EXPERIENCES …kids remember them!

The phrase, “Gospel Magic” conjures up some interesting images in many KidMin leaders’ minds.  For some, it’s a passion, for others it was a passing fad, still others shy away because of a bad experience.

The art of magic really has nothing to do with witchcraft, sorcery, spells, ghosts, spirits, potions or wizards.

It really has to do with creating experiences. Experiences that are fun, amazing, memorable and at times, unexplained. Children are visual creatures and have a tendency to be impressed, intrigued and interested in the unexplained.  I can’t think of a better method to use when teaching children about Jesus, His love and His promises!

Great Magicians Created Experiences

Name the magicians who were known by the general public in their day.  Why were they known?  Sure, they all had incredible skill and amazing equipment. But one thing set them apart from the competition of the day.  They knew how to create experiences.

Great Magicians Of The Day

Personalities like Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Tim Burton, Charles Schulz, Erno Rubik, Michael Jordan, J. R. R. Tolkien  and even the fictional Willie Wonka are all just as much magicians, in their own right and expertise as Harry Houdini, David Copperfield and David Blaine are in their own right.  And it is because they became masters of creating experiences…

…Experiences that have changed the way we look at everyday life.

Own This Concept

This, in essence is our job as KidMin Leaders; to create experiences that will burn into our audiences’ memories forever.  The next time they hear a certain song, smell a certain scent, see another magician; they will automatically be transported back in time to the moment they had an EXPERIENCE with YOU.

Thanks to Keith Tusing over at CMBuzz.com – this blog post first appeared over there.  Go to the site and see all the other cool stuff!

It’s just the world we live in.  Kids are sucked into media-crazed stupors that they are stuck in.  They have the luxury of playing any video game they want, watch any movie on-demand they can access and visit with kids all over the world.  And when they show-up at church, they’re being told that Jesus is a mighty savior… but he keeps falling off of the felt-board.

Is the answer human felt-board presentations?  Maybe!

My question is: what do kids like that will engage them in what God’s Word says?

In this next blog series we will explore what kids like, don’t like and what we can do about it.

While I write some more, go pick up the little felt-Jesus off of the floor…

I’ve learned a lot over the years in ministry.  But the one thing that I’ve learned that has helped me the most is that “I don’t have to care” if I don’t want to.  Yes, I chose this title and topic because it’s a “grabber” and seems controversial. I still care about making disciples, reaching the lost, hearing God’s voice, recruiting volunteers, respecting my Pastor, fulfilling God’s vision for my ministry… etc, etc, etc.

However, here is a list of a few things that I don’t have to care about in ministry – if I don’t want to:

What are yours?

Any Bears Fans out there? As many of you have heard, my wife and I are in the process of finding a new church in which to take a children’s pastor position. I have been asking all of the tough questions (Get Jim Wideman’s Questions for Sr. Pastors if you’re in the process of looking). Can I just say, without being disrespectful, It’s funny to hear pastors try and make up answers over the phone. In an effort to create a seamless transition from one ministry to another I have inquired quite a lot about the youth ministries – and whether or not I could interview the youth or student ministries pastor.

Answers are mixed – some offer it up right away others are apprehensive. Why? Why do these pastors get uptight about me talking with their youth pastors? Is it because they are scared I will find out something about them, (the pastor) that they don’t want me to know until after I am hired? OK – so, that’s really a side-note, tangent kinda thing.

I am a strong believer in the idea that you should be a “Super-Fan” of the Youth Pastor or Student Ministries Pastor and you need to get him/her to be your biggest fan as well. Work, plan, play and dream together as a way to glorify God in your calling… together.

So, if you know of a great church, with winning youth ministry, that needs a children’s pastor, and the pastor isn’t intimidated by tough questions… send ’em my way!

Yesterday I said that I was thinking of changing my name (see the post from earlier). Whether people -especially kids should call me “Jamie” aka “Pastor Jamie” OR “Jamieson” (my given name) aka “Pastor Jamieson”

Well, now you can vote – I mentioned in the earlier blog posting that I should put a poll at kidology.or – at first I was kinda joking… But now, I’ve done it! Yeah, I’m posting the poll as something fun to read and do, but I really do want your input. Go to:
http://www.kidology.org/network/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5507&PN=1
and vote. Sorry, if you’re not a member, you will only be able to see the results – if you are a member, then vote and add your two cents!

For years – since I can remember, I have asked people to just call me “Jamie”. When in school I hated my first name, “Jamieson”. I thought it was weird and I had never met anyone else with the same name. But, I had met a few “Jamie’s” in my days as an elementary kid. On the first day of school, when the teachers would do roll call for the first time, “Jamieson Doyle?” I started about the 4th grade to just answer, “Just call me Jamie…”