On January 20, 2009 a Facebook Group was created to connect lay (non-clergy yet professional) children’s ministry leaders. We would meet each other in-person at conferences and workshops across the state for weekday and weekend ministry training and stay connected through the Facebook group. We’d share job postings at healthy churches when folks would be moving and churches searching to build their teams. We’d share our choices for Vacation Bible School curriculum to pickup resources from various churches throughout the summer. We’d connect online to troubleshoot, ideate, and find safety in collaboration within the community of those who were volunteers, on staff at various levels, and shared among this tribe of lay folks dedicated to loving littles, and sometimes their bigs, to Jesus.

We had no idea this safe, digital, online, small group would grow to be the 600+ group it is today. 

It was originally called The Children’s Ministry Network. Its purpose to support and educational development group for all who are in direct ministry with children. Yes, we know that everyone is supposed to be in ministry with children, but this was for non-clergy lay folks serving local churches of all sizes, in all locales, with various tech abilities and access. Striving to create networking groups (in-person and online) to share ideas in ministry and be a support in everyone’s efforts to create an excellent Christian learning experience for children and their families. 

There are Facebook Groups for clergy and Facebook Groups for all kinds of good causes. This particular Facebook Group stayed within the navigational beacons of lay folk telling the story of Jesus in the local church. At the time it started, it was the only one out there.

There are daily postings of music, resources, encouragement, guidance, research, dreams, books, workshops, conferences, blogposts, files and so many resources. There are also postings asking questions of how-to, what-to-do, and who-do-I-call to get the best information about the best practices for sharing Jesus with families with children. 

Many of us are still in the trenches of ministry with families. Most have retired or moved on to other organizations for various reasons. I wrote a bit about that here and here. The average professional life of children’s ministry lead is still 3.5 years.

The Children’s Ministry Network Facebook group became a rock star digital group before online groups were a thing, especially with traffic issues, busy schedules, and oh, the pandemic. 

When sanctuaries shut down for months, we were on the Facebook group rolling out the ideation from the Facebook group from Friday the 13th to the first Sunday, 3/15/2020. Everything from online VBS and drive-thru services to drive-in services for little people with big people in the vehicle and cul-de-sac pop-ins were chatted about and logistics shared. We were throwing spaghetti at the online wall of this Facebook group for how and when so that our littles and their bigs did not grow accustomed to doing life without the local church. Wherever we danced before the Lord with joy became our sanctuary. We succeeded and these kidmin warriors never missed a beat. 

The Facebook group was renamed to facilitate the implementation of trainings specific to the North Georgia United Methodist Church audience, to grow the connections more local to North Georgia, and where new hires to local churches could better navigate their transition into a connected community. Where we could get to one another.

This little Facebook Group will now be facilitated and moderated by The North Georgia Conference of the UMC at the direction of the Office for Congregational Excellence.

It’s been my pleasure to share and moderate the Children’s Ministry Network aka NGUMC Children’s Ministry Network Facebook group. The connections of names and experiences have challenged me, sharpened me, and delighted me. I have loved sharing the journey with so many. It’s given me a place to put down my thoughts and curate resources so kidmin leads can go back and share with others to ‘equip the saints for good work.’

If you’d like to remain connected to me and my musings, hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss a Tuesday post. You can also join me and some of my family ministry friends from around the country at another Facebook group. To protect the identity of those who have joined, send me an email at dedereilly@comcast.net and I’ll make it happen.

I’m a connector, an extrovert, a collaborator, and a Jesus gal drawn to other Jesus guys and gals. I’ve loved the opportunities to remain connected and share life with Jesus guys and gals all over the planet. Facebook groups have fit that need and I’m grateful for it. On-demand sharing of best practices in a safe asking space offer inspiration and courage. Thank you, Lord, for the gifts You continue to offer so Your people can remain in community and tell the greatest story every told: Jesus and how He alone can save.

I’ll be asking Santa for a new pair of combat boots. The soles of the ones I’m wearing have a lot of holes in them.

“I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you.” 1 Corinthians 1:4-6