You’ve Always Wanted to Become a Kidologist, and Master the Ways of Kidology! Now is your chance to spend an entire day with me and learn my ministry secrets in person!
What are my secrets for connecting with kids? How can you make your classroom one that kids will talk about years from now… and tell their kids about? How do share the Gospel with kids in more creative and effective ways? And how can you Unleash your own creativity?
Take your own personal ministry technique up several notches in 2011!
ON MARCH 15th, 2011 - you can spend an entire day with me in San Diego at the Town and Country Resort in a very informal learning environment as I takes you on a learning journey through my four favorite training sessions!
The cost is only $69 and I can tell you that I will make it well worth your investment with the resources you will receive that day! (I am under-promising and will over deliver!) This is a MUST-ATTEND EVENT you do NOT want to miss!
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE?
I’ll be doing a PRE-CONFERENCE as part of the Children’s Pastor’s Conference – BUT – you do not need to attend CPC to be a part of this ONE DAY KIDOLOGY TRAINING! Of course, I highly recommend CPC, but if you can only come for one day – or just want to come for a day of Kidology Training – then THIS IS YOUR CHANCE to come learn from the Kidologist!
“This is your chance to spend a day learning from Karl – asking questions, enjoying fellowship, and hanging out with other Kidology users – learning from the creator of Kidology.org, ToyBoxTales.com, and DiscipleTown and hearing his heart for relational, creative, Christ-centered ministry. It’s a day that can change your ministry!” – Kidology.org
Kidology is the study of kids! The Apostle Paul said he became all things to all men so that they might be reached. Pastor Karl Bastian, aka “The Kidologist” entered children’s ministry at age 10 and has been equipping adults for over thirty years on how to approach ministry from the perspective of a child and from within their culture. His unique approach is highly creative, super effective, causes discipline problems to vanish and results to soar – and yet is easy and fun. Come learn the secrets of the Kidologist that will transform your ministry.
Kidology 101: Relational Ministry – 9:00 a.m.
The aim of this workshop is to challenge and equip adults to engage in relational ministry through a working knowledge of the culture of kids. Learn how to get into the world of kids and make connections with kids in ways that are both fun and engaging. You’ll be inspired and equipped to teach in new and surprising ways that may just transform your teaching ministry.
Refreshment Break - 10:30 a.m.
Kidology 202: Making Your Class Rock – 10:45 a.m.
“You Rock!” is one of the highest compliments a child can give a teacher. What makes some classrooms more exciting and effective than others? Why are some teachers remembered into adulthood when most are quickly forgotten? What can set YOUR class apart from all the rest? Rock your class and rock a kid’s world!
Lunch - 12:00 p.m.
Kidology 303: Unleashing Your Own Creativity – 1:00 p.m.
Think you aren’t creative? Discover the secrets of creativity, and learn how to come up with super creative ideas for games, skits, stories, skits and more, from ANY passage of scripture – instantly! You’ll be amazed at what YOU can do by the end of this session!
Kidology 404: Leading Kids to Christ – 1:45 p.m.
At the end of the day, the most important aspect of our ministry is leading kids to Christ! So we will end our day learning some practical skills for this most important aspect of our ministry. Not only will you learn some new Gospel presentations, you will be equipped to make sure that you are doing the best.
Dismissal - 3:00 p.m.
I really hope many of your can come! Especially my friends and fans on the West Coast! If you are already coming to CPC, this is a great add-on! I always enjoy getting to meet “Kidology Folks” at CPC – this is a way I can get to spend a day with you. Many have asked me for years why I don’t do a pre-con, well, they have given me one! So the best way to make sure I get one again – is to fill it up!
JESUS LOVE YOU!
I’m Jimmy Jim!
JESUS LOVES YOU!
Will you accept Him?
That Jimmy Jim!
That Jimmy Jim!
I do not like that Jimmy Jim!
Do you know Jesus?
Do you know Him?
Would you like to accept Him?
I do not want to be a Christian, Jimmy Jim!
I do not want to accept Him!
Would you accept him here or there?
I would not accept him here or there.
I would not accept him anywhere.
I do not want to be a Christian.
I will not accept him, Jimmy Jim.
Would you accept him in a house?
Would you accept him with a mouse?
I will not accept Him in a house,
I will not accept Him with a mouse.
I will not accept Him here or there,
I would not accept Him anywhere.
I do not want to be a Christian,
I will not accept Him, Jimmy Jim.
Would you accept Him in a box?
Would you accept Him with a fox?
