Happy Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving and once again all over America we take a day and hang out with family and friends, eat entirely too much, watch some bad football games and plan our shopping adventures for later today because early in the morning was not early enough. Maybe for a minute we think about the Philgrams and the first Thanksgiving but then we go back to our traditions and celebrations. Several years ago I started taking a minute each Thankgiving to write down and think over what I am truly thankful for and check my thankful gage because just like I teach in Children's Church if you can be thank-full you can be thank-empty.
So here it is.... what I'm thankful for:

1. I am thankful for Jesus! I'm so thankful Jesus saved me, kepts me, protects me, loves me and ready does have a wonderful plan for my life!

2. I'm thankful for my family. Julie, Yancy, Cory, Sparrow and Whitney are truly God's gifts to me. They are not just my greatest sermon but my greatest accomplishment. 
The greatest honor of my life is to be Julie's Husband, The kids' Dad and Sparrow's G!

3. I'm so thankful that I have got to spend my life serving God's people. For almost 40 years I've gotten to teach and to care for children and students. 
I'm so proud of all the kids who are now adults who are following Christ but I'm also thankful for hundreds of Timothy's who are serving in the ministry.

4. I'm also thankful that when lot's of people my age are retiring I am getting to refocus.
I'm so exciting about getting to work with one of my best friends in the world again and serve as his Executive Pastor at Northstar Church. Plus I get to work with so many kidmin leaders with Infuse and theClub  plus consult with Pastors and churches through Jim Wideman Ministries. 

5. I'm also thankful for all the special relationships God has brought into my life with my Infusers and coaches plus all those who consider me a friend.

So Happy Thanksgiving everyone and if you are reading this I am thankful for you!

Have You Ever Thought About Being A Part of Infuse?

I've always heard that you can't have your cake and eat it too. But I have been blessed for most of my ministry to have the best of both worlds. I've had the privilege of working in a local church doing life with people on a regular basis while also getting to train and help others be better leaders. In 2007 I launched a new approach to training kidmin leaders and offered a conference alternative that I call infuse. This 6 month coaching and mentoring program has been the most fulfilling thing I've ever done in ministry beside working at a local church.
There's no way you can take people at all different stages and levels of leadership and teach them all you know about a subject and meet their needs in a 45 minutes to 1 hour breakout session. Most keynote messages give you even less time. The frustration of blowing in, blowing up, and blowing out made me look for a better way to pass on what I've learned after 30 plus years of leading some of America's largest and most effective Children's Ministries. 

Since the very first group I've had the privilege of working with some of the finest and most dynamic young leaders in Children's, Student and Family Ministry. I am so excited about this class of infuse so far and I have just a few more spaces for the September 2013 to March 2014 session. Infuse includes 4 conference calls, 2 two-day retreats here in beautiful Murfreesboro, TN (outside of Nashville) and access to me and my coaches (all who have been through infuse themselves) daily on a special online forum.

 You can download your application here plus read more about infuse.

So what are you waiting for send in your application today once you're approved I'll let you know how to pay. The deadline for registration is July 1st but this group will fill up before the deadline. Still not convinced? Here's what a few of my past infusers have to say about this experience.

"Infuse allowed me to ask tough Children's Ministries leadership questions.  The answers I received were accurate, direct and full of wisdom which helped me move our ministry to a new level.  I would strongly recommend this experience to any rookie or veteran C.M. Leader who is serious about leading a ministry of excellence." Kris Smoll, Director of Discovery Land - Appleton Alliance Church - Avg weekly attendance 3,000

"My favorite part of Infuse is definitely the retreat. Getting one-on-one time with Jim & his family and connecting personally with kids pastors from around the country is invaluable.  Adding 30 days of coaching and a conference call for about the cost of any other conference makes the one month version of Infuse the most attractive coaching option Jim's ever offered." - Christopher Sykes, @kidminchris

"Being mentored by Jim through Infuse has been the "shot in the arm" I needed to keep me enthusiastic about Children's Ministry!  I had been serving for 15+ years when I joined, but there were still plenty of things I learned.  Being able to talk with the group about issues in my ministry and getting both their advice and Jim's input was a huge blessing.  I was pushed to go outside my comfort zone in ministry and encouraged to rethink how and why I did so many things.  You'll grow tremendously from your Infuse experience!" -Kathy King Minister to Children, FBC Opelika, AL

"Sitting under the wisdom and and teaching of Brother Jim for this experience will greatly equip you to lead whatever God might be placing in front of you in the future.  If you want to be do greater things in the future, you better be prepared for greater things." -Jonathan Mitchell, Demotte, IN

