[Kid Inspiration]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Kidinspiration Exclusive Special Report: Kidshaper Book Leaked!

Sydney, Australia – 29 July 2010.

On the 26th of July, 2010 I was contacted by a man who wanted to be known only as ‘Deep_Waffle’ (and yes he insisted on the underscore in his name). He told me he had stumbled on an item that may be of great interest to me.

He claimed to have been drinking a soy latte with candy sprinkles at his local Gloria Jeans Coffee establishment and upon finishing his tasty beverage, was disposing of it noticed a rather bald man with a sizeable grin staring at him from the pages of what appeared to be a substantial book. He recognised the man as Rob Bradbury, a notable 70′s rock musician now a pastor, author, speaker, thinker, father, son, leader and part time lawnmower mechanic.

What was in this book?

What’s it for?

Why is Rob grinning?

Take a close look at the photo from Deep_Waffle.

My feeling that this book is going to be released at this years Kidshaper conference. I have no idea why this is in a coffee shop, but I do know that someone may just loose their job over this in the sprawling Planet Kids compound down there in Melbourne Australia.

Of course there is the potential that this is a hoax, albeit a rather elaborate one, so let’s look at the facts:

• It is 164 pages long
• Full colour, this is no photocopied tract!
• It lines up with this years theme at Kidshaper; TASTE
• As you can see, there is a picture of Rob Bradbury in it. I know for a fact that Rob doesn’t allow the use of his image anywhere…
• There is a stack load of content in it which appears to be from leaders all over the earth.
• The timing seems right, printing this would take a while so the fact that it is ready now for the conference would make sense.
• The team that runs Kidshaper are always trying new things, pushing the envelope – this move would make sense.

Just like the blog Gizmodo which faced legal action from Apple when they revealed an iPhone 4 found in a bar in California, I am not expecting Mr. Bradbury and his well funded suit wearing legal department to take this lying down. Will they deny this or simply stand up and say ‘we messed up’ and apologise to the children’s ministry world?

Updates to come.

Yeah Harmony, we didn’t want to see the ‘gentle animals’!

Part one is here.

So on the first day all of the small groups (each child is in a small group of kids with a leader) got a ‘Cloodle’ which was a record of all the clues that we left around the Kidsong venues. Some were written in chalk in random places, some were read out from stage, some were texted to leaders and some were handed out on bits of paper. There were 18 clues in all and they had to fill out all the clues because on the last morning we revealed the final meta puzzle.

A letter out of each of the 18 clues was needed to create a final sentence to unlock where the ‘treasure’ was ultimately hidden.

One of our challenges each year is to create an exciting prize for the winning team (every child is allocated a tribe/pod for the conference). It’s hard on a limited budget to get a prize that is valuable for a few hundred kids and doesn’t cost your whole budget.

Every year we produce ‘trading cards‘ (coming in part three of this series) that we release each day and the kids go nuts trying to collect them all. Some are rarer than others and this year the rarest of all turned out to be the hidden treasure on the final day. We produced an unannounced 11th card for the winning team ONLY.

There were only a few hundred of this card and not many kids outside of the winning team would have got one. So after announcing the winning team and revealing the meta puzzle we produced the MAP and the winning team went to dig up their treasure.

Funny Story: My esteemed collegue Nathan Mclean, whom I charged to bury the aforementioned tresure only hours before it was revealed is still at the conference site looking for one of the packages (two primary school age groups = two different treasures). One thing I know, I will never let him forget his disastrous treasure finding abilities.

(Even with one lost we had enough to go around thank goodness).

Thanks to Elisha Suarez and her team of thespians who wrote our Mystery script, she did an absolutely magnificent job and I could not have imagined a better video series! Also thanks to our editors Logan, Eric, Josh and Nathan who did post audio! It all worked out in the end!

Here is part three of the video:

This is part four:

And here is the final wrap up of the whole thing, where the kids get to see all the secrets. This is shown on the final night of conference and recaps the entire week.

Coming in part three: The designs of the trading cards and the ‘cloodle’.

Plus other highlights from Kidsong World 2010!

To our awesome Hillsong Church volunteers. Thanks!

Last weekend we took a moment during our services to say thanks to the 4779 people who pulled off our best conference yet! If you were one of them, then thanks so much, you rock!

So each year at our annual Hillsong Conference we host Kidsong World. This year was my 9th and I have been involved from my very first year in 2001 as a ‘Pod’ leader (all the kids are in teams), to now overseeing the whole thing.

