dandibell
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danielle

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partnering parents

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i received two exciting video texts last week.  both of them brought a huge smile to my face, while they also reinforced one of my greatest passions in children’s ministry – partnering with parents.  i believe the church is a great place for Biblical truths to be taught, but if we are lucky we may get between 50-100 hours in a given year.  i believe it is the home, through the faithful discipleship of the parents, that life-changing ministry happens and spiritual truths are truly caught. these videos testify to the fact that while we may plant, water, and nurture spiritual seeds in the church walls, it is the consistent tending in the home that reaps such a precious harvest.

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/52820954[/vimeo]


 

Screen Shot 2012-11-11 at 9.31.05 PM

that’s why i love the new family app lifeway has designed to continue the Gospel project learning at home.  this app combines all the learning from the classroom (videos, scripture memory, songs, discussion starters, and more) with activities families can do together to help apply these BIble truths to their daily lives.  families can discover together my favorite part of the Gospel project – how each Bible truth from old to new testament paints the beautiful story of Jesus Christ. (the Christ connection)

i wasn’t asked or paid to write this.  it is just incredibly exciting for me as a children’s minister to know that the powerful Bible truths shared so passionately by my investors in the classroom each week don’t stop at the church doors.  parents can now continue to explore these truths as a family all week long.  i can’t wait to hear how God uses this in the homes of dawson kids families.

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In kidmin

confident in Christ

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confidentinChrist

in ministry, i desire direction, desperately need a filter, and highly respect evaluation. that is why one of my first projects at my new church home was to work with a team to develop a ministry signature before we simply continued on or began charting a new course.

i have the great pleasure of working with a group of parent champions that pray and dream God-sized dreams for dawson kids. we have also worked through a uniques process to come up with our ministry signature. at first, i didn’t think they were enjoying themselves. the room was silent and their faces were serious. when i reminded them that they could smile during this activity, their response assured me they understood they were about serious business. hearing their hearts and looking on their intense faces so endeared each one of them to me. they wanted God’s best for their children and the children dawson kids gets the privilege of ministering to each week.

direction

our signature is dawson kids – confident in Christ. this simple, yet power statement now becomes the vehicle in which we will direct the ministry. what programs, curriculums, conversations, ideas, and strategies need to be put in place to ensure we are a ministry where children become confident followers of Jesus Christ? how can we help them understand their salvation in a perfect Savior and stand confident in Him alone?

filter

next, this phrase acts as a filter. (i love that, because i have a hard time saying no.) as new ideas are brought to the table and old traditions are examined, confident in Christ becomes the filter for a yes or no. we can’t just do things just to say we do them or because it has always been done. we also can’t add something just try something new. we want to be purposed. if an event is not an agent to help children become confident in Christ, we either tweak, change, or cut it.

evaluation

lastly, confident in Christ becomes our standard for evaluation. when children are in our ministry are they understanding the Gospel as the only way to live confident in Jesus? are tools being provided for children and families to walk daily as confident followers of Christ? when the world’s foundation begins to shake and peers insist on a more worldly approach, have we armed these children to stand firm in the One who was, who is, and is to come?

no, confident in Christ is not just a t-shirt slogan or a ministry byline. we strive for it to be the very core of what dawson kids is about. we want to lead children to a confident relationship in Jesus, help them walk boldly in His Truths, teach them to share the Gospel with a dying world, and see them stand firm in the One in whom they have placed their trust.

dklogo

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In faith

fixating, fixing, or fix

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fixeyesthis will come as no surprise to those that know me well, but not only am i a “fixer”, i also tend to fixate on issues much longer than is necessary. i stare down overwhelming circumstances trying to come up with the perfect solution. i also hold broken pieces of life together in my own strength willing them to stay together so they are mended. somehow over time, i bought into the lie that if i focus hard enough i can make it all better.

when i choose to stare at the circumstances, whether positive or negative, the circumstances become my focus! how grateful i am for the reminder God keeps sweetly whispering to be from hebrews 12:2, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. for the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” what a relief to know that i don’t have to spend hours fixating on issues desperate to see them solved or restored. i must simply fix my eyes on Jesus.

it is when i look intently at Him i experience:
strength from the strongest
peace from the One who is in control
love perfectly unconditional
direction from the all-knowing Guide
joy undeserved
comfort from my Creator
a hope that doesn’t disappoint

quick fixes can’t deliver; it is where my eyes are fixed that matters most. i know this all in my head. my prayer is with each intentional glance at our Mighty God, it will begin to consume my heart.

