It's hard to believe our return from KidMin was over a month ago! As we've been sorting through the boxes and trunks of materials that came back with us, we've also been unpacking heaps of blessing in the testimonies of lives changed. We trusted God to bring about incredible restoration in the lives of children's ministers - but God has a way of still leaving us astounded! I'm so grateful for everything God did at KidMin and here are my top three God-sightings: 

Presenters that know and value the work of a children's minister!

            
In my role as "Speaker Sherpa" for the KidMin team, I get the unique and treasured experience of coming alongside our presenters as we all prepare in the months ahead of the conference. We have a team like I've never seen! They all come prayerfully prepared to share their hearts, talents, insight, hard-learned lessons, and stories that will get you smiling. I loved walking outside of the training rooms during sessions and listening to roars of laughter; hearing the shuffling sounds of active learning; and the many voices engaged in conversation - digging deeper into the learning. I don't think we could ask for better, more invested presenters. They were there to not only train, but to be available to all conference guests as much as they possibly could. I saw so many connections over coffee or outside of a training room as sessions transitioned.

Many of our presenters also took part in Ministry Consulations through The Shelter, where they spent dedicated one-on-one time with children's ministers trouble shooting very specific obstacles. When asked what their favorite part of the conference was, they raved about getting to know the people in the seats - building relationships. As one of our presenters, Katie Wetherbee, stated as her favorite aspect, "Spending time with the participants in the class! Such amazing ministry leaders. . . It was wonderful to be able to answer questions and help them with specific situations in their own ministries. And, I loved hearing what is working well in their churches as well! I always learn new things when I teach!"

Keynotes/General Sessions that inspired, through laughter and tears!

          

In a word, "wow!" I was amazed with the general sessions this year! God, ultimately, decides who will be with us at the conference to share during our large-group gatherings and we were blessed richly. Beth Moore opened up the conference for us and brought such a warm, personal "thank you" for all the countless hours poured into children's ministry. As a mother, grandmother and volunteer in the children's ministry at her church she affirmed the value and importance kidmin has in the work of the church as a whole. Beth did wonderfully - stepping outside of her usual women's ministry crowd and connecting with her "guyfriends" at KidMin. 

The Skit Guys also brought the house down. In one minute they'd have us laughing, then crying as they used humor and drama to teach valuable lessons and solid truths. I'll never forget their keynote when someone in the audience let out a wail of relief as Tommy delivered an incredible visual of letting go of the baggage keeping us from God. I remember thinking, "that's the sound of someone finding freedom; that's what life-change sounds like."

We had so many more incredible moments in our general sessions, but to relay them all, I'd have to write a novel!

Rest and reconnection with God.

        

At KidMin we fill the conference space with wonderful Xorbee chairs so anyone can plop down and read, rest, talk with friends, or take a nap. It always brought a smile to my face when I'd see people sleeping peacefully amidst the hustle and bustle of the conference. We need rest, sabbath. God brought that to many through something as simple as a gigantic, over-stuffed chair.

Then comes perhaps my favorite part of all - worship. The Brian Davis band led us in praise every morning and evening. I know so many were drinking in that experience right along with me. I'm always grateful for times when I can sing to God in a room bursting with voices. And I'm thankful for those voices (not just because they cover mine - I definitely wasn't gifted to carry a tune!), but because I love the sound. I think it's a taste of what heaven will be like. 

To round it all out, I saw people reconnecting to God through prayer. So many prayers were lifted, so many conversations with God. Just think of how many children and families were prayed for at KidMin with so many caring hearts in one place. I expect through those prayers that more lives than we can begin to count were changed by God's grace. That is what KidMin is all about and why we aimed this year for making a SPLASH!