The ages we take differ slightly from our weekend services so I thought I might run them down. Unlike normal services we don’t take kids from aged one, instead we run ‘playgroup‘ providing a fantastic area for parents to hang out with their kids and showing the service on screens. This complements our parenting rooms which are for all kids under one.

Our first program starts at aged two and we take 2-5 year old into our Ark program and they hang out mostly with the ‘Funhouse’ kids (Kindergarten & grade 1 at school). This is our ‘Early Childhood‘ program. They have Max and Melody shows and HK Team, our praise and worship team for young ones.

Our ‘Primary school‘ program starts at grade 2-4 (All Stars) and 5-6 (Voltage), they hang out together mostly and have similar programs. But as much as possible we provide different targeted experiences for all age groups.

We have found that split works well for such a long conference (9am-4ish and then a 2 hour night rally), we have these kids for a significant period of time. In fact every year I remind our volunteers that we will get as much time during conference than the rest of the year put together!

So in this post I want to focus on the ‘story’ of conference.

My main concern is of course the safety of our kids, but I really love focussing on the content of the week. Here was our theme this year. Each day of conference was a different theme, we are also using this theme for the month of July (5 Weekends).

BIG PICTURE: THE MYSTERY

BIG WORD: That Word contains the mystery that has been hidden for many ages…and here it is. Christ is in you. He is your hope of glory. Colossians 1:26-27 (NIrV)

1. BIG IDEA: OPERATION BLUEPRINT - BIG POINT: God’s Word is our Guide

2. BIG IDEA: CSI: CREATION STUDIES INSTITUTE  - BIG POINT: We can see God in His Creation

3. BIG IDEA: EVIDENCE UNEARTHED - BIG POINT: We can see God in History

4. BIG IDEA: DESIGNER GENES - BIG POINT: We can see God in His workmanship

5. BIG IDEA: TRUE LIVES - BIG POINT: We can see God in our lives

We make ‘teaching clips’ that are similar in style to our BIG Curriculum videos, but the exciting thing this year was the creation of the Mystery Videos. A five part video that engages kids in a mystery that they have to solve! Each morning they watched the next episode of the video and spent the day looking for clues that would help them solve the secrets of the Mystery.

Here is part one of the video:

And here is part two:

Coming soon…

Kidsong – The Mystery Part 2  [Edit - It's up here]

The rest of the mystery videos and the map

Conference has officially finished this year. Lots of highlights and new things. Full report to come, but right now enjoy the Hip-Hop.

Love it!

I have found a few moments during Hillsong Conference (#hillsongconf for all the twitterers out there), to write a couple of thoughts down.

1. It’s awesome

2. It’s full on!

So many kids, new venues and a whole lot of leaders to pull of the most creative and fresh conference we have done in a while!

(These were short thoughts okay, I’ll try again before the week is out)

But go to http://hillsongconference.com/backstage to see all the action!

All right!

(Yep that’s me in the hat)

The CMTelesummit has just started… which is true if you are reading this soon after I am writing this, but very untrue if you read this in a few days, to it’s one of those time sensitive announcements.

It’s 9:30am in the morning in the US but Midnight here in Sydney so I am out, but if you read this any time soon get on over to the sit and get a hold of the call in number.

Skype works brilliant for the summit, so get on it!

My session is on 2pm tomorrow US EST time. Check it out, I am talking about how to run a key volunteer team!

It’s conference season! Which is like a the buzz of a gnat (albeit a really groovy gnat with rhythm and dance skills), it takes all your focus!

Hillsong Conference is almost upon us, and my bloggin’ is suffering, but there is great news on the horizon.

1. You can be a part of Conference from anywhere in the world. hillsongconference.com/backstage Live streaming during the week and lots more. Look out for me, i’ll be showing up a couple times.

2. Some really cool announcements about the direction we are going in online as Hillsong Church. I am truly excited about these!

3. It’s better if you have three items on a list

Amen.

Hope you’re havin’ a great summer Northern Hemisphere, winter has not been kind to us here in Sydney, but I love this season anyway… it’s the meloncholic, hot chocolate drinkin’, mellowed out with candles side of me that loves winter.

Can’t really say more than that.

I am getting very excited

Oh yeah!

HILLSONG CONFERENCE 2009 OPENER

I just found out that VBS stands for Vacation Bible School. I am currenty throwing up my lunch. #kidmin
funnymandan

Unfortunately I had to be the one to break it to my esteemed colleague Funny Man Dan… he had no idea.

