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Karl’s Mission Statement: To Reach and Teach as many children as possible with the Good News of God’s Love, and in the process to Enlist, Equip and Encourage others to do the same.
SHORT BIO:
Karl Bastian has over fifteen years of experience as a full time Children’s Pastor in large, small, and mobile churches. He is also the founder of Kidology.org, one of the leading Internet destinations for those who minister to children. He has a Bible Theology degree from Moody Bible Institute and a Masters in Children’s Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Karl is an author of and contributor to several children’s ministry books and magazines, a trainer and encourager at conferences around the world, but his favorite place to be is in front of kids creatively teaching them the Bible and training them to serve God. In his workshops Karl brings the joy of Children’s Ministry to life and with it, creative and practical ideas and principles that will recharge your ministry. In 2010 Karl had the honor of being one of twenty chosen by Children’s Ministry Magazine as one of the Top Twenty Influencers in Children’s Ministry over the past twenty years, a real honor to receive at the age of fourth, reflecting his early entry into the realm of equipping and encouraging children’s workers internationally. In recent years he has established an “UNconference” for men in Yosemite National Park called Yosemite Summit to help children’s pastors refresh and renew from the busy pace and of ministry and reconnect with God – and since created a similar event for women called Unbridled. (Hosted by a woman, he does not attend it.) His lasted project is a website for fathers at BeTheDadToday.com which challenges dads to make every day count and uses Facebook and Twitter to connect with busy fathers and help them engage with their children in the midst of their busy lives.
FULL BIO:
Karl came to Christ as a child both through the Godly upbringing of his parents and the effects of a quality children’s ministry that supported the efforts at home. He began serving in children’s ministry literally as a child – receiving a distinct Call to a life of children’s ministry at the age of ten. By his teen years he was traveling to speak and perform in Chicago area churches and on mission trips. While a freshman in college, Karl went on a personal retreat where God gave him his Life Mission: To Reach and Teach as many children as possible with the Good News of God’s Love, and in the process to Enlist, Equip and Encourage others to do the same.
Since then, from backyards to banquet halls, Karl has been entertaining and ministering to children around the country and around the world through puppets, magic, balloons, and other creative means since he was a kid! Karl brings the Gospel to children in a creative and energetic way that is unique to him. But the second half of his mission leads him to not only minister to children directly, but compels him to equip and encourage others as well. In his training classes, Karl brings the joy of Children’s Ministry to life and with it, creative and practical ideas and principles that will recharge your ministry. Karl’s favorite place to be is ‘in the zone’ equipping and encouraging fellow children’s workers. Karl has taught workshops across the country at various conferences and he has had numerous articles published and has written and contributed to several books, but his greatest joy is still working directly with children, along with his wife and partner, Sara. Together, they have lead their Kid’s Church service for over fifteen years. Sara is an Educational Ministries graduate of Moody Bible Institute as well.
Karl’s passion for equipping and encouraging led him to found Kidology Inc., a non-profit organization committed to equipping and encouraging children’s workers through quality training and affordable resources. Kidology Inc.’s primary ministry is Kidology.org, a website that equips and encourages literally thousands of children’s workers around the world 24 hours a day providing ideas, resources, training and encouragement. Kidology also hosts conferences around the country and established the Kidology Foundation which provides practical assistance to small ministries and scholarships to student preparing for a career in children’s ministry.
Karl Bastian has over fifteen years of experience as a full time Children’s Pastor in large, small, and mobile churches. He has a Bible Theology degree from Moody Bible Institute and a Masters in Children’s Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Karl is an author of and contributor to several children’s ministry books and magazines, a trainer and encourager at conferences around the world, but his favorite place to be is in front of kids creatively teaching them the Bible and training them to serve God. In his workshops Karl brings the joy of Children’s Ministry to life and with it, creative and practical ideas and principles that will recharge your ministry. In 2010 Karl had the honor of being one of twenty chosen by Children’s Ministry Magazine as one of the Top Twenty Influencers in Children’s Ministry over the past twenty years, a real honor to receive at the age of fourth, reflecting his early entry into the realm of equipping and encouraging children’s workers internationally. In recent years he has established an “UNconference” for men in Yosemite National Park called Yosemite Summit to help children’s pastors refresh and renew from the busy pace and of ministry and reconnect with God – and since created a similar event for women called Unbridled. (Hosted by a woman, he does not attend it.) His lasted project is a website for fathers at BeTheDadToday.com which challenges dads to make every day count and uses Facebook and Twitter to connect with busy fathers and help them engage with their children in the midst of their busy lives.
Formal Education
Moody Bible Institute 1988 – 1993
Bachelors in Bible Theology
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School 1995 – 2004
Masters in Children’s Ministry
Informal Education
CPC/CMS/Idea Explosion conferences, Awana Conferences, Group Publishing conferences, CEF training events, various Sunday School conventions, Puppet Productions and One Way Street conferences, Willow Creek conferences, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association forums at the Cove, and many others, both attending/speaking/training/exhibiting/key note speaking from Florida to Alaska and overseas.
Sample list of conferences Karl has performed or spoken at
Children’s Ministry University Online – Faculty 2005-2008, www.cmuniversity.org
Accredited through Valley Forge Christian College
The Children’s Pastor’s Conference – Performed San Diego, 1997
www.incm.org – Workshops 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011 (Including Pre-Conference)
Institute of Children’s Ministry, TN – Keynote speaker and workshops, 2006
The Kidology University – Founder, Workshops, 1999
www.kidologyseminars.org – Workshops, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
- Added Appleton, WI 2004, 2005, 2006
- Added Grove City, OH, 2005, 2006
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, at the Cove
Un-churched Child Conference – Forum discussion leader, 2003
School of Evangelism – SOE Children’s Ministry Track, 2005
Greater Chicago Sunday School Association (GCSSA)
Fall Training Institute – Puppet 4 Workshop Track 1999
- Creative Teaching Methods Track 2000, 2005
The National Children and Youth Ministries Convention (Group)
www.grouppublishing.com – Workshops 1999
Various Church, Denominational and Ministry Conferences and children’s ministry networks since 1994 to current, from Florida to Alaska and in over ten countries overseas.
References available upon request.
A recent quote after a four night series:
“Karl Bastian was fantastic during our four night event for kids. His high energy style kept our kids at the edge of their seat and they came back night after night bringing friends and wanting more. His creative and relevant way of teaching God’s word kept the kids engaged and challenged them to “live it”. He proved that he can effectively communicate God’s truths to kids in an exciting way while entering their world. The title of “kidologist” definitely belongs to Karl. We will invite him back again!”
- Lisa Wanner, Missionary Church, Berne, Indiana
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