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....

Latest Development... I'm Back in the Saddle!

For those of you who have been wondering what we've been up to: recently, I was introduced as the Children's Pastor at Harmony Church in Lakeville, MN http://www.harmonybwb.com/

It's a super great church with a super great pastor!

We have started doing the kids' service and putting a new plan in place for the church. We are so pumped to be getting back into Children's Ministry in a church setting!

I will update you on all the new and fun challenges that comes with a new church position. This is a portable church. A few years back, my wife and I were part of a new church-plant in a set-up/tear-down environment. Perhaps those of you in a portable church setting can give me some new insights as well.

Children's Ministires Manual - in the bookstore

I am really excited to announce this latest addition to the bookstore. Excited because it's a project that my wife, Jennifer and I worked on together. It's our Children's Ministries Volunteer Manual. It's the very manual that we developed and used in our own children's ministries department - and now we're making it available to you.

It's a great resource for those of you who need to develop a manual of policies, procedures and resources for your children's ministry leaders. Just take the ideas and adapt them. You can get it in the bookstore.

My beautiful wife did the layout/design and helped with the editing.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Creativity - Part Four

Be creative WITH the very ones you are being creative FOR…

Kids are your target - so get into their minds and let them into yours. Believe it or not, kids are the most creative of God’s creation. Their imagination is amazing... crazy amazing! Give a kid a toy and in 10 minuets, it becomes something else than what it was designed for. My son can take any object and turn it into a gun, sword, or some ninja thing. My daughter can take any toy or object, and rock it to sleep.

So get with them. Just give them a chance to be heard. Gather together the kids in your church in age appropriate groups and buy them lots of pizza and ask them questions.

• Poll - Position:

I like to hand out paper and let kids take simple polls. I ask about favorite music, movies, shows, hobbies, sports, etc. It will give you a look into their world and sometimes, gives you some insight as to what's going on at home... (I'll let you think about that one). It may cause you to shelve your current curriculum to focus on a subject or topic that's relevant to your kids... NOW.

• The Perfect Storm

Brainstorming is a great way for your older elementary kids to get in on the planning in your CM. Get your 3, 4 & 5 graders together and present some ideas - then, let them voice their opinions. Write those ideas down. Here's an important note: take each one idea seriously and consider it. Get down to getting their reactions to some of your ideas for events, lesson topics and design.

Remember the silly-putty exercise - do it! Or hand out other props related to your research and allow them to play and come up with games and fun things to do with them.

• The Thick and Thin

Have thick skin... in other words: don’t be offended by their ideas – they are telling you what they think is cool and what are good ideas in their minds. This is not about you - if they like your ideas, they will tell you... and, if they hate it - they will pop your bubble! But, your goal is not to sell them your ideas, it's to get into their minds. You may come up with the most innovative program, ministry or event just because you listened.

Creativity - Part Three

Don’t let the concept of “other people” be foreign in your process of being creative and developing ideas. Some of the greatest inventions and ideas in the world wee created by a team of two or more. I don’t care who you are... what your level of experience is... where you’re going... how you got to where you are today... or what you think of yourself – I can guarantee you this: If you and, at least one other person, sat down to brainstorm together, you would come up with some incredible plans, ideas and creations!

• Push the creative process further than just the front of your desk:

You know others on your staff, on your team and in your congregation who are creative and artistic... you know those who are planners, thinkers and dreamers. Take you idea to them and run it past them and get their initial reactions. They will not only respond - they feed off of such an approach. Pull these people into your life and onto your creative team.

• Be strategic about it:

Sit down right now and make a list of people that you know you could "run and idea past". Get the church directory or look it up on your church's database - scroll and take note.

• Take them further with you on the journey:

Don't just use these folks. They may not have much experience with children's ministry, but they would love to be part of a creative group. Perhaps you need some folks on a sermon planning team that could help you come up with ways to illustrate the message - or a design team to help you with publications.