We are pleased to announce that the winner of the first every Kidology Conference Contest was Pastor Jeff Bradley, from Westland, Michigan.

I think Jeff's letter stating "WHY I NEED THIS CRUISE" could be a great encouragement for you...

Why I NEED This Cruise
By Jeff Bradley

---My tanning salon membership expires on January 13th.

---I can only survive on my charm and good looks for so long before they realize that I don't know what I'm doing.

---I deserve something wonderful like a cruise for all the razzing I've been taking for having the audacity to ask to attend a workshop that takes place on a cruise ship.

On a more serious note, I NEED this cruise because I am fairly new to the world of children's ministry. ....... I had no time to prepare for this area of ministry. I've been runnin', runnin', runnin' ever since. I desperately need ministry ideas from people who sincerely love and understand children...... While this ministry thrills me, it also terrifies me. We are already seeing new faces at our children's programs. How am I going to get, keep, energize and encourage workers? How will I learn to relate to children with backgrounds I can't begin to understand? How do I make events so enjoyable and REAL that kids can't help but want to come back? What about all the stuff I haven't even thought of yet?

We're rolling up our sleeves and jumping in. (gulp!) I want God to use me in an incredible way. Frankly, I NEED some educatin'!

I may have only been in children's ministry a short time, but I've been here long enough to know who I'm interested in hearing speak. You've got them all on a ship with no place to run. This will save me a lot of time and money. Thanks for your consideration--and pass the suntan lotion!

by Jeff Bradley