book is not valuable - it is, very much so. While I didn't think that the "meat & potatoes" were there, I did think it was a very choice appetizer. I think that passing on this book to your Senior Pastor (or whatever visionary guides your church) would be an excellent way to get them to begin thinking of bringing families together rather than always keeping them apart. I'd even say that going through the book as a church (senior) staff would be a great idea to shift your focus toward equipping parents - I think I may grab a few more copies and suggest that to our staff.
In short: Get it, read it, mark & highlight it, and pass it on to your supervisor along with your ideas of family ministry in your setting. But don't expect to use it as a resource for how to do family ministry or even how to implement Spiritual Milestones in your church"

To read his entire review, go to http://www.sillypuppies.com/bookworm/

To buy Shift, go to http://shift.group.com/

Shift--Not for Every Family?

Thu, 08 October 2009 17:28:28

Here's Amy Dolan's take on Shift:

"While I liked the logically mapped out approach, and it was written in a way easy enough to understand, i didn’t necessarily think the book lived up to the title “what it takes to finally reach families today.” to me, it seemed like a great approach for traditional christian families eager to elevate the faith in their own homes, which of course, is desperately needed. there are so many christian parents who feel ill-equipped and insecure about raising spiritually minded children. this model provides a great encouragement and spiritual map for parents who are already connected to a church and ready to become fully invested in the spiritual responsibility and leadership in their children’s lives."

My thoughts: Point taken, and the last thing we wanted to offer the church is a strategy for the "elite" Christian parent. We have enough for them already.

Brian has told me that there are three things they want parents to do: celebrate the faith milestones in their children's lives, watch for regular God Sightings where God shows up and they acknowledge it, and have a regular faith talk whether it's a natural conversation or a sit-down devotion. Our dream is that any family can do those three things if we give them the right tools and vision.

I think the most brilliant part of Brian's milestone strategy is the milestones. Almost every family wants the church to celebrate with them the important faith milestones in their children's lives, and sadly we as churches often miss out on that opportunity. Brian and his church have figured out how to capitalize on the moments when families of all kinds are most open to the church's input.

To read Amy's entire review, go to http://lemonlimekids.wordpress.com/

To buy Shift, go here http://shift.group.com/

Scrambling for a Family Ministry Strategy?

Thu, 08 October 2009 17:22:55

Who isn't these days? And it has to be intuitive and natural and biblical!

Check out what Micah Foster had to say in his review of Shift:

"Every church needs a streamlined strategy of how they are going to reach families and equip them to be the primary spiritual influence in their children’s lives. If you feel like your spinning round and round, not getting anywhere and need direction, this book can certainly point you in the right direction. You may not think that this specific strategy will work in your context, but that’s okay. Haynes is just sharing what he and Kingsland have discovered through trial and error. Shift is a thought-provoking book that can start a much-needed discussion among your team."

To read the entire review, go to http://micahfoster.wordpress.com/

To buy Shift, go here http://shift.group.com/

Family Ministry Starts at Home

Thu, 08 October 2009 17:20:50

Joshua Simpson got the heart of Shift...family ministry starts first in our home:

"Recently becoming a father I have realized through this book that there is a heavy weight of importance on being a parent and there are these milestones that will happen throughout my child’s life that I must take advantage of and to teach, learn, and celebrate. More importantly to everyone in a line of ministry whether it be full-time or volunteer this SHIFT must start in our own home first. We must be the example that we wish others to be. This is a MUST read, but after reading do not neglect the action start this process in your home and then introduce it to your church."

To read his entire review, go to http://pjsperspective.wordpress.com/

To buy Shift, go here http://shift.group.com/

Yet Another Ministry Book? Yes!

Thu, 08 October 2009 17:18:52

Tim Inman's review of Shift was fun to read. Like me, he can approach "strategies" that promise the moon suspiciously. Glad to see Brian disarmed him!

Here's part of Tim's review:

Me: “OK you're starting to win me over with your emphasis on family relationships, but isn't this just another strategy? What if your milestones and celebrations aren't as meaningful in my context?"

Brian: (p. 42) “Cookie cutters are for cookies. What I am about to show you is a strategy designed specifically for Kingsland Baptist Church in suburban Houston, Texas. The principles behind this strategy are universal... You're the expert regarding your church and your ministry.”

Me: “I get it. I should get ideas from your plan and let this overarching philosophy guide me as I develop a plan for the people in my life.”

I admit it, this book disarmed the critical-thinking ninja in me just long enough to get through to my heart. Hey, I think I just enjoyed reading a ministry book!"

My thoughts: This is exactly what Brian hoped for...that people would see the pattern and then contextualize it to their ministry since it's so rooted in the biblical model for family ministry!

