KidMinspiration

Thankful Thursday: Week 3

11/15/201211/15/2012 Kathie Phillips 2 Comments

A few weeks ago, I planned to set aside every Thursday in November to share some of the many things I’m thankful for. You can read about Week 1 here and Week 2 here.

“I have found the one my soul loves.”

Song of Solomon 3:4

This weekend, my husband, Lance, and I will be celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary. So, this week, I’d like to share with you why I am thankful for my husband.

Lance and I met 19 years ago while we were in college. He was a junior; I was a freshman. We were total opposites. He was from the South; I was from the East Coast. He was outgoing; I was more reserved. He was very athletic; I was in the band. It makes me believe that in some ways, opposites really do attract.

Over the years, our life together has been filled with highs and lows, blessings and heartaches. Moving to a new state, moving to another state a few months later, children, losing a child, new jobs, losing jobs, death of beloved family members, health challenges, dreaming new dreams, seeing other dreams put on hold.

Despite it all, I would not want to have experienced all of that with anyone else but Lance. Somehow, no matter what comes our way, life is so much better because I have him in my life.

As the scope of my ministry has expanded and I have taken on more projects, he has supported me every step of the way. People have always said how awesome it is that Lance and I serve side by side. (Just for the record, he is not on staff with me at our church. However, he is my favorite volunteer!) But side by side is the unspoken motto of our marriage. We are partners in every sense of the word.

I am thankful for a husband who loves me, provides for me, listens to me, encourages me, challenges me, fights for me. He is one of the greatest gifts that God has given me and for that, I am truly thankful.

Engage Conference: Workshop Notes

11/14/201211/14/2012 Kathie Phillips

Yesterday, I posted notes from the three main sessions that Sue Miller led at the Engage Conference, which took place this past weekend in Mechanicsburg, PA. You can read about that here.

Today I wanted to share a little bit about one of the workshops that I attended. It was fantastic and very hands on!

Instructing Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Children’s Ministry

This workshop was led by a Messiah College Professor and three of her students. I took this workshop because I wanted to equip my volunteers to better serve children in our ministry with ASD. This workshop had two objectives:

Help us classify 3 types of learners
Demonstrate multiple instructional strategies through the use of “make and takes”

Engage conference goodie bag — When we arrived, there were goodie bags for each participant in the center of each table.

Engage conference schedule — Our schedule for the workshop

The young women began our workshop by defining autism and identifying three (3) types of learners: auditory, kinesthetic/tactile and visual. We learned how each learner learns best and strategies to use in helping each type of learner learn.

Auditory learners learn best through verbal input. One strategy you can try is classroom positioning. Have the child sit or stand close to the teacher.

Kinesthetic/tactile learners learn best through their body, hands and sense of touch. One strategy you can try is by bringing in sensory manipulatives. We made one in class by filling an uninflated balloon with rice and tying off the balloon. (The balloon and rice were provided for us in our goodie bag.)

Visual learners learn best through written word or pictures. There are two strategies that you can try:

Use picture cards (laminated on a ring) to flash to the children when you need them to get refocused. You could also flash a card to let them know what’s coming up without having to say it aloud. I thought this idea was brilliant.

Engage conference reminder cards — Reminder cards

2. The “First/Then” strategy shows an expectation followed by something preferred. “First we’ll…then we’ll…” Keep in mind that you must follow through with what you say. Otherwise, this strategy will become ineffective.

Engage conference first then — First/Then laminated card

The great news is that many strategies shared in this workshop were not only geared toward children with ASD–they could be used for every child!

Have you found a particular strategy that has helped you have success in the classroom? If so, share here!

The Engage Conference Did Not Disappoint!

11/13/201211/13/2012 Kathie Phillips

I love being with fellow kidmin leaders. I always seem to walk away feeling more energized and more convinced that this is indeed what God as called me to do. This past weekend, I attended the Engage Conference in Mechanicsburg, PA. While this was my first time attending the conference, I looked forward to all that I would learn and experience. I was not disappointed.

The conference’s main speaker was Sue Miller, formerly of Willow Creek Community Church and currently on staff at ReThink (who publishes First Look and 252 Basics curriculum). Sue led three main sessions, highlighting (1) what’s new in children’s ministry, (2) having difficult conversations, and (3) sustaining yourself health as a leader. Here are some highlights of each session:

Session 1: What’s New Now

25% of people think Sundays are for church, while 75% think Sundays are for other things.
We need to think differently in how we plan to reach these families. How will we reach them if they’re not in church? 1 Peter 3:15 calls us to show love first. Consider doing a focus group from the non-traditional families at your church to find out how we can better reach them and serve them.
Kids today are growing up in a smart phone world. Smart phones have made it possible for us to take the world with us everywhere we go. How are we using social media? How can high school and/or college students help us think of new ways to use social media?
We should brainstorm how we can use social media to (1) cue parents–help them disciple their kids; (2) inspire kids; and (3) rally volunteers.

Session 2: Difficult Conversations

People want to be led by a new breed of leaders, leaders who are caring, authentic, willing to respect others’ ideas, able to lead change and able to navigate conflict.
We are called to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
Speak–Don’t avoid difficult conversations. Decide to resolve the problem, remembering to attack the problem, not the person. Confront the problem. Take the time to do the process right.
The Truth–Remember HOW you communicate makes all the difference. Lose the defensiveness. Say what you need to say and own what you need to own. The most loving thing you can do for your volunteers is to help them be equipped for what God has called them to.
In Love–Go to the right person. Keep in mind that reconciliation is the goal–it’s not about winning. Honor the process.

Session 3: In It For the Long Haul

Say “no” to things graciously so that you can say “yes” to things purposefully.

Non-negotiables for you and your team:

Rest (allow an emotional margin to decompress).
Recreation
Friends who are life-giving
Refill your spiritual tank

The biggest challenge comes in leading yourself.

In addition to the main sessions, the conference offers an assortment of workshops that you can take advantage of. I’ll share highlights from the ones I attended tomorrow.

If you live in the mid-Atlantic region, this is a conference that you and your team should attend together next year. You won’t regret it!

Did you attend the Engage Conference? What did you take away from it?

Thankful Thursday: Week 2

11/08/201211/08/2012 Kathie Phillips

A few weeks ago, I planned to set aside every Thursday in November to share some of the many things I’m thankful for. You can read about Week 1 here.

“Always be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15, NLT

Being more intentional about having an attitude of gratitude for the month of November has really been good for me. During the daily grind, when things get frustrating or overwhelming, I say, “Be thankful. Always be thankful.” That puts things into perspective.

If you have been following me, you are aware that we launched a preteen ministry at our church this fall. Naturally, this is something I’m thankful for. I shared my thoughts about this over at FourFiveSix. You can read about it here.

Is having an attitude of gratitude part of your daily life? Let me know how by sharing below!