Ministry-To-Children.com » Children’s Ministry Links

Angry Birds Curriculum from CMD

Guest Writer — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:08:42 +0000

There’s a new curriculum series for Children’s Ministry called THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT available from CMD. It’s based on iPhone apps and it’s pretty cool. There’s 12 different lessons, and they’re all pretty clever, but my favorite is the Angry Words lesson based on the iPhone app Angry Birds. Click the graphic below to check it out.

For our May giveaway, we’re giving away 10 of the Angry Words lessons to 10 lucky people.

The giveaway ended Friday, May 11 and the winners were notified by email.

What Makes Ministry Training “Good” and “Bad”?

Tony Kummer — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:07:05 +0000

As most of you know, I’ve been working on a new project called the KidMin Academy. It’s off to a great start and right now you can check out about 20 training workshops 100% free. Here is a recent interview where I talk about the project and what makes for “good” ministry training. This recording is from MYCAL ROSALES and the Napkin Conference.

I’d love to hear what you think of these questions. Just leave a comment below to share your thoughts. What do you think makes for a good training workshop?

Pinterest: A New Internet Tool for Children’s Ministry

Nicole VanderMeulen — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:31:44 +0000

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a visual pinboard that allows you to save, organize, and share all the inspirational things you find on the web. It’s like the bookmark tool on your browser, only WAY better!

Pinterest not only allows you to effortlessly save and organize ideas you love, but it makes it easy to share them, and provides the opportunity to be inspired by looking through the items “pinned” by other people who share your interests. You’ll find everything from recipes and home décor, to fashion inspiration, craft ideas, quotes, humor, photography tips, and travel information.

What does it have to do with my ministry?

If you’ve ever “Googled” to find an idea for a snack, game, lesson, event, craft, quote, or Bible verse, then Pinterest is for you. For example, if you were trying to plan a Trunk or Treat event, you could create a board especially for that event and add ideas for food, treats, decorations, costumes, games, and more (check out Tony Kummer’s version here after you join). These ideas could be things you “pin” when you stumble across them on a blog or website, but more likely it’s inspiration you have gained browsing or searching through the “pins” of others on Pinterest.

While you will find crafts, scripture, and ideas specific to the Bible, with a little imagination and creativity it’s easy to tweak “pinspiration” to apply to your ministry. I discovered this mod paper pumpkin craft by searching Pinterest and then modified and used the project to practice looking up Bible verses, by adding a label with a different scripture reference on each strip of orange paper.

Another way I have already found Pinterest extremely helpful is for dreaming up small gifts and tokens of appreciation for my volunteers. I have an entire board dedicated to “to give” ideas, like this adorable coffee inspired thank you card.

How do I get started?

Visit www.pinterest.com and request an invitation to join. Within a few days, you will receive an email message with log in directions. Any Pinterest member can invite others, so if you just can’t wait, leave your email below and I will invite you! Pinterest has a simple format and user friendly help section, which you may want to visit first. The best way to learn about Pinterest is to just join and play with it. You can’t mess it up! If you have a question, leave it in the comments below and we’ll try to help.

Pinterest allows you to customize your profile. You can choose who to “follow” and you can select to see everything they “pin” or just pick and choose certain “boards” that interest you. I would love for you to follow me at http://pinterest.com/nicole_vander You can check out my recipe file and home décor ideas, or just to choose to follow my kids’ crafts board. You can event browse pins from Ministry-To-Children on the site. It’s all up to you!

Now get “pinning”! And be careful, it’s definitely interesting AND addicting!

Notes from LifeWay’s 2011 Kids Ministry Conference

Tony Kummer — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:38:45 +0000

This week I’m in Nashville for LifeWay’s Kids Ministry Conference.

I’m teaching a few workshops and helping them write about the event on their website. This post will link to all the notes as they become available. You can also follow the conference on Twitter with the #kmc11 tag.

