Dad in the Middle » Children’s Ministry

RAIN FOR ROOTS (A Dad in the Middle Review)

Wayne — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Background

There is a great new album coming out today for younger kids called Rain for Roots. All of the songs on the album were written by Sally Lloyd-Jones the author behind one of my favorite books ever – The Jesus Storybook Bible. The music is performed by Sandra McCracken, Ellie Holcomb, Flo Paris and Katy Bowser. You can buy the album starting today at RainforRoots.com or http://www.bandcamp.com/rainforroots. If you use the special code “inthemiddle” when you place your order, you can save 10%. The digital release also includes a pdf file of a booklet with chords.

My Review

There is lots of good music out their for kids that is Biblically based, and I would add this CD to that mix. It is biblically sound, and it does a great job of putting your focus exactly where it should be – on God! The folksy sound of the album is very different than most of what is out there, and I think it is a welcome addition. The sound theology means you can safely use this album to teach your children biblical truth. The soft sounds means you can also put it on at night and let them fall asleep to the sound of God’s truth. I would recommend this album to people with younger children and those who do preschool ministry. If that describes you, don’t miss your chance to win a free copy at the bottom of this article.

Most of the songs (particularly the Old Testament related songs) follow the same formula – a series of questions about a Bible story answered by God did. It’s an important message – no doubt, and perhaps it sets a pattern for young kids to think “Who did ____? God did!” I think that’s valuable. The New Testament songs follow a pattern of questions followed by the answer “His name is Jesus.” Again, this is an important truth. However from the standpoint of listening to these songs over and over again (something us parents do frequently), it can get a little tiresome. That said, I do appreciate the effort to put God firmly at the center of this album.

Who Is This Album For?

This album would be best for younger kids – preschool and earlier. I think children in the 2-3 age range might like it best. Though some of the tunes are catchy and even older children might find themselves singing them.

A Song-By-Song Review

God Makes Everything: “Yes little one. Yes it’s true. God made them all, and God made you.” That is the clear message of this song.

Doxology: This short little song may be may favorite on the album. It is an a cappella doxology of praise to God. There is just something tender and endearing about this song, and I love the idea of engaging even very young kids in genuine worship of God.

Moses: The message of this song is that God will care for us the same way He took care of Moses. I do have to say that I listened to the Noah song before this one, and they sound all most too much alike. I think in some ways this reinforces the message that God is control (which I love). On the other hand, they sound almost alike.

Noah: I love this song about Noah. Unlike most other stories of Noah which focus on bunches of cute animals and Noah’s obedience, the focus of this song is on all that God did for Noah. The song goes one step further in connecting that protection of Noah to the protection that God offers us in our own lives.

David Beats Goliath: God helped David to beat Goliath. The message of this song is that God will also help “a little child like you.”

God Saves Daniel: God heard Daniel and helped him not to be afraid. This song does not follow the predictable pattern of God did something for an Old Testament character, and He will do it for you too.

Jesus is Born: This song sets out who Jesus is and why He came to earth – “to be with you.”

Jesus Stops A Storm: Based on the story of Jesus calming the storm, this song reminds kids that He will answer when they call.

Jesus Loves Zaccheus: When the song started “Zaccheus was…” I was certain this was going to be another rendition of the popular children’s “wee little man tune.” Instead, this song is actually a nice little song to remind kids that Jesus loves them. It is one of the more upbeat songs on the album.

Jesus Loves Little Children: This song screamed lullaby to me. The message is that God made everything, but you are more important to Him than all of that.

Jesus is Alive: This song encourages kids to celebrate the fact that Jesus is alive!

The Giveaway

The people who made this album have been kind enough to offer one of our readers a chance to download the entire album for free! Enter our giveaway below. Pay close attention, some options let you enter more than once, and several are worth more than one entry! This giveaway will run through next Monday, so get your entries in now!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Disclaimer

I was provided with a free download of this album for purposes of doing this review. That did not, in any way, influence the contents of this review.

13 Ways Dads Provoke Their Children

Wayne — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:18:06 +0000

As parents, we sometimes find ourselves focusing on verses like Colossians 3:20:

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. [Colossians 3:20 ESV]

Unfortunately, all too often we forget the very next verse which says:

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. [Colossians 3:21 ESV]

As parents (and specifically as fathers), God commands us not to provoke our children. This past weekend at church, our pastor preached on this and promised to share a list of 13 ways parents provoke and discourage their kids. As I read the list today I was convicted by a number of those things:

Playing favorites (specifically comparing one child to another)
Being overly critical
Making them feel unwanted
Excessive discipline
Inconsistent discipline
Rules without relationship
Failing to adapts to their current stage of development

At some point in my parenting (maybe as recently as last night), I have been guilty to these to some extent. I am grateful for God’s grace that forgives me and tells me that, in Him, I can do better as a man and as a father. I would encourage you to read the whole list and grade yourself on each item. If you feel led, comment below on where you’ve failed, and let’s begin to hold one another accountable to this command. Here is a link to the complete listing. Thanks to Pastor Steve Benninger of New Life Church Gahanna for putting this together.

Little Praise Party, Happy Day Everyday (A DAD IN THE MIDDLE REVIEW)

Wayne — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:39:27 +0000

ABOUT THE ALBUM

One of my favorite artists, Yancy is at it again with her latest release called “Little Praise Party, Happy Day Everyday!” This album of worship songs for preschoolers had me up and dancing when I listened to it with my kids. From four all the way up to eleven, all of my kids loved this album from start to finish. In addition to having some great worship songs for younger kids, this album also include songs to help preschoolers celebrate specific days like Birthdays, Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving.

This release is available on CD as well as a Home DVD which includes 11 songs with animated music videos. There is also a Church DVD which includes all 11 videos plus the soundtracks for all songs and mpeg type files to import into your presentation software.

I can’t recommend this resource strongly enough. Go to www.yancynotnancy.com and orders yours today!