Not in a box,
Not with a fox.
Not in a house,
Not with a mouse!
I would not accept Him here or there,
I would not accept Him anywhere!
I will not become a Christian!
I do not want Him Jimmy Jim!
Would you? Could you? In a cart?
Accept Him! Accept Him! Into your heart!?
I would not, could not, in a cart,
I would not, could not, into my heart!
If you’d accept Him, you would be
On your way to Heaven for eternity.
If you’d accept him you would see!
You may accept him, in a tree?
I would not, could not in a tree,
Not in a cart, you let me be.
Not in my heart, now can’t you see?!
I will not accept Him in a box
I will not accept Him with a fox.
I will not accept Him in a house,
I will not accept Him with a mouse.
I will not accept Him here or there,
I would not accept Him anywhere!
I do not want to be a Christian!
I will not accept Him Jimmy Jim.
A train! A train!
A train! A train!
Could you, would you, on a train?
Not on a train! Not in a tree!
Not in a cart, Jim! Let me be!
I would not, could not, in a box.
I would not, could not, with a fox.
I will not accept Him with a mouse,
I will not accept Him in a house.
I will not accept Him here or there,
I would not accept Him anywhere.
I do not want to be a Christian,
I do not need Him, Jimmy Jim.
Say! In the dark? Alone in the dark?
Would you, could, in the dark?
I would not, could not, in the dark.
Would you, could you, in the rain?
I would not, could not, in the rain,
Not in the dark. Not on a train.
Not in a cart. Not in a tree.
I do not want Him, Jim, you see.
Not in a house. Not in a box.
Not with a mouse. Not with a fox.
I will not accept Him here or there.
I will not accept Him anywhere!
Jesus loves you!
Will you love Him?
He died for you!
Won’t you accept Him?
I will not accept Him, Jimmy Jim.
I could not accept Him with all my sin!
But when you accept Him,
Your sins are all gone!
Jesus forgives everything you’ve done wrong!
That’s what it says in the Book that He wrote,
So could you, would you…. with a goat?
I would not, could not, with a goat!
Would you, could you, on a boat?
I could not, would not, on a boat.
I will not, will not, with a goat.
I will not accept Him in the rain.
I will not accept Him on a train.
Not in the dark! Not in a tree!
Not in a cart! You let me be!
Not in my heart! Get away from me!
I will not accept Him in a box.
I will not accept Him with a fox.
I will not accept Him in a house,
I will not accept Him with a mouse.
I will not accept Him here or there.
I would not accept Him ANYWHERE!
(getting weak)
I do not want to be a Christian,
I do not need him, Jimmy Jim.
You do not need him,
So you say,
But Try Him! Try Him!
Please just pray.
Try Him and you may, I say.
Jim!
Since you will not let me be,
I will try him so I can see,
Just why you keep on telling me.
That Jesus died so I can be,
Right with God for eternity.
I’m not so sure,
Just what to pray,
But if He loves me as you say,
Then I will pray
This very day
And have my sins
Washed right away.
Jesus, You know that I have sinned,
Probably more than Jimmy Jim,
But he says you love me, and if it’s true,
I’d like to be a Christian too.
Come in my heart and make me clean,
I do not want to be so mean.
I’d like to live forever more,
If you will take me, I am yours.
Say! I’m a Christian now!
I accepted Him, Jimmy Jim!
And now I’ll love Him in a boat!
And I will love Him with a goat!
And I will love him in the rain!
And in the dark! And on a train!
And in a cart! And in a tree!
He’s in my heart, He loves me!
He is so good, so good, you see!
So I will love Him in a box!
And I will love Him with a fox!
And I will love Him in a house!
And I will love Him with a mouse!
And I will love Him here and there!
Say! I will love Him ANYWHERE!
I DO love Jesus!
I DO love Him!
I’m glad that I accepted Him. Thank you! Thank you, Jimmy Jim.
Original Story,
“Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss.
This Christian parody written
and copyrighted by Karl D. Bastian.
1994
I wrote this back in 1994 in 20 minutes right before Kids Church! I was doing a lesson on witnessing and the main point was on being persistent in our witness and I remembered this classic book from Dr. Seuss and the persistence of the little guy who got the old guy to finally TRY green eggs and ham, and how he LOVED IT when he finally TRIED it! And I realized, that is how it is with sharing Jesus.
So many people are so resistant to Christ, unwilling, for vaious reasons to even give Christ a try – usually because of Christians they have met, or seen in the media or movies – or misconceptions, and so they simply will not TRY JESUS, because they want nothing to do with the Jesus they have a perception of.