Ed Stetzer (website | twitter) He shared a message about raising children who belong to Christ’s kingdom.
Jon Acuff (website | twitter) His message was both entertaining and inspiring. He offered three specific ways ministry leaders can speaking the lives of church parents.
Tim Elmore (website | twitter) His talk was titled “Performing a balancing act with our kids” and focused on the challenges of raising kids from the iYPete Wilson (website | twitter) He spoke from Genesis 37 and the story of Joseph to encourage ministry workers to respond in faith when their dreams are shattered.generation.
Michael Kelley (website) He preached from John 11 and shared how we can help parents when their children are suffering.
Angie Smith (website | twitter) She gave a powerful testimony about trusting God in the storms of life.
Pete Wilson (website | twitter) He spoke from Genesis 37 and the story of Joseph to encourage ministry workers to respond in faith when their dreams are shattered.

Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar (and Kids!)

Top 100 Children’s Ministry Blogs (New Update for 2011)

Tony Kummer — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 04:14:14 +0000

This is our latest attempt to recognize the best of the kidsmin bloggers. Browse the list to discover new blogs and see where your favorites rank. Click here to read about the factors or grab a badge for your site. You can also compare the original rankings from last September.

Update: We’re not too proud to make corrections (or add new blogs) to this list over the next 12 hours. So leave a comment if you catch my mistakes.

