Making Time For Response - Part 6

Strength in Numbers

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." Matthew 18:19

Make sure that children have someone that will pray for them as they come to respond. Whether it's you, another adult, or a friend...

• If they are responding to salvation, Have people that will take those children aside, to the back of the room or to another room and instruct them on what has just happened.

• Have people who will come and pray for children as they respond to the message or as they lift up requests and needs. And guess what? Some of those who come to pray for the children are children. Encourage it… teach and instruct on it - you will be surprised.

• Have those who pray with kids use the old education model to affirm and seal what has just happened. The old education model says: “Tell them what you are going to teach them… teach them… tell then what you just taught them”. OK, just adjust it to a prayer time. After you know what the lesson emphasis is or what their needs are - “Tell them what you are going to pray about… pray with them… tell them what they just prayed about”.

Making Time For Response - Part 5

Something that I think is a good idea is to give several different times to respond during various services. These times are as follows... but no limited to:

Salvation

• First, how will the children in your church ever get saved unless you give them a chance to respond? Jesus wants your kids to know Him! I never want to be known as the guy who taught a lot about Jesus and was entertaining - only to have the children I've encountered pass on into eternity without knowing Christ. My time and their time is too short - and God's time is too valuable.

• Second, I have found that God will send more unsaved and searching families to the churches I've been, when I put a regular emphasis on Christ's saving power. That's the goal of the church, isn't it? In Acts, it says that they added to their numbers daily. We've got to get ahold of that!

• Third, my Pastor, no matter what topic or message he is speaking on, always brings it back to Jesus Christ and the price He paid for us. When it's all said and done, It's all about Jesus - enough said.

Message Application

This is a special time for you to make sure that your children are really having a Jesus-experience that drives home the topic or emphasis for the day. This can be an amazing moment that happens... and I usually find that it happens immediately after I sense the kids have "gotten" it. (see this blog post for my short essay on this topic). Sometimes, I will have kids pray about these things on their own, other times, I'll have others pray with the kids. Sometimes it calls for worship and singing, other times we need to lead the kids in a prayer of commitment.

Felt Needs

I hear the jokes - not the need you have for some Betty Lukens felt-board stories. This will be an important time for children to lay before the Lord's feet their needs and requests. Kids have needs and they need the power of God to intervene! You might think that a lost puppy or a cat that died isn't important in the grand scheme of things. But that's the grand scheme in "your world". In a "Kids' World", the grand scheme is different. In a "Kids' World", their economy is different. In a "Kids' World", what speaks to them is different. If we are called to reach kids, we'd better have a greater understanding of "Their World" After all, Jesus understood it, called the kids to Himself and regularly entered it. He still understands it, calls kids to Himself and regularly enters it.

Enough to chew on?

Making Time For Response - Part 4

Timing is EVERYTHING!

Give them an opportunity when the atmosphere is right. Deliver a message and invite children to respond. Don't expect them to go home and respond. Yes, some might do that too. But I'm not going to take the chance. The Holy Spirit will begin to prepare the hearts of the children as the Word of God is presented. If you don't give children a chance to respond to the work that's being done in their heart, then the Holy Spirit is being held... or bound from doing what He wants to do. Remember, the Holy Spirit is a gentleman - He will wait for you to invite Him to intervene and operate.

The timing and types of altar calls must fit the purpose and message in your service in order to determine how effective the time at the altar will be. In developing my children's services, I start on an "up" note... put the serious things in the middle... and then progressively build the excitement and end on an "up" note.

In this way the intensity of the service comes to a very serious point about half way to two thirds of the into the service. Then it will pick back up again from there to the end.

The reason that I put the altar call toward the middle and then more stuff at the end is simple. The altar time needs to be given as much time as the Holy Spirit needs. We have already covered the other bases of a children's service… Prayer time has now been allotted a block of time - with some wiggle room.

We keep the remaining events for after the altar time. But I always try to be strategic in choosing the last items for the service: review questions/review games, related story and closing songs can be sacrificed. Yep, that's right - I plan stuff that may never happen. Because that will give the "right of way" to the Holy Spirit's moving and timing to another 15 minutes if we need it. So now we have a lot or time for prayer and response. And those last items aren't just time-fillers because we can throw them out. Children can still benefit from review and another Fun song that emphasizes the theme for the day.

Making Time For Response - Part 3

Part three is going to deal with an item that I actually thought about just before lecturing about the same topic - I ended up discussing the item during the lecture and got a positive response - it was not in the lecture notes, but I thought I would add it anyway because it's a point of discussion:

The definition and explanation of an altar...

