Tag Archives: Communication
We are stewards of timeless truths
Posted on 24. Jan, 2012 by Kenny.
On more than one occasion, I heard Reggie say this line last week at the Orange Tour.
We are stewards of timeless truths.
What I think is interesting is that I often hear people complain about Orange curriculum Usually I hear people complaining from the point of view that there isn’t enough Bible in it. The funny thing is that I have people on my own staff who at times complain that the curriculum is too church. Honestly, there’s no such thing as a perfect curriculum and that alone isn’t reason enough to go out and start writing your own.
Curriculum was made to be tweaked… especially when they give it to you in editable digital form, right? Whether your curriculum comes from a virtue perspective or a chronological spin through the scriptures, the foundation doesn’t change that scripture is the basis for all things taught. If we don’t connect kids and students to the life-changing power of the scripture, we’re sunk. We may explore how the scripture can transform us to lead self-controlled lives or how certain events in the Old Testament teach us about what God wants to do in our lives right now. The bottom line is about how scripture connects to our lives.
In ministry, we have to understand that we are stewards of timeless truths. Every one of us. Leaders, small group leaders, hosts and story tellers. We steward these timeless truths and it is so important that we convey these truths accurately and responsibly. Too many times in my ministry have I heard a leader butcher the telling of a biblical truth, either in delivery or in content. We need not forget about James 3:1.
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
We are stewards of timeless truths and we must never take this responsibility lightly.
Continue Reading
How are you using QR codes?
Posted on 25. Apr, 2011 by Kenny.
Only a few months ago I wrote posts about both Microsoft Tags as well as QR Codes. Today I flew from Austin, TX to Atlanta, GA and have seen no less than a dozen QR Codes and one Microsoft Tag. They’re everywhere. Even on Saturday, I posted a video where in the video there is a guy holding a giant QR Code and if you scan it, you’ll get a bonus video.
They’re at restaurants, in magazines, on billboards and everywhere else. Right now I feel like these things are like twitter in the early days. They’re really cool, but I’m not sure if they’re going to stick around or if they’ll die out.
Regardless of their longevity, how are you using them right now? Are you using them? Why not?
As communicators, we have a message that needs to be heard. If people are intrigued by anything with a code on it, why wouldn’t you put the important things you need people to know on a code? I challenge you think about ways you can incorporate it into your communication this summer.
- Take home sheets
- Announcement slide
- Program announcements
- Postcard to new families
You know they are free to set up, right?
Continue Reading
I love Kidmin
Posted on 24. Jan, 2011 by Kenny.
I was just thinking about this the other day when looking at what conversations were happening on twitter surrounding #kidmin. We’re coming up on two years since we invented the kidmin hashtag. Although I often get credit from people for inventing the term, I know that it was a group effort. However, I’m so stinking proud of what we came up with. Not only has kidmin been a great way to search twitter for specific conversations, it’s been a great replacement word for Children’s Ministry. Around the same time, others came up with “fammin” and “stumin” as twitter hashtags, but they’ve not caught on quite the same as kidmin. First of all, they’re not used at the same volume as kidmin, Just do a twitter search and you’ll see. Secondly, I’ve never heard someone use the word stumin or fammin in a sentence as a replacement to student ministry or family ministry. Am I right?
Kidmin. It just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? Even though the past two years have been good for the term kidmin, I imagine that it’s still only known and used by 2% of the Chidlren’s Ministry population. It seem that most in Children’s Ministry just aren’t that wired or connected, especially through twitter… but it will catch on. Group recently named their new conference after the term we invented. Books will be written using the term in both content and titles. I think it was time. I know I speak for myself when I say I’m done with the apostrophe. Having a nice, succinct six letter word is so much nicer.
So, the big question. As Children’s Pastors, we call it kidmin when talking to each other because it’s easier and we like it. However, is anyone changing their vocabulary when talking to parents or your church? Kidmin isn’t as obvious as kids ministry or children’s ministry, so it is worth changing the term in those circles? If you have done it, what success have you had?
Continue Reading
Don’t have the sex talk with your kids!