THE GIVEAWAY

Oh yeah, I almost forgot! Yancy has been kind enough to allow us to give away a ministry combo set which includes the CD and DVD. To enter,

Just leave a comment below letting us know why you want this CD/DVD combo; and/or
Tweet the following message: “I just entered to win a free CD/DVD combo from @stocksohio of the new @yancynotnancy release: http://wp.me/pN5Ju-1nA #kidmin”

I’ll pick a winner next Thursday, April 12, 2012.

REVIEW OF SONGS ON THE ALBUM

Brand New Day…Based on the verse “This is the Day the Lord has made” this song encourages kids to thank God for the days in their lives. It encourages kids to get involved with motions and words. This is easily one of my favorite songs on the album.

Shout!…This catchy song encourages kids to “Shout Out” that they love Jesus and tell other people about it. A great song to teach young kids about sharing their faith.

Go!…This missions oriented song encourages kids to “Go” and tell His story to others.

Love One Another…This song teaches basic biblical principals like loving one another and be kind to each other. It is chocked full of scripture references to plant in your young child’s heart.

Hosanna Rock…Hosanna…Ho…Ho…Hosanna is a catch that you won’t soon get out of your head after listening to this song (and I mean that in a great way). This is a great worship song for kids with active worship (clap your hands, wave your arms, play the drums, etc.) built right in to engage your preschoolers.

One, Two, Three…A song to remind kids that Christ died for us and rose again on the third day. This song will turn your focus to Jesus whether you’re 3 or 103.

The Springtime Song…A perfect song for this time of year, The Springtime Song even includes a reference to an Easter Egg (gasp!). The important part is that it reminds us that the most important thing to remember is that Jesus is alive and He loves us. This would be an awesome song to use in your ministry at Easter time or anytime!

The Dog Song…This is a great preschool song that compares our relationship with Jesus to “an old hound dog.” It sounds out there I know, but it really is a catchy song, and any song that gets a room full of preschoolers barking like a dog is a keeper in my books.

Happy Birthday To You…Tired of the same old birthday song? Check out this ramped up version from Yancy that is sure to please!

Bye, Bye, Bye…This song reminds kids to say goodbye to their fears because God is always with us.

I Like To…Get your kids moving as they jump for joy because Jesus loves us!

Don’t Be A Turkey…I knew this one would be a hit with my own kids before I ever turned it on, and sure enough the first time I played it for them we had to listen to it for about an hour non-stop. Something seemed familiar about the voice on this song, so I looked it up, and sure enough it was written and performed by Yancy’s dad – Jim Wideman.

God Is Good To Me…This song of praise helps kids to remember that God is good to us and encourages them to give thanks for that.

Away In A Manger…This album wouldn’t be complete without a traditional Christmas song for preschoolers.

It’s Christmastime…This upbeat Christmas song is classic Yancy. It will get you moving and grooving at Christmastime!

Love One Another (Lullaby Mix)…This song just about put me to sleep…which is a good thing given that it is the “Lullaby Mix.” Seriously though, the beauty of Yancy’s voice is captured in this toned down version of Love One Another.

I was provided with a free copy of this CD for purposes of this review. That did not in any way influence the contents of this review.

Six Ways to Persevere Through the Sluggish Times

Wayne — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:55:00 +0000

Have you ever had one of those days? You know the kind – where you really aren’t “in to” what you’re doing and you feel like you rather be doing just about anything else. What do you do when those times correspond to your time in ministry. Wednesday was one of those days for me. On Wednesday night, I run the games for our Awana program. It’s an-hour-and-a-half and something like 200 kids broken into 30 minute game segments. Usually, it is one of the highlights of my week, but this week I just felt rather “ho hum” and work out when I showed up. It’s bound to happen. We can’t always be ON! And, when it comes to ministry, sometimes you just have to put your game face on and trudge through. Here is what I’ve found works for me.

1. Pray

Working in children’s ministry, I find myself praying “God, give me the strength!” more often than I would like to admit. When you’re feeling down or just not into it though, it is essential that you turn first to God. He renews us day by day, and he can renew us minute by minute. Always start by asking your Heavenly Father.

2. Remember why you’re there

It’s not about you. It’s not even about the kids. It’s about God. Remember that, in your ministry, you are there to serve a God who died on the cross for your sins. If he can endure that for me, I can make it through a couple of hours of games, or a lesson on Sunday morning, or whatever the situation might be.

3. Plan Accordingly

When I’m not 100% sold out, there are still things I can do that will accomplish the purpose of my ministry. For example, when I am picking games for Wednesday night, if I am feeling a bit out of it, I try to pick a game where the kids will have fun and there’s not a whole lot of my energy required. On Wednesday night, we ran relay races of varying sorts. My job was to explain the rules and say “On your mark, get set, go.” There wasn’t a lot of “Ra! Ra!” required from me, which was good because I didn’t have a lot to give. You can do the same thing when you are teaching. Just gear your activities to work as much as possible. This is not, by the way, a reason to slack off. If you’re feeling down one Sunday, don’t throw in a video just because, but if a video actually works in the context of what you are teaching, go ahead and use it.

4. Strive for Excellence

My friend, Jared Massey, is fond of this term, and I agree with him wholeheartedly. Even when you’re not feeling it, make it your goal to honor God by striving for excellence in all that you do. Sometimes, this focus alone will be enough to pull you out of whatever funk you’re in.

5. Remember How you Feel, and Check Yourself

If you are tired or grumpy, it is easy to let that seep into your interactions with the kids in your ministry. It is important to remember going in that you don’t quite feel yourself and try to keep your reactions in check. If you are irritable, minor annoyances that wouldn’t bother you on a normal day are going to make your skin crawl. Make sure that your reactions don’t differ just because you feel differently.

6. Fake it Until you Feel it

I probably shouldn’t say this, but the truth is sometimes you have to fake it. You have to smile when you don’t feel like smiling. You have to seem excited when you feel anything but. But, rest assured that God is in control, and if you are seeking his will, he will provide you the sustenance to get through – so fake it! The feelings are likely to follow.

The Next BIG Kidmin Deal!