I think if I sat down with a group of people committed to thinking up the worst possible name for an event during summer holidays… well… I know for a fact it would include the word school!

Sorry Dan.

Why did I write about ‘US’ for the really cool ebook “What Matters Now?” (download free) released last month.

Why did I choose the word US?

The US I refer to is the Church.

I think that history, as told by God would be very different to history, as told by historians. The Bible doesn’t get too much into the politics of the day, it focuses on what really matters in God’s story. The fact is not everyone is called to be in politics, but everyone is called to be in ‘the Church’.

Compared to a lot of cultures around the world our ‘Western’ culture is massively individualistic. The problem is that strong families do not make for good reality shows or sitcoms, they do not serve up laughs at others expense or the drama of conflict.

Do you make jokes about ‘large’ families? You know, like ‘hey you guys ever heard of television?’.

If children are a blessing from God (they are), Then it follows that they are more blessed than you, right?

Anyway, that’s just one way our cocoon of individuality manifests itself (albeit a subtle one).

I love big families… it’s all so rebellious and counter-cultural!

Ha. We don’t burn bras anymore, we buy minivans!

So don’t just give lip-service to your cries for community, you will probably have to be different (different even to Church folks) to really nail the US thing… and that’s tough for adults… we’ve spent years trying to fit in!

Here is the chapter from the book:

South African Apartheid was not stopped by Nelson Mandela standing alone.

Segregation in the South of the United States was not extinguished by one speech from Martin Luther King, Jr.

It took a lot of passionate people building up a tidal wave of justice to overthrow inequality and prejudice. It’s true that one person can make a difference. In fact, more than ever in history one person can be heard.

Our children need to realize that their individual voices have the potential to be louder than ever before… but volume has never guaranteed influence. When enough voices unite together, a moment happens, a tipping point occurs and a movement emerges. The conversation turns from a lone voice in the wilderness to a crowd in the town square.

A Super Bowl ad is not going redeem a culture that desperately needs God. It will take a generation whose faith is not only personal but grounded in community. Their prayers should be filled with “WE” and “OUR” not just “I” and “MINE”.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”. (Margaret Mead)

I’m super freakin’ pumped up like an over-inflated bicycle tyre

My man James Leggot explain in the video which you can watch on the site: hillsongconference.com/backstage

Hillsong BACKSTAGE – Web Design – 5weeks to go from Hillsong Church on Vimeo.

So this is similar to the Catalyst Backstage and Orange Conference Behind the scenes/live streaming plus highlights from the conference!

So it will be developing for the next few weeks as we countdown to the conference. If you cannot make it to the conference then this is the place to be during the week.

I will be hosting some of the live streaming along with a bunch of our team here at church!

Can’t wait!

I know I’m light on the whole ‘meaningful content‘ about ministry and life and leadership ‘thing’.

But this did tickle my linguistic funny bone – because saying ‘I could care less…’ has bugged me for a while now

See you soon with some real content – hopefully!

After the phenomenal awesomeness of Anybody can be cool… I present a series of truly great book titles by Lorraine Peterson.

Starting with ‘Why isn’t God giving Cash Prizes?’

I’m not sure, but at least we all get an upright piano to sit on and the ability to look at the same spot on our jeans as our friends.

This is all great and stuff but ‘If You Really Trust Me, Why Can’t I Stay Out Later?’

Well with haircuts like that you might be mistaken for members of Wham, or backup singers for Bobbie Brown. That is a sweet V neck sweater though!

Onwards and hopefully upwards as hear from people who have been ‘Dying of Embarrassment & (Are) Living to Tell About it’

I’m pretty sure that blue shirt Mullet guy has a lot to be embarrassed about, but NOT that smouldering and cheeky grin. If he doesn’t find work as an extra on Saved By The Bell reunion shows, them I’m the guy in the rip off ADIDAS shirt.

I’m still feeling lucid and bright eyed, so we push onto more theological fare.

If the Devil “Made” You Do It, You Blew It! (But It Doesn’t Need To Happen Again).

Now as you can imagine I have major issues with this book… I don’t see that there is anything wrong with touch! Especially if that is restricted to either the hand or the forearm! I can understand anything higher than that is right in the ‘Devil’s Territory’ but for goodness sake, this multi-cultural slushy gang obviously spends hours watching The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air together, why wouldn’t you bond over that!

So, there I have it.

I know the burning question you are asking, where can I buy these magnificent tomes and frame them on wall above my autographed ‘Friends‘ Poster?

Probably your parents bookshelf… seriously… check there first!