If you are in a community where there is a strong "liturgical" church presence, you will no doubt be faced with concern from adults - and even children who have learned of the sacredness of an "altar". In some traditions, an altar is a physical place in the church building that cannot be accessed by just anyone - only the minister or priest. I had the opportunity to visit some of the oldest church buildings in the world in Armenia. In these buildings were "altars" that were falling apart, yet, no one was allowed to go near them or touch them... they were sacred. I would imagine there are those who fear the idea of an "altar" because they've been taught that it is too serious of a place.

I will not have a theological debate with anyone on the topic; I will tell you that I grew up in a catholic tradition and became born-again at age 10. When I learned that I could approach God on my own, it fascinated me! But the concern still lingered in my new church environment as to where the "altar" was on or near the platform... it didn't exist. It was later that I was taught that when the time of prayer came, an "altar" was created by each individual at the front by kneeling at the steps.

Now, I understand that each and every church is different. And am no doubt a believer in the power of prayer. But, I have come to the conclusion that some teaching on the topic of an "altar" needs to take place on a regular basis. Kids need to have an understanding of what an "altar" was and still is. It was a place of worship, prayer and sacrifice. It still is, but because of the work of Christ on the cross, we can make any place we go, a place of worship, prayer and sacrifice. At times, I will have an "altar" time near the front of the Kids' Church room where kids can stand or kneel. Other times, I will make them turn and kneel at their chairs. And still, at other times, I will have kids scatter throughout the room to pray or worship and find a place where they can connect with God. We see that even in ancient Jewish cultures, one would wrap his outer cloak around himself and cross his arms... this was known as his "prayer-closet" - location didn't matter at times.

I think that last statement is really what I want to get across: To me, location of an altar time doesn't matter - as long as they are connecting with God.

Every So Often... A Thought Runs Thru My Head

I'll get back to altar times and kids later this week. For now I submit the following:

Today - this thought ran through my head:

If I never showed up again at my church - what would or wouldn't the impact be? Now please don't read into this as a future plan to bolt - I love my church, my Pastor, the staff and the kids.

You've heard the question: "If you church suddenly shut down, would anybody in the neighborhood notice?"

I guess that's what I'm asking - if I never showed up again; sure, the kids might be sad for a time, the staff may have a few fond memories, but... what would the lasting impact be? Have I made a difference that will leave an impression on this generation and the generations to come?

What about you? Have you made the impact in such a way that if today was your last Sunday, would change a kid's world? Would the impression last? You really need to ask yourself that question.

Larry Norman sang, "It's only today that counts - so, live it like it might be your last..."

Well, it's only today that counts... minister like it might be your last.

Making Time For Response - Part 2

THE TIME AND PLACE

Where will children respond and receive from God, unless you give them a time and a place to do it? Trust me, they won't wait until they get home to respond! I've been guilty of this:

Once upon a time, in a church far from here, when I was a much younger man... I saw the "moment" happen. You know what I'm talking about (I think I blogged about it a while back), it's the "moment" when you realize that the connection has been made in these kids during the service. I was teaching away and I realize that the "moment" was present - God wanted to do something! But alas, there, at the back door were the parents waiting (how did they get out of church before us?) I panicked scrambled for what to do. So, I said something to the effect of:

"Kids, I know that God wants to do something special in your lives today... but we've run out of time! I want you to go home and get alone with God and let Him do that something special this afternoon..."

Do you think that these kids did it? Most likely NOT. When these kids leave your church, they are going to go do a variety of activities: go out to eat, go over to a friends house, go visit relatives, they have homework to do, they're going to go out to play - these are KIDS with busy lives!

Everywhere else the world has the attention of your children. These kids have been given a time a place to respond and receive from the world on an hourly basis; Think about commercials, television shows, peer pressure at school and even in your own backyard. "Here, try this… this is fun… just do what I do… you need one of these… buy this!" And then comes the response from the children… "Ok, I'll try it… this IS fun… mom, I want that… I need that… buy that for me!" You need to give them a place to respond and receive. The words I love to hear on Sunday mornings are, "I need that… I want that… Lord, give me that… I want more!"

A few items to be aware of:

• God wants your kids to come to Him - reread the story of Jesus and the kids.
• The Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He will often times move the strongest when you have planned for Him and make the room in your service for Him (yes, make no mistake,there will be those times when He will surprise you).
• God can and will speak to kids... if you allow kids to Hear His voice.

