Jared, high school pastor, gave a great example of something we experienced on staff retreat. We were at a fire pit and Chris, worship and production, was building a fire. He piled a bunch of leaves, pine needles, and grass on top of the wood that was gathered. When it was lit, immediately it was huge. It was crazy huge.  But it died pretty quickly.

Jared likened it to our large groups services. They are awesome. In fact they will produce a large fire in our students, but we don’t think that it will be one that lasts.

Then he talked about Chris was creating some kindling (ask Jared to say that word for you ) underneath the firewood. Eventually after working and blowing and stirring the wood caught fire and lasted for awhile. In fact, we even joked about taking guesses on how long it would last.

Chris posing near his creation

Jared went on to explain for our students, small groups provide the kindling needed for fire to last. A fire that burns longer than what our services can provide. Not only that, but our services will also be better because of the fire in small groups.

It was a great example and provided a reminder to our leaders that we aren’t building a student ministry, we are building students. We don’t wants fans of Jesus, we want disciples of Jesus. That takes a lot more work and time than creating an explosive service.

Great night and we’re excited about what’s coming at BSM!!

What do you think about the fire illustration and large group versus small group?

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1. People hate change:

No matter what it is, people hate change. Even when there are positive changes to current offerings, people just hate change. You should always approach changes with caution. No matter how terrible something is, someone out there is in love with it, exactly how it is.

2. Communication is key:

Netflix is more than a month ahead of their proposed change. I received an email with a link to their blog post. They communicated the why:

At the time, we didn’t anticipate offering DVD only plans. Since then we have realized that there is still a very large continuing demand for DVDs both from our existing members as well as non-members. Given the long life we think DVDs by mail will have, treating DVDs as a $2 add on to our unlimited streaming plan neither makes great financial sense nor satisfies people who just want DVDs. via the Netflix blog.

It’s true. How in the world will they keep their plan up if it’s not a good financial model? They realistically can’t continue as they are currently proceeding. But Netflix doesn’t offer their explanation without reason and they don’t propose change without careful thought, even if it’s only for financial reasons. One thing is true, Netflix was sure to communicate their changes.

3. People’s threats are usually bigger than their follow-through:

They have over 4100 comments and most are incredibly negative. At the time of this blog post, they are still on the site. Kudos to them for this. The reality is that most people won’t really make a change, they will push back initially and then fall in line. However, this does bring up a point that is incredibly important when it comes to communicating change:

4. Inspection of Changes:

• Are you willing to go through the process of reviewing your changes after they happen?
• Are they effective?
• Did you misjudge the response?
• Are you willing to say that you were wrong?

All of these questions are viable and should be considered if you are really trying to change for the good. I’m sure that Netflix will take careful care to inspect the impact of the changes they made. As a leader of a ministry, you must inspect what you put in effect. If not it will begin to be infect-ed. (Sorry preacher moment )

My commentary on the changes:

Ultimately Netflix had to make the changes if they were losing money. Will people ultimately leave? Yeah. I wish they could have closed some more deals with production studios an announced them at the same time. They aren’t going to make a ton of friends raising the price of a service that people have been committed to for a few years, however they are offering something that people want and ultimately will continue to make money.

My family will evaluate the possibility of moving to $15.98 plan, but will more than likely move down to stream only (cheaper than my current offering, btw) for $7.99 and will love it. With the addition of Redbox, Netflix isn’t as necessary to our family.

How you communicate change will help with one thing that you ultimately need in your ministry and life: Momentum

Positive, careful, intentional communication can mean the difference between increased trust in those you minister to and the volunteers that you are training for ministry or a huge roadblock hindering your ability to move forward.

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Are you communicating logically or emotionally?

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Homiletics is defined as the study of the analysis, classification, preparation, composition and delivery of sermons.

Now he hasn’t called it homiletics and I don’t have a Bible degree (mine is in Marketing), but it’s what it’s called nonetheless. I get that Senior Pastors probably have a crazy incredible process, but not really what I’m interested in learning about today. I want to hear from Kidmin, Stumin, and Preteenmin communicators. A couple things I want to know about are these:

• How do you start your creative process on message creation?
• Do you tweak curriculum or a go from scratch girl or guy?
• What does your study method look like?
• What do you bring to the stage?
• How much time do you have to speak? (main reason I’m not interested in Senior Pastors here)

I would love, love, love to make some notes available for people if you have screenshots, digital copies, or scanned images that you would like to allow us to see. But honestly, here is my heart. I would love to see rock solid communicators everywhere in Family Ministry. I would love to help spark some conversations and provide some resources in that way.

So what do you have?

Teach me….

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So I’m in the market for a new set of notebooks. I’m finally on my last blue Moleskine and need a new notebook. You guys know that I’m a junkie when it comes to this stuff. So I’m thinking about sticking with Moleskine, unless someone has a notebook to try and persuade me to change my ways.

So please….

Point me to my new notebook

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Certificate of Authenticity 1, originally uploaded by TheGrossUncle.

I’m just thinking out loud here, but yesterday we were having a conversation in the offices at Brookwood about how can we truly measure authenticity?

In this age of completely skeptical consumers, could authenticity become the next term that is well…not authentic?

I don’t think the authenticity part is incorrect to have as a part of your life, but authenticity must become a part of character rather than a strategy of communication.

What do you think? Is communicating authenticity becoming inauthentic?

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So I am here to point out this resource to you. Matchstic is a Brand Identity House. They help your brand strengthen, align, and maybe for the first time identify your unique brand. I have never worked with Matchstic, but I have read their blog and seen their work on numerous occasions from afar. They are legit in the advice that they give to companies and they are an incredible resource for you and your brand as a Children’s Ministry, College Ministry, Church, or business. Not to mention the fact that some of their work looks Omazing!!

