As I continue to dig through the stack of goodies from International Network of Children’s Ministry Network’s Children’s Pastor’s Conference (CPC) Orlando, the process of the Certification was a great way to keep me focused on the “how” and “when” to implement some of what I had learned. One of the requirements was to attend pre-determined sessions and write a short essay in response to 5 questions. To encourage some accountability, this is what I submitted:

1. What have you learned about the First Initiative: Impart God’s truth to this generation? What are some next steps for implementing this in your ministry?
An intentional purpose, process, and pathway is expected to move toward the goal of spiritually healthy children.
Next Steps:
(1) Determine and write down what a spiritually healthy child looks like which is developmentally appropriate.
(2) Evaluate and adjust the 2013 WC calendar to incorporate more “Belonging” opportunities as we intentionally balance opportunities for belonging, worship, growing, serving, and sharing opportunities.

2. What have you learned about the Second Initiative: Provide a safe and relevant environment? What are some next steps for implementing this in your ministry?
Although the pre-determined session did not address safety, it focused specifically on relevance. When kids are having fun, their minds are open. Be aware of what’s culturally influencing my kids and leverage it.
Next Steps:
(1) Plan a “What if…” retreat or meeting with my Children’s Council.
(2) Download Todd Henry’s “Accidental Creativity”
(3) Take a 1-hour “vacation” each week to hear the voice of God and ask for His hand in the creative process.

3. What have you learned about the Third Initiative: Communicate with families? What are some next steps for implementing this in your ministry?
I was reminded that ALL parents want the best for their kids. I must intentionally be communicating that we are providing the best to their kids and that we love their kids. I should be telling my parents how glad I am they are bringing their kids to Sunday School or CLUB345 or church or whatever they are choosing as the spiritual priorities for their family.
Next Steps:
(1) Set some “easy wins” for my parents with multiple opportunities to start in the calendar year.
(2) Celebrate when anyone reads anything I put out there.

4. What have you learned about the Fourth Initiative: Networking with an community of leaders? What are some next steps for implementing this in your ministry?
It is up to me to shore up ALL my networks: family, staff, servants, professional. I currently coordinate several Christian Educators networks for the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, blog, and mentor new KidMin Directors…but there are more networks within my KidMin world.
Next Steps:
(1) Become involved in networking outside my denominational and state boundaries.

5. What have you learned about the Fifth Initiative: Praying for the international community? What are the next steps for implementing this in your ministry?
There are men and women servants proclaiming the Good News of Jesus all over the world and I can be a part of that. Our church is engaged in our 2013 theme of “Go into the world” based on the Great Commission as written in Mark 16:15. It is my heart’s desire that my students experience God and not just know about Him that comes through local and international mission opportunities. The number 1 way disciples move toward maturity is “time in the Word.” The number 2 way, by far, is “outreach”.
Next Steps:
(1) Post global maps throughout the church, especially in the classrooms with students.
(2) Provide global maps in Bible Bucks store for students to purchase and use at home.
(3) Pray for kids and workers in an area we see on the maps in the classrooms during our prayer times (child-directed).
(4) Invite global servants to speak to my students monthly.

My plate is full, but I don’t want to get to heaven and find out I have been great at the wrong thing…making disciples.

If you see me at the networking groups, on facebook, or Starbucks, hold me accountable by asking me where I am on my next steps.  I’d love to talk with you about it.

Opening with a general session is genius. It’s gives me a chance to let the caffeine kick in and eat a clementine … true meaning of “breakfast on your own,” and begin the day with some fantastic music.

Yesterday (day 2) sent me to Steve Adams who serves at Saddleback. Very funny, yet very authentic fella who asked, “What does a spiritually healthy child look like?”….gave us a few minutes to write out our own definition…then never answered it for us, leaving the challenge hanging in my heart on a chain. My first “to do” when I get home. He spoke of intentionally balancing our opportunities for little people to grow, worship, serve, and share… and belong. Belonging. Love that word! Are we intentionally offering opportunities for our little people to belong…belong to the church, belong to each other, belong to their spiritual leaders? “Health comes from a balance of resources to promote growth, service, sharing, worship, and belonging.” I’ll be checking out the KidMin calendar when I get home to be sure we are offering enough “belonging” time.

