People often ask how we are able to provide such an excellent conference at such affordable rates. Kidology is known for exceeding expectations because our conference registration fees are always very low considering the quality of the trainers, the exhibitors, meals and performers.
Our Sponsors make it possible to provide a top-notch event at an affordable price. Some contribute financially, some donate their services, all deserve our thanks! And we don’t accept just any sponsor - all our sponsors are by invitation because they are the best at what they do.
We are very grateful for our Kid U 2008 Sponsors!
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SPONSORS AND VISIT THEIR WEBSITES!
DiscipleLand
DiscipleLand’s family of resources forms a comprehensive Children’s Discipleship Systemâ„¢ that helps you equip kids to reach their peak potential as Jesus’ disciples. DiscipleLand partners with parents and teachers to lead children to:
Know God intimately.They develop a reservoir of knowledge based on a Biblical worldview.
Love Him passionately.They display Christlike character in every area of life.
Serve Him selflessly.They demonstrate faithful conduct that honors God and helps people.
You can easily customize DiscipleLand Bible curriculum to use anywhere, anytime!
Visit the official DiscipleLand website for more information… DiscipleLand.com
Kidz Blitz!
Kidz Blitz is a ministry focused on conducting shared-experience events for the family and developing a new style of children’s ministry curriculum and a fresh resource to children’s pastors/directors.
Kidz Blitz is synonymous with high-energy children’s ministry and crosses all major denominational lines as it continues to expand its unique approach to family events and children’s ministry curriculum across America.
Visit the official Kidz Blitz! website for more information… KidzBlitz.com
Uncle Charlie and Upward Bound Ministries
“Uncle Charlie” Bancroft is a nationally-known kids worship leader, highly sought after for his praise rallies.
Having served in local church youth ministry for 21 years, in 1997 Charlie created Upward Bound Ministries (Lutz, FL) in 1997 as a way to reach children with high-energy, upbeat music. His aim is to lift up the name of Christ so that men, women, and children will be drawn to Him and experience the joy that Christ brings into our lives!
He is a worship leader at Idlewood Baptist Church in Tampa, FL, where he attends with his wife Tammy, and his two sons, Andrew and Matt.
Visit the official Uncle Charle website for more information… UncleCharlie.com
Scripture Candy’s mission is to fulfill the great commission… by using a simple piece of candy. They desire to “Reach The World One Piece At A Time” by taking the best tasting candies and wrapping them in Scriptures so they can be passed out to everyone.
Visit the official Scripture Candy website for more information… ScriptureCandy.com
Harvest is one of the largest distributors of Sunday school and VBS curriculum in the country. Quantity discounts, free shipping and quick service are just some of the benefits of their curriculum service.
Harvest also carries thousands of books and Bibles in stock and is the publisher of Adventure Club — a reproducible midweek program for kids ages 4 years old through 6th grade.
Visit the official Harvest Publications website for more information… HarvestBooks.org
Timber-lee Christian Center
Since 1972, Timber-lee Christian Center has operated a year-round Christian camp, conference and retreat center operating under the auspices of the Forest Lakes and Great Lakes Districts of the Evangelical Free Church of America.
Timber-lee is located near the southern part of Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine State Forest. It is 45 minutes southwest of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and 2 hours northwest of Chicago, Illinois. The site encompasses over 600 acres of wooded, rolling scenic land, and contains 65 existing buildings. Its mission is to create engaging communities where each young person encounters Christ through a dynamic camp experience.
Visit the official Timber-lee Christian Center website
for more information… Timber-lee.com
Speed Stacks
Take 12 specially designed plastic cups, stack and unstack them in precise patterns at ridiculously high speeds and you’ve got sport stacking with Speed Stacks ®.
Using the Speed Stacks StackMat ® , stackers time themselves for personal bests in the 3-3-3, 3-6-3 or Cycle stack. Head-to-head relays are also a fun and exciting component of sport stacking.
Speed Stacks, Inc., based in Colorado, is a family-owned business passionate about sport stacking and how it benefits kids of all ages improving hand-eye coordination, reaction time and focus while promoting good sportsmanship and teamwork. Stack Fast!
Visit the official Speed Stacks website for more information… SpeedStacks.com
The mission of God Rocks! is to “Energize Kids With the Good News!” Award-winning DVDs, music, and church curriculum help children ages 4 – 12 grow in God as they “Sing and Learn the Word” with NIV® Scripture songs and cool, rock characters!
Visit the official God Rocks! website for more information… GodRocks.ca
National Center for Biblical Parenting
The National Center for Biblical Parenting is committed to providing parenting resources that help parents touch the hearts of their kids.