The problem is, the Jesus they are rejecting, I’ve rejected too – and Jesus would reject too, if they would read the Gospels! That Jesus doesn’t exist. In fact, it’s why He was crucified. The religious establishment didn’t like His message.
So, for my atheist and non-Christian friends, forgive my persistence, but you really really ought to try the Jesus of the Bible – not the Jesus of obnoxious Christians. (I don’t like them either!) And I apologize for all the things that have been done in the “Name” of Christ, yes, they were wrong. That isn’t the real Jesus.
Not even the Jesus I reflect at times, unfortunately. I’m a terrible mirror Him, often.
But the real Jesus, who created you, set you free, loves you despite how you use that freedom – then died for you to pay the penalty for the consequences of how you’ve used that freedom. And patiently waits for you to return to Him.
Jesus is often called the Meek Savior. But don’t confuse meek with weak. Meek is NOT weak. Meek is restrained power. He is powerful alright! Someday that power will be unleashed in judgment on this world and those who have not accepted his offer of salvation will be judged, and no one is getting away with anything. Those who have wronged you, will pay. But you and I will pay too, if we’ve not gotten right with our Creator. But everyone who has accepted His offer of forgiveness, will be granted such. Luckily for me (I need it) I’ve accepted it.
I hope many others will too. Before it is too late.
I DO love Jesus!
I DO love Him!
I’m glad that I accepted Him. Thank you! Thank you, Jimmy Jim.
I’d rather pay normal prices than go out super early, wait in lines, fight with people, push and shove, or put up with the hassles. I think it’s nuts.
Especially when you can get the same deals and free shipping online now-a-days. I just don’t get the craziness.
Can someone explain it to me, please? It’s like we are thankful for ONE day, and then all have to go out and get more stuff! LOL
Seriously, if you went out early or did the shopping out there – tell me why – change your name if must. I need help understanding it. Don’t be offended, I’m not being mean. I just don’t understand it. I’m a shopper! I enjoy going out for a day at the mall, so I’m not a typical guy who hates to shop – I just don’t get the Black Friday crowded malls, go out at 3 a.m. and wait in super duper long lines to save a few bucks.
“Count your blessings name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done…”
As we head into the week of Thanksgiving, I am especially overcome this week by all that I have to be thankful for this year, and how unworthy I am for all of it. So I thought I’d count my blessings and name them one by one…
A beautiful and gracious wife who puts up with me even when I’m grouchy and irritable and expect too much of her and forget she is my wife not an employee…
An adorable son who was Given to me out of the blue suddenly one day when I least expected it and has given me more reason to live than I ever had before…
True friends who stick with me through thick and thin – who aren’t impressed with any of my accomplishments. They are friends of Karl, not the “Kidologist.” They aren’t fans, they are friends. I need those desperately. (Could use a few more, actually, here in Colorado.)
Surviving a near heart attack in April 2009 that could have ended my life.
An exciting ministry, that while wears me out and keeps my up late at times, provides incredible purpose and fulfillment in life as I serve my Lord and Savior. While it once was too much my identity, it is now how I give back to Him who saved me from myself…
The privilege of having my “own” company – making a living by doing what I love and being able to pour into others and equip them to do what they love. (“own” is in quotes for I recognize my ministry belongs to the Lord.)
Getting to write DiscipleTown children’s church curriculum for DiscipleLand is a dream come true, as well as to have a column in Group’s CM Mag and contribute to their CM Pro edition – blows me away – I do not take such opportunities for granted. I’m amazed every time I get such a chance to equip and encourage others. Or when I get to speak at the Children’s Pastors Conference or anywhere else. I’m still the little kid who just wanted to be a children’s evangelist when I grew up. I keep being surprised by what I get to do, and I’m exceedingly thankful!
The opportunity to live in Colorado, a dream since childhood that came true this past year – the next best thing to living in heaven for me.
There’s more, of course, – but mostly for the Cross – where I continually get to lay my sin, right next to past sins, so that I can keep serving Jesus and enjoying His blessings, all undeserved.
Let me encourage you to “Count your blessings, Name them one by one. Count your many blessings see what God has done.”
Put them in comments here… on your blog or facebook page (and link here in comments) – we NEED to do this – or we tend to focus on the negative and forget these things.
I am thankful today. I needed to count them. Thank you, Lord. You are so good to me, in spite of me. I love you.