Wayne — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:51:40 +0000

If you work in Children’s Ministry, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about the deals from Only144.com These are the guys who offer amazing deals on collections of children’s ministry resources that are available for only 144 hours each time. Well, the newest 144 hours sale starts this Friday, January 13th at 12:00 P.M. and lasts for, you guessed it, 144 hours! It’s the biggest KIDMIN sale of the YEAR! It features over $1,600+ worth of Children’s and Preteen Ministry resources for only $97. Free shipping to U.S. locations is included. This deal includes:

Six Yancy Worship Videos
Five Uncle Charlie Worship Videos
From PreTeenMinistry.net – Curriculum, Small Group Series, Summer Game Pack, Coaching Series, Walk the Line and 21 PowerPoint games for preteens
Five OneTimeBlind Illustration/Skit Videos
Video Shorts & Countdowns from Timbuktoons
2 Tickets to the PreTeenMinistry Conference
Children’s & Youth Logo Pack from Church Logo Gallery
PowerPoint Games for Children, Students, and Adults and Children’s & Student Leader Training mp3′s from Burnt Toast
25 Best Youth Group Skits and 10 Best Youth Group Games from Righteous Insanity
Bedroom Bible College for Tweens: Leader Guide PDF files from J12
Journey: Beginning Your Walk with God

More details are available at www.only144.com. There are also great incentives to order early:

The first person who orders will win a new Amazon Kindle.
The first 10 people who order will win GoFish’s new Praise VBS Curriculum
The first 20 people who order will win the book Stretch by Jim Wideman
The first 50 people who order will win a MissionSix CD
The first 100 people who order will win an iShine Live DVD
The first 200 people who order will win a Yancy CD

So, make plans for noon on Friday to get your deal. And, remember if you miss it at noon that you only have another 144 hours until this deal is done! Happy shopping! Happy savings!

Disclaimer: The people at Only144.com have provided me with a complimentary copy of this wonderful package.

What is the big deal with contentment?

Children’s Ministry People You Should Know – Tina Houser

Wayne — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:58:00 +0000

NAME

Tina Houser

WEBSITE

http://tinahouser.net/

http://tinapoint.blogspot.com/

TWITTER

@TinaHouser

MY FIVE FAVORITE “RECENT” ARTICLES FROM TINA

MY PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS

I’ve only met Tina in person once, and then only for a very brief encounter. I could tell from that meeting though that she was full of life and passionate about reaching kids for Christ. I have dealt with her by e-mail on several occasions for K! Magazine, and I have been consistently impressed with how friendly and approachable she is. Tina’s work in putting together K! Magazine every month is a blessing to the Kidmin community. She also writes The Kitchen Curriculum which includes all kinds of great stuff. Some of the creativity included there prompted my question for her.

IN HIS OWN WORDS

I asked Tina to answer the following question in “just a few sentences”:

What is the most creative thing you have ever done to teach children about Christ?

Here is how Tina answered that question:

My answer might not sound extremely creative, because you probably think I’m going to say that I did a crazy science experiment where I foamed over the church baptistry … or carved a pumpkin to look like the Israelites walking through the Red Sea … or created a game using toilet plungers and flyswatters. Yep, those sound like loads of fun and I could definitely find a way to connect them with some spiritual truth, but that’s not what comes to mind first.

Intentionality. That’s probably the most creative thing I’ve done. Think about it. We teach kids a Bible story, connect them to the application, lead them to pray, help them memorize scripture, worship, and encourage them to serve others … and we do it all in one hour. None of those elements gets very much time. But, we know that when we focus on something for a longer amount of time, there’s more likelihood that it will sink in and stay. Because of that, I experimented with 6-week intentional programming where we concentrated on one area. I guess you could say it was creative, because no one was doing anything like it.

One such program was around scripture memorization and the participants committed themselves to a 90-minute session every week for 6 weeks. The kids chose a passage of scripture they wanted to memorize. I’m not talking a verse or two, but more like 12 verses and many times it was a full chapter! I presented them with a menu of scripture memorization techniques. And, they explored their passage through word studies, art, music, games, and building relationships with others. They lived with one specific passage for 6 weeks. At the end of the time they had an opportunity to share it in a worship service if they so chose. Years later, those kids can still recite those full passages, because we approached memorization very intentionally.

Another program that I developed around intentionality was "Unwrapping the Servant" where all we dealt with was servanthood. For this 6-week program, the kids committed to 2 1/2 hours every Saturday so we could learn about serving others. (A little aside … out of all the years I did this, only once did a child miss and that was for his 6th grade science trip to Huntsville.) The kids themselves designed, planned, and carried out a way to serve in each of 4 areas: family, church, community, and world. Kids don’t recognize the needs around them, so the first order of business for the 6 weeks was to open their eyes to the people they encounter every day who need help. Sometimes it’s not possible, but in every case that we could, the kids actually met the people they were serving in order to put a real live face to what they were doing. I conducted a pre-test of 10 questions before starting the first day. Then, at the end I did a post-test of the same 10 questions. The answers were very revealing. The mindset change was remarkable! As these kids have grown up, they continue to willingly serve others unlike other Christian kids their age, and I truly believe it’s because we took time to intentionally teach them how God wants us to serve others.

That’s it. Intentionality. (Now, I think I’ll go put some yeast in hydrogen peroxide and see what happens.)

Children’s Ministry People You Should Know – Jim Wideman

Wayne — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:01:00 +0000

NAME

Jim Wideman (aka Brother Jim)

WEBSITE

Jim Wideman Ministries

Leader2Leader Blog

TWITTER

@JimWideman

FACEBOOK

Jim Wideman

MY FIVE FAVORITE “RECENT” ARTICLES FROM JIM

Recruiting Like Jesus Recruited (Don’t miss Part 2 or Part 3 either)
Moving Your Ministry From Good To Remarkable (Here are Parts 2, 3, 4 and 5)
Delegate or Die: Developing Volunteers Through Ministry (The first installment is great, but you’ll also want to check out Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4)
A Leader Is A Learner (Here are Part 2 and Part 3 so you can learn even more from Jim)
Identifying Your Next Level

MY PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS

Jim Wideman is one of my favorite people in children’s ministry. From what I do know, I think if I knew him a little better he would be one of my favorite people period. Jim is the granddaddy (now both figuratively and literally) of children’s ministry. Jim has been doing children ministry for a long time now, and one of the things I admire most about him is that he is willing to share all of that accumulated knowledge with the rest of us. Whether it is through his numerous conference appearances, his infuse program or The Club, Jim is always seeking to share the knowledge and experience that God has given him.

