5 ministry tools

Recently I had coffee with a children's leader who I have been mentoring. She is relatively new to children's ministry and asked "What makes your life easier?". Of course I started with the advice of being in the word, daily prayer, (like a good mentor should) and making sure you are being fed as a leader. While it doesn't necessarily make ministry "easy" it does however make it joyful! She grinned and agreed, then proceeded with the question "no, really! What products make your children's ministry world spin?" Ah. Better stated there!

As we all know, the Biblical foundation is the center of what we do. But for this woman, she had no idea where to start with basic tools. I am finding that the more I speak to fellow city ministry leaders that we are a huge source of product review! So much to the point that our next coffee session will be just that. Once a quarter I invite the leaders of everything kidmin in our county to coffee. We discuss special events; ministry development, and so much more. Let's face it, a group of children's ministry leaders in one place all hyped up on coffee can be quite the event! So this time I have asked them to bring 5 and 5. Five they loved; and 5 not so much and tell us why.

So for my online friends who I consistently am asked for recommendations from, here are my top five children's ministry products. I lean on them to assist with what I do, and have picked them from a stewardship standpoint. A product that conserves my ministry time and money is huge to me. Of course there are more than 5, but let's keep it simple.

1.  CPC - Children's Pastor's Conference and CMConnect
Yes, I am listing it as a product! As a leader I need to be refueled and so does my team. I have       learned over the years that ministry vision can become tunnel vision if allowed. For me this conference causes me to think a little different. Every year I go with a vague list of things I have been praying about. Last year, it was family ministry. This year it will be special needs. I will attempt to soak up everything I can on this topic as well as some personal care and leadership time. When I leave this session every year, I am energized and feel like another corner of my brain has just been opened. Bottom line, there is a price tag, but plan ahead and get the early bird rate because it's worth it.
As for CMConnect, it's a free online forum of constant children's ministry knowledge! Try it!

2. Kid Check
If you follow me on twitter, you know I love it! I have been in ministry for 17 years and this is the first record keeping/security software I have found that I can honestly say does everything I want it to. I have actually made up grand scheme ideas of things I think it should do....and later found out it does. This product is paired with an amazing customer service team. The help desk is available on Sundays should you need them, and there are packages to fit any congregation size. The best part is the fact that they are not stuck in a time zone, this company keeps up with technology and is consistently adding features to make it effective.

3. Parent Link Newsletter
Tools! I love them! I absolutely love giving my parents tools for at home use. I however do not like tools that are so formatted I have to make compromises by using them. This is a yearly subscription newsletter for parents. It's basic information, usually with a seasonal theme that can be fully personalized to your church. If you don't like a portion, delete it and fill with what you like. I make this available on our church site as well as have a few printed copies for parents. It comes in a download in word or publisher and it extremely user friendly.

4. Kidology
Tools, did I mention I love them? The last one was for parents, this one is for my leaders. In a ministry where we have over a hundred volunteers and several key staff, it's so important to make sure they have the tools that they need. Our teachers are provided with curriculum, crafts, copies and music, but what happens when they need that extra something? This is a simple subscription we carry and is a hub of tools for leaders. They can login and get anything from holiday ideas to object lessons and they love it.

5. Protect My Ministry
Background checks. If you aren't doing them, you are putting your ministry in harm's way. We used a service for years that was paper driven. As you know, entering backgrounds one by one is very time consuming and that information can't be given to just anyone to input. Making the change to protect my ministry financially is about the same for the cost of each check, but for a small yearly fee depending on what you select; volunteers can be sent a link to input their own information and you receive the results.  They have yearly reminders and keep up with today's technology. This is new for me; but has already saved me hours of time!

Like I said, these are five of my favorites. There are some great things out there that are created for children's ministry by people who have served and know the demands. Have a recommendation? Leave me a comment! I love hearing about new stuff!

