There is something really special about being invited to join the launch team for books written and published by friends and colleagues. When it’s a children’s book (my favorite people)…from the bible (my favorite book)….about chicks in the bible (my bucket list for tea times when I enter the pearly gates)….well, I just put on the tea pot and pull out my favorite cup and saucer, ready to enjoy a treat.

Glenys Nellist, an English gal engaged in fabulous ministry in Michigan, is a grandmother, a mom to four young men, and Coordinator of Children’s Ministry for the West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church. Oh, and she writes poetry for little people wired for story and rhyme. Because of her deep passion for bringing the Bible to life for little people, I have copies of all her books on my shelf, on my bedside, and in my grandkids’ box of books. I have given multiple copies of her books as gifts to mamas who seek to be the spiritual champions for their littles because each one is filled with biblical truth, lovely rhyming text, and some have delightful lift-the-flaps with love letters from God, our Creator. The beautiful illustrations by Rachel Clowes from her Love Letter series have a gravity all their own and are utterly gorgeous. My daughter and I just gave copies of her Snuggle Times Prayers and Snuggle Times Psalms to my daughter-in-law who is expecting her first little one next month.

Glenys has added to her series of “Love Letters From God” a new book “Love Letters From God: Bible Stories For A Girl’s Heart.” As Glenys writes each girl’s story in kid-friendly language, she uses adjectives that could describe children of all ages and all stages: the first girl, the brave girl, the thirsty girl, and the generous girl. She includes a few you’d expect: Hannah, Esther, and Martha. I was thrilled she also included Eve (one who makes mistakes), Naaman’s servant girl (what’s a little girl’s book without the story of a little girl), and Rahab (one of the bravest women in the book.)

From Rahab: The Brave Girl from Joshua 2, “Rahab wanted to know a God like that. If he could take care of his people in such a wonderful way, maybe he would take care of her, too. Rahab was ready for a new start. She had made some bad choices. Was it too late for her to change, or could this God save her?” The lift-the-flap love letter  addressed to “Dear _____” reads at the end, “How amazing that Jesus would come from Rahab’s own family! But that’s what happens when you are brave and choose to follow me. I will take care of you in the most wonderful and amazing ways. Your caring friend, God.”

I’ve been thinking of a princess tea with my girls for next spring. This book will be part of the planning. This book will be part of my storytelling in Vacation Bible School this year since we’re covering Rahab and the Resurrection of Jesus. This book won’t stay on my shelf long. I probably ought to go ahead and order a box of copies. Love Letters From God: Bible Stories For A Girl’s Heart is a precious gift indeed.

“You are in my hand.” – Jeremiah 18:6 as noted from the pages 18-19 of “Love Letters From God: Bible Stories For A Girl’s Heart”

In the United Methodist Church, there is an annual business meeting which takes place each summer. This is no regular business meeting. We are reminded that the UMC is a global movement of the Holy Spirit where cultures gather for teaching, reporting, fellowship, and dreaming. And Oh, the worship!

We celebrate the joys of outreach. We learn of the necessity of extension ministries, who they are, what they do. We hear the debates of how the denomination will face hunger, homelessness, and health issues in our own backyard and beyond. And Oh, the worship!

We ordain those called to be clergy as local pastors, deacons, and elders at the beginning of their professional lives. We celebrate the memory of those who have gone on to Glory at their ending. We debate resolutions and vote on amendments that will direct our denomination morally, socially, and financially. We hear multiple two-minute speeches from those retiring from the itineracy, but never the ministry. And Oh, the worship!

We hug the necks of those who are part of our stories: colleagues and ministry partners from whom we have moved, and those who have moved from us. We have table-life conversations over meals and in the hallways about staff needs, positions open, and personal crises where we are invited to pray for one another. We share ideas for campaigns, books, and themes. We chat by connecting on Twitter, Facebook, and post pics on Instagram. And Oh, the worship!

This year we began a new tradition of gathering to honor those engaged in ministry with children at a “Heroes Eat Dessert First” reception hosted by the KidMin heroes of Athens First UMC and the North Georgia Children’s Ministry Connection. A time of connection, fellowship, and dessert with those who are KidMin interns, those in the trenches today, and even those who retired ‘a while back’, but as we all know, never stop sharing their gifts and graces with the children and families at the local church they now call ‘home’.

