GinaMcClain.com

Communication is critical.

Good communication is clear, simple and concise.

Communication is not restricted to verbal exchange.  We all know that communication is a series of verbal & physical cues.  But people are not the only things that communicate.  Physical space communicates, as well.

In the kidmin world, physical space communicates more than you realize.

• It speaks to kids… setting the tone for the kind of experience they’ll have.
• It speaks to parents… defining the level of care their child will receive.
• It speaks to volunteers… the expectation you have of their investment.

A clean, organized, crisp environment sets the tone for kids, parents and volunteers.  It plays a significant role in keeping the bar high.

Never underestimate the impact of your physical environment.

The pic above comes from Grace Fellowship Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  You can find a list of ‘must see’ kidmin environments at ColdWaterCafe.  The list is a few years old, but still worth the look.

A clear presentation of the gospel…

Check out this video produced by our Content Development team at LifeChurch.tv.  Though I had nothing to do with the making of this video, as a Children’s Pastor I couldn’t be more thrilled to have it.  It specifically walks a child through a simple, straight-forward presentation of the gospel.  A great tool for any kids ministry and parent that desires to solidify this truth in their kids.

The video will soon be available at www.lifekids.tv.

If you’re a parent… watch this with your kids!!

If you’re a ministry leader… feel free to use this tool if it will benefit your ministry!!

I just completed the latest book by Craig Gross and Jason Harper…

It doesn’t seem to matter how often I read or listen to Gross, his perspectives always mess me up.  He challenges the very core of what I grew up to believe was appropriate.

Love the unlovely… but from a distance… so they might not corrupt you.

Gross and Harper directly contradict this by how they live out ministry.  They don’t exist in a safe ‘christianized’ world and venture into the ‘darkness’ to drop in a little Jesus.  They exist in a very dark world and allow the light of Christ to do what it is designed to do… illuminate the darkness.

I’m still processing the book… and probably will for a while.  I’m grateful for Craig, Jason and all others that sacrifice greatly to do ministry by their side.  I believe they see a bigger picture that many of us in vocational ministry can miss.  That “tolerance is not compromise.  Tolerance gives the platform and relational equity to be there.” Being there affords the opportunity for a consistent, loving relationship to draw the broken to a place of healing.

Here is only one of the quotes that made me throw up a little in my mouth…

I’ve seen how many have turned exclusive in Bible circles, ironically, ignoring the Bible’s message of an all-inclusive love.  These groups devise game plans and strategies for reaching the opponent; they have come up with emergent lingo, which many on the same team do not even understand.  If those within the church exclude each other, whether knowingly or accidentally, imagine how those outside the church must feel.

Stay tuned and I’ll share more of my response to the book, as well as, an opportunity to win my copy.