The second workshop was led by Billy Graham Evangelstic Assn’s Chad Miller…fantastic presenter who gave me a B12 shot in the arm for modern day missionaries.  Got some statistics, he outlined Satan’s strategy (“We have a generation of ‘christian’ kids who don’t live for Jesus. They are over-entertained and under-challenged.”) and scriptures to back up our motivation to step it up.  Strategies to equip our kids for the work of the gospel:  scriptures (use them often), sharing stories (ours and their’s), field trips (“While I was going to …”), being vulnerable (be willing to share my failures and hangups), and to be on mission myself.  “I don’t want to get to heaven and have excelled at the wrong things.  Where are the disciples Jesus told me to make?”

Lastly, attended an information workshop about a new partnership with Bethel Seminary and INCM to offer a certification in global children’s ministry.  100 hours of instruction (online and at CPC and KidMid Leaders Conferences) from 2014-2015 with projects to be implemented in my own house/church at an incredibly reasonable investment.  Praying that one through as we have the upcoming Discipleship Team’s training endeavor for best practices that will begin this fall.  It may be the next step for someone wanting to go further.  Further investigation is necessary.

Headed off for another full day of CPC.  I am so grateful to be serving at a church with spiritual leaders who see the value in education and making this investment in me.

“God is not the ‘I was’, but the ‘I am'” – Chad Miller

Attending CPC with ministry best friends is a highlight of my year. The laughter, overwhelming creativity, and sheer awe of what is presented and shared blesses my socks clean off.

Attending the Pre-conference intensive training session the day before the actual CPC begins found me in “More Creative Teaching Ideas” led by John Tasch and Eric Hamp. With great energy and volume, these guys shared wall-post-it-note upon wall-post-it-note of ideas for Creative Games, Class Openers, Themes and Events, Object Lessons, and Attention Getters. Watch out CLUB345 if you see me walking in with frozen t-shirts and wearing my “ties and awful things.”

Sheila Walsh was the first general session leader: “What truth are we to impart to our children and their families?”
1. We have a GREAT God…Paul said, “I am convinced…”
2. We have a REAL enemy…all Satan can do to us is lie and see if we believe it.
3. We are not home yet…we are on a detour

Today we begin going through the CPC Certification requirements to address the 5 initiatives that are the filter to providing excellent ministry to little people.  Those 5 initiatives are…

Five Initiative Certificate Program Schedule
Breakout #1 Initiative 1 – Imparting God’s Truth: Steve Adams
Breakout #5 Initiative 2 – Provide a Safe & Relevant Environment: Steve Adams
Breakout #6 Initiative 3 – Communicating with Families: Jonathan Cliff
Review: Panel Lunch Discussion
Breakout #7 Initiative 4 – Networking with a Community of Leaders: Michael Chanley
Review: Breakfast Discussion
Breakout #8 Initiative 5 – Praying for the International Community: Lori Bethran and International Partners
Essay to be turned in prior to the start of Final Session with Certificate Available for pick-up following final session

“People decide to listen within the first 8 seconds…even little people” – John Tasch

There are some amazing KidMin directors within my network and playing with them and their kids always makes for a fun and memorable night. We came up with an idea called the “Winter Ball Invitational” where, because my church has a gym, these awesome KidMin servants bring their kids (3-5th grades) and we play “odd-ball” games.

This is what we did …

5pm – 5:30 dinner made up of Meatball subs (1 meatball to a water roll or 2 meatballs to a hotdog roll), cake balls, cheese balls, ice water in dispensers…round tables out in 1/4 of the gym with chairs

5:30pm Introduce Games in the gym through 6:40 at stations inside gym with an       Icebreaker:  Students meet at center of gym and move (run) from one side of the gym to the other if they better relate to…

Cake balls or Cheese balls

Cake or Cookie

Coke or Slurpie

Popcorn or Candy

Radio or iPod

Basketball or Soccer

Tennis or Football

Video Games or Board Games

Board Games or Card Games

Mountains or Beach

Circus Clown or Circus tiger trainer

Ballerina or Model

The Voice or American Idol

Survivor or Big Brother

Read or Paint

Book or Movie

QT or RaceTrac

Target or WalMart

Jonah or David

Mary or Esther

Now it’s time for the stations…led by our fabulous youth.  Before each game is played at each station, students must answer the question from the Bible