 

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In kidmin

KidMin ’12 takeaways

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kidmincollae

  • ministry leaders need/long to be ministered to – through interactive, Christ-centered worship experiences; “the shelter” ministry (counseling and prayer center) that was busy everyday; and my “broken, burned-out, and bored in kidmin” workshop, i experienced people in desperate need of ministry. and the best news is, i heard story after story of those who were met “just as they were” and experienced Jesus. isn’t that what it is really all about?  after seeing this, i come back to my own ministry and wonder how many of my leaders are in need of a fresh touch, word, or encouragement? how will i make it a priority to minister to them as they faithfully pour out on children and families each week?
  • you can never have too many friends in kidmin – i love people! i was thrilled going into kidmin with all the familiar faces i would get to see and spend some time with each day. (never enough time, though.)  i wasn’t expecting all the new people i would be fortunate enough to meet, share a meal with, laugh with, and hang around on sack chairs and just talk about life with in any spare moment we could find. i leave with deepened friendships and brand news ones that i know will make me a better person and minster. ministry and life are more pleasant and precious in community.  may i gave back to them as willingly as they have given to me.
  • the Holy Spirit empowers me to do what i cannot – one of the greatest blessings i had during the days of KidMin was a group of people (some in alabama and some in tennessee) that had my packed conference schedule and committed to pray me through my days in chicago. my simple request was that i would dare not lean on my own strength or wisdom, but press into the power provided through the Holy Spirit. not only did i receive their prayers, but i was constantly encouraged through their texts. they prayed expectantly and they couldn’t wait to hear about what only God could do.  boy, do i have some stories for them. 🙂
  • i am blessed – after leading a tough ministry conversation and hearing heart-breaking stories from other ministers in the trenches, i left knowing how blessed i am to serve in a church that not only values children’s ministry but supports it through word AND action.
  • the IT team can party – with just a large stack of deep-dish chicago pizza and soda, the KidMin IT team had so much fun in a luxury suite that hotel security might have been called a couple of times. what a fun group of people  that have no idea how to “use their inside voices.”
  • prayer changes things –  as i stood before a group of over 200 in my last workshop of the conference, i was a wee bit stressed.  i had optimistically planned for about 20-25.  i mean, who wants to hear me when there are so many other choices and what a great last chance for them to sleep in before general session.  so i began, not knowing how it would go and i had the tables introduce themselves to one another.  that was when my friend gina met me in the middle of the room to pray over me.  “i wish you would,” i said.  “how can i give all these people what they need?  i didn’t prepare for this many.”  after she prayed, i started the workshop in His strength and have never had more fun leading.  God showed up and taught us all a thing or two about “helping kids have a friendship with Jesus.”  gina was my God-sighting for the day!
  • all about experience and relationship – a few days into KidMin ’12 i marveled at the fact that i just had no time to blog.  see, i was either experiencing the conference and the life-changing lessons it brought or i was building relationships!  the REAL learning experiences brought me closer in my journey with Jesus and the relationships formed continue to encourage me as i traveled back home.  oh there was plenty of meat, but it was so beautifully delivered through transparent speakers and hand-on activities that no single blog post could capture what happened in my heart.  i guess i will not only continue to chew on each truth but carry them with me as God uses me to minister to others.
  • the grand gift of laughter – spending time with my dawson team at KidMin taught me that not only am i working alongside gifted, passionate people, but they are oh so fun!!!! i haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. i am talking side-splitting, tears-streaming laughter.  i’ll take two spoonfuls of that daily.  so grateful to work with those that see the joy in life and ministry.

is it too early to begin countdown to KidMin ’13 in ohio?  okay, if you were at KidMin ’12, what was your greatest takeaway?

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