Before I ever met Jim in person, I had read most of his books and learned a ton. I had such a great deal of respect and admiration for him that, to be honest, I was a little bit intimidated about meeting him. He put me at ease in about 3 seconds. When you sit down and talk to Jim, it’s like sitting down with an old friend whether you’ve met him before or not. He just has that type of personality!

On a personal note, I have spoken before about how much I have learned from Brother Jim when it comes to children’s ministry. Despite all of that, I think what I appreciate learning the most from him is about being a parent. His book, Connect With Your Kids was helpful to me as a father who is also engaged in ministry. Likewise, his chapter in the Collaborate book called “The Missing Piece – Developing a Biblical World View In Your Children” changes certain aspects of how I raise my kids. For that alone, in addition to everything else, I am eternally grateful to Jim.

IN HIS OWN WORDS

I asked Jim to answer the following question in “just a few sentences”:

You’re the "go to guy" in the world of children’s ministry when it comes to questions and advice. Between The Club, Infuse, conference appearances, books, etc. I know that you get a lot of questions. What is the most profound question someone has ever asked you about ministering to children? How did you answer?

Here is how Jim answered that question:

Just last week at the Group Kidmin Conference I was asked:

What the one thing that you need to get right to not trip you up for the long haul?

I said "Keep your love for God’s Word first and foremost. We must demonstrate a love for the Word as well and place a love for the Word in our own children and those we minister to. It’s not enough to teach it we must love the Word to the place it controls our every thought and action!"

Who Are You Talking to on Facebook?

Wayne — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:54:09 +0000

This post is a little out of the ordinary for me, but God has laid it on my heart today so I thought I would share it. In my research for DivorceMinistry4Kids.com I come across a lot of research about divorce. Much of that research deals with the devastating effects of divorce on kids, but much of it also includes more general information on divorce and some on the cause of divorce. I came across a statistic recently that stated that Facebook usage was cited in 20% of all divorce cases in the United States (http://www.thetelecomblog.com/2011/03/08/facebook-will-ruin-your-marriage/). I don’t know if that’s true. I did not check it out or verify it for myself because the actual statistic is not a salient part this article. It did get me thinking though. I do believe that Facebook and the relationships formed on Facebook are becoming an increasing problem for marriages in our society. Before I get into that, though, I feel like I should lay a couple of things on the table:

I am not anti-Facebook. I believe Facebook, and other social networks can be a useful tool.
I have been on Facebook and Twitter for several years and find both very useful.
I do believe there is a danger in social networking just like any other circumstance you can put yourself in.
I believe that Facebook allows you to put yourself in danger more easily than in the past because it’s ready availability and the fact that you can use it in the comfort of your own home.
Whether the number marriages destroyed, at least in part, is 20%, 10%, 5% or 2% does not matter. What matters is your personal circumstance.
I do not believe that, in all cases, Facebook is the sole contributing factor to the demise of these marriages, but it can serve as the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back.”
I believe that there are marriages that might otherwise have survived which are destroyed by relationships of opportunity that were formed on Facebook.
My concern is for marriages (and ultimately for protecting the kids that so often suffer when those marriage break up).
My purpose in writing is not to condemn you, but to warn you.
I believe that marriage is a covenant between and man and a woman and God, and it is a covenant that must be carefully guarded and protected from external and internal forces which seek to destroy it.
For those marriages where children are involved, the risks are even greater because the result affects additional people.
I believe that all marriages are salvageable, no matter how desperate they might seem, because I believe that our God can do anything.

So, the question we want to ask today – the question you need to address head on, is:

Who are you talking to on Facebook that you shouldn’t be?

Along with that question, you should ask, How open are you about your facebook account? Does your spouse know everything you do online? How would they react if they did know?

It would seem that the safety of sitting behind a keyboard and a computer monitor emboldens people to do things that they likely wouldn’t otherwise. The fact of the matter is, if you are talking to someone on Facebook that you shouldn’t be, you probably know it, and you may very well have had to work hard to convince yourself that there is nothing wrong with what you are doing. If you find yourself thinking,

“It’s just talking,”

“At least we’re not meeting in person,”

you may be heading down the track on a train you have no business on that will eventually crash and lead to the destruction of your family.

Dr. Steve Kimmons, of Loyola University Medical Center, explains one version of the process:

One spouse connects online with someone they knew from high school. The person is emotionally available and they start communicating through Facebook. Within a short amount of time, the sharing of personal stories can lead to a deepened sense of intimacy, which in turn can point the couple in the direction of physical contact.

The fact of the matter is, most people who go down this road don’t set out on a journey towards sin or unfaithfulness. Dr. Kimmons goes on to explain:

I don’t think these people typically set out to have affairs. A lot of it is curiosity. They see an old friend or someone they dated and decide to say ‘hello’ and catch up on where that person is and how they’re doing.

Those initial contacts lead to deeper conversations and eventually to destruction. “It just happens” you might say. The fact of the matter is, the way to keep it from happening is to not begin the journey in the first place. Or, if you’re already on that journey, to end it immediately.

Here are some questions you should ask yourself to determine if you may have a problems that could lead to the destruction of your covenant marriage:

Am I talking to people online that I know I should not be or my spouse would be upset about?
Am I keeping any conversations/interactions that I have online secret from my spouse?
Do I delete chat conversations, posts or message to make sure my spouse doesn’t see them?
Am I talking to people online about problems in my marriage rather than addressing them with my spouse?
Am I sharing intimate details of my life with someone online?
Do I find myself defensive about this article or others who suggest I should not be talking to certain people?
Would I be offended or worried if my spouse logged into my account to see what I was doing?
Do I find a sense of fulfillment or happiness in Facebook that has been lacking in my marriage?
Do I use Facebook as a means of avoiding my spouse?

