10 Things that have changed and not changed in #kidmin in the last 3 years.
Written by Matt McKee // September 15, 2010 // Ministry // 10 Comments
I’ve been very reflective the last week or so on the whole Children’s Ministry subject. Yesterday I updated a post that I wrote 3 years ago and it got me thinking: What has changed or not changed over the last three years in this thing we call Kidmin. These are just my observations and my perspectives and I’m sure you have yours as well. I would love to hear them in the comments.
- KidMin is the new standard name. That will change again I’m sure but I like it for now.
- Jim Widman started a mentoring program and even has an iPhone app. I think both of these things will be done by many in the near future.
- Group Publishing has launched a new curriculum for Children’s Ministry called Buzz. The no training curriculum that just came out with training. That made me laugh but I think is note worthy in what is to come in the future. Everyone is looking for an easier to use product that will have a great impact.
- I happen to be on the same team now as Reggie Joiner and Sue Miller. Needless to say but I’m bringing the team down. I mean seriously, have you read Think Orange? And for all of those that say that I’m no longer in Children’s Ministry because I started a tech company, I think you will see that the future will meld the two together more than you can imagine. Just saying…
- HillSong has come out with BIG and is doing very well on an international stage.
- Gina McClain is no longer at LifeChurch.tv but is doing some great stuff in Knoxville, TN.
- Phil Vischer and David C. Cook have come on the seen with a new curriculum as well and it will be interesting to see how well they do.
- CMConnect took off and Michael Chanley even got a book deal out of it. He is now in a time of transition too. I’m excited to see what is next for him.
- Roger Fields started the CMXpo as a new way for Children’s Pastors to connect and learn about resources in the market. The importance here is that people are really searching for what is next and what is to come. This gets me excited.
- Larry Shallenberger has “left Children’s Ministry” to take on new roles at his church.
The things that have stayed the same:
- Mike Johnson is still producing Elevate and leading in a great way.
- Craig Jutila is still taking his break from the church but is doing some consulting and even posted a blog post two days ago.
- Lifeway still doesn’t have a face for their Children’s Ministry department but they are still one of the major players if not the major player. They are the 1000 lbs. Gorilla and I’m glad that our industry has one or we wouldn’t be anywhere without it.
- Kidology.org and Karl Bastian are still producing Children’s Ministry community that is reaching many Children’s Pastors.
- I think the big names are still the big names when it comes to conferences and speaking but I think that will change in the next 3-4 years
- The Children’s Ministry blogging community is still going strong even though we have been told that blogging is dead.
- The Orange Conference is still the number one conference to attend and I said that before I moved to Atlanta.
- Veggie Tales is still the number one video shown to kids at church. I’m not going to say if this is good or bad but still hasn’t changed in the last 3 years.
- We are still working on Standard Definition and not High Definition in Children’s Ministry. Even if our adults and student ministries have gone HD. I hope this changes soon.
- We still get excited over Salvation bracelets no matter if they come in leather and beads or in the shape of Silly Bands.
So what do you think? What did I miss that has changed or not changed? Bring it.
10 Comments on "10 Things that have changed and not changed in #kidmin in the last 3 years."
totally agree on the HD part. Can't wait.
Don't know that I would add anything at all. Great list. So you aren't in Children's Ministry anymore?
I've been told that I haven't been in Children's Ministry for some time now and that I went geek years ago. I'll take that though.
If we go HD then we can tell the kids “keep yo peanut butta hands off my fiddy inch vizio” Like COTM did!
I didn't know blogging was dead! Must have been a youth pastor that made that comment…
Loved the post!
Thanks for the comment Joe. Peanut butter hands made me laugh.
Just to clarify, do you still own a desktop?
Our staff was just freaking out over a new Android phone (the church secretary is a techette). The pastor is ready to sell his golf clubs, but I still feel like the mobile phone is about consuming and the desktop is about producing information.
I'm still not convinced my man thumbs can master the iPhone for typing.
And DM me about doing a podcast sometime. You can set me straight with an audience!
Thanks for the kind words about LifeWay, Matt! For those of you not familiar with us, you can see our #kidmin resources here: http://www.lifeway.com/kids/
I love 'J'. It's too true. When will we get past that?
What hasn't changed… there are still kidmin pastors that love using the letter z like youth pastors love using the letter x. Can't wait for that to change.
That makes me laugh. I love me some z.
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