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kidmin top ten

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in honor of group’s 3rd annual kidmin conference in just a little over two weeks, i put together a kidmin top ten list of things i am most excited about this year.  this extreme extrovert can’t wait for all the people time and i am sure i will have much to share.  i will be blowing up social media with conference updates throughout the week.  consider yourself warned. (the conference hashtag is #kidmin13.)

the conference app – i am a self-admitted tech nerd, so i have loved playing around with our new kidmin conference app.  even though we are more than two weeks out,  i may have already set up my personal schedule so i will feel a tad bit more organized.  🙂

IMG_3599time with my team – i have to say i work with some of the most amazing and fun people i know. i am constantly learning from them and laughing with them.  i believe there were several “laugh ’til you cry” moments at the kidmin conference last year.  times of learning, growing, and laughing together are just plum good for the soul.  oh the stories we will have from this year’s conference. they really shouldn’t let us loose in a city together.

traveling – call me crazy, but i love almost everything about it: plane trips, hotel rooms, new cities, taxis, shuttle buses, airport people watching, the luggage carousel, and more. for me it is just one big adventure.

it team

the IT (inside track) team – this group of 100+ kidmin leaders from around the country is a constant source of support and encouragement throughout the year.  not only do they speak into the kidmin conference and share ideas, they also share successes and failures with each other all year long.  several times a day our group connects through facebook, tweets, or emails but it will be so sweet to connect face-to-face at kidmin.

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xorbee sack chair conversations – you just can’t beat comfy chairs, dear friends, spontaneous conversations, and honest sharing.  these casual times in the hallways of the conference center are some of my favorites.  i have yet to be able to take a nap in one of these chairs, but i have never found it hard to strike up a conversation in one.

the unexpected – i like control, but there is nothing quite as uplifting and personal as the unexpected ways God speaks to me through an uninterrupted time of worship, an authentic conversation about ministry struggles, a message from a speaker, a comment from a friend, time in the prayer room, being still in His Word, and time just hanging with people who “get me” and ministry.  you simply can’t schedule how He will show up, but how i look forward to seeing how He does. 🙂

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R.E.A.L.. learning – don’t talk at me, teach me.  don’t just speak of creative classrooms, allow me to encounter one. this is yet another reason i love this conference. not only the workshops, but the general sessions engage and stretch each participant using group’s R.E.A.L. learning method. (relational, experiential, applicable, learner-based)  i get to learn through hands-on experience and then debrief what we discovered. i also leave with practical activities i can easily apply to my ministry back home. not to mention that R.E.A.L. learning is just plain fun!

my workshop – i am super excited to get to share my heart about “helping kids have a friendship with Jesus.”  this is one of my favorite topics to discuss and i look forward to learning alongside participants as i lead this session.  here is my workshop description: “we’ll explore ways to be intentional in facilitating a child’s spiritual formation. experience and explore R.E.A.L. Learning (relational, experiential, applicable, learner-based) ways to take kids beyond learning to genuine relationship with Jesus.”

connect groups – conversation is such a key component of kidmin and i love working with the connect groups.  this IMG_3618year we have connect groups for: children’s ministry veterans, first 2 years in children’s ministry, large-church children’s ministry, small-church children’s ministry, rural children’s ministry, urban children’s ministry, early childhood ministry, preteen ministry, family ministry, multi-site ministry, burned out in children’s ministry, special needs ministry, thriving in transition, volunteers in children’s ministry, bivocational children’s ministry, married to a children’s minister,  canadian children’s ministers, international children’s ministers, men in children’s ministry, women in children’s ministry, and senior pastors.  

chrisme

once a year face time – my kidmin friends are just too spread out across the u.s.  so, when you put so many people i admire in one place, i cherish face to face talks and any insight they can share.  i love that chris yount jones and i can pick up right where we left off and weave ministry and personal topics in and out of easy conversation.  i always love a few moments to sit and glean wisdom from denise muir kjesbo. i have loved gordan and becki west for many years and i am always thrilled when our ministry paths cross.  the group staff could not be more fun and i can’t wait to see karen, laycie, celia, donna, sherri, roseanne, david, shannon, tim and sharon. i’ll have to catch time to giggle with brook, chat with mary, hang with kimberly, and oh the list goes on and on.  so many great people to connect with, so little time!

i would love to hear from any of you who are attending kidmin ’13. i would also love to grab a cup of coffee, a quick meal, or a sack chair convo with you!  can’t wait, see you there.

