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Orange is my favorite color.

An avid Oklahoma State fan, I’ve (arguably) worn orange longer than Reggie Joiner himself.  (Though I admit not for the same purpose. )

Either way, Orange is a great color to represent the attitude we want to see in churches today.

Change

Transition

Partnership

Kenny Conley explains the Orange concept very well here.  I won’t rehash.

This week several kidmin blogs are focusing on the 5 components of the Orange Philosophy spawned by the ReThink Group.

• Integrated Strategy
• Refine the Message
• Elevate Community
• Reactivate the Family
• Leverage Influences

Each day this week I’ll post on my thoughts, perspective and/or experiences with each of these components.  Here is a list of other bloggers taking the Orange plunge.  This is a dynamic mix of leaders.  Some are involved in production & marketing of kids ministry, while others develop content, and yet others are just like me… the face parents see every weekend.  Each of us a different cog in the mechanism of kidmin.  But all of us with the same driving passion.  To see kids develop a loving pursuit of their Savior.

So, make sure you check them out.  It’s a rich contrast of perspectives on the same philosophy applied in varied church settings.  And their perspectives are worth your time.  Don’t miss them.

Dan Scott

Sam Luce

Jonathan Cliff

Matt McKee

Kendra Golden

Anthony Prince

JC Thompson

Check back here Monday afternoon for a conversation on the first component:  Integrated Strategy.

I just finished reading an article in K! Magazine by Sam Luce.

For those that don’t know… I think Sam Luce is cool.  I read his blog regularly.  I admire his humility as a leader, father & Christ follower.  And I value is insight.

In his latest contribution to K! Magazine, “Fishing Guide for Dummies:  Don’t settle for nibblers“, Sam uses the fishing analogy to show us how we can get caught up in the wrong things within the kidmin world.  Here are my take-aways:

• You don’t need all the tools.  Just the right tools. Like professional fishermen, kids’ pastors can get caught up in the fishing equipment – comparing lures, wandering up and down the fishing aisle in Wal-mart, peering in other fishing boats to see what tackle they are using… Fishing is about following… You can’t lead others where you aren’t going yourself so following is essential.

• You can’t make a fish bite.  But you can make your hook attractive. …as a kids’ pastor, I myself have been challenged by this thought:  Does my life make following Christ look more attractive or less?

• Don’t tell fishing stories. Be authentic… You don’t have to know the answer to every question.  You just need to know the Guy who does.

• Don’t turn fishing into a sport. …we all know when the real work begins… when you have to clean the fish.  Everyone wants the photo op with the worlds largest fish, but who in their right mind wants to… clean out the guts.  Discipleship is not easy, but if we want our kids to follow Christ as we follow Christ, it is essential.  Discipleship can be a long, dirty, smelly, difficult process, but the results are worth every tear, every drop of sweat.  Don’t settle for the photo op.  God has called us to so much more.

Sam’s final encouragement is to read scriptures’ own “Fishing Guide for Dummies” in Luke 15 “until you are sick of it… then read it again”.

This article is a great reminder that no matter how ‘blinged out’ your kidmin space might be… if you aren’t willing to get down to the nitty-gritty of teaching parents how to teach their kids to follow Jesus, then you are likely to produce another statistically sound school of nibblers.

As always, I appreciate your thoughts, Sam.

If you’re not reading K! Magazine… you should.  It’s good stuff.  Get your subscription here.

The local church is the hope of the world.

Bill Hybels

I love that statement.  And I believe that more today than when I first heard Bill say it.

Lately a common question I’m asked is, “What do you see as your next step in ministry?” Here is my response.

I want to be a part of the local church.  I want to be an active part of the answer to a question being asked by many kids ministry and student ministry leaders right now.  The question of how to effectively lock arms with parents to inspire, equip, and assist them in their journey to lead their kids into a lifetime pursuit of Jesus.

I don’t believe the answer is found in a great program, outstanding environments or engaging curriculum alone. I believe the answer is found in an entire church strategy.  The approach needs to come from the top down. It’s a church strategy where ministry leaders work in conjunction to reach people of all ages in their community, expose them to the gospel & lead them to engage with Christ.

I don’t believe the answer comes from a senior pastor that releases their Children’s and Student pastors to do whatever they’d like.  The answer comes from the senior pastor that looks to their Children’s pastor, Student pastor, Family pastor, Next Gen pastor… whatever fits… and says, “What do you need?”

I want the opportunity to

• Build a great, fun, engaging kids ministry
• To work closely with the Student pastor to impact students
• To experiment w/ ways to
  • provide shared experiences for parents and kids (physically & online)
  • engage parents in God’s vision for their family
  • challenge parents to the role God designed them for
• To lead families to rally around a single cause knowing that
  • encounters w/ Christ are found when we embrace the marginalized
  • the gifts & talents within the members of one family rallied around a single cause brings amazing generational impact
• Participate in the global conversation among Children & Student ministry leaders through writing, blogging, mentoring & speaking

I believe a solution is at hand.

I believe some of the strongest, most talented ministry minds are working on it.

I believe the work achieved by Children and Student ministry leaders in the past decade have laid a foundation for new leaders to stand upon.

I believe the collaboration among these leaders (young & experienced) is the pathway to building on that foundation.

I believe I have the greatest calling on the planet.