My title at Group cracks me up--I'm the "Children's Ministry Champion." (Whenever I have to introduce myself as the "champion," I always want to thrust my hand in the air and pretend to do a trumpet call--du-du-du-du!) It's a bit embarrassing. Every time I go into my kids' orthodontist, he says, "Now there's the champion!" in sufficient mocking tone. (It's embarrassing.)

But once I can get beyond the embarrasing title, I love what it means. It means that I "champion" the cause of children, parents, and children's ministers in our company. I get to be involved in the research and development side of every new resource. We ask questions like: What would really serve children's ministers today? What would make kids fall in love with Jesus for a lifetime? What would make learning about God the best thing a kid does each week? How can we truly come alongside parents in our resources so that faith becomes a conversation at home? (It's pretty fun!)

And, then I get to be involved in the quality control side of things. I get to stamp a lot of approval on great resources, great lessons, great articles, and more. And, every now and then, I ask these questions: Why are there so many supplies? Why can't this be easier? Would kids find that question a bit lame? (It's not so fun.) But in the process, we cull out the things that don't serve children, parents, and children's ministers all too well...and we create great resources that meet real needs.

So, that's what a champion does at Group. And, I'm always eager to hear from children, parents, and children's ministers about problems we can solve and ways we can better serve. Hopefully, and eventually, that's what this blog will become--a listening post to serve you better. Let me know what you think we need to know!

I'm researching/writing  an article about safety for the May/June issue of Children's Ministry Magazine. It's supposed to be a look at all the safety things we're doing in the church--and asking the question of where the line is when our safety precautions are too much--and have we crossed that line yet?

So, doing the research, I found a site where you can plug in your zip code and find ALL the registered offenders who live in your community. Click on the little boxes and you get a photo, address, and list of offenses. Oh my gosh! Talk about striking fear in my heart!

Then I went to WalMart right after--and, of course, thought I recognized some of the offenders pushing buggies around the store. Was that a leer? Where's my daughter? Wasn't that the guy? I had to shake off all my suspicions and try to see these people as people--not potential offenders.

Which makes me wonder...the more aware we become of statistics and offender profiles (who love to target unsuspecting child-serving organizations like the church), will the line of protection become tighter and tighter? And should it?

I'm conflicted. Guess I better keep digging!

Okay…something happened this last Sunday in our toddler room that in all my ministry experiences—has never happened! We had poop balls on the floor. That’s right! Poop balls!

Here’s what happened. A new girl—Katie—came in to help with our 15 little guys. At one point, one of the boys was crying loudly and we all looked at her since she was standing right by him. “What’s wrong?” She shrugged. Then like a typhoon, the smell of dirty diaper hit all of us. “Oooh! Someone’s poopy!” We began sniffing around all the toddlers.

Poor Katie! She had this sick look on her face as she uttered, “I found it” and pointed to these two poop balls on the rug. Yep! Poop balls—just like you’d find in a doggie’s yard!

The other adult leader and I sprang into action. She whisked up the poop balls and scrubbed the rug with Clorox spray. I got the privilege of comforting the little guy (who was distraught and embarrassed.)

I ushered him into the restroom and pulled down his pants to find—no underwear, no diaper, no Pullup! I mean—these poop balls had free reign to travel down this little guy’s leg, leaving tracks along his sweat pants; past his shoe (leaving poopy residue); and onto the floor.

I told him repeatedly that it was okay and these things happen, but he was nearly inconsolable and wanted his dad. With poop everywhere, it took a little while to get him cleaned up. Thankfully, he was very agreeable to my putting a Pullup on him this time. With damp pants back on, he actually quit crying for his dad and played happily the rest of the morning.

When Mom came to pick him up, I explained what had happened and she simply thanked me for cleaning him up. I think I stressed again that he wasn’t wearing anything under his pants, and she told me that since he was potty training, he didn’t like to wear anything underneath his pants.

Yikes! Maybe this little experience will convince them both otherwise.

Thanks for stopping by! Soon executive editor Christine Yount Jones from Children's Ministry Magazine will be posting her thoughts, ideas, and children's ministry plans here. Check back soon as we're just getting things kicked off!