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In faith

the gift of sabbath

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i have been blessed, challenged, encouraged, and stretched in many ways in my new ministry position. i am grateful to serve alongside a supervisor/friend that gets ministry and me! she gently guides, patiently listens (bless her heart), thoughtfully instructs, holds me accountable, and personally prays for and with me!  i am a recipient of her many gifts of leadership and am grateful. then, she took it to the next level with the gift of sabbath. 

i am not surprising anyone in service when i say how emotionally exhausting and spiritually depleting ministry can be.  maybe she saw that on our faces as we sat in an ed staff meeting on the edge of summer with to-do lists a mile long.  my idea of help would have been an effective way to get more done or at least three more paid assistants. 😉  i was so wrong. instead of talking new methods, more people, and longer hours, we were challenged with the ironic response of rest! we were taught from and gifted with a copy of 24/6 written by matthew sleuth, md.  that would have been plenty, but then we were handed an accountability card that required action on our part. for the three months of summer, busy months in kidmin, we were to pick one work day a month for a personal sabbath.  we were instructed to not schedule anything on that day except for time with Jesus.  no meetings, no “work”, no email, and no office time until late in the afternoon.  best. gift. ever.

my days of sabbath have challenged me to slow down, sit, and just be with Jesus instead of constantly “doing” for Him.  i experienced extended quiet andphoto 2 prayer times.  i literally stopped and smelled the flowers (hydrangeas, my favorite).  sermon downloads were listened to and Bible study times were unhurried.  i knew i appreciated this time, but not until my last scheduled sabbath was interrupted by unforeseeable circumstances did i know how greatly these  days ministered to me. my three month challenged will now be extended to year round so that i can truly be the Christ-centered leader i am called to be.

i don’t know where this blog post finds you. if you are in ministry i can only imagine how weary, stretched, or worn you may be. maybe, just maybe, it is time to stop doing and begin stopping. the thing your heart may need most is not more trying, but sweet sabbath rest.

*i would love to hear about your personal sabbath experiences. 



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In kidmin

camp community continues

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it begins, in a way, like an old episode of “the real world.”  nine strangers picked to go to camp and see what happens when kidmin leaders get real.  okay, so we were not total strangers. i knew a couple pretty well; had lunch with a few and said hello in the halls to others.  after a week together in the hot jackson, ms sun at centriKID camp, we shared more than just a few ministry moments.  we

prayed together,
ministered to kids together,
laughed together,
sacrificed sleep together,
led kids to Christ together,
celebrated new creations in Christ together,
and we were stretched a bit out of our comfort zones together.

i have seen it happen many times on mission and other ministry trips, but i am smiling as i see our camp community carry-onorange group at home as we continue to minister to dawson kids.  i shared with the kids the last night of camp that they were leaving with nine new “parents” that would be there when we returned home to: guide them, pray for them, encourage them, hold them accountable, and walk faith’s journey with them. we have been home merely days and our group text messages continue full of inside jokes (of course) from camp, but also with conversations about supporting this group of kids we shared time with at camp. with a group i barely knew beyond church walls, i now share a community of concern and responsibility for a great group of kiddos.  what a gift!

to me, a week at crazy camp just so wonderfully provides an environment for us all to catch the vision and be challenged to daily carry it out in the lives of children placed in our paths.  the question i ponder now is, how do i make this a reality not just for special event leaders, but for those that serve faithfully each week in kids ministry? i would love to hear any ideas you have or have seen used effectively!

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In kidmin

three dimensional discipleship

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introducing. discipling. digging deeper.

introducing, discipling, and challenging families to dig deeper into God’s Word are the aspects that make up our “confident in Christ” discipleship strategy at dawson kids.  several times a year we offer the following classes to 1st-5th graders on sunday evenings.  i have the privilege of teaching these classes, but i believe the element that truly takes these classes beyond the church walls and into the fabric of each child’s faith is the intentional part their parents play in each study.

Screen Shot 2013-07-08 at 8.43.33 PMGospel class (introducing)-  this interactive class is designed for kids that are asking questions and seeking to follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior. this is a two week class for parents and children to attend together.  using the Gospel project’s “God’s plan for me”, we explore each of the five Christ-centered, clearly stated Gospel points this resource provides.  after introducing each truth, we creatively experience them in concrete ways to build a bridge to these glorious abstract concepts. Screen Shot 2013-07-08 at 8.53.54 PM then parents and children work through a series of questions together (in class) about each truth.  this sweet time provides an open, honest dialogue between parent and child. parents not only personalize these truths with parts of their own spiritual journey, but they also get a glimpse of where their child is in his/her spiritual journey.  when the teaching and activities are over and the parent/child conversations begin, i sit back and take in the precious sight of parents being the primary faith trainers for their children.  it is by far my favorite part of this class! each family also receives their own copy of “the Gospel God’s plan for me” booklet to read, study the scriptures, and continue the discussion at home.

