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Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing pastor’s kids and conflict with the senior pastor.

The following links were mentioned:

• Jared Massey’s review of Children’s Ministry Talk
• Media Tech Weekly on Twitter @mediaTECHweekly
• Tim Gruber on Twitter @t_gruber

Dick shared during the show…

In the early days, I thought the job of the children’s pastor was to minister to children. Although that is in large part true, our primary task is to implement the vision of the senior pastor. I have been hired to make him look good. I am to serve him in his ministry. I am to insure that his vision for children and families is carried out.

If conflict with the senior pastor is coming to a head remember jelly is sweet.

• Jesus is still Lord of the Harvest (He cares more about you than you do.)
• Expect God to do something new (Don’t be surprised when He does it.)
• Love one another (Love covers a multitude of wrongs)
• Lift up your pastor in prayer (It’s hard to be upset with somebody you are thanking God for.)
• You are not alone (We are the Body. If you need a get-a-way come see us.)

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Keep the feedback coming! Send your questions, comments, or ideas to childrensministrytalk@gmail.com. You can now give us a call! Leave us your question or comment by calling (484) 442-0322. As always, you can find complete details about this podcast at childrensministrytalk.com.

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Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing talking to kids about sex, childcare service expectations, and turmoil in ministry.

The following resources were mentioned:

• Focus on the Family – sexuality resources
• How and When to Tell Your Kids About Sex: A Lifelong Approach to Shaping Your Child’s Sexual Character, revised
• I Want to Teach My Child About Sex
• How to Talk Confidently with Your Child About Sex: Fifth Edition
• A Chicken’s Guide to Talking Turkey with Your Kids About Sex
• Jared Massey: Small Town Kid Min
• Lindsey Whitney: Growing Kids Ministry
• Lindsey’s Tips for 4th of July Parade

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Keep the feedback coming! Send your questions, comments, or ideas to childrensministrytalk@gmail.com. You can now give us a call! Leave us your question or comment by calling (484) 442-0322. As always, you can find complete details about this podcast at childrensministrytalk.com.

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Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing music in ministry, separate-aged visitors, implementing new ideas, mid-week programs, and parades.

The following resources were mentioned:

• God’s Kids Worship
• New CMUO elective course (CMU 214: Music in Ministry)
• Growing Kids Ministry
• Joey and Buck Overcome Fear

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Keep the feedback coming! Send your questions, comments, or ideas to childrensministrytalk@gmail.com. You can now give us a call! Leave us your question or comment by calling (484) 442-0322. As always, you can find complete details about this podcast at childrensministrytalk.com.

Joey and Buck are delightful characters created by Aaron and Jenny Gruber. These two Aussies tell a story about overcoming the fear of climbing the Sidney Harbor Bridge.

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Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing discipline, measuring spiritual growth, Father’s Day, partnering with youth ministry.

The following resources were mentioned:

• “The Discipline Guide for Children’s Ministry” by Jody Capehart
• “Children’s Ministry Guide for Smaller Churches” by Rick Chomey
• Sample Discipline Policy [PDF]

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Keep the feedback coming! Send your questions, comments, or ideas to childrensministrytalk@gmail.com. You can now give us a call! Leave us your question or comment by calling (484) 442-0322. As always, you can find complete details about this podcast at childrensministrytalk.com.

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Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode discuss using video in children’s church.

Dick shared the following guidelines for use of video technology in children’s church:

• Stay away from using lengthy video material
• Purpose is paramount
• Record and edit the clip to fit the message
• Involve the children in production of video support
• Never use it to fill time
• Good video doesn’t have to cost a lot

When to use a video clip…

• It says what you wish you could say
• It’s the best method you can find to make the message clear in the minds of your kids
• It’s noticeable that the kids are bored with your live presentation
• It’s appropriate for an evangelistic or special emphasis day
• It’s needed to replace a worker who is missing in action

The following resources were mentioned:

• Roger Fields
• Wingclips
• YouTube
• HandBrake
• Tooble
• MPEG Streamclip

Download Dick’s entire article on using video in children’s church!

