Tag Archives: March Madness
I love it when a plan comes together
Posted on 06. Apr, 2011 by Kenny.
So, in case you missed it, this weekend the March Madness for Kidmin bloggers came to a close. The winner, Jared Massey of Small Town Kidmin. In case you missed all of this, let me explain what happened.
Over at ministry-to-children.com, Tony launched the 2nd annual March Madness bracket competition. Last year I worked my tail off for 3rd place. I know that the other four in the final round also worked their tails off to get to the final four let alone compete to win the championship. It was fun and certainly created exposure to a lot of kidmin blogs that may have gone unnoticed by some. However, it was all about influence. Obviously each blogger would encourage people who followed them to vote, but bloggers were using the influence they had to gain votes as well. Family, friends, volunteers… and every person they know on facebook. Again, the competition boils down to influence.
However, this year a few of us had an idea. What if we did something a little unconventional. Last year a lot of us worked our tails off to work against each other. What if a bunch of us got together and worked our tails off to work toward a common goal? Influence is great… but using that influence toward a common goal instead of against one another is even better. So that’s what we set out to do. I contacted Jared Massey and told him that 4-5 bloggers were going to leverage our influence to make sure he won the competition. Over the weeks, that influence grew and in the end, Jared won it all.
Here’s what I found interesting. I was nervous at the beginning that people would get mad at me… like I was trying to “fix” or mess up this competition. That wasn’t my intent at all. I vocalized my concerns to several people. However, as I sent out emails and contacted people about what we were trying to do, I was overwhelmed by the number of people who LOVED the idea and were blown away by the gesture. I honestly felt like it was a good thing that we were trying to do.
So, what was the point? I think it was to show that when a group of people put their minds to something, they can do anything. I think that far too often, people in kidmin are so focused on their own stuff and have little time to collaborate or work outside the box in front of them. However, when they press “pause” and come out to play, great things can happen for kidmin. Look what happened with Jared. He probably wasn’t going to make it out of the first round, but because a bunch of people united together, he won the whole shebang. I think this sets a great precedence. Kidmin, let’s do something great… together!
Tony, a special thanks to you for hosting another March Madness. I really didn’t mean to mess up your contest, but it provided the greatest platform for this little experiment. I don’t plan on pulling this stunt again next year… but that’s still a year away. I guess the contest wouldn’t be much fun if a handful of people were picking the winner every year. Ha!
Thanks to everyone who played. In the end, there were many winners. I feel like the world of kidmin grew as a result, people have been exposed to new ideas and new resources. Oh, and if you haven’t read all the comments, Jared wasn’t the only one who won the iPad. I like this ending much better!
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Kidmin March Madness: Don’t vote for me!
Posted on 21. Mar, 2011 by Kenny.
No, this isn’t reverse psychology. Last week I announced that the March Madness for Kidmin Blogs had started. Last year I took 3rd place. Let me tell you, it took a lot of work to just get 3rd place. I was shaking a lot of hands and kissing a lot of babies.
As this year came around, I started thinking about what may strategy would be this year. How would I attempt to win? I know enough people and have enough influence to pull off a victory, right? Worse case scenario, I could walk door to door in my neighborhood to canvas for votes. Hmmmm, not how I want to spend my time. So, last week I decided on my 2011 strategy, my strategy not to win. That’s right, my strategy is not to win.
This competition is a lot of fun. More than 60 Kids Pastors duking it out until there is only one left. In the end, everyone wins. A lot of great exposure goes to the bloggers involved. However, let’s call it what it is. It’s a competition based on how many votes you can go out there and get. It’s not about how long you’ve been in kidmin, how many people read your blog or how well connected you are (although that obviously helps). It literally comes down to how many people you can get to click on the box by your name. Trust me, I asked everyone I knew on Facebook to vote for me last year. I even made it a requirement for our volunteers at Gateway (Application, Background Check, Interview, References and voting for me in March). Okay, kidding about that. So, this contest is about influence. Period.
However, this contest is “every man (or woman) for himself (herself).” Everyone is exercising the influence they have to get votes. However, I want to propose that there is something even better than influence. Unity. When people come together around a cause and leverage their influence to see it happen… well… that’s just magnificient.
So, last week I began leveraging the influence that I had to send votes to my friend Jared Massey, author of the blog: Small Town Kidmin. He’s an amazing guy. I have incredible respect for those who lead kidmin as a bi-vocational pastor or even as a volunteer. A little over a year ago, Jarred sought me out for some advice, questions and as a result, he even launched a blog where he has begun encouraging others volunteer and bi-vocational kids pastors. He’s on a mission and he knows that he has a message to share. I love his heart and I can’t think of anyone who is more deserving to win this contest.
We all enjoy a Cinderella story, someone who comes from the back of the pack and wins it all. Let’s see it happen with Small Town Kidmin. I want nothing more than to see Jarred Massey walking the halls of his church with iPad in hand, proud of what happened here. Going into a contest like this, most people could reasonably guess who is likely to win. I propose an upset. It will be a Kidmin March Madness we won’t soon forget. So, I’m asking you do do three things.
- Click here to vote for Small Town Kidmin in the Southwest Regional bracket.
- Leverage your influence. Shoot a quick email to friends, family and even volunteers to vote for Jarred. Remember, it’s leverage and influence.
- Tweet, facebook, blog and utilize every bit of social media real estate you own to get Jarred to the top.
Are you in? Can I count on you? Dont vote for me, vote for Small Town Kidmin here!
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March Madness for Kidmin
Posted on 14. Mar, 2011 by Kenny.