	Blog Name	G.R.S.	F.B.	MozPA	G.I.	B.M.	Total
	Average Scores	41.8	23.3	24.3	707		30.4
1	Children’s Ministry Online	365	39	42	3530	1	89.14
2	sam luce	203	16	43	2720	1	75.7
3	Orange Leaders	215	9	37	1660	1	66.89
4	Kidologist.com	198	3	33	3370	1	66.72
5	Kidmin360.com	160	19	41	929	1	65.48
6	Life2gether	206	10	40	2370		61.53
7	Kid Inspiration	273	27	36	1800		61.09
8	jonathancliff.com	62	8	46	2550	1	58.38
9	Inside Northpoint Kids	250	25	37	656		56.94
10	Free CM Stuff	83	5	37	1190	1	56.44
11	Dad In The Middle	29	0	39	1770	1	56.38
12	Roger Fields	47	30	40	297	1	55.55
13	Lemon Lime Kids	56	7	37	1440	1	55.51
14	Matt McKee Live	126	4	42	1460		55.09
15	Cullen’s Abc’s	1	344	36	548		54.95
16	Kidmin1124	67	16	36	374	1	52.42
17	What’s In the Bible	62	22	44	898		52
18	JUST PUDGE	46	10	39	3010		51.83
19	Kids Ministry 101	102	44	42	210		51.65
20	GinaMcClain.com	83	12	40	1630		51.15
21	The Inclusive Church	144	247	25	1100		50.33
22	CM Buzz	64	39	39	1630		50.23
23	Justyn Smith	49	17	33	475	1	48.58
24	Growing Kids Ministry	49	65	39	948		48.43
25	Mike Johnson	35	171	36	117		47.24
26	SojournKids	63	20	39	705		46.37
27	Scripture Lady	21	85	39	537		46.3
28	CentriKid Camps Blog	45	118	34	1100		46.28
29	The Thursday Blog	82	13	39	254		45.9
30	Smalltownkidmin Blog	21	6	32	387	1	44.89
31	Legacy Blog	87	50	34	559		44.02
32	Commander Bill’s Blog	13	7	30	907	1	44.01
33	Building Faith	35	46	33	1690		42.83
34	Children’s Ministry 1234	48	20	36	758		42.53
35	Sunday School Revolutionary!	40	1	33	2190		42.46
36	JC is ONLINE	44	3	35	1400		42.39
37	Christianity Cove	17	41	36	1010		42.29
38	Brick by Brick	263	59	20	375		41.64
39	Children’s Ministry Magazine Blog	212	14	25	242		40.58
40	Dan Scott	58	12	32	1320		40.53
41	Cory Center	19	6	36	698		39.71
42	West Coast CM	87	3	20	1130	1	39.43
43	Dick Gruber	12	19	36	478		39.22
44	Children’s Minister BLOG	92	5	31	538		39.04
45	Jim Wideman	147	52	16	199	1	39.01
46	JamieDoyle(dot)com	41	4	34	550		38.63
47	About the Children’s Dept.	9	7	25	831	1	38.51
48	Ryan Frank*	2	2	38	21		38.3
49	Help! I’m a Children’s Pastor	3	7	36	247		37.31
50	iTODD	5	6	35	357		36.73
51	Jenny Funderburke	22	0	34	228		36.17
52	Joe McAlpine	23	24	33	140		36.16
53	Revival Fire For Kids Blog	26	4	31	913		35.74
54	Leadership Whenever	31	0	33	55		35.24
55	Effective Childrens Ministry	37	11	31	358		35.12
56	DOPCANDY	0	1	20	4840		34.94
57	DiscipleBlog.com	19	48	30	404		34.91
58	Rags Studio	18	1	33	167		34.76
59	Kidhelper.com	33	1	29	981		34.27
60	PreteenMinistry.net Blog	21	3	31	529		34.18
61	Creative Kids Pastor	35	2	30	463		33.86
62	brennaphillips.com	4	15	30	915		33.83
63	nickblevins.com	53	0	29	394		33.75
64	Train Up The Child	29	43	28	479		33.56
65	Relevant Children’s Ministry	114	131	17	631		33.09
66	Dustin Nickerson	22	2	31	114		32.92
67	Works of God Displayed	44	25	27	445		32.55
68	A Heart After Children	16	6	31	1		32.37
69	Divorce Ministry 4 Kids	3	18	31	70		32.32
70	CapCity Kidz	13	3	30	311		31.97
71	It’s a kids ministry Revolution baby!	30	1	28	447		31.43
72	Girls Ministry	14	17	29	190		31.37
73	LifeWay VBS Blog	6	199	13	2550		31.2
74	Impulsive Joy	30	12	28	150		31.06
75	Apparently Blogging	32	127	22	0		30.48
76	Jeremy Mavis	1	0	28	679		30.16
77	KidTrek: Sunday Plus	5	7	28	282		29.55
78	CTA, Inc.	11	2	24	1170		28.43
79	Nate Fietzer	0	0	28	85		28.26
80	West Side Kids	7	0	23	1250		27.31
81	Acacia in the Desert	8	0	26	214		27.19
–	Simply Jeff	14	3	25	323		27.08
82	Molded	13	1	24	473		26.37
83	Danielle Bell	9	9	25	53		26.21
84	Evan Doyle	10	0	24	426		25.98
85	Family Regeneration	9	4	23	626		25.73
86	ApostolicCM	5	2	24	398		25.66
87	Ministry Idea Studios	17	0	24	98		25.43
88	The Children’s Hour	112	9	16	484		25.41
89	Infuzed	4	12	23	491		25.38
90	Kidmin and Culture	9	2	21	1170		25.3
–	Little People Big Word	4	17	23	368		25.25
91	Jason Martin	4	5	24	145		24.96
92	Kids Pastor Kathy	5	0	24	67		24.54
93	Commotion from the Ocean of Life	28	2	20	791		24.4
94	Diving for Pearls	21	127	15	348		23.82
95	Maximize Children’s Ministry	0	26	22	83		23.56
96	Church4EveryChild	25	25	17	1150		23.46
97	GJ Farmer’s Blog	6	2	22	41		22.63
98	Pro 226	0	32	19	292		21.5
99	The Fake Kidmin	4	0	20	41		20.4
100	Children’s Ministry Blog	57	15	15	211		20.2

How These Rankings Work

We started with a list of over 150 children’s ministry blogs. After hours of research, we crunched all the numbers according to our proprietary fuzzy math. Then we added instant coffee with just a hint of cinnamon. Here’s how the factors breakdown.