Making Time For Response

I have a feeling that I will be touching an interesting topic in the following posts. Too many churches don't deal with it and therefore, too many children's churches or services don't deal with it...

I'm talking about the proper use of an altar time - or prayer time in your children's ministry service. You say - "an altar time in a children's ministry?" Yes, unless room for response is made, many times people will only go to an altar a few times in their life; once when, or if they get married... and/or when they get saved. And of course there is that possibility, if they come when they have no where else to turn.

I believe an altar time plays a vital role in the maturing of the child's walk with God as well as the intensity of the service. I will get into the how's, what's, why's and so-forth in the upcoming posts. I promise; I won't become super-spiritual on this, nor will I be lazy in my definition and practics during these posts... I do welcome your responses.

would you pay .50 to see the largest name tag ball?

Well, would you? I think I would. I have a name tag ball that's pretty big - it's actually as big as my head (no jokes please!).

How did this thing get started? A few years ago I actually saw a friend of mine at a neighboring church with a giant name tag ball. He told me that the most popular thing with his kids is getting to add their name tag to the ball as they leave... I took the idea and ran with it. At the particular church that

I was at, we got a name tag ball going that got as big as a basketball before we left.

The one you see me holding is about as big as my head and growing. (we've been adding to the ball since June - and yes, it's 100% name tags!)

This has been a great way to enforce our rule "Wear a name tag". We tell the kids that if they pull it off and stick it on constantly during the service of class, not only are the

y not obeying the rule - but, it will not be sticky enough to add to the name tag ball.

Do you use labels as name tags (printed or handwritten)? give it a try!

Who's Vision Do I Have?

When you look at the vision that God gave you to reach boys and girls, you have to keep in mind... and in heart, that God didn't give you someone else's vision.

It sure is easy as a CM leader to look at Church A, B & C and desire what they have... or desire to do what they do - especially if that church is at the forefront of church ministry. I was recently at a friend's church for a CM leader's meeting and got a tour of the building. While touring this monster of a building, my friend showed me the CM resource room. I was envious... it was awesome! Huge; organized; with numerous matching shelves and cabinets; an insane amount of counter space for getting work done; every conceivable piece of office equipment - just of for the CM department... that CM leaders wish they had (color copier, giant laminator, large format printer, paper cutters and several work computers!) Get the idea here? Most public schools wouldn't be able to touch this!

I went home and told my wife about it - and the pursuit of a bigger and better resource room began to formulate in my mind. But, I had to realize that I was not called to pursue that vision, but vision that God has put in front of me for this church. Sure I can use the experience of seeing that big resource room to inspire me to pursue excellence in what we do in this church. But I was not called to fulfill that other church's vision.

Look at where you are now... what you have now... who you have now... and ask God where He wants you to go now... How He wants you to do what He's called you to do... and - When His time frame allows for you to do all He's asked you to do.

Besides, my friend said that I could use his resource room anytime! Hmm... what could I laminate?

What's On My Mind

Lately the topic that's been on my mind lately is:

the difference between a noun and a verb - particularly in reference to God's Word. I believe that most of God's Word written to us was written as a verb. Even where a noun exists, you must take and use your freedom as a minister to interpret it as a "noun that is in action".

Salvation is a noun - However, it is the name given to the action of being rescued from sin. And according to scripture, it's a noun that should constantly be in action. We are to "work it out..."

Faith is a noun - However, it is a noun that is activated into a verb when we start to step out into it.

Ministry is a noun - interestingly, it is something that we do or that God does through us... it's also something that happens.

What other nouns can you identify in God's word that are things we do, God does, or are activated by our actions or God's move?

Because It's Funny - new book

I say some of the things that I say in Children's Ministry Presentations and Kid-Show Performances... because it's funny!

You should always have something fun, funny, witty, or just plain silly to say to your audience. Whether it's planned or ready to cover a mistake; a funny quote, pun, gag or joke should always be in your pocket.

My latest book, "Because it's Funny" is 40 Pages of funny things to say that have worked for me over the years - maybe some of these things will work for you too. This is my first book-endeavor that is not exclusively a Children's Ministry resource... although the stuff in it has been developed both in Children's Ministry Presentations like: children's churches, kids' crusades, camps and outreaches... as well as Kid-Show and Family Performances like; school assemblies, daycares and birthday parties.

Besides, at the last FCM conference I was at, Del WIlson said that he really liked the cover - thanks Del!

Please go to the online bookstore and get it immediately as a download!

...and while you're there pick up a few other downloads why don't ya!