On a recent overseas trip, the President of the United States used a phrase that caught my ear. He mentioned a “New Normal”, suggesting that Americans must prepare to accept current unemployment rates as staying steady into the future.
This got me thinking that there is a “New Normal” in children’s ministry as well. Things have changed! What was was once considered “normal” is rapidly changing! As I watch my 4-year-old use my iPhone or iPad, I see that his world is going to be much different than mine. Indeed, he has had his own iPod Touch because at age 2 he was caught operating my iPhone without any instruction. I knew he needed to be equipped to embrace his world.
Perhaps you are following the discussions in the Leadership Forum, where Greg Baird has invited 18 authors to write about The Future of Children’s Ministry.
What are you doing in your ministry to embrace this New Normal? Or does your ministry still look like it did 10 years ago? There are no easy answers, but I can tell you this: When you were a kid, you could tell which teachers were with it, and which weren’t, and you gravitated toward the teachers who were “hip.”
And now you are in the position of being the one they evaluate. Take a hard look at yourself and your ministry. Don’t be written off by your kids. The effectiveness of your ministry is at stake, and it may only take a few minor tweaks to win them over and show them YOU are “hip!”
How are you using technology to reach today’s kids?
In his contribution to Greg’s Baird’s series on The Future of Children’s Ministry, Todd McKeever writes about how he has allowed texting during church to give tweens a safe way to ask tough questions. Since the average American teen now texts over 3000 times a day – it’s might be better to join ‘em than to fight ‘em!
Join the discussion on Kidology and share how YOU have tapped into technology to connect with kids or engage kids in your ministry.
BUT FIRST – watch this incredible video, and consider if you need to DISCONNECT from our cell phone a little more.
In January 2007, I presented ten trends I predicted would characterize children’s ministry in the years ahead. As we approach January 2011 and I review those, it is interesting to consider which of those have trends still resonate as hot trends, which are assumed or fading, and which I wish were of greater emphasis as I scan articles, workshop descriptions of conferences or forum discussions of various websites.
Whenever I am asked to write or speak on the “future” I often start with one of my favorite quotes, which always goes off better verbally…
“I’m not a prophet, nor the son of prophet. In fact, I work for a non-profit organization.”
The reality is, I’m always faced with a very real dilemma. Do I respond with my Predicted Future, or my Preferred Future? Because in many ways, unfortunately, they are very different when I look over the children’s ministry landscape today. I often feel as though I am both fighting against the advance of the kidmin culture as well as contributing to it. On one hand, I’ve been a significant influencer of children’s ministry over the years, and on the other hand, I often find myself trying to push against the goads and challenging the status quo. As I’m about to do.
My answer to the question, “What is the Future of Children’s Ministry?” is going to be to answer it twice. First, I will give you my Predicted Future and then my Preferred Future. Which describes your future will depend on whether you are a leader who is interested in numbers or disciple-making. It will depend on whether you want to wow kids and parents or whether you want children who will walk with Jesus through high school and into their adult lives.
The stats are in. Despite all the modern advances of children’s ministry, youth pastor’s can tell us, if we will listen, we aren’t doing them any favors with our million dollar facilities and fancy curriculum and edutainment and mini-youth groups. Their job hasn’t gotten much easier. And blaming families isn’t the answer either. While supporting families is critically important, in our culture, less and less children are in healthy Christian families, so there will only be a growing need for strong children’s ministries to reach them. So let’s take a look at two possible futures and then make a choice.
My Predicted Future
The demise of the children’s pastor and children’s ministry. Both have been usurped and swallowed by family ministry. Misunderstanding the distinct difference between children’s ministry and family ministry, churches opt to roll the children’s ministry into family ministry. Rather than embracing family ministry as a church-wide responsibility that should coordinate with and work in concert with children’s ministry, it is seen as the solution and biblical mandate that renders children’s ministry obsolete. Of course, this happens slowly. First the children’s pastor is replaced. Next, the word “ministry” is dropped from children’s ministry. In time, “children’s programming” becomes part of the family ministry, a disguised name for child care. This is denied emphatically, but the lack of evangelism, discipleship and solid biblical teaching is the proof, those having been all been delegated to parents. Volunteers are no longer trained to study and teach and lead children to a saving faith in Christ. They are trained in safety standards, how to run video equipment, and to foster caring environments and build loving relationships. Worship is emphasized and is central to the experience at church along with highly entertaining programs teaching bible stories and virtues based on biblical principles. All of which are important, but do not fulfill Jesus’ mandate to “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 18:19-20) Processing large groups of children through similar group experiences with as few volunteers as possible will be key. Resources that make volunteering as easy as possible with as little preparation as necessary will be the best selling. And of course, neither children, nor volunteers, will bother bringing their Bibles to church anymore, because they simply are no longer needed in the Lord’s House.
