I’m at the Children’s Pastor’s Conference in San Diego, California. The same location as my very first CPC in 1995. (I’ve not missed a single CPC at any location since, and I’ve lost track of how many that is, but it’s over 35 since there are at least 2 a year and some years there were 3!)

I will not only be LIVE TWEETING at www.twitter.com/kidologist so follow @Kidologist if you are on Twitter, or just use that link if you aren’t.

but recently I’ve been using TOUT.com/kidologist to post short 15 second video updates of life…

BUT, for those of you who couldn’t come to CPC this year, I will Live Broadcast my Workshops (and some other random broadcasts just for fun) on my U-Stream Channel at: www.Kidologist.com/Webcam

HERE ARE MY WORKSHOP TIMES: (Pacific Time)

Tuesday, February 28th

2:15 p.m. 10 Steps to a Ministry Reboot

Description: Whether you are new to a ministry, or need to “make it like new,” let the Kidologist walk you through a process of “rebooting” your ministry to give it new life and energy. From “top to bottom and side to side” he will give you the tools you need to revamp and reorganize for success!

Wednesday, February 29th

9:45 a.m. Taking Ministry Into Your Family’s Neighborhoods

Description: Looking for a creative way to reached UNchurched kids? Wanting an alternative to VBS that really works? Find out how Backyard Bible Blasts (or Splashes!) can help you reach 90% unchurched kids instead of 5-10% during your summer from someone who has done it.

The best way to know when I am LIVE BROADCASTING via U-Stream is to follow @Kidologist on Twitter and temporarily turn on mobile alerts during CPC (watching the hashtage #cpc12 as well!) as I will tweet right before I go live!

If you missed CPC Orlando, you can still join me in San Diego!

Wondering what’s so great about CPC?

See my post: WHY CPC?

Barbara Baker and Karl Bastian

The highlight of my CPC this year was getting to see Barbara Baker again. I always keep an eye out for her. She is one of my favorite CPC “Regulars”. During the conference, INCM asked some of the speakers and bloggers to make some time to be interviewed for the INCM website throughout the year.  However, I told INCM’s Executive Director Michael Chanley they should interview Barb!

I demonstrated remote accessing my Macs back home as well as all my backup drives from my iPhone and iPad among other cloud perks and tried to answer questions on a wide variety of technology issues. I went over why Cloud Technology is so important – why it enables you to have access to all your data from anywhere from any device and never lose your data again, as well as the difference between POP and IMAP e-mail so your e-mail is all synced across all your devices. Plus we did webcasting with live chatting right from my iPhone – and showed how to do that for free and embed it on your website with live chat, also for free. (See it on my blog and Kidologytogo.org as well.)

I’ve had a ton of requests for the workshop, so here’s what I’m gonna do.

1) Here is the PDF handout: DOWNLOAD HERE (668kb)

2) Here’s an MP3 of the workshop: DOWNLOAD HERE (65.7mb)

3) Here’s a video of the workshop that was running for a little while when I was live webcasting. (Not the entire time) WATCH HERE then continued HERE

If you have questions, post them here in Comments, and I’ll answer the best I can!

Well, Pal, I’m off to CPC 2011 in the morning, and it’s at Walt Disney World, PAL! – and it’s my zillionth CPC, Pal! (I’ve lost track – I haven’t missed a single one since 1995.) If you will be there, Pal – it’s a special year because KIDOLOGY IS EXHIBITING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER FIVE YEARS! So look for us next to DiscipleLand, Pal.

Also, here are my workshops, all on Thursday:

8am – Technology - An Easier Way (Taught with Michael Chanley) We will be explaining some very interesting stuff on using Cloud Technology and how it can make you a better more efficient leader, Pal.

9:15 – Twitter My Facebook - All About Twitter and Facebook. What they are, if you should be on them, the difference between the two, and applications for ministry, Pal.

1:30 – Put the Pastor Back Into Your Job Description. Administration driving you nuts and pushing you away from the kids? (Which is why you got into this in the first place?) Come, I’ll show you how to rescue yourself. Many have thanked me in tears for this class, yeah, Pal.

THEN – THE KIDOLOGY GATHERING! Friday Night, Pal! After the Exhibit Hall Closes, from 9:30 to 11:30p.m. Location RIX LOUNGE, across from Pepper Grill.