New Gospel Magic Download

It's my favorite way to point kids the real answer to eternal life. It's essentially a big flash-card-type of an effect. You show what appears to be 5 cards; each with a picture depicting a way that some think will lead them to heaven. A spectator is asked to take the cards and begin eliminating all of the cards except for one. When that card is revealed, it shows a picture that represents Jesus... a card that was apparently not in the pack of cards to begin with!

The download gets you the instructions and graphics to make the flash-cards. I'm sure you'll find it to be an effective way to communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ in your class, children's church or at an outreach.

It's only $8... and it's in my online bookstore - click here!

stuff that will get you distracted as a children's pastor

Here are a few things that have gotten folks distracted from doing what God has called them to do in ministry to children and families. If you're saying these things to yourself or others... time to re-evaluate what you're doing and re-align your thoughts:

1. "My pastor never promotes what I do. "
2. "These parents don't care about what I do."
3. "I don't have a big enough budget."
4. "I don't get paid enough."
5. "That's what Church B does."
6. "I do twice as much as that pastor and get paid less and have a smaller budget."
7. "Wish I could decorate that room however I want."
8. "I need more kids to come to this."
9. "Nobody wants to volunteer."
10. "I wish.... (put anything here)."

Can you relate? Don't let these thoughts consume you. Go back to the vision God put in front of you and get back to work.

stuff that's helped me over the years - part 2

Here's part two (2) of this topic - just a few items that might help you in your ministry to kids. I hope it helps someone out there...

Thanks to kidology.org for featuring the post on their blog watch page!

Study those who have perfected the art

I look to children’s ministry leaders who have been there and done it - “it” being what I really want to do or have been called to do. People like Jim Wideman, Dick Gruber, Randy Christensen and Dan Rector have done it all. I also like to look at the unsung heros who have still been there and done “it”. Friends to many to mention.

I also like to study the people who do what I do in both church and non-church related settings. David Ginn, Sammy Smith, Barry Mitchell and others who’s main bread and butter is entertaining and educating kids at School Assemblies. I have written a bit more about David Ginn here.

Go To Creative Idea Places

I go shopping and sometimes never buy anything - but I have a camera on my phone and can take notes. I go to hardware/home improvement stores, toy stores, magic shops, costume shops, arts/crafts stores, surplus shops, flea markets and tourist traps… Oh, I’m sure there are more places that I’ve shopped and gotten good ideas at. Be watchful - you never know where you’ll be when you see an idea for an object lesson, game, skit, illustration or character.

Listen To Your Pastor

He will have the heartbeat of the church in regard to the vision. In staff meetings, take him seriously, take notes, take action. If he’s suggesting something it probably means that that’s the direction he’d like to go. If you don’t understand what he wants, ask him and assure him that you are supportive and want to go the same direction. Make sure you’re listening to his sermons either live (preferably) or via the web or a CD - this will give you great insight into his heart!

stuff that's helped me over the years

Alright - these next few posts will really be a brain dump of what I hope is useful information for someone. It's just a few items each post that are useful bits of info that have helped me over the years. If it helps anyone else - then I'm doing what I believe I was called to do...

1. Network with others in ministry

This will be your greatest resource. Get on CMConnect and Kidology. Get on the phone and call churches that have ministries on the same level as yours, churches that are at the next level and churches that are at a level under your church's. Who knows, perhaps you'll save $100's just by learning what to do and what not to do!

2. Be a list maker

list stuff when you think of it - I mean... everything! I have to-do lists, lists of lesson series, lists of leadership topics that I want to cover, lists of silly rules characters can use when we review the rules in kids church, lists of object lesson ideas I've gotten from visiting a favorite store, lists of fun ideas for a Sunday school class, I just looked at a list of as many object lessons as I could think of with balloons.

No idea is a bad idea unless it's an unused or undeveloped idea. (consider sharing those ideas you can't use now with someone you're networking with). I have a mentor who has a file cabinets with unused ideas and a big fat hard drive full of ideas he's never used and doesn't think he ever will - wish he'd sell it all to me!

3. Make kids, individually, feel like a million dollars

I learned this from one of my earliest mentors. When I was a kid He would walk into a room and look me in the eye, shake my hand and tell me he was so glad that I was in kids church that day - I felt like the most important person in the room for the rest of the day! He did that to every kid - I swear!

The Two Ways Kids Interpret Their World

Kids really see stuff in two ways:

1. This is either FUN

or

2. this is really BORING

Yep - that's really the mindset of a kid.

Now let me bring some definition to the information above...

