Why am I a Children's Pastor?

One of the things that Children's Pastors/Directors hear alot when building a team is the "I'm not good with kids" or "I don't have the temperament for kids" or even "I can't relate to kids"

Over the years this has caused me to wonder and deliberate. I'm pretty introspective and question on my own heart often. When I first started in ministry children was under the umbrella of things I took care. My title was Christian Education. I refused to be called a Children's Pastor as if this were some sort of pariah. But through the years and under the influence of others (especially the Holy Spirit) I have become passionate about ministering to children and their families. So why am I a Children's Pastor? First of all why I am not a CP:

1. Because I am naturally skilled or talented a it: Not so, everything I do I've learned to do. Any person who has a small degree of intelligence can do this.


2. Because I couldn't find another position. Not true - I've been offered several times.


3. Because I don't want to grow up. While it certainly helps to enjoy kid things it also takes a mature person to be able to handle this job. Send the immatures to the student ministry. :)


4. Because I want free trips to summer camp every year and free admission to the skating rink during the lock-in. Give me a break


5. Because I can't relate to adults. I oversee over 200 adults who volunteer and have many parents who call me with questions and concerns. If you can't relate to adults your sunk.


6. Because I'm called to do it. Not sure If I'm called or if I just volunteered?

So why am I a Children's Pastor the Top 11

1. Because kids are hands down the most open people to God's truth and love in the world.
2. Because if Jesus came to my church in human form He would volunteer with the kids.
3. Because if we don't reach this generation of kids the church in America is in deep trouble.
4. Because almost 40% of the world is a kid. The largest and ripest harvest ever!
5. Because God has His eyes squarely on this generation of kids. I believe its where its at!
6. Because parents need committed people to come along side them and be partners in raising kids who love Jesus.
7. Because there are not enough people who really care about kids in the world.
8. Because I want to change the world and the only people who really do that work with kids. Jesus knew this. So did Hitler.
9. Satan is obsessed with destroying kids. He pours billions of dollars every year into doing this.
10. Kids are authentic and really have nothing they want from you other than real love and some reasonable rules designed to protect them. They also forgive mistakes (like the ppt slide has a misspelled word) real quickly.
11. This is the bonus. I think it is totally cool to be my kid's pastor. Of course this will only last so long but while it lasts I really enjoy it.

Considering all this who wouldn't want to invest their life in children?

So will I always be a Children's Pastor I don't know. But I will always work with and invest my life in kids.

Getting slimed in 2003

Happy Valentine's Day

Our family celebrated Valentine's Day on Tuesday due to Awana. We have a tradition of making homemade heart shaped pizzas and drinking milk through heart straws. Of course we give the boys a little something and then Patsy and I give each other a little something as well. this year she gave me a biography of Walt Disney I have been wanting. It's a DVD narrated by Dick Van Dyke. We've watched half of it so far. David really liked getting a present too and he really liked having a Valentine cookie!

Wednesday was Red Night in Awana along with a Valentine's Day party. My there was a ton of chocolate and sugar changing hands that night. The kids went home all suped up. That combined with the little parties our weekday preschool had and I'm sure I gained back some of the weight I've lost since Christmas.

This picture is the 1st and 2nd graders in game time

More photos of David and Chace

Blake plays with Chace
Daddy the tickler

Chace (correct spelling)

Tanner and Blake love to help out
David is Patsy's boy!
It's so good to see him smile

Its been a couple of weeks since we first opened our hearts and home to David and Chace and I think its fair to say they have won over our hearts. These tow boys are such precious little guys and they have already made tremendous strides. Blake and Tanner are so good with them too. We are still adjusting but I know we all feel that it's worth the adjustment.

CPC 2007

I just returned from CPC in Orlando along with Patsy and Pastor Grant. It was a great time. We had a blast. I am always so touched by the worship there. It is nearly impossible for me to really worship and grow in my own church. I have too many responsibilities and worries. So I have to do so in my car mostly. At CPC I can finally let go and join over 2,000 other people in the same boat. There is always such spiritual electricity in the air. Here are a few highlights:

I took an extra seminar called Disney Institute where we got to tour and see backstage including tours of The Magic Kingdom and MGM Studios. And we got to see the tunnels under the Magic Kingdom. then we went through their leadership seminar. Walt Disney is one of my heroes. They told the story of when he was on his deathbed and how he was talking to his brother Roy and looking up at the tiles in the ceiling and dreaming of what would go where in the Disney World property. He died in 1966 and I believe Disney World opened in 1971.

We stayed at the Coronado Springs Resort and this is the a fountain like thing near the pool.

Mickey Mouse butter at our table each night.

The three of us at dinner one night.

Patsy and I went for lunch before our plane home at the Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge. I asked for another root beer and the lady brought me a real man's glass. What a fun restaurant.

I got to meet Phil Vischer and have him sign one of his children's books. He is the creator of Veggie Tales. He had an incredibly honest and courageous talk in one of the general sessions about the bankruptcy and public auction of Big Idea. I have been chewing on this talk for the last 4 days.

