Kidmin

Iron Sharpens Iron: Who is sharpening you? Who are you sharpening?

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KidzMatter Quotes

Find a mentor and be open to being mentored. – Corey Jones

Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another. -Proverbs 27:17

Who is sharpening you? Who are you sharpening?  

Soon after moving to Georgia I was faced with the realization that one of the best ways for me to help THE church was to help prepare ministers for the future. I asked my leadership for permission to create a mentorship program where I can help sharpen college students to work in the ministry. Over the past few years this internship has been very rewarding to the intern and surprisingly has been a huge benefit to me as the mentor. 

“No one learns as much about a subject as one who is forced to teach it.” ― Peter F. Drucker

Now if you fast forward a couple of years, I have been given the opportunity to join a coaching/mentorship experience called Infuse. This 6 month program is designed to challenge me and take me to my next level in leadership and ministry. I view this as an investment in myself and like all investments you get out what you put in. As I look back at this first month of Infuse, I can see many areas where my thinking has been challenged. I can see all of those small steps behind me and now see many more leaps ahead. As I sat back to reflect and set goals for the next 5 months, I was hit with the overwhelming sense of responsibility that we all have to sharpen one another as well as be open to being sharpened. We do this each and every week with the kids around us but for some reason as we move into adulthood we feel that we have for some reason arrived. I am thankful for the people that God has placed in my life to challenge and shape me as a person. I am also thankful for the responsibility and blessing that I have to play a role in the lives of those around me. 

Today is a new day, so I ask again: Who is sharpening you? Who are you sharpening?

Get More Volunteers

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“The best churches don’t hire ministers to DO all of the ministry; they equip and inspire volunteers and leaders to get ministry done. Learn how these five leading pastors and churches equip and inspire volunteers.” 

The Rocket Company has been a great resource to me and my ministry. On October 29, 2013 – 1:00 PM EDT they are hosting a free online conference called, “Get More Volunteers.” I am super excited to hear from church leaders such as Reggie Joiner, Tony Morgan, and Perry Noble. 

For more information check out http://getmorevolunteers.com and hopefully after the conference I’ll make a post of what spoke to me and my ministry at Southern Hills.

Organize Your Work – Weekly Report

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5620_1__43629.1312921995.600.600Over a year ago I purchased an Evaluation Toolbox that taught me the importance of creating a weekly plan for my ministry. I loved this idea and so I invested some time in making a weekly report for myself. Over the past year I have been filling this form out and occasionally creating a new draft. Each week I create a key strategy and then break that into steps. I find ways to continue my education and leadership. I plan out who I need to have conversations with, send encouragement to, or who I need to invest in. I make a running list of projects and move them up as they become more important, have an ongoing prayer list, and also a place to evaluate how things are going. This has given me more focus in my ministry then any other tool, workshop, or lecture and I encourage you to take my report and like I did, make it your own. Start today to become more intentional and stop allowing days to slip by without purpose.

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CM Weekly Staff Report PDF

Leadership in KidMin is Delegation

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imgres I recently joined The Club for children’s ministry workers. This is a monthly audio leadership resource that will teach organization, administration and leadership skills from Jim Wideman who has been there and done it with a proven track record of excellence in ministry. The past year was made available and so I decided to start at the beginning and work to the present date. The first section was on DELEGATION.

Delegation is having someone to represent you in an area. I should be delegating to people who I have already started the process of duplication. A goal that I have placed for the 2013-2014 school year is to build depth in our volunteer teams. Jim asked, “If people were no problem where could you use a worker?” This has been something that I have been thinking through and I have an immediate need list and a future need list.

