NWMN Fusion CM Podcast - Audio

Q&A Panel from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2018, featuring Josh and Bethie Wood, Don Ross, and Kevin Geer.

General Session 3 from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2018. Kevin Geer, Lead Pastor at Canvas Church in Kalispell, MT.

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2018. No one decides to volunteer in Kids Ministry because they want to be "bad" at it or fail. In fact, most volunteers / leaders want to make a difference and succeed at whatever they do. This workshop discusses ways that you can be at your best as a volunteer to show your Kids Pastor / Leader that you are a "Dream Team Member."

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2018. Every child is different, but there are some clear markers that we see stretching across Generation Z. The big question is, where are the opportunities the Gospel of Jesus to intersect these generational realities.

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2018. Being bi-vocational can be difficult, however, it does not mean that it has to suck. It can actually be the biggest blessing!

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2018. This workshop will look at what it takes to create and keep a healthy culture that people want to be part of and reproduce.

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2018. God isn't asking us to be someone else, but calls us to be all He made us to be! This workshop will discuss some of the effects of not knowing who we are, and some tips on becoming self-aware, so we can be the best stewards of our calling!

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2018. This workshop will talk about how to bring your ideas and perspective to your pastor, boss, or anyone in authority above you in a honoring and humble way. An important part of our ideas being received is how we present them.

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2018. This workshop will address the fear, uncertainty, and ambiguity that we all feel surrounding matters of sexual attraction and identity. It will provide clinical and spiritual perspectives/resources helpful to both parents and ministry leaders.

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2018. This workshop will talk about how classroom management can help you  create an effective learning environment for kids. It will take a look at five factors to consider when  preparing your class as well as some fun  techniques that will grab kids attention. 

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2018. This session is designed to help individual and couples set and achieve financial goals. Whether you are just getting started or have been working a plan for a few decades, you will receive tools which will help you take the next step on your financial journey. Listen ready to learn and gain some momentum in your personal finance.

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2018. Have you ever wondered how to get a volunteer from saying yes to actually doing the job!? Have you been frustrated by a lack of commitment by a volunteer? This workshop will teach tips to answer both those questions!

General Session 1 from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2018. Kevin Geer, Lead Pastor at Canvas Church in Kalispell, MT.

Don currently serves as the Northwest Ministry Network Leader and served as the lead pastor of Creekside Church in Seattle, from 1995-2014. Don holds a B.A. in Biblical Literature from Northwest University. He graduated in 1997 with a Doctor of Ministry degree from Bakke Graduate School in Seattle. Don is a member of the Society of Church Consultants and published his first book in 2013, Turnaround Pastor, which outlines key principles of church turnaround. Don and his wife Brenda, live in Kenmore. They have three married children, Kelly, Kathy and Tom, and seven grandchildren.

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2017. Discussing the "why" and "how" of getting kids excited about the Bible for Early Childhood and Elementary aged children. Taught by Jenn Braham, Michelle Buxton, and Michelle Cuadros.

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2017. Ministry presents new challenges every day. Grab a few tools to help you overcome them!

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2017. 10 creative ideas for keeping missions and missionaries in front of your kids on a regular basis. These ideas will help build a missions heart in your children and give them awareness of their part in the mission of God to save the lost.

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2017. With the pressures of ministry, we squeeze emotional, physical, financial, and spiritual margin out of our life. Deficit bank ministry is no ministry at all.

Josh lives in Sumner, WA with his wife Bethie and 3 kids: Devon 12, David 10, and Belle 9. He has been a Pastor for 11 years in Washington and Northwest Montana. His passion is seeing leaders find their identity in who God has called them to be and lead out of their strengths and gifting God has given them! He is currently serving as the Children's Director for the Northwest Ministry Network.

Di Beals is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. She has a BA in Behavioral Science from Northwest University and is currently working on her MA in Leadership Studies. After 13 years in youth ministry she and her husband Brandon planted Canyon Creek Church in 2004. She and Brandon currently serve as lead pastors but Di has also served in many roles at Canyon Creek from women’s ministry to small groups to assimilation to campus pastor. Di and Brandon have 3 kids; Rachel (20 years old and a student at the University of Washington) and Judah and Elijah, 16 year old twins

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2017. We all need more workers and when we finally get them, we've got a small window of time to solidify them onto our team. At this session, we will give you simple tips to recruit, train, and unleash your volunteers.

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2017. A practical look at skills to help you prepare, draft, and preach a sermon to kids in today's world. Using the acronymn S.A.Y., we'll talk about 3 big keys to help you formulate ways to best teach the gospel.

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2017. We say we believe in the power and importance of prayer, but is that reflected in our churches? In this workshop we will discuss ways to create a culture of prayer within your kids ministry.

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2017. Are you teaching to early childhood in a way they can engage and learn accordingly to their developmental stages? This workshop will be taking a closer look at how to use key stages to better equip you to teach the little ones successfully.

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leadership Conference 2017. When your agenda is your leader's aganda. Building trust that opens the door to reponsibility.