To read Tim's review, go to http://blog.inmans.org/

To buy Shift, go here http://shift.group.com/

Does Shift Need a Church-Wide Strategy?

Thu, 08 October 2009 17:15:54

As always, Larry Shallenberger has some insightful views. One thing he pointed out as a missing element for Shift:

“Shift” offers a sustainable model for family ministry, but there were some missing elements in the book:

I was disappointed that there was no discussion on how to achieve alignment across departments. Most mid-sized churches and larger are departmentalized into children, youth, and adult ministries and are managed by an executive pastor. “Shift” lacks help on how to bring those departments into alignment so the strategy can occur. Any family ministry model needs pulpit support as well."

My thoughts: True...to a point. I think Brian would agree that the ideal is complete alignment across all the ministries and from the pastor first and foremost. That's what Brian has experienced in his church. However, just as there are non-traditional families that don't fit the ideal, we've found that most churches don't fit the ideal. When we found Brian, we had listened to other strategies that in our opinion don't seem as workable or sustainable because they require an overhaul of existing structures and philosophies. We begged Brian to make Shift a strategy that would work if only one ministry area bought into it. And it does! We talk to children's ministers who also beg us to not give them a family ministry strategy that requires hiring new staff, adding new programs, or getting complete buy-in. In my opinion, that's what Brian Haynes has done in Shift!

To read Larry's entire review, go to http://childrensministryandculture.wordpress.com/

To buy Shift, go here http://shift.group.com/

Can All Families Make the Shift?

Thu, 08 October 2009 17:11:03

Lorraine Seaman makes a great point about non-traditional families and how they fit into the Shift strategy:

"My one concern in reading the book, and it surfaced frequently, was what about our non-traditional families? Our single moms/dads, our infrequent attenders, our children who attend with friends and not their parents? How do we reach out to those families who do not meet our stereotypical expectations of what a 'church' family is? Especially when these milestones are so completely implemented within the walls of the church building itself?

I do love that he is so intentional about wanting to create opportunities to equip and support parents. This book is chock-full of really great ideas and I will admit that I am still processing it, turning possibilities over in my head.

Overall, I found it well worth the time and I'm looking forward to discussing possibilities with my own church leadership team."

My thoughts: We had lots of discussions with Brian about how diverse families are today. And, he assured us that in his church, it's every kind of family that's following the pathway of milestones and making the shift. Great points!

To read Lorraine's blog, go here: http://www.rockrunner.blogs.com/al

To buy Shift, go here http://shift.group.com/

Shift Transitions a Strength

Thu, 08 October 2009 17:08:17

Here's an excerpt from James' Giroux's review of Shift:

"One thing I really liked was the milestone on helping students graduate from teen to adult. We don’t have coming of age traditions in our society and I am a huge fan of returning to some form of celebration of that because I think we’ve forgotten how to healthily and helpfully transition our young people from child to adult. So there are some cool ideas about that.

All in all it was a short and easy read with some solid content. There’s definitely the tone of American evangelicalism to it which I’m not sure I fully support any more but there’s lots to glean from this book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who works with students or kids or who has some of their own."

Read James' entire review at http://jamesgiroux.ca/

To buy Shift, go here http://shift.group.com/

Milestones vs. Age-Specific Ministries?

Thu, 08 October 2009 17:05:48

Hey, if you haven't seen all the reviews of Shift yet, check out my previous post to see what others are saying about Shift. Compelling insights!

I've avoided blogging in response to the reviews, because I don't want to appear argumentative in any way, but I'm going to take time at this halfway remark to also blog about the blogs!

Liz Perraud writes: "The practice that he lays out in “Shift” involves equipping families through seven age-appropriate milestones “that every person growing in his or her relationship with Christ experiences and celebrates.” The child or youth (or adult) must learn key truths to progress from one milestone to the next. The church teaches each milestone to the parents and the parents reinforce them through “faith talks” at home and resources that the church provides. There are church events that teach and celebrate each of the milestones and that connect parents with one another. I see one gaping hole in the plan…the connection to community for the kids. As it should, “Shift” describes a structure of stability for the family and sets up an environment for the parents to learn and grow together. But without a strong system of relationships for the young people—in addition to those with their family—there is a lack of connectedness to the wider body of Christ."

My response: Liz, I agree that connection and community in the body of Christ are critical. And Brian does, too. He's a strong proponent of the age-specific ministries that disciple kids and their parents in the church. The Milestones are a strategy that are congruent with all the great things the church is already doing. But great point, Liz, that this point may need to be made more strongly in Shift. Thanks for your review! Check out Liz's full review here: http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/

To buy Shift, go here http://shift.group.com/

Ride the Shift in Family Ministry

Thu, 01 October 2009 22:45:07

The challenge of ministering to the family is complex for children's ministers. And the more brilliant voices we have speaking into this topic, the closer we'll get to solutions. That's why we asked Henry Zonio to coordinate a Shift Blog Book Tour to create the dialogue around the ground-breaking book Brian Haynes has written: Shift: What it takes to finally reach families today.