1.  Wrap basketball with whole roll of toilet paper

Question:  What friend of Jesus, who was the brother of Mary & Martha, was brought back to life when he was already buried with burial clothes when Jesus said, “Come out?”  John 11:43

Answer:  Lazarus

2.  Twister with football spinner for colors using colored office dots on a huge gray tarp

Question:  Where was Jesus when He raised His hand and said, “Be still” Mark 4:39

Answer:  In a boat

3.  Mini basketballs in to the circle cutout boards

Question:  What are the first 4 words in the Bible?

Answer:  “In the beginning God” Genesis 1:1

Who empties their bucket first by throwing basketballs through the circles and reload

4.  Little balls in 10  buckets (then students do what bucket says before moving on)

Question:  In what 2 books of the Bible do you find the 10 Commandments?

Answer:  Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 (who answers first gets to go first)

Bucket 1 – jump up and down 3 times

Bucket 2 – whistle

Bucket 3 – snap your fingers

Bucket 4 – what do you like best about your church?

Bucket 5 – put a bow/ribbon in your hair

Bucket 6 – do a cheer

Bucket 7 – what is your favorite thing your parents do for you?

Bucket 8 – if you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be?

Bucket 9 – high 5 everyone at your station

Bucket 10 – give a funny face

5.  Hockey puck balls INTO buckets/baskets on it’s side (taped down with painter’s tape and using footlong hockey sticks I just happened to find in the supply closet

Question:  in Mark 16:15, Jesus told his disciples to “Go INTO all the world and preach the good news to _________?

Answer:  all creation (not just people, Psalm 36:6)

6. Play horse near a basketball goal but spell out LOVE

Question: Who was Jesus talking to when He spoke John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that who so ever believed in Him would not perish but have everlasting life?”

Answer:  Nicodemus (Winner gets to start the game)

7. Stuff many balls into clothes over kiddie pool to see who has the most in a timed setting

Question:  In John 14, 1-5, Jesus told his disciples that “In my Father’s house are many what?

Answer: rooms or mansions

8. Last game:  Rock, Paper, Scissors team

Objective:  To end up as the engine of a train made up of all the players

Set up: players are scattered throughout the playing area

Instructions:

1.  Players find someone to play rock, paper, and scissors with.  The losing player stands behind the winning player, holding his/her shoulders.
2. The player in the front finds another pair to play and competes with the front person in that pair. The loser in that competition joins the end of the train.
3. The group continues playing and joining trains until two trains play each other in a final competition.
4. When the entire group forms one train, start again if time permits (which we did because they enjoyed it so much), OR move everyone to the bleachers with all in one line.

End with a Devotion: Pistol Pete Maravich (his devotion to Basketball and the move to same attention to live as a devoted follower of Jesus).. of course I’d have to throw in an LSU-related devotion, especially since my dorm was directly across the street from the Pete Maravich Center.  Dan Farr has 2 outstanding books devoted to sports related devotions specifically for tweener boys.

AND award trophies to each church participating in the 1^st Annual Winter Ball Invitational.  The Wesley Chapel trophy was given to our youth to thank them for partnering with our tweeners for an outstanding event.

What do you do to partner with your networking bffs?

In anxious expectation for what 2013 will hold, I learned a great deal in 2012.

I learned…

1. That my body, at 51, doesn’t always cooperate with my 25 year old mind
All those years of hauling things from my house, to my car, to my office, back to my car, and home, has caught up to me. Lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk must now be delegated. It only took a few extra minutes to ask two, kind, yet different young men to lift a filing cabinet into my shopping cart and then into the back of my car at WalMart yesterday.  I plan to be on the offense in preparing to see what ministry looks like for my body in my sixties. We all know that 50 is the new 30 anyway, right?

