Kidologist.com: Karl Bastian's Personal Site and Blog
Archive for Online Resources
December 4, 2012 at 3:01 am · Filed under Children's Ministry, Coaching, Kidmin, Kidology, Online Resources
It’s been a great weekend! Barney Kinard, aka, The Kidhelper. The designer of Kidology Coaching has been in town for several days for some fun and strategic planning. If you’re my friend on facebook, then you’ve seen some of the fun we’ve had from Buffalo Burgers to Casa Bonita – but we’ve also been working on some pretty exciting changes and enhancements to Kidology Coaching as over seven students have graduated in the past several months between both coaches and preparing for adding some new coaches. (If that interests you, let me know.)
If you have never considered a coaching relationship, you really should look into Kidology Coaching. It is incredibly unique.
There are a lot of programs out there that use the term “coaching” that actually provide good training in children’s ministry, but that aren’t truly coaching. They may provide good exposure to ideas and resources through videos, MP3′s, group calls and other training opportunities, but only Kidology Coaching provides a genuine coaching experience that is curriculum based, with a customized experience to your unique needs and with personal one on one calls, usually via video conferencing with Skype. With Kidology Coaching are getting a personal coach to walk with you and guide you towards personal growth both personally and professionally. There is nothing else like it being offered in the children’s ministry market today. And for the time invested in each student by our coaches, it is incredibly affordable. Our students can’t say enough about our coaches or the changes in they have seen in their lives and ministries as a result of our coaches pouring into them. Those who graduate are in a completely different place professionally and personally than when they began. They are transformed by the process.
If you are struggling in ministry, or feel stuck and are wanting to get to that next level – you need to look into Kidology Coaching. Coach Barney or Coach Todd will guide you step by step toward that place you want to be.
Visit Kidology.org/Coaching to learn more or visit The Coach’s Corner and post a question and one of the coaches will answer and tell you more.
October 25, 2012 at 2:19 pm · Filed under Awesome Products, Children's Ministry, Kidology, Online Resources
How are you handling Halloween? Kids are seeing a lot of scary images. Our culture is obsessed with evil. As you probably know, I wrote a Halloween Series this year. I just got this e-mail in from someone who just finished it:
We just finished up our final Spooky Lessons of the Bible last night. The kids LOVED it! Great lesson series Pastor Karl.
The kids really enjoyed the gross guessing game. We used peeled grapes for eyeballs, a loofah sponge and jello for a brain, REAL pigs feet from the meat section of the grocery and for the final night, we used pickles and pistachio nuts for gorilla fingers.
But most important, our kids better understand that they don’t have to fear death if they have a relationship with Jesus Christ. The most powerful story in the series was the final night – the lesson of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.
Again, thank you for this fun and powerful series. I look forward to seeing what else you have in store for us!
Lori Clark
Gainesville Church of God, Florida
Lori mentions the last lesson. Well, I have taken that last lesson, and made it available as a SINGLE LESSON DOWNLOAD you can teach THIS SUNDAY!
The theme of this lesson is based on 1 Corinthians 15:55, 57: “‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The focus is on the Resurrection of Jesus and its centrality to the Christian Faith. By teaching this lesson, you’ll be able to redeem the season in a way you’ve never seen before, all while allowing your children to enjoy the season in a wholesome and fun manner.
Includes
- 1 Complete Bible-Based Lesson Plan loaded with Scripture
- “Spooky” Bible story
- Glow-in-the-Dark Game Ideas
- Optional “Gross Guessing Game”
- Fun “Scream Theme” main lesson point
- Small Group discussion questions
- Practical application ideas
- A fun, short, (non-scary!) “Mr. Bones” video segment
- Editable letter/e-mail to send parents
- Customizable PowerPoint
Let me encourage you to use this opportunity to help kids overcome any fears or concerns they have about Death that come with this season.
IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD of Spooky Single Lesson
Here is another e-mail I just got:
The kids loved it! They looked forward to Mr. Bones each week! We did our stories in the dark, around a flashlight and it was amazing at how quiet the kids would get…..and then suddenly….they were screaming. It was the best of both worlds. I don’t know why kids are attracted to things like that, but they are and it was great to be able to offer it to them via a Christian perspective. Thanks, Karl, for a great series.
