I didn’t see this one coming

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When I started in Ministry back in 1975 I really never thought much about the future. I was young and thought I would always be young. I ministered in the now and really until a few years later did I really start see the importnce of visionary thinking and about working on the ministry I wanted to have not just on the the one I did have.

I have seen some amazing things in the years I’ve been in ministry here’s just a few:

1. I have gotten to see a ton of kids I’ve ministered to saved and baptized. (This never get’s old to me!)

2. I got to go to prom and take kids I had in children’s church on their Senior Trip

3. I got to do the weddings of tons of kids I had in children’s church.

4. I’ve had kidsI pastored at one church grow up and get married to someone I was their kids pastor at another church in another state.

5. I got to dedicate my own kids as well as baptize them in water

6. I got to be my kids’ children’s pastor and my grandson’s children’s pastor

7. Because of Facebook, and instagram I get to keep up with kids I had in children’s church and their families over the entire 40 years.

8. I’ve had hundred’s of kids I had in children’s church serve as leaders in children’s church.

9. I’ve had kids I had in children’s church serve with me on staff.

10. I’ve also gotten to dedicate the babies of kids I had in children’s church but today I had another first. I got to dedicate the first child that I was both his parents children’s pastor.

Working with kids over the years has brought me more joy and blessing than I could describe but just when I think I’ve seen and experienced it all, Jesus allows me to be blessed and experience his blessings in a new way. I just didn’t see when I was younger how rewarding it would be to still be in so many of the kids lives when they were adults.

I’m proud of the men and woman of God that my old children’s church kids have grown up to be! What an honor to get to see and do live with my own legacy… kids who grew up to be mighty in the Lord!

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History Lesson

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The other day I was sent a link to The History of Children’s Ministry by my friend Dr. Rick Chromey. Rick listed this as a brief history of U.S. children’s ministry, since the 1800s. Includes references to Sunday School, VBS, International Network of Children’s Ministry, Children’s Ministry Magazine and more. I thought to myself I need to watch this, as I watched I was blown away to see my name listed with all these hero’s of the faith. All I could think about was all the folks who were left out. So many folks helped paved the way for the modern children’s ministry movement, I am truley blessed and honor to be mentioned. Want to learn a little history of Kidmin take a look here.

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The Yeard

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I love doing things I’ve never done before. You’ve heard me say this for years… “Same actions bring same results!” I have pretty much had facial hair for most of my life I gre my first full beard in 1975 for America’s bi-centenial in 1976. I pretty much have kept it trimmed especially since Julie came into my life in 1977.

A few times over the years I would offer my beard as a sacrifice for missions and did a “shave or keep” contest. Most of the time the kids voted for me to keep it but a couple of times I had to shave it. I’d always clip it in the middle of children’s church but never shave it with a razor the minute the clippers paid a visit the new beard had already began it’s comeback.

A few years ago when my beard started turning gray I talked Julie (who by the way is a beard lover) into letting me cut it into a gotee. I was trying to get some of the gray off my face. (and yes I know I look older with a full gray or now white beard)

As soon as I shave one of the kids at church told me I looked just like the man on the chicken bucket. Which began one of my favorite ways to start a talk…”If you told me when I was younger I was going to grow up and look like the guy of the chicken bucket I would have taken better care of myself. The whiter it got the more like the Colonel I truly became. About three  years ago my college group talked me into doing “No Shave November.” People either loved it or hated it but come December I’d cut it back to a gotee. This November I decided that once again I would participate in NSN. November came and went and some how the beard stayed on. Whitney my youngest told me about beard oil and researched where to get it and found Lucky Scruff. I began to research beard shapes, growing methods and such because when I do something I have a tendency to go all out. Somewhere in my research I discovered Lumber Sexuals or Urban Woodsman. I had no idea there was such creatures. I also discoved something I had never heard of “the yeard” yes you read it right the yeard. It was a beard for a year. So when I told my family I was going to grow a yeard, they knew this was important to me and said they would put up with it. Julie just wanted me to keep it groomed as it grew out so we found The Elephant In The Room Grooming Lounge in Tulsa. I have visited them twice and hope to go a third time after Easter to help tame this beast. Everytime I go I ask them to help me not look like Santa but the longer it grows the more I hear how I will make a great Santa Claus this year and I would if I keep it but right now I’m only committing until December 1st.

So here I am 4 months in with 8 months to go on my yeard. So far it’s been an experience. I guess I’m going to have to update my promo pictures or at least give people a warning. At least you who read my blog have been warned so if you see some nice old man that looks like Jim Wideman with a long white beard be nice to him because it is me, a nice old man with a long white beard.

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The Role Of The Children’s Pastor

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Here’s a teaching that explains what the Bible says we should be doing as Ministers and Children’s Pastors! Enjoy

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God’s Plans For You Are Better Than Your’s

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I was not called into Children’s Ministry, I was drafted. I was helping with the Youth at my church one Sunday (Because that’s what X-hippies did when they got saved in the 70’s) when my Pastor came to me and told me to grab my Bible, bring my guitar and go to children’s church. The lady who had been teaching the kids just didn’t show up. In fact she never came back. When I got to the classroom I looked the classroom over and thought how hard is it going to be to teach 7 kids? I’ll be honest with you, it was one of the hardest things I ever did. In fact that hour and a half seemed like a month. I remember singing some songs, telling a story and doing an altar call and then looked at my watch and saw I had done everything I knew to do and only 15 minutes had gone by. Man it was a long day. I’ll never forget what I did the minute the last child was picked up, I went and found my Pastor. I asked him the question I wanted an answer to more than any other question, “How long am I going to have to do this?” His answer was simple: “I’d like you to do this until God raises up someone with a vision.”

I began to pray. “God, give someone a vision for the children of this church. Open their eyes Lord and show someone your desire for children to know you.” After a few weeks of praying that prayer and working with those 7 kids I knew I was the somebody, He was raising up to work with those kids. Those original 12 year olds are turning 49 this year. I keep in touch with a bunch of them on Facebook. I am so glad I said yes to the opportunity my Pastor gave me but more than that I’m glad I said yes to the vision Jesus had for me!

I served a wonderful pastor for years who used to say… “I don’t have a great vision, a great vision has me!” What does God have in store for you this new year? Is there a vision he has placed on your heart that you need to say yes to? I am so glad I said yes to that vision.  I’m also thankful that Jesus didn’t show me everything He had in store for me. If I had know when I was struggling with 7 that one day I’d have the privelidge to minister to 7000 kids It would have been to big to handle. I want you to see something. Each yes to God leads you for what He has planned for you down the road. Each yes is important.  What do you need to say yes to in 2014?  God wants to give you His vision or plan for your life, for His church, and His kids. He wants to help you partner with parents in a new way. There are wonderful things ahead for you, things that are greater than you can imagine but it all starts with one little word you need to say about what He is saying to you. YES.

I’m praying for you that you’ll say yes to all of Jesus’ invitations to think bigger and to dream higher than you ever have before. If I can help you in 2014 please let me know.

 

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