Screen Shot 2013-07-08 at 9.01.06 PM“i’m a Christian now” class (discipling)- this five week class (four weeks of workbook material) is designed for kids that have made a profession of faith. (we strongly encourage parents to have their child complete this class before baptism.) parents are asked to attend the first class (many stay for all five) and also complete the daily homework each week with their child. during class we don’t just review the facts in the homework, we experience these life-changing truths through hands-on activities and discover how they apply to our daily lives. we fall off tables for faith. each child literally gets their hands dirty when learning about sin and forgiveness. we march around the room to visualize repentance.  there is a tour of the church and baptism areas.  we also participate in prayer using the a.c.t.s. model, kids write out their testimonies, and much more.

digging deeper into God’ Word c.l.a.p. (digging deeper)-  i love devotional books for kids, but i am also passionate about kids learning to read, study and apply God’s word for themselves. i have had the pleasure of attending several of anne graham lotz’s Bible studies and have loved her sessions on how to study God’s Word.  as i began to practice her “3-question method” in my own quiet time, i was burdened to introduce it to the younger generations.  i decided to teach this method to my senior high girl’s small group.  they renamed the method c.l.a.p. (content, lesson, application, and prayer) and committed to giving it a try. we walked verse-by-verse through ephesians and hosea and i have never experienced such authentic share times.  lessons that could not be taught through workbook studies were coming to life as we simply sought God’s Word and what He had to say to us individually and as a group.   i know i am a children’s minister, but those sunday nights with that small group of youth girls and God’s Word are some of my favorite ministry memories. after teaching them, i knew i had to challenge the younger kids to begin to study God’s Word on their own.  we first incorporated c.l.a.p. in a children’s fall retreat, but it has since become a class i offer to parents and kids.  families come together for two weeks and learn this method and then practice at home.  i wish you could have been in my last session of this class.  i had several “chill bump moments” as i listened to families share what God said to them through a specific passage and how they were applying it to their families and individual lives.  glory!

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In kidmin

high five guys a hit

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highfive guyi love the encouragement, challenges, and fruit that comes from being a part of a collaborative team.  i was reminded of that joy once again through a “little” tweak we made with some very special men at our recent kidlife week.(vbs)  many of these men had served as greeters and “jump guys” last year during kidlife.  the “jump guys” were responsible for helping expel energy out of children that finished crafts early through several jump devices. (i.e. jump ropes)  they were such a stellar group to have around, the question was, “how would we work them into our GREAT BIG GOD theme this year?”

our team leader, jan, cleverly thought to to call them “high five guys”. we wanted to use them at doors, in hallways to greet IMG_5690children, and anywhere with the challenge to be intentional with encouragement.  instead of ordering expensive shirts, we purchased cheap ikea safety vests and added “high five guy” buttons to the front and stickers to the back.  add a cheap home depot tool belt and they were ready to go. then our preschool minister, brooke, and i set out to apply this in an age appropriate way to each of our ministries.  for preschool, she purchased stamps for these men to share with children before/after kidlife and during snack time in the fellowship hall.  for kids we created bling (i blogged about that here.) and in addition to engaging in conversation with the kids at the doors and hallways, they listened to memorized daily “bottom lines”, scripture, and shared bling. we wanted to be super intentional about these daily bottom lines, because at the end of the week they took home the truth of the Gospel in button form.  one girl shared with me today that she is keeping her bling in her kidlife memory box craft she made last week.  (i just love it when it all works together.)

we knew the “high-five guys” were neat and going to be a popular part of kidlife 2013, but we were blown away by the bond the kids shared with them.  preschoolers and children would rush from their cars into the building to high five a sweet man in a neon vest.  “high five guys” overheard unchurched guests repeating the Gospel bottom line to parents when leaving the building.   these men served more than a role as greeter or giver of high fives, they were like kidlife heroes. they called children by name, welcomed visitors back, encouraged other volunteers, and made sure parents knew their children were valued and cared for during the short time we had them each day.  this group of men were so adored they actually caused traffic jams and a few transition hiccups.  (a great problem to have.)  next year we may have them at the doors for before/after and then assign them to snack rooms so that each class gets a personal “high five guy.”

oh it wasn’t perfect process, but it was a precious example of the body of Christ coming together to pour the love of Jesus on the children.  the receivers weren’t the only ones blessed.  these “high-five guys” had a bit of fun as well.  one “high five guy” shares about his experience below.

“I’ve had quite a few jobs at Dawson, and I think this may be the best one yet.  I wonder now if it is the most important job I’ve had at church?  It is such a joy to see God working through these children. They inspired me with their energy and interest in learning about Jesus… and their knowledge.  In five mornings they learned the plan of salvation in terms they can say and understand. If only we adults could understand so simply and take things to heart so quickly and solidly!  It’s fun to be such a popular character among the children, but the real reward comes form hearing them express God’s love through Scripture and the eternally significant bottom line statements for each day.  It’s effective evangelism.  Oh yeah, and it’s fun.” – Jim

one sweet preschooler was so fond of the “high five guys” that he got a vest from one at the end of the week.  it made his day, but he didn’t stop there.  he shared the encouragement (and stamps) with other well after kidlife week was over!

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