Going to San Diego? Don’t miss my PRE-CON PAL! (and no, you don’t have to go to CPC to attend the pre-con.)

Oh, and we are giving away OVER $1000 in FREE KIDMIN RESOURCES TO ONE PERSON PAL!!! So, be SURE to drop by our booth for your chance to win!!!

O.K., I gotta go to sleep and dream of Minnie, er, Disney World! …… Pal.

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

Learn More On Kidology.org | Register on INCM.org (San Diego CPC Only!)

Here is an OVERVIEW of the day:

Kidology: His Message Through You to Their World

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.

So sign up today!

Todd Hampson and Sean Copley are two of the most creative guys I know. You may not recognize their names – but you see their work all over the Kidology and the Kidmin world. Todd was the artist for my novel Order of the Ancient and Sean designed this blog theme and all my matching stationery, business cards, brochures, etc.

Todd is also the guy behind the Kidology Handbook, Leadership Labs and the Kids Church Cookbook design work.

And of course, we carry a lot of their shorts and graphics and other products in our store. (4 pages worth!)

They are also the creative guys behind a LOT of the stuff you see walking through the exhibit hall at the Children’s Pastor’s Conference. (Though I’m not making the list, as I’m not sure I have permission to disclose all that they are behind?) But if it looks sharp, there is a good chance Todd and Sean are behind it! And I’d like to think I was one of the first to discover Todd. Though I’m sure others may make that claim too. He is fought over! And since adding Sean, they are the artistic dynamic duo!

So when I saw an opportunity to support them in fund raising for a new creative project I couldn’t whip out my credit card fast enough!

LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU TO STEP UP AND HELP THEM OUT!

They have been doing excellent work for others (even being featured on JellyTelly.com!) but now they are trying to create their own animated series but it is a very costly undertaking. If you have enjoyed their work, help them out now.

Even just $5 would go a long way if a bunch of people stepped up and helped them out. They need to raise $3700 through this KickStarter website to get funded.

Here is Todd and Sean explaining it:

Let’s rally around these guys and MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Don’t get me wrong – there are a LOT of other great conferences. I’m not knocking any of them! Go to them if you can. Each had a unique focus and purpose and I like the intimacy of small conferences. Some I still want to get to and have been unable to. But I don’t skip CPC to go to them. I go to them only if I can go in addition to CPC. But I’ll leave it at that, if you want all the reasons I attend CPC, read this post.

It was a great conference, and I’ll be posting more pictures in the weeks ahead, but tonight I just want to post the funnest moment. (Yes, I know that ‘funnest’ isn’t a word, but my parents gave up on convincing me of that years ago!)

While I was at the D6 booth, I saw they had this giant pillar of box as part of their display – and since I’m speaking at the D6 Conference this fall, I thought it would be cool to get a promo picture of myself inside the pillar of boxes… but HOW to get inside the pillar of boxes?

JUMP! (of course!) Watch this video to see if I make it in a single bound or crash in a pile of limbs and boxes! (This was originally intended as a twitter stunt, as you’ll hear me say on the video)

They gave me a A- for touching the boxes so I did it again later without touching the boxes, but someone else filmed, (INCM staff) when I get that footage, I’ll post it to prove it! (I was given an A+ that time!) LOL

Here I am trying to be more serious. Come to D6 people! D6 is focused on helping the church connect with the home to bring back the Deuteronomy 6 model in this fast paced modern era where we have allowed the church to do the parents job of raising spiritually mature children. It’s for church leaders of any age group, pastors, teachers, parents and anyone who wants to engage in the challenge. I hope to see you there!

The Kidology Gathering was a great time of fellowship! Thank you to everyone who dropped by! It is always nice to put faces with e-mails, see old friends and meeting new folks. It was also nice of the restaurant to unlock the doors for us, since starting this year they closed early!

Probably the greatest moment was when Barney Kinard got to meet the mother of a child he led to Christ over 16 years ago and she gave him a big hug and a thank you in the center of the circle! What a reminder that we never know when we will get to see or hear about the fruit of our efforts!

BACK TO ORIGINAL POST!

HOW TO FOLLOW TWITTER: You do not need to sign up for Twitter to follow my updates! If you do, you can choose to turn on Mobile Updates* just for this week to get my tweets as texts just during CPC, but if you don’t want to do that, then just make http://www.twitter.com/kidologist your home page Sunday through Wednesday! (*Only do this if you have an unlimited text plan!)