If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, I would suggest that you reconsider you online activity and rededicate yourself to your marriage. Here are some suggestions on how to do that:

Tell your spouse your passwords.
Invite your spouse to check out your account and don’t get upset if they take you up on it.
Talk to your spouse about your online activity.
If you “have to” send a message to someone your spouse might find objectional, copy your spouse on the message.
Unfriend people that you have no business being involved with.
Pray
Cancel your account if need be.

So, does all this seem like overkill? It’s just Facebook after all? Allow me to respond this way. The entire time that I have been thinking about and writing this article, God has laid a particular song on my heart. The song is “Slow Fade” by the group Casting Crowns. The lyrics include the following verse:

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you’re thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

“The journey from your mind into your hands is shorter than you’re thinking.” It is something, and it must be dealt with with a sense of immediacy. Right now, it may seem innocent enough, but left to fester and grow that innocent conversation can grow into something far from innocent.

“Be careful if you think you stand. You might just be sinking.” If you’re thinking, “none of this applies to me, I can control it,” then think again! The future of your marriage, your family, your kids and your kids’ futures may very well depend on it.

Here is the rest of that song:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QASREBVDsLk&ob=av3e

Children’s Ministry People You Should Know – Amy Fenton Lee

Wayne — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:55:00 +0000

NAME

Amy Fenton Lee

MY FIVE FAVORITE “RECENT” ARTICLES FROM AMY

MY PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS

Amy is one of those people that you could just sit and listen to for hours. On a personal level, she is one of the nicest and most encouraging people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. I have learned from her, been encouraged by her and have a great deal of respect for her as a children’s ministry leader and as a person. She is a bit of a kindred spirit and good friend. Her story of how she got involved in the world of special needs ministry is inspiring to me as it it similar to my involvement in DivorceMinistry4Kids. However it came to be, her work with churches in the area of special needs ministries has been a blessing to the church as a whole and she has become a respected voice in the world of special needs ministry. Perhaps the best thing I can say about her work is that I have nothing to do with special needs, yet I consistently learn from her work and her writing. Whether she is leading the charge for inclusion of special needs kids in church, talking about her own experiences as a wife and mother or sharing what it was like to grow up as a pastor’s kid in a southern church, Amy is someone you definitely want to know.

IN HER OWN WORDS

I asked Amy to answer the following question in “just a few sentences”:

What steps should a church who does not have a separate special needs ministry take to be prepared for the time when children with special needs do come to their church?

Here is how Amy answered that question:

· Ask a single question on the registration form for every new guest or visitor:

“We want every participant in “Kidstown*” to have a safe and successful church experience. Equipping our volunteers to best serve your child is important to us. Does your child have any allergies, medical needs, learning differences, or physical challenges that it may be helpful for us to know about?

*Replace with name of your church’s children’s ministry

· Designate a person in your children’s ministry to chat with parents who answer “yes” to the above question. This ministry leader should have some familiarity with good questions to ask parents to determine what issues may require immediate attention versus a follow-up conversation (after church) for a longer term plan of accommodation.

· Prepare one or two adults or responsible teens to serve as impromptu buddies. Perhaps this is a volunteer who serves as a floater and is available to be pulled away on a moment’s notice. Many churches have a bonus volunteer who is prepared to serve as a one-on-one helper to a new student with special needs.

· Keep a few of the following items on hand to provide as aides to “impromptu buddies”:

Sensory Toys

Play-dough (Gluten-free play is a bonus!)

Noise reduction earmuffs

Dum-Dum Pops for a reward or distracter (this candy is nearly hypoallergenic)

Goldfish

A small, quiet area stocked with a few books, puzzles, and a CD player for music

Children’s Ministry People You Should Know – Tony Kummer

Wayne — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:55:42 +0000

Welcome to a new semi-regular series here on Dad in the Middle. One of the great joys I have gotten from my involvement in children’s ministry is the chance to meet and interact with a number of exceptional people who are also engaged in children’s ministry in some for or another. Some of these people, you will recognize, others you may not. What I am comfortable telling you is that you should get to know these people better. It will only serve to edify you and help you to minister to children even better.

NAME

Tony Kummer

WEBSITE

Ministry-to-Children.com

TWITTER

@TonyKummer

FACEBOOK

Ministry to Children

MY FIVE FAVORITE “RECENT” ARTICLES FROM TONY

MY PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS

Tony was one of the very first people I interacted with online. At the time, all I knew was that he ran this great site offering free children’s ministry resources. Over the last few years, Tony and I have become friends and had the chance to meet in person a couple of times. What I have come to find out is that Tony is one of the best at what he does, but also has a very humble and giving heart. Tony’s unwavering commitment to his ministry, depth of thought and affection for his family make him a compelling human being and someone you should get to know.

IN HIS OWN WORDS

I asked Tony to answer the following question in “just a few sentences”:

What do you believe is the most important thing a children’s minister should do in their ministry?

Here’s how Tony answered that intentionally open ended question:

My first thought is to really love people and serve out of that motive. That means making little choices to put relationships ahead of to-do lists. It’s also the drive that keeps me serving and praying for these same people year-after-year. I can’t say I do this well, but I’m trying…

And the Winner Is…

Wayne — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:53:41 +0000

Last week here on Dad in the Middle, we started two exciting giveaways. Today, it is time to announce the winner of the Parenting a New Generation Giveaway. Congratulations to:

Lindsey Whitney

Send me your mailing information, and I will make sure the curriculum is sent out to you!

There is still time to enter to Win a Free Ticket to Orange Conference 2012. That drawing will take place this Thursday. There are three ways to enter, so make sure to take advantage of all three options!

Win a Free Ticket to Orange Conference 2012

Wayne — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:41:18 +0000

Increase your chances to win!!! I’m trying to get the word out a new ministry – Divorce Ministry 4 Kids. If you visit DivorceMinistry4Kids.com and subscribe to the newsletter there on the right hand side of the page between now and next Wednesday, we’ll enter your name one more time in the drawing. You get a chance to go to a great conference, and a chance to learn about a great new ministry. It’s Win-Win!

