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Kidmin Pros

What is Kidmin Pros?

The Kidmin Pros Team is a volunteer team of kidmin professionals who share Kidology's passion to equip and encourage those in children's ministry and volunteer their time, expertise and experience on Kidology.org.

They seek to make sure every question in the forum receives a thoughtful answer. They help keep us current with movie and product reviews and keep us sharp with book and events reports. Bottom line, they are fellow comrades in ministry committed to going the extra mile to share with our members from their lives and ministries so together we all can do a better job reaching and teaching children.

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Kidmin Pros Team Leader

Nicki Straza is Children's Pastor at Freedom House in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, where she runs the L.A.F.F Academy.

Her passion and energy are contagious as she brings over 20 years of kids ministry experience to the table. Starting as a preschool Sunday school teacher as a 10 year old, Nicolette quickly learned that there was nothing more important that raising up the next generation, even if they were only a few years behind her. Since then she has worked with travelling clown and drama teams, engaged kids and youth through summer day camps, VBS, summer ministry teams and more.

Nicki believes that kids in ministry become adults in ministry and believes her destiny lies in helping kids young and old reach their greatest potential! Her passion to raise up and equip leaders in our complacent culture has become her focus as she continues to be inspired to write curriculum, teach in the public schools and motivate and inspire kids and youth everywhere she goes.

Nicki lives with her husband and two beautiful children in Brantford, City of God!  [Network Forums username: Nic4kids]

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Spencer Click has returned! After 6 years in the land flowing with milk and honey (aka San Diego, CA) Spencer has returned to his home church in Kettering, OH, to serve as Children's Pastor. Starting in August of 2008, he has found closets full of buried treasure and rooms full of trash...it's an exciting time.

Spencer has been serving in Children's Ministry for over 20 years (he started at age 12). In last 20 years he has served in pretty much every area of Children's Ministry - puppet team coach, clown, Sunday School Helper, Children's Evangelist, Children's Pastor (paid and unpaid).

The crowning achievement of his ministry career is that in 20 years of Children's Minstry he has never changed a diaper (he has no kids of his own.)

Originally from Ohio Spencer is a die hard fan of the Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Reds, and The Ohio State Buckeyes. He has an obsession for Star Wars that hovers just at unhealthy. Spencer is married to a wonderful woman - Heather. She is everything he asked for an more. No kids yet... [Network Forums username: SpencerClick]

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Jamie Doyle resides with his family in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  He serves as the children's pastor at Radiant Church. Additionally, he speaks as a guest at children's ministry events and churches.

Jamie was educated at North Central University (Minneapolis, MN), Southeastern College of the Assemblies of God (Lakeland, FL), and the school of hard-knocks in Children's Ministry.

A gospel magic nut, he also has interest in magicians and the the history and working of magic tricks. Musically, Jamie is a Johnny Cash and Larry Norman fan.

Married to Jennifer, Jamie has three kids: Riley, Emma, and Evan. Learn more about Jamie via his website and blog. [Network Forums username: jamie496]

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Nancy Keith, who serves as the Kidology CP Team secretary, is the KIDS Church Director at Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. She also teaches music and movement classes to toddler, preschoolers, and their grown-ups. While never married (or maybe, not married yet!) she is the aunt to twelve officially and hundreds that she claims as adopted nieces and nephews!

Involved in Children's Ministry for over 35 years, her specialties are storytelling and music. Her passion is finding new and creative ways to communicate the Gospel to children... leading them down a path to know and love Him as a friend... and serve Him with their lives.

Nancy also enjoys teaching teachers what she has learned. She has taught seminars and workshops at numerous children's ministry events. She attended Virginia Commonwealth University and majored in Music Education. Her hobbies are writing, singing, acting and blowing bubbles!

Nancy sang at a private dinner party at the White House in 1972, but claims to have no responsibility or connection to the Watergate scandal. [Network Forums username: MissNancy]

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Patti Kirkland has been a part of Windsor Crossing Community Church in suburban St. Louis since there were only 17 people. Now there are over 5000! Back in 1993 the leadership invited her to come up with "some kind of program for kids." Being a part of a church from the beginning and building a ministry from the ground up has allowed her to experience ministry from many different perspectives: start-up, small ministry, medium-sized, large, and now developing multi-sites.

She recently transitioned from the director position to Volunteer Care Coordinator, where she focuses on volunteer training, development, and pastoral care. Patti is excited to be able to share the things that God has taught her over the years with other leaders in the Kingdom. I love kids, families and the volunteers who sacrifice their time to serve them! She's been married for over 30 and has 3 awesome boys. [Network Forums username: pkirkland]

 

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Joni Lum is the Children's Minister at Chinese Baptist Church of Central Orange County, in Irvine, California. She has committed her life to not only encouraging her own kids, but those at CBCCOC, to love and serve the Lord as they seek to grow "in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man."

Her dream is to assist parents to bring up the next generation of leaders in the church by helping kids to have a personal and committed relationship with God. She is passionate about kids discovering their spiritual gifting and using their talents to serve the Lord while they are young, so that they will grow to live a life of service to our Lord. In addition, her goal is to integrate the children into the larger church ministry so that they will, as youths, commit themselves to membership in this body.

