About

Ideas, strategies and solutions for kidmin. That’s what this website is all about. For over six years, this site has been a welcome home for conversations about family, strategy, technology and ideas. Ten years ago, a student or kid’s pastor learned and grew from books, magazines and the occasional conference. Today, we learn and grow from so much more. Steaming videos, tweets, and insightful blog posts offer a continual serving a information that can stretch us, educate us and even blow our minds. The kidmin and greater ministry conversation continues day after day… never has it been so exciting to be on the front lines of ministry. CMO is simply part of this ongoing conversation, offering ideas and reacting to what others are saying. You are invited to not just read and observe, but to join in on the conversation and add your thoughts and opinions as well. Welcome to Childrens Ministry Online!

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Kenny Conley is the voice behind Childrens Ministry Online. He was called to kidmin at the age of 14 and he has literally spent half of his life preparing for, pursuing and fulfilling his call to ministry within the local church. Kenny passionately writes about what he’s done, what he’s working on and what he hopes to do. Although you’ll find a bit of theoretical ideas and dreams here, the bulk of what is posted on CMO is the result of blood, sweat and tears that comes from decades of serving in the local church. Kenny is passionate about sharing what he has learned and experienced with others, helping those who are new in ministry and collaborating with seasoned pros whenever the opportunity arises.

Kenny has articles in magazines, chapters in books and gets the opportunity from time to time to lead breakouts at conferences. In order to expand his speaking opportunities, Kenny launched the Illuminate Conference in 2011 (that was a joke). Illuminate was the brain child of him and his church ministry staff as an effort to provide high quality ministry training for volunteers that was both affordable and local (obviously depending on where you live). Illuminate trained and equipped nearly 3000 staff, leaders and volunteers in 9 separate events since 2011.

Kenny is the NextGen Pastor at Gateway Church in Austin, TX, where he oversees all ministry from birth through high school. He loves his church and the people he gets to work with from day to day. Between his full time gig and all this extra stuff, he simply can’t believe his good fortune.

When he’s not trying to change the world, he simply enjoys coming come to his beautiful wife of 14 years, Sara and his incredible children, Titus (6) and Genevieve (1). Kenny and his family enjoy traveling, eating and exploring overlooked destinations and treasures. In addition to all of this, Kenny loves to read, swim, ski (both ways, but going down the mountain is his fav), hike, watch movies and float down the Comal river on a hot Monday morning in July. He loves Tex-Mex, Root Beer and will stop for Bojangles Chicken no matter the time of day or night. Although he wasn’t born in Texas, you’d think he was by the way he feels about the Lone Star State.

Feel free to contact Kenny here.

Random Kenny Conley and CMO trivia

  • Kenny was actually born in England in the late 70′s, which is why he can no longer give blood (something about Mad Cow Disease). He is not a dual citizen (he loves the US that much).
  • CMO was named the top Children’s Ministry blog two years in a row (2010 and 2011). Both years, CMO barely beat Sam Luce and likes to rub that in.
  • Three places Kenny wants to visit before he dies include Antarctica, the summit of Kilimanjaro and Advanced Base Camp of Mount Everest.
  • Although born in England and raised a southerner, Kenny hates tea. Hot, cold or sweet – he’d rather kiss a lama that drink tea.

Top blog posts over the years