Another huge innovation was when children’s worship began to reflect the direction of the main auditorium. Having no instruments was replaced with a single piano or guitar but then turned into “a band in a box” featuring none other that famous band “The Cassette Brothers”. The first person I know to produce real worship for kids was Ken Blount who was known as Nicodemus from “The Gospel Bill Show.” Kenny produced fun songs but went on to introduce kids to praise and worship music beyond choir songs from last year’s musical and Kiddie songs that where Biblically lacking. I soon followed Kenny’s lead with my eight volumes of “Worship Songs For Kid’s Of All Ages.” A host of record and publishing companies joined in but most of the music was produced with the taste and likes of adult workers in mind.

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In my early years we mainly sang songs in children’s church as filler to eat up the long services that where happening in big church. The songs didn’t have much substance, I’m still trying to understand what “Climb, Climb Up Sonshine Mountain” even means let alone what it has to do with the five Biblical benefits of training and developing children as worshippers.

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Being a children’s pastor in my twenties, thirties, forties, and now in my fifties I’ve seen a lot of changes in the area of children’s worship music. These days I laugh when I’m introduced as a children’s ministry pioneer, I’ve realized that pioneer is just a code word for the word “old.” It’s been amazing to see the innovation that was introduced then and the innovation that is being introduced now.
As a student of leadership I have learned that there is big difference between a manager and a leader. Being a good manager is a part of being an effective leader but the major difference between the two is that leadership calls for innovation. You can’t provide innovation without you being willing to innovate rather than just do what everyone else does.

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I also attend conferences to be exposed to bigger vision. I believe that there is nothing more contagious than a God inspired, Spirit lead vision. I’m the type learner that it helps me to see something with my own eyes. It’s easier for me to grasp by seeing than just hearing or reading about it only. Seeing a big vision in action has always helped me to catch the vision. I think that big vision is easier caught than taught and that being exposed to a larger vision than what you presently have and open your eyes to the possibility of “I can do this too!”

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The first national children’s ministry conference I heard about was the Fellowship of Christian Magicians Conference. (It was much more than magic, there were workshops on every type of ministry performance methods to children there where back then) I wanted to attend so badly but my church did not have a conference budget so I remember getting the brochure listing the workshops and workshop speakers and after the event I looked up some of the presenters phone numbers and called them and asked them about their workshops and asked for any notes or cassette recording they had I could get my hands on them. One of the people who took my call and sent me his notes was Dick Gruber. Dick thought I was some” country bumpkin” from the south calling him up asking him to teach me “how to do clown ministry over the telephone.” Not only did I find out what I wanted to learn but it was the start of a wonderful friendship. In fact, most of the dearest and best friends I have on this earth I met at a conference.

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You see my name is Jim and yes I am a conference-a-holic! This is where I hear you say “Hi Jim!” I’ve been attending conferences a long time, a really long time. Now that I add it up, I’ve been attending some type of conference every year for almost four decades. Big ones, small ones, one day ones, multi-day ones even “come spend a week with us ones” and then if that was not enough I started speaking at conferences in 1980. You would think this would scratch my conference itch but then not only did I keep attending conferences and speaking at conferences I started hosting conferences that only lead me to the hard stuff , organinizing and putting on conferences. Yes you could say I have a serious conference addiction.

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Planing for growth is very important but equally as important is the third key to growth and that is expect growth. We should not be surprised when our plans come together and growth takes place. the word of God promises all who keep and observe God's word that blessed will be everything that they put their hand to. Jesus said himself in talking about his disciples that He has chosen and appointed his disciples to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.(John 15:16) Jesus did not say I have chosen you and appointed you to fail.

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One way you can achieve this and make your plans and dreams come true is by thinking small. At lease that's the way Sam Walton the founder of Wal-mart stores puts it in his book "Made in America," when asked how Walton became the largest retailer in the world.

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2. The next key to growth is making room for it. In the second chapter of the book of John we see a good example of this If we do what we can do God will do what He can do. Jesus told them to go and fill six large water pots with water. They did what he said and the miracle took placed. I believe that if they had not obeyed the Lord the miracle of turning water into wine would not have happen. Jesus could have turned air into wine just as easily as water but He wanted to show us the importance of making room for God to move within everything we do.

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Let's look into these three key factors individually.
1. DO YOU DESIRE GROWTH? "Well of course I do!" You say, but do you desire it enough to do whatever it takes to see it come to pass. Do you desire it enough to change and be willing and committed to constant change within your thinking, within your goals and plans and within your personal life?

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