IF YOU ARE AT CPC, BE SURE TO JOIN US MONDAY EVENING AFTER THE EXHIBIT HALL CLOSES FOR SOME FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP. ITS ALWAYS A GOOD TIME.

This is always a highlight of CPC for me. I get to meet some of you, hear about your ministry, and put some faces with e-mail addresses or forum IDs! There is no agenda other than some warm fellowship. It starts around 9:30 p.m. and just ends whenever it winds down. Come when you can, leave when you must. But I’ll probably be there until midnight, so if you are around anytime through then, drop on by!

I hope to meet several of you there!

MY WORKSHOPS:

Here are the workshops I’m doing as well as when and where. I also make my handouts available to Basic (free) members of Kidology.org for two weeks after CPC.

Twitter My Facebook Royal Pam Salon – Monday 8am

Making Your Disciple Problems Disappear - Sheffield – Tuesday 8am

One of the neatest things about CPC is the friends you make over the years as we minister together!

So here it goes:

Me and Jack Daniels. OK, we are exactly buds, but he was the only guy around the night I arrived, so we hung out the first night while I worked on my lap top to get some last minute work done for my workshops. I promise I only had root beer!

Byron Ragains from David C. Cook was the first friendly face I ran into. I’ve known this CM Dude since I was a green thumb back at Moody Memorial Church in Chicago back in the early 90’s. Byron is enthusiasm on steroids and a constant encourager of everyone he meets. But of course he is – he roots for the Cubs, he is well trained in rooting even for losers! How much easier to cheer on CM folks!! All kidding aside, I always tell people Byron is one of those people you meet him once and you feel like you’ve been his friend forever.

Greg Baird has been the chidren’s pastor for some household name senior pastors – but that isn’t what makes him so appreciated – it is his humble desire to help everyone who crosses his path. I’ve been lucky enough to have him as a trainer for Kidology and even luckier to have sat under his training when I was starting out. He has most recently joined the staff at Kidz at Heart.

Steve Foster of Seeker Communications is more than just a familiar face at CPC events. He has been a friend long before I was ever a customer, which I eventually did become. Waaaaaaay back in the mid 90’s I shared a rental car bus with Steve and struck up a conversation with Steve and we’ve been friends ever since. Years later when we needed pagers, I was happy to find they did indeed have the best pagers for the best prices and was able to give him my churches business too! (As should you!)

It was great to finally meet Andy Johnson of Free CM Stuff.com in person! Here’s a guy who shares my heart for equipping and encouraging others in children’s ministry and spends hours a week finding ways to resource and help others to prove it!

Brian Dollar is the man behind High Voltage . I’ve not only only teased him about his name on my blog , on twitter, and on my podcast but at CPC every time I saw him, I offered him a dollar so I could say “I was giving Brian Dollar a dollar.” Well, he finally took my dollar and that brought an end to that!” He’s a great guy, though, and he produces some amazing CM resources all available on Kidology.org and the price won’t shock you!

Doncha just love that tie? This guy is a GENIUS! He creates some amazing resources that I hope we will be getting on Kidology.org. They are visual teaching tools where you write these words that transform into another word when you read them upside down or sideways or standing on your head or in a mirror. Check ‘em out on his website: CrazyTieGuy.com His son will be featured in an upcoming report: The Babies of CPC

Few know that Dale VonSeggen, founder of One Way Street,  played a major role in starting CPC back in the early 80’s – but is such a humble guy he’d never tell you that himself. He’s just one of those guys who makes things happen for the Kingdom in children’s ministry with no regard for the spotlight, which is why he is one of my heroes.

Pay no attention to that red character over my shoulder! But the guy next to him, is Todd Liebenow, the new president of One Way Street, who went from employee to owner a few years ago. Now he’s got his hands in the business, so to speak.

I met Chad Miller when I was speaking at the Cove for the Billy Graham School of Evangelism a few years ago. Chad was assigned to me as my “ambassador.” Basically, just to help me with whatever I needed, and boy did I need it, since I came with a foot injury having just fallen off a boat on Labor Day and was hobbling around with a Moses-like staff hardly able to walk!  If you ever meet Chad, you HAVE to ask to hear his Billy Graham impersonation – it is SPOT ON!

