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In 5 questions

5 questions – yancy

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for me to discuss how i feel about yancy really has to take on a three-probed approach – how i feel as a ministry peer, a church ministry leader, and as a mom.

i first met yancy at one of several kidmin conferences we were both a part of at the time. i heard her heart about kids and worship and i stood and watched her lead weary ministry leaders in worship. she was humble and approachable and people flocked to her and her booth every time she was there.

then, i brought yancy to my church to lead worship, once at 24 hours 4 Him and another time at a family worship that she and her dad led together. she was professional and so easy to work with each time. as soon as the kids entered the room she was engaged with them and their families. she not only “led songs”, she explained their meaning to the kids and taught them about true worship. while her voice is definitely concert level, her passion for a time of worship was much more center stage.

then my toddler was introduced to her music in our preschool ministry. i will never forget last easter when every night of Holy week my two-year-old would jump and sing her heart out to hosanna rock. i mean i knew yancy had an amazing place in ministry, but now she was greatly impacting my home. as i watched my baby worship, i thanked God for the ministry He gave yancy to point even the smallest to Him.

so, of course, yancy had to be a part of this 5 questions series. she has seen it all. she has played in big and little venues near and far. she has talked to countless kids leaders, so i wanted her wisdom and insight shared with all of us through this series.

1 – what do you see kidmin and family ministry leaders doing right? 

I love the awareness that I’ve seen come into focus the past few years of partnering with parents. The reality is even the most faithful families of your church no longer attend every week. Watching leaders explore, navigate and create ways to connect, support and help families is something that excites me as a children’s ministry leader and parent.

2 – what do you see as the greatest need in kidmin and family ministry right now? 

Last year I took my son to see Paw Patrol live. The families there paid a pretty penny to attend. They carved out time in what I’m sure was an already crowded schedule. They spent money on snacks and overpriced Paw Patrol merchandise. Why? Because they want to create memories with their kids. They want to have those fun moments that as a family they can point back to and say “remember when we….”. They want to put a smile on their child’s face and not just have a picture of it but instead be IN the picture of that fun thing. It made me super thankful for the churches that I get to partner with to do family concerts and events. I realized that day that churches have opportunities to help the parents of their church create memories with their kids. I challenge leaders to look for ways that you can create fun for families that often times may still have the gospel at the heart of it. Let’s help their “remember when” moments to be faith shaping adventures as a family.

3 – if you could have coffee with every kidmin/fammin leader, what would you want to make sure you shared with them? 

Thank you for the work you do. Thank you for the seeds you plant, water and nurture. Thank you for the sacrifices you make. Thank you for the sacrifices your family makes. Your hard work is not in vain. It doesn’t go unnoticed. You are a difference maker. Never forget you are running a race that the Bible instructs us to run to win. Don’t give up. You can do it. Finish well.

4 – what word of encouragement do you have for today’s kidmin/fammin leaders? 

I had amazingly supportive parents and know how blessed I am to say that. I knew from an early age what God had called me to do with my music. I sang at church from the time I was a kid every chance I could get. As I reflect on my formative years what comes to mind are all the church volunteers who cheered me on. They believed in me. They encouraged me with my talent. They gave me opportunities. They stretched me to become a leader worth following. I know that their words spoke life to my heart and dreams. Their investment of time and presence made a difference in developing my faith. Looking back I’m so grateful and wish I could tell and every one of those volunteers THANK YOU for believing in a little girl and her dreams and for showing me the love of Jesus.

5 – why are you passionate about children’s and family ministry? 

Kids are awesome. They are in such an exciting phase of life. It’s a new construction stage rather than a major demolition and renovation. I love how soft their hearts are towards the things of God. I love how they so often feel and respond to God speaking to their heart. I love helping kids connect with the Lord through worship. I want to help raise up a generation to be after God’s heart just like David was. He found His hiding place in God’s presence. I want to help kids do that. It’s a gift we can give this generation: help them learn to run TO God no matter what happens in life, rather than FROM God. That my friends is a game changer.
Yancy is a worship leader and songwriter for kids that travels the globe doing family concerts and training worship leaders. She grew up a kidmin PK that knew God wanted to use her music for His glory. She has a passion for the church and produces many worship resources for kids including the series “Little Praise Party” and “Kidmin Worship” used in churches around the world. Her life is made even more complete with her husband, Cory and sons, Sparrow and Rhythm, where they live in Nashville, TN. Check out her website here.
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In 5 questions