My Preferred Future
The resurgence of the teacher and a return of the student. When was the last time you heard the kids at church referred to as “students?” I would like to envision both the children’s pastor and volunteers studying the Bible during the week. I’d like to see children again memorizing Scripture and completing assignments at home. I see them logging on to a website with their parents to interact with materials the church has provided to help them engage with what the church is teaching their children. I see Dad getting a text message during the week from the children’s pastor with a question he can ask his son about the main point of the week in class and Mom getting an e-mail with ideas of discussion questions the family can use at dinner time about the theme of the month from the family pastor. I see the family ministry and children’s ministry working together, one first being far broader than families with kids – and the latter being far broader than kids with a mom and dad. Where they overlap, there is a lot they do together, but where they don’t, they have learned that merging them leaves too many left neglected. So family ministry reaching far more than a children’s ministry ever could, and children’s ministry reaches more than families ever could. Oh, and on Sundays, the children’s pastor, (this is a role, not necessarily their title) is actually teaching from the Word, with a Bible in hand, and the children are following along in their Bibles, some even underlining, learning to correctly handle the Word of Truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
Neither of these futures are automatic, nor will either represent every church. But both will exist in some churches. The question is only which is more likely to more closely represent your church?
What the future of children’s ministry needs most for success is a return to an emphasis on the study of and teaching of the Word of God, and less on making ministry easy for volunteers, attractive to families and processing large groups of children through fun environments. That hasn’t produced disciples who will walk with Jesus for life. The future doesn’t need more technology – it needs deeper and better relationships. If technology can foster more connectivity or methods of relating, that is wonderful. But “His divine power has given us everythingweneed for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)
Greg has been a long time friend and of mine, as well as one who I have learned from and have recommended to others to learn from. He has been a featured trainer at our Kidology University in Chicago. (see him featured in this crazy YouTube video)
Greg is a sought after authority in children’s ministry and shares my passion for equipping and encouraging those who are “in the trenches” of weekly ministry. Read his complete bio to see why I have asked him to host the Leadership Forum on Kidology.org.
By hosting our Leadership Forum, Greg will be available to provide leadership insights, stimulating discussion, help answer questions YOU post and keep Kidology folks aware of the exciting things happening at Kidmin360.com, such as…
The timing of Greg’s hosting of the Leadership Forum couldn’t be better! Greg has asked eighteen Kidmin leaders from around the country to write about they they think lies in store for children’s ministry and will be posting their articles in the weeks ahead on his site, and an opportunity to discuss them in the Leadership Forum. When complete, it will be compiled into a PDF book, complete with quotes from the discussion. (Yes, your comments from the forum might make the book!)
Right now, here is the schedule (subject to adjustments)
November
1 – Karl Bastian
3 – Todd McKeever
5 – Larry Shallenberger
8 – Ryan Frank
10 – Dale Hudson
12 – Matt McKee
15 – Matt Guevara
17 – Amy Dolan
19 – Jonathan Cliff
22 – Tina Houser
24 – Tony Kummer
29 – Henry Zonio
December
1 – Mike Johnson
3 – Justyn Smith
6 – Gordon West
8 – Kenny Conley
10 – Rick Chromey
13 – Michael Chanley
15 – Sam Luce
These are the kind of people that Greg brings together! So be looking forward to their thoughts on the future of Kidmin – and be prepared to discuss YOUR thoughts and interactions on what they wrote in the Leadership Forum with Greg Baird on Kidology.org
I am personally convinced that one person can be a change catalyst, a “transformer” in any situation, any organization. Such an individual is yeast that can leaven an entire loaf. It requires vision, initiative, patience, respect, persistence, courage, and faith to be a transforming leader.
~ Stephen R. Covey
ON MARCH 15th, 2011 - you can spend an entire day with me in San Diego at the Town and Country Resort in a very informal learning environment as I takes you on a learning journey through my four favorite training sessions!
This got me thinking that there is a “New Normal” in children’s ministry as well. Things have changed! What was was once considered “normal” is rapidly changing! As I watch my 4-year-old use my iPhone or iPad, I see that his world is going to be much different than mine. Indeed, he has had his own iPod Touch because at age 2 he was caught operating my iPhone without any instruction. I knew he needed to be equipped to embrace his world.
