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I’ve never sat down and wrote out a master plan for this website. I try to leave that kind of thing up to God. But I have been thinking over some core values that are shaping my decisions about its direction. This post is just me thinking aloud about what we’re doing and how to stay focused on what matters.
This is not a slam on any other website or company. It’s just the special direction that God has placed on my heart. I hope this doesn’t sound like self congratulations either. I just want to share a little behind the scenes.
Some Core Values
Generosity: You may have already caught this one. All our content is 100% free for you to use in your ministry. I even made the decision to make all our content open for other websites to copy. This is not a common business model, but I think of this site more as a ministry anyway. I’m also trying to be generous with our writers by passing on some of the ad revenue to them every month.
Cooperation: It didn’t take me long to discover I could not write all this content on my own. Sure I still write a lot, but the contributors usually add more value with their posts. I also love to encourage other kids ministry bloggers. That cooperative ideal was behind the big list of blogs and some other things we’ve done.
Problem Solving: I want every article & resource we post to address some real need in your ministry. Even if it’s just a lesson plan about Jonah – if that’s what your teaching then maybe skimming our lesson will give you some extra inspiration. I think that’s the angle that first made this website popular and I hope we can stay on course.
Community: I really do want to hear back from you. The Internet is usually a very impersonal place, but I’d like to think our site can offer a small dose of fellowship for all those lonely kids ministry workers. That’s why we’re building up a following in our forums and that’s why our articles ask for you to respond.
Not So Much?
The flip side to all this is our non-values. I never hear anyone talking about anti-values, but it seems like a good way to clarify where you really stand.
Perfection: A careful reader might find a handful of typos in everything I write – but that is okay for me. That’s one thing that is so liberating about writing a blog, it’s my backyard and there will be some rough patches. This might not sit well with ‘excellence’ driven people and I may be wrong, but it’s just not a priority right now.
Reputation: I keep my name in small print for a reason. This website is bigger than me and I think I’m more effective in the background. I do get invited to speak sometimes, but I really don’t want to make the kidmin speaking circuit. God has put me in a small church in rural Indiana. I’m not writing any books. I’m not climbing the ladder. Just pray for my kids because they think I’m famous!
So what do you think?
This is certainly not the complete list of our core values, just a sample of what I’ve been thinking. I’d love to hear your feedback on these values. Are there ways we could do better? Just let me know in the comment section.
Related posts:
- What’s the Deal with Seeds Family Worship?
- Best of Ministry-To-Children September 2009
- Some Upgades for Ministry-To-Children
- Blog Disclosure Policy from Ministry-To-Children.com
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We love your materials and are working through the lessons from The Big Picture Story Bible. Do you have any lesson plans past Lesson 12?
@Janet: I didn’t finished the NT with the book b/c I wanted to cover so many more Bible stories. If you work out lesson notes please let me know and I’ll share them here on the site.
I think you are definitely inspired! Don’t worry so much about pleasing everyone, as long as you are sure you are following your inspiration. You’re doing a great service for all of humanity. Don’t get discouraged.
tony,
your lesson plan is just like energy boost which is always use to make strenth for the small chidren.
your writing is really wounderfull and amazing.God going to use you in many way.go in his direction
God will bleess you
durai
india
I’ve used several of your lesson plans and was blessed & enjoyed them. Starting September, we will be using some of the lssons for our ages 3-6 and 7-13 children’s ministry cirriculum. Your curriculum have so much to offer. Thanks alot for the lesson plans.
I just found this website and I think you are providing a valuable service, may GOD bless you more and more each day!
Tony, I have to tell you — you are a God-send. So many times, I’m looking for answers to problems in Children’s Ministry our church is experiencing, or need some extra help with a lesson or a last minute need and most of the time you are there to the rescue! I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this ministry — and yes, it certainly is a ministry. Thank you!
Hi Tony, A very good and educative site. I love the site. Very informative and keep up the good work. May God give you the strength to carry on with His ministry. A big thank you.
Hi Tony! I’m glad to hear that you are concerned about your values. I really like to say that I pray that God keeps you on this way. I’m from Brazil and I’m a teacher of a little group of juniors in a small city. But I know that God cares about each one of His sons. So I still there. I understand what you mean when you say that you are important for them. I hope that God sustain you in all of your plans based on His purpose that is so clear on His Word. God bless you.
Fabio
You’re site is a real blessing. I teach a group of 3-6 year olds and the lessons and coloring pages are wonderful. We are currently using the creation series you are doing. I think its great. One suggestion, please have more preschool lessons. May the Lord keep blessing this site and all who use it
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