Immediate Volunteer Openings:
Huddle Coach (small group leader): First Service 4th Grade Girls, Second Service 1st Grade Girls, Wednesday 1st Grade Boys
Huddle Assistants: Sunday, First Service Kindergarten, Second Service 4th and 5th Grade Girls, 5th Grade Boys
Concierge for Visitors at Every Service
First Impressions/Check In Wednesday Night
Special Need Assistant Coaches

Future Volunteer Openings:
Service Coordinator
Creative Team
Large Group Teacher
Worship Leader

I have also been working through the fact that some day everyone will be replaced. Some will move to find a new job, some will move up with their kids to the next stage of ministry, some will experience life difficulties and need to step down, and others will pass away. The truth is that everyone will need to be replaced. I need to be finding my one day replacement and I need to help each of my volunteers find the person who will one day grab hold of the reigns and lead. It is sad to think that this will one day come but the truth is that the day is coming and the best thing I can do for the organization is to set it up for future success!

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Blast Off! The Outer Limits

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Blast OffWe are in the 6th week of the KidSpring Series Blast Off and I must say that our kids have been loving every lesson!  Throughout this series we are learning different promises of God and how they were true in the Bible, are true today, and will be true in the future!  The kids have enjoyed the crazy skits, and creative Bible teaching, and the coaches have had a lot of great conversations with the kids about the Promises of God.
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Here is the scope of what we have and will learn:
God is a promise keeper! Abraham
God Promises to watch over me! Jacob
God Promises to help me in times of trouble! Daniel
God Promises to teach me His ways! Jonah
God Promises to love me forever! Jesus and Peter
God Promises that He is in control! Out of Egypt
God Promises to hear my prayers! A Wise King
God Promises to reward me! Joseph and Brothers

The memory verse we have been focusing on is Psalm 145:13 (NLT). “For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps His promises; He is gracious in all He does.”
IMG_2314Every Sunday at Southern Hills Christian Church in Carrollton GA looks a little different with a splash of creativity here and there. I am always excited to play a part in the kids ministry and to impact this generation for Jesus!

7 Practices of Effective Ministry

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I finished reading 7 Practices of Effective Ministry a few weeks ago and now I want to share what I found to be most the helpful and impactful for my life and ministry. 

First the spark notes:
Clarify the Win: Fuels our motivation.
Define what is important at ever level of the organization.

Thing Steps, Not Programs: Protects our alignment.
Before you start anything, make sure it takes you where you need to go. 

Narrow the Focus: Points us towards excellence.
Do fewer things in order to make a greater impact. 

Teach Less for More: Guarantees that we stay relevant.
Say only what you need to say to the people who need to hear it.

Listen to Outsiders: Keeps us focused on growth.
Focus on who you’re trying to reach, not who you’re trying to keep.

Replace Yourself: Assures us of longevity.
Learn to hand off what you do.

Work On It: Positions us for discovery.
Take time to evaluate your work – and to celebrate your wins.

Spiritual Growth in Children
Wisdom, Faith, and Friendship

The ability to make wise decisions based on the truth of Scripture.
A willingness to put their faith in God through every situation of life.
Their demonstration of love and kindness to the people in their world. 

 Is it true?

 Is it interesting?

 Is it creative?                    <  Is it Helpful?

 Is it passionate?

 Is it entertaining?

 

“One thing I learned from you that I’ll never forget is…”
(Community, Kids, Parents, Volunteers, Staff)

“You should strive to find the delicate balance between facilitating the growth of believers and reaching those who are unchurched.” -Andy Stanley

There were many insights gained from this book two most cutting points were that I need to clarify and celebrate the wins in my ministry. Time slips by with each passing week. Goals get set, goals get met, and we evaluate but one thing I often fail to do is share the goal and celebrate when it is met. This past Sunday at Southern Hills I took note of the wins that happened at church and I shared them with my team. *Seeing Lydia Baldizon and John Skinner worship during our communion song! *When Ansley Hulsey was looking for her coach Hannah Baldizon and the smile on her face when she was there to welcome her! *When Drew Johnson brought forward both his tithe AND offering as an act of worship! Had I not invested the time into reading this book, these three wins would have slipped away, but instead this week they were celebrated and remembered.