Posted on 19. Jan, 2011 by Kenny.
I’m continuing to engage the conversation this week about how we can protect kids from the dangers of pornography and sex outside of God’s plan. One of the topics that seem central to this is the sex talk. The one parents have with their kids. Yesterday I mentioned that many parents may be waiting too late to have the sex talk as kids are already over-exposed to sex by the time parents muster up the guts to have the conversation.
However, a few months ago I came across a site where I read the absolute best advice I’ve ever heard about the sex talk.
The advices to parents was: Don’t have the sex talk with your kids!
You’re probably thinking, “what? I thought that was the problem.” I wasn’t finished. There’s more.
Don’t have the sex talk with your kids! Have thousands of sex talks with your kids!
I think most parents dread the talk. They see it as a right of passage, something they have to get through. Once they’ve done it, they’ve conquered it. And that’s part of the problem.
There’s not “a sex talk.” There are hundreds of sex talks. No matter how thorough you are, you can’t get it all in. I imagine the very first time they learn this stuff from their parents, their brain isn’t even processing questions. Their mind is being blown away and they’re more in a state of shock and disgust. Their questions are going to come later. Days later. Weeks later. Years later. If all the parents are looking to simply conquer the sex talk, who’s going to answer the questions when they come. If moms and dads don’t continue to initiate the sex talks, our kids aren’t going to feel completely safe asking the embarrassing questions.
I’m not writing all of this as someone who’s done this, but I remember being a teenager with questions without really knowing where to get answers. Kids need this. Below is a phenomenal video I came across about sex talks, especially the first sex talk. It’s a parenting blog that wrote several posts about talking to your kids about sex. I’ll post more links in a later post, it’s good stuff. What I love about this video most is that part of the video is a 12 year old boy telling parents what they need to know about talking to their kids. Classic!
Continue Reading
Updating my weekly parent update
Posted on 24. May, 2010 by Kenny.
I’ve been using Constant Contact for almost two years to communicate news to parents. I’ve been very happy with it as a communication tool. I get all kinds of great feedback from every email like what emails are being read, forwarded and the like. However, I’ve been very slow to adjust to using all that Constant Contact has to offer. For the first several months, I didn’t use any graphics. It was just a boring text email. Then a few months later I added a snappy header and that’s what I’ve been using ever since. However, I’ve been inspired to make some changes and have a semi-final product. I’d be curious as to what you think.
Here’s the template I’ve been using (click on image to see full page):
Here’s the new template (blue version, not sure we’re going to use this one):
Here’s another new template (green version, probably going to go with this one):
I’ll be using this new template this week, so any input you have would be much appreciated. Thanks!
BTW, I think I’m going to have to extra things done this week. I’m going to have my graphic designer tweak the header “The KQ Update” so it doesn’t look so plain. In addition I think I’m going to have her tweak the “Join Our Mailing List” as well so it looks a little better designed.
Continue Reading
Confusing terminolgy and spiritual concepts for kids: Churchy words
Posted on 18. Mar, 2010 by Kenny.
Far too often, the most confusing terminology we use are the words we’re most familiar with. We’ve been using them so long, we don’t even realize how foreign they may sound to a person not familiar with God, especially kids. The funny thing is that some of these words and terms aren’t really used in modern conversational English, they’re just hand-me-down phrases from the church of generations past. Here are a handful of confusing words and phrases:
- Blood of Jesus
- Lamb of God
- Lord and Savior
- Born again
Don’t get mad at me, I know that some of these words and terms are sacred, most of them even in your Bible. However, when we throw out one of these words, it helps if there is a context. Without the proper context, the term “born again” sounds like the title of a freaky sci-fi flick. Although not all of us serve in churches where this is all totally new stuff to the adults, it almost always is to the kids we teach… becasue they’re kids. We must watch our words closely as not to confuse the kids we’re trying to reach.
Continue Reading
Confusing terminolgy and spiritual concepts for kids: Hearing God’s voice
Posted on 17. Mar, 2010 by Kenny.
