So I have seen a few children’s ministry tour/remodelling pictures where there are seemingly amazing facilities filled with beautiful stages, incredible murals on the wall and spectacular entrances and their sitting in the middle of the picture are chairs.

Now first of all I get over the pangs of jealousy generated by the permanent facilities and I realise that of course the room is set up for a photo shoot.

But I have seen it a number of times in photos and videos of weekend services with kids spread all over the room – In the back of the room, in the sides… holes and spaces throughout the crowd.

There is only one reason for this – the chairs are set up before the kids arrive in the room.

Huh?

You mission in life is to help these kids connect with God and with each other and you take one of your tools – seating – and leave it to chance?

Here are three rules of seating I just made up:

1. Have the same amount of seats as kids
2. Never have seats set out during praise and worship times
3. Teach your kids the seating system/plan/fun way of making this tool work for you

One of the first things I did as a children’s pastor was change the way we setup chairs in our services… there were probably more important things but it’s what I did okay

Why do you put the chairs out?

My mind is very focussed right now. In fact it can only really fit a couple of things in it and I have reached capacity.

There are two main projects which are at their almost final end.

1. Our fourth Hillsong Kids Big curriculum – I am excited about this and we have a final video shoot next week, but I really want it to be done. (It also differs slightly from our first three so stay tuned for details!)

2. The DVD of Crazy Noise. Our first ever preschool album CD was released in Aus. last November and will be launching worldwide early this year with a DVD as well… so it’s kinda all happening right now, and because its a studio alum not a live one there is a lot more content that needs filming and a bunch of creative ideas that need to be idea-ed-afied.

So this blog takes a back seat, but I look forward to writing some posts about the creative, songwriting and filming processes that will hopefully be helpful!

Talk soon!

My passions are pretty obvious… especially when it comes to food, and the incomparable Eva Stringleman provided a rather inventive Christmas present this year for yours truly!

Knowing my love of Chocolate in it’s many forms both milk and dark AND my devotion to Pepsi Max she devised the ultimate taste test for me. Can I tell the difference between 5 different forms of chocolate and can I taste the difference between Pepsi Max and Coke Zero?

Most people overestimate the ability of their taste buds to differentiate between subtle differences in food and drink. Professional food taster is actually a job, and usually requires a degree in food science. So I was not going to believe this would a simple task.

First of all I melted the five chocs into an ice cube tray because I would have been able to tell the difference in the shape of the squares – eg. Lindt has a very thin flat piece. Then put them into the fridge to harden again (now i’m not sure that affects the consistency of the chocolate but I think it worked ok!)

While I sat blindfolded Beci handed me small pieces of the chocolate to try and I tried to figure which brand they were.

So the result!

I was able to pick each of the different chocolates and got a 2/3 for Pepsi vs. Coke!

But it wasn’t as clear cut as I expected, quite a challenge to pick exactly what I was eating…

Anyway, I award this blog post ‘Random Post of the Year’, and would like to thank my sponsor Eva Stringleman for her brilliant idea!

Taste Test

For those of you interested the 5 Chocolates were:

• Nestlé Club Chocolate
• Lindt EXCELLENCE Dark 70%
• Cadbury Old Gold 70%
• Whittakers 50% Dark Block
• Whittakers 72% Dark Ghana

NOTE: I have a soft spot for Whitakers Chocolate a New Zealand family business dating back to 1896!

Occasionally I’ll read about the life of another person or at least the aspect they are sharing in the interview or book and think “Man, I wish I had that life”.

Usually the story will involve a private jet, holiday resort or some seemingly unattainable icon of insane wealth, which may have something to do with the mild fit of jealousy.

Then I remember what I get to do.

But not in a ‘fairy dust with unicorns’ kind of way, more like a I REALLY believe that I am living in the plan and purpose of God kind of way!

Knowing the infatuation that our culture has with celebrity, I have asked kids before if they would rather be famous and divorced or… have a wonderful marriage and be completely unknown in Hollywood…

Okay – I’ll admit, that question doesn’t really work. The ‘complete lack of romantic interest in the opposite sex until hormones kick in’ may have something to do with it.