They also help churches develop parenting ministries. Live seminars, video curriculum, books, audio CDs, and free email parenting tips are all available for individual use and to use in ministry.
Visit the official National Center for Biblcal Parenting website
for more information… BiblicalParenting.org
Awana
Awana is a ministry resource for churches and parents that offers fully integrated, biblical-focused programs to evangelize and disciple children ages 2 to 18.
Visit the official Awana website for more information… Awana.org
One Way Street
One Way Street provides resources and training for creative ministry, specializing in puppet ministry and other creative arts such as children’s music, clown ministry, gospel magic, ventriloquism, and more.
They are dedicated to helping teachers and ministers spread the Gospel by providing quality Christian resources.
Visit the official One Way Street website for more information… OneWayStreet.com
Timbuktoons
Timbuktoons is a small animation company that provides broadcast quality character animation and motion graphics services.
We also do illustration, graphic design (including logos), car detailing, catering, landscaping, Weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. (Just kidding about the last 5… unless it’s a slow month.)
Timbuktoons has been around since December 2004. We’re developing some properties to pitch for children’s TV series and we have some pretty fun online shorts in the works as well. Our vision is to pursue God, assist ministries with discipleship and influence culture thru creative media. We intend to remain a small to medium sized animation studio with a tight-nit and well-qualified team.
Visit the official Timbuktoons website for more information… Timbuktoons.com
KidMo
KidMo exists to create and produce educational and entertainment properties with a biblical worldview that inspire world changers.
KidMo’s curriculum and entertainment properties are produced through its parent company Orbit Church, the premiere provider of media-driven content to the church.
KidMo released its first DVD series, KidMo with Johnny Rogers, in 2003. It has become the fastest growing elementary age church curriculum product. This year, the company launched Lil’ K, a DVD-driven program for church preschool ministries.
Visit the official KidMo website for more information… KidMo.com
Stars of Christmas
Help the children in your ministry discover the true Star of Christmas is Jesus! The Stars of Christmas curriculum examines a different “Star” each week in a Grammy-style awards show that tells the entire biblical Christmas story in four lessons. This teaching tool was co-created by Kidology Board Member Dan Huffman — Children’s Pastor at The Chapel, an innovative multi-site church in Illinois — and the Willow Creek Association,
Bring a high level of teacher/child interaction and the ease of DVD teaching to your ministry with this unique curriculum. Large Group lesson segments are provided on DVD, making lesson set-up simple. However, the teacher sets up and interacts with kids between each section, while integrated, age-appropriate Small Group segments help kids process the key concepts of the lessons with adult volunteers.
The best way to say “THANK YOU” to our sponsors is to give them your business - I’m sure a few of these sponsors offer just what you are looking for! Check ‘em out!
Kid U was blessed to have Alan Root (www.alanroot.com) as our worship leader. His gentle spirit, quick “punny” humor, and obvious heart for God and kids (and those who serve them) just leaked all over the place! He is one of those worship leaders who have that rare ability to be very entertaining, and yet, keep it not about them, but about the Lord. We sang, we laughed, we even did the ‘Baptist Side-step’ and worshiped.
I’ve known of Alan and seen him at CPC’s for as long as I’ve been going, but I had never gotten the chance to get to know him. I was lucky enough to get to do some of the shuttling to hotel/airport and got to know him a lot better and look forward to doing so more in the future.
Alan is a recently added new vendor on Kidology.org making available his preteen Bible studies, and of course his music. Check out all the Alan Root Stuff on Kidology!
I consider it a privilege to count Alan as a friend!
AND THEN, after two days of Live Leadership Labs - it was time to ROCK, God Rocks that is! (www.GodRocks.ca)
The team from God Rocks ALWAYS puts on an AMAZING SHOW that completely blows away even the highest expectations in the audience. They prove that fun and tight choreography and dancing can be engaging, entertaining and completely wholesome at the same time. I especially love how much of their music is straight from the Bible - word for word - teaching kids to sing the very words of God. As their name suggests, if WE don’t praise God, the rocks will have to. Well, as long as God Rocks is around, real rocks are sure to stay silent, because few praise God with as much energy and enthusiasm as these young people!
Not only does God Rocks produce awesome music, they offer two years of Bible curriculum which can be found in the God Rocks section of the Kidology.org Store. We are also very excited about the awesome summer VBS they launched last summer - and you can do it this summer at your church!
