cmconnect.org

I recently joined a children’s ministry network called cmconnect. CMCONNECT.ORG hope is to create a renewed sense of community amongst those serving in Children’s Ministry. Since joining the network, I have felt just that – a sense of community, I recently connected with some old cm friends. I have found that there is tons of resources, ministry ideas, and plenty of networking among children’s ministers.  

 

If you haven’t taken a look at cmconnect.org then your missing out! Go to http://www.cmconnect.org/ 

Here is a glimpse of the creator of cmconnect.org heart - “Our hope and prayer is to encourage you to be the best Children’s Minister you can become. In case no one has told you lately, what you do is so very important… be encouraged… you are making a difference. “ Michael J. Chanley creator of cmconnect.org

food for thought…

Recently I read an article that Reggie Joiner wrote for CATALYST. I found the article motivating and challenging. Below is some food for thought from the article. 

Did you know…

* how you communicate Deuteronomy 6 can either paralyze or mobilize your families?
* your partnership with un-churched parents will radically affect the influence of your church?
* you can start a revolution in teenagers when you network with other churches?
* the environments you create for children can shape their understanding of God’s story in their lives?
* the way you connect families to other families can exponentially influence a child?
* the way you don’t say something may determine whether it is really heard?
* how you minister to college students may be one of your most important investments?
* “speaking family” every week can impact the communities around your church?
* your definition of the church can determine if the next generation will walk away to be the church?

The full online article can be found at: http://www.catalystspace.com/content/read/reggie_joiner/

Interesting social-networking demographic stats…

There’s a common misperception out there that all of the blogging, Twittering and Facebooking is being done by twenty and thirty-somethings. That, in fact, turns out not to be true. Baby Boomers (those born 1946-1964) are the fastest growing users of social networking sites and are also increasingly reading blogs too. Meanwhile, Gen Y interest in these services has plateaued. This all according to the latest Consumer Electronics Usage Survey from Accenture.

click on link below to read the whole article: 

http://www.micropersuasion.com/2009/03/social-networking-demographics.html

What does this mean to the church and to our ministries?

Interesting and Disturbing stats…

I got these stats from a guy named Nathaniel Dame – his blog is http://www.effectiveym.com/ … He has a good blog with some very helpful stuff for student ministry

- 88% of children raised in Christian families leave church at the age of 18, never to return (SBC).
- A majority of adults no longer consider Christianity America’s default faith (Barna).
- 64% of decisions for Christ are made before the age of 18, and 77% are made before the age of 21 (Barna).
- An estimated 4% of the “bridger” generation, or Gen Y, will be Bible-believing Christians when they reach adulthood. Their grandparents’ generation: 65%. Their parents’ generation: 35% (Bridger Generation by Thom S. Rainer).

I think this could be a direct affect of the church not focusing on equipping the family (Parents in particular) in helping them make their Christian faith a centerpiece of their family.

I know… I know…

I know I’ve already blog about this, but I’m always wanting an iced berry chai and a cupcake… Don’t tell my friend Mike that I want a iced berry chai over a bold brew of the day @ starbucks. shh…

cool stuff…

I can’t wait for this Sunday, our senior pastor is going to speak at the middle school worship service! Mega-church senior pastors just don’t do that every day…

No cookies with my milk…

My wife is at a womens retreat in the mountains for the weekend, so that means I’m in charge of the house and the kids… And there are no cookies in the house to go with my ice cold glass of Longmont Dairy milk! I’m grouchy now :/

Final Look!

 

The final look from the contest...

Suprises…

So a few days ago, a middle school student from my ministry, facebooked me a message and told me that she was so moved by a video that we showed  on Sunday morning during middle school worship (More on the video later) that she wrote a song about it. Well last night at youth group, she sang the song to me… And it was amazing, touching, and deep!

The song was about a young girl locked in darkness, who is seeking freedom, love, and grace… What stirred this song – a video called BAHT! This video is about a ministry called Rapha House. Rapha House buys young girls out of slavery and puts them in halfway houses, which in turn gives these young girls hope, love, and life skills to live beyond slavery. Our student ministry is giving it’s Sunday morning offerings to the Rapha House, so that they can make a difference in a young girl’s life.

Surprises… Sometimes you never know how a middle school student might respond to challenges

Back2Basics

The other day my wife made me watch an episode of Oprah with her. I was very resistant at first, because I wanted to go downstairs and play Halo3 with my son. However, as I started to watch it with her, I became intrigued with the topic. The topic was about going back to basics – simplifying your life, by getting rid of the excess stuff in your life so that you can truly live and enjoy life.

Watching this episode and thinking about the economic issues that this country faces, has me really thinking a lot about how I live and what’s important to me. My family already lives a pretty simple life (Thanks to my wife), but I must ask myself, what more can I do to not only truly live, and also help others truly live!