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The Most Important People

July 14, 2008 in Blog, Uncategorized with 3 Comments

I’m writing this post to you from my BlackBerry on my way to teen camp.  I was just looking through the photos on my phone, and noticed one that I had taken at IKEA just last Saturday.

The photo was of the entrance to the Children’s IKEA area.  On this arch are written the words: “For the most important people in the world.”

IKEA has figured it out.  Most people reading this blog have figured it out at some point.  Children are the most important people in the world.

So many times, it’s easy to forget this, even as children’s ministers.  Children’s ministers spend so much time “doing their jobs” that they forget what’s truly important: building vital relationships with children to transform their lives for God.

You also have to remember to remind your pastors and church members why children are so important, because they don’t see the ministry at work week to week.  They’re even harder to remind.

I don’t know about you, but I want to do with my life what is most important.  Kids are that thing.  So just remember: the world has figured out how important kids are.  We need to remember that too.  And that’s the way I see it.

The One Thing

June 27, 2008 in Blog, Uncategorized with 3 Comments

I went into Starbucks this morning to get a Grande Iced Coffee.  While I was waiting, I was looking at the wall art and noticed a theme: the one thing.  It’s repeated over and over all over the walls.

At Starbucks, their one thing is obvious.  It’s coffee.  Yes, they do pastries, tea, and other things too, but coffee is who they are.  It’s what they excel at.

Each of us need to have our one thing.  The thing we’re great at, our passion, our way of life.  For me, my personal one thing is passionately sharing with children not only what Christians believe, but why we believe it.   Our church’s children’s ministry’s one thing is raising kids to be their best physically, mentally, and spiritually.  KidzMatter’s one thing is to partner with churches to help them to make an eternal impact in the lives of kids.

Continue Reading…

Congratulations Ryan!

May 19, 2008 in Blog, Uncategorized with 3 Comments

Hey, this is Evan! Something very exciting happened yesterday: Ryan celebrated 10 years of full time ministry at our home church, Liberty Baptist. All along, his wife Beth has been serving with him in ministry. To show him the church’s appreciation, we threw a surprise party for Ryan and Beth yesterday during the evening service. It was an exciting night as we looked back over the 10 years Ryan has been at Liberty full time. And even more exciting, we were reminded of how thankful we are that the fashion from the late 90s is over!

Ryan means a lot to our church, as well as to many of you. So if you have a funny story, thank you, or anything else you would like us to share with Ryan, just leave a comment on below! This is our little way of showing Ryan how much his church family and his online family care!

Now, what Ryan didn’t know was that behind his back I sent an email to several of our Way We See It subscribers and asked for their comments to share with him. Here a just a few of them I’ve received:

“As children’s pastors, in networks of children’s pastors, we are learning, sharing, growing, and spreading God’s love in new and creative ways because kidz matter. You may never see or meet all the lives impacted this side of heaven, but heaven will be different because of your investment in the lives of leaders in the here and now. Your investment in the kids you minister to each week has ripple effects as you challenge, grow and stretch each of us. Thanks for allowing God to use you to make a difference in the Kingdom for kids, families, teachers, and leaders.” Susan Hoak

“Thank you, Ryan, for allowing God to use you to touch the lives of so many kids and those who minister to kids. It is easy to see that kids really do matter to you. I have been blessed through your ministry. Keep pressing on!” Melinda Autry

“Please add me to the count of Children’s Pastors that is so appreciative of Ryan and Beth for the support they provide through their friendship, Kidzmatter.com, the Blog, as well as the workshops Ryan leads. May God continue to use Ryan for the advancement of His kingdom at Liberty Baptist and throughout the world!” Deana Hayes

“I’ve always appreciated Pastor Ryan and Beth’s drive for the Lord. Whenever I think of Pastor Ryan and Beth I think of hard work, enthusiasm for God’s work, and most of all, integrity. Both Ryan and Beth are vital members of our congregation and the body of Christ as a whole. We, at Liberty, are so blessed to call them family!” Briana Pickering

Seuss and the Bible: Green Eggs and Ham/The Lorax

April 27, 2008 in Blog, Uncategorized with 2 Comments

For those of you new to the blog or with very short memories (who, you?), you can view the first Seuss and the Bible post here.

Last time, I went over some truths we can learn from Horton Hears a Who.  This time our focus shifts to two more of Seuss’ stories.

Green Eggs and Ham:  If you can’t remember why your children always come home with green tongues on Seuss’ birthday, here’s the 5 second plot summary: Two friends.  Friend #1 has lots of enthusiasm about his great new food, green eggs and ham.  Friend #2 is (much) less enthusiastic.  Eventually Friend #2 gives into Friend #1, and ends up loving green eggs and ham. Continue Reading…

PowerPoint Tips for Your Services

April 20, 2008 in Blog, Uncategorized with 0 Comments

Tonight I was reading over at another blog of a children’s minister online.  His name is Hiew Hong Teck, and he’s a children’s pastor over in Singapore.  He had some great tips for developing your PowerPoint presentations.  They were just so good that I had to share them with you.  You can check them out at his blog, ragsstudio.

Legal Mumbo Jumbo Stuff: As always, any links posted here on The Way We See It are not controlled by us.  We don’t necessarily agree with everything that may be said on a third-party site, but we do recognize there is some great content out there on some blogs.  So enjoy! 

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