But the truth is that God’s will trumps everything and I believe God is more concerned with WHO we are becoming rather than WHAT we are doing.

The grass is greener — right here!

It’s time for a random yet related fact.

So think about how many individual images go to make up a Pixar movie… the average frame (a movie has 24 frames per second) takes about seven hours to render, although some can take nearly 39 hours of computing time. (Source: Wired Mag)

P.S. Rendering definition here.

Finish of random but related fact.

We are creating our latest Hillsong Kids Big curriculum of which the media we produce is a very important part…

Why… In our culture because of the proliferation of media it is used to segregate and divide (you are defined by the music you like and the TV you watch – Hip Hop, Emo, Country, Pop, Beiber have their ‘tribes’). Having all your kids watch the same media at church is a small step in the effort to unite and build community.

So that’s why I’m wearing gold tights, drinking Pepsi Max and spending untold hours filming a ‘Christmas Story’.

It’s worth it.

For approx 35 minutes of video:

• Pre production: (Writing scripts/Recording songs): about 100 Hours
• Filming: 31 Hours

So here’s the thing. I have tried to film at least 5 different new leaders training videos over the last few years. But seriously it seems like every time we try something happens. We have hard drives fail, lost footage, evil clowns steal tape (not really).

It felt like there was a spiritual battle going on for the soul of our new leaders and powers beyond my understanding were working against me to stop this video from being created – (“what do you mean exaggeration???”)

But instead of deterring me, my resolve only got more resolved, and my gumption got more gumptionfied - I cast out the demons of fear and loss and tried again

How you start something is very important and I want to give our new team members the best start possible.

I believe that in our multi campus Church that including this video with all of our new leaders applications will really help give them that great start. This is one part of getting new team involved.

Here is the video:

Hillsong Kids New Leaders Training

Things that are awesome!

Number 1: Funny man Dan No. 8

Number 2: Steve and Jeremy

Number 3: Full Episode 1 from Hillsong Kids Big: Supernatural!

Big Message 1: Supernatural BiG

Number 4: Top 100 Baby!

I am honoured to be number 7 on the list of Top Children’s Ministry Blogs. (down from last year though!)

And that’s what is awesome!

So it’s clear from being at the brilliant Activate Conference with Tammy Tolman that there a lot of people in Kidmin that have a story about the infamous flash paper.

Flash Paper to Coin from Nathan LeGros on Vimeo.

So if you have ever used flash paper and lived to tell the tale, please share below…

I will share a fellow kids pastor experience of using a candle to light the flash paper and getting a small amount of wax on the paper which ended up on the youth pastors face after being thrown into the audience.

Share away! (Especially you gospel type illusionists/magicians)

There are a couple of awesome posts I wanted to highlight from our Hillsong Collected Blog.

The first is from our Senior Pastor Bobbie Houston all about doing ministry and life with children well, and the second is a recap of our Kidsong conference at Hillsong Europe!

“How do you balance family life and ministry life?”

This has to be possibly THE most frequently asked question in forums like this, and especially by young women in that fabulous season of early motherhood. However having said that, the question applies to pretty much every season of life, because there isn’t a season in any of our lives, where we don’t (or shouldn’t) feel something of the stretch and pressure of that new season.

Have you noticed that one word dominated this first paragraph … Seasons!!

This is the final installment of this little series. Thanks for everyone’s questions – we finished up the main studio time of our latest album and now it’s time to move on to our latest Curriculum filming. It’s that season which I will affectionally call ‘little sleep, much catering’.

Onwards for some questions.

Question 1: Love to hear about your point system or reward system in kidmin. – Cyrstal

I have found myself drifting over to the ‘no rewards’ side of the debate in Kidmin. I like the idea of example and relationship being the great motivator not lollies. But that being said, one of the most important things you need in order for kids to learn is FUN. Prizes are fun so we will use them!

See this post at Ministry-To-Children for an overview of the debate.

Here’s how we use them – we get little points stickers printed that say Hillsong Kids on them. And throughout our services we stick them on kids who are all divided into ‘pods‘ or teams. At the end of the service our ‘pod‘ leaders count the stickers and the team with the most wins a point for the leader board up the front of the room. At the end of each year just before Christmas we announce a winning team and all the kids in that team go into the draw for a big prize (like a Nintendo DSi or something).