She especially enjoys working with preteens, planning large church events, developing new programs/events, and serving within the local Asian-American church community.

"Auntie" Joni earned her Masters in Educational Leadership (Christian Education) at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in 2005 and was the 2004 Western Baptist Association of Christian Educators scholarship award recipient. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Marketing) from California State University, Fullerton. During Joni's free time, she homeschools her four children, enjoys trying out new recipes, and reading.

Joni is married to Mark, her high school sweetheart. They have four kids ranging in age from 7 to 15. Prior to having their own kids, Joni and Mark have served in Children's and Youth ministry since they were in high school. [Network Forums username: jonimom4]

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Alan Phillips is currently serving as the children's pastor at Hope Fellowship in Frisco, Texas. Alan has over 17 years experience in ministry, 11 years of this being full-time and 6 years being in a bi-vocational capacity. Alan received in 1992 an Associates degree from Midwest Bible Institute in general Biblical studies.

He has a real desire to see whole families grow closer to God through great family oriented initiatives in his ministry and others. Alan has been married to his wife Rebecca for 12 years and has three great kids. He loves to play golf, hang out with close friends and go fishing with his children. He also loves to stay active on the Internet through his Facebook page, Twittering (too often his wife says) and blogging as often as he can. [Network Forums username: haprp]

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Scott Phillips currently serves at The Tabernacle Church in Laurel, Maryland, as the After-School/Summer Camp Director, Building/Events Coordinator, and Children Church Coordinator & Leader/Teacher.

Scott has served in various churches both in the State and overseas while in the US Air Force (retired). Scott describes himself as a "gap-filler" and has served in every area of ministry including: church clerk, visitation and outreach ministry member, Mens Ministry director, Sunday School teacher & Superintendent (both adults and children), Mid-Week Teacher, Registrar & Acting Dean for Church Bible School, Technology Training Director & teacher, Drama Team, Puppets, Kitchen staff/crew, janitorial crew (floors & rooms), Sound System & Tape Production, Events Coordinator, Web-Page Developer and Overseer, Pioneer Leader & Director, Choir, Yard & Ground Maintenance, and so on.

Scott has served faithfully in his current church since 1993 (returning to the United States) and as a Deacon since 1998. He received his ordination as a Minister this past September from the Harvest International Ministerial Fellowship.

While Scott is involved in many different ministries, his passion and calling are to the children. He strives to develop his own skills and knowledge to become more effective in that ministry.

He is currently focusing his attentions on completing a program in Children's Ministry through Children's Ministry University Online at Valley Forge College. [Network Forums username: sgphillips]

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Megan Rayment was born in Australia and has not yet found a reason to leave (although world travel may be in the retirement plans). Her husband, Andrew, and her have two amazing teenagers, Steph and Jacob. They all worship and serve in various different roles at St Mark's Anglican Church Emerald, Victoria, where Megan has been working with kids since 2005. Andrew has his own hairdressing salon and Megan tries to care for the financial/admin side of the business.

Megan first taught Sunday School when she was 15, and has had some role or another in kids ministry since then (which is just short of 30 years). She has taught Sunday School, which in Australia has become Kids Church (they are not two different things here); been involved in after school kids clubs from team member to leader to director; taught Christian Religious Education in State Schools; established and run Playgroup ministries in two Churches and been the keynote speaker for a number of Churches kids programs and family camps. After 10 years in the retail and corporate banking world, she found her true calling (motherhood) and has had an adventure-filled 18 years since. Much of what has happened in her kids min roles has been formed from her own children's involvement, but Megan wasn't ready to move on when they did!

Growing up in a Christian home is a privilege and responsibility Megan holds close to her heart, and her aim is to enable as many kids as possible do the same thing! So her ministry to kids usually overflows to their parents as well. Working in a strongly outreach-focussed church has often challenged her ingrained patterns and beliefs, and she is thankful that God has chosen her as part of the great adventure in her local area. She is passionate about the kids in our churches understanding the great privilege they have, and about assisting parents in the amazing role of discipling their children.

Oh yeah, in her spare time she would love to rock climb and jump out of planes, but usually she does patchwork, reads or spends time in coffee shops with friends. [Network Forums username: Mingin]

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Glen Woods is the Children's Pastor at Portland Open Bible Church in Portland, Oregon. He is bi-vocational, working by day at a local business. Usually he can be found providing various forms of customer service in the office and warehouse, driving forklift, or driving one of the company trucks throughout the city.

Glen has served in the children's ministries of two churches in his volunteer ministry career, the first for 13 years, and his current one for 12+ years, much of that time in leadership. In order to try to serve God in the church and community more effectively, Glen has pursued a few degrees, including his D.Min. at Western Seminary in Portland. His complete ministry CV can be found here. Glen is passionate about exploring the intersection of theology and culture in the practice of childrens and family ministry, particularly with a view toward mission and spiritual formation. He is most passionate about leading people of any age into a newborn life of discipleship with Jesus Christ. Glen also enjoys serving children's ministry leaders and churches around the world via web-based consulting and onsite ministry training for local churches.

In his spare time, he enjoys reading, writing, teasing his nieces and nephews, and taking photos during walks in the city or in the wilderness. Glens writing is most frequently expressed through blogging, poetry, and a fantasy novel. [Network Forums username: Glen Woods]