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!