Let me end by thanking Uncle Charlie for his generous support of Kid U! Due to his ongoing recovery from a near fatal auto accident he was unable to sponsor in person and come to serve as our worship leader, but instead of asking for a refund on his sponsorship he donated it and made it possible for us to have Alan Root as his replacement. Alan did a great job but we missed having Uncle Charlie with us, and ask you to join us in praying for his ongoing recovery. You can help support him by shopping the TWO PAGES of awesome music and videos available in the Uncle Charlie section of our online store.
Thanks to Uncle Charlie, Alan Root and God Rocks… the music at Kid U this year was amazing!
This is the second of a series on our Kid U 2008 Celebration Conference. (previous)
It’s no secret to Kidology users that I’ve been a huge fan of Speed Stacks since, well, before I even discovered Speed Stacks! I got my first set of generic stacking cups as my mother’s final Christmas gift to me the year she died of cancer. Her hand written note said, “I’m sure you’ll find a way to use these to entertain and teach kids.” Soon, I had developed my rules and was using cup stacking racing in my ministry. It wasn’t until a CPC several years later that I stumbled upon the booth for Speed Stacks, the premier manufacturer of cup stacking cups and the primary promoter of the Sport of “Sport Stacking.” I immediately signed up to be a member of the WSSA.
While I have never been able to attend the World Championship Tournament in Denver (which has been covered by ESPN) I hope to make it there someday to see if I can’t go home with a trophy. I have competed against a professional football player and won, as well as world champion and legend Emily Fox, as you can see here:
So when it came time to start planning our 10th anniversary Kidology University I quickly decided having a Stacking Competition would be a fan aspect to the conference, as well as help our attendees discover this fun sport for kids that actually can be a VERY effective outreach tool in the church.
I demonstrated Sport Stacking (the official term for the sport) in the opening session, and then folks were able to try it hands on in the exhibit hall.
We brought some kids to the conference to demonstrate and teach the attendees how to Sport Stack and then gave them the opportunity to qualify for a competition in the closing session on Saturday.
After three days of learning, competing and recording scores, only 8 finalists were called upon to compete in the final BattleStack Competition! What is a BattleStack? Only the newest coolest product from Speed Stacks:
When Saturday final arrived, I called up the 8 attendees who had recorded the fastest scores in the exhibit hall to compete on the BattleStack!
Competition was fierce, but it all came down to two clowns. One professional clown, Debbie George from Merry Heart Clowns (one of our trainers) and Pastor Ken Wheeler from Graceland Baptist Church of New Albany Indiana.
Competing against a clown must have been intimidating to Ken…
In fact, it proved to be too much, as Ken got a whoopin’ from a clown!
Who instantly broke into a victory dance all over the stage! Actually, it may have been ME that was intimidated by the clown, because I had promised to challenge the winner of the competition and I completely forgot to race the winner! So we’ll never know whether I would have won or not!
Many thanks to Speed Stacks for sponsoring Kid U and providing the BattleStack games and awesome prizes to our winners. All eight went home with some cool Sport Stacking equipment!
As I always say, “Don’t be a Slacker, be a Stacker!”
This is the first of a series on our Kid U 2008 Celebration Conference. (next)
The greatest highlight of Kid U is the PEOPLE who come. As one of our feedback forms said:
Coming to the Kidology University was like coming to a family reunion even though it was my first time attending. I will be back! - Heather Marshall
There is just something unique about the feel of a Kid U, and it’s hard to describe - you have to experience it. One example would be how Josh Kornberg became a highlight of the conference.
Who is Josh? Well, according to children’s pastor Kenny Conley who Twittered me that the following:
Karl, I’m sending an ambassador in my name to meet you at Kidology U. His name is Josh Kornberg. He’s 18 and he was a summer intern for me this summer, was a kid in my ministry many moons ago. And believe me, he WILL be making a mark in this world in the area of Children’s Ministry… someone to keep an eye on. Do me a favor though. When he introduces himself (Josh Kornberg) can you make a big deal out of it? You and Kidology are a big deal to him. Thanks!
Kidology is all about encouraging those who are just beginning to minister to kids and who are passionate about it! So when I met Josh, I announced to the entire lunch and exhibit hall, “Ladies and Gentleman, this is Josh Kornberg, and I have it on good authority that he is a young man to keep an eye on, one who is going to make a difference in the world for kids!”