————————————————————————————————-

I’m sure it’s been on your calendar since last year, and the day had finally arrived. Today is the day! Registration for the 2012 Orange Conference officially opens today. Here is some more information about this year’s conference:

Dates: April 25-27, 2012
Location: The Gwinnett Center in Duluth, GA (a suburb of Atlanta)
Theme: Game Changers
More than 80 distinct workshops
Awesome lineup of speakers and breakout leaders
Cost: More expensive the longer you wait to register!
Networking: A must (how can you help but network with that many people in one place?)
Much much more

Don’t miss your opportunity to attend this great conference. I can tell you from personal experience that you will regret it if you do miss it.

Go to www.TheOrangeConference.com to find out more about the conference and register today! I’m still trying to work out the details to make sure I can go myself this year, but if so I hope to see you there!

Here is the really exciting news! The kind people of Orange have offered me one free ticket to give away to the reader of this blog. Just leave a comment below and/or tweet the following:

@stocksohio is giving away a free ticket to the 2012 Orange Conference: http://wp.me/pN5Ju-1jB #kidmin

Do both, and we’ll enter you twice. You can register anytime in the next week, and we’ll pick a winner next Thursday!

Parenting a New Generation Giveaway

Wayne — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:55:00 +0000

In honor of the Orange Conference registration, which starts tomorrow, I am giving away a free copy of Parenting A New Generation by Chap Clark provided by the fine people at Orange. I was hoping to have a copy to review to go along with this giveaway, but it didn’t arrive in time. What I can tell you is a little about the product. According to the Orange website, Parenting A New Generation is:

A Tool for Parents and Student Pastors to Understand and Lead Today’s Students

The world is changing, and so are today’s teens. Any parents who feels unequipped to raise a teenager in today’s world, and any student pastor who has ever felt overwhelmed with the alarming statistics, both know parenting and leading this generation can be challenging.

Both need help. Both need a plan. Both need each other. In this 13-week study, Chap Clark (Ph.d) articulates the problem with humor and fresh insight in a way you have never heard, and gives practical solutions that will change how you relate to this generation. Whether you work with teenagers or live with them, this DVD-based study will encourage you, challenge you and better equip you to raise healthy adults in today’s world-something that is not only possible, but within your reach.

I’ve raised a teenager, and made a lot of mistakes along the way, and I have three more teenagers in my future (God willing). I picked this resource because, as a parent, I understand the challenges that raising a teenager brings, and I am hopeful that this resource will help. My review will hopefully be coming soon, but in the meantime you can win a free copy of join me in exploring this resource.

HERE’S HOW TO WIN:

Leave a comment below explaining why you would like to win.
Post the following on Twitter: “@stocksohio has the secret to raising teenagers! Not really, but I entered to win something that can: http://wp.me/pN5Ju-1jw #kidmin”

I’ll pick a winner sometime next Monday, September 26. So, get your entries in before then!

Oh, and check out all the other Orange Week bloggers (many of them are doing giveaways as well:

Matt McKee, http://mattmckee.me
Jared Massey, http://www.smalltownkidmin.com
Amy Fenton Lee, http://www.theinclusivechurch.com
Wayne Stocks, http://waynestocks.com
Cass Brannan, http://www.cassbrannan.wordpress.com
Anthony Prince, http://www.westcoastcm.wordpress.com
Michael Bayne, http://www.michaelbayne.net/
Jenny Funderburke, http://jennyfunderburke.com
Tom Pounder, http://www.ministryblackboard.com
Henry Zonio, http://kidminandculture.com
Nick Blevins, http://www.nickblevins.com
Benjamin Kerns, http://www.averageyouthministry.com
Amy Dolan, http://www.lemonlimekids.com
Amanda White, http://www.impressyourkids.com
DC Curry, http://www.currystew.org/
JC Thompson, http://jcisonline.com
Steve Cullum, http://www.stevecullum.com
Ben Read, http://www.intentionalstudentministry.com
Kenny Conley, http://www.childrensministryonline.com
Sam Luce, http://samluce.com
RyanMillard, http://www.ryanmillard.com
Jonathan Cliff, http://www.jonathancliff.com

Why Do You Promote A Conference You Have Never Been To?

Wayne — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0000

That’s a fair question and one that deserves an answer. The truth is that, despite following it closely from afar for many years, I have never actually been to the Orange conference. So, why would I promote a conference that I have never been too?

1. Because it’s worth it

Not to me, but it’s worth it to you. This blog has always been about the readers, and I am comfortable that the Orange Conference is an experience that edify you in your work in children’s ministry. In the end, that is what Dad in the Middle is all about.

2. The Line-Up

The line-up of speakers and breakouts at Orange is phenomenal year after year, and this year is no different. Speakers will include:

Reggie Joiner, founder of Orange
Andy Stanley, Senior Pastor of North Point Community Church
Craig Groeschel, Founding and Senior Pastor of LifeChurch.tv
Lanny Donoho, President and Creative Director of BigStuf Productions and BigStuf Camps
Jon Acuff, Author of Quitter, social media specialist at JonAcuff.com
Mawi Asgedom, Educational innovator, author and founder of Mental Karate
Sue Miller, Children’s innovator, author of Making Your Children’s Ministry the Best Hour of Every Kid’s Week
Joel Manby, President of Herschend Entertainment, featured on Undercover Boss
David Kinnaman, President of Barna Research Group and author of unChristian
Carey Neuiwhof, Lead Pastor of Connexus Community Church
Kara Powell, Executive Director at Fuller Institute and author of Sticky Faith and Deep Justice Journeys
Stuart Hall, Director of Training for XP3
Jared Herd, Creative Director of XP3 Students

Breakout leaders have not yet been announced, but if prior years are any indication, people I really admire, like and respect will likely be leading breakouts and pre-conference seminars. People like:

Jim Wideman
Sam Luce
Kenny Conley
Jonathan Cliff
Gina McClain
Amy Fenton Lee

have all led such sessions in the past.