2. That God answers the persistent prayers of Mama’s
When I earned my degree at LSU in 1983, I was the first in my family to graduate college. The mantra was “Educate a man, you educate one. Educate a woman, you educate everyone who comes after her.” Baby Girl earned her Associate’s degree, then went on to graduate at the top of her class with a Bachelor’s in Nursing 2 years ago.  Her high school guidance counselor refused to give her an SAT application in 10th grade saying she was “just an average student.”  #1 Son graduated a few weeks ago with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. His middle school guidance counselor planned for him to attend the “tech trak” saying he’d never make it in college.  As an advocate for what I believed in my heart for each of my children, I prayerfully insisted on more.  They both have a BS degree, and with no debt…none for them…none for us.  You better believe He answers the prayers of Mama’s.

3. That I don’t want to just take another bible study
The printed word of God is written on my very soul. It gives me life, breath, and hope. But I don’t want to just “learn” more about Jesus. This Jesus gal wants to become more like Jesus. And although it’s been great to participate in an online facebook bible reading group since January 1s 2012 (New Testament, Psalms, Proverbs, Christmas Story relevant scriptures, and we begin the Old Testament on January 1st 2013), and I took on Beth Moore’s JAMES study on my own, I miss the face to face journey with fellow sojourners. In response to a facebook post of flannel week (the week between Christmas and New Year), I hope to begin the journey of falling in love with the God Jesus knows with other like-minded women in the next couple of weeks as we take on a curriculum for Christlikeness.  If you are interested in joining the journey, just let me know.  We’ll meet once a month while taking on James Bryan Smith’s Apprentice Series.

4. That I should have used as much moisturizer on my neck as I did on my face
Looking at current photos, I have to agree with Anita Renfroe, “All a woman really wants before she dies is one, good picture.”

5. That artificial sweeteners encourage overactive bladders
Women over 50 should just bite the sweet bullet and use the real sugar. I watched Dr. Oz only twice this year and discovered he really does know what he’s talking about when it comes to Vitamin C for leveling my kind of stress, and artificial sweeteners lead to over-active bladders.

6. That I want to live with my man
In the fall of 2011, my man was laid off from a company that recruited him only a couple of years before. His tenacity at finding a new job in this, less than generous, economy found him employed by 4 different companies in the first three months of 2012. The last one caused us to set up an apartment in North Carolina for him for 8 months. Even the tweeners in our church were praying that Mr. Bob would find a job to bring him back home…and God answered those prayers with a fabulous, “Yes!” My old “roomie” returned the first of December and I am thrilled beyond words. We are meant to grow old together and I am honored to be his Mrs.

7. When going to doctor’s appointments, go with a girlfriend
If you want to laugh your head off, share stories, be wonderfully distracted from a scary procedure, and entertain the nurses and other medical staff, go with a girlfriend. Even a colonoscopy….go with a girlfriend!  I am available to pay it forward.

8. That we can live on less than we thought
Refer to #6.  If God can multiply fishes and loaves, numbers are easy.

9. That I can love more deeply than I ever dreamed
On Good Friday, Baby Girl gave birth to Mr. Yummy. I was there. He is so much fun. But watching her become this fabulous mother is the most beautiful thing I have ever observed.

10.  Just add more “white” when you want to lighten a paint color
A “Duh” moment, I know…but it was pivotal for me.  I had begun to over-think things.  Alot of things.  I discovered that I think things to death on my own.  It is so much easier and it is safe to invite others to join the journey of discovery.  I also realized that I have beautiful women who share the road with me.  Very gifted women.  Very kind women.  Very funny women.  Very generous women.  May I be the friend to them they are to me.

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever.”  Deuteronomy 29:29

I could hardly contain myself when #2 Son and Baby Girl chose to spend their first Christmas as a family-of-three with us in North Georgia.  Our first Grandson, aka Mr. Yummy, is 8 months old and has me waiting for every sound and every squeal as Baby Girl and I talk on the phone just about every day.

She is such a great daughter as she shares every “first” with me, even over the phone.  God knew what He was doing when He had us born in the iPhone age with photos and videos at our fingertips.  Mr. Yummy hears my voice practically every day as I speak love and encouragement to his new Mommy as she fully understands the awesome responsibility to raise a young man.

