Tag: 2014

KidMin Conference – General Session Takeaways

Kathie Phillips 2 Comments

Yesterday I posted a few ideas for next steps following this year’s KidMin Conference (you can read that here).  Today, I thought I’d share some of my general session takeaways.  Be warned…my notes are not lengthy.  (1) It was a little dark in the general session room for me to take many notes and (2) I was really taking everything in and tried to just be present, especially after the phenomenal worship times.

FRIDAY EVENING GENERAL SESSION

I was not familiar with Roddy Chong prior to the conference but boy did his story resonate with me.  He spoke about being chosen by God and the many doors that God opened for him that he never imagined being opened.  He shared about traveling with well-known singers (Shania Twain & Celine Dion).  His story resonated with me because I, too, have seen God open many doors for me that I NEVER thought would happen for me.  It is really humbling to see God work in unimaginable ways.  Roddy also spoke about the need to not be defined by your mistakes.  That’s a good lesson for everyone!

The Skit Guys are a KidMin Conference favorite!  I always enjoy them!  They do a beautiful job of blending comedy and thought-provoking challenges.  One question they tossed out was, What are you afraid of?  They challenged us with this:  God chose you before it all began.  If he did that, He has a plan for you.  You have nothing to be afraid of.

SATURDAY MORNING GENERAL SESSION

Greg Baird spoke on Saturday morning and he did not disappoint.  I follow Greg on social media and also enjoy his blog posts, so I knew I’d enjoy hearing from him.  He referenced Ephesians 6:12, which says:

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

  • We are not superheroes.  We are in a battle.  When we are in ministry, the target on us becomes bolder to the enemy.
  • We cannot surge [SURGE was this year’s theme] ahead if we cannot stay on the battlefield.
  • What keeps us from surging ahead?
    • We simply try to survive (Acts 20:24).  It’s not about me – it’s about Jesus.
    • We get distracted.  Our ministries need to be about Jesus.
    • We focus on the wrong danger (things like numbers vs life transformation, families falling apart, etc.).
    • When we do these things, we do ministry in our power.
  • What do we do to combat these things? (Zech. 4:6)
    • Instead of trying to survive, trust God.
    • Instead of being distracted, immerse yourself in God’s Word.
    • Instead of focusing on the wrong danger, focus on your relationship with God.

Greg closed with a quote from Phil Vischer:  “Impact does not come when we are pursuing impact – impact comes when we are pursuing God.”

SATURDAY EVENING GENERAL SESSION

Jon Acuff spoke on passages from Isaiah 30.

  • Give God our expectations.  God will never be handcuffed by your failures or unleashed by your successes.
  • We need to learn how to be present.  Sometimes our lives are so loud we miss God’s whispers.

I didn’t attend Sunday morning’s session (I was having breakfast with a friend) or Monday morning’s session (I was headed home).  I did attend Sunday evening’s session with DeVon Franklin but I was too busy agreeing with him to write stuff down!  Sorry!

Were you at the conference?  What were some of your takeaways? Let me know by commenting below!

 

5 Post-KidMin Conference To-Do’s

Kathie Phillips 6 Comments

 

I was delighted to attend Group’s KidMin Conference in Columbus, Ohio again this year.  This is the only national conference that I attend each year and I absolutely love it!  I always find the worship, the teaching, the interactive workshops and the connections made to be re-energizing to my soul.

I was blessed to have my daughter, husband, son, and mom (who's not pictured) join me for this trip.
I was blessed to have my daughter, husband, son, and mom (who’s not pictured) join me for this trip.

 

Today I want to speak to post-conference to-do’s (I will post notes soon).  So many times after a power-packed conference, we leave fired up, ready to take on the world with our new-found tips, resources and ideas.  But then life happens…our intentions are good…but we never put a plan into place.  I’d like to help you do that, along with offering a few other helpful tips.

Processing KidMin 2014

  • Take a deep breath and just rest.  If you’re like me, you went full-steam ahead in Ohio.  Take a day (or two) to unwind and rest your brain and your body if you can.  A rested mind is a mind that can think and process more clearly.
  • Ask God to help you discern what next steps you should take based on what you’ve seen and heard.  What were the key points you jotted down?  List a few practical next steps you’d like to implement within a practical time frame and pray about any people who could help you take those next steps.  Post those next steps in a visible place – keep the vision ahead of you!
  • Write up a summary of what you learned and present it to your team/volunteers/supervisor.  Explain why the conference was beneficial, a few highlights of what you learned and your next steps.
  • Keep in touch with those you connected with at the conference.  Do this regularly by phone, email and/or social media.  Don’t lose those connections – we need each other!
  • Finally, register for KidMin 2015!  It will be held in Chicago – one of my favorite cities!  Find details here.

kidmin15

Keep the conversation going!  Tell me about your conference highlights and your next steps in the comment section below!

Check out what’s being said about the KidMin Conference on Facebook here and here & on Twitter here.   

Group KidMin Conference – During-the-Conference FAQ’s and Tips

Kathie Phillips

2014 Group KidMin Conference

Yesterday I posted pre-conference FAQ’s and tips for Group’s upcoming KidMin Conference.  You can find that post here.

Today I thought I’d post a few of the most frequently asked during-the-conference questions along with my own personal tips:

FAQ’s

1. What food options are available?  There are a number of on-site and off-site food options.  Click here for more details.  You can also download coupons for the Convention Center’s food court here.