These two viewpoints of the world are really interpretations of the world around them. For instance: an activity or experience that is exciting, engaging, delicious, funny, intriguing, inclusive or tailored to their wants and needs will be interpreted as "FUN".

on the other hand... any activity or experience that is uncomfortable, uninteresting, over their heads, too predictable, non-engaging, unfamiliar, not welcoming or negative will most likely be interpreted as "BORING".

Now here's what you've wanted to hear all day: Children will react differently to each of the two ways that they see the world.

1. If they interpret the world around them as being "FUN", they will engage, participate and have a positive attitude about that activity or experience. With this experience, you can harness that energy and help guide it into a moment of learning, and experiencing God. This, in my vocabulary is called: "CONTROLLED FUN". Please take note that, "CONTROLLED FUN" is good.

2. If they interpret the world around them as being "BORING", they will disengage from the activity, despise the adult who is initiating the "BORING" activity or experience and ultimately, make an attempt to create their own "FUN". When a child attempts to create their own fun in defiance of the "BORING" activity or simply, quite .possibly a non-existent activity, this, in my vocabulary is called: "UNCONTROLLED FUN". Please note that "UNCONTROLLED FUN" is NOT good.

How's your Children's Ministry doing with all of this?

Children's Ministry Structure - Part Three

In a few earlier posts, I've written about restructure. We've explored some of the steps to take - let's keep going:

• Meet with the level of leadership closest to you:

Meet with your first level of leadership closest to you to help them understand their new role. I say new because, you've most likely make appropriate changes... right? Remember the job descriptions? Now is the time to help implement those job descriptions into action.

• Provide Training and Empowerment to that level of leadership:

I really cannot take the time to meet with every leadership position that falls under that first layer of leadership. So I must give that layer the power to take the new structure to that next level of leadership. They will essentially do what I have just done with them. They will help implement the new job descriptions into action with that next layer.

• Tweak as you go:

Yep... you've not now, nor will you ever arrive at a place when you've finished structuring your ministry. If you ever get to that point... quit. Seriously, complacency ministry is akin to death (perhaps someone somewhere will quote that one day). Our CM Leadership manuals are not bound in a book or even spiral bound - they are in three-ring binders because that manual will be progressive. It will change and be added to.

I'll have more next time - keep looking up!

I Get to Lecture - Yee Haw!

I get to do one of my favorite things coming up in August. I get to lecture for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Magicians.

I will be presenting my Inside Out Lecture. It features my signature Gospel Magic routines that I have developed and presented for the past... well.... lot of years!

Plus, after the lecture I will have some of my resources available for purchase.

Here are the details for those of you near the Denver area:

• Date: Monday - August 10, 2009
• Location: Saint Michaels and All Angels Church, 1400 South University Boulevard Denver, CO.
• Check in time is 6:45 PM
• Each person in attendance will receive my lecture notes on CD ROM

If you can make it... please come and let's have some fun!

Children's Ministry Structure - Part Two

You've begun the daunting task of restructuring a Children's Ministry. Let me point out a few observations before we take any more steps in this process:

This is hard work:

There are a lot of little details that need to be done in order to do this right. I am so blessed to have my wife as my administrative assistant to help handle all of these details. Let's remember an important principle: Anything that's worth anything will take time and hard work.

This is a process:

You won't get all of this done in a day - or even a week. If you do, please call me and I might hire you. This will take time... a lot of time... a lot of YOUR time. So, b impatient enough that you want to get it done - but have patients enough to know that you have to take each step separately and in some cases delicately.

This has to be deliberate:

Re-structuring won't just happen (come to think of it, no ministry administration ever "just happens"). Be deliberate about having a plan to get the process started. Be deliberate in communicating to your people that you are doing this whole thing. Be deliberate in working your plan. Be deliberate about pushing the process and keeping it going. Can I be any more deliberate about being deliberate?

OK - back to work... you can do this!

Hey - Thanks Kidology!

I wanted to say a special thanks you to kidology.org for re-posting my advertisement from this blog about our new CD - "the BIG spin"

I appreciate all that kidology.org has done over the years. If you are not a member, please get the membership - it's really, my online file-cabinet/bookshelf/church supply closet of all things children's ministry resources! The stuff there is submietted by CM leaders from all over the world and from every type of church setting. Go for it!

NEW CD - the BIG spin

Alright - it's about time!

The new CD, "the BIG spin" is finally out!

For a number of years friends in the ministry have been asking where we get our background music. We use a variety from a variety of sources... but, my favorite background music is the stuff we make ourselves.

For the last few years, I've been using Apple's program GarageBand to create music for games, character entrances/exits, performances, multi-media presentations... really whatever we needed it for.