Here’s my third post in “calling out” the terminology Children’s Pastors sometimes use when communicating to kids. Just so you know, I’m really not some self-righteous jerk making people feel bad. Every example I’ve written and plan to write, I’ve been guilty of saying at one time or another. Even writing these posts have caused me to even more carefully examine the words I use. We hold a valuable responsibility. We should steward it well.
Here’s another one that bothers me, probably more so because I’ve fumbled this one up with so many kids. It involves explaining how God speaks to us. Now, I don’t want to get into a spiritual debate due to differences in theological viewpoints, that’s not what this is really about. Feel free to disagree, but if we have a discussion, lets keep it to the point about not confusing kids pertaining to how we hear God’s voice.
Too many times when teaching kids how to hear God’s voice (outside what is written in the Bible), we tell kids that God probably won’t speak out loud, so we typically won’t hear what he has to say to us through our ears. Instead, we have to listen with our heart becasue that’s one of the ways he speaks to us, to our heart. You’ll know when he’s talking to you. Maybe I’m just the minority. These words have come out of my mouth before and I’ve heard them come from others. How confusing is this? As a Christian, fully indoctrinated in Christianeese, this makes sense to me or I can get the gist of it. But to a new believer or a child who sees the world through a literal viewpoint, this sounds kinda stupid.
I think we have we have to be very clear about what it looks like to hear God’s voice. Here’s just a sampling.
- God does want to talk to us and he does have something to say. It’s not usually a matter of whether he’s talking, but more a matter of if we’re listening.
- The Bible, God’s word, is his primary message to us. Those who seek his voice should probably spend more time with their nose in this book. God can and will speak to us outside the scripture, but it always comes back to the scripture. Does what God is saying to you line up with his word? If not, it was probably the pizza you ate last night. God will never contradict the scriptures.
- God will speak to us through others. This is why it’s so important to surround yourselves with godly company. It’s funny when people say, “I felt like the pastor had been reading my mail.” No, God’s been reading your mail! When I have difficult decisions to make, I listen to what Godly people are saying to me. When someone calls me out on crap I’ve been doing, I listen. Too many times someone has shared something with me either directly or indirectly and over several days or weeks, God’s used those words to create change in my heart.
- God will speak to us through the Holy Spirit. However, he’s not going to speak to your heart, your heart can’t hear anything silly. What this is going to look like is a thought is going to pop into your head. It could be something the Holy Spirit is saying to you. It could be your own thought. It might just be a good idea. However, it’s up to you to discern what is from God/Holy Spirit or what is from you. (1 Cor. 2:10-16)
I think that when teaching kids who to hear God’s voice, we should probably spend more time teaching kids how to be discerning as opposed to creative ways to hear the voice of God and the best way to be better at discerning is to spend time in God’s word and hiding it in our hearts.
Teaching kids how to heard God’s voice doesn’t have to be weird or mysterious. We can be honest and clear and as kids grow in their faith, knowledge and wisdom, they to will be able to discern what God is speaking to them!
Continue Reading
Confusing terminolgy and spiritual concepts for kids: Salvation, Jesus and the Holy Spirit
Posted on 16. Mar, 2010 by Kenny.
Wow, that’s a long title. I think it’s a record for me.
So yesterday I started this series by posting about how many kids mix up God with God the Father which may seem like I’m getting picky, but it does create confusion around the relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit with God the Father. Today’s closely ties into this concept of “trinity” confusion.
When I was four years old, I asked Jesus into my heart. I really did. The funny thing is that when I was young, I literally pictured my heart having a little door on it and inside was a little bench that Jesus could sit on. I eventually came to understand that Jesus didn’t really live in my heart just like I came to understand that the tooth fairy doesn’t exist. However, for many years I continued to tell children how they could invite Jesus into their hearts. Habits die hard, don’t they?
Why do we tell children to invite Jesus into their hearts when Jesus doesn’t come to live in their hearts? Kids are so incredibly literal. When explaining this to kids, they have a very hard time seeing beyond the picture of Jesus literally living in their heart. If kids really are so literal, why can’t we be a little more straight forward with kids? They’re not stupid. I just think that we fail to clearly explain what is happening. Maybe we’re too quick just to “get kids saved” that we neglect to give them the full picture of what surrendering their lives to Christ really means.