Then, every time I saw him, I had everyone clap for him! I even started chants, “Give me a J! Give me an O!” etc. It was fun to see his reaction. He was one of the stars of Kid U, and even got some special attention during the Kidz Blitz event when he accidently let a donut fall on the floor. This is how he was punished:
We were excited to have people from all over the United States at this event - more than ever before as we marketed nationwide for this 10th annual event. But we were especially excited to have a few international attendees as well who came for the entire event, Wednesday Celebration Banquet through Saturday!
Here I am with Scheila Avellar from Brazil!
and Michelle Strasser from Switzerland! She even brought me some Swiss Chocolate and the first few chapters of The Order of the Ancient which she is translating into German for me!
While I was disappointed that former CP Team member Frank Tan was unable to come to Kid U, I was excited to meet his team that he sent all the way from Oregon in his place! Hey, if you can’t come to Kid U, the next best thing is to send your team! In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever known a CP to send the team even when they couldn’t come themself. What a gift!
Another person that added a wonderful spirit to Kid U was Alan Root. Alan is a guy I’ve seen around children’s ministry conferences for years but never had the chance to get to know. Boy, have I been missing out! Here is a guy who loves the Lord, loves kids, and his positive and fun outlook on life just rubs off on everyone who comes near. We will definitely be having him back at future Kidology events! I think I finally met someone as good at puns as my dad… almost.
I can’t even share all the snap shots that I’m enjoying going through now that Kid U is over. And while I’ll be blogging more pictures and more details from this historic Kid U event, I had to START by telling you about some of the PEOPLE who attended. No matter how great the trainers are, no matter how exciting the performers are, no matter how helpful the exhibitors are, it is the PEOPLE WHO ATTEND Kid U that make it such a wonderful event. If you have never been to a Kid U, you truly are missing out!
WEDNESDAY EVENING, October 1st, 2008 is the Kidology Celebration Banquet as the Kick Off Event to Kid U Celebration Conference. YES! We are celebrating 10 YEARS of KID U! Actually, we’ve done FIFTEEN of these large conferences (in different states same year) and I’ve literally lost track of how many of the smaller Kidology To Go events we’ve done, including their predecessor, “Science of Kidology.” We are takin the opportunity of this 10th anniversary event to celebration, look back, and vision cast for the future of Kidology!
We have many family, friends and fans who were not able to make it to Chicago for the banquet so I’m excited to announce that we are planning to broadcast the event LIVE via Ustream.com.
GO TO: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-with-the-kidologist or just visit the home page of Kidology.org. You not only will be able to watch the event, but chat with others who are watching as well. I recommend you register on the site for a free account so your chat name will be your username. I did a test braodcast last night and got to chat with four members from virginia, florida and oregon all at once and they got to see my Star Wars museum in my basement. What a perk for being the first! I will send out a reminder via Twitter if you follow me there or on facebook.
I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE - well, you’ll be able to see me, I’ll be able to say hi at the camera and occasionally in the chat room! Now you can attend the banquet no matter where you are! (Isn’t technology fun?)
Attention: If you live in California and speak Spanish, then this post is for you! I’ll be going West November 1st to speak at NINOMANIA, a Spanish Conference at the Crystal Cathedral at the invitation of Noel Ascencio, one of our Kidology Spanish trainers. (See Spanish Tract at Kid U in October)
Espero a hasta la vista allÃ. Tendremos buen tiempo y aprenderemos mucho. Soy muy feliz ser un participante en este acontecimiento. ¡Hasta la vista allÃ! (I sure hope I said that right!)
YES! When I first announced Yosemite Summit last year I got many e-mails asking me to plan a similar event for women, even a few polite scoldings for making my event “men only.” Obviously, I can’t host a women’s retreat! So I went to one of the most remarkable children’s ministry leaders in the country, Kim Bobb, (who happens not to be a man) and challenged her to create a similar event for women. Unbridled was born!
Unbridled! October 20-22, 2008
Circleville, Ohio
No, it’s not at Yosemite, but it is one fully staffed ranch and horses are included! Unbridled is less than TWO MONTHS AWAY and enrollment is limited! Your host is Kim Bobb, Pastor to Children & Their Family at New Albany First Church of the Nazarene. Her children’s ministry is called Recess Ministries and can be visited at www.recesslive.com Kim is a favorite and regular children’s ministry trainer at Kidology Conferences. Her enthusiasm for life and ministry is contagious. You will have a fantastic time getting away from ministry and getting close to God and some other women who share your passion for ministry and are on the same journey as you. GET ALL THE DETAILS. (Or click on the Women tab on YosemiteSummit.org)
The Kidology Univeristy is coming THIS FALL! (And it will be bigger and better than ever!) In this ToyBox Tales inspired video, meet some of the speakers as Karl does some “man on the street” interviews with just a few of the presenters coming to Chicago this fall!