I've taken all the background tracks we've created over the last few years and put them all together on one CD. 22 royalty-free music tracks for you to use. Tracks 1-11 are samples and 12-22 are repeated as extended tracks. You can listen to the first track here.

Just go to the online bookstore and order it! And don't forget you can buy my other books as instant downloads too... I'm just sayin'.

Children's Ministry Structure - Part One

I have been lacking in my blog posts as of lately - but I thought I would blog about the very thing I am dealing with right now... after all, that's what a blog is intended for - right?

Structure - What's Yours Look Like

As I have been speaking with friends in the ministry about the fun and challenges faced at a new church opportunity, I have made the mistake of mentioning that my wife and I are working to add structure to a ministry that has none. The mistake is in the phrase 'this ministry has none'. Really when it comes down to it - Every Children's Ministry has structure. Even when everything looks like it doesn't work or is falling apart - it's not due to a "no structure ministry"... it's due to a flaw in the structure or a poor structure. Your ministry has a structure - and you either know what it is and it's intentional... or you continue to build it and it's unintentional... or, it's unknown.

Here a are a few steps for you and your ministry team to take to help you re-structure your ministry.

• Define your current structure:

Create a flowchart of all of your departments or sub-ministries that report to you. BE HONEST about how things really flow. Have you ever wondered why everyone in your ministry from the guy running sound, to the registration worker to the preschool teacher comes running to you... every Sunday morning... all at the same time... so you can solve their problems. It's a flaw in your structure. You should be able to see this in your flow chart.

• Define what you want your structure to look like:

Re-work your flowchart. I mean dream about what leaders you would need to restructure your current ministry alongside of those who already serve. Decide who should really report to who - and who should report to you.

• Start to create job descriptions for each box on your flowchart - including your own:

You are going to need to get with the current leadership that already fill some of those boxes and get from them, their understanding of the role they play on your leadership team. Take this information and begin to design the job description for this position based on what needs to get done and the purpose of the position.

In the next post, I will share the next steps. Now... GO... and begin on your journey towards better structure in your Children's Ministry!

Whew! I love being a children's pastor...

Whew - lots of stuff going on since my lat post. Taking a new children's pastor position has proven to take up more time than I had anticipated - but I love being in my element. Let me say that I love being a Children's Pastor!

We are getting ready to launch a new campus in the fall - we are gearing up, recruiting, casting vision and planning, planning, planning. This is something I have never done before and I am embracing the challenge.

I get to collaborate with my Pastor about what goes on in the adult services and all the kids' services; in other-words, whatever my Pastor wants to do in the adult services, we do the same thing, or at lease go the same direction in the kids' services. So, with that said - the topic for the fall is "breaking free". We are considering a Super Heros kinda theme for the Kids' Ministries. Got some ideas - e-mail me!

I started on twitter. It's been fun to connect with great leaders from all over the world. If you're not on twitter... do it and love it! You can follow me @jamie_doyle

I had a great opportunity to be a part of one of Jim Wideman's Club teachig in which he brought together 11 other children's ministry leaders from a variety of churches and backgrounds via a conference call and let everyone ask questions and contribute to the answers. It was fun - thanks Bro. Jim! BTW Jim is offering his Club for free for ministry leaders under age 30... and for a limited time $50 for leaders over 30. Just go to jimwideman.com

I'm trying to put the finishing touches on a CD. Over the years I have arranged stuff on GarageBand for Mac to create our own background music. So the name is nailed down and soon, it will be available in my online bookstore.

Hope you're staying busy and that God is moving in your ministry!

Gearing up for the Sunday Experience and SoDak

It's been fun teaming up with my Pastor on the on-going sermon series on the book of Acts.  The idea is that the kids and the adults are learning about the same thing.  This week we are in Acts Chapter 9 about Ananias praying for Saul - even though he doesn't really want to do it.  But because he is obedient - the church not only experiences a time of growth and peace; but, Ananias helps to usher in a convert who is the greatest influence on the spread of the gospel and the growth of the church!  So our emphasis will be on obedience.

I am also pumped about my family and I hitting the road and heading north to my "birth-State", South Dakota.  I will be there speaking at the Assemblies of God District Children's Camp.  It will be my first time speaking at a district event in this state - and man, what a honor!  Plus - I get to see some family while there.

****Special thanks to Kidology.org for featuring my post on the "Adding Flash to Your Lessons" book.

GUESS WHAT - another book... or, actually - two

OK - So, I've combined two books into one download.  These are the books that people asked me to write when I would present lectures on using simple pyro-tech object lessons.  I would finish the workshop and people would ask, "Hey, you got a book about all this?"