G.R.S. = Google Readers Subscribers

This comes from the the Google Reader API. This year’s number does count multiple RSS feeds, as long as they are linked from your homepage. For most blogs, this contributed around 20% of their base score.

F.B. = Facebook Shares of Homepage

This is a simple count of the number of people who have shared your blog’s main page on Facebook. It’s a rough way to estimate how socially engage your audience is with your site. For most of our list, this contributed around 10% of their base score.

PA= Page Authority
This is based on Open Site Explorer’s link graph. More quality sites linking to a blog indicate a positive reputation. This metric accounts for around half of our ranking formula.

PI= Pages Indexed
This is the number of pages from a site stored in Google’s index. It can indicate whether a site has a large collection of original content. Most sites we listed could expect around 20% of their base score to come from this figure.

Bonus = Blog Madness Votes
Last March we let the Internet decide which kidmin blogs were the most popular. So I added a bonus from the final 16 blogs in our tournament according to their total votes. This indicates a loyal readership that will take action based on your recommendations. This adds around 10% to the theoretical base score, consider it extra credit.

Factors Not Considered

Traffic Estimates: These are notoriously unreliable and often mean nothing. Good traffic growth is closely related to all the factors above.
Technorati: Their authority rankings fluctuate too wildly to reflect a blog’s long term importance.
Personal Preference: My attempt was to make this objective.
Comment Counts: I just didn’t have time to sample the comment numbers from each blogs recent 25 posts.

There you have it! Please leave your comments below to dispute the list or it’s math. If you’re one of these bloggers, you can also write up your thoughts on this list on a post on your own site.

Here is a simple text link.

We Made the Top 100 Children’s Ministry Blogs

For the simple text link, just copy and paste this html code:

We Made the Top 100 Children's Ministry Blogs!

Here is a 200 px wide badge.

For the 200 px button, just copy and paste this code.

Here is a 120 px wide badge.

For the 120 px button, just copy and paste this code.

Verse Hero: Online Bible Memory Game for Kids

Tony Kummer — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:38:15 +0000

A few months back, we added a new ministry partner called Impress Kids, they make Bible memory apps and online games for kids. Check out the video below to see my demo of their latest game called “Verse Hero.” You can also try it free on their website.

I’d love to hear what you think of this new tool for Bible memory. Click here to leave me a comment. Share what you like or don’t like about this online Bible memory game. You can also watch my demonstration video directly on YouTube.

What is your church doing for the 9/11 Anniversary?

Tony Kummer — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:46:07 +0000

This Sunday will mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States. In many ways this was a defining moment for a generation. What special events does your church have planned? Take the poll and then leave a comment to share your ideas.

Take Our Poll

September 11, 2011 will mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

9/11 Children’s Ministry Ideas

Only the oldest kids in your ministry will even remember 9/11. For most it will be the most recent of historical events they have only heard about. Here are a few ideas to mark this special day in your Sunday School or Children’s Church.

Download our free God Bless America coloring pages. We created this resource especially for this anniversary. It would be a flexible choice for those who don’t want to go too in-depth about the events of 9/11. We have also uploaded a Firefighter coloring page, thanking God for everyday heroes.

The Revival Fire blog has some ideas for marking September 11th in your ministry. These include sharing your own testimony about that day, praying for our country, or planning mission to Arab countries.

There have been some helpful conversations on the Kidology forums about 9/11 and church activities. Some churches are focusing on honoring first responders.

Scholastic has posted resources for teachers and families on their website. These includes tips and full lesson plans. This might be a good place to generate your own ideas too.

No related posts.

Interview about Group’s Kidmin Conference

Tony Kummer — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:33:12 +0000

Have you heard the buzz building about Group’s Kidmin Conference? Here is a quick video I made with Christine Yount Jones who is helping plan the event.

