An Explosion needed


ExplosionThere is a community developing of sorts amongst blogging pastors — which makes sense right? If you are writing a blog on a specific topic you are bound to attract like minded people, and in turn be attracted to like minded people.

I read a bunch of blogs from lead/senior pastors all over the world, guys leading their local church.

It makes no difference their denomination, style or affiliation… the strength of their passion, and their engaging writing overrides the things that may separate them. The thing that unites these pastors is the conversation, the journey (and Jesus).

With a bunch of differences, prejudices and style issues out of the way people are really listening.

This may just be post-services, pre-Christmas ‘Sunday Night’ talking… but we need LOTS more conversations going about kids!

I add every single blog relating to ministering to kids to my google reader… and I hunt them down like a hungry wolf in the dead of winter… and still only find 76 on the whole of the internets.

We need a blog explosion in Children’s Ministry.

This blogging thing is not a passing fad, it could be the end of the ‘lone ranger’ minister, out on the prairie with nothin’ but a passin’ tumbleweed to keep him company.

Blogging, and whatever it will become in the coming years is the future present.

I want to be able to pick and choose in this CM niche, not add them all jus’ ’cause… ‘they were there’… show me passion and a love for kids and I’ll read it… and while we’re at it let’s create community, have a virtual coffee… and while its virtual, an entire bag of marshmallows…

If you’re not blogging… do it.

Don’t just leave it to the senior pastors, I want to see more people passionate about ministering to kids blogging! (Not just the paid dudes, the volunteers, the part timers, the parents… bring it on!)

…and <breathe>

P.S. Amen in the comments if I’m preaching well.

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December 23rd, 2007
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Comment Number:
1
Written by:
Ryan Frank
Posted on:
December 23, 2007 at 4:10 pm

AMEN brother! This is a great post! Iron sharpens iron, and we need to help each other grow and be better! Ryan

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
An explosion needed at The Way We See It
Posted on:
December 23, 2007 at 4:21 pm

[...] friend Dave Wakerly wrote a great post on his blog this afternoon about the need for more children’s pastors to blog! Man, you’ve got to [...]

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
Jill Nelson
Posted on:
December 23, 2007 at 10:00 pm

Well stated! I find that checking up on Children’s Ministry blogs is my favorite part of the day. The more options there are to read from, the more likely I am to be challeged, introduced to new idead, encouraged, or just entertained!

Comment Number:
4
Written by:
rob bradbury
Posted on:
December 23, 2007 at 10:09 pm

Amen brother Dave keep up the good work!
Have an awesome Christmas

Comment Number:
5
Written by:
Matt McKee
Posted on:
December 24, 2007 at 12:35 am

Can I get a. . . Can I get a. . . Can I get an Aaammmeenn! Great post. Pure leadership and we need more of it. Thanks for leading once again.

Comment Number:
6
Written by:
Marcy
Posted on:
December 24, 2007 at 8:57 am

Amen, Amen!!! Pray for our kid’s ministry blog that hopefully will begin taking shape in January. It’s always hard for me to find cm blogs..I think yours is the only one i read with like one more that i found on your blogroll. I keep you posted on our soon to be blog, and let us know how we can improve it, etc…Thanks again for the post!!!

Comment Number:
7
Written by:
Dave Wakerley
Posted on:
December 24, 2007 at 3:42 pm

Thanks everyone!!! And Merry Christmas.

Dave

Comment Number:
8
Written by:
JoNathan
Posted on:
December 24, 2007 at 6:02 pm

I need to sign up for Google Reader I see. Seems as though that is the kazizzle of the season. I am currently using my.yahoo.com for my “blog reader” but … Google Reader sounds better.

Appreciate you Brotha Dave!

Comment Number:
9
Written by:
Bill Jakeway
Posted on:
December 25, 2007 at 1:42 am

Well stated, Dave. I enjoy reading your blog as well as others that relate to CM (although I don’t subscribe to the 70+ you do).

Perhaps, however, I can offer the “other side” of the blog-sphere.

I’ve been involved in CM for nearly 30 years (both full-time and as a volunteer). I am probably the “tech-iest” pastor we have on staff (we have six total). I pretty much stay current on most ministry trends (though blogs, etc.) as well as trends that may affect ministry.

I consider my writing skills in the above average range and wouldn’t be afraid of putting myself out there for people to read.

The problem isn’t whether I KNOW how to blog … it is whether I have the TIME to blog. Realistically, between all of the duties I have in CM and other areas, I am already putting in 50-70 hours each week. Reading your blog and others is my “down time” although it is technically ministry time.

Here I am commenting a blog when I could be writing my own? Yikes! Perhaps we’re just trying to balance our time with the wisdom of the Dave’s, the Jim’s, and the Matt’s (to just name a few).

Comment Number:
10
Written by:
Jonathan Fietzer » Blog Archive » Vision of something to come?
Posted on:
December 27, 2007 at 1:33 am

[...] appreciate Dave Wakerley’s post “An Explosion needed“. It has made me think and pray about what I can do to bring unity to the [...]

Comment Number:
11
Written by:
joe
Posted on:
December 29, 2007 at 2:58 pm

this makes me want to start blogging about cm thanks for an 08 resolution.

Comment Number:
12
Written by:
Glen Woods
Posted on:
December 30, 2007 at 2:17 am

Great thoughts. I love reading some of the other blogs out there. There are some gems being written by people who are in the trenches and tackling the gritty issues of life and ministry.

Comment Number:
13
Written by:
Rindy
Posted on:
December 30, 2007 at 11:23 pm

Just found your site and am liking what I’m reading. I love the sharing of resources as I move more into ministry–guys like you blogging help!! thanks!!

Comment Number:
14
Written by:
Karl Bastian
Posted on:
January 1, 2008 at 12:25 am

Great post – I agree we need more, and it is one reason we have started a CM BlogWatch on Kidology.org to help people keep up.

I would say though, I’m not as interested in the number of CM Blogs, as I am the originality of new blogs. Too many blogs tend to quote other blogs (I’m guilty too!), I’d like to see some focused blogs – like Larry does CM and Culture, we need other focused blogs on one aspect of CM instead of more that tackle everything.

So if you are out there and have a nitch area of experience (notice, I didn’s say expertise, all that is needed is sharing your experience, you dont have to claim expertise!) GO FOR IT! Pick a realm of CM and start blogging about it, and it will get picked up and read!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Comment Number:
15
Written by:
Alan Phillips
Posted on:
January 2, 2008 at 7:29 pm

Great post David and great comment Karl! David we do need a lot more people in children’s ministry out their blogging. Karl we do need more focus on peoples blogs. Thanks for the encouragement David and Karl! My personal goal for my blog in 2008 is more indepth, focused, practical and relevant posts on the subject of Family Ministry Leadership.

Comment Number:
16
Written by:
[Kid Inspiration] - » Mohler on Blogging
Posted on:
January 8, 2008 at 3:10 am

[...] up from my Rant on Blogging, here is advice from Al Mohler, the President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: Mohler [...]