3. It’s About A Whole Lot More than just Breakouts

I haven’t been to Orange, but the conferences I have been to have taught me that the time spent networking and making connections can be more valuable than any time spent sitting listening to a speaker. And, Orange is one of the premiere conferences for children’s ministry leaders to get together and spend some quality time networking, learning from one another and sharpening one another.

4. They Asked Me To

There are some great people associated with Orange who are interested in making sure that you have the best conference experience possible. They asked me to let you know about registration beginning this Thursday, September 22nd, and given my high view of the conference anyhow, I figured why not. To find out more about the conference, please visit www.TheOrangeConference.com.

It’s baaaccccckkkkk….and better than ever!

Wayne — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0000

That’s right, the kids are back in school, the weather (at least where I am) is cooling off, ministry is heating up, and trees are changing color – WAIT! Did somebody say color? That’s exactly what I want to talk to you about this week. I am taking a sabbatical from my sabbatical this week to tell you, the readers of Dad in the Middle, about something very important.

This coming Thursday, September 22, 2011 is the first day to register for Orange Conference 2012. The Conference will be help April 25-27, 2012 in Duluth, GA and will feature an awesome lineup of speakers and great breakout sessions. As an added benefit (not really, but it sounds good), I am doing everything in my power to finally make it there this year! It’s hard to tell this far in advance, but I’d put my odds at about 80-90% that I’ll be able to pull it off this year. Much more to come throughout the week here about the Orange Conference, but this morning I just wanted to give you the heads up.

Plus, it’s good to see something other than just twitter updates on this site! For more information on the conference, please visit TheOrangeConference.com!

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That Moment Made My Week

Wayne — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:00:00 +0000

It’s been a busy week – a really busy week. Soccer practice in the rain on Monday, Meeting on Tuesday for a new ministry, Awana Wednesday night, and a starting a new ministry on Thursday all made for an exciting week. On top of that, I came down with the worst cold I’ve had in quite a while starting Tuesday morning and continuing through now. So, do I tell you all that to whine about my week – maybe a little bit. No, but I wanted to set the tone of my week so that God’s grace is sufficiently clear in the story I am about to tell.

Last night was my first night serving in a ministry called Divorce Care 4 Kids. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been spending a lot of time recently on my newest ministry called Divorce Ministry 4 Kids. As part of that, I found a local church offering the Divorce Care 4 Kids curriculum on Thursday nights and asked if they would let me serve in their program. They were nice enough to allow it, and last night was our first of 13 weekly meetings. The leaders of the group are great, and the other volunteers are nice enough, but there was, of course, a bit of awkwardness as everyone gets used to each other.

The night went well. We had 12 kids, plus three more leader’s kids who have been through the program before. That alone is a gift from God because as of Tuesday we thought we had seven kids coming. Two of the first people to show up were sisters aged 11 and 9. Mom hung out for a while, and it seemed pretty clear that they didn’t want to be there. They weren’t causing any problems, but they were sticking to themselves and just had that “I don’t want to be here, and you can’t make me like it” air about them.

We went through class with some minor glitches that come with working out a new team and new ministry, but everything went fairly well. I was reminded how much fun it is to just sit at a table with a bunch of kids you don’t know and get to know them. After class was over, we had a little bit of time to hang out and chat before parents picked the kids up. I noticed that the 11 year old was helping to clean up after some of the younger kids left their snacks so I walked over to thank her, at which point her nine year old sister was quick to point out that her older sister never cleans up at home. We got to talking, and I learned a little bit more about their home lives and things they like and don’t like. I didn’t really think much of it at the time.

When their mom came to pick them up, her first questions was, of course,

How was it?

I had moved on to something else, but I overhead the older child explain to her mother than “It was O.K., I like that guy over there.” My heart, which had been breaking for all these kids all week and throughout the night, just melted. The Mother asked if I was going to be there next week, so I explained that I would be there all 13 weeks.

So, why do I share this story? Am I tooting my own horn? No, way! I’m writing to toot God’s horn. After a really long week, when I feeling really drained, God sent a child into my life who is, no doubt, hurting and confused. In my misguided human thinking, I was under the impression that I was there to help her. In the end, God worked through her to fill my spiritual tank, rejuvenate me and reignite a passion for serving God’s hurt children. When we need encouragement and sustenance the most, God works through little lives and reminds us why we do what we do. That moment made my week. Thank you God!

Seeds Family Worship Cookbook

Wayne — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:15:00 +0000

If you’ve read this blog for a while, it won’t come as any surprise that I am a big fan of Seeds Family Worship. We were honored to be a stop of the release tour of their most current album, and I’ve been a fan for a while now. Well, the guys at Seeds are “cooking up” something new and exciting, and they want to give you a chance to to get in on the action. From now through July 31, you have a chance to submit an idea or activity for the new Seeds Family Worship Cookbook.

The Cookbook will feature ideas, games, activities and lessons that you have used with your families to build Godly character at home. These could include ways to memorize scripture (can your two year old recite the entire book of Ephesians?), ideas on worshipping as a family (maybe you’ve created a Partridge Family type worship band and tour with the kids?), family activities or outings (did you and the kids uncover the lost tomb of Lazarus?), ways you’ve tackled difficult theological questions (did you figure out a way to explain the trinity to a five year old), or anything else you’ve done to instill God and the Bible into your kids. Seriously though, it doesn’t have to be earth shattering, if you have an idea that can help other parents, share it and let us learn from you. The best entries, along with your name, will be published in the Seeds Family Worship Cookbook similar to a church cookbook. If you have more than one idea, make sure you submit them all.

Remember, you only have until July 31 to get your entries in. One thing that you can be certain of, everything that Seeds does is top notched in terms of quality and integrity. Click on Seeds Family Worship Cookbook to submit your entry. Oh, while there you should buy a CD or two – you won’t regret it!

A Brief History of Creation

Wayne — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 13:00:00 +0000

It’s been a while since I suspended the Saturday morning video segment of this blog. I can’t promise a video every Saturday, but I’ve found so many good ones that I wanted to start sharing them again.