Update: They have updated their website with all the details you need. I just got the conference flyer in the mail last week. Here is a link to view it online as a PDF.

Deeper Learning Tracks: 8 hours | 4 class sessions

Deeper Learning Tracks offer a progressive series of four classes (2
hours each) for a total of eight intense hours focused on that topic
with the same speaker(s).

Early Childhood Ministry: Reaching and Teaching Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers | Jennifer Hooks & Barbara Price
Authentic Leadership: Who You Are Makes the Biggest Difference | Craig Jutila
Your First Two Years in Ministry | Dick Gruber
Preteen Ministry That’ll Knock Your Socks Off | Nick Diliberto & Patrick Snow
Discovering, Equipping, & Empowering Volunteers That Stick | Jim Wideman
Business 101: Handling “the Job” Part of Your Ministry | Jay Hostetler & Todd Hostetler
What It Takes to Finally Reach Families Today | Brian Haynes
Strategic Planning: Guiding Your Ministry With Purpose | Greg Baird
What Children With Special Needs Wish You Knew | Pat Verbal
Kids’ Spiritual Development: How Kids’ Faith Really Grows | Holly Allen

Half-Track: 4 hours | 2 class sessions

If you want depth with more variety, Half Tracks are like Deeper

Learning Tracks, but in half the time! Half Tracks offer two class

sessions (2 hours each) for a total of four hours.

Making It for the Long Haul in Children’s Ministry | Dale Hudson
Developing Kids as Leaders | Alan Nelson
Thriving Children’s Ministry in Small Churches | Rick Chromey
IdeaSparks to Infuse Creativity in Your Ministry | Patty Smith
Leveraging Technology in Children’s Ministry | Kenny Conley
Discipline Philosophy, Strategy, and Tips That Work | Gordon West & Becki West
Fifth Wind—Reinventing Yourself Again…and Again! | Jeff Harmon

Half-Track: 4 hours | 2 class sessionsIf you want depth with more variety, Half Tracks are like DeeperLearning Tracks, but in half the time! Half Tracks offer two classsessions (2 hours each) for a total of four hours.1. Making It for the Long Haul in Children’s MinistryDale Hudson2. Developing Kids as LeadersAlan Nelson3. Thriving Children’s Ministry in Small ChurchesRick Chromey4. IdeaSparks to Infuse Creativity in Your MinistryPatty Smith5. Leveraging Technology in Children’s MinistryKenny Conley6. Discipline Philosophy, Strategy, and Tips That WorkGordon West & Becki West7. Fifth Wind—Reinventing Yourself Again…and Again!Jeff Harmon

The event is over one year about, but people are getting excited already. The event was announced in June, just after I go home from their PandaMania VBS field test. Here’s what we know so far about the upcoming conference:

It’s October 7 – 10, 2011 in Chicago
Christine Yount Jones from CM Magazine is taking a lead role in planning
Registration is already open (wow 13 months early!)
Some of the planning is crowd-sourced. They’ve been doing “brainstorming groups” and building an “Inside Track” from leaders in the field of kidmin.
They have announced “BOUNCE” as the theme.

Here is the description from their Facebook page:

* Deeper learning that leads to transformation
* Authentic conversations that become supportive relationships
* Renewed passion for the God you serve

No matter where you are in ministry, the KidMin Conference is your springboard to something new!

If you want to learn more, check out the official website and Facebook page or Twitter account. You can also watch my interview about the Group Kidmin conference on YouTube.

Kidmin Conference Rumors?

Now for the rumors, I caught this little nugget from preteenministry.net

The conference will be more relational than most out there. Roundtable discussion in affinity groups. Connect with others and swap ideas. No more “information overload” like most conference. It will be modeled in many ways after the SYM (Simply Youth Ministry) conference, but the focus is on Children’s Ministry. You will be able to choose different tracks to go on. It is going to be different in these ways and many others … What I am also stoked about is the preteen ministry focus. Not quite sure how it is all going to work out. A lot is still on the drawing board. But there will be some sort of preteen track.

