Tag Archive - pastor

The Future of Children’s Ministry

November 19, 2010 in Ministry with 5 Comments

This week an article I submitted to the Future of Children’s Ministry project was released over at www.kidmin360.com. It was a great opportunity to join a group of Kidmin All-Stars as we write, talk, discuss, and dream about the future of ministry to children!  Take some time over at www.kidmin360.com to read all the entries!

The future of Children’s Ministry can be summed up in one word. Robots. I believe that eventually the technological geniuses around the world will create a Children’s Ministry volunteer that will be totally automated to not complain about diaper changes, always show up on time, offer timely encouragement to their children’s pastor, be willing to stay for multiple services, and will accurately teach from the provided curriculum without adding their own strange theological nuances. But as I sit an ponder this development, I’m worried. If they can develop a Children’s Ministry Volunteer Robot, then couldn’t they just develop a Children’s Pastor Robot? Scratch that, now that we know the robot is a bad idea, let’s look into the future for something a little more realistic. Forget that we ever mentioned this robot idea. Seriously, just move along to the next paragraph!

I believe that the future of children’s ministry will be…

Read the FULL ARTICLE here, then come back and leave a comment.  I’d love to know what you think!

People I’ve Met Online: Matt McKee

September 7, 2010 in Personal, Technology with 0 Comments

Over 3 years ago I was Googling (is that a word?) looking for some reviews online about a video curriculum I wanted to use at the church I was working at.  All I could find were standard reviews, from those that were being paid to say positive things.  Then I stumbled upon Matt McKee’s website (remember when it was on the 3cords web network?), where he was writing about the very curriculum I was interested in. He said nice things about the curriculum, but he also said some not-so-flattering things about it.  Now, it’s important that you understand that he wasn’t being mean, just honest from his Children’s Ministry perspective.  I was drawn to his honesty, and began to lurk on that there website of his.  Eventually I started leaving comments, and even emailed him with some questions.  He was sharp, quick, and funny every time I had an interaction with him.

Since that time Matt has transitioned into a very different role, yet still maintains a great understanding of all things Children’s Ministry.  If you follow his blog or twitter feed, you might be tempted to just label him a technology nerd, or maybe a marketing sign snob…but he’s so much more than that.  He’s one of the few people that I can talk to about doing Children’s Ministry, and he keeps that part of his expertise hidden way down there under all the geekery.  Don’t believe me?  I dare you to just fire off an email to him about anything Children’s Ministry related and he’ll quickly become a great resource for you too!

When did I meet Matt?  I met Matt for the first time at The Orange Conference in 2009.  Believe it or not he was one of the guys I shared a hotel room with at that conference.  Yes, I did share a hotel room with complete strangers that I met online at the Orange Conference.  Strange, but true…  I’ll never forget awaking one morning and Sam Luce, Kenny Conley, and I being shocked that he was going to actually walk out of that hotel room with white pants and orange combat boots on.  And believe you me…that brother can work the white pants and orange boots.  I’ve met up with him again at the Orange Conference this year, and many, many, many times I’ve video chatted with him from his office.

Today Matt McKee is one of the very few friends that just calls me to see what’s going on in my life.  And by the way…that’s a good way to judge a friend.  Do they ever call to just call?  I’d be a bad friend if I didn’t tell you to check out www.r04r.com and see what Matt is up to right now.  His company can create some super great iPhone and Android apps for your church.  Take the time to see what R04R can do for your church.  And take the time to visit the often neglected, but rarely NOT read blog that Matt runs over at www.mattmckee.me.

People I’ve Met Online: Kenny Conley

September 2, 2010 in Personal, Technology with 3 Comments

Kenny Conley is proof that it’s a small world.  I did not officially meet the giant of a man (physically he’s like a giant tree…even in my own backyard) until 2009, but we’ve been dangerously close to meeting for years.  He lived in Tulsa, OK at the same time that I did in college.  He then lived in the DFW Metroplex for years at the very same time I did.  We both left churches in DFW around the exact same time, and even attended the Orange Conference in 2008 at the same time!  I remember Matt McKee telling me that I should visit with Kenny while I was there, but I guess I was preoccupied with sitting in Atlanta traffic and never got to it.

I did finally meet Kenny at the Orange Conference in 2009, and 2010.  I’ve also had Kenny and his family over for an evening in Lubbock once when they drove through town on their way to Colorado.  This summer my family returned the favor (albiet staying for much longer) and we all had a blast.  Ask him to tell you about the time he almost killed me and my oldest son on the San Marcos river in late July 2010!  My kids knew him much before they actually met him; because when we had some family medical issues a few years ago, Kenny and his wife Sara paid to have some pizza delivered to our house.  Such a special thing for my family at the time, and much appreciated!

Kenny is somebody worth following, and he can be followed at www.childrensministryonline.com.  He’s worked in small churches, and big churches; baptist churches, and pentecostal churches; and he’s been through some pretty great ministry highs, and some pretty sorry ministry lows.  For being only in his early 30′s, it’s amazing what Kenny has seen and been through as it relates to Children’s Ministry and now Family Ministry.  In Austin he’s transitioned to a more family ministry leadership role, taking the coolest job title in the word; “Next Generations Pastor” at Gateway Church.  While he no longer teaches kids with weekend regularity, or recruits 3 year old teachers with reckless abandon; he’s still committed to leading others into leading churches to intentionally equip children.

He’ll try anything, and has a closed mind about very few things in ministry.  He’s easy to get time with, and I promise if you email him…he will eventually return your email.  And when he does, I can guarantee you it will be sent between the hours of midnight at 2:00 a.m.

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!

People I’ve Met Online: Sam Luce

August 19, 2010 in Personal, Technology with 7 Comments

I first started reading www.samluce.com way back when about 50% of his posts were about how much cooler I would be if I owned an Apple product.  I guess it convinced me to purchase one, because now I throw in an “Apple is better” post on my own blog every so often as well.  (I am NOT however any cooler than I was previously.)

Sam has one of the easiest to read blogs out there in Children’s Ministry, with a combination of funny posts, thoughtful posts, and a healthy dose of practical tools for the everyman (or woman) working with families and kids.  He has a real passion for the person working with kids in a small church, and I know many around these fancy Internets that look to Sam as the expert on how to make much with very little.  He’s innovative and always willing to try something new for the sake of the kids at his church.  In my humble opinion when you combine his crazy pentecostal childhood stories, his love for America’s Pastime (albiet it tainted by a desire to raise his children to root for the Yankees), his A+ skills at impersonating anyone he’s met, his superiour skinnyness, and his ability to quote from 80′s teen movies and I have myself a serious man-crush!

I first met Sam in Atlanta at the Orange Conference in 2009 when we all shared a hotel room.  He’s always the most popular person in the room wherever he goes, yet I’ve watched him make everyone around him comfortable.  He’s drawn to that person that needs the most encouragement, and always made time all week long to give everyone who needed attention just what they needed.  But we warned…Sam has an unbelievable gift of discernment.  He’ll sniff out an impostor and self-promoter faster than anyone I’ve been around.

I consider Sam one of my best friends, and over the past few years I’ve come to consider his voice one worth listening too.  He’s a person that is who he says he is.  This fact alone makes him special in a world of people that can sometimes be hard to figure out.  He loves God, loves his church, loves his family, and it’s easy to see that the things he lives out make him somebody worth following.  Go today and read his blog at www.samluce.com and spend some time making a new friend!

By the way…if I had never met Sam and saw a dude walk up to me in an alley with this look on his face I would just hand over my wallet and run for my life.  Do not talk with the messed up hair guy in a black jacket with the collar propped up.  Seriously!

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