My #D62012 Review

After a great first time at D6, I would like to share a little of what I experienced. This was my first year attending this conference, and truly had no idea what to expect. I have been to several kids ministry conferences, but nothing that specifically was designed for ministry to the family. Currently as a ministry leader I have spent the last year trying to develop an organized family ministry. Families need tools; sadly they have no idea where to start. Realizing this, as well as realizing the generation that is now beginning to have kids have little to no church background is why I feel a calling to develop a structured ministry to help with this.

My goal at D6 was to go and be a part of the social media team, (which was a blast) as well as come away with a clearer vision of what today's family needs from the church and how to equip them for ministry in their home. Church should be the accent to the in home ministry, not the centerpiece. But how can we as ministry leaders expect parents to pray with and disciple their children if we have not taught them to? So I wanted tools to teach.

I came away with several ideas, books, and a fire that I believe will be putting the meat on this ministry skeleton I have been working on. I wasn't just tossed into a session and given a list of "how to's", which I appreciate! I was challenged within my own spiritual walk, asked to look into myself as a leader before I even attempt to do anything outward. Such a refreshing reminder, as leaders we are always teaching, directing, and well....leading. It was nice to sit back, crack open my Bible and be challenged to assess things within my own life before being taught to apply it outward.

The conference gave a sense of friendly community, I went alone and felt more than welcome and even invited to sit on the grass for lunch at the trucks with a group of leaders from California. During the event, I was able to ask questions and have answers almost immediately from the D6 crew (which was great as part of the social media team). There were interactive activities and fun things as well as time to chat with fellow leaders and debrief some of the sessions. The speakers were great and I felt covered a multitude of areas of ministry that are so relevant for today's church. (dads, blended families, marriage, and so many more) Logistically the setup was great, I am a fan of a clean sleek look and it definitely had that and was very user friendly.

I will definitely be attending again and plan on taking a few more people with me next year. I was unable to attend the pre conference labs, but will not make that mistake again! They're already on my calendar for 2013!

A conversation with Beth Guckenberger

Beth Guckenberger

Orphan Care and Adoption Advocate - Executive Director of Back2Back Ministries

May I start by saying Beth is one of my favorites, and has been since I first met her at CPC San Diego. As a woman in ministry I love the example Beth sets as a strong, well spoken woman of God. I appreciate that Beth is not a "book leader", while she has books out, she is hands on and clearly displays that she is active in everything she asks others to do. When I hear her speak, she seems like a person who could cast a vision and work alongside those who share it. I was happy to sit down and chat a little with Beth, here is a brief summary of our interview:

I asked Beth; "What is the one thing you desire to share most"? Which she quickly smiled and answered by telling me "That the star of the show is the word of God" and quoted Joshua 1:8. If you have ever heard her speak, this is something you'll hear her quote just about the time she explains the "consumption" of the word of God. 

As a fellow mom, and knowing Beth and Todd have 9 children, naturally I had questions here! Release! What do you do for release? Beth shared that the ability to abide in Christ is her greatest release. Having the willingness to go where God leads her and praying He will equip her with the right tools gives her a sense of peace as God directs her path. 

When I met Beth for the very first time, her husband Todd was with her. I mentioned that they had a sense of joy about them, their love showed but also the fact that they seemed to clearly just enjoy each others company and had a good time. Marriage tip? Dates! Beth shared that her marriage is a refuge for her, and at 9:30 every night she is a wife (that's it). Some have a date day, they have date evenings. I love this idea of a daily portion of time dedicated to your spouse and nothing more. And parenting, with 9 children, what's your secret? Beth shared that having alone time with each child every day was a great contributor. While as parents we all know it's not a programmable effort for a specific 5-10 minutes, taking the small moments and using them wisely makes all the difference.

Finally, we have heard her talk, and  have witnessed the ministry she is called to as an advocate for children. I asked her for a decision she has made in ministry. Beth shared that the decision to go deep and not wide, the constant conscious decision to gain quality over quantity has been a strong point of their ministry, paired with the desire to "be truthful and not impressive" when she speaks of Back to Back ministries. 