Roger Fields, of Kidz Blitz, holds a special place in my CPC memories – as he was my FIRST CPC workshop presenter I heard when I was a first time attender! He radically challenged my thinking and to this day many of my radical ideas in children’s ministry came from this cool dude! (Like not accepting any volunteers – “we’ll approach you”) We’ve had him at our Kidology conferences and love him because this guy is always rockin’the boat in children’s ministry – literally! I’ve since been on his Children’s Ministry Conference Cruise, and next July Kidology will be at his Children’s Ministry Expo! Will you?

Sorry the pic is so dark, but CPC is a great place for reunions. What a treat to run into Dave Ruckel, one of my Summiteers – a title I give to an elite group of guys who have been to Yosemite Summit with me. So far, only 15 guy have the honor of that title, and with only four spots left for 2010, you’d better sign up ASAP if you’d like to join this small group of guys who have experienced one of the most incredible life experiences in children’s ministry. Check it out at www.yosemitesummit.org

And who doesn’t know Mike? The man who has “Elevated” children’s church for countless churches? And rumor has it, he has the coolest office in children’s ministry – though I’ve not seen a picture myself, I just heard that via Twitter. I’d like to have one e-mailed to me! Mike is from Fellowship Church and has raised the bar for children’s church curriculum across the board. Gone is cheesy children’s church curriculum. I credit Mike with challenging every curriculum creator everywhere (including me!) to step it up a notch!

Nate is one of my CPC buds I met on the Disney World shuttle a few years ago. He confessed to being a Kidology Forum “lurker” so I called him out and finally got him to post. Now he’s well over 100 posts and a good friend!

I’ve known Ryan Frank longer than most of you reading this. In fact, he was helping me on Kidology long before Kidz Matter or K! Magazine, so I feel a bit of pride seeing all the awesome stuff he is up to today. Ryan was my right hand man at Kidology at one time before God called him to launch his own ministry, and you can still see his name on posts all over my site. He’s an awesome networker and collaborator in children’s ministry – I have no idea how he does it all, but I’m impressed!

Here I am with a couple of giants of children’s ministry! It was fun to meet the different folks who would drop by to say hello and hear the different ways that they have appreciated either Kidology.org or DiscipleTown. I deal with e-mails and forum IDs all year long, and it is so nice at CPC to finally get to put some faces to those electronic identities!

I was so glad to learn that Hester Drew from UW Sports Ministry lives in Colorado, which means that I no longer will have to wait until CPCs to hang out with this cool dude! If you are looking for a sports ministry that comes to your church and does all the work for you (well, most of it anyway) you NEED to check them out! I used them in my last ministry and they were fantastic!

This is the only dude I don’t know personally, but hey, you gotta pose with Bible Man!

If you haven’t seen my Ronnie Video on YouTube, what are you waiting for? Ronnie’s been a staple of children’s ministry for years, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still cutting edge! I love his music and his heart for reaching kids. During some tough times in life, he has been a good friend I’ve been able to call on. And that’s worth a million bucks.

I always wonder what new friends I’ll make at CPC and this year one of them was Andrew from Concordia VBS. (ConcordiaVBS on Twitter)

Another Tweeter I got to get to know in person both at CPC and later at the airport was Dean Butterfield. I tweeted several “guess who” tweets, and he won by guessing the most correctly!

Greg Sanford is not only a regular CPCer and Kidology groupie, but I learned at our gathering, has a rather unique claim to Kidology fame… he is the mysterious “Hose Head” in this Kidology Post. Though, he doesn’t even know who submitted the picture, since he didn’t submit the game!

Before the Kidology Gathering, I met this boy (and his mom). He told me that when he grows up he wants to be either a pastor or a zoo keeper. I informed him that if he becomes a children’s pastor, then he automatically is both! Since his last name is “Best” I also let him know, that he will be the Best children’s pastor!

Last, but not least, my favorite Cool Dude of CPC, had to be Caden Laflin! It has hard not to just bring him home with me! Luke could use a little brother after all.

NEXT: Groovy Girls of CPC!

I have arrived in Nashville, TN and will be volunteering in the DiscipleLand booth to represent DiscipleTown. I will be posting LIVE updates via twitter.