"Infuse has had a tremendous effect on both my ministry and my personal life.  Bro. Jim doesn't just give you the tools to move further faster, he moves the starting line, allowing you to benefit from his 30+ years of ministry.  Through Infuse, I've avoided unnecessary mistakes and have been given new perspective to make healthier decisions, both at home and at church." -Jared Massey, Smalltown Kids Ministry

"Conferences are great - you get an intense amount of training in a shotgun style delivery. Infuse is better! You still get an intense amount of training, but it is designed specifically for leaders! The level of access and information received from Bro. Jim through the coaching phone call and retreats is unparalleled anywhere in Kidmin! Infuse is an opportunity to experience exponential growth in your leadership journey. I learned more in my time with Bro. Jim in infuse than several years of conferences combined. Being able to walk through this leadership experience with other great leaders just adds to the learning opportunity. Relationships are developed, experience is gained, and you will not be the same as when you started. I cannot say enough about the value of being a part of infuse!  Not everyone can afford the full infuse experience - this shortened time Bro. Jim is offering is a unique opportunity to reap the benefits from infuse, but makes it more accessible. If you were considering a conference for this year--reconsider. You will get more bang for your buck with this one-month session with Bro. Jim." -Spencer Click, Bethel Temple, Hampton, VA

"The time I spent with Bro. Jim in Infuse was invaluable! With each interaction during my Infuse experience, from the retreats, to the calls, to the homework, I gained more and more confidence not only in my ability to be a successful Children's Pastor but to take our Ministry to the next level.  I can honestly say that the wisdom and insight that Bro. Jim shares during the Infuse experience will change your life forever!  It was the best decision I've made!  #Blessed"- Tony Giordano, 7HillsChurch

"Don't miss a great opportunity to gain wisdom and insight from one of the best and most innovative leaders in children's ministry! Infuse will help you will grow as a leader and minister. This is a great cost for something that will benefit you personally and professionally! You will not regret joining Infuse and having an opportunity to learn from Jim Wideman.

*I would love to do Infuse again in the future, it was a fantastic experience!" -Lynne Payne, First Wesleyan Church, Tuscaloosa, AL

more to come...

Why wait until Thursday to be thankful?

'Tis' the season to be thankful, but as a Christ follower every day should be filled with thanks giving and thanks living! Last weekend my Pastor said that the opposite of thankfulness is not being un-thankful it's being entitled. I realize that no one starts out feeling entitled. It comes after being un-thankful and ungrateful for a long periods of time. Over the last few weeks I have been pondering a question that I shared with my infusers during the retreat... "What am I holding on to that I'd have to let go of in the presence of God?" We hold on to a lot of junk that all leads to entitlement but it all starts with being thankful and making an deliberate choice to practice thanks living. A great way to jump start thanks living is with thanks giving. So with that in mind what are you thankful for? Maybe you want to post something below. I thought I would post my own list of what I'm thankful for....

1. I am thankful for Jesus. I say this every time I teach on priorities..."It will really help your ministry to know Jesus." I'm not talking about knowing about Him I'm talking about knowing Him, following Him, serving him but also dying with Him. Here's a great question for you..."Has there ever been a time in your life that you were more in love with Jesus than you are right now?" If so you are the only one that can fix it. I'm at a new place in my life where my walk with Christ is more important to me than my ministry like it should have been all along.

2. I'm thankful for my family. My wife, my girls, my sons-in-law, and my grandson. They are not only my favorite people on this earth but they are the greatest encouragers of my life. I'm a better person and even a better Christ follower because of them in my life. I don't know ho I ever did ministry without them. They are my bright spots! I'm also thankful for my mom and for Jesus moving me back to the south so I could be close to her in these later years. I am so proud of how my family trusts Christ and how they desire to serve Him with their lives. I'm also thankful for my extended family on both sides. 

3. I am thankful for my church, World Outreach Church and for my Pastor G. Allen Jackson.
I have never been a part of a place that loves people more than this church. I love being a part of a team that is truly a team. It's been a blast not only working with kids but also with teens, college, & family ministries. I am getting to serve some of the greatest young people and families I have ever known. I am so thankful for their lives! I also love living in Middle Tennessee. I am very thankful for what I'm learning and what I get to be a part of here each and every day. Tennessee is a great place to be alive!

More to come...