- Tammie Jones
IF YOU ARE TEACHING IT: Post Your Feedback! I’d love to read it!
RELATED: Why I wrote a Halloween Curriculum
April 20, 2012 at 12:44 pm · Filed under Children's Ministry, Kidmin Talk, Kidology, Kidology Update, Online Resources
What Makes Kidology.org Different?
No doubt, there are a LOT of places to interact and get help today on the Internet. Forums and Facebook groups and other places to ask for help and ideas and get resources abound. Twitter, Google+, Instagram, Four Square, Path, and so many other “places” allow us to ‘social network’ and get instant help, ideas and keep in touch.
So why contribute and discuss on Kidology.org?
In a world of “I need it now” – Kidology.org takes a long term approach to helping Equip and Encourage children’s workers. We know that the same questions are being asked over and over again. What you are struggling with is not new. Others have struggled before you, and others will after you. In fact, the help you recieve, on whatever website you use, you will soon be able to pass on to others.
This is what makes Kidology.org different. The help given and shared and submitted to Kidology.org has a longer life-span than anywhere else. A question asked and answered on a Facebook wall gives immediate help, but quickly passes down the ‘river’ of the wall, and is gone forever. That wisdom is washed away by time. The investment of time and expertise and sometimes links and uploads are washed away never to be seen again. The same help, asked and answered on Kidology.org becomes part of a massive database of help that will help others again and again.
That is why when people ask me a kidmin question via Facebook I say, “Ask me in the Kidology.org forum, and I’ll answer you there.” It isn’t to push my website – it is because I want to invest my time and energy in a way that will help more than just that one person. I know that when I answer on Kidology.org, that post will have a life that will extend after that one day, it will continue to be read by others, and continue to help others for years to come.
People are constantly thanking me for help I gave them in posts and articles that I wrote on the site – many written years ago. If I had posted that info solely in a Tweet or a Facebook wall or on a site where it disappears after a short time, think of the many who would never have benefited.
And this is not only true of the things I write. This is true for you too. Your questions and answers are equally valuable! My words are now only a fraction of Kidology.org as the site has grown since 1994. And I know that after the Lord calls me home someday, it will live on to continue to fulfill it’s Mission of Equipping and Encouraging Those Who Minister to Children.
So let me invite you. Be active all over the web – as I am – it’s important. But be sure you are taking time to invest in the growing content of Kidology.org, for you will be helping others in a multiplying fashion, perhaps even long after you are even in ministry, or walking this earth! As long as the Lord Jesus shall tarry.
I’ve always called it giving a tithe of your ministry time to share what you are doing. Whether you are asking the questions, or giving some answers, content, ideas, or curriculum – everything helps us continue to build the Internet’s largerest source of Kid’s Ministry help on Kidology.org
Want to help keep it growing?
March 21, 2012 at 12:00 pm · Filed under Awesome Products, Children's Ministry, Kidmin Talk, Leadership, Online Resources
On Kidmin Talk this week, my focus is Secrets to Keepin’ it S.I.M.P.L.E. in Ministry.
Every show focuses on a “Kidmin Keyword.” This week brings us to the letter “S.” There are a host of great “S” words – silliness! strategy! servant leadership! and of course, Star Wars! (LOL)
But when it comes to children’s ministry – we are pushed and pulled in so many directions, I think we constantly need to be reminded to “keep it simple.” This doesn’t mean to abandon excellence or quality, but it means to not do more than God is asking us to do, and to focus on the basics and do those well, before we add more.
Keeping it S.I.M.P.L.E.
Tips on how to staff your ministry; building a leadership team; recruiting volunteers; building a substitute strategy; and Karl’s “Secret Ace” streategy! (shhhh, don’t tell anyone!)
Evaluating your program plan. This is the framework of your ministry. Ask a lot of “Why’s” – don’t assume every ministry should accomplish every ministry goal. They shouldn’t and can’t! And don’t be calendar-drive, be ministry driven. A blank calendar is O.K., if ministry is taking place!
Evaluate your meetings! WHY do you meet? When? What is the purpose? Expected or needed outcome. Start and END on time! Cancel if not truly needed.
Look ahead. Karl gives his One Page Strategic Planning Secret. (Sorry, you gotta listen to get this valuable tip!)