KIDOLOGY GATHERING INFO:

WEDNESDAY EVENING (9:30 p.m. – midnight) We’ll be meeting during and after the “Let’s Make A Deal” event and concert.  Our meeting place will be meeting in the seating area across from Christie Cookies where the Garden Conservatory meets Magnolia. It’s #9 on your map. There is a small place to buy snacks/drinks. If you were coming from the front registration, it’s at the end of the long walkway through the Garden Conservatory that ramps down into the shopping area on your way to the Resource Area. Easy to find! We’ve gone past midnight in the past – so come when you can, leave when you must. The fellowship is always nice. I’ll be givin’ away some free Kidology Handbooks for some Kidology trivia winners!

KARL’S WORSHOPS:

I will be teaching two workshops and I would love to meet you at the workshops. If you are not at CPC, I plan to record them and post an MP3 and PDF of my notes as long as the recording turns out OK.

Jan. 5th, 8am Twitter My Facebook (Room: Jackson AB)

Jan. 6th, 8am Making Your Disciple Problems Disappear (Jackson EF)

Stay tuned to my updates via Twitter:
http://twitter.com/kidologist

It seems like just yesterday I was blogging about how I hoped 2009 would be better. And here it is 2010! Aren’t we supposed to riding around on hover boards and beaming from place to place by now? I read that post, and instead of writing a post about my New Year’s Resolutions, I think I can just say “ditto” to that post!

But I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that an entire year has passed by when I reflect on all that I accomplished in 2009 – it’s actually quite an astonishing list – no wonder I am so exhausted!

• Survived a heart attack!
• Survived being struck by lightening!!
• Hosted the 2nd Yosemite Summit
• Started a retreat for women: Unbridled
• Relaunched a completely NEW Kidology.org
• Oh, and an entirely new ToyBoxTales.com as well
• Not to mention, a brand new curriculum: DiscipleTown
• AND two completely free three year curriculums!
• Attended CPC Nashville & San Diego
• Published an article in Children’s Ministry Magazine (PDF)
• Then got a column in CM Magazine and CM Pro
• Launched the Kids Church Cookbook!
• Squeaked out a few more podcasts
• All while moving from Illinois to Colorado!

And I wonder why I’m feeling exhausted?! No wonder I wasn’t ready for 2010 to arrive! I usually spend the last week of the year doing evaluation of the year just past and planning for the year to come, but I had some projects culminating and family visiting and am writing at CPC in Nashville (which I really don’t like being right after the new year) so I missed out on my week of margin for reflection and I can really feel it. Just reviewing my blog and making that list above has been very encouraging and eye-opening. For now – I need to survive this week at CPC – finish a few deadlines that still loom over me, and then do the planning and reflecting I wanted to do last week.

I’m excited that 2009 is behind me, and have NO desire to see 2010 “top” last year. In fact, you know what I am MOST excited about in 2010? Starting a guys hiking group here in Colorado for children’s pastors! Yup, I’m calling it “The Fellowship of the King.” (I know it’s corny, but I do like to hike to LOTR music.) I’ve been collecting a list of guys in Colorado, friends and soon-to-be friends via facebook ad twitter, and I’m going to be inviting them to join me hiking around this beautiful state to spend time away from ministry and with God. One thing I learned from Yosemite Summit was that once a year just isn’t often enough to disconnect from normal life and connect with God out in nature with others who share your passions in life. Most of them already know about this and are just waiting for info on the first hike – if you live in Colorado and are a guy – let me know, and I will add you to the list! (No, you do not have to be a children’s pastor or even in ministry to be included. But you may have to endure some worship music, prayer and spiritual conversation if you are not a Christian.)

So here’s to doing less – and being more in 2010!

If you were a denominational Christian Education Director who oversaw the children’s ministry for all the  churches in a given state or region:
1. What 10 recent books would you read or tell other directors about?
2. What 10 web-sites would you share with other directors?
3. What 10 experiences, conferences or resources would you tell other directors about?

