• The Vault Conference
Vault Conference
This conference is for children’s ministry workers in the Ottawa, Ontario, Canada area. February 5th, 2011 is the next one. The name Vault stands for Volunteer Adventure Underscoring Leadership Training. It was born in 2009 out of a desire to contribute to the equipping and encouraging of children’s and family ministry workers in the Ottawa area. By combining the resources and experience, from the network of churches in the area, and by opening a shared vault or treasure of information, it was envisaged that a day of workshops could be organized and offered to the workers in the area in Spring 2009 that would engage and encourage and equip those who have a passion for reaching children for Christ!
So I was asked to be the keynote speaker. Their theme this year is Making It Real. So I will be addressing the delegates on Will the Real Kid Helper, Please Stand UP! They will feature 21 workshops, one of which I will conduct about Conversion, Follow-up and Discipleship in Children’s Ministry. For more information about this conference go to www.kidsministry.ca
• Leadership: Deadlines #1
Leadership Issues This is new series of articles on leadership in Children’s Ministry. We will be opening a dialogue about issues in leadership that could impact your leadership style.
#1. Deadlines: They Causes One to Prioritize There is really no way around it, if you have a deadline, it tends to help you choose what is important and what is not so urgent. You have to cut through the possibilities to do what is possible, whatever the time will allow. (see Coach’s Conundrum #2 “Work expands to fill the time allowed”)
So what will help you sort things out?
• Coach’s Conundrum #9
Coach’s Conundrums
This is a new series: my collection of pithy principles that need some explanation. The implementing of these conundrums could alter your paradigm for children’s ministry or influence the way you approach kids. Check out the other eight of the Coach’s Conundrums.
#9. Do what you LOVE what you do
Once you begin down a path of interest, hobby, work, ministry, calling, expertise, tenure, it is good to be reminded that doing what you LOVE is not just a job. Do not forget what drives you, it should be your passion (your love). This love compels our forward momentum and can bring us into a deep satisfaction.
This is a conundrum because it is possible to get this all wrong, like backwards—like not loving what we do, just tolerating it or enduring our work, just getting by, treating the job as routine, doing the minimum, staying just above average, and not excelling at what your doing. Warming the bench is, after all, means you are still on the team, but seeing no action on field. But we have to take our turn at bat. We get to run.We get to catch the fly ball. Passive resistance will not really cut it. You can be benched, for lack of effort.
• Coach’s Conundrum #8
Coach’s Conundrum (a series)
This is a new series: my collection of pithy principles that need some explanation. The implementing of these conundrums could alter your paradigm for children’s ministry or influence the way you approach kids. (look at the Tab Coach’s Conundrums for the other seven)
# 8. No Team Ever Wins When Each Player Chooses Their Own Game Plan.
Working on a church staff ultimately means you have to learn to be a team player. Working solo apart from the collaboration and cooperation of a team is not really a winning strategy. Your working relationships are like the oil that makes a good team and a good team-plan work. Frankly, to be an active-team member, it always takes intentional effort to make it work.
Here are few suggestions for improving your ability to function as part of a team.
• Small Bites, Bigger Meals?
Small Bites, Bigger Meal? It was the idea that appealed to me. So if you eat smaller bites, that would mean it would take longer to eat, right? So if endure smaller bites you might be able to eat more? How about eating less, more slowly, with smaller bites, more often?
Does this eating model apply to digital data? I am getting to clue (from some of you students) that you really prefer smaller bites of information, as opposed to the bigger data meal, all at once. It seems to me that our school systems have given the whole course in a condensed time, rather that a little bite here and a little bite there. See what you think about this…
• What is a Wingman?
What is a Wingman? I have images of Tonto when I think about a “wingman.” This is a word that is taken from military usage, particularly of pilots having another plane nearby that would give another set of eyes looking for the enemy and provide additional protection in time of need. This has prompted the phrase…never leave your wingman!
It has taken on further meaning in social interaction involving another well-known person, who is on the inside, and provides escort or chaperone-like qualities to assist one in potentially awkward social situations with potentially difficult relationships. This one is at your elbow (like a wingman).
So what about a wingman in leadership?
• Resolved: No Resolutions!
Resolved: No Resolutions!
It seems our society places some emphasis on New Year’s resolutions! However, in my experience, most these idle plans are not well thought through and do not really last long into the New Year. I think of resolutions as temporary, not fixed, so we loose them when we get busy.
I would challenge you to Focus on Goals, not resolutions…
• Thirteen Effects of Christmas
Thirteen Effects of Christmas (If You Understand My Meaning)
It has been my pleasure to work with you all. Sharon and I have seen many Christmases in our 44 years of marriage (An attraction, if you understand my meaning). However, we both agree that having eight grand children takes the holiday to another level. (An antigravity, if you understand my meaning) Our youngest daughter would like to have a child (#9), that would be number nine, but not yet! (A production, if you understand my meaning).
This Christmas…
• Celestine’s Gift
Celestine’s Christmas Gift
At the Indonesian Church Thanksgiving Retreat we had the joy of ministering to a small group of 14-20 children ranging in age from 4 to 13. These are basically the leaders kids, the core group from the church. Our team brought a thirteen-hour program that included lessons on the Beatitudes, a serial missionary story on Amy Carmichael’s ministry in India, great new music along with learning the Beatitudes as memory work. On the last session we gave an invitation for the children to be willing that God might use them as Missionaries. If they were seriously willing to obey God with their lives, they were challenged to make a stand. All fourteen stood, then our team of four individually prayed for each child. It was powerful.
In the back of the room was one parent, who was like a chaperone. She witnessed this invitation, and her own daughter responded with the others. It was a very happy time, but we closed our meeting with that last session, packed up and went home.
• Candy-Cane Story
The Candy-Cane Object Lesson
Have you considered telling the story of the Candy Cane? Well, I have done that in years past. I was inspired by David and Helen Haidle’s book The Candymaker’s Gift which is the legend of the Candy Cane. So when I needed a Christmas presentation for Preschoolers, I chose to act out the story, with Candy Cane Props.
