Kenny Conley is one of those leaders I've been watching for several years. He's what I call a "Young Gun". In 2007 when the Lord showed me I would spend the rest of my life putting into the next generation of children's ministers, I started searching the blogisphere for young forward thinkers, Kenny's Blog caught my eye. Over the next few years it has been an honor to be in his life and have him in mine. I think I learn more from these Young Guns that they learn from me but that's God's plan iron sharpening iron. Learning is a two way street. We serve a God who invented "the law of mutiual benefit." Read More »
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02. Set a goal and don’t stop until you hit it. Then when you hit your goal then set another goal. If you want to have power to last learn to think in steps. Make a plan based on those steps and goals and then walk in out. Don’t seek a quick fix, don’t take leaps, jumps or shortcuts. Follow the Lord’s leading and His timetable. Read More »
03. Don’t believe your own press kit. Another thing my mother told me my whole life is, “Things are never as bad as you think they are and you are never as wonderful as you think you are either.” Read More »
04. Do something new and different. I think one reason people give up is that get tired of doing the same things. Choose to always be on the lookout for a new and better way to do everything you do. Read More »
06. Make changes and improve yourself constantly. I’ve had to reinvent myself as I’ve ministered to young people in the 70’s, the 80’s, the 90's, the 00's and now in the 10’s. Be a student of leadership. Improve your skill sets and abilities. Do what works! Evaluate, network, brainstorm with others. Choose to be a lifelong learner! Have a mentor or ministry friend coach and critique your service, your abilities or a meeting that you are leading. Have a makeover in your hairstyle or wardrobe. Wanting to improve is the first step in actually improving. Read More »
07. Guard your heart! Proverbs 4:23 says “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” My mother told me years ago, “Grow tough skin but keep a tender heart! How do I do this? I stay away from complainers and negative people. Read More »
08.Stay Focused. Don’t get side tracked. There is a big difference between a God idea and a good idea. Read More »
09. Learn how to encourage yourself! My favorite example of this principle is found in1 Samuel 30:6, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” Read More »
Here are my top ten list to have power to last over the long haul in children’s ministry.10. Never loose sight of who called you. Read More »
Not everyone who starts something for God completes his or her assignment.I know as many people who used to work with kids than people who have always worked with kids. What happened? The reasons and excuses are limitless.There have been times through the years that I’ve thought about making a vocational change. But I haven’t. It’s one thing to think about it, it’s another thing to act on it.Did you know even people in the Bible had thoughts like these? Look at Jeremiah 9:2, “Oh, that I had in the desert a lodging place for travelers, so that I might leave my people and go away from them; for they are all adulterers, a crowd of unfaithful people.” Read More »