This is for our primary school kids, we don’t really do it in our preteen age group, or with our toddlers.

Question 2: “Why do the All Blacks choke at every World Cup?” – Andy ‘I’m a weasel’ Kirk

For my international friends who don’t really follow Rugby there is a world cup going on right now in my homeland of New Zealand… (Even the U.S. has a team there!)

To answer your question Andy, I think I will just bide my time until the result is announced and the All Blacks win.

I am actually relieved that I got some questions from the readers of [Kid Inspiration]. I always get nervous that no one will post a question and then I will feel like Nigel No Friends… but I have friends! The origin of this series is here and we are on round three as I sit here listening to a song called NEW DAY which is sounding fresh and hot and awesome, but you can’t hear it yet because it’s not ready!

Question 1: What have you guys seen that works and doesn’t work for recruiting volunteers? Also, do your volunteers serve in any sort of term/trimester/semester or do they come and go as they please (hope that makes sense) – Carrie.

Of course it makes sense Carrie in the same way that salsa and corn chips make sense.

The biggest secret to building volunteers and growing teams is to simply reflect the leadership of your Church. Out leadership culture here at Hillsong Church is very well defined and there is an expectation that is set across all of our campuses. The basic idea is that you sit in a service and serve in a service (Mary and Martha style). Apart from that is explaining the why behind the what. When talking to prospective team members (which is a good place to start), just sell them the vision of being part of helping kids follow Jesus for the rest of their lives in the only institution that God set up outside of family!

Question 2: sup Dave, how do you transition kids from kids to youth? – Sarah

I’m rocking Sarah, sup with you?

The best thing we have done here at Hillsong Kids in ten years is start a preteen ministry called Voltage for all kids in Grade 5/6. This has meant that we start preparing them to be in our Youth ministry for two years leading up to it! This is highly relational ministry that is all about being another voice in the life of a child. A positive encouraging supportive voice that helps them in every way we can. Did you know that this age group is the most bullied on earth!

At the end of each year we have youth leaders start coming to our weekend services and connecting with the kids so they will know someone in our ‘Fuel’ ministry. We also run an every second Friday night program before Youth that gets them feeling all grown up!

Thanks for your questions!!!!

My last post explains this short series. It is 11:12pm and I am sitting in the studio and suddenly my brain is protesting even considering this idea… “why would you decide to do this now?” it says to me. Well I am gonna do what I said I’d do!

We are well and truly into the mix process and it’s rocking… click here to watch a little video sneak preview from Luke who is producing with me!

Question 1: How do your KDG’s work at Hillsong Kids and how do you transition from large group time to KDG’s? - Braden

KDG’s are an integral part of Hillsong Kids. It stands for Kids Discipleship Groups, our small groups for kids on weekends and Friday nights for our Preteen program ‘Voltage’. In fact it is one of the main things I mention when talking to prospective volunteers and leaders. I explain that one of the most powerful things you can do in the life of our Church is connect with the same group of kids each week. Building relationship and being an example and guide to living for Jesus Christ.

Our best example of this is on Sunday morning services when our primary (elementary) program is a large group/small group format. The last 20 or so minutes we break down into small groups of about 10 kids, depending on campus and service time. If I am MCing (every service has an MC leading) I would literally get the leaders standing around the room and send the children to their leader. They are usually in the same area each week so they know the drill.

We have ‘worksheets’ (horrible name I know… should be funsheets not work sheets), that relate to the theme, but we place a high emphasis on relational connection and pray and talking about real issues. The younger the kids are the more we rely on the sheets as a general rule.

Question 2: Dave. What rules do you have at kids church? how do you explain them to the kids? – Lisa

We have rules but we don’t call them that. At the front of our primary programs we have a “When At Hillsong Kids” sign.

1. Always be kind to others
2. Listen when others are talking
3. Put your hand up and wait to be asked to speak
4. Be Involved
5. Have Fun

We reinforce this with a ‘Welcome Video’ played at the beginning of each service that goes through the rules, points system, toileting procedure etc. About 1:30 long?