Adding Flash To Your Lessons

and

Adding MORE Flash to Your Lessons

...Just check my bookstore and have a look.

Oh - and a big thanks to all of you who have bought my books online these past few months.

Launching a New Campus

I am in a phone conference as I type with a company that helps churches design a portable church for new church plants and new campuses.  This is pretty exciting to see what God is doing in this church to reach a completely new neighborhood in the Colorado Springs area.

We are working on completely decking out the kids ministry area with all we need in regard to sound, video, set design, check-in and etc!

Pretty fun stuff!

Well - It's Official...

Yep - I have become the new Children's Pastor of Radiant Church in Colorado Springs. So, it's official and I will actually start there the last week of May. OK, wait - let me back-up: beep, beep, beep.

As you know from the previous post, I went out to the Springs on an compatibility trip to check out the Pastor, staff, church, area, etc. to see if it would be a good match... and the Pastor, staff, church and area were watching me to see if it would be a good match. At the end of the trip, the Pastor even put it all out on the table - in writing: An UN-official offer that he said he would officially offer me during my next trip. I have to tell you, it was great to have it all in writing, in front of us as Jennifer and I prayed about it.

It seemed to be a great match! So, last weekend, they brought me, my wife and my oldest son out to see the area and do an official candidate-kinda-thing. We had a great time and really connected with the Pastor and his family, the staff and many at the church. On Monday, we were officially offered the position of Children's Pastor and I officially accepted.

This is such a cool church - they have completely tricked-out the entire Children's Ministry Wing and the decor starts right in the lobby. You can check out some pictures here.

Now - I get to experience the joys of moving my family and our stuff cross-country!

And so it continues...

Whew - lots has happened since the last post:
Headed out to a church on a compatibility trip... yeah - just hang time with the Pastor, staff, see the area and to take in the church services to see if... well.. I am am compatible with the church and if the church is compatible with me.

For obvious reasons, I cannot give you a lot of feedback as to how things transpired. But I will offer this bit of info: I liked the church, the Pastor and the community a lot. My wife and oldest son will be going back there this coming weekend for an official candidating.

At the end of my stay with this church - I found out that my Grandpa passed away. What a great guy! An entire blog could be kept busy with stories of Grandpa Fred. So, I found that out on a Monday evening and flew home the next day. I walked in the door of my house at around 2:30 PM and headed out to get my oil changed. Came home to load up the family and we drove 12 hours to the Black Hills for all the funeral stuff.

We came home on Saturday -in time for me to prep for Easter. Then, just yesterday, we had our final service at the church we have been serving at.

"Whew" is right! Now we are finishing some packing to head out tomorrow to IL for a transitional move until we have made some final decisions.

HEY - Thanks for all your prayers!

And So It Begins

My house is now listed and on the market - know anyone needing a home in the south suburbs of Minneapolis/St. Paul? We've had 2 showings up to this point. We're not praying about the price... that number just seems too big. Instead, we are praying for just one person - the right person.

This Saturday, I fly out to a church to have some hang-time with the pastor and the staff at a great church. I admire a Pastor who just wants to see if his staff and a candidate are compatible. Plus, it gives me a chance to see the area and get to just observe what goes on there on a Sunday morning with the kids, as well as the adults.

On another note: I'm glad to see our snow melting here!

Word Is Out...

Well word is out… This morning I made the announcement to our church, Harmony Church, that Jennifer and I are being stirred to move into fulltime children’s ministry. And that this, of course, would necessitate a move from Harmony Church to a new ministry…

…For those of you who do not know, we have been serving in a part-time capacity in this church and it has been a great experience.

You could tell that the feelings were mixed – they always are and there is no “good way” to give these kinds of announcements. But let me say that, we have been extremely blessed to work with such a great Pastor, Garth Heckman. He has been overly supportive and encouraging as we have started to seek where we are supposed to land. As a reference, he has had nothing but good to tell potential Pastors – And I know that it’s true after talking with one Pastor in particular who relayed much of what Pastor Garth told him.

It’s a bittersweet moment as we are sad to leave Harmony – But, excited to move into full-time children’s ministry once again.

I will keep you posted on the progress - please pray with us, thanks!

EVEN MORE Incredible Object Lessons

I have recently come into some extra time and I realized that I had promised the 3rd Object Lessons book a few posts back. So, I went through the book, made corrections and updated it as much as possible and - well... here it is!