This is a fun little video that depicts the story of creation. I used it several months back with our Kindergarteners and First Graders, and it was a hit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2RA0DIJTAI

Announcing the Official Unofficial CMX 2011 Pre-pre-conference Meet-up

Wayne — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:08:52 +0000

How is that for a mouthful! Maybe I should have gone with “Meet Me at CMX 2011,” but that seemed a little self-centered to me. Anyhow, I am excited to be going back to the Children’s Ministry Expo this year in Lexington, KY on July 7, 2011. I went to the very first CMX last year and had a great time, so I am really looking forward to going back this year. More on what will be there later, but first I want to give you the details of our meet-up. Last year, my one regret was that I was not more proactive about meeting people at CMX. I assumed I would just “run into” people. That happened, but there were a number of people that I missed that I only found out afterwards. So, this year I am putting together a pre-pre-conference meet-up.

The CMX preconference runs from 6:00 – 10:00 PM on July 6th. So, we are going to get together from roughly 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the food court in the arena where CMX is being held. So, if you’re coming in early, make plans to join us. There is no invitation necessary, no agenda and nothing other than a chance to get together with other like-minded people, talk children’s ministry, make some new friends, reacquaint with old friends and just have a good time! I know I’ll be there, and I hope you can make it too – the more the merrier!

If you’re coming and you can make the meet-up, leave a comment below to let us know. If you’ll be at the expo, but not in time for the meet-up, let us know that too. Leave a comment, and I will track you down during the conference. I want to meet as many people as possible this year!

If you haven’t made up your mind, or haven’t heard about CMX, let me fill you in.

CMX will be held July 7, 2001 from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM in Lexington, Kentucky at The Lexington Center (adjacent to Rupp Arena).
The cost for the entire conference is only……..$25. That’s right – that’s no typo. It’s only $25 dollars. You and a team of 10 people can go to CMX for less than the cost of one ticket to most other children’s ministry conferences.
CMX is the brainchild of Roger Fields and the remainder of the Kidz Blitz team.
A CMX Pre-Conference will be held from 6:00 – 10:00 PM on July 6, 2011. The pre-conference will include all of the exhibitors but no presentations.
CMX includes over 75 exhibitors showing off products encompassing all of your children’s ministry needs.
Exhibitors will be conducting a variety of 20 minute Scoops highlighting how their products can help you in your ministry.
On Thursday, there will be “Sit-Ins” from some of the nations best known experts in children’s ministries. These sit-ins are designed to help you take your ministry deeper and will be presented in three different Tracks. There is a Leadership Track, A Children’s Ministry Basics Track and a Special Needs Track.
Speakers will include Greg Baird, Dr. Alyssa Barnes, Tina Bryson, Michael Chanley, Jeremy Collins, Coach D, Ken Dovey, Amy Fenton Lee, Roger Fields, Jenny Funderburke, Katie Garvert, Dale Hudson, Tony Kummer, Jim Marshall, Gina McClain, Jolene Philo, Karen Rhodes, Michelle Romain, Justyn Smith, Jim Wideman and Yancy.
This year will also include a special exhibition of a Kidz Blitz FX Live Experience at 11:00 AM on July 7th.
Make sure to sign up for “Speed Networking” at the pre-conference on July 6th. You can sign up here.

By the way, in case this article sounds like an advertisement, I am in no way associated with CMX or Kidz Blitz. I am not an exhibitor or a speaker this year. I am simply a big fan and someone who wants to make sure you do not miss out on this great opportunity!

There you have it. Here’s what you need to do:

Make plans to be at CMX on July 7.
Show up for the pre-conference on July 6.
Join us at 4:00 PM on July 6 for the pre-pre-conference meet-up.
If you can’t make the meet-up, let me know so we can get together some other time!

By the way, I am also staying around after the conference, so if your schedule’s full and you want to get together on the 8th, just let me know.

I hope to see you there!

By the way, I borrowed the image for this post from the CMX website. I hope they don’t mind.

Zotero – A Wonderful Tool With a Funny Name!

Wayne — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Every once and a while, I come across a tool which is so useful to me that I feel the need to share it with you. Zotero is one of those tools! If you been keeping up with my writing here on Dad in the Middle, over at Kidmin1124.com or on Ministry-to-Children.com, you’ve probably picked up on a couple of things:

I’ve been on “hiatus” for almost six months now which hasn’t kept me from writing the occasional aritcle; and
I’ve been writing a lot recently about Children of Divorce.

I won’t go into all the details, again, of my research into Children of Divorce but needless to say I have spent hours and hours online searching out articles and authoritative literature. Last week, I decided I need to find a way to organize it and produce a bibliography. I was lucky enough to find Zotero. The Zotero website describes the program as:

…a free, easy-to-use tool to help youcollect, organize, cite, and share your research sources. It lives right where you do your work—in the web browser itself.

That’s right, Zotero integrates directly into Firefox. You simply click a button and enter any information you want to keep track of related to citing the document and your set. Zotero offers templates for all kinds of documents including:

Audio Recording
Blog Post
Book
Case
Conference Paper
Dictionary Entry
Document
E-mail
Encyclopedia Article
Forum Post
Instant Message
Interview
Journal Articles
Letter
Manuscript
Magazine Articles
Newspaper Articles
Patent
Podcast
Presentation
Radio Broadcast
Report
Statute
Thesis
Video Recording
Webpage
And more….

You can generate a complete bibliography, cite individual resources (with the word processor plugin), keep a copy of pdf files or snapshots of webpages with the associated reference, sync your references so that you can use Zotero on multiple computers, create different libraries, and so much more. I’ve only been using it for seven days now, but I’ve got over 300 articles indexed and streamlines my research process as I go forward.

Zotero is fully searchable and can also be used to keep track of web pages and notes you want for future reference. I am just scratching the surface, but I think the possibilities are endless.

Zotero integrates seamlessly into Firefox. There is also a stand alone version which works with Google Chrome or Safari. A plug in for Internet Explorer is also in the works. The Zotero homepage includes fairly comprehensive documentation and support forums. All that is pretty amazing for a free resource!

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