5 questions – jeremy echols

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    jeremy, j.e., is a walking handbook for leadership. his large stature may lend you to think he leads with an iron fist, but in my observations i see him more as a gentle giant. i have had the privilege of sitting in several meetings where the centrikid theme was being brainstormed or the spiritual direction was be formulated. i prepped with fun ideas, and was convicted and challenged as j.e. led the meeting with one thing being the goal – kids seeing Jesus. i have loved centrikid for decades (dern, am i that old?) and i see the Gospel-centered camp up close each summer, but to know the planning behind it is just as Christ-centered is encouraging for a ministry leader. much of this foundation in centrikid is because of j.e.’s humble leadership.
     not only does j.e. plan camp, he trains hundreds of young adults to minister to kids and chaperones each summer. through many summers of camp he has had to almost see it all and that is why i wanted his take on the 5 questions. check out his answers and centrikid camp.
1 – what do you see kidmin and family ministry leaders doing right? 
Almost everybody I talk to is walking closely with a church family through a difficult stage or journey right now.
2 – what do you see as the greatest need in kidmin and family ministry right now? 
One of the greatest needs is help. Too many (myself included) won’t ask for it.
3 – if you could have coffee with every kidmin/fammin leader, what would you want to make sure you shared with them? 
What you are doing in ministry matters. I know some days it feels like you accomplish nothing… But your ministry makes a difference.
4 – what word of encouragement do you have for today’s kidmin/fammin leaders? 
Kids are so ready to hear the gospel. They don’t have an awkward filter like adults so just talk to them about the things of God!
5 – why are you passionate about children’s and family ministry? 
2 reasons….Leaders poured into me & I care greatly about the leaders influencing my child who is in Kidman right now.
Jeremy  leads the CentriKid Camps team and manages the LifeWay Kids events. His wife Emily, and their daughter love the church, our neighborhood, and spending time together. Jeremy loves to read, watch sports, and grill burgers!
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In 5 questions

5 questions – sam luce

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     there are people you have conversations with and you walk away either encouraged, challenged, or inspired. well, whenever i leave a conversation with sam i leave feeling all three. i don’t think i have ever met a more humble ministry leader more passionate about the Gospel and making sure it is central to all we do in ministry. sam makes no apologies for his desire to see Christ at the center of our personal and ministry lives. don’t believe me? just check out his blog at samluce.com. just a warning, if you want some light ministry reading or some easy ministry ideas, his site isn’t for you. sometimes i have to chew on an article for a couple of days and let it marinate in my soul. but never does one of his articles leave me unchanged.
     i am thankful to be serving on the gospelatcenter.com team with sam. even through texts, conference calls, and video chats he is all about one thing – the Gospel. (well and that yankees team.) i am thankful he took time to answer these five questions.
 
1 – what do you see kidmin and family ministry leaders doing right? 
I see almost all of them asking how can we engage with moms and dads. How can we encourage and equip parents to spiritually lead their kids. That is super encouraging. One of the marks of the Great Awakening was the intentionality and widespread nature of family worship.
2 – what do you see as the greatest need in kidmin and family ministry right now? 
Men leading at home and at church.
3 – if you could have coffee with every kidmin/fammin leader, what would you want to make sure you shared with them? 
1. The importance of communicating and transmitting to kids a love and reverence for God’s word over relevance and fun. 2. The need for a greater awareness of the supremacy of Christ in all things.
3. Remember Jesus builds the church.
4 – what word of encouragement do you have for today’s kidmin/fammin leaders? 
I would encourage Family ministry leaders to live lives of Active-Passivity. We work as hard as we can and trust as much as we can never forgetting that Jesus not only builds the church but loves the church and gave his life for her. What a privilege and responsibility to represent her to the world and to the next generation. Do it well with the strength God supplies not the strength that you muster.
5 – why are you passionate about children’s and family ministry? 
Because children are who Christ says we are to be like and Marriage and family is his idea to demonstrate to a watching world what his love is like.
Sam Luce has been a pastor at Redeemer Church in Utica NY for the past 18 years. 14 of those years serving as children’s pastor. Currently, he is serving as the Utica Campus Children’s Pastor and the Global Pastor to Families. Same blogs at samluce.com and it is focused on Leadership, Family Ministry, and Theology.
Sam attended Portland Bible College in Portland Oregon where he graduated in 1997 with a BA in Theology, upon graduation he became the children’s pastor at the same church for over 18 years. Sam has done children’s ministry for the last 20 years. In those years, he has seen kids ministry grow and change tremendously.

Sam is currently a contributing editor to K! magazine, has served as chairman of  INCM, co-authored “The Eric Trap”,  has been involved in several book projects, and been blogging since 2007. Sam has spoken at conferences and have done some consulting and coaching. His real passion lies in preaching the gospel, building and strengthening the local church in any way possible because he believes in creating environments where life change can take place. Sam truly believes that the local church is the hope of the world.

Sam has been married to my beautiful wife for 15 years together they have 4 beautiful children ages 11, 9, 6 and 3 years. They currently live in Upstate New York.

When not writing on his blog or working at the church, Sam enjoy reading, racquetball, writing, photography, watching movies with the family.