Thanks for your questions! More to come!

For the next week I would like to try something on this blog.

We are going to mixing our new Preschool Kids Album all week long, which means lots of sitting around punctuated by bursts of intense activity as we lock in a song (The mix process is basically taking all your recorded songs, balancing all the different instruments and adding lots of Autotune to make my singing sound passable… yep I’m actually singing).

So in order to keep my sanity and around my regular job of keeping Hillsong Kids moving forward I would like to answer questions with a “Here’s What I’d Do…”, Or even a “Here’s What We Do…”

For example:

• Dave. I have a two year old that brings a light saber to Church each week and we have had three hospitalisations, what would you do?
• Or; Dave. I love country music, what’s wrong with me?
• Or; Dave. I read a blog that disparages country music, what would you do?

Ah!

Brilliant.

More new praise and worship music for kiddly winks.

I REALLY like the Kids on the Move team (I even bolded the REALLY if you noticed). The Senior pastor of Church on the Move Willie George practically invented children’s ministry (not even joking) and Jim Wideman it’s co-creator took it to new heights as the kids pastor for many years!

SIDE NOTE: I have had the privilege to spend some time with Jim Wideman and here’s pretty much how conversations go with him:

Me: ”So we did this <insert kind of cool thing> with our kids last year, but we couldn’t seem to <insert issue>”

Jim: (clears throat) “Yeah, tried somethin’ like that back in 1984 and found that you need to <insert solution> and God will bless it, dadgummit!”

Me: ”Oh… yeah… wow…”

(Problem solved).

And… back to topic: In the last little while the seeds blog has come online and been a HUGE blessing to me as I have watched kids services and events all filmed beautifully and lots or input from their myriad of awesome people like Adam Bush and Gabe George etc.

Check out their CM category on the blog.

So enter their album Greater is He!

Tracks include:

Jesus, What a Friend
I Love My Bible
Jesus Is Alive Right Now
Greater Is He
Supernatural
You Are My Rescue
I Obey Right Away
Jesus, I Love You
By Faith
Jesus Is the Way
Jesus on My Journey
Jesus, What a Friend (Remix)

My favourite? Jesus on My Journey.

I really like the title track Greater Is He with an awesome kids choir rocking in the background as well! But don’t take my word for it check out the iTunes link and sample some of these tunes!

Awesome job KOTM team, I’m sure that Hillsong Kids will be worshipping to some of these soon… which leads to a question… backing tracks and website with lyrics?

According to this infographic at openchurch.org I am kind of a big deal.

You can find me in the white global influencers list in the international section.

Rob Bradbury asked me to speak in the Kidshaper electives this year about a topic near and dear to my heart. I firmly believe that everyone has a creative spark in them, especially when it has to do with your calling in life!  And I’m not just just talking about creativity that immediately springs to mind like songwriting or script writing, but everything from problem solving to preaching to leading volunteers.

This is a brief few thoughts from what I presented at the conference.

Learning how to use your imagination

 1. We have an imperative to create
God tells us to sing a new song. God is the only one who can create from nothing. We simply re-imagine.  BUT stronger can be our desire to hold on to our previous creations – don’t ride any dead horses… dismount.

2. Unblock the Hose
I wrote about this a while ago here. But sometimes you need to figure out HOW before you figure out WHAT. Perhaps you want to create a video for your weekend services but your grand ideas supersede your technical ability. Find someone with the know-how!

3. Give Yourself Space
In my role at Church I have to create a space so I can devote my entire brain area cavity to an idea or issue – and I am confident that I have God given ability to come up with solutions not because I am especially gifted but simply because I am called!

4. Don’t Accept the First Draft
Do not expect platinum without a rewrite. Sit with your ideas for a while before acting on them.

5. Don’t Mix Meetings and Ideas
NEVER. If you are brainstorming with team, stay away from agenda and ‘to do lists’. Focus on the dreams not the doing!

6. Be Mr/Mrs Implementation
Don’t just be known as Mr. Idea.

The bottom line is all this: Effort places value on our children… so take the time and develop your imagination!