JamieDoyle(dot)com

Any Bears Fans out there? As many of you have heard, my wife and I are in the process of finding a new church in which to take a children’s pastor position. I have been asking all of the tough questions (Get Jim Wideman’s Questions for Sr. Pastors if you’re in the process of looking). Can I just say, without being disrespectful, It’s funny to hear pastors try and make up answers over the phone. In an effort to create a seamless transition from one ministry to another I have inquired quite a lot about the youth ministries – and whether or not I could interview the youth or student ministries pastor.

Answers are mixed – some offer it up right away others are apprehensive. Why? Why do these pastors get uptight about me talking with their youth pastors? Is it because they are scared I will find out something about them, (the pastor) that they don’t want me to know until after I am hired? OK – so, that’s really a side-note, tangent kinda thing.

I am a strong believer in the idea that you should be a “Super-Fan” of the Youth Pastor or Student Ministries Pastor and you need to get him/her to be your biggest fan as well. Work, plan, play and dream together as a way to glorify God in your calling… together.

So, if you know of a great church, with winning youth ministry, that needs a children’s pastor, and the pastor isn’t intimidated by tough questions… send ’em my way!

Yesterday I said that I was thinking of changing my name (see the post from earlier). Whether people -especially kids should call me “Jamie” aka “Pastor Jamie” OR “Jamieson” (my given name) aka “Pastor Jamieson”

Well, now you can vote – I mentioned in the earlier blog posting that I should put a poll at kidology.or – at first I was kinda joking… But now, I’ve done it! Yeah, I’m posting the poll as something fun to read and do, but I really do want your input. Go to:
http://www.kidology.org/network/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5507&PN=1
and vote. Sorry, if you’re not a member, you will only be able to see the results – if you are a member, then vote and add your two cents!

For years – since I can remember, I have asked people to just call me “Jamie”. When in school I hated my first name, “Jamieson”. I thought it was weird and I had never met anyone else with the same name. But, I had met a few “Jamie’s” in my days as an elementary kid. On the first day of school, when the teachers would do roll call for the first time, “Jamieson Doyle?” I started about the 4th grade to just answer, “Just call me Jamie…”

Well, It finally happened this morning at 10:00 AM. I was back in my element after an 12 month break. Kids Church! Yeah, I live for children’s church. A Friend of mine invited me to come to his church and fill-in for his children’s church while he filled the main service pulpit. All this week, I did some stuff that I haven’t ventured into for a time, but it felt great. Preparing PowerPoint, writing the lesson, gathering the props, packing all the stuff… and then this morning – the set up , greeting the kids, kicking it off with a big start and a fun service was the end result.

I have been accepting bookings at churches for the next few weeks as a way to make an entry back into the world of children’s ministry. (I will post on my website a speaking schedule page as well so you can keep up with where God has me going). As I said, I love children’s church – it’s my favorite way to pastor kids (after all to pastor means to shepherd – and to shepherd means to feed and care for the flock) so, I fed a group of kids the Word this morning.

It occured to me that, for the first time in 12 years, I am available to minister at other churches on Sundays! For the past 12 years, I have been on staff somewhere and just couldn’t justify being away (even when my pastor said I could have several Sundays a year for outside ministry). The only times that I missed a Sunday for ministry was in the event of a mission’s trip. Yep, this is a shameless plug. If you’re interested in having me at your church for a Sunday, e-mail me and let me know.

In the midst of all of the above, we are also in the process of looking for a great church in which to fill the children’s pastor’s position – We haven’t found it yet, but actively and aggressively looking (yeah, my resume – take a look) – I am, so pumped about that!

I had the rare opportunity to have lunch with Reggie Joyner. If you don’t know who this guy is then check out his website. He was on staff with Andy Stanley at NorthPoint Church in the greater Atlanta area. Reggie is the guy who has started to change the way we as children’s ministers think. I asked him this question: “What do you think the future of the typical children’s ministry will look like?” His response was along these lines:

The future of the the typical children’s ministry will need to change. Ministry to Babies all the way to highschoolers will need to become more integrated and get on the same page. Parents need to become integrated into that same plan so we are all working together.

What a wonderful thought. When was the last time you met with your youth pastor to go over goal and vision together? When was the last time you called a meeting with parents to get them on the same page and get them in on the vision? Have you done this? What has the response been and what can you offer as advice yourself?

Oh yeah, I know I said that I’m not into name dropping but Randy Christensen was there too 🙂

It’s finally happend… the Jamie Doyle Ministries site is up and running again! After about a 10 month change of content to the website (if you viewed the site over the past 10 months you would’ve seen my attempt to promote my services as a family entertainer), children’s ministry resourcing and training is once again the main focus of the site. Please check it out – I will be adding more to the free resources page in the coming days, as well as more information about booking me for your special events. A special thanks to my fabulous wife, Jennifer (that’s her in the family photo), for helping with the content and the design!

This, along with the online bookstore , updating this blog and regular posts and replys on Kidology.org are just the beginings of my re-entry into children’s ministries (more about that subject in a later posting).

I have also added another book to the online bookstore. “Tricky Lessons Made Easy”. This is my e-book/lecture notes for using illusions to illustrate the gospel to children. It’s stuff you can do and you will amaze your audience too! The other books are still there as well. So, please check it out!