This one is about YOU! What do YOU love about ministry? Why did YOU get into ministry? Don’t lose sight of this! Schedule it into your ministry week, or you will get dry and start to recent your ministry. Whether it is teaching, training, performing, coordinating a large even annually – make it a part of what you do!
You are a Shepherd of kids and leaders/volunteers. Don’t lose sight of that in the midst of administrating. Start calls and e-mails with a word of encouragement. End with a short prayer. Bring back visitation. Surprise people by calling with no agenda. Be a pastor, not just a recruiter and scheduler. Make encouragement a priority by resurrecting hand written notes.
Let me encourage you to LISTEN TO THE SHOW and check out all the helpful links in the Show Notes. Every week the show notes are LOADED with helpful links to resources and webpages mentioned on the show!
March 6, 2012 at 3:47 pm · Filed under Children's Ministry, Kidology, Leadership, Online Resources
At CPC last month, I did a workshop titled “10 Steps to a Ministry Reboot.” You can listen to it and get my notes for a limited time here: www.kidology.org/cpc12
In short, it was 10 basic areas of ministry / tips you need to address in order to both keep your sanity and have a well functioning ministry. Some of the tips are a little shocking to newer administrators. Like “Don’t Recruit” and “Stop Leading.” In other words, you should only recruit a leadership team, and they should do the rest of the recruiting (under your guidance), and don’t lead any ministries yourself. Equip leaders who lead under your leadership. It’s a workshop that often saves the sanity and ministry of those who hear it.
In response, I got the following e-mail today:
Hi Karl,
….Last week I had the opportunity to attend CPC in San Diego. I attended your breakout: ”Ten Steps to a CM Reboot…” I appreciated the things you shared. I am currently on a sabbatical that my church has blessed me with and this is exactly where I am at right now… I am at a point in my life where I need to re-invent myself as a leader and our ministry.
My question is, HOW does one make these changes. It seems impossible and impracticable to implement all of these at one time. So where does one start? How do you implement these in the midst of trying to keep everything afloat?
Thanks again for sharing your wisdom and insight.
Blessings… [name removed]
It’s a GREAT question! I wanted to share here on my blog a little of what I shared with the person who wrote to me:
You are correct. You can’t do them all at once! Reinventing yourself and ministry WHILE keeping it going is the trickiest part of ministry, isn’t it? The key is prioritizing what needs to change and working on one area at a time.
What a blessing to have this sabbatical to refocus and get an opportunity to step back a bit and get some perspective. There is no “quick answer” – but I can encourage you to consider a few things.
1) Take a look at the Kidology Online Training I’ve put together. It contains five leadership labs to help leaders do just that. There are five training videos and five download kits to help walk you through this very process.
There is also a pack of all five available. If you work through these, it will really help you! It’s almost like having me as a personal coach.
2) That leads to the next best thing, getting yourself a personal coach, which we also offer on Kidology, known as Kidology Coaching.
A coach can really help you step by step to take things to the next level in your ministry by helping you set goals, holding you accountable, and helping you troubleshoot and problem solve specific problems while also identifying areas you can improve both personally and in the ministry itself. Perhaps a church that will invest in a sabbatical would also invest in coaching?
But the simplest answer is to take those “10 steps” and put them in priority order and address them two or three at a time. When I started my last ministry, I made a list of 12 areas I saw that needed to be addressed, and it took me eight years before I felt like I had addressed all 12 (and none to perfection, mind you!). I didn’t get to the ugliness of the facilities until the 7th year, and most CPs seem to start there – decorating. I wanted recruiting and the strength of the educational ministry to be my foundation, therefore I addressed those first, but not before I first addressed forming a leadership team. I had a list of my priorities (that no one saw but me, or I’d scare them all away!), and I hit them one at a time (or maybe two) and worked my way down the list, sometimes going back to refix things that were breaking because I had turned my attention to other things.
3) If you are not a member of Kidology.org yet, do join, and use the forum to ask specific questions as well, and you will find people answering with great advice.
Bottom line: you are not alone, there is help, and you can do it! Being willing to seek help, digging for answers, trying new things, and knowing you need to do some reinventing are half the battle. It is those who are content that have a problem.
