kidmin

In kidmin

clean slate

July 16, 2012 3 Comments

at first glance it may not make much sense to put pictures of my new office in my blog entitled “clean slate.” well, in my head it makes perfect sense. you see, i am highly visual and i am a slow learner. so i knew if i was going to make the most of this new ministry adventure God has given me, i would have to give myself a daily reminder.

i believe a fresh start in ministry is a precious gift and i want to come face to face with this truth each day. so, the extremist in me went from bright blue, glitter covered walls with a red velvet couch to an office that is, well, white. i simply couldn’t conceive a better palette to scream clean start to myself each day.

here are just some of the things i hope and pray these surroundings remind me of each day:

– have no agenda other than God’s agenda
– this new ministry is not the 2.0 version of the last ministry
– dream fresh, God-sized dreams
– my way is not always the best way, try something new
– learn and grow from past failures and conflicts, but don’t let them mar the new ministry
– it takes time to fill a blank canvas – be patient and purposed with each stroke

the other important piece to my new office was one of the scriptures God used in calling me to dawson. (pictured left) ephesians 3:20-21, “now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! amen.” i believe it is when i get out of the way and abandon myself to His vision and dreams, i can experience the Creator’s abundantly more!

In kidmin

kidmin is community

June 30, 2012 2 Comments

IT team — just a small group of the kidmin inside track team in colorado this spring. (we had great fun dreaming and praying for kidmin 2012.)

being a single gal in kidmin can often times leave one feeling alone and isolated in ministry. this was the case for a season before i became involved in group’s kidmin conference last year. the speakers were amazing and the worship uplifting, but one thing that has continued to encourage and support me throughout the year is the connections i made at the conference.

these fellow servants in ministry were merely avatars on a screen with occasional tweets or messages on facebook until we spent time in authentic conversation. after a week of laughing, praying, crying, and sharing these people felt more like ministry family.

this kidmin family became even more dear to my heart recently when i moved states to begin a new adventure in ministry. the amount of encouragement, prayers, and support i received from my kidmin community was overwhelming. they got it. they understood leaving a place i had invested in for so long was hard. several of them were also walking through the transition process and i know each one is just a phone call, email, or tweet away. what a gift!

for me, the kidmin conference is a place:

to renew my passion for ministering to children and families,
to freely worship at the feet of the Savior i love to serve,
to experience a new level of learning,
but most importantly to connect with others who inspire, challenge, and encourage me.

i hope to see you at kidmin 2012. read more at the conference website.

In kidmin

it began with princess stories on the playground…

May 20, 2012 4 Comments

when entering college i had other plans for my life. my future included washington d.c., politics, and news cameras. it is amazing how God knows us better than we know ourselves. i thought i wanted to deliver news stories to homes across the country, but God knew He designed me to share the life-changing story with children. He eased me into this ministry path and it all began with princess stories on the playground.

217_31576435149_607355149_2558925_1681_n — young princesses

as a college student, i took the job as paid childcare coordinator for wednesday nights. i couldn’t just enlist the workers and watch them have all the fun with the kids. i wanted to be building relationships with these kids myself. so, many nights were spent on that old church campus playground pushing swings, playing wall ball, and sharing princess stories. the girls and i would gather on a patch of grass or in the back of the wooden train and i would begin with “once upon a time.” the stories always included princesses and fairies, but the main point was that each girl was a princess because their Heavenly Father is the King of Kings. some nights we would even make princess crowns out of clover flowers and wear them proudly around our playground kingdom.

552882_10151630144550476_724250475_12063819_38579326_n — sweet girls all grown up!

this week as my time here in the ‘boro is coming to an end, i am constantly reminded of these special moments that led me into children’s ministry. i am so grateful to have had the privilege to get to watch so many princesses and princes grow in their walk with Jesus and follow His path for their life. they now challenge me with their boldness and authentic faith. i smile because i know we will live happily ever after because of our precious relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

427932_10151613221345476_724250475_12020180_2000366058_n — one of my favorite cards ever from a princess.

In faith

a season of change…

May 4, 2012 18 Comments

dear belle aire family,

it is with great peace but a heavy heart that i write to share with you my resignation as the minister of children at belle aire baptist church. through scripture, circumstances, and much prayer, i am accepting the call to be the minister of children at dawson memorial baptist church in birmingham, alabama.

i want to make it clear that i was not looking to leave belle aire, and i am confident that God is calling me to this new position. i cannot stress enough what a tough decision this has been for me. belle aire is my home church. it is the place where i “grew up” spiritually, and the church body that took a chance on me in ministry. belle aire is more than my place of employment or my church–belle aire is my family!

