Archive - August, 2010

God’s Kids Worship Review and Giveaway

August 31, 2010 in Ministry with 17 Comments

I am always on the search for good music in our Children’s Ministry environments.  If you take me to lunch sometime I’ll tell you about all the ones I love and hate!  So when Bob Singleton from God’s Kids Worship asked me to review something new that is being put out for Children’s Ministry…I was all over it.  Thanks Bob for sending along something so fun to look through.

God’s Kids Worship is available in both CD Audio format and in the very popular DVD Video format.  I’ve looked through the Modern Worship Summer DVD and the Modern Worship CD Pack.  There is so much here, and I only have a small portion of all that GKW offers to churches, schools, and families!  Let’s talk about what we do have.

Here is what I liked:

  • These DVD’s have everything!  Need service countdown videos? They got it!  Need background images for when you’re teaching? They got it!  Need high-energy songs complete with easy to read words to the worship songs? They got those too!  I can’t think of anything they forgot to include.
  • The DVD’s are so easy to use.  They load super fast, and the menus are totally dummy proof.  If you can’t find what you’re looking for, then you have other issues. ;)  These DVD’s would be great with any knowledge level of sound and video guy helping you.  Trust me, this is so important when Sunday Morning rolls around.
  • The music is familiar.  The music is all stuff we do in our Adult Worship Services, and many of the songs are heard on the local Christian radio stations.  (And I know that I’ve only looked at a very small portion of what GKW has available on their main website and in stores now!)
  • It just looks cool!  GKW has taken the extra step to make everything packaging and visually related is a home run.  These are not your father’s Children’s Ministry songs!  Don’t underestimate the cool-factor when programming for children.
  • There is a curriculum that follows along with everything.  Anytime you can work your music around what you are teaching for the Bible it’s a win-win.

Here is the only thing I didn’t like:

  • I’m going to be guilty here of being nit-picky; but if I’m totally being honest I would say that I wish there were more adult vocals included on the audio.  The children’s choir that is recorded on all the audio is stellar and it’s really done well, but my experience tells me that when there is one adult focal voice on the track it helps keep my kids attention better when I use it as a worship product.  However, GKW has been designed to be kid-only and I totally undersand their position.

Summary:

  • What we have here is a fantastic resource that is new, cutting-edge, modern and yet they still make some classic church music for those of you working in a more traditional environment.  I’m going to make it really easy for you to try out this new product, as God’s Kids Worship has graciously provided us with a giveaway.

 

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I’m sorry to have to break it to you, but this contest has ended.  Thank you for participating, and keep watching www.jonathancliff.com for our next giveaway!

Say Hello to Something New

August 30, 2010 in Personal with 0 Comments

Back in March I filled everyone in on the Beyond Project at Trinity Church.  Our church went through a long season of raising commitments from our church families to build into the future with new facilities.  Much of the project is devoted to new spaces for the Next Generations in Lubbock.  When our family was praying about what we could give as a family we picked a dollar figure that we would commit to give over the next three years.  However, this number was above what we could afford to give on a monthly basis.  So what were we thinking?  We wanted to put ourselves in a position to find other more creative ways to meet our commitment.

We began to pray for opportunities to make additional contributions and vowed that all money above our normal monthly income would be given to the Beyond Project at Trinity..  And then it happened.  We began to receive unexpected rebate checks, insurance payment refunds, and my own kids (with help from their mother) organized a family garage sale.  At about this same time, I was approached by some different sponsors offering to pay for ad space here at www.jonathancliff.com.  As you might have guessed, if you read this blog I have accepted their offers.  I’m working with the Beacon Ad network to make sure that my ads are of high quality content, and so far my experience with them has been positive.

It’s my hope that the sponsors we have here at www.jonathancliff.com will reflect something of interest to my readers.  I know that some might seem more interesting than others, but I ask that you take the time to visit each and every one as they are added over in the right sidebar.  I will also from time to time be doing product reviews, and I promise that I will not accept payment from anyone in exchange for a positive review; honesty will rule the reviews!  You can ready my entire advertising philosophy over on the advertise page HERE.

In this spirit let me introduce you to two of my newest sponsors:

  • Christianity Cove is run by Mary Kate Warner and you can visit all that is happening at the cove at http://www.christianitycove.com.  Her blog has been up and running since 2006 with hundreds of pages of free content to help Sunday School teachers, home schooling parents, children’s pastors, etc. pull together fun lessons, games, activities, etc.  I know that you will find many of her resources worth looking at!
  • Ministry-to-Children.com has also joined as a partner.  MTC is a fantastic resource for anyone associated in any form whatsoever with Children’s Ministry.  I cannot more highly recommend the A+ content put out on this site. Specifically you will find a link to their coloring page catalog.  Good Stuff.  Tony Kummer, and his group of writers at MTC have long been an important part of the online Kidmin community.  Go there now and say hello!

Thank you so much for being a faithful reader, and as we enter this new adventure together I hope that I can bring advertisers that can enrich your experience!  Feel free to email me with any questions if you ever feel your trust has been compromised by an ad that you see at jonathancliff.com.

New Check-In Procedures

August 27, 2010 in Ministry, Technology with 8 Comments

This weekend at Trinity Church we are kicking off a totally new way of doing check-in for our Elementary students.  I’m a HUGE advocate of self check-in, and this plan has worked for our Elementary areas for a few years now.  Due to our building setup this is NOT a security check-in system, it is a attendance check-in system.  We do not do any kind of check-out, and still rely on small group leaders and other leaders to help identify parents and others that have business in our Children’s areas.