The excitement is in the air. Can you smell it? Basketball? I’m not talking about basketball. I’m talking about the 2011 Kidmin Blog Madness competition hosted by Ministry to Children. Last year after three rounds, I finished in 3rd place. Not too shabby. Well, it’s March again and the brackets are set. I’m in the Southwest division up against several great Kidmin blogs. Since you’re on my blog right now, I’m going to ask you to head over and throw a vote my way. You can vote for four blogs in each region. The Southwest region is the last of four and my blog (Chidlren’s Ministry Online) is in the #1 spot.
So, thanks for your help! Again, you can get there by clicking here!
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Thanks for makeing this the second top blog in the USA
Posted on 03. Apr, 2010 by Kenny.
Well, the Blog Madness is over (well, depends on how you define madness). The contest came to an end and this site had a great fight, but did not take the crowning victory. Nope, we came in 3rd place. Rob from Chidlrens Ministry 1234 came in the top spot and Sam Luce came in 2nd. I barely took the 3rd spot ahead of Amy Dolan at Lemon Lime Kids. Since Rob is from Down Under, I guess that makes this blog in the 2nd top spot in the USA. Not too shabby.
Thanks so much everyone for voting. I hope that you’ll continue to engage in the little community we have here and continue to make this blog great. I’ve got some fun ideas in the coming months that will certainly keep you engaged. So, have a great Easter weekend and thanks again for all your votes, I’m honored you can know!
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This is the end of the line
Posted on 01. Apr, 2010 by Kenny.
This is it. This is the end of the line friends. Over two weeks ago the March Madness for Kidmin bloggers began From the 64 who started, there are only four remaining and I am one of those four. It’s been a long journey (comparatively speaking) and it’s all come down to this. As a reader of this blog, a friend or maybe a family member, I’m going to ask that you send a vote in my direction. You know what would make a victory Oh So Sweet? This competition ends on Friday afternoon which this weekend happens to be the THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY/BIRTHDAY of this blog. Wow, how amazing is that? Coincidence? Fate? I’ll let you decide. In addition, this weekend I’ll post my 1000th post on this blog. That’s a lot of content. How great would it be that one of the first posts of this new millennium of blogging be an announcement that your vote brought me to a solid victory?
You can make this happen. Click here to vote for this blog! Click here and vote for Kenny Conley to wish this blog a happy three year birthday! Click here and vote for Kenny Conley because it just feels right!
Thanks so much for your vote!
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And then there were four
Posted on 29. Mar, 2010 by Kenny.
In case you haven’t read any kidmin blogs in the last two weeks, there’s this little competition going on RIGHT NOW! It’s the March Madness of Children’s Ministry blogs. I was honored to be among the original 64 featured blogs. I won the first round division taking me to round two. On Sunday afternoon I barely squeaked by with another victory and I now find myself in the Final Four. Woo hoo!
It’s been a fun little competition so far, but here’s where things get really exciting. This is the big leagues and I’m going up some heavyweights. I had the honor of meeting Rob Bradbury (Childrens Ministry 1234) two years ago at the Orange Conference and I’ve become very good friends with Sam Luce. I haven’t “officially” met Amy Dolan (Lemon Lime Kids) but I will be joining her at the Orange Conference next month as a guest blogger. It’s an honor to battle against these three.
So, I kindly ask that you cast your vote in my direction. If every subscriber and reader votes for me, I’d have no problem taking the win; however, I understand that many of my readers are also big fans of Sam Luce. I get it, I’m a big fan of him too and if it wasn’t me in the Final Four, he’d have my vote too. So, vote your conscious. Vote USA. Vote Lone Star, baby! Vote Kenny Conley!
Click here to go to the official contest page and place your vote. Thanks!
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March Madness: #Kidmin Style
Posted on 14. Mar, 2010 by Kenny.
It’s that time of year. The big dance. I’ll admit, I’m a poser when it comes to college basketball. I love watching college ball during March, but typically only March. I pick the teams I want to root for and become a fan at that point. Before I get totally trashed by Jonathan Cliff for making that statement, I will say that consistently I root for UNC and have done so since the early 90′s. I graduated from High School in NC and my brother graduated from UNC. So there… but I digress.
To make this March a little “madder,” Tony Kummer started a Kids Ministry Blog Madness. He basically created brackets for 64 Kidmin blogs and opened up the polls for voting to see which bloggers will go head to head in the Kidmin Blogging Final Four. This is going to be fun. I read or have read almost all the blogs featured in this little competition, but I think this is a great way to generate some exposure to some other blogs out there. Good idea Tony!
So, here’s how it works. Go to this page by clicking here. The bracket has been divided into four separate regions. In each region you can vote for four blogs. Pick the four (or less I guess) blogs that have spoken to you or influenced you in the past. That’s it. Do so before next Sunday, March 21st as the first round will end by then. Woo hoo!
So, you’re reading this post, right? Hopefully I’m going to get a nice little vote from you. 
All I ask is that if you’ve found my blog helpful, encouraging or as good use of your time, click over and give me a vote. I’m in the South Division (which is appropriate I guess being that I grew up in the South and I married a Southern Belle). I’m expecting lots of votes in this categories from fellow blogging friends like Ryan Frank, JC, my friends over at ReThink (Orange Leaders) and others. There are a lot of other great bloggers in other divisions like Jonathan Cliff, Sam Luce, Matt McKee, Gina McClain, Anthony Prince, Kendra from Northpoint and so many others. Go check out their blogs and give them some votes!
Again, if you haven’t voted yet, head over here and make your vote count. You can only vote once, so make it a good one!
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My tournament brackets
Posted on 22. Mar, 2008 by Kenny.
It seems that everyone else (Pudge and Matt) is posting their brackets in their blogs today, so I figured I’d do the same. I set mine up on Thursday. I love college basketball, but I don’t don’t watch any games until March. It’s just the way I roll.
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