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2017. Early Childhood Ministry is more than just babysitting. We have a great opportunity to teach young kids God's Word. This is not only fun, but will make a big difference in kids' lives and impact their families. Who knows what God will do through the kids in your care.

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2017. Chances are you have team members serving in a smaller capacity who are ready to take on a larger role. Let's talk about identifying them, making the ask, and placing these team members!

Workshop from Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2017. A load-bearing wall is one that bears the weight of the house. A load-bearing wall must be made of sound materials and well-constructed in order to ensure the longevity of the entire structure. You and I have load-bearing walls in our lives, as well; sound practices that we must put in place to ensure our spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental longevity. We will explore these critical load-bearing walls in our lives.

With over 19 years of full time ministry experience, Justin has been given a variety of opportunities including preaching, worship, youth ministries, extensive traveling, hosting guests, savoring good food from coast to coast, and most importantly, real-life, in-the-trenches experience. Justin appreciates, and candidly shares with listeners, that leadership is a moment-to-moment choice and not about title, background, or position. What a joy it has been for him to take the stories of work and life and use them to entertain, motivate, and connect with audiences across the country. Justin is the Student Development Director at James River College. He has served at a high capacity on the Pastoral Leadership Team at James River Church for the past seven years. Justin has been happily married over 20 years to Tami. They are the proud parents of two children: Tyler, a freshman at James River and Madi, a sophomore in high school.

Brent, Ashlee, and Stephen discuss how to keep the momentum going in your children's ministry, during the summer dip. What creative, summer activities do you incorporate in your ministry? Give us your feedback!

Brent and Stephen discuss hiring people. Do you feel prepared to hire someone, after your training or interning leading up to ministry? What are your qualifications for hiring? They discuss the value of analyzing the person's potential for the future and overall culture of the church or company. Give us your thoughts!

Brent and Stephen discuss how to say "no." It is vital in your ministry to learn how to prioritize and turn down opportunities, when needed. What's your experience with this? Give us your feedback!

Brent and Stephen ask the question, "Where do good ideas come from?" How do you come up with themes for events? What technologies do you use creatively in your children's ministry? Can you take ideas from current culture and use them in your ministry?

Brent and Stephen discuss the learning styles of children. What are the basic learning styles? How do you understand the learning styles of others, without being biased towards your own learning style? Let us know what methods you use!

On this bonus episode, Stephen and Ashlee (Brent's assistant) discuss whether or not kids should eat in Children's Ministry. Give us your feedback!

Brent and Stephen discuss how to define your target audience in children's ministry. Who are you reaching? Who are you building your ministry for? Give us your thoughts and feedback!

How do you create a brand around your ministry? Brent and Stephen discuss the importance of branding in children's ministry. How do you make your "brand" compatible with the mission and brand of the church, without making the children's ministry a separate entity?

Brent and Stephen discuss how to reach kids, whose parents don't go to church. How do you strategically reach out to "non-church" kids? Do you change your check-in/check-out system? How do you compel kids to want to come to church, even if their parents aren't there? Give us your thoughts and feedback!

Brent and Stephen discuss how to fire volunteers. How do you determine whether a volunteer is healthy for your ministry or not? Do you meet with volunteers personally or do you delegate hiring volunteers out to other people? They discuss the benefits of being up front with volunteers from the beginning and talking about what happens if it doesn't work out. Watch, subscribe, and give us your feedback!

Brent and Stephen further discuss how to preach to kids. Do you use a curriculum or write your own material? What types of sermon series do you use? Do you use story-telling with drama/skits?

Brent and Stephen discuss their recommendations for pastor's and children's ministry. They highlight their top 5 recommendations, with one bonus favorite! What books are in your top resource list? Book Recommendations: 1. "Think Orange" by Reggie Joyner 2. "Communicating For A Change" by Andy Stanley 3. "Christian Formation" by James Estep 4. "Creativity, Inc." by Ed Catmull 5. "Hacking Leadership" by Mike Myatt Bonus: "Stuff Christians Like" by John Acuff

Brent and Stephen discuss the importance of setting goals and how to strategically look forward in ministry and set parameters for evaluating ministry, outreach, and success. Do you set several small goals or a few large goals? Do you use Ministry Action Plans (MAPS)? Or Wildly Important Goals (WIGS)? How do you measure goals? What kind of timeframe do you set on goals? Give us your feedback!

Brent and Stephen discuss how to know your role in your church, on staff and under your senior pastor. How do you create successful systems and strategies, without losing spiritual values and principles? How do you manage the business and spiritual sides of ministry? Give us your feedback and perspectives!

Brent and Stephen discuss getting stuff done and being productive in your ministry. How do you manage tasks? Do you use any productivity database? Give us your ideas and feedback!

Brent and Stephen discuss the importance of Sunday security in your children's ministry. What check-in system do you use? Do you utilize a church database? Give us your thoughts and feedback!

Brent and Stephen film in front of a live audience at Fusion Children's Leader Conference 2016, held at Stone Church in Yakima. Listen as they discuss leveraging technology in your kids ministry.