What’s different?

  • Families can check-in using a RFID key tag.  Each family is being given two key tags that they will then be able to use anytime they visit Kidsplace.  Previously we used name tags with magnetic stripes that kids “swiped” on a reader.
  • After check-in for each child, there will be a name badge printed for them next to the kiosks.  Previously we used hard plastic name tags that had to be returned each week to be used again the next week.  Can you say time-intensive?
  • All visitors are entered into our ARENA database program when they visit.  Using Family Registration, every visitor will be entered in, and subsequently checked-in to their appropriate location.  Previously we kept a running spreadsheet and didn’t enter a child until they had attended 3 times or more, and then we would create a permanent name tag for them.
  • Visitors will be able to check-in using their phone number on there very next visit to church.  No more visitor line for them!  Previously, they continued to visit this visitor line until they had attended for a few weeks and were moved to a permanent name tag.  I’m so excited to be able to give our first-timers a real special experience!

I’m real excited, and mildly concerned about how easy this will all pull off this weekend.  I can tell you that I’m gonna love the RFID name tags, as we no longer have to deal with barcodes or magnetic stripes at check-in!  Here is a short video that was distributed to parents this week to prepare them for the transition.  Now…fire away with those questions in the comment area!

People I’ve Met Online: Keith Geeding

August 26, 2010 in Personal, Technology with 3 Comments

I first read Keith’s blog over 5 years ago.  I believe I saw a funny picture that somebody had on their blog, and it pointed back to bagofnothing.com.  BON is a great link-blog, and it’s beginning to be filled more and more with the life of it’s author.  I recommend anybody wanting to waste hours of their day to see all the Internet goodness that Keith has gathered for his readers at www.bagofnothing.com.  Over the years I’ve learned that he hates windchimes, that most Baylor graduates annoy him, and he’s frustrated by people that don’t return their carts at Wal-Mart.  He’s a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys and was even raised not too far from the heart of West Texas.

But I’ve also met Keith.  For months and months we would exchange emails about various things happening in and around our lives.  Once I emailed him and asked if he would give me a run-down of all the U2 songs that a newbie to U2 like myself should listen too.  See, if you’ve read BON you would know that Keith rarely listens to other music and is the quintessential U2 snob.  (That’s not an insult!)  As I awaited his return email with a list of songs I should buy on iTunes, I instead received a package in the mail.  This Internet stranger had sent me a mix-tape of his favorite U2 songs, along with the reasons for him including each song on the mix-tape.  Seriously, he did this!

I’ve read and exchanged emails while he nursed his sick mother, who would eventually pass away.  I’ve followed along from a distance as he visited her native land in Vietnam along with his wife.  And recently I’ve watched him learn to be a father for the first time!  Keith is a seeker of truth, and I love his spirit and perseverance to find answers to his questions on spirituality.  We would all benefit from his curiosity.

So when have we actually met?  A few months after he sent me the U2 mix-tape, I had an extra ticket to a Dallas Stars game; so I invited him and we got to hang out for the evening.  I think we may have had lunch before I left the Dallas area and headed to Lubbock, I think we did; but I’m not sure.  But last September on a Sunday afternoon I got a call from Keith.  He had purchased two tickets to the U2 show in Arlington for a Monday night, and through a series of unfortunate events (and more close friends being unable to attend) he asked if I was interested.  So in a matter of 24 hours I was back in Dallas, camping out in his spare bedroom and standing right next to the stage for the U2 concert at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.  What a thrill!  I count this as one of the more spiritual experiences of my life!

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Keith is a long-distance friend, and is one of the many reasons that I love the Internet.  If you’ve not taken the time to shoot of an email to that blog author that you read, then do it.  It’s always worth is to make a new friend, even if it’s an Internet friend!

People I’ve Met Online: Gina McClain

August 24, 2010 in Personal, Technology with 0 Comments

Gina writes over at www.ginamcclain.com.  It took her a few blog addresses to settle into www.ginamcclain.com, and we’re all glad she didn’t go with the some of the racier alternatives.  It’s a great story that won’t be repeated on this family-friendly blog.  You should ask her!  We all wish she would write more, so go over there now and leave some obnoxious comments suggesting she write more.

About 4 years ago, Gina sent me an email asking me a question about something.  I don’t remember anything from that email, but I will never forget what she started it off with.

Dear Pastor Cliff,

I still laugh out loud when I think about being called, Pastor Cliff.

But you see that’s the thing about Gina.  She asks questions.  She’s always willing to run something past you, always wants to know what did and didn’t work when you did something, and is always, always, always willing to share.  She’s an original pro-family Children’s Minister.  When she was transitioning between Lifechurch.tv and Faith Promise Church in Knoxville, it was encouraging to both Starr and I to watch God provide the large and tiny details to confirm to their family His faithfulness.

So when have I met Gina?  I first met Gina in person at the Orange Conference in 2009, and talked her into giving some of us a little bit of time when she was at Orange 2010.  I’ve even visited her when she lived in Edmond, OK on a trip my family took through the Great State (that being Oklahoma.)  Her husband Kyle and her are great people to hang out with, and we’re kinda sad we don’t have that stop now on the drive between Lubbock and Tulsa.

As Gina has transitioned to a new church in Knoxville, TN at Faith Promise Church; she has kept her passions for the family.  I know she’s building a great team out there in Knoxville.  Remember we all need her to write more over at www.ginamcclain.com, so head over there right now and tell her so!

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