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In 5 questions

5 questions – annette safstrom

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 i met annette through the kidmin conference, but she has greatly impacted my ministry with the release of her book “sustainable children’s ministry”   we are having such rich, productive conversations as a dawson kids staff as we read through her book. first, she starts with questions that really cause you to look at how and why you are doing ministry the way you are. then, her hands-on, practical ideas immediately begin to give you ways to implement the changes she suggests or your team discovers. how i wish i would have had this book early on in ministry. 
with annette’s ministry and consulting experience, she offers great answers to the 5 questions. read her answers and do your ministry a favor and get this book. (she doesn’t pay or ask me to say that.)
 
1 – what do you see kidmin and family ministry leaders doing right? 
Creating shared experiences for families that engage everyone. It seems like conversations naturally flow out of shared experiences, so when families experience aspects of their faith together, parents are able to naturally foster their children’s faith and dig into questions that they can explore together.
2 – what do you see as the greatest need in kidmin and family ministry right now? 
 The greatest need I see in kidmin right now is for us as leaders to learn how to “give away” ownership of pieces of the ministry. One person can’t effectively execute every aspect of children’s ministry. Our experience becomes so much richer when we work alongside volunteer partners who are invested with us.
3 – if you could have coffee with every kidmin/fammin leader, what would you want to make sure you shared with them? 
     Take time to take care of yourself. Find a a fun way to blow off steam. Whether it’s a sport or a hobby, do something that is just for yourself. Sometimes it’s hard to “shut off” our ministry tasks. Decide when you’re NOT going to work and protect that time. You will be a better leader because of it.
4 – what word of encouragement do you have for today’s kidmin/fammin leaders? 
 What you’re doing is enough. There will always be more to do, and our desire to do more sometimes makes us feel like we aren’t doing enough. Use that feeling of “not enough” to engage others as leaders who can carry forward pieces of the ministry.
5 – why are you passionate about children’s and family ministry? 
 I grew up in a church with a great children’s ministry. I learned how to connect to Jesus at a young age, and I want to make sure that lots of kids get that experience. My relationship with Jesus as a child still influences my relationship with Jesus today.

Annette fell in love with children’s ministry in the 1980s and has never looked back. After graduating from Bible college in 1991 with a certification in children’s ministry, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University, and a Master’s from SMU. Over the years, she has consistently served in various roles and in various settings as either a staff member or volunteer team member.

In recent years, Annette served as a director for a rapidly growing children’s ministry, and has been a member of the Ministry Architects team since January of 2012. She is a conference speaker for both Children’s Pastor’s Conference and Group’s KidMin Conference. She lives in McKinney, TX with her husband Kevin, and their two children, and enjoys traveling, cooking, and writing.

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In 5 questions

5 questions – kathie phillips

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   to know kathie is to love her. she is action packed with passion for kids and families but knit together with such gentleness and grace. i have had the privilege of knowing her for quite some time through the kidmin conference. the event changes when her sweet presence enters. she is a magnet for people and a great example of how to network and create community.
   kathie is not only an in-the-trenches leader serving in a local church, she is a wealth of wisdom and ideas.  i am so excited about her book, “top 50, object lessons” and her blog kidminspiration.com   i can’t wait to share her heart and her answers with you!
1 – what do you see kidmin and family ministry leaders doing right? 
  I think the task of partnering with parents and pointing kids and families to Jesus has made kidmin and family ministry leaders seek out resources to help them do this more efficiently. There are an abundance of resources available now more than ever. In addition, conversations about how to do this are happening in many different arenas (particularly through social media), which inspires me.
2 – what do you see as the greatest need in kidmin and family ministry right now? 
   One of the most prevalent things I’m seeing right now is the need for support from senior leadership. So many colleagues in kidmin and family ministry are feeling isolated and unsupported from those who lead them. This is causing a ripple effect throughout ministries across the country and causing leaders to doubt their calling and, in many cases, inhibiting them from doing their job.
3 – if you could have coffee with every kidmin/fammin leader, what would you want to make sure you shared with them? 
      I would express the importance of community. Ministry leadership can sometimes be a very lonely place, so having a network of support from those also in the trenches of ministry is an invaluable gift.
4 – what word of encouragement do you have for today’s kidmin/fammin leaders? 
   I would encourage kidmin/fammin leaders to remember that no matter what obstacles you face, the One who called you is faithful (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Rely on Him, on His strength, when you feel like you have no strength of your own. Also, we work so hard week to week planting seeds of faith in the hearts of kids. We might not see fruit from those seeds, but trust that it will not return void (Isaiah 55:11). What you are doing is making a difference for eternity!
5 – why are you passionate about children’s and family ministry? 
   As an elementary-aged girl, I absolutely loved Sunday school. It was such a wonderful place to be and I remember thinking, “When I grow up, I want kids to love Sunday school as much as I did.” That desire propels me to keep pushing each and every week to encourage my volunteers to love and care for our kids and their families and to work as hard as I can to make their time with us as warm, welcoming and engaging as possible.
Kathie Phillips is currently the Director of Children’s Ministry at a church in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition, she’s a wife, mom of two young adults, conference speaker, ministry coach, published author and blogger. Check out her blog at www.kidminspiration.com.
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