20 Questions with My KidMin Conference Friends

In less than two weeks I will be headed to Chicago for the very first Kidmin Conference hosted by Group. I am over the top excited to get together with others in Children's Ministry for this time of conversations and learning.

Several of my friends are speaking and I wanted to take this time to learn more about them and what they will be sharing at the conference.

Have you met Greg Baird?

One of the things I love about Greg is that he is passionate about equipping and encouraging those of us in Children's Ministry through his blog Kidmin360 and also help those serving in Children's Ministry find a place through KidminJobs.

Greg has been serving in Children's Ministry for 20 years and is a Children's Pastor in San Diego. He is pouring into others through training, coaching, and consulting with Kidmin360.

Here are Greg's answers to my 20 questions:

Rollercoaster or merry-go-round?

~ Definitely rollercoaster!

Do you like your own handwriting?

~ Yep, I've had good handwriting since I was a little kid

What would your superpower be if you could choose one?

~Mind control, like Jedis

What is one of your favorite quotes? Best quote E.V.E.R. except for Biblical stuff of course :)

~It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. Teddy Roosevelt

What do you collect?

~books

~glass animals (1 from each family trip...ever since my son wanted me to buy one when he was about 4...I now have them from all over the world!). I know...a little sissyish...what can I say?!

What movie would your friends be surprised that you like?

~Gladiator...or Kung Fu Panda???

What are your favorite smells?

~Not a big "smell" guy...um...

Coffee or Tea?

~Coffee in the a.m. tea in the p.m.

What is the best thing you've ever eaten? (Where?)

~lamb in Australia

What are you listening to right now?

~my boys beating up each other on Smash Brox. :0)

What career would you pursue in another life?

~center forward for Manchester United

What sound or noise to you love?

~rushing river water

What sound or noise do you hate?

~my wife crying (thankfully it rarely happens!)

Mountains or Beach?

~mountains all the way unless I'm sitting watching the sunset at the beach & not on/in it

What is your favorite fairy tale or childhood story?

~White Fang

What would you tell the 13 year old you?

~life is hard, get used to it and get over it because God is good

What is your favorite cereal?

~Fruit Loops

What book are you reading now?

~The Heart of the Story

~ESPN: The Company

~Church + Home

What was your favorite toy as a child?

~matchbox cars

Where did you spend your last family vacation?

~Hume Lake, CA

Greg is leading a Pre-Conference Track called KidMin Checkup: Assessing Strengths and Weaknesses--and How to Fix Them. Here is a description of what he will be sharing in it:

Without a clear understanding of where you've been and where you are, you cannot get to where you want to go. This understanding comes through evaluation--assessing every area of your children's ministry. This pre-conference session walks you through a complete 100-point "check-up" of your kidmin, evaluating 10 core areas as we go, plus a children's spiritual formation assessment. You'll also learn multiple ways of ongoing evaluation and create a "Ministry Action Plan" to help apply what you've learned from the check-up.

He is also teaching a Deeper Learning Track called Strategic Planning: Guiding Your Ministry With Purpose. Here is a synopsis of what he will be sharing in it:

Strategic planning for children's ministry? Yes! It's a vital function of the KidMin leader, but one that we often avoid.  Too often our ministry is haphazard, week to week and unintentional, resulting in less-than-desired results.  Planning strategically helps us not only accomplish our vision, but also frees us to handle the unexpected.  Join us as we learn the "What? Why? Who? When? and How?" of strategic planning for children's ministry.  You'll walk through the process, create a custom plan for your ministry, and learn how to be flexible in managing a changing environment as you carry out your plan for doing ministry with purpose.

Greg is one of the people that I am most looking forward to meeting at the conference. He encourages me on a regular basis through his writings and I am looking forward to hearing more from him at the conference. You can learn more about Greg and from him on his blog and connect with him on Twitter.