"EVEN MORE Incredible Object Lessons"
Yep - 12 more illustrated lessons you can use in your kids church or Sunday School. Simple props, basic content yet, powerful messages. Check it out in the bookstore!

And guess what? I am planning a 4th object lessons book. But, I am having a hard time trying to figure out a title. I've toyed with: "Oh No... Another Incredible Object Lessons Book" or "Not Again". Or perhaps: "The Fourth and Final Incredible Object Lessons Book: well maybe not fianl" .

Got any suggestions? If I use your title or idea for a title, I'll give you a free copy of any of my exsisting Object Lessons Books or you could wait until the new one comes out - Have at it!

New Gospel Magic Lecture Notes

Well - here's another new product in the bookstore... Direct from my latest Gospel Magic Lecture! 48 pages long with 15 of my complete routines - including:

• Knot Another Rope Trick (Kids are important to God)
  
• I Must Decrease-He Must Increase (The title says it all)
  
• Consequences Game show (Jesus took our place on the cross)
  
• Instant Bible Coloring Book (A new twist on an old prop)
  
• Going Thru Tough Changes (God wants to change us - it's not easy)
  
• The Torn and Restored Heart/AKA Bag-O-Plenty (This is a great salvation message)
  
• Bible Tear - Flash Restoration (God's Word lasts forever)
  
• Cast Your Cares on Him (The worries of this world)
  
• Three in One (The Trinity)
  
• God Already Knows (God is ALL KNOWING)
  
• God Can Use Your Little (Tithes)
  
• Borrowed Ring To Nest of Boxes (Accepting God's plan for your life)


• Broken Heart Frame (God can mend a heart broken by sin)
  
• 5-Card Monte with 6 Cards (Find the best way to Heaven)
  

--Plus 20 Routine Ideas for the POPCORN DYE BOX! (Ideas for the most inexpensive prop)

These are my signature routines that have been tried and tested over the past 15+ years all over America and even overseas!

*PLEASE NOTE: You will notice that there are several of the same effects listed as in my earlier lecture notes: "Tricky Lessons"

Go to the bookstore and check it out

MORE Incredible Object Lessons - now in the bookstore!

Well... it's been a short while since adding something new to the bookstore... and after a few workshops on object lessons - the question arose as to whether I had these books available online? Well... I had one of them available. So I've taken the time to add the second.

I have added Vol. 2 of the Incredible Object Lessons series: MORE Incredible Object Lessons You get eight more object lessons that include elements of science, illusion, and mystery... All with items from around your home or from your church's supply closets!

Hopefully, in the coming weeks, I will add Vol. 3 EVEN MORE Incredible Object Lessons. But, until them - head to the bookstore, browse, buy and download!

...and to those of you have purchased the books in the past month - thaks for your business!

Media Driven Ministry

I recently posted the following comment on media driven ministry over at: Kidology.org BTW if you are not a member of Kidology.org - I highly reccomend it. If you check out the entire topic, you will see that it is a rather spirited discussion with a great cross-sectoin of children's leaders from all over America... And, at times, all over the World!

...to quote the Cars: "Shake it Up!"
Use the latest and greatest as well as tried and tested methods. I believe in the statement: "Everything works somewhere - but, nothing works everywhere."

Study your culture - the kids in your community. Find out what works. Be willing to change according to response and effectiveness.

SHORT STORY TO ILLUSTRATE:
The other day, my son and I were setting up for church (we meet at a school) I told him to roll the media carts off of the platform that we use for our kids' service. He grabbed the cart with the overhead projector on it and said, " we have this in our classroom at school."

"Oh, does your teacher ever use it?"

"Yeah - it's pretty cool Dad! You put plastic pages on it and it shines it up on the screen. You can even draw on it!"

I realzed that my son had never seen me use overhead transparncies (He's 9). I had written off the use of those things ten years ago!

I'll let you think about it - blessings!

Those Moments

You know that moment... the one - you know. You can see it, sense it, feel it in the entire room. It's the moment when you can look out into the faces of the kids in your class or kids' service - and... whoa! THEY GET IT!

You know what I'm talking about. It's that moment when there is a connection from the very words you are saying, the concept you are demonstrating - actually cutting thru the object lessons, songs, skits, video clips and cutting to the heart.

These are the wow moments that I live for in a children's church setting. It's the time when it's the best moment to lead right into a time of response. Whether it's a time of prayer, a worship song and come forward thing, etc.

Having one of these moments in your children's church setting is crucial - otherwise, you're just a really entertaining teacher....