The conference center where the event was held.

Sunrise one morning.

On our way home to Roanoke.

David and Chase

We welcomed a couple of new children into our home today. David is 18 months old and Chase is 7 months old. They are brothers and will be staying with us for awhile. More masculinity for Patsy!

Chaplain Matt

TThis is a picture of my brother-in-law Matt Cassady(the taller one). He left today for Afghanistan. This is his second tour of duty their and he will be gone at least a year this time. If you think of him please pray for him. Pray for protection and peace away from his family and that he will have lots of chances to share the love of Jesus with our soldiers. Also remember his wife (my sister) Rachel and their three children Emma (age 9) Carter (7) and Bailey (5). Rachel has many chances to pray and share with wives and family members. They also miss Matt already. As Rachel says pray for strength, peace and joy.

Tagged

I guess I've been tagged twice - which doesn't seem quite fair. Erica and April have tagged me so I'm, fulfilling my tagged duties in one post! I am supposed to list 6 weird things about myself that others may not know and then list 6 people who have to do the same. Since everybody in the church has already been tagged this may be difficult for me to do. Here we go:

1. I lived in Mexico for a year to study Spanish and lost 30 pounds there. I came back weighing 115 pounds. Yikes!

2. I am huge fan of the heavenly mixture of chocolate and peanut butter. Surely the streets of heaven will be paved with them. At least on my block.

3. As a kid I was a fan of the the Dallas Cowboys - yuck! I feel dirty just writing that.

4. My first crush was Marica Brady - Marcia, Marcia, Marcia. I sort of liked Daphne from Scooby Doo too but can you really have a crush on an animation?

5. When I asked Patsy to marry me I bought a ring that was too small and we had to have it resized. I felt like a total looser but Patsy was kind!

6. I cried when Walter Payton died.

Alright I tag:

Rachel
Pastor Larry (he has a My Space account)
Chad Gilchrist
Pastor Kal (Chad has to tell his mom)
Pastor Karl if he reads this
Chris Parker (who never updates his blog so now I guess he is under obligation to do so)

Compassion International

I am big supporter of this para-church organization. My whole life is built on the idea of making the most with the time, resources and talents God has given us. This is a big reason I work with kids because in the big scheme of things I am like a bug on the windshield of the Mack Truck of history. Maybe a germ. But I have a chance to impact some lives in a tremendous way by investing first in my own family and then in the lives of children and their parents. For me working strictly with adults is a comparative waste of time (for me that is). I also support missions where they spend a majority of their time and resources helping children come to know Christ and showing them some of His practical love. After all the majority of the world's population are minors - and they are more open to the Word of God. Compassion International falls right into my thinking and allows our family to make a real, lasting impact on the life of a little boy and his family. We have been supporting Jerson from Honduras for three years now. He will be eight years old this week. We write letters and draw pictures for him and he does the same for us. One day when he is older we would like to visit him. He has also ministered to our family teaching us about another culture and helping us not be so materialistic. This picture is when he was five. I have had the goal for a couple of years to have our Awana program at church support a child through Compassion but so far this has not worked out. So this year we are going to have the kids write and send pictures to Jerson with the hope of next school year "adopting" our own child. I highly recommend this ministry for families. We have been given so much and "too whom much is given much will be required."

Da Bears

Nervous Bear fan here about this weekend. Which team is going to show up? At any rate They did well this year no matter what. If they do win the Super Bowl - it will be because they get on a hot streak. The real question is - is it sinful to rush out of church Sunday to be home by 1:00 p.m. for kick-off? OOOh the guilt! Also please no calls to rub it in if they loose. Have some compassion on me.

New Years letter to our volunteers

2007 sounds like we should all be driving around in flying cars that run off orange peels and they should have a cure for baldness by now. But life has changed a lot over the years but some things remain constant. Its during this time of the year that I like to reflect on all the things god has shown me and helped me through in this journey of life. I am so awed by the calling and passion He has given me to help change this generation of kids. To be part of the greatest spiritual movement in the history of Christians is a tremendous honor. For those of you who work in the children’s ministries you are also an amazing part of this movement. As parents. grandparents, aunts and uncle we also have the chance to impact history. I believe this group of kids will be the greatest and most influential generation ever. When we get to heaven we will truly understand how we influenced history by investing in the lives of children. I am so thankful and so proud of our group of volunteers at Parkway. When I first came here nearly four years ago the task of building a team of volunteers seemed so daunting I had only one place to turn – to God. He has brought together this team and we continue to grow in both numbers and in passion and skill. I have great ideas for the ministries to children. I would love to see a new worship room for the older kids with a great game room. I dream of the day when our playground is finished and offers parents and children a great place to enjoy fellowship. I would love to see a program started where we match children with adopted grandparents in the church. I dream of the day when there are key lay leaders in every area of children’s ministries developing and dreaming their own dreams. I would love to see the day when we take a missions trip for older elementary kids. You all have been a part of making so many dreams come true. I am excited about your involvement for the coming year! I pray God blesses each of you and your families this year.