I’ve actually enjoyed the comments and suggestions on some of the pieces I’ve had to put together. I was spoiled to have a graphic artist helping me with this stuff at my last church.
So, below is a Baptism Class poster followed my a revision of my Parent Meeting postcard.
Any last comments or suggestions before these go to print?
Okay, one more postcard for your review. The image on the left is the front of the card. Since this week is a holiday week, I need to get this off to the printer before the end of the day, so if you have any suggestions, let me know.
Thanks 
I’d like your opinion on this poster. It is an 11×17 inch poster. I really like the design and the simplicity of it all. I already have postcards that go into more detail. Is this enough for my poster or does it need more info? The postcard is here. Help me out here. Oh, and I have to get this off to the printer in the early afternoon, so if you have an opinion and the time, I’d appreciate it!
BTW, I’m going to post the original files for all these graphics I’m working on on the site in a few days. I can include it all except for the backgrounds that I purchased. The license states that I cannot share or give away the files, however, I will give you the link to the file I used so you can download it yourself (not very expensive anyway).
Just the other day I came across another resource. It’s called cmconnnect. It’s a social network for Children’s Ministry. At first I was like, come on… another place for me to socially network. Right now I’m having trouble keeping up with Kidology, Facebook, Twitter and my ever-expanding blogroll. Sheesh, when is it going to end. However, once I jumped in, it looked kinda cool. Actually I was intrigued for two reasons.
So, I’m on cmconnect. I’m not sure what will come of it, hopefully an opportunity to connect with people I haven’t met in some of the other venues. If you make it there, look me up and I’ll be your friend (thrilling, isn’t it?)
Like I said, I’m doing a lot of reading now days. However, for the past several months my blog subscription has gotten pretty big (at least by my standards). During the week of Orange and the week after, I did not keep up with reading the blogs I subscribe to. Finally, the next week, it took me four hours one night to catch up. I did a lot of skimming, but I just can’t stand to miss anything.
I really need to update my blogroll. However, I thought I’d share what blogs I read right now. I remembered how when I first got into blogging, I searched the Internet both high and low to find all the CM blogs. However, I find that I don’t put nearly as much effort into finding new blogs… but I really should. I’m surprised how often I’m finding brand new blogs or blogs I’ve just missed. I must say, the quickest way I’ve found new blogs is when the authors either comment on my blog or blogs I read. So, if you’re a new blogger, be sure to interact with the blogosphere… it’s the fastest way to get connected to the network. If you’ve got a CM blog and you’re not on this list of mine, leave a comment and I’ll check you out!
Beware, this is all of the blogs I actually subscribe to. Some blogs post irregularly, some I love and other I’d subscribe to just to keep up with what is going on. I’ll put (FAV) next to the ones that are my “favorites.” I’ll comment briefly one each one:
(BTW, I subscribe to 60 blogs)
Access Elevation Blog: (FAV) Elevation Church’s Behind the Scene’s Blog.
Being Beck: (FAV) A good friend’s family blog.
Brand New Atheist: A good friend’s blog documenting his journey from Christianity to Atheism. His posts challenge me and sharpen me.
Buzz Out Loud: (FAV) My favorite tech podcast.
Chad Swanzy: (FAV) The Youth Pastor at my church with a great Student Ministry Blog.
Children’s Ministry 1234: Rob Bradbury’s blog from down under. I love this guy!
Children’s Ministry and Culture: (FAV) It’s like Headline News for Children’s Minsitry.
Children’s Ministry Blog with Jamie Doyle: Another CP letting us in on his life and ministry.
Children’s Ministry Insights: I think this is connected with Children’s Ministry Univesity.
Children’s Ministry Talk: An actual podcast from Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode. I think they too are connected with Children’s Ministry University.
Childrensministry.com: Christine Yount’s blog… editor of Children’s Ministry Magazine.
Children’s Ministry <<That’s Swell>>: How the heck did I get connected with this one, I don’t know. Doesn’t really have anything to do with CM, but this young couple remind me of Sara and I the year after we got married. We were both in College and I was doing CM part time.
Church Marketing Sucks: (FAV) Just a great blog. They’ve got an awesome Church Marketing Lab on Flikr that is a great resource for media and just coming up with ideas.