So, let’s review real quick?
- Where is God the Father? In heaven, right?
- Where is Jesus the son? In heave too, at the father’s right hand.
- Where’s the Holy Spirit? That’s right, the Holy Spirit is with us. When Jesus left, he promised the Holy Spirit would come.
So, I was made to have a relationship with God, but my sin keeps me from him. However, if I recognize my sinfulness and need for saving and believe that Jesus provides a way to have a relationship with God and I let Jesus be in charge of my life and let him guide me from this time forward, I can be restored in relationship with God. As a result, the Holy Spirit comes to live in me, comfort me, guide me and encourage me. Isn’t that the gist of it?
Sure, it takes a little longer to set all of that up and it’s not as easy to say as just inviting Jesus into my heart. I don’t think we should give kids false information just because we think they’ll understand it better. It’s the most important decision they’ll make in their entire lives. Although I don’t expect every kid to fully understand every implication of following Christ (I’m 33 and I haven’t gotten there yet) I do think that every child can see a clear picture and make a personal decision.
Continue Reading
Confusing terminolgy and spiritual concepts for kids: God
Posted on 15. Mar, 2010 by Kenny.
Here’s the first spiritual concept our kids seem to be really confused about. I’m not sure it’s exactly something we’ve taught wrong, but maybe something we’ve not been clear enough about. It deals with the trinity. Don’t worry, I’m not about to get into various methodologies of teaching the trinity. There are plenty of theories and illustrations on how to best teach that and you’re on your own there. However, a huge number of kids seem to regularly interchange “God” with “God the father.” You may feel that I’m splitting hairs here, but I think it’s more significant that a simple mistake.
I was reading a blog last night where a young girl was explaining the relationship between God and Jesus. God and Jesus? Isn’t that like going to a Mexican restaurant and ordering cheese queso? Jesus is God and God is Jesus, but the young girl intended was God the Father and Jesus. I’ve encountered this more times that I can remember. If there’s a way to poll your kids without “leading” them, you’d probably be surprised how many kids believe the trinity is made up for God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Again, it seems like a really nit-picky detail, but the misunderstanding can have huge ramifications. Continuing to mistake God the Father with God further promotes that Jesus is not the same person as God as neither is the Holy Spirit. Confusing God with God the Father also mistakenly elevates God the Father to position of importance above Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Although God the Father has a role of authority among the other persons of God, he is equally important as Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Explaining the trinity isn’t easy and understanding it isn’t easy either. How you explain it is up to you. However, take note on how you describe and reference the persons of God being careful to name and reference all three equally as God. Each person of the trinity plays an important role in our lives, so it helps immensely to have a proper understanding of all three
Continue Reading
Confusing terminolgy and spiritual concepts for kids
Posted on 15. Mar, 2010 by Kenny.
I’ve been in vocational ministry to students and kids for over 13 years. Over this time, I’ve made some observations. I’ve found that we as pastors and communicators often use confusing terminology with kids that may seem to pacify a short term goal of simplicity, but often create a long term problem of misunderstanding.
I totally get the reasoning. Spiritual concepts can be complicated and difficult to grasp. However, giving “not exactly true” explanations for the sake of simplicity isn’t the correct method in my personal opinion. I think that some of these confusing terms and explanations have “stuck” and we continue to teach them because it’s what we learned as well. This week I’m going to cover a few of these terms and concepts. Why? Because I think there are better ways to explain spiritual truths that lead a a greater understanding. Kids are smarter than we think, we just need to give them a chance to wrestle with significant concepts.
I came up with a handful of these and got a few ideas from other friends in ministry. Feel free to add terminology and concepts you’ve come across in the comments, I might make it a last minute add. Most importantly, I hope this series encourages all of us to consider what we’re communicating to kids. Although what we’re saying might make perfect sense, it doesn’t mean it’s accurate.
Continue Reading
