October 21, 2008
The NCLA leadership team is extremely excited to announce that Reggie Joiner will join us for FOCUS 09.
Reggie is the founder of The reThink Group, a non-profit organization encouraging churches and families to think strategically to impact this generation of students from birth through high school. The reThink Group urges ministries to be both relevant and strategic; to teach truth while offering hands-on experiences, to be more together than we could be alone.
He is also a co-founder of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, and the co-author of The 7 Practices of Effective Ministries along with Lane Jones and Andy Stanley.
Reggie truly is a champion of children’s ministry! We’re honored to have him at FOCUS 09! This awesome children’s ministry conference will be held March 5-7 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Greenville, South Carolina. Make plans to be there!
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focus conference | Tagged: children's ministry, focus conference, reggie joiner, focus 09 | 
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Posted by phil h
October 20, 2008
I have been wondering lately if we are doing a good job at embracing the potential of the kids in our churches. It seems to me that many churches have relegated children’s ministry to serve as a babysitting service for the parents and adults, to keep the kids occupied while the adults enjoy God and the presence of the Holy Spirit. I get angry at times because of the budgets that are present for sanctuaries and parking lots, but when it comes to children, they are often placed in a back room somewhere.
I believe that God uses children to fulfill the Great Commission. I believe that children are capable of being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. I believe that children can walk in the Spirit. I believe that children can witness. And I believe that children are the recipients of the last days promise that His Spirit will be poured out on our sons and our daughters.
While I love great facilities and Disney like themed rooms, I am more concerned that we are guiding children in to experiencing God and discovering their gifts and more importantly actively utilizing their gifts in the body. There is no age restriction when it comes to being used by God.
If we are truly going to develop a biblical community in our church, then it will require that we allow children the privilege of serving in the ‘big church’, leading in worship, in prayer, and even preaching and teaching. Even the Bible reminds us that a little child shall lead them.
If we are going to reach this world in fulfilling the Great Commission and reaching people, then let’s not forget the resource of children! Let’s get them filled with His Spirit so that they can witness and so that they can be involved in doing the greater works!
Children’s ministry is not tomorrow’s church in waiting. They are the church of today, willing, when given the opportunity, to impact their community and the world!
I hope our budgets, our programs, our worship experiences, all will soon reflect that we truly believe in the whole family of God and their potential!
How are you encouraring and embracing your children and their potential to become Great Commission Kids?
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Posted by tony l
The NCLA leadership team is extremely excited to announce that Reggie Joiner will join us for FOCUS 09.