So if you don’t even get what brand means, or are looking for some guidance on some small ways to strengthen your brand. Check them out at their homepage or their blog. You won’t be disappointed.

This is in no way a sponsored post. Matchstic just rocks imo

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G-joker, originally uploaded by CRISTO-.

This is a series that I began a few weeks ago. You can see my post about the Riddler here.

So again apply the general rules to this as well.

You Control the Room

Relationship is key

Know your timing

Characteristics of The Joker

Likes to roam, can’t stand still, loves attention are a few of the characteristics. The one thing that this kid does impeccably well is be a distraction to the other kids.(sounds very similar to your large group leader I would assume too :p) Understand that tension, not the problem, as Andy Stanley said this week at the Global Leadership Summit. That you must balance giving kids the freedom to engage in the conversation and teaching and also teaching the content. It’s not a one way or the other kind of thing.

So what are some ways to get this kid to stop being a distraction and become an engaged part of the teaching?

Specific strategies for The Joker

1. Get them to help

Whether they are passing out snacks, handouts, or helping with the game. Give them something to do. Allow them to become a part of the teaching rather than a receiver of the teaching.

2. Allow them to become an active illustration

I don’t remember where I saw this being done but I was completely impressed. A leader had some Jokers on his hands. He was teaching about Shad, Meese, and Abe and the furnace. So he called the Jokers up on stage to be the fiery furnace. He asked them to use their arms to be the flames and also explained how the King cranked that furnace up hotter than ever and the kids had to illustrate that as well with their hands and energy. It was a brilliant idea. Get your kids involved in what’s going on.

3. Change your style of teaching-

This is especially true if you have a lot of Jokers on your hands. It might be seating changes, it might be the schedule, it might be the amount of time, or it might be the material. If you have a ton of distractions on a consistent basis then it’s time to make a large group change. Put everything on the table and try and figure it out.

One last thing

I’ll say this again. It’s on you. Not on these kids to make large group meaningful, it’s on you.

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The Riddler (DC Direct First Appearance Series 3), originally uploaded by Clarkent78.

Ever had a kid that asks way too many questions? So many questions that it is a distraction for the rest of the kids in the large group? Most of us have been to this place and it’s a tough place to be. For this series I want to highlight the conflict, the person, and some strategy to help you out.

The Conflict

The questions are good

You want kids to continue to ask questions

But there are too many questions

There is this tug between these three things. You want your kids to ask good questions. You want them to be engaged in the teaching and if they are asking questions then you know they are engaged. But sometimes kids get overzealous and feel like this is there time to ask anything and everything. You have to be able to balance these three thoughts in the Conflict.

The Person: The Riddler

This kind of kid comes in two forms but honestly, there are a ton of variations.

The kid who has 1,000 questions

The kid who has 1,000 stories

Now I’m joking obviously and grouping kids together in a specific niche.

For most of these kids they are starving for attention, especially species number dos. But again the balance of the conflict must remain in your mind at all times.

The Strategy:

So how in the world can you keep the balance of maintaining control of the room and also continue to encourage kids to ask questions? How can you figure out the balance to the conflict that the Riddler presents you?

First there are a few universal principles that you need to know and I will repeat them on every single blog of this topic.

You control the room

You are the large group leader. It falls on you to create, manage, and develop a welcoming environment that engages kids with spiritual truth. It is your responsibility to control the environment.

Relationship is key

If you don’t know the kid’s name that is asking the questions, well then you probably don’t have enough of a relationship with them to have a tough conversation with them. Build a relationship with the kids and be able to have a conversation because of your relationship with that child.

Know your timing

This is where most noobs get in trouble. I absolutely failed at this when I began. When I first started teaching large groups, kids would ask questions and I would take them. But I ran out of time, every time. The lesson wouldn’t get taught because I wasn’t responsible for the time that was given for the large group teaching. Know your timing and know if you have the time to take questions, discpline, and joke around with the kids and still be able to teach the lesson.

Specific strategies for this kind of difficult kid

Always take the first question-

It helps kids to know that you want to answer their questions. Always try and answer it to the best of your ability. And be honest. I’ve dove into some deeper theology before here and also been able to tell them that there isn’t necessarily a clear answer in scripture, and also said ,that I have no idea. Honesty is always the best policy.

Help to guide the questions to stay on subject-

Questions are so incredibly important for kids and if a kid can ask a question that will help another kid understand the lesson a bit more, what more could you ask for? Help by asking a few guiding questions. Is this question about forgiveness? Is this question about serving God? Is this question about our Bible Story? If not then can we talk about it after our teaching time? Help them to be able to make responsible decisions and be ready to determine for themselves (in time) whether that question is appropriate for right now.

Help them to make sure that they are asking God questions too-

One thing that is constant in my teaching is that I want them to know that interaction with God is tangible. Sometimes I do this to a fault. But I want kids to know that God wants to answer their questions even more than I do.

Tough Conversation-

It might be a time for tough conversations if this begins to be a pattern rather than a particular time. Always be kind but give them responsibility. Please don’t say that it makes Jesus sad that you have questions and interrupt the class. If you do this and I find out I will be praying mean things. Just kidding. Sorta.

Know that if you lose control it’s ok. Everyone does at some point. But evaluate what happened. Know that the only person that is responsible for the environment in the room is the one leading. Don’t blame the kids, for lack of environmental control. It’s on you.

Be diligent and work hard.
Build relationships with the kids.
Constantly continue to develop and get better.

How have you dealt with a kid that asks too many questions or has a million stories to tell? Any strategies you would add?

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