Tag Archives: Networking
I’m giddy
Posted on 25. Apr, 2011 by Kenny.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m very excited about Orange. I’m expecting to learn some stuff I didn’t know before and get blown-away, challenged and encouraged all at the same time. However, there’s something else I’m looking forward to more than these things. Seeing and hanging out with some of my favorite people in the world!
I’ve been fortunate to have gotten to see Sam Luce, Matt McKee, Jonathan Cliff and Gina McClain multiple times since last year at Orange. I feel like practically see Sam every month. 
But Orange is the one time I get to see all of these friends at once. I love it!
In addition to those other guys, I get to see other good friends that I know and love.… Read the rest
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Local Networking
Posted on 16. Feb, 2011 by Kenny.
In past posts, you may have seen me write about the power and importance of networking. I really didn’t get this until about four years ago when I began this blog. I was never really good at networking with those in my own community. I felt like there were all kinds of barriers that I’ll get into later. However, starting a blog felt different. I could get my ideas out there and interact with those who were listening (reading) and I could interact with other blogs that I connected with. It didn’t take that long, but within a year, I had the beginnings of a very strong network for encouragement, ideas and friendship. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 14+ years of ministry is that I’ll never do it alone again.… Read the rest
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Road trip to DFW
Posted on 06. Dec, 2010 by Kenny.
I just got back from Dallas/Fort Worth yesterday for a long weekend get-away. Man, it was nice. It was the first time my family and I have just gone up to DFW for no other reason than hang out since we moved away almost three years ago. Probably more than any other place, DFW has felt more like home for Sara and I, so it was so good to visit some of our favorite places and see some of our favorite people. After a busy summer and fall, the get-away was much needed.
However, I did take advantage of the time by spending a few hours with various kidmin and ministry peeps. It really hasn’t been since I’ve moved to Austin that I really started to expand my network and there are so many people in DFW now that I’ve connected with that I never knew while I lived there.… Read the rest
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Why should you come to Orange 2011? Reason #1
Posted on 05. Oct, 2010 by Kenny.
If you’ve read anything I’ve written lately, you’ll find that the best parts of Orange is about the people you meet during the experience. Yeah, meeting some of the keynotes and breakout speakers is pretty cool, but the best part is meeting the other kids pastor in a church just like yours, or a volunteer in a church 1000 miles from where you live. It’s sharing stories and ideas with your peers that makes Orange the best.
So, I hope this reason alone is enough to make you want to come along. Come and meet someone, ministry is too important to do alone!
Register right now!… Read the rest
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Location-based networking
Posted on 27. Sep, 2010 by Kenny.
Today all the buzz is location-aware tools and software. Where you are and who you’re around is what counts. Whether you’re playing foursquare, gowalla or using facebook’s new “check-in” feature, you’ve seen the benefits of this trend. Maybe you’ve just been playing the game and haven’t actually noticed the benefits, but you’ve seen the potential (kinda like when you first started using twitter). Well, it’s no different with ministry. Where you are and who you’re around is so hugely important. I think one of the biggest misses for ministry leaders is when they do ministry for years and never truly connect into the larger ministry community around them. Sure you can drive down the street and knock on every church door you see, or you can use the tools available to you online.… Read the rest
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Discover the next stage of your Kidmin career through job boards
Posted on 20. May, 2010 by Kenny.
As I said yesterday, I think the best place to locate a ministry job is through the network you’ve created. However, depending on the situation you are in, you might need to exhaust all available options. If that’s the case, you need to spend some time on the ministry job boards. Landing that next job might be a little combination of utilizing your network along with searching the job boards. So many churches put available positions out there, so look regularly. Here are a few of the sites I’d recommend:
There are more than just these though, you just need to look around and wee what there is.
In addition there are a handful of ministry search firms, one of which is the Shepherd’s Staff.… Read the rest
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Childrens Ministry Networking to find that job
Posted on 19. May, 2010 by Kenny.
How does that statement go? “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. When it comes to landing a job in Chidlren’s Ministry, nothing is more powerful than the network. Over and over and over again you’re going to hear me talk about how you need to network, learn from others, blog, tweet, comment on blogs and connect with others doing what you do. I think it will add so much to your life. However, when it comes time to find a new place to serve (or first place to serve), being well connected will help you in so many ways.
On a regular basis (probably monthly), I have pastors looking for a Children’s Pastor call me or email me asking me if I know anyone.… Read the rest
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#Orange10 Tweet up
Posted on 02. May, 2010 by Kenny.
On Wednesday night after the opening session of the Orange Conference, ministry leaders were in full force at the official Orange Tweet up at Coffee Perks in Duluth, GA. There were easily 50 people crowded into the quaint little coffee shop/cafe. Everyone got free coffee (or smoothie for non coffee drinkers like me)! Yum!
There was no structure or order to things, just two hours of mingling and getting to know each other. I got to meet a lot of people I’d been looking forward to connecting with. Some who’ve left comments on my blog for years yet we’ve never met as well as people with blogs I read on a regular basis. I found myself jumping from table to table, diving into conversations about ministry, a little bit of technology and whatever was going on in life.… Read the rest
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#Orange10 Meat up to Tweet up
Posted on 28. Apr, 2010 by Kenny.
Wow, how much fun! Last night’s casual meet up at the Varsity turned into quite the shindig. Over 30 Orange-minded leaders came out to gobble down some Varsity famous onion rings and and Orange shakes. It was a blast. We joked around, had fun and learned from each other.
In the two hours I was there (the Varsity finally kicked us out at 11:00 PM), I sat and talked family ministry/parenting ministry philosophy & staffing structure with Michale Chanley (as well as some cool new ideas he’s got for the future). He’s in a position that doesn’t exist in 99% of all other churches and there’s really a lot we can learn from what he’s doing. I caught up with what’s going on in my friend Jonathan Cliff’s life (his church is going through a huge capital campaign where out of it he’s getting a new, state of the art kids building).… Read the rest
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Pre-Orange networking
Posted on 27. Apr, 2010 by Kenny.
Early registration is still an hour away and networking has been in high gear. Last minute yesterday I connected with with Eric Echols of 12 Stones Church in Lawrenceville, GA about getting together for lunch. It turned out to be a great move. What a cool church and awesome ministry. For about 90 minutes I hung out in the 12 stones coffee shop with Eric, his creative director Rebecca and a Ruth, a Group Publishing consultant who was there to talk ministry. After a little while Matt McKee shows up and joins the conversation. I didn’t get to take a tour of 12 Stones, but I’m thinking about hanging out there on Sunday morning. They’re doing some pretty cools stuff with milestones in their Next Generation ministry and have a smokin’ hot parent brochure.… Read the rest
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