There are a ton of great conferences for children’s ministry but we truly believe you will be missing out if you skip this one! We have put together a Mega-Conference line up for a non-mega price! For our 10th Anniversary Celebration we have pulled out all the stops, and may never do a conference this size again.
Kid U 2008 is the year not to miss!
Great trainers like Jim Wideman, Greg Baird and more!
Extended leadership workshops where the presenter gets time to provide personalized coaching and interaction.
Over thirty volunteer workshops on Saturday, bring your team!
God Rocks in Concert!
Participate in a Children’s Pastor Kidz Blitz Live!
Don’t miss the video at the end, and click any picture for a larger view.
It’s hard to believe the Yosemite Summit 2008 is over. It’s been several weeks, but it still feels like a part of me is still there in the Sierra Nevada. It’s been fun sorting through the 5000+ pictures we took and reliving the fun memories. Not only the incredible PLACE we were, but the awesome friendships that were formed and will continue to grow in the years ahead.
It was an amazing time together and God did some incredible work in our lives. For me, my soul comes alive in this place and I finally feel truly free. We started our first day watching the sun rise at Glacier Point. The views are simply spectacular!
It was a time to leave the busyness and noise of normal life behind and just listen to God. There were times we could just sit and soak our souls in the presence of God as well as walking with Him on the incredible hikes.
There is just something powerful about reading God’s Word and praying when you are in a place where His handiwork is so much on display. The rocks indeed did cry out - God is real, and God is here.
The hikes themselves were indescribable. The first day we did a solitude hike (each separated by about five minutes so we could hike alone with God) and then on the second day we did the Panoama Trail which took us on an incredible hike around the rim of the valley, through many types of landscape and ended with the Mist Trail which goes to the top and then down the side of two thundering waterfalls. In the picture below we are near the starting point and in the background you can see the waterfall we would be at some seven hours later!
By the third day we did some easier hikes that had incredible views of the valley, some with a few straight down of seveal thousand feet! Below is one of the few railings due to the incredible drop straight down over 3500 feet!
The hikes were challenging - but the views breathtaking and like nowhere else on this continent. Not only can you not believe what you are seeing is real, but when you are hiking, you can’t believe “I’ll be there in a few hours” or “I was there yesterday?” We hiked through areas that at times looked like Narnia in winter - under the shadow of huge trees walking on several feet of snow while at other times we were out on barren rock checking out lizards. The scenery and climate changed constantly. We’d be hot and enjoying cold water to cool off, and later getting drenched from the mist of a raging waterfall. Like I often say, “This is the place God just showed off.”
I have been to MANY National Parks and NONE have the views and variety and splendor of Yosemite. I’ve often said the Grand Canyon is a yawner if you’ve been to Yosemite. We ran into some guys who were at the Grand Canyon just two days before (doing a cross country hiking trip) and they said Yosemite outdid anything they had seen at the Grand Canyon. They were in awe and said Yosemite far exceeded even their high expectations!
Yosemite is a photographers heaven. My wife was a little worried that I’d fall off a cliff in pursuit of a great picture and end up in real heaven. So I told her any time I saw an awesome, but dangerous, photo opportunity, my motto would be WWSS. (What Would Sara Say?) That motto cost me many potentially incredible shots… but also brought me home alive.
I have been dreaming of doing some of the serious hikes at Yosemite since I was a boy. Coming on this trip, and bringing a group of fellow children’s pastors with me was a dream come true. At one point I asked Yosemite had lived up to my grand descriptions of Yosemite before we arrived - and they all said no. One guy said, “You didn’t do Yosemite justice. You can’t begin to describe this place.”
There were people there from all over the world. (I was surprised there weren’t more Americans - or are we too used to having entertainment pumped into our homes?) I don’t know how anyone comes to this place and doesn’t leave with an awed sense of having been in the presence of the Creator. Everything here points to one thing: GOD.
I still have a lot of photo and video editing to do to create the “official” highlight video, but I decided to give you a small taste of what Yosemite Summit was like. It was truly a time of experiencing God in a place where his creative power is on full display and where his Voice is more easily heard. Men, as you watch this video, whisper a quiet prayer asking God if He is calling you to join us next year for Yosemite Summit 2009.
I just booked the lodge for 2009 and updated YosemiteSummit.org with next years dates!
Harvest is one of the largest distributors of Sunday school and VBS curriculum in the country. Quantity discounts, free shipping and quick service are just some of the benefits of their curriculum service.