CHURCHSMO: This guy doesn’t blog much, but talks mostly about tech tools for ministry and blogging.
Coffee With Chris: I don’t know how I started reading this blog, but I enjoy what he has to say.
Connections: I think this guy commented on a blog I read and I’ve just been reading his ever since.
Craig Jutila - Liquid Leadership: Craig isn’t writing much… but if he starts, I’ll get it.
Deadly Viper Blog: Just found this. Very candid and authentic… glad someone is writing this stuff.
DiscipleBlog.com: I think this is a partnership between Karl and DiscipleLand curriculum.
Engadget: A great tech blog. Just overwhelming amount of posts.
FRC KIDS: I just subscribed to this one. Not sure if it’s for families or volunteers. Combo of blog and podcast for CM at Flamingo Roach Church.
Free Children’s Ministry Resources: I don’t even know what this is really. Seems like more Children’s Ministry University blog stuff. I’d be more likely to engage if they had one blog as opposed to 3… but maybe I’m missing something.
GaryLamb.org: I really don’t know how I got on this one. It’s a successful church plant in North Georgia and I’m just having a blast reading it. If you read anything, read their Easter Egg drop blog post. I almost peed in my pants.
Glen Woods: Children’s Ministry Conversation: This guy is super thought provoking… but he’s also really smart.
Hayslips’ News Blog: (FAV) My good friends who are missionaries in Burkina Faso.
Improv Everywhere: (FAV) If you don’t know what it is, you really should check it out. Really funny stuff.
jabberfrog.com: Gina McClain, the CP at one of Life Church’s OKC campuses.
Jim Wideman Ministries: (FAV) The one and only. It’s the CM “bread and butter.”
John Sorrell’s Blog: A guy I recently met who’s doing some church ministry blogging.
Jonathan Fietzer: A CP blogging about his ministry in Milwaukee.
jonathancliff.com: (FAV) I just found this blog and I LOVE it. I think this guy and I are very much alike.
JUST PUDGE: (FAV) Pudge has so many great things to say. I just don’t know if when I meet him I can say his name and keep a straight face.
[Kid Inspiration]: (FAV) He’s been blogging as long as there has been blogging. Always good stuff.
Kidologist.com: (FAV) Karl’s been doing it longer than most as well. Always insightful and resourceful.
Kids in Focus: This one isn’t really regular, so I’m not sure what it’s all about.
Kids Ministry Revolution: Just found this blog. I love the name and love the insight. It’s a CP from New Zealand, I love getting the perspective of those from outside the United States.
LifeChurch.tv: swerve: (FAV) Just a great blog on ministry, life and technology.
Mashable! Another big tech blog… with an overwhelming number of posts.
matt mckee live: (FAV) One of my favorites. He’s a geeky tech guy that love’s kids… but he’s not really a geek at all. Does that makes sense? Oh and he has a fetish for signs. (:
Michelle Richards: She’s been quite for a while, but I’ve always enjoyed reading about what was going on in her ministry.
Movie Marketing Madness: (FAV) Just signed up for this one. I love movies and this blog has the inside scoop.
Multi-Site Kids: (FAV) It’s what I do… so this one has great information.
Pastor Steven Furtick: (FAV) It’s the pastor of a portable mega-church who’s only 26 or 27. A great blog.
Perry Noble dot com: (FAV) This guy is funny, inspiring and leading a really great church.
Phil Vischer: The father of VeggieTales. Must I say anymore?
phillipmccart.com: Started following this guy several months ago. He’s a student pastor who’s been getting around the South.
Photoshop brushes: Just signed up for this one. I’ve never used custom brushes in photoshop, so this blog is teaching me.
Ragamuffin Soul: (FAV) Carlos is incredible. I enjoy this blog and his Twitter feed.
samluce.com: (FAV) Sam started blogging when I did. He has great insight in the world of Children’s Ministry.
Seth’s Blog: Who doesn’t love Seth Godin?
Smashing Magazine: (FAV) Was recently introduced to this blog. Good for keeping up with design styles and stuff.
Stuff Christians Like: (FAV) I look forward to this one everyday. I feel like this guy and I must have gone to the same church growing up. So funny.
Stuff: (FAV) A good friends family blog.
Take T.W.O. Family Ministries: Has some really great insight on leadership.
The Dixie Gypsy: (FAV) My wife’s blog, she’ the bomb.