One of these heroes believes so much in the power of this connection, she drove her church’s bus and provided transportation for Children’s Ministry Network groups from two districts, interns, and even the children’s caregivers provided for the Annual Conference so to join in the Heroes reception. Back at midnight, she got up early the next morning for her last day at Hero Day Camp she is providing her local church. She is a true crusader for little people, but also her colleagues and those just starting out in ministry with children.

This is the business of our church. For every clergy person, there is to be a lay person as a delegate. Many districts have open spots for laity called ‘at-large delegates’ that are never filled. I am an at-large delegate for my district. We need you. Future dates of North Georgia’s Annual Conference are June 10-14, 2018 and June 9-14, 2019. I encourage the KidMin heroes of North Georgia to call their district office (here’s the link to find out which one), and offer to be an at-large delegate next year. There is much we can do together, to know the resources available to the local church, and join in the conversation of the business of North Georgia.

Don’t plan your VBS or a summer camp that week! Instead, prayerfully consider being an at-large delegate at next year’s annual conference. Read more about the logistics here. Then, contact me. I’ve got some ideas of how we can share in this journey together because we are better together!

2 Timothy 2:15 Common English Bible (CEB)
Make an effort to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker, who doesn’t need to be ashamed but is one who interprets the message of truth correctly.

Last weekend was baby weekend: A dessert shower for our Daughter-in-Law on Friday evening, a diaper shower for #1 Son with his colleagues and rec soccer team on Saturday evening, and the hospital tour on Sunday. When I texted him on Monday asking how the weekend went, his quick reply was, “Tour was awesome. I’m overwhelmed. Don’t know what I’m doing. LOL” Welcome, my child, to the world of parenting.

Anyone can have a child, but parenting a son is so much more than passing out blue bubble-gum cigars. Do they still do that sort of thing? He has no idea how holding your beating heart in your very hands will rock his world. He has no idea how his plans will change, how his dreams will be bigger, and how he’s been a perfect parent until he becomes one. We all started out with “I don’t know what I’m doing.” This I do know: he’s a good man, a generous husband, and devoted to his family. So these are a few of the things I hope #1 Son will do with his #1 Son:

• Teach him to cook.
• Teach him to respect all women because every women is someone’s sister or daughter.
• Teach him to respect authority. We are a country and community of laws.
• Teach him to be brave by initiating acts of kindness and generosity when given the chance to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
• Let him see you read your Bible for he will practice what you practice, not just do what you say.
• Let him learn American History so he will hear the stories of the bold sacrifices made to appreciate and acknowledge the symbols of American freedoms.
• Let him play with his cousins a lot. Cousins are our first friends and our friends for life.
• Teach him how to write and read in cursive so he can read the powerful words of history, documents of old, and sign his name. My grandfather was unable to read and write so he ‘made his mark’ when he endorsed his paycheck and completed the documents to purchase his home. He wanted badly to be able to sign his name, yet never learned. A man needs to be able to sign his name and not just print it.
• Teach him to use power tools and be creative with his hands. There is something about a man who can step back and see and hold in his hands the fruit of his labors and creativity of his mind.
• Let him play outside, play with bugs, get muddy, and sweat from play and hard work.
• Show him how to pray…and not just at church.
• Show him how to work as an apprentice. He’s watching you in all you do, all you say, and all you share.
• Model manly prayers, generosity and tithing, and to never stop learning.
• Introduce him to other amazing men and women of faith and strength.
• Tell him family stories.
• Teach him how to love his Mama by how you love yours. That kiss on the cheek at every greeting and the hug upon every departure means more than you will ever know…but, his lovely mama will.

Some of my greatest gifts from the LORD are the amazing adults who used to engage with playdoh, duct tape, and yell, “Watch me, Mama!” from the diving board at the neighborhood pool. Oh, I’m watching, alright. Watching them become fabulous parents is a big, sloppy kiss on my cheek from the One who made them.

“The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!” Proverbs 23:24-25

The Experiential Leadership Institute (ELI) is a multi-week, immersive leadership development experience. Highly trained coaches guide rising 11-12th graders to discover their God-given strengths, reflect on what it means to function as a Christian community, and practice servant leadership while making a difference as day camp counselors. These amazing ELI students serve as the on-site teams to bring the power of camp ministry to local churches through Grow Day Camp in North Georgia. ELI students are well trained in camp, flexible with developmentally appropriate programming for children, and play focused on faith formation. But what happens when these exceptionally training students age out of the program? There are only a limited number of site coordinator positions available to continue. This is what motivated multiple conversations, some while waiting in a lunch line. Some of the best conversations come from lingering at the end of a food line with key folks.