It had been 4 months since I had seen him last and feared he’d be resistant to me, but he came straight to me from the arms of his Daddy with the flirty grin that has melted my heart more times than I can count over these last 6 precious days.

We went to church where he flirted with all the ladies and chewed on the pews.  We crawled on the floor and climbed up refrigerators, windows, dishwashers, and mirrors as he explored his reflection.  We chewed on Baby Jesus from the Little People’s Nativity purchased at last year’s after-Christmas sales and wooden spoons were banged on anything that made great noise.  We played with flashlights, wrapping paper, and slid on blankets across the hardwood floors.

“Pat the Bunny”, “Goodnight Moon”, and “Guess How Much I Love You” board books joined a small soccer ball, a small football, a small basketball, and Christmas pajamas were first-Christmas gifts.  The other stuff will come soon enough.

He won’t remember a thing about his first Christmas, but we will.  His Pop will see the teeth marks on the coffee table soon enough.  His Uncle Ben is always looking for “My Uncle Rocks” tshirts.  And I have a salt-dough footprint ornament Baby Girl made which initiated much laughter and conversation.

“How do you breathe?”, asked a friend when she found out that our first grandson is growing up so far away. I breathe by inhaling and exhaling on the grandchildren of others who’s grandparents live so far away. When we invest in the lives of other’s little people, we trust that another family of faith will be be investing in the life of our little people who live so far away. I pray that his faith community will be living examples of the grace and extravagant love, the tender authority and compassion shown by our Savior to each of us.

“Come thy fount of every blessing, tune my heart to hear thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.”

Just a little something that should make the little people smile in our family of faith this Sunday so close to Christmas:

Making 26 took 2 boxes of Whoppers candies picked up at Publix and 26 red gumballs that I found in every color at Party City.  10 Whoppers and 1 red gumball were placed in the small ziploc bags found at WalMart in the craft section.  And not sending a single thing out without printed scripture, John 13:35 seemed appropriate and HAD to be printed in red.  Tweeners will be handing them out as ushers at the end of both services this Sunday.

“If you love one another everyone will KNOW you are my disciples” John 13:35

Wanting to pump some meditation and contemplation into the Christmas season for our 3rd-5th graders, we set out a “Silent Night” last Sunday night for CLUB345. CLUB345 is aimed at meeting the changing needs of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month from 5pm-7pm. CLUB345 helps to bridge the gap that preteens feel as they transition from their elementary to teenage years, by using a format similar to a club gathering, but with faith formation subject matter and activities that address their age appropriate needs and issues.

We posted the expectations at the threshold of the Sanctuary and dismissed the students two by two (Jesus never sent out His disciples one at a time) to work independently and in silence. The students were instructed to raise their hands if a question arose and a leader would meet them outside the silent zone to whisper any clarification. Silent zone meant silence.

We had 8 un-numbered stations throughout the pew, chancel, and narthex areas. Various strings of Christmas lights were used to provide space definers and we needed only 3 tables for hard/flat surfaces. The students carried their journals with them (we have a journalling component at every CLUB345 meeting)  with the tools to make the journal entries (tape, tissue paper, colored markers, cardstock, ink, air-dry clay, ribbon, etc.  I tried to photograph each station, but they didn’t turn out well, so I have posted below the instructions that were set out at each station.  We added other visuals to go with the stations like nativities, battery operated votives, and items to add to the station visuals.

Inspiration came from “Living Light was Born One Night: Advent Devotions for Children” written by Arden W. Mead through Creative Communications circa 1996/2006.

After our Silent Night, we had about 20 minutes remaining when we discussed how the silent “felt”, what was the favorite station (anything with a stamp), and we took the following True/False quiz of what the bible actually says about the Christmas story.

It took 1 hour and 10 minutes for the students to rotate through the stations and believe it or not, the silence zone was honored. Our senior pastor provided a continuous run of an instrumental Christmas CD and a continuous burning fireplace on the big screen throughout the event. The kids loved it!  And so did we.

Little people can make the traditional Christmas season gingerbread house OR we can get our “Jesus is the reason for the season” on and do a little something different: edible nativities.

The most difficult part is getting the empty shoe boxes with the removable lids so soon after Operation Christmas Child, but it can be done.

