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!

The stated goal of our Children’s Ministry is “To create spiritual environments and settings where kids can easily hear the voice of God, and respond.”

Basically we say that everything we do is meant to create an atmosphere whereby kids can hear Jesus.  As a father, it’s been my prayer for my own children that they’ll hear God’s voice when he calls them, and that they will be obedient and respond.  I’ve written about Ryan’s baptism HERE, and I’ve shared countless times about what we do to create these environments for children at our church.  I work with parents during the Child Dedication process, I put tools in the hands of parents to help them talk about Jesus with their kids in their own homes, and I work to create family-friendly events that bring everyone together.  However, I’ve been thinking about whether we create spaces during our weekend experiences for kids to hear Jesus.  I’m talking real live, prayer-filled moments where kids can encounter God.

This summer we’ve disbanded our small groups, and given large amounts of the summer off to our faithful Elementary small group leaders.  In the months between what was, and what is coming in August; we’ve been using Hillsong Big! curriculum.  One of my favorite elements of the Hillsong Big! curriculum is the built-in “ministry time.”  Ministry time consists of prayer stations, altar-type ministry, and it’s all done on a large group scale.  We’ve been able to get away with this in our large group sessions, as our numbers are usually down in the Summer months.  Can you say Summer swoon?

But here’s the learning: I’ve discovered during ministry time, that our kids are hearing God’s voice. They’re responding in real ways, and they’re taking those ministry moments home to their families.  I’m a HUGE advocate of the small group model for kids, and am committed to it’s development in our Children’s Ministry, yet I’m already thinking of how I can move some of these great “ministry times” into our small groups.  Over the next few days I’m going to unpack some thoughts into how we can make our small groups a place that ministry can happen for our kids in the atmosphere of community.

Do you have much experience offering large group ministry time to children?  Is that even the culture of your church?

Your absence has gone through me
Like thread through a needle
Everything I do is stitched with its color.
~W.S. Merwin, “Separation”

Have you noticed, I’ve been missing from this blog in the past two weeks?  The combination of Orange Conference over-posting, and a busy personal life has created a vacant blog schedule.  Sure I knocked out something on Mother’s Day, and you saw an already scheduled update of our newest Kidsplace Promo video…but really nothing about me.  That’s why I have this blog, right?  Because there are people out there that want to know about me!

If you’re still reading, then let’s hope that you know my tounge is planted firmly in my cheek.  It’s not all about me, and being at the Orange Conference reminded me of that.  I met so many of you guys that read this lame website, that I feel obligated to fill you in on much of what has been occupying my world lately.  Can I share what’s up in my Ministry life?

• I’ve hired a new Early Childhood Coordinator at Trinity!  About three months ago I made a staffing change, and my entire team and I have been scrambling ever since.  I’m real excited to have Deborah Winkler on our team in this role, but hiring her has created a new opening.  Now I’m hiring an Administrative Assistant!
• When I get my Admin Assistant hired, it will finally complete my 6 person team for the first time since early this year.  It’s stinks to be operating at full throttle, with less than a complete staffing team!  Whew!
• I smell a curriculum change coming!  In our Elementary areas we have used Elevate! for almost 3 years.  It’s been an overall good experience, but some recent changes in the creation of Elevate! have rendered it unusable for us.  (Send me an email, and I’ll explain in private.)  In August of 2010 we will transition to 252 Basics in Elementary, and are looking closely at starting First Look in our Early Childhood environments.
• Since we are moving to 252 Basics in August, we were in search of something to get us through the summer months of programming and have settled on BIG by Hillsong Kids.  We’re one week into the BIG experience, and so far so good.  I love it’s flexibility, and long 13 week (with 3 segments) schedule.  We’re using the Follow You package through BIG, and the kids are loving it right now.
• The Summer events are starting at the end of this month.  We will be continuing are Family Fun Day events from last year, along with a couple of “drop the kids” events squeezed in between.  We will also run a special 4 night event that will run in conjunction with our Holy Spirit Inspire church conference (we like to think of this as our VBS-alternative.)  We have also created a special over-night bonding event for our 4th and 5th graders that will happen in late July.  We’ve designed it so that the Jr. High leaders can be involved in getting to know the kids that will be in their areas in August, and the year after.  This is a first-time event for us, so fingers are crossed!

That covers most of the ministry things happening in my life.  Now, admit it.  You feel like you know me better, right?

All week at the Orange Conference we will be giving you a chance to win things.  Seriously, you can win things.

But you ask, “What do I have to do?” So glad you asked.  It’s all about Creativity.

Creativity is key when working with families. So let’s see just how creative YOU are.

Your challenge is to take the most creative picture you can think of featuring one of the BOOKS Reggie has written. Upload your picture on Twitpic.com for us all to see. Be sure to mark it #orangeleaders to be entered in the contest.

Today’s winner will receive 10 Parenting Beyond Your Capacity books.

After lunch today I was in the breakout led by Sherry Surratt, from Seacoast Christian Center.  She taught on “5 Stupid Things that Keep your Children’s Ministry from Growing.”  She kicked my butt in this session!

“It’s OK to be stupid, but it’s NOT ok to sit in it.”

1. Believing It’s All about the Lesson

• Kid’s need a great time with great friends, that ends with a powerful moment with God.
• Do my kids laugh in the last 5 minutes I’m with them?
• Psalm 16:11

2. Playing Gilligan’s Island

• Connecting with others outside of my church.
• I need to learn from others that I’m not the only one that fails.
• I also need to connect with kids outside of my church.

3. Putting Volunteers in the Driving Seat

• We need to stay true to our ministry values, mission, and vision…not the opinions of volunteers.
• Be careful with volunteer survey’s // Don’t allow answers beyond the possibilities.
• Desperation leads to dysfunction!

4. Looking at the world through Old Lady Glasses

• It’s easy to forget being a kid.
• Think like a “kid.”
• We too often expect kids to not be kids!

5. Not Paying attention to the Sigmoid Curve

• This is a confusing one, but you need to look it up on Wikipedia…http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmoid_curve
• While God’s truth never changes, we need to evaluate everything else we do for change!
• Best time to change is when things are going well.
• When did I last make a change?  Why have I not?