Dale Hudson also left a hint about the conference on his blog:

Last week I was at Group Publishing. We were planning out a new KidMin conference that you will hear about soon. We were discussing key note speakers. One thing that we all agreed on was that we wanted key note speakers who were accessible. We don’t want someone who comes in, stays in the Green Room, does his/her deal on stage, and then takes off. We want speakers that people can talk with and interact with.

Chris Jones posted this on Twitter:

Enjoyed the last two days dreaming the 2011 KidMin Conference with sharp, sharp kidmins! #kidmin

What Do You Think?

Do you know any rumors about this event? It’s like a wise man once said, if you don’t have anything nice to say, just make something up. Leave a comment and start your best rumor about the kidmin conference.

Related Coverage: You can also check out my past adventures attending the Group VBS field test or watch my video from Children’s Ministry Expo.

Nine Special Needs Blogs for Kidmin

Wayne Stocks — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:05:31 +0000

There are many opinions out there when it comes to the issue of ministering to children with special needs. This is not my area of expertise. However, it is an important issue that our children’s ministries must address. Like most things, I agree with the perspectives of some of these blogs more than others, and I trust the authors of certain blogs more than others.

Bottom line, these sites all have something to offer. I have endeavored not to include my personal opinions in this list. Instead I have largely commented on the author(s) of each blog based on information available from their websites (sometimes simply copying their own information from their blogs). I will leave it to you, the reader, to draw your own conclusions and separate the wheat from the chaff. So, in no particular order, here are nine special needs blogs for your reading enjoyment.

You’re welcome to leave your comments and even recommend other blogs we’ve missed.

The Inclusive Church (http://theinclusivechurch.wordpress.com/).

Amy Fenton Lee is a freelance writer specializing in addressing ministry issues for church leaders. Her articles have been featured in a variety of national, regional, secular, and Christian publications. As a passionate children’s ministry volunteer and the daughter of a church senior pastor, Amy understands the unique subculture of the church. Amy feels called to equip the corporate faith community to successfully include children with various neurological and physical differences. Amy has researched for her writing and speaking by interviewing hundreds of parents of children with special needs, church leaders, and secular professionals from the fields of education, medicine, and law. Some of her best insight has come from attending continuing education for professionals as well as visiting special education classrooms and autism camp. Amy is a popular workshop presenter for ministry conferences.

Kidmin1124 (http://www.kidmin1124.com)

In the interest of full disclosure, I should note that I am the founder and editor of Kidmin1124. Our site is not 100% dedicated to special needs. Our goal is to equip and encourage the community of kidmin volunteers and those who lead them. We have a team of great writers who consistently put out top-notched articles. One of those writers is Tonya Langdon who specializes in writing practical and informative article related to special needs.

Tonya currently is spear heading The Agape Connections (special needs ministry), teaches the 4th & 5th grader Sunday school class and leads a support group for parents who have children with A.D.H.D. and Behavioral Disorders at Skyline Church in La Mesa, Ca. Tonya started her journey, working with children and teens with special needs, in high school where she was able to come along side and mentor them. After adopting Jonathan, she found that there was a huge need for reliable, accurate information and support for the parents of children who have behavioral or developmental challenges. In addition she found that most churches were not equipped to work with families which meant parents could not attend church services themselves. The Agape Connections work with families who have special needs children so the entire family is able to attend church services and age appropriate church activities (Awana’s Mud Run, Kidz Night Out, VBS, etc.). For more information on Tonya’s journey with special needs children visit www.specialneedskidz.com , www.skylinechurch.org, or on Facebook. In Tonya’s “free time” she is studying for ordination, writes articles and co-owns an office products business with her brother. To find all of Tonya’s articles, click on the following link: http://kidmin1124.com/author/tonya/

Joni and Friends Blog (http://www.joniandfriends.org/blog/)

Joni and Friends is built on Biblical truth and the foundation of Jesus Christ. We are about advancing disability ministry and changing the church and communities around the world. The Joni and Friends International Disability Center (IDC) serves as the administrative center for ministries which provide outreach to thousands of families affected by disability around the globe. We invite you to browse our website to discover more ways you can be involved with our global outreach to the disability community!