March 2, 2012 at 12:52 pm · Filed under Children's Ministry, Kidology, Kidology Update, Online Resources
How to Search on Kidology.org
I’m often asked by our members and visitors, “How do you find things on Kidology.org?” Like Emily just did at CPC this past week, “I know you have vast resources, but sometimes I struggle to find things because there is just so much.”
It’s a GREAT question!
Part of the issue is knowing what you are looking for, and the other part is knowing where to look on the site.
Because we have literally tens of thousands of zone posts, forum posts, and other types of content that have been growing daily for nearly twenty years, simply starting at the search engine at the top of the site is only scratching the surface.
That is why we divide the content up into category Zones and various topical Discussion Forums to attempt to guide you to where you can find the specific help you are looking for.
However, let me give you a few tips on using our search engine.
If you start at the top of the site and enter a phrase such as “love and faith” it will look like this:
The results will look something like this:
However, if you scroll down, you will see that you will get pages of random results nicely generated by Google:
Google does a great job of indexing the site and quickly creating a list of pages that have the words “love” and “faith;” however, it doesn’t categorize them at all.
You can page through those results and see if you see something that fits what you are looking for, but it is best to then turn to the ADVANCED SEARCH which you will see is at the TOP of the Search Results Page:
THIS is where you have MUCH more control over your search then just entering something at the top of the site.
NOTE: Entering something in the top “Search All of Kidology” is the same as entering something in the search box at the top of the site.
It is the fields which follow that give you more control: the “Zones & Store-Specific Search.” This will search ONLY the Content Zones and the Store for your key word AND divide the results into two separate areas, Zone Results and Store Results so you can see what is Content (free to Premium Members) and what is a Product (for sale).
IMPORTANT: Our search is an EXACT MATCH SEARCH. It is NOT an “and/or” search. In other words, if you search for “love and faith” it is going to search for posts that have the EXACT PHRASE “love and faith.” It is NOT going to search for posts that have “love” or “faith” or posts that have “love” and “faith” or posts that contain the words “love” and “faith” somewhere in the post. You will be searching for “love and faith.”
THEREFORE: It is best to search for single word phrases, one at the time. Search for “love” and then search for “faith” rather than at the same time in the Advanced Search.
Also, note the options you have in the drop down menus to narrow your search. In the Zone Search you can narrow it down to a specific Zone, or search All Zones. (Many posts appear in more than one Zone.) In the Forum Specific Search you can search all forums or narrow it down to a specific forum, or the title of the discussion, the body of the messages, or even a specific user. This is the same search located in the forum, by the way.
Searching on Kidology.org sometimes takes some work, but it is like research. When there is a LOT of content, it sometimes takes a little digging. Some folks pick a Zone topic and just page through reading the descriptions and then click on the ones that sound interesting and find treasure. But there is treasure to be found!
If there is something you are looking for, you can always ask in the Forums, and others will help you find it. I created a new thread for that purpose. Don’t be lazy and just ask – search first. But if you get stuck, don’t hesitate to ask for help. If we don’t have something, often that’s just the suggestion we need to create it!
We are here to serve you and help you find what you are looking for, whether it is on Kidology.org or somewhere else on the Internet. I’ve often said, “Kidology is like a train roundhouse. You come in, and we will point you in the right direction to get what you need!”
Because Jesus Loves Children,
Pastor Karl Bastian, the Kidologist
Founder of Kidology.org
February 21, 2012 at 11:33 pm · Filed under Awesome Products, Children's Ministry, Conferences, DiscipleLand, FREE Stuff, Online Resources, Teaching
Looking for FREE Online Training? Looking for help to be better equipped as a teacher in your Sunday School or other children’s ministry venues?
Did you know that DiscipleLand.com offers FREE Online Training Webinars?
Dick Crider and Karl - Kid U 2005
My good friend and a very wise and experienced children’s ministry guru, Dick Crider, who has decades of teaching experience both as a professional and as a father and grandfather, provides LIVE online training seminars via DiscipleLand that you can sign up for and attend FREE of charge.
HOWEVER – attendance is LIMITED so it is important to sign up in advance for the online workshops that interest you.
For a complete list of the ONLINE SEMINARS or other training opportunities available from “Professor Crider,” visit DiscipleLand’s Training Events Page for complete details.