The Atlanta-Marietta District of the North Georgia United Methodist Conference is beyond excited to launch the pilot KidMin Intern Program for college students to explore a calling to ministry with children in the local church. We count it an honor to walk beside students exploring their gifts and talents in their discernment process to follow God’s leading on their lives. As Children’s Ministry leader-servants we are passionate about sharing the gospel with kids and their families.

Nature of the Intern Program
KidMin Interns will work in pairs with three unique local churches to plan and implement ministry programs during the months of June and July. Free housing will be provided as well as a stipend paid.

KidMin Interns began serving on Thursday, June 1 and will conclude July 31. KidMin Interns will be assigned and serve alongside three experienced KidMin Mentors who desire feedback, fresh ideas, insights and to share their passion for ministry. KidMin Interns and KidMin Mentors will meet all together weekly on Sunday afternoons for lunch, fun, prayer, worship, training and planning for the next week. KidMin Interns will rotate through the local churches to provide support and leadership for Vacation Bible School, Summer Camps, Sunday school, family events, children’s church, mission projects, small group Bible study and a few surprise events.

The KidMin Interns will have a weekly opportunity to serve in worship services and to engage in district connections. Interns will explore vocations in ministry and service through field trips and dialogue with lay and ordained leadership of various partnering non-profit organizations, businesses, and United Methodist institutions. They’ll gather with other Children’s Ministry heroes of North Georgia at Annual Conference in June.

The summer will be busy. This summer will be a blast. This summer will fly by. And most importantly, the summer will be a great time of spiritual growth for three KidMin mentors and two KidMin Interns as they learn, serve, and fall more in love with Jesus and the local church!

Purpose of the Program
To provide church ministry experiences through which young adults can explore how God might be calling them, develop gifts for ministry, serve the needs of the mentor local churches, and grow in faith in Jesus Christ.

Two fabulous ELI alumni began last Thursday on a trip with fifth graders from two of the mentor churches to Lake Winnie for a day of play, games (which the interns directed), and training for the fifth graders who will be serving in servant-leadership positions this summer for the first time.

We have downloaded the She Reads Truth app and will be using the SOAP method to journal together. We will be using the 1 & 2 Timothy lesson since we are focused on mentoring relationships. At the end of each day, the interns will record three things they noticed which we will discuss each Sunday as a small group and/or with the mentors each will work alongside each day. A calendar schedule lets everyone know where the interns will be each day in June and July and provides a fair coverage and time with each mentor local church.

Since I enjoyed C’s company in worship last Sunday, recording the times each transition took place in the worship service (one of the many ‘numbers’ I collect each week), Sunday school using Visual Faith Project images, and VBS training after services, I asked her what she noticed:
– She noticed how our church serves communion differently than her home church. This made for great conversation about local church traditions.
– She noticed my super volunteer, Ms. Diana and asked if she was involved in everything I did. I enthusiastically said, “Yes!” Although Ms. Diana serves the church in other ways, she is dedicated to making sure the littles know Jesus. She is a fabulous partner in ministry! I thought it interesting C could tell by attending one Sunday who was ‘all in’ for ministry with little people.
– She noticed at Lake Winnie that two of my girls were game for trying new things. We call it a ‘spirit of yes.’ Although I had never really spoken about it at the church, I share with others that my local church does indeed have a ‘spirit of yes.’ We try new things. We talk about new experiences. We engage in the wonder of a growing faith. We love Jesus and we love to say, “Yes!” How precious to me for Christina to pick up on that especially as these two girls are aging out of children’s ministry at the end of the summer. If I talk about it more, I’ll just be a puddle of tears.

Most of the blogs this summer will be about our KidMin intern experiences. It is a dream come true to mentor these young women and they to mentor us. Though my small-to-mid-size-church could not afford an intern on our own, our connectional body has made it possible for three small-to-mid-size-churches with completely different DNAs to practice and especially learn from two wonderfully trained students. Living out Titus 2…with glitter and water games!

“Teach the older women…to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love , to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy, to be kind, so that no one will malign the word of God.” Titus 2:3-5