My response, “Sounds like a great blog post!” So here it is:

The Kidologist’s Top Ten Books for CM

1. Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions by George Barna
   This is a must read for senior pastors as well as children’s pastors. Barna finally supports with research what children’s ministry leaders have known for decades.
2. Rock Solid Kids by Larry Fowler
   The best biblical case made for church to prioritize ministry to children and to engage parents in the process rather than trying to do it for them.
3. Raising a Modern Day Joseph by Larry Fowler
   Just released, this follow up to Rock Solid lays out a very doable strategy for the entire church to intentionally focus on raising up kids who stand strong against the culture.
4. Parenting is Heart Work by Scott Turansky & JoAnne Miller
   The parenting book that finally address the heart, not behavior. For too long have books and seminars focused on helping kids behave, rather than shaping hearts. Applicable to the church as much as the home.
5. Building Faith at Home by Mark Holmen
   One of three books by Holman that lay out a strategy for engaging parents to take the lead in raising up children in the Christian faith.
6. Lead the Way God Made You by Larry Shallenberger
   Instead of modeling your life after a leader you admire, Larry will show you how to lead the way you were meant to lead. Larry profiles me in one chapter exposing my weaknesses to the world!
7. The Fabulous Reinvention of Sunday School by Aaron Reynolds
   While “reinvention” may be an overstatement, it IS a fresh presentation of creative teaching that will make a difference in kids lives. Challenges thinking and is loaded with tips and examples.
   
8. Grow, Minister and Lead by Bill Allison
   Everything from Cadre Ministries is concise, on target, and loaded with practical advice and encouragement that builds the leader as much as his leadership.
9. The Kidology Handbook by Karl Bastian
   Called by many their manual for ministry, this PDF book is a blueprint for relational ministry, creative teaching and can serve as a teacher training resource as well.
10. Running on Empty by Fil Anderson
    While not directly a children’s ministry book, it is one I wish I’d read years sooner and that many other overachieving children’s pastors may find pivotal in how they approach life as well as ministry.

The Kidologist’s Top Ten Websites for CM

1. Kidology.org
   Since 1994 the leading children’s ministry website with more features than can be listed in a single sentence. If you could only have one site, this would be it. However, since you can have more:
   
2. CMconnect.org
   The newest CM site, like Facebook for Children’s Ministery leaders.
3. Children’s Ministry University Online
   Earn a children’s ministry degree online. Excellent courses!
4. TodaysChildrensMinistry.com
   Primarily articles but offers some affordable training tools as well.
   
5. BiblicalParenting.org
   The best place for resources for equipping and supporting parents in the church. Fantastic e-mail newsletter with parenting tips you can pass on in your own communication.
   
6. ChildrensMinistry.com – Children’s Ministry Magazine
   The standard bearer of children’s ministry with a battalion of resources from its standard magazine, professional edition, books, resources, curriculum and conferences.
7. KidzMatter.com & K! Magazine
   Creative media teaching resources and the new K! Magazine provides a fresh perspective from many new voices.
8. HarvestBooks.org for books, curriculum & more
   The trusted source for discounted children’s curriculum from all major publishers plus nearly any book you may be looking for. Known for the personal attention they give their customers.
9. JellyTelly.com & JellyBits.com
   The latest online video channel from Phil Vischer (Creator of VeggieTales) and a place where you can purchase videos to use in your own ministry.
10. ToyBoxTales.com Toys Teaching Biblical Truths
    Karl never imagined this teaching tool he created for the kids of his own church would gain a cult following and end up having videos being shown in hundreds of churches across America.

HONORABLE MENTION: There has been an explosion in recent years in children’s ministry related blogs, there is simply no way to list them all, or choose just one, to put in a “Top Ten” list. (Visit mine!) Rather than merely being a place for helpful content, the Internet is now interactive as children’s ministry leaders connect and share information peer to peer. Facebook is rapidly growing as is Twitter.com were you can network in real time with others who share your passion for children’s ministry. (I’m on both!)