parents, please help your children understand that i couldn’t love them more and it breaks my heart to go. this is a choice to obey God. although this will be a challenging time for all involved, it is also an opportunity to teach children how God leads us in our life’s journey.
i have sought God’s direction and confirmation in scripture and have received great peace in the midst of this hard decision. while this move and transition will be difficult, i am excited about the next season God has for me in ministry. God has laid out a plan for me and i am seeking to follow His will for my life.

my last sunday at belle aire will be may 20th. please know that every effort has been made to help the children’s ministry run smoothly this summer (i.e. vbs, camps, sundays and wednesdays). kelly jackson, preschool minister, will be overseeing these areas and she will need your enthusiastic support.

it has been a privilege and honor to serve under the most humble and God-fearing man i know, dean sisk. his leadership and passion for Christ is a blessing to this church and has made a lasting impact on me throughout my spiritual journey!

what a joy it has been to serve alongside you the last 15 years. my heart treasures each memory and moment we sought the Savior together. thank you!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us; to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

in faith,
danielle bell

In kidmin

the chalk wall of praise

March 29, 2012 No Comments

“when was the last time when praying you just spent time bragging on God and praising Him for who He is?” that was the question i asked my YUCs last night while beginning our prayer series on praise. wow! it is as if when those words came from my mouth they did an instant u-turn and came back to pierce my own heart. as is often the case when teaching children, the question and lesson i had for them seemed to be one God wanted to remind me of as well.

i love this prayer series with kids. while it serves as a great reminder for me, it is also a challenge to my prayer life as i watch children passionately go before the Father in prayer. their authentic response to the offer to communicate with the Creator is so refreshing. we will spend four weeks working through the ACTS strategy of prayer, but i think the first lesson will always grip my heart the most!

we begin talking about the A-adore. when we adore God in prayer, we are praising Him for WHO HE IS! this has such a great way of taking our eyes off ourselves and placing our gaze on the One that can handle any need, problem, or concern we bring to Him. He is able! after spending time in popcorn praise circles we do an activity that helps illustrate the point and power of praise – the chalk wall.

the sad truth is kids have difficult worlds. they have deep hurts, aggressive temptations, confusion, disappointments and more. just like adults, as children walk their faith journey they are often trying to stay afloat in the storms.

so that is what we begin with, life’s storms. the kids get chalk and spend time drawing symbols for all the storms they are facing in their lives! as a ministry leader it is so eye-opening and humbling to see the pictures drawn and the hurt that you know is attached to each stroke of the chalk. their storm drawings are a stark reminder of how we often come to God in prayer. we come burdened and broken and only able to see the struggles we long for Him to meet us in and bring us hope. so it is there, with the storms staring us in the face, we begin to review the names of God and see Him for all He is and how He can personally meet us in each difficulty! and we start to praise!

as children praise Him using His different names they begin to write those names over their storms and struggles until the storms fade to the background and who He is remains for the eye to behold. we talk about how the storms don’t suddenly disappear and life magically gets easy. we intentionally focus on the One who can reign, offer safety, comfort, and bring peace in the middle of life’s battles.

if we will take the precious time to adore God in prayer and praise Him for who He is, our eyes will focus on Him and not on our storms. that is why we begin with praise. that is why today as i came to Him with worry in my hands, i sat back and bragged on Him. then like a child, i am reminded there is nothing i hold He can’t handle. and so with praise my heart floods with peace.

About Me

Danielle has over 25 years of kidmin experience and she possesses a great fervor for sharing, discipling, and shepherding children and families with the message of Jesus Christ. Danielle is a well-respected leader and trainer in the area of Children's Ministry and has spoken regionally at local churches and nationally at children’s ministry conferences. She is a curriculum writer for Gospel Project Kids. and Awana brite. She has also written the following resources: “God’s Brave Girl” Leader and Student Guides (Lifeway), “The Gospel God’s Plan for Me” Leader and Student Guides (Lifeway), and the Younger KidMin chapter for “Children’s Ministry Volunteer Handbook” (Outreach). Danielle is the lead instructor for the Children's Ministry Certificate at beadisciple.com. In 2010, Danielle was named by “Children’s Ministry Magazine” as one of the top 20 Children’s Ministry Leaders to watch. Danielle’s blog, dandibell.com, is one of the top 100 kid’s ministry blogs.
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The posts on this site are my own personal opinions. These posts do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the companies I write for or my church.

for me, the kidmin conference is a place:

to renew my passion for ministering to children and families, to freely worship at the feet of the Savior i love to serve, to experience a new level of learning, but most importantly to connect with others who inspire, challenge, and encourage me.

to renew my passion for ministering to children and families,
to freely worship at the feet of the Savior i love to serve,
to experience a new level of learning,
but most importantly to connect with others who inspire, challenge, and encourage me.