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Why Yosemite?

I began YosemiteSummit.org in 2008 first for myself, to restart my weary pastors heart in a difficult season of life – and invited other pastors to join me. Over 50 have since on multiple annual Summits. I call it The UNconference for Children’s Pastors.  No Workshops, Just Worship No Resources, Just Relationships No Networking, Just God Working.  On the plane today I started re-reading from my first Summit Journal and decided to share it as many people often ask me – “Why do you keep going back?” This was my first journal entry, back in 2008. I was struck today by how well I described WHY I do this. If you want a taste of our Summits, visit the Highlight Videos at YosemiteSummit.org/videos Below is the transcript, but here are the journal pages: This place is beyond description, though of course, I will try. As I often say it is where God showed off. Our language lacks adequate words to do Yosemite justice. Incredible. Amazing. Spectacular. Breathtaking. Beautiful. Magnificent. I suppose the best I can use is awe-inspiring. Awe at the sheer size, and height, and depth, and distance, and beauty, and splendor that hits your eyes all at once.…

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Kidmin Covenant #7: Maintaining a Teachable Spirit

Order the New Kidmin Covenant Reflective Guide, companion to the Kidmin Covenant series. If I could sit across from a new children’s ministry leader and offer one piece of advice, it would be this: take care of your soul. Ministry isn’t sustained by talent, strategy, or passion alone. It’s sustained by the quiet, consistent work of walking with Jesus. These 12 commitments are born out of that truth. They help me stay inwardly healthy so I can lead with lasting impact. Covenant Commitment #7: I will maintain a teachable spirit and always be eager to learn, grow, and invite correction and suggestions. One of the greatest gifts you can give your ministry—and yourself—is a teachable spirit. It’s not flashy. It won’t get you a standing ovation. But it will keep you grounded, growing, and effective for the long haul. Proverbs 9:9 says, “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.” The wisest people aren’t the ones who know it all—they’re the ones who keep learning. There’s always more to learn in ministry: new strategies, fresh ideas, better ways to communicate. But even more important is the willingness to grow…

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Kidmin Covenant #6: Character Matters

Order the New Kidmin Covenant Reflective Guide, companion to the Kidmin Covenant series. Let’s be real — ministry can be exhausting. It’s easy to slip into survival mode, chasing tasks and putting out fires. That’s why I created this covenant — not to add more pressure, but to anchor myself in what matters most. These commitments help me focus, refuel, and realign. They remind me that before I lead others well, I have to walk closely with Jesus. Inward health leads to outward fruit. Covenant Commitment #6: I will be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. If there’s a verse that should be framed in every children’s ministry office, it’s James 1:19: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” In the chaos of check-in, the miscommunication with a volunteer, the challenging child who tests your patience, or the well-meaning parent with lots of “suggestions,” this verse is a lifeline. Listening is more than a ministry skill — it’s a spiritual posture. When we slow down to really hear others, we reflect the heart of Jesus. He didn’t rush conversations. He wasn’t quick to interrupt. He had compassion because…

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The Influence of a Child: How an 11-Year-Old Girl Helped Shape a President

As a kids pastor, I often reflect on the profound impact children can have on the world around them. Recently, I discovered a story that beautifully illustrates this truth—a tale involving none other than Abraham Lincoln. A Personal Connection While Abraham Lincoln has no direct living descendants, my father-in-law was a descendant of the Hanks family, Mary Todd Lincoln’s lineage. Standing tall and bearing a striking resemblance to Honest Abe, he often donned the iconic stovepipe hat, embodying Lincoln’s spirit. Yet, it wasn’t until a friend shared this particular story with me that I realized the depth of influence a single child can wield. The Letter That Changed History In October 1860, 11-year-old Grace Bedell from Westfield, New York, penned a letter to presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln. Having seen his campaign portrait, she believed he would look better with a beard and suggested that growing one might help him win more votes, especially from women who would then persuade their husbands to support him. Dear Sir, (she wrote)  … I am a little girl only 11 years old, but want you should be President of the United States very much so I hope you wont think me very bold to…

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Kidmin Covenant #5: The Supremacy of the Bible

Order the New Kidmin Covenant Reflective Guide, companion to the Kidmin Covenant series. Ministry isn’t just what I do—it’s who I’m becoming. As I guide children in their faith journey, I must also guard my own heart. This covenant isn’t a checklist; it’s a shepherd’s commitment to walk closely with Jesus so that every lesson, every conversation, and every act of service flows from a life shaped by Him. I want to be inwardly healthy so I can be outwardly fruitful in all I do. Covenant Commitment #5: I will teach from and with a Bible so my students know and see the source of my teaching. We live in a digital world, and it’s easy to rely on screens, props, or creative visuals in children’s ministry. While those tools can be incredibly helpful, there’s one tool that should never be left behind: your physical Bible. Holding the Bible in your hands when you teach—even if the verses are also on a screen or in your notes—sends a powerful message to the kids: “What I’m teaching doesn’t come from me—it comes from here.” You are modeling reverence for Scripture just by having it visible and central. In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, God says, “These commandments…

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