9 Things They Didn't Teach Me in College about Children's Ministry

9 Things They Didn't Teach Me in College about Children's Ministry reads like a children's ministry survival guide! It's something you could keep in your back pocket (literally, because of it's size) and refer to as questions come up in your mind about leading a healthy children's ministry.

After reading this short and insightful book chock full of leadership insights, I felt like I just left a one day children's ministry basics conference! What I found to be most powerful about this quick and easy read is the way Ryan Frank prioritizes and presents his thoughts. He takes a new leader down a path that creates a firm foundation and a seasoned veteran on a journey of reflection and evaluation that includes a little head nodding and amen!

My top five 9 Things insights:

• The million-dollar question in children's ministry leadership is not about a program, model, or leadership style. It's about this: are kids being changed to become like Jesus?
• Effective leaders do everything possible to make volunteers feel valued and appreciated.
• Get your senior pastor on your team, and be on his team.
• Before the close of each week, ask yourself: With whom did I connect this week to expand my network? Whom did I encourage? With whom did I share some creative ideas?
• Get a prayer team together and ask God to show you what he wants to do in your church. After all, you work for him.

So, are you now ready to read this book? Standard Publishing blessed me with two copies, one to review and one to give away. To win your copy, leave a comment or Tweet this; "Check out @kidminupdate's review of @r_frank's new book and win a copy for yourself here http://bit.ly/iejuY0"

I will pick a winner on Monday.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Awkward...

I recently had one of those tough and awkward conversations with a parent, one that you never actually think you will have and then, bam!!

As this parent was picking up her preschooler, she overheard the kidmin team member singing "Jesus loves the little children" and she was offended.

Offended? Why?

Her concern was the use of colors in the song to represent different ethnicities; "red and yellow, black and white." Her explanation was valid. She is raising her child to view everyone as equal and this song represents a negative connotation to a persons heritage.

Well then, okay! Although I have not been presented with this view before, it gave me something to think about. I assured her that the point of the song goes along her thought pattern that everyone is equal, or "precious in His sight." I also told her that as a leadership team we would discuss her concerns.

My personal thought is that the song itself is just fine, it's simple, straight forward, and has a positive point. It's unfortunate that there is extra baggage added to the words used.

Your thoughts?