The Kidologist’s Top Ten Experiences for CM

1. Sunday Worship (See your church website for details)
   There is no substitute for regular weekly worship with your local Body of Christ. You are a Christian before you are a leader. “Do not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing…” (O.K., getting off the soap box!)
2. Children’s Pastors Conference
   The #1 children’s ministry conference. Often imitated, never duplicated. CPC is the first major conference any children’s ministr leader should attend. No other conference offers an Exhibit Hall packed with resources like CPC.
3. Conspire Conference (Willow Creek)
   Amazing corporate worship, “big name” speakers, and a wide variety of breakouts. Plus, it’s in Chicago!
4. Orange Conference
   The conference with the most “buzz” due to speaker line-up and a unified message and challenge to creatively adapt ministry to a new era. Strong focus on partnering with parents.
5. D6 Conference (NEW!)
   A brand new conference from D6family.com championing a comprehensive approach to children and family ministry inspired by Deuteronomy chapter six.
6. How 2 Conference (NEW)
   Group’s regional conferencing promising to help children’s ministry leaders get organized and then be prepared to train their own leaders back at their home church.
7. One Way Street Conferences
   Puppet Festivals and creative art conferences around the country and as entertaining as they are practical.
8. Kidology Coaching
   If you can’t travel to a conference, a seasoned personal coach can guide you through helpful materials customized to your ministry at your own pace while responding your current needs and struggles.
9. Kidology.org Online Training
   Leadership Development right on your computer that also equips you to turn around and train your own leaders and volunteers. Conferences are great, but when they aren’t possible, focused training is still possible.
10. Yosemite Summit
    The UNconference for children’s ministry leaders. No workshops – Just worship; No resources – just relationships; No networking – just God working. Spend four exhilarating days hiking in the spectacular Yosemite Valley with other children’s pastors. It may be that the best thing for your ministry, is to disconnect from ministry, and reconnect with God.

However, my list need not be final! PLEASE use the comments to let me know of any books, websites or events/resources not listed above that you would include in YOUR “Top Ten” list!

Also, I did SIXTEEN POSTS featuring some of the best resources at CPC, in case you missed any, here they are again:

TimbukDUDES

The F.U.N. Group

Teaching Kids the Truth

The Harvest in Plentiful

The Art of Being Creative

Have a Bible Blast!

MY FAVORITE DISCOVERY:I’m a D6 Dad

Let’s Go to Children’s Church

Footsteps – Tools for Learning

Bible Story Murals!

A Bed in Need is a Bed Indeed

BIG God, BIG Worshippers!

WIN FREE GO FISH STUFF!

POOF! A New Laflin!

Super Church!

YES! We can do that!

It’s not too late to join me in San Diego at the second CPC of 2009:

Discount Deadline for CPC San Diego – January 21, 2009
Register for the San Diego Children’s Pastors’ Conference (CPC) 2009 and save $30!!! Register Today!

San Diego Hotel Discount Deadline – January 19, 2009
Make your reservations by January 19, 2009 to get the discounted rate. Lodging Info

“Can you do custom embroidery like I’m wearing?”

“Yes, we can.”

“Can you do hats?”

“Yes.”

“Can we give you items we’ve bought on our own to have embroidered instead of out of the catalog?”

“Sure.”

“Can you customize the text on the predesigns you offer?”

“Absolutely.”

“Can you file my income tax for me?”

“Um, I don’t think so.”

O.K., so they can’t do EVERYTHING, but it seems Hands On Originals can offer quite a bit to your ministry in the way of customized apparrel.

Get your hands on ‘em at:
www.handsonoriginals.com

* If you don’t have a Chase Bank in your area, “Yes, we can do that” is their slogan.

Mark Harper is one of my brothers in Christ (and CPC room mate last year!) who has developed some really wonderful curriculum for churches who share his Pentacostal background. He has developed a wide range of creative resources and curriculum for children’s church called Super Church.

This year he has just released some video shorts that will appeal to an even wider range of churches as they focus on the topics we all are trying to creatively teach our kids.

I’m looking forward to watching the samples he gave me. You can learn more about Mark and his resources at: www.superchurch.com

But they DO have something new at CPC! A brand new magic training DVD called “ILLUSIONS You Can Make.” Soon to be available on Kidology with their other DVDs, but you can always visit www.davidandteesha.com for info on their resources, services and to subscribe their AWESOME newsletter which often has a complete illusion and lesson you can do yourself!

Besides providing wonderful performing resources, David and Teesha are available to bring a fantastic program to your church or event. We have featured them many times at Kidology University.

Congrats on Mini-Laflin coming soon!

How do you win?? Simple comment on any CPC post (preferably something of substance about that articular post!) and every comment will be another entry! You may have as many entries as I make posts about CPC Nashville 2009.

Go Fish! is an AWESOME band that offers music that kids will love and that won’t drive parents crazy! My son LOVES them! Plus, I made a video of the song Little Buckaroo that I use almost every night to put him to sleep as we cuddle at bedtime. (watching it on my iPhone)

If you have not heard Go Fish! you are missing out!

