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Category: Leadership

Plan on Detours

We make plans because planning is wise. Proverbs 16:9 says, In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. God never intended us to drift through life without thought or direction. Planning matters. Preparation matters. Wisdom matters. But followers of Christ plan with open hands. Why? Because we know our plans are not ultimate. God is. And when our plans change, break, stall, or take an unexpected turn, it does not mean everything is falling apart. It may mean God is redirecting, refocusing, and refining what we thought was the way forward. Change is rarely enjoyable. Sometimes it is inconvenient. Sometimes it is disappointing. Sometimes it is downright painful. But Romans 8:28 reminds us that God is working in all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Not just the easy things. Not just the successful things. All things. Jeremiah 29:11 reassures us that God’s intentions toward us are good. He is not careless with our lives. He is not improvising in panic. He is the Designer, the Author, the faithful Planner who sees what we cannot see. That is why we can trust Him on the…

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Living on Mission – Discovering my Ministry Manifesto

Why Did God Make YOU? By Pastor Karl Bastian, aka the Kidologist I received my call to ministry when I was ten years old. A children’s evangelist came to our church. I was completely captivated. He used magic tricks, puppets, and storytelling to teach the Bible in a way that made kids laugh, think, and listen. I remember sitting there thinking, That is the greatest job in the world. After the service I told my mom, “That’s what I want to do when I grow up.” Her response surprised me. “You start next Wednesday.” I protested. “Mom, I said when I grow up!” She calmly replied, “If God has called you to children’s ministry, what does growing up have to do with anything?” Then she did something that changed the trajectory of my life. She started telling me about the many young people God used in the Bible—David facing Goliath, Samuel hearing God’s voice as a child, the boy who gave his lunch to Jesus, and others who were young but willing. My mom didn’t just encourage me—she equipped me. She helped me get my first puppet. She coached me on learning simple magic tricks. She gave me opportunities to…

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Books of the Bible Incentive

I am a BIG believer that kids need to learn the Books of the Bible! So, I create incentives and reward for those who do. Adults should too – but if kids learn them young, they will know them for life! “But there are apps for that,” I hear. When you learn the books of the Bible, you gain an understanding of the number of type of books, the flow of the books, and it helps you locate scriptures faster for the rest of your life. If you haven’t learned them yet – regardless of your age – NOW is the best time to work on it! You’ll feel proud of the accomplishment and you’ll be amazed the impact it has on your walk with God and desire to learn more about the Bible. We memorize all kinds of things – even useless or unimportant things – take the challenge and learn the Books of the Bible! In this video – notice that leaders and parents can join in the fun. Here is what the mom in the video wrote to me about the impact that this had on her children: “It’s such a fun way to challenge the kids…

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Gratitude Changes Everything

Gratitude Changes Everything By Pastor Karl Bastian The celebration of Thanksgiving every November is wonderful. Families gather. Tables are full. Traditions are honored. Gratitude gets a full day on the calendar. But the downside is that it can subtly relegate gratitude to something we focus on once in a while—sadly, perhaps annually. We pull out thankfulness like fine china, use it for a day, and then pack it back into storage with the pumpkin decorations. The reality is that an attitude of gratitude is the secret to contentment and happiness every single day of our lives. By our human (sinful) nature, we tend to focus on what we want, need, or are striving for. We fix our eyes on the next goal, the next opportunity, the next improvement. In doing so, we often neglect to realize we are living what we once hoped for. The job we prayed for. The ministry we dreamed about. The family we longed to build. The friendships we once asked God to provide. How quickly we stop appreciating where we are, what we have, and WHO we have. Blessings that once brought us to tears of joy can slowly become background noise. They are taken…

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TODAY is the Day!

TODAY Is the Day By Pastor Karl Bastian Every children’s ministry leader has a shelf labeled “Someday.” Someday we’ll launch that parent night. Someday we’ll start that special needs initiative. Someday I’ll write that curriculum. Someday we’ll fix check-in. Someday I’ll call that volunteer who could be amazing. “Someday” is a comfortable word. It asks nothing of us today. But momentum in ministry doesn’t begin with someday. It begins with a decision: Today is the day. Not necessarily the day you pull off the event. Not the day you execute the full plan. But the day you move it forward. Scripture reminds us, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day…” (2 Corinthians 6:2). God works in the present tense. While we dream about tomorrow, He invites obedience today.  The Myth of the Perfect Moment We often wait for ideal conditions. When things slow down. After Easter. Once the budget stabilizes. When we get more volunteers. When we feel more confident. Ecclesiastes 11:4 gently warns, “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” If a farmer waits for perfect weather, no seed ever hits the soil. Children’s ministry leaders can…

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