The Ferguson Family: (FAV) Some good family friends write this one. They are so funny.
The Multi-site Church Revolution: Just keeps me up with the Multi-site world.
The Stevens Family Blog: (FAV) Good family friends from Keller… and neighbors.
The Way We See It: (FAV) Good stuff from Ryan Frank, Jim Wideman and Evan Doyle.
TodaysChildrensMinistry.com: Part of Christianity Today’s site and usually filled with great articles form Willow Creek CM people.
tonymorganlive.com: (FAV) This guy is one of the best from the church strategy perspective.
Water Blogged: Another silent Craig Jutila blog. Waiting for him to write something…
YouVersion - One Year Bible: It is what is says.
I’m wiped. Really, totally wiped.
It’s 12:45 AM and I’m pooped. I still need to blog two breakouts and another session… but I don’t have it in me. Tomorrow I’m attending the Orange facebook party. Should be fun. Hoping to network and meet some people I couldn’t in the crowd of 4500.
Tomorrow I’m heading out to Jackson, MS (my journey to Austin, TX). So, while I’m taking a break and my wife is driving, I’ll blog the rest of the Orange conference and hopefully post it by the end of the day. You never know what kind of Internet access you’ll get while on the road.
BTW, did I say that Orange was awesome?
Session four was a discussion/interview with Andy Stanley. Not sure if it’s just me, but it seemed like it wasn’t planned… almost like Andy was a fill-in. I only say this because this was the only session that there wasn’t a speaker who delivered a message. In addition, it ended about 30 minutes early.
Don’t get me wrong… it was awesome though. I think anytime you can get Andy Stanley and Reggie Joiner to engage in a conversation, we should take notes!
Andy spoke about how they attract people to North Point. Basically he said it boils down to this: “If you create irresistible environments, people will come.”
Andy then went on to talk about the process of discipleship at North Point. Here is how it happens:
Basically they would hit these things over and over again by different methods.
Andy also took some time to talk about the idea of choosing to cheat. He talked about how they created an atmosphere where family was valued. He explained that “there are hundreds of people who can do your job, but you kids only have one dad… and your wife (or husband) only has one spouse.”
Donald Miller spoke to us tonight about leadership. It was a very interesting talk. He had a very interesting, dry humor… the type that people would laugh at several seconds after he made the remark when people figured out what he meant.
He spoke about leadership as someone who did not consider himself a leader… but a follower. So, he unpacked his thoughts on leadership by talking about the people he follows.
He referenced the definition of leadership as being influence… but he didn’t quite agree with that. Jesus influenced many, but he led 12.
He defined a leader as someone who wants to get to know me well enough that I want to take ownership of their vision.
He talked about how a leader speaks something into the void… he speaks something into existence.
Sorry I don’t have more notes on this session. Donald was more of a story teller crafting his talk in a very entertaining and intriguing way.
I’ve really been looking forward to this breakout. It was a panel discussion of Children’s Ministry by Sue Miller, Jim Wideman, Craig Jutila and Norv Brown. What an incredible opportunity, huh?
I tell you, each person added so much. I do feel though that if anyone could spend a day with Jim Wideman and Craig Jutila, shut up and just listen, you’d advance many years in ministry in just that one day!!!
Here are some main things that were said that impacted me:
The panel discussed what was the most difficult thing you encountered in ministry.
Craig spoke very candidly about his departure from Saddleback. He spoke about how he had allowed ministry to become more important than his wife and family. He spoke about how he almost lost them… how he almost crossed lines that he couldn’t take back. If asked if he would do it the same way again he said, “NO WAY.” He said he’d go much slower, be less driven and lead more with compassion.
Sue then shared her most difficult thing and silenced the room. You could have heard a pin drop. She shared how difficult it is to be a woman in leadership. She told of the times she questioned why God put her as a leader in a female body. She shared how she felt she had to work twice as hard to get recognized. She told about some of her experiences and I became furious/embarrassed. It was wrong how she was treated. However, she’s not the only one. She asked us all to consider our female leaders and the handicap they face just by being the gender they are. Wow! As much as I hate it, she’s right. Yeah, I have been wrong here as well and for that I am sorry. I don’t ever want to get in the way of God as he wants to do incredible things through the women serving under me.
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