2. Where can I park?  Click here for a map to show you parking that is available at the Hyatt Regency and Convention Center.

3.  Is there a shuttle from the Columbus airport to the hotel?  Yes.  KidMin has negotiated a special rate with Columbus Coach for arrival and departure ground transportation to the KidMin conference hotels: $10.00 each way.  Those with reservations will be allowed to board the shuttle first. Shuttle rides will be available for cash purchase at the airport as well.  Click here for more details.

My Personal During-the-Conference Tips

  • If you are unable to attend a training session that you think would be beneficial to you or your ministry, purchase audio recordings.  Audio recordings of nearly all the training sessions will be available to conference attendees so that you can continue the learning at home. The only sessions we often do not record are pre-conference sessions, ministry conversations, those focused on technology, those sessions involve a lot of visual teaching and don’t translate well to an audio recording. General sessions will be available for purchase on DVD for all keynote speakers who have released recording rights.
  • Arrive to the general sessions early.  You’ll find freebies and fun waiting for you.
  • Again, make arrangements to meet up for coffee with your fellow kidmin’ers.  Allow some flexibility but it doesn’t hurt to pre-arrange meals or coffee with friends.
  • Check out the book and resource area.  An assortment of books, resources and vendors will be available.  Take time to walk through and pick up a few things.  Many vendors have freebies for you just for stopping by.
  • Relax on an over-sized Xorbee bean bag chair.  They will set up around the conference hotel for you to read, relax or catch up with friends.
  • Be flexible to get what you need: rest, connection/networking, and time to process.  The weekend is jam-packed with activity, so it’s important to move at your own pace and take the time to do what you feel is best for you.  Pray and ask the Lord for guidance.

Come back Monday for more tips!

**A special thank-you goes out to Rochelle Dorsey & John Guerra for allowing me the opportunity to post on Group’s behalf.

Keep the conversation going!  Check out what’s being said about the KidMin Conference on Facebook here and here & on Twitter here.   Use hashtag #kidmin14.  

Group KidMin Conference – Pre-Conference FAQ’s and Tips

Kathie Phillips 2 Comments

2014 Group KidMin Conference

There is quite a bit of buzz surrounding next week’s Group KidMin Conference.  If you have read my blog for a while, then you know that i absolutely love this conference, which I have attended in Chicago (2011) and Columbus (2013).  I am looking forward to attending again this year!

I am connected to a few kidmin online groups and have seen a plethora of questions from conference-goers.  According to the conference organizers, here are a few of the most frequently asked pre-conference questions along with my own personal tips:

FAQ’s

1. Do I need to register for Pre-Conference training options in advance?  Yes.  These seven-hour intensives, which include lunch, are a great way to begin the weekend.  I did this year and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Add this to your conference registration for just $59 per person.  Click here for more details.

2. Do I need to register for the workshops in advance?  No.  Once you browse through the list of workshop options, you simply show up at the workshops you’d like to take.  Beware, however, that some workshops fill up quickly and close.  If that is the case, you will need to make another selection.  Tip:  Choose several workshops for each time slot in advance if you can so that you can quickly join another location.

Options include Deeper Learning Tracks (four 2-hour sessions), Half-Tracks (two 2-hour sessions) or 2-hour workshops.

Take a look at this year’s offerings on the website or by downloading the Participant’s Booklet here.

My Personal Pre-Conference Tips

  • Have a strategy for attending workshops, especially if you’re coming with a group.  Here’s something to consider:  One person attends one of the deeper learning tracks, while other folks attend workshops that would support the particular learning track. This way, the information gained is not spread across every topic, rather everything their team learns can be applied to an overall concept or particular focus. After KidMin and your team has a chance to regroup, the information from all these workshops and learning tracks compliment and support the desires of the team. They go in with a plan, focus your energies, and leave with tools and concepts that can be applied immediately.
  • Download your Participant’s Booklet.  You will receive a booklet at the conference but downloading it in advance will help you to mark the workshops you’d like to take early.
  • Confirm your hotel reservations.
  • Confirm your transportation arrangements/reservations.  If you are flying into Columbus, it is recommended that you make reservations for the ground shuttle from the airport to the conference hotels.  While a reservation is not required, those with reservations will be able to board the shuttle first.  Click here for more details.
  • Download your workshop handouts.  This year, the handouts are in Word format, so they are editable.  Be sure to download the handouts for your alternate workshop choices, too.  Download the handouts here, using “surge2014” as your log in code.
  • Make arrangements to meet up for coffee with your fellow kidmin’ers.  Allow some flexibility but it doesn’t hurt to pre-arrange meals or coffee with friends.

Don’t forget to pack:

  • Money/credit cards/checkbook
  • Business cards or pre-printed contact information (this can be printed on address labels) to pass out when networking
  • Light sweater or jacket, as rooms might be chilly
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Portable snacks such as energy/granola bars, trail mix, etc.
  • Electronic devices & chargers

Come back tomorrow for more tips!

**A special thank-you goes out to Rochelle Dorsey & John Guerra for allowing me the opportunity to post on Group’s behalf.

Keep the conversation going!  Check out what’s being said about the KidMin Conference on Facebook here and here & on Twitter here.   Use hashtag #kidmin14.