Diving for Pearls (http://katiewetherbee.wordpress.com/)

Katie Wetherbee completed her undergraduate work at Vanderbilt University, where she majored in Special Education and Human & Organizational Development. Katie began her teaching career in the Washington, DC area at a public school. Since then, she has taught in a variety of settings, including a community college, a psychiatric hospital day school and a learning center. Katie holds a master’s degree in education from Hood College, where she served on the adjunct faculty for the Reading Specialist program.

Currently, Katie works as an educational consultant in private practice. Her firm, HOPE Educational Consulting, serves families in over 90 school districts and private schools in Ohio by providing solution-oriented advocacy. Her own experience as a mother to a child with special needs, along with her teaching background, gives Katie a unique perspective on advocacy.

A Different Dream for My Child (http://www.differentdream.com/)

DifferentDream.com is a gathering place for parents of special needs children. Dads and moms in the hospital with seriously or terminally ill kids feel isolated. So do parents whose children live with mental disabilities or chronic illnesses.

If you’re one of those parents, DifferentDream.com can help you find answers to questions like:

Why did God let this happen to our child?
Where do we find strength to deal with this diagnosis?
How do we navigate life in the hospital?
How do we juggle life inside and outside the hospital?
When we take our chronically ill child home, how will we cope?
What will life be like if our child dies?
If our child survives, how do we regain a normal life?

This is the blog of Jolene Philo.

Chosen Families (http://chosenfamilies.org/)

The mission of ChosenFamilies.org is to provide resources, connections and encouragement to families with hidden disabilities and to educate and provide resources to religious leaders as they minister to families with these needs. ChosenFamilies.org will be a platform where people can exchange creative ideas to meet the challenges of living and prospering within a family with special needs. We will endeavor to inform, educate, inspire, motivate, and encourage families and churches in this vitally important mission. This blog brings together a number of authors to write for the site.

Church for Every Child (http://drgrcevich.wordpress.com/)

Dr. Steve Grcevich is a physician specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry. He’s had opportunities to do research, teach, speak and travel extensively with my day job. He also serves as President of Key Ministry offering free training, consultation and resources to churches seeking to welcome, include and serve families of kids with “hidden disabilities,” ADHD, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders and bipolar disorder. He serves on the board of his local church and is interested in how the church can do a better job of partnering with families in helping kids grow spiritually.

Autism From the Lighter Side (http://autismfromthelighterside.wordpress.com/)

Elizabeth Givler explains, “Like many women, I wear many hats! I’m a wife, mom, teacher, speaker, writer, blogger, and I have started a home business.

I empower and equip others to live fulfilling lives:

I facilitate disability awareness workshops for non-profit / faith based organizations, especially in the area of autism.
I research and write about things that make it “easier” to live life to the fullest– whether it is about products that make my life easier, resources for daily living, or community organizations that offer needed services.
I blog about what lightens my load as an autism mom.
I equip people who are “crazy busy” and health conscious to have quick, easy, and healthy meals that everyone will love through my Wildtree business. I provide a means to connect with other like-minded people through the Wildtree home parties.
I teach clarinet lessons to those who want to learn, including students who have autism, so that they may have a creative outlet and find a place to belong.
I have three kids, two of whom are on the autism spectrum. Everyday is about learning, teaching and growing. There is never a dull moment!

The Works of God Displayed (http://www.theworksofgoddisplayed.com/)

Shannon Dingle has an MAEd in Special Education. She is a former special education teacher, the wife to one and a stay-at-home mom to two. She is also the Special needs ministry coordinator at her church. She is passionate about sharing the Gospel with everyone, including those with disabilities. The tagline to this blog is “because a church that loves Jesus must also be one that loves people with special needs.”

