Tag: transition

Countdown to the 2013 KidMin Conference!

Kathie Phillips 5 Comments

In less than 24 hours, I will be headed to Group’s KidMin Conference in Columbus, OH for 4 days of rest, worship, learning, fun and fellowship.  I cannot wait!  Last year, I was so disappointed to miss it (read my lament here).  This past weekend, I developed a sore throat and thought, “Oh no!  Not again!  I cannot miss this year too!”  I am feeling better and am glad because I really need to be around my kidmin friends, many of whom I’ve already scheduled to meet for lunch to catch up and share.

In an effort to ‘go green’ this year, conference handouts are available for download from the app.  While I found this process to be a bit overwhelming, I was able to navigate it and select the workshops that I’ll take.  Here’s an overview of what I’ll be taking:

Friday:  I will participate in Jim Burns‘ Partnering with Parents Pre-Conference track.  ‘Partnering with Parents’ is a phrase that has been the buzzword for a few years now and it means different things to different people.  To me, partnering with parents is more than shoving a take-home paper in their hands at the end of the worship service.  I feel that it’s providing ongoing resources in a variety of experiences (not just programs, but experiences).  I am looking forward to this intensive pre-con track and will, hopefully, walk away with great ideas to implement at my church.

Saturday:  Many of my workshops will focus on different aspects of leading volunteers.  On Saturday morning, I’ll take Dale Hudson’s Building a Volunteer Team:  Enlisting Your Team.  Dale is one of my favorite kidmin bloggers, so I can’t wait to hear him share on this topic.  On Saturday afternoon, I’ll take Gina McClain’s Sustaining Growth in a Large Church.  I always love to hear from large church kidmin leaders.  And I really dig strong women leadership in kidmin.

Sunday:  Leading volunteers will continue as a theme on Sunday.  I am looking forward to Craig Jutila’s Why People Won’t Volunteer for You because I really want to know.  I am hopeful that he’ll address not only the “why not’s” but also strategies for effectively recruiting.

Monday:  Before heading home on Monday, I will sit in on Jenny Funderburke’s workshop, Building a Volunteer-Friendly Culture.  Again, I dig women leadership in kidmin and I have never heard Jenny speak.  Besides, I want to change the landscape of the volunteer culture of our ministry, so I’m thirsty for ideas.

I also have the privilege of leading the Thriving in Transition Connect Group at the Conference.  We’ll talk about what brought about the transition (promotion, a move to a new church, switching from kidmin to student ministry or vice versa, etc.).

I will try to blog throughout the weekend and if I get caught up in CELEBRATING too much, I’ll post the notes when I return home.  If you’re attending KidMin, I’d love to meet you!

Handouts have been printed and my stack of business cards are banded together.  All I have to do now is pack my bags and be on my way!  Lord willing I’ll see you soon, friends!

Are you attending the KidMin Conference?  If so, what workshops are you taking?

Do You Not See It?

Kathie Phillips 4 Comments

“For I am about to do something new.

See, I have already begun!  Do you not see it?”

Isaiah 43:19

I am about to enter a new season of ministry leadership at my church.  As I do so, I believe in God’s sovereignty, timing and call on my life.  He has orchestrated all of the details that have led up to this time and I walk in confidence that He goes before me.

One day, as the realities of this new season began to sink in, my mind was flooded with thoughts about the word “new“.  So, in true blogger fashion, I took to my computer and jotted down my thoughts.  Here’s what I wrote:

New is exciting.  New is refreshing.

New is unlimited possibilities.  New is full of promise.

New is scary.  New is uncertain.

New is exhausting.  New is learning all over again.

God is sovereign.  God is faithful.

God is loving.  God is awesome.

God is a provider.  God is my Father.

New is needed.  God is good.

Earlier this week, I read a timely word in my Jesus Calling devotional that stopped me in my tracks.  Here’s a photo of what I read (note my highlighted and underlined portions):

Jesus Calling June 4

As I walk through the days ahead, I choose to walk through demanding days by gripping the hand of my Savior and walking in confidence that He who called me is faithful (1 Thessalonians 5:24).  Amen!

My Thoughts on Milestones as a Mom and KidMin Leader

Kathie Phillips 4 Comments

When I became a mom 17 years ago, older women would say, “Cherish every moment.  They grow up very quickly.”  As a mom of young children, I honestly couldn’t fathom them growing up quickly.  I was trying to survive each day!  It felt like they’d be little forever and that I’d always be changing diapers, getting up during the night, picking up toys countless time a day, vacuuming up Cheerios, potty training and chasing after children who liked to run and explore everything!  These days, I find myself giving that same timeless and true advice to moms of young children, with the preface, “You might not believe this right now, but…”

This year has been a huge year of milestones for my children, who are now ages 17 and almost 14.  Milestones are nothing new; my children have hit many over the course of their young lives.  It’s only when there are a TON of milestones in one year that it’s get to be a bit overwhelming.  A few major milestones marked this year include:  learner’s permit, class ring/ring banquet, Prom, becoming a high school senior (my son) and yesterday, my daughter graduating from the 8th Grade.  I have had a wide range of emotions, that’s for sure!

I’ve viewed the events of this year through two lenses: my Mom lens and my KidMin leader lens.

As a Mom, I wonder, Have we, as their parents, done enough?  What could we have done differently?  Have we given them the tools to make their own decisions and live on their own?  The time really has gone by fast.  My mom has told me (and countless other women) about seasons of motherhood.  I would describe this season of motherhood as the preparing to launch season.  This particular season has found me being way more intentional in helping them to pray more purposefully, resolve relational conflict in healthy ways, be sure about what they believe and why, live out their faith courageously, manage their time, take care of their things and manage their money better.

As a KidMin leader, I wonder, How do we as leaders help parents navigate the many seasons of parenthood?  Do we mark and celebrate spiritual and life milestones with them?  Are we intentional as children transition from one area of ministry to another?  These questions have kept my KidMin leader working overtime lately and will become part of my focus for the upcoming ministry year.  It is important that my team and I recognize that parents (1) like to celebrate milestones in their children’s lives and (2) they need guidance on what to expect, support from their church and support from other parents going through a similar season and those who’ve already lived through those seasons.

I will be dusting off a few of my resources to give our team a good foundation to brainstorm from.  Some of the resources I’m turning to are:

The Legacy Path:  Discover Intentional Spiritual Parenting by Brian Haynes

*He also had a website, which you can check out here.

Take It Home:  Inspiration and Events to Help Parents Spiritually Transform Their Children by Mark Holmen

Parents, how are you marking milestones in your child’s life?

KidMin leaders, how is your ministry helping parents celebrate and navigate milestones and transitions?  What resources do you use?  I am looking for ideas to please share away!