Want to find out what some of the best minds think about Shift--and Brian's all-church strategy? Follow these blogs along the tour:

October 1 - Liz Perraud at http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com

October 2 - James Giroux at http://jamesgiroux.ca

October 3 - Lorraine Seaman http://www.rockrunner.blogs.com/al

October 4 - Larry Shallenberger http://childrensministryandculture.wordpress.com

October 5 - Tim Inman at http://blog.inmans.org/

October 6 - Joshua Simpson http://pjsperspective.wordpress.com

October 7 - Micah Foster http://micahfoster.wordpress.com

October 8 - Amy Dolan at http://lemonlimekids.wordpress.com

October 9 - Jesse Smith http://www.sillypuppies.com/bookwormand http://sp_jesse.livejournal.com

October 10 - Michael Chanley http://pureconnect.org

October 11 - Gina McClain at http://www.ginamcclain.com

October 12 - Henry Zonio at http://www.elementalcm.com

Lifesize Noah's Ark

Mon, 28 September 2009 15:38:43

Johan Huibers, a Dutchman, has just finished the world's first replica of Noah's Ark in Schagen, Netherlands. Huigen says, "Nobody learns about Christianity any more. I hope visitors to my ark will be inspired by the experience and want to read the Bible and learn from it. I followed the example of Noah because he, too, was a builder. I want to build another ark - this is just practice. The next one will be the same size as Noah’s, 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high.”

Huibers is passionate about awakening a hunger for God in his country. I'm inspired by him in the same way that I'm inspired by children's ministers week in and week out who perform amazingly big and small feats to awaken in children a hunger for God.

This guy has to be a closet children's minister, don't you think?

What (cough) Would (wheeze) Jesus Do?

Thu, 24 September 2009 17:34:26

Yea, I'm sick. And everytime I get sick, I'm intrigued by how people respond to me. Some recoil and sit on the opposite side of the room (you know who you are!). And I get it; I really do. I wish I hadn't caught this from my family, but would I have given up the opportunities to rub their backs or snuggle with them to warm them up? Nah, I don't think so.

But that's family. When it comes to co-workers or church members or friends, it's easier to recoil. And maybe, just maybe, that's the last thing a sickie needs. A kind touch, a pat on the back, an empathetic "oh, you poor baby; what can I do?" sounds pretty good to me right now.

What would Jesus do? He was fully God and fully human, so he probably didn't relish the thought of getting the flu (swine or any other kind) or a virus or any other contagious germ. Funny that we have no record of him being sick in the Bible. "Oy, Ma! More chicken soup!" (he was a man, after all, and ladies, we know how most guys act when they're sick).

But anyway, what would Jesus do if he encountered sickies? It's something (hack, hack) I want us to think about--especially since we're entering what may be the nastiest flu season ever.

Gotta go...Sudafed calls.

Stay the Course

Sun, 20 September 2009 03:57:21

Recently my 13-year-old told me after seeing the Celebration Station video of the woman washing Jesus' feet that he'd never heard that story before. What!? Never heard that story!? This is a child that's been in children's ministry and in my home for 13 years! What's the deal?

This issue always make me think of something my husband asked me when our oldest was around 6. Grant had brought home a take-home sheet from Sunday school and Mike asked me, "Is there any story besides Noah's ark?"

These are two stories that illustrate a pervasive problem in children's ministry. I wonder if kids are getting the overall scope of the Bible if we're always changing curriculum and starting over from the beginning--year after year after year. So there's lots of Noah but not lots of the Bible in its entirety.

I'm actually at a point where I'd like to encourage children's ministers to spend in-depth time choosing a curriculum--and then stick with it through it's entire scope and sequence (whether that's 2 or 3 years or more). Trust your instincts and God's direction and stick with the plan. Now, of course, I think for all sorts of reasons that Group has all the underlying stuff that makes for great Bible learning, but seriously, even if you don't pick Group's curriculum....stick with what you do choose.

It's the only way for kids to get to walk through the Bible and get the whole of God's story. And there are so many riches beyond Genesis. Let's saturate kids with all of God's Word!

The 4/14 Window

Fri, 11 September 2009 16:44:12

Over Labor Day weekend, I attended the 4/14 Global Summit in NYC (at the amazing Promise Ministries Church). There were over 300 of us from 70 different countries. It was awesome! Like being in heaven with every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

The focus of the summit was reaching children between the ages of 4 and 14. This initiative has been around for awhile and has its origins in George Barna's research that of those surveyed who say they are Christians, 85% made that decision between the ages of 4 and 14. That's pretty compelling. Now, summit organizers are advancing the 4/14 Window strategy even more.