If you like their music, you’ll LOVE their VBS that is based on their music and it focused on the Gospel message.

Check ‘em out at GoFishGuys.com or just comment to win! I’ll even pay the shipping!

“Growing Kids into BIG Worshipers” is the goal of Worship for Kids.

Fun, upbeat music your kids are gonna love jumpin’ and singin’ to. Each of their three volumes come with cool kid-friendly music with an audio CD and DVD for presentation AND a dvd with the hand motions. The first two volumes also have lesson to go with each song. They are great! I have used them many times for filler weeks, summer break or special events.

Check ‘em out at www.worshipforkids.com
Tell ‘em Karl sent you!

When you lie down you will not be afraid; when you lie down your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24

I stopped in my tracks when walked past this booth and saw the sad looking bed. (great booth technique btw) Learned it was an orphans bed from a far away land where a comfortable bed isn’t assumed for children.

Sweet Sleep hosts mission trips where volunteers remove old, ugly, unclean bed from orphanages and build new ones, even purchases the materials there to help the local economy. Often the orphans help. Then a local church continues the ministry to the children after Sweet Sleep’s role is completed.

If you are looking for a special missions project for children, perhaps for VBS, give Sweet Sleep a closer look at: www.sweetsleep.org

Mention CPC SPECIAL and save 10% for 30 days after conference!

Even though you couldn’t be here, Doug is extended the conference price to you!

Whether you need HUGE entire wall murals or simple smaller posters to brighten your children’s rooms, Bible Story Murals has a wide variety of biblically based murals you can choose from.

For more info call 800-925-3084 or go to: www.biblestorymurals.com

If you are like me (and I know I am), you don’t just want to teach the Bible to kids, you want them to learn to use it themselves.

Footsteps was designed to help kids learn to navigate the Bible with expertise. It is a 52 week curriculum designed to take 20 minutes a week to help kids learn how to pronounce, find and categorize of every book in the Bible.

It utilizes games and age appropriate quizzes and also includes a catchy books of the Bible song as well.

For more info, check them out at:
www.FootstepsTools.com

If you are looking for a simple and easy children’s church curriculum for ages 3-7, check out this first time CPC exhibitor.

Includes a two year curriculum of biblically based lessons supported by simple but creative crafts and music. There are even some cooking lessons.

Learn more at www.teachcc.com
Ask for Kathie and tell her Karl sent you.

• Drop by the DiscipleLand booth where I am volunteering this week whenever the Resource Center is open. Ask for your Kidology button!
• GATHERING #1 – TUESDAY EVENING, 7:00 pm Dinner on the Town, I’ll be eating at Rusty’s Sports Bar & Grill, which you’ve walked past on your way to the Resource Center. Get there as quickly as possible so we can get a big table.
• GATHERING #2 – TUESDAY EVENING, AFTER DINNER. If you have dinner plans, after dinner I will be going to the seating area across from Christie Cookies where the Garden Conservatory meets Magnolia. It’s #9 on your map. There is a small place to buy snacks/drinks. If you were coming from the front registration, it’s at the end of the long walkway through the Garden Conservatory that ramps down into the shopping area on your way to the Resource Area. Easy to find! I’ll be there at 9pm and will hang out as long as there are people to hang with! We’ve gone past midnight in the past – so come when you can, leave when you must. The fellowship is always nice. I’ll be givin’ away some free Kidology Handbooks for some Kidology trivia winners!
• GATHERING #3 – WEDNESDAY EVENING LATE NITE! I’ll be at the same place as #2 starting around 10pm. If you are going to the KidzBlitz Event, come by afterward, but I’ll be there from 10pm to midnight. Come hang out. I’d love to hear what God is doing in your ministry and what issues you are wrestling with. I’ll bring along some more freebies as well!

Looking forward to meeting some of you and getting a chance to hang out a bit at CPC!

Bible Blast is a quiz format program designed to engage parents (especially dads!) in reading the Bible with their children and preparing for an age appropriate quiz the next time they meet at Bible Blast. Children are affirmed via Bible Blast Bucks they can spend in a prize store.

The entire investment for parents is only $40 for a Picture (Comic) Bible and the manual with all the questions and reading plans for parents.

A church based program that has been growing so much via world of mouth that a pastor sponsored the couple who created it to come to CPC so others could learn about it.

Check it out at
www.bibleblast.com