Why am I writing this blog?

In just a few months, About the Children's Department will be celebrating it's third "birthday"! First of all, I want to say a big "thank you!" to everyone who has been taking the time to read this blog! You are sincerely appreciated!

As I thought about writing About the Children's Department for almost three years, I went back to look at some of my first posts and found one which say why I'm writing this blog - I decided to run it again!

Nearly fourteen (not seventeen) years ago after serving in a children's ministry where I was disappointed by decisions made due to church "politics" rather than what was genuinely effective, I began to write a webzine - "About the Children's Department". My goal was to provide information, ideas and resources to help churches keep their children's ministries as effective as possible.

Eventually I began to write for "Children's Ministry Magazine" and then "Your Church Magazine/Christianity Today" and was a contributing writer for a book from Group Publishing -The Humongous Book of Bible Skits for Children's Ministry - and a project from Big Idea/VeggieTales - VeggieConnections Preschool Curriculum Kit. I consulted for Gospel Light Publishing, Group Publishing, Zonderkidz/Big Idea/Willow Creek and taught Children's Ministry Magazine Live Workshops across the country. Through all this I met so many people who served in children's ministries - some where decisions were made based on the goal of effective ministry and some where they were made based on "politics".

When I was diagnosed with MS I wanted to be able to continue to try and make a difference in the thing I cared so much about - Children's Ministry - and began to write my own curriculum; kidz Connection. I never imagined churches in places like South Korea and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia would use my curriculum!

Now along with continuing to write kidz Connection I want to refocus on what I care so much about by going back to what I began with the webzine - "About the Children's Department"; but this time in a much more interactive format as a blog. I look forward to being able to provide information on effective children's ministry resources - and the opportunity to have discussions with those of you who read this blog. We will be able to help one another find answers to our children's ministry questions and share ideas which have worked for us!

It does matter if the children's ministries in our churches are genuinely effective. In his book, "Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions: Why Children Should Be Your Church's #1 Priority" George Barna said most people make decisions for Christ before they are 13 years old; yet in so many churches decisions about our children's ministries are made based on politics and far too often this important ministry is run like children's ministries from the 1950's and 1960's. Churches hire people to lead singing before they even think about hiring someone to be sure their children's ministry is genuinely effective and yet, it is in the children's ministry where most decisions for Jesus will be made. Children's ministry can be genuinely effective and can truly engage children so they understand, remember and live God's Word for changed lives. It is the goal of "About the Children's Department" to be a source to help churches do exactly this!

Please take a moment to "Like" us on Facebook and "Follow" us on our blog and then tell your friends, family and church about my blog so they will be able to join our conversations as well!