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Keep the feedback coming! Send your questions, comments, or ideas to childrensministrytalk@gmail.com. You can now give us a call! Leave us your question or comment by calling (484) 442-0322. As always, you can find complete details about this podcast at childrensministrytalk.com.

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Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing making an impact, child baptism.

The following resources were mentioned:

• “Fabulous Reinvention of Sunday School” by Aaron Reynolds , ISBN: 0-310-27433-8
• “The Disney Wayl” by Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson, ISBN: 0-07-102064-1
• Water Baptism Evangel Art Page [PDF] (to be posted soon)

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Keep the feedback coming! Send your questions, comments, or ideas to childrensministrytalk@gmail.com. You can now give us a call! Leave us your question or comment by calling (484) 442-0322. As always, you can find complete details about this podcast at childrensministrytalk.com.

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Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing trainsitioning to multiple kids church services, recruiting and developing leaders, and out-of-the-box outreach ideas.

The following resources were mentioned:

• Jim Wideman’s Leadership Club
• Roger Fields
• “3 Signs of a Miserable Job” by Patrick Lencioni, ISBN: 978-0-7879-9531-7
• Side Yard Parties
• We Love Kids Banquet

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Keep the feedback coming! Send your questions, comments, or ideas to childrensministrytalk@gmail.com. You can now give us a call! Leave us your question or comment by calling (484) 442-0322. As always, you can find complete details about this podcast at childrensministrytalk.com.

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Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing budgeting, check-in, and first impressions.

In response to Episode 35 on budgets, Children’s Pastor Bernice, shares the following:

Hello there! You asked for information regarding budgeting for CM. This is the information for our ministry which covers K-6th grade in a church of about 3000 members in a suburb of Wash. DC. We serve 700 kids and spend roughly $50,000. This does not include Boys and Girls Clubs (Rangers/MPact). This is only what is spent for weekend Bible classes, services, teacher training, and special events.

Rangers serves about 130 boys and spent about $13,000 in 2009. MPact serves about 140 and spent about $17,000 in 2009.

So, for 700 kids (K-6th grade only), we spent roughly $80,000.

Hope this helps with the survey (but does not discourage those working in small churches).

These sample budget documents were also shared:

• Sample 2003 Budget [Excel File]
• Sample 2009 Budget [Word File]

The following resources were mentioned:

• Media Tech Weekly Podcast
• DJ Mac Software
• “First Impressions” by Mark Waltz, ISBN: 978-0-7644-2757-2
• Kidology
• CMconnect

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Keep the feedback coming! Send your questions, comments, or ideas to childrensministrytalk@gmail.com. You can now give us a call! Leave us your question or comment by calling (484) 442-0322. As always, you can find complete details about this podcast at childrensministrytalk.com.

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Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing bathrooms, budgets, and big games.

Children’s Pastor from MI, Blaine, asks this question via email:

Is there a place or document “out there” that gives budgeting trends for Children’s Ministry? Like, dollars per child info and such. This information would help me greatly…

If you are a children’s pastor, to help Blaine out, please consider answering the following 2 questions:

1. How many kids did your ministry serve last year?
2. How much money did your children’s ministry spend?

You can either leave a comment here on the blog or email your answers to these questions to childrensministrytalk@gmail.com and we’ll tabulate the responses we receive and share a summary in a future episode.

The following resources were mentioned:

• Orchard Grove Community Church
• “Children’s Ministry Guide for Smaller Churches” by Rick Chomey, ISBN: 1-55945-600-0
• Minute To Win It Games

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Keep the feedback coming! Send your questions, comments, or ideas to childrensministrytalk@gmail.com. You can now give us a call! Leave us your question or comment by calling (484) 442-0322. As always, you can find complete details about this podcast at childrensministrytalk.com.