Line the lid with aluminum foil and plan to place the bottom over the masterpiece to keep the “hay” in place.

Here are the supplies:

Prepare the day before with connecting the stable using the graham crackers and the frosting onto the foil-lined shoebox lid using craft sticks.  Be generous with the frosting and it should harden well for the little people to continue to decorate without fear the thing will collapse.

Must-haves for decorating:  M&Ms (pop of color), pretzel sticks, animal crackers, and the Pepperidge Farm People cookies (found ours at Publix).  When all the decorating is finished, top it off with a good crunching of a Shredded Wheat bar over it all for hay.

Finished product:

“This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Luke 2:12

Let’s imagine that you are the super volunteer at your church. You respond with an enthusiastic “Sign me up!” every time you read in the bulletin the church needs help. You are thrilled to be invited to the table where ministry designs are developed, plans for retreats are made, and you attend every training that is offered at church so you can be the best at whatever you do. You are living out the scriptural challenge of “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God” with joy and energy.

Then, a staff position opens up. Part time, but a paid position nonetheless. You can’t even sleep for the excitement that you have been “tapped” to do the work of the Lord in the local church you love.

OR…you were already “on staff” in a successful fee-based ministry working with paid staff building community relationships inside and outside the church.  The church comes to you and offers you an opportunity to be on “real” church staff in a related area.  It appears to be a natural fit for the church and for you, so you now have a seat at the table where vision is cast, calendars are negotiated, and relationships with church staff move to a whole new level as you work with paid staff some of the time and with volunteer/unpaid staff the other part of the time.

Six months in the position, you have your office somewhat in order, you find yourself working with 3 separate calendars, and trying to balance living your life with living out your calling to professional ministry.

This is the story of so many called into professional ministry, but not seminary.

We eagerly bring our gifts and graces to the altar of the local church with enthusiasm and excitement.  But once we can no longer be the super volunteer, our skills-set may be missing a few key components that are necessary to make for a healthy ministry.  But where do you go?  Who do you ask?  How do we effectively transition from doing it all to empowering others, leading by example, and growing a great forgiveness tank for ourselves and others?  How do we become a part of the professional team of servants God has called to lead the local church we love?

This is just a small list of areas I wish I had known more about in the beginning of my call into healthy and effective professional ministry:

• leading a successful meeting
• recruiting volunteers
• conflict management
• how to negotiate to a YES! with trustees
• making a ministry budget
• how to interview
• how to fire/redirect a volunteer
• how to say “no”
• how to maintain healthy boundaries
• how to begin the Safe Sanctuary process when it makes all the sense in the world to me yet not to others
• how to market ministry inside and outside the church other than the bulletin
• how to write a magnificent newsletter article or a press release
• how to set calendaring priorities
• how to set up a networking group of folks outside my own house/church and making it a priority to build those relationships (did this anyway, but not sure I did it right)
• how to train volunteers, find volunteers, stop being the only volunteer
• how to soothe and heal the wounds made by stained glass
• how to make balloon animals
• how to talk about God that is in line with my denomination
• how to study the Bible on my own (because being on church staff means that worship is different now)
• how to build a team
• how to make the committee system work efficiently
• self-care (and I’m not talking about a facial)
• the structure of a healthy church
• how to interview for a church job
• how to prepare a resume’ for a professional ministry position
• how to interview a church
• how to strengthen the ideas and creative energies of others
• how not to be a horse’s patoot to my family when there is so much going on

What if… there was training offered, close-by (really, really, really close-by), inexpensively (really, really, really inexpensively), in bite-sized pieces, over a one or two year period of time, giving you access to people who are the best at what they do (which is what you do)?  Where your natural gifts and graces are influenced by people who have gone before you professionally and are spiritually healthy?  Where you don’t have to re-invent the wheel when it comes to building the best practices of professional ministry in YOU to bring back to your own church?  When you can take everything you learn over a couple of days and implement it on Monday morning? When this event is ongoing, meaning a Friday/Saturday in the fall and a Friday/Saturday in the spring, because we are in this over the long haul?

Would you go?  Would you send someone?  What else would you want to learn?  Or maybe better to ask, “What do you need to know RIGHT NOW?”