I was honored to get to know Beth a little more. I appreciate her willingness to be so transparent and share some of her ministry and home life. Leadership and ministry can be messy, and getting to serve alongside this sister in Christ thrills my soul. 

If you would like to learn more about Back to Back Ministries click here
They also have a newsletter you can subscribe to.

Dennis Rainey at D6

Dennis Rainey

President and CEO of FamilyLife and Family Ministry Champion

Conference Focus - Helping Men & Fathers Stepping Up

Men face decisions in life that demand courage. Big or little, complex or straightforward, these choices matter. In Dennis Rainey’s newest book, Stepping Up, he tackles the call to living, breathing manhood head-on, offering a simple yet powerful vision for what it means to be a man who truly conquers and truly wins.

Speaking from biblical insights, truths learned in over 40 years of ministry with men, and inspiring stories from both his life and the lives of other courageous men, Rainey discusses in-depth:

    -The five stages of a man’s life and the responsibilities of each
    -How men can reject passivity and embrace courageous faith
    -What every boy needs to begin the process of stepping up
    -Six non-negotiables for training teenage young men
    -How men can get “stuck” in adolescence
    -The temptation men face to step down or straddle steps
    -Why every man needs a mentor and needs to be a mentor
    -Three qualities of men who finish well

Five steps every boy should be led through.

             1.     Boyhood

Teenage men, if allowed to, will remain in their boyhood. They need an older man to pull them out.

They need a mission; every boy needs to know he is on a mission from God.

            2.  Adolescence

They need an identity: spiritually and sexually

They need to be taught what it means to Biblically be a man

They need to know how to have relationships

They need to know their character; how to be wise and not a fool.

             3. Manhood

Real manhood begins with surrender to Jesus Christ

Real manhood demands repeatedly stepping away from childish things

Real manhood means courageously stepping up and doing your duty.

            4.  Mentor

Every person should have a mentor.

Every person should have someone to call on for accountability.

A mentor is three things: available, personable, and authentic.

            5.   Patriarch

Who are you mentoring?

They taught me how to grow old Biblically” He said of his mentors. 

Mike Glenn at D6

Mike Glenn

Senior Pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church and Founder of Kairos Young Adult Ministry

Are You the beginning?

Some great points and statements made.

• Awake, adore, abide
• Could you be an expert at God’s service, but a novice at being His friend?
•  God can accomplish more in your ministry in  5 minutes that you could in 5 years on your own.
• Abiding in God will create and awakening like no other
• There are some things that are only learned in obedience

As you abide and bear more fruit. Your families will see you bearing more fruit and it will create a spark to those around you. Mike spoke about a ministry they have developed called Kairos – a young adult worship experience. In the development days of Kairos he spoke returning to the very old, relearning it and why they did this.

Some facts about today's young adults...
The time between adolescence and full adult hood is much longer now

      First generation born in the digital revolution

      Most marketed generation in history

      Interested in Jesus, but not in the church

      Cynical about institutions

      Driver’s license, debit card, and their phone

      And they’re not coming to church

      They get their news from John Stewart

      You can’t assume their Biblical knowledge

When it comes to what they want from church it is best described as this: “Read it… tell me what it means…tell me how to do it.”

From entertainment to transformation …… we are in the business of spiritual growth not entertainment.

 What does this look like?

Spiritual disciplines need to be taught and displayed in the home as children.

               -Parents are the primary disciplers of their children

-              -Many of our churches are not family friendly with programming sending everyone in opposite directions and being out nearly every night of the week.

               -Our parents weren’t prepared to even share their testimony with their children

               -Parents need to fall in love with Jesus again, as well as prepare their children to do the same as they grow older.

Five ways to do this….

              1. life groups

              2. focus studies

              3. self guided learning

              4. travel for missions trips

              5. community

We want to be a church known for running members off….to the mission field.

Acts 13:1-4

When Jesus saw the faith of the friends of the man who they lowered into the ceiling he forgave and healed the man.

Find a way.