February 6, 2012 at 11:42 pm · Filed under Awesome Products, Children's Ministry, Kidology, Kidology Update, Online Resources
We LOVE Our Members Month!
It’s the month of LOVE… and to show our appreciation and deep felt LOVE for our Premium Members who support our ministry, Kidology will be rolling out a super-duper special deal each and every week of February.
You’ll need to be a Premium Member on Kidology.org to benefit from these incredible deals, so if you are still hesitating on upgrading to Premium… now is the time to avail yourself of ALL the incredible resources on this vast website because we will be spreading the love around this month with some incredible deals for premium members only!
JOIN or UPGRADE HERE!
DISCOVER THE DEALS HERE!
Pastor Karl Bastian, the Kidologist
Founder of Kidology.org
October 27, 2011 at 11:55 am · Filed under Children's Ministry, Kidmin, Kidmin Talk, Online Resources
This week on Kidmin Talk, the Kidology Coaches joined me in California to record my podcast – the topic? How to EQUIP yourself and your volunteers in children’s ministry.
Continuing our ABC’s of Kidology, and taking up a Kidmin Key Word with each podcast, I’m on the letter “E” – and this week I had not one, but TWO “E” Kidmin words to Talk Kidmin about!
Todd McKeever, Karl Bastian and Barney Kinard
PART ONE of the podcast is already live discussing EQUIPPING, and PART TWO will go live next week when we switched gears to the second “E” of Kidology’s Mission: ENCOURAGEMENT!
Be sure to listen each week to Kidmin Talk, join the weekly discussion, and help shape the show with your questions, comments and suggestions – as I am responding to YOUR input in determining the direction the show takes!
CONNECTING w/ KIDMIN TALK:
Discuss Kidmin Talk #006 in the Forums
August 16, 2011 at 11:14 am · Filed under Awesome Products, Children's Ministry, Kidology Update, Online Resources
O.K. – fess up! You’ve been a Basic Member of Kidology.org for awhile… lurking in the forums reading and not posting… coming every to the site every day to see snag the latest free post… but never joining. $.16 a day is just too much to slap down in this economy, I know. Times are rough.
So for all you bean counters out there who have been waiting for a deal, HERE IT IS!
In the next 52 hours, if you JUMP and take advantage of the ONLY144.com sale, you will get a TOP SECRET CODE that will give you an EXTRA THREE MONTHS FREE to a Premium Membership to Kidology.org! It’s the deal you’ve been waiting for.
PLUS – you’ll get all the goodies below! Keep reading, it’s just our way of partnering with the good folks at Only 144.com as we try to lure you, er, I mean, equip and encourage you in your children’s ministry!
We know Kidology readers are always looking for a great deal. Here’s your chance to turn $97 into $1,074 worth of children’s ministry resources for your ministry.
Hop over to Only144.com… but there’s not much time left.
The good folks there help keep Kidology tools and resources affordable, and they’ve put together this epic bundle sale by partnering with over 15 resource providers we know you’ll recognize. Plus, if you aren’t a Kidology member, this deal includes 3 FREE months of Kidology Premium Membership (an additional $24 value!)
Take a look at some of this resources included in this bundle:
- Children’s Pastors Conference Coupon (14.4% off)
- River’s Edge iGo Green Kids Camp/VBS Curriculum Files ($99)
- River’s Edge Elementary and Preschool Curriculum ($95)
- Kidzmatter Coupon ($50)
- Children’s Administrative Forms Bundle ($19)
- Yancy Worship Videos ($60)
- High-Voltage Kids Resources ($40)
- Timbuktoons Animated Videos ($120)
- PreteenMinistry.net Curriculum ($88)
- Gameshow ScoreKeep from Digital Stache ($25)
- Orange Conference Registration Coupon ($100 off)
- Jim Wideman Leadership Resource ($20)
- Kidz Graphics ($50)
- Name It PowerPoint Games ($34.95)
- President Bush Volunteer Appreciation Videos ($34.95)
- Kidology 3-Months Premium Membership ($24)
- Volunteer Training Audio from Church-Volunteers.com ($198)
All these resources for just $97!
However, the clock is ticking on this special deal. There are only a few hours left. Don’t wait. Click on over to Only144.com and save your church some bucks as you prepare for the fall!
» Visit Only144.com NOW!
Next entries »
