I also attend conferences to be exposed to bigger vision. I believe that there is nothing more contagious than a God inspired, Spirit lead vision. I’m the type learner that it helps me to see something with my own eyes. It’s easier for me to grasp by seeing than just hearing or reading about it only. Seeing a big vision in action has always helped me to catch the vision. I think that big vision is easier caught than taught and that being exposed to a larger vision than what you presently have and open your eyes to the possibility of “I can do this too!” Read More »
I also attend conferences to be exposed to bigger vision. I believe that there is nothing more contagious than a God inspired, Spirit lead vision. I’m the type learner that it helps me to see something with my own eyes. It’s easier for me to grasp by seeing than just hearing or reading about it only. Seeing a big vision in action has always helped me to catch the vision. I think that big vision is easier caught than taught and that being exposed to a larger vision than what you presently have and open your eyes to the possibility of “I can do this too!”
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The first national children’s ministry conference I heard about was the Fellowship of Christian Magicians Conference. (It was much more than magic, there were workshops on every type of ministry performance methods to children there where back then) I wanted to attend so badly but my church did not have a conference budget so I remember getting the brochure listing the workshops and workshop speakers and after the event I looked up some of the presenters phone numbers and called them and asked them about their workshops and asked for any notes or cassette recording they had I could get my hands on them. One of the people who took my call and sent me his notes was Dick Gruber. Dick thought I was some” country bumpkin” from the south calling him up asking him to teach me “how to do clown ministry over the telephone.” Not only did I find out what I wanted to learn but it was the start of a wonderful friendship. In fact, most of the dearest and best friends I have on this earth I met at a conference. Read More »
The first national children’s ministry conference I heard about was the Fellowship of Christian Magicians Conference. (It was much more than magic, there were workshops on every type of ministry performance methods to children there where back then) I wanted to attend so badly but my church did not have a conference budget so I remember getting the brochure listing the workshops and workshop speakers and after the event I looked up some of the presenters phone numbers and called them and asked them about their workshops and asked for any notes or cassette recording they had I could get my hands on them. One of the people who took my call and sent me his notes was Dick Gruber. Dick thought I was some” country bumpkin” from the south calling him up asking him to teach me “how to do clown ministry over the telephone.” Not only did I find out what I wanted to learn but it was the start of a wonderful friendship. In fact, most of the dearest and best friends I have on this earth I met at a conference.
When I first wrote this article for K! I started to entitle it “Confessions of a conference junkie!” You see my name is Jim and yes I am a conference-a-holic! This is where I hear you say “Hi Jim!” I’ve been attending conferences a long time, a really long time. Now that I add it up, I’ve been attending some type of conference every year for almost four decades. Big ones, small ones, one day ones, multi-day ones even “come spend a week with us ones” and then if that was not enough I started speaking at conferences in 1980. You would think this would scratch my conference itch but then not only did I keep attending conferences and speaking at conferences I started hosting conferences that only lead me to the hard stuff , organinizing and putting on conferences. Yes you could say I have a serious conference addiction. Read More »
When I first wrote this article for K! I started to entitle it “Confessions of a conference junkie!” You see my name is Jim and yes I am a conference-a-holic! This is where I hear you say “Hi Jim!” I’ve been attending conferences a long time, a really long time. Now that I add it up, I’ve been attending some type of conference every year for almost four decades. Big ones, small ones, one day ones, multi-day ones even “come spend a week with us ones” and then if that was not enough I started speaking at conferences in 1980. You would think this would scratch my conference itch but then not only did I keep attending conferences and speaking at conferences I started hosting conferences that only lead me to the hard stuff , organinizing and putting on conferences. Yes you could say I have a serious conference addiction.
I have always loved football. When it came to college football I have always had 2 favorite teams, Alabama and whoever is playing Auburn! Growin up when there was just 3 TV channels on your TV. I watched whatever games came on. I grew up watching the Colts, Jets, Raiders and the Packers too, I liked them because of some of the famous players they had on their teams but somewhere in my teen age years I became a Saints fan. When I went to college in Mississippi the Saints came on every Sunday. Even though they didn't win i still loved them. Every year when it was time for Super Bowl I would always say... I'm a Saints Fan....Super Bowl means nothing to me! Read More »
It's here our third tender Tennessee Christmas. I thought it would never get here then...24 days of gift wraping, 1 children's musical, 2 nights of our Christmas Musical, Miss Patty Cake Christmas for preschoolers, A Fancy Yancy Christmas Family Concert, 2 weekends of food drive, two weekends of Toys for Tots, an occupancy permit from the city, and 3 Christmas Eve services in our new building later and it's here. Read More »
I got a wonderful text a couple of years ago around this time from my good friend and one of my hero's in the faith Steve Dixon Read More »
The more you ask the more you learn and the better you get at asking questions! Read More »
My favorite questions1. What would you do differently?2. What are you reading? (Book recommendations)3. Why is this an important read?4. Where do you get ideas? (What or who inspires you?)5. What trends, gages, & statistics do you watch? (Coming as well as present) Read More »
What kind of questions should you ask?1. Ask things to learn how & why2. Ask things to understand more3. Ask things that promote thought4. Ask questions that help you evaluate yourself and your thinking5. Ask questions to grow Read More »