I love how mission organizations, missionaries, NGOs, and pastors from around the world spent time hearing the needs of children--and how critical they are to reaching the world for Christ. I told them this is something children's ministers and youth ministers have prayed for--that everyone would see the vision! We heard how kids are powerless, vulnerable, and exploited around the world. And that we have to stand up for them! Yes! Yes!

Then why aren't I onboard 100%? I keep saying my thinking is muddled and I'm not sure what to do with it. I think part of my troubled spirit is "what about the edges?" What about the 0 to 4 age group? Experts tell us that the first three years of a child's life are the most critical. Maybe it's great church nurseries and preschools who've partnered with parents to prepare the 4-14 group to respond to Jesus. And what about the 14 to 21 age group? I guess I'm just uncomfortable with lopping off the edges for a catchy marketing phrase that rolls off one's tongue--4/14.

I'm 100% on board with reaching children (and their families, by the way). I just want us to reach children of all ages. I think over time we'll continue to have conversations and hopefully this summit will make the big difference with strategic thinkers that the organizers dream of. That's my prayer--for all the children!

Boxed In?

Fri, 04 September 2009 18:04:04

Have you ever stopped to really think about the term "out-of-the-box"? Someone who's creative may refer to himself as an "out-of-the-box thinker" or a woman may say she does ministry that's "out-of-the-box."

What does that really mean? It seems to me that it's all relative, isn't it? I mean it depends on the box you're talking about. I just clicked on a link to someone making such a promise, and I thought "Is that really out-of-the-box?" Maybe for some; depends on their box.

Years ago I went to a conference and the leaders kept promising that they had an out-of-the-box worship leader for our worship time--very innovative, very edgy. When I went to the worship time, it was a young guy with a keyboard leading us in choruses. Okay, not out-of-the-box for me, but my box is pretty big with worship experiences that I consider edgy. But to them, it rocked their world! Then again, I've been to conferences where the worship was so edgy and rocky and loud that I didn't find it worshipful. Guess my box wasn't as big as others'!

Anyway, I don't have a huge axe to grind with the term; we even used "out-of-the-box" as a theme for training one year. But I'm just musing today. I think I'll be a lot more cautious when I hear people using that term to discover how big their box is that they're trying to get out of--before I run to check it out.

Boxed In?

Fri, 04 September 2009 18:04:03

Predicting Church Conflict

Thu, 03 September 2009 20:17:52

I just read this piece from our upcoming Children's Ministry Professional Edition that I wanted to share with everyone NOW! If you'd like to know more about subscribing to the premiere leadership publication for children's ministers, check it out at http://www.childrensministry.com/leaders/

Predicting Church Conflict

There are predictable moments in a church’s life when conflict is more likely to surface. Here are the top 10 predictable times for conflict as identified by church conflict guru, Speed Leas .

1. The Easter Season—Typically one of the busiest seasons in the life of the church, expectations are high and conflict can arise over music, preaching, childcare, or even doctrinal issues.

2. Stewardship Campaigns or Budget Preparation—Issues can surface not only between staff members and the church board during this time, but volunteers and church members often end up in conflict when it comes to money matters.

3. Adding Staff—The addition of a new personality, work ethic, and vision can rattle the cage of the status quo.

4. Changes in Leadership Style—Pastors and leaders go through different seasons in their approach to leadership techniques and styles. If the change is drastic or uncomfortable for some, it can lead to conflict.

5. Absences—When key leaders are away from the office such as on sabbatical or vacation, tensions can rise as well as conflict among those left in charge during a leader’s absence.

6. A Change in the Pastor’s Family—Whether it’s a new baby or a teenager in crisis, family changes can pull a pastor’s time away from the flock, which can result in feelings ranging from tension to disappointment.

7. Significant Generational Changes—When a sudden influx of young families emerges in an older congregation, it can unsettle the church. Or when a young pastor suddenly has to manage an older team, it can create stress all around.

8. Completion of a New Building—Your congregation put a lot of time and money into a beautiful new facility…and not everything’s perfect—conflict brews even in celebration.

9. Rapid Membership Changes—Whether attendance quickly grows or wanes, conflict can grow under the pressure and effects of number changes.

10. Between Pastors—When there’s a change in leadership, there can be tension among others outside of leadership as they jockey for power or influence.

Source: “Top 10 Predictable Times for Conflict in the Church” by Craig Webb (lifeway.com)

Predicting Church Conflict

Thu, 03 September 2009 20:17:51