Archive for September, 2008
Sorry to waste your time with this post
Posted on 17. Sep, 2008 by Kenny.
No really, there’s nothing important here. I had a few minutes before a meeting and simply came across this. Apparently I’m 91% addicted to blogging. Just one more thing for me to give over to Jesus… 
… Read the rest
Continue Reading
My Beef with Bible Bucks: Why do you do it?
Posted on 17. Sep, 2008 by Kenny.
This week my friend Sam Luce wrote about using Bible Bucks in Kids Church to motivate/reward children. Honestly, a lot of churches do it. Many programs actually have rewards built right into the fabric of it’s DNA. I’ve dismantled this type of program at three different churches (including Gateway where I’ve just landed). I’m not at all saying their wrong. For me it’s been a matter of personal preference. I just don’t like them. Not all the kids are inspired by it, it’s expensive, it can be a beast to manage and too often there are kids who feel left out on the day they get to go to the store (I know, that’s the day the leaders give out Bucks to everyone so that everyone has something to spend and those first time visitors can get at least the smallest prize).… Read the rest
Continue Reading
Animoto: My new favorite toy
Posted on 15. Sep, 2008 by Kenny.
I just made this video in minutes. Cool, huh? (Just realized that this video isn’t showing up in Firefox but is in IE and Chrome… so not sure why). Click here if you can’t see the video.
I got this from a blog I read and I was more than intrigued. I decided to give it a shot and WOW, it’s amazing! To be honest, I couldn’t make a better photo collage video in 10 times the time with all the right tools. It’s also the perfect business model in my book. I can make little 30 second movies like crazy, all for free. If I want to export the video in DVD quality, I have to pay for it.… Read the rest
Continue Reading
Check-in Stations
Posted on 15. Sep, 2008 by Kenny.
Looking for good stand alone cabinets for your check-in stations? I’ve actually got a great solution for you.
Almost two years ago when we launched our Denton Campus at Cross Timbers I came across a forum for Shelby systems (don’t get me started on Shelby… I’ve got some baggage there) that had a source for check-in cabinets. Since it was a new campus launch and we had the money to make this kind of expense, we bought them… and they are very nice.
Check out their web site here: Cornerstone Cabinetry
I was back at Cross Timbers a few weeks ago and took several pictures and planned to post them here on this site as a resource. Then out of nowhere I got a postcard from them in the mail (perhaps you did too).… Read the rest
Continue Reading
Elementary Schedule using 252 Basics
Posted on 10. Sep, 2008 by Kenny.
Three weeks ago we launched small groups on Sunday mornings for 1st-5th graders. This last Sunday we launched 252 Basics. It was phenomenal. I started using 252 a year ago when I was at Cross Timbers. It was not the easiest curriculum I’ve ever purchased, but I liked it more than anything else I’ve ever used. As most Children’s Pastors do, I always tweaked curriculum like crazy. With 252 Basics I got a 30-40 page pack of options. I had two different production/large group lessons and nearly a dozen small group activities. The curriculum was supplied online as word docs, so I would simply cut and paste the items I planned to use. It was beautiful. Probably what I loved the most was the single virtue that was emphasized for an entire month, one memory verse for the month (come on people, do your kids ever remember the memory verse from 3 weeks ago?… Read the rest
Continue Reading
Paging parents
Posted on 10. Sep, 2008 by Kenny.
Just throwing this question out there. What are you using to page parents? Do you use pagers or do you somehow put a number up in the auditorium? If a number is put up in the auditorium, how do you do it? Do enter the number yourself from the kids area? Do you call the tech booth and have them put it up? Share what you’re doing please!
In the past I used pagers, but it was really expensive. I know that it’s one of the best alternatives if you have an adult Sunday School program. I’ve also used the simple LED light displays where either we called the tech booth or walked up there ourselves to and entered the number before.… Read the rest
Continue Reading
Gateway’s “new” elementary program
Posted on 09. Sep, 2008 by Kenny.
It’s been a very busy summer. The week I got here I shared with my elementary production director (my only staff member in the elementary area) my vision for what elementary ministry would look like in the fall. It would look almost completely different from anything I had ever done as well. So we’ve been working very hard all summer to build new teams to launch our new program. Essentially we doubled our volunteer force already (it had gotten pretty skimpy) and I’d say we still have about 20 more people to fill out our teams. So this is what it looks like now.
Elementary Production
We have four production teams. Each team consists of a leader, two actors, two worship leaders and two tech/A/V volunteers.Each team works one Sunday a month.… Read the rest
Continue Reading
A huge day for our elementary program
Posted on 08. Sep, 2008 by Kenny.
Yesterday was a big day for us at Kids Quest. I posted here a few days ago about how we moved to small groups on Sunday’s. That was a big day and something we had been planning for all summer. But it was on September 7th that we were launching 252 Basics as our curriculum that we could combine a powerful small group element with an energetic large group production. I’ll just say it. Today was the best elementary service I’ve experienced under my leadership in years. It was awesome! Let me clarify.
I’ll admit it. I feel like one of the things I do very well is create small group experiences. I can get small group leaders, equip them with materials and create the relational experience pretty easily.… Read the rest
Continue Reading
Small group activity help – what I went with…
Posted on 08. Sep, 2008 by Kenny.
It’s been over a week since my last post and I’m playing catch-up. I realized that I never posted the results to my little contest/request for help on this blog post.
Well, I ended up going out on my own; however, it was one of Sam’s suggestions that got my brain leaning in that direction. So, although I didn’t really use anyone’s exact idea, I’m treating myself to a Starbucks gift card… I love being in control. Actually, I promised Sam I’d treat him to a meal the next time (which will be our first time) to meet up.
Thank you though for the suggestions. They do help, even if it gets stored away as an idea for another lesson on another day.… Read the rest
Continue Reading
I Loath Algerian Font Day #4
Posted on 04. Sep, 2008 by Kenny.
Now that I’ve made it a point to actually blog about Algerian, I’m amazed about how much more often I just happen to run into it. The day after I started this themed post, I went to dinner with my wife and my summer intern. We had a coupon for this local pizza parlor called Rome’s Pizza. It was a nice little place although their brand and image was a little confusing. On the door was was their logo, an image of the coliseum with Rome’s Pizza spelled out in a circular manner in “papyrus” font. (Papyrus is another overused font… big time. Of the overused fonts, I probably like it the most since it has a some character, but the fact that it’s so overused usually keeps me away from it most of the time.… Read the rest
Continue Reading