BONUS BLOG:

All Access (http://www.accessministryblog.com/)

After posting this article, I received a couple of suggestions for an addition to the list. Since they were all for the same blog, I’ve gone ahead and added it here. Consider this one a “bonus blog” for free. I know I’m glad to have found it!

The All Access blog is run by Jackie Mills-Fernald. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it.

Access Ministry is the “disability ministry” of McLean Bible Church. While the word “disability” is used, we prefer to think of Access as a ministry of “possibilities” not defined by what can’t be done but rather by what all individuals regardless of ability level can achieve in God’s house. We believe in Access to God for all His people and celebrate our uniqueness and differences. It is our hope to develop all people into fully-devoted followers of Christ, integrated into the church.

Access Ministry has a holistic approach to care for individuals with disabilities and their families by providing spiritual, physical, and emotional care. We accomplish this through an incredibly passionate staff and core group of volunteers with servant hearts.

Top 10 Church Leadership Blogs for Kidmin

Wayne Stocks — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:23:02 +0000

Many of those who work in children’s ministry are leaders. Whether you are the Children’s Pastor or a weekly volunteer, there is a lot to be learned from reading about leadership. In no particular order, here are ten of my favorite blogs dealing with the issue of leadership:

1. Michael Hyatt (http://michaelhyatt.com/). Michael Hyatt is the chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishing. This is his personal blog where he focuses on what he calls “intentional leadership.”

2. Seth Godin (http://sethgodin.typepad.com/). Seth Godin is a well known author and blogger. There is always something to be gleaned from his prolific writing.

3. Perry Noble (http://www.perrynoble.com/). Perry Noble is an outspoken kind of guy. He is the Senior Pastor at new Spring Church in South Carolina. Though he has scaled back his writing, one of the things he still writes frequently about is leadership.

4. Carey Neiuwhof (http://careynieuwhof.com/). Carey Neiuwhof is the Lead Pastor at Connexus Community Church in Toronto, Canada. His articles tackle all kinds of issues pertinent to leadership.

5. Jim Wideman (http://jimwideman.blogspot.com/). Jim Wideman is a leader in the children’s ministry community. He is an author, a speaker, a blogger, a children’s pastor, and a youth pastor. He has been a leading voice in children’s ministry for years. I think he would tell you that his most important role though is as a father, and now a grandfather. Jim writes prolifically and oftentimes about leadership specifically in the field of children’s ministry.

6. Donald Miller (http://donmilleris.com/). This is not your typical leadership blog. Donald Miller is the well know author of such books as “Blue Like Jazz” and “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.” I included him in this category because he feel he brings something unique to the table which other leadership blogs do not. He will challenge the way you think and the way you act.

7. Coach Shef (http://www.coachshef.com/). Coach Shef is Tom Shefchunas. We should start by thanking him for the shorter name. Coach Shef is the Multi-Campus Director of Middle School at NorthPoint Community Church in Georgia. In this blog he writes about leadership from a coach’s perspective offering keen insights and wisdom.

8. Tony Morgan (http://tonymorganlive.com/). Tony Morgan is the Campus Pastor of the Oak Leaf Campus and serves on the leadership team of West Ridge Church near Atlanta. He is also the well known author of the book “Killing Cockroaches.” His blog deals specifically and practically with issues related to church leadership.

9. Ed Stetzer (http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer). Ed Stetzer is the head of Lifeway Research. In addition to articles based on their findings, his blog also includes practical information and discussions of importance to church leaders.

10. Larry Shallenberger (http://www.larryshallenberger.com). Larry Shallenberger is a pastor and author in Erie, PA where he serves on the pastoral team at Grace Church. Larry is a former children’s pastor and author of the book “Lead the Way God Made You.” His blog covers a multitude of topics, but there is something in every article that will get you thinking!