The Last Two Days of Vacation

On Thursday I finally got to do what I came on this Macation to do and that was to visit "The Big House" The Allman Brothers Band Museum. While I waited for it to open I headed over to the H & H Mama Louise's Soul Food Kitchen for breakfast. It was great plus all the pictures, posters and ABB gold records and collectibles made it the perfect way to start this tribute to my favorite band. After breakfast I headed over to see where the Capricorn Recording Studio was. Some great music was made there in the 70's. It was there in the alley that the album cover for "Live at Filmore East" was photographed. After I snapped a few pictures myself I headed over to "The Big House" it was a dream come true for me. After a few hundred pictures I headed over to Duane's accident site. It was the ultimate Allman Brothers Band fan day.  I headed back to the hotel and tried to process all that I saw. 

As I thought about my life I couldn't help but think how God had a better plan for me than I ever had for myself. I am so blessed in every way. I also saw God was giving me a renewed desire to want His plan for the rest of my life and to trust Him for His direction. That night I got all ready to go home. I was more relaxed, more rested and more encouraged that I was on the right path for the rest of my life and that I needed to concentrate on hearing God's voice for new direction. This was the first vacation that had more exercise, worship and quiet time than eatting time. It was a huge breakthrough for me.

The next morning I loaded the truck and headed back to Tennessee. One by one I called some of the Young Guns God has placed in my life. Each one seemed to reaffirm what God had been showing me over the last few days. By the time I got home I knew that my first order of business was to lead my family and to concentrate on my health. Second I needed to focus and devote myself to my local church and what He was doing there. Third was to focus on infuse and writing the  books He would direct me to write. God had showed up big time this week and I was going to be more effective during my new season because of this special vacation.

Hello Again

Last week I took my first ever solo vacation and media blackout. It was wonderful. I started my trip with my entire family (except my son-in-law Dustin who had to work, bummer he couldn't go, yea God he has a great job!) My youngest of my 3 nieces got married and I had the wonderful privilege to help with all the festivities. It was a great 3 days of not only spending time with my mother and my immediate family but also I got to reconnect with some wonderful extended family and long time family friends. The highlight for me though was spending Father's Day with my girls and my wonderful grandson.


That afternoon after we delivered my mother back to Birmingham, Yancy, Julie and Sparrow flew off to minister at a camp in Dallas, Cory and Whitney drove back home to Nashvegas to work and I left for 5 days I am calling my Macation. No phone calls, emails, twitter or facebook posts to anyone but family. The purpose of this trip was to rest, relax, hear from God and check a few additional things off my bucket list.


The first stop was Jacksonville, AL home of the Chief Ladiga Trail. Julie and I got to ride our first Rails to Trail route several years ago in Mississippi called the Longleaf Trace. It was the longest trip either of us had ridden at the time 41 miles. When I heard about the Chief I wanted to ride it because it would cause me to accomplish another one of my bucket list items which was to ride my bicycle from one state to another. 


Monday I started my journey at the Jacksonville community center and rode to Piedmont, AL then rode back to Jacksonville then on to Weaver, AL and back to Jacksonville. All in all it was almost 35 miles. During that ride I heard the Lord tell me I needed to stop trying to do so much.  I had already known that I was to not do very many conferences next year but as I rode the Lord showed me several other things beside conferences I needed to do differently. We talked about how Children's Ministry today has changed from where it began and what my part needed to be in the years ahead. He reconfirmed my commitment and calling to the local church. In the early days there were only children's pastors and evangelists. If you were seeing success you helped others by sharing what had worked for you. I appreciate blogs and social media but I feel that many of them have turned into a means for self promotion. I can not and will not judge the motives of others but I do have to judge mine. I am not going to be blogging as much and promoting myself like I have been. I will use my blog to help others through what I am doing in my local church and my walk with God as a husband, father and minister.   My heart has always been and still is the local church and I am to be true to that calling. I want to be a man my grandchildren admire and want to be like more than a children's ministry guru, poobah, or hero. I belief that my fruit should be based on what I do not what I write. It matters more who I am, than what I say.  The rest of the day I rode around taking pictures and looking at guns and knifes then went to bed before it even got dark.


Tuesday morning I drove over to Piedmont, AL to put in and ride northeast uphill to Georgia. The ride back was wonderful, you got to love going downhill when your legs are tired. I ended up doing only 29 miles but during the ride I had some wonderful prayer time for my family and ministry but on the way back the Lord showed me my next 8 books, as well as what to do over the next few years of theClub and reconfirmed His call on me to do Infuse.
Before I knew it I was back at my starting place and headed back to Jacksonville to pack up, clean-up and reload the truck to head to Macon, GA. Once I got checked into my hotel and headed to the grocery store and went and took a look around the city. I had wanted to come to Macon for more than a day for years all my other trips had been to fly in and do ministry training and fly out. Once again some more items where about to be checked off my bucket list.


More to come...