Ministry Monday: It's time for NEW

Have you ever tried to do something new? Whether it was a new game to play or a new skill to learn, it seems to change you in some way. Whether you liked the new thing or not it changes your perspective. It makes you look at things a little bit differently. I am a firm believer that things need to be new or they will go unnoticed. This weekend was our weekend of NEW.

This past weekend was one of those times that we thought we would try some new things. We started a new ministry for 5th/6th graders called Freedom 56. It was in a new location. With a new setup that we had never done before. It had a new computer, screen, and sound system. We also started a new curriculum for them called Grapple from Group Publishing. We also had a new check-in station for these kids as well. Now if that was not enough new things we thought we would also pile onto that a new series in elementary, new classroom age breakdowns, promotion of all grades, new check-in computers, a new set for elementary and Jr. High, and a new curriculum for all of elementary called BIG by Hillsong Kids.

Here is what I say... If you are going to change something why not just go ahead and change most things?

When was the last time you changed something at your church, business, or organization? When you make something new people notice. It changes their perspective. New makes it to where people are willing to be moved in a different direction. What else could you ask for as a church, business, or organization?

New doesn't happen easy. It takes a lot of time, effort, and a little bit of sweat. In the end though, it is well worth. I think it's time for NEW.

Sign Wednesday: The Secret Weapon

I know what you are thinking. That is not a sign and this is Sign Wednesday. If you thought this then you are correct. This is not a sign but it is the secret weapon to sign making. This is called a plotter or a large format printer. Now that the introduction has been made you don't have to be afraid anymore. The one above is the one sitting in our church office and I use it every week. It prints up to 42 inches wide and I have printed up to 18 feet long images on it. If your church, ministry, or business does not have one you should get one. I mean this with everything in me.

But it is to much, right? I don't know how to use it... What programs do I use? Where do I get supplies? Won't this take me away from real ministry or business? What is the point of having one?

These are all of the standard questions. Believe me when I say that I have heard them all. I have done more research and crunched more numbers than most people in the printing industry. I have been to more print expos than I have Children's Ministry conference. I told you I was a sign geek. I know these machines. I have even walked into a local print shop and showed the owner of the company how to use his new DisplayMaker 98 inch flatbed UV printer. Before I left Fellowship Church I did tons of work to getting this machine pictured below:

This is a Zund UVjet 215 plus. This thing is so cool that it is on the church tour. It will print on anything, wood, glass, metal, paper, foam board, up to 2 inches thick and 7 feet wide. Just for fun I put a piece of corrugated metal through it so that I could say I was the first one to do so. You don't want to know how much this one cost.

So let me go ahead and answer your questions.

1. Where do I start? If you are really considering buying one, and you should be, then start off with a HP printer. They are the standard and will get you use to all of the other printers. Buy one that is a Post Script printer to start off with. This means you can plug it into your network at church or business and print to it like you do right now to your copier. Basically no extra hardware needed. HP is running a deal right now on their 5500 series which has been the best for years because they just came out with a newer, faster model. Either the 5500 or their new Z6100 series is going to be great. Remember this is a start and you will want to upgrade in 3 to 5 years after you see what these will do for you.

2. How much? You can get a refurbished HP 5500 with a one year warranty for $6400. A new Z6100 you can get for $13,000 for the 42 inch and $17,000 for the 60 inch. Inks are going to be about $225 per color and their are 6 colors. The ink last me about 7-8 months and I use mine like crazy. It comes out to be about $0.48 per square foot for ink. The paper, vinyl, polyester, canvas, magnets, and other material will come to you priced per square foot as well. That way you know how much a sign will cost you to print. For example, a 4' X 8' sign printed on paper and mounted to foam board would cost me $485 if I got it at Kinko's or if I printed it on my plotter it would cost me $37. No that is not a misprint. Now you see if you do any printing what so ever you will pay for the printer in no time.

3. Where do I get the printer/supplies? Don't get them from Kinko's. Get them from companies like Global Imaging or Queen City Reprographics. Both are companies I use and highly recommend. No I don't get kick backs.

4. What programs do I use? The easiest programs to use with this machine are Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, or Macromedia Freehand. Believe or not though, one of the guys here in the office uses Microsoft Publisher but I wouldn't recommend it.

5. What about real ministry or business? If you couldn't tell, I believe marketing works. I believe people want real ministries and real businesses to be as professional as possible. What is the best way to convert someone into a customer or tell them about Jesus Christ? That would be one on one conversations. What is the best way to show that what you are doing matters? The way your business or ministry looks and feels. Both are very important.

I know you have more questions. I know you I have talked over your heads on some stuff. Here is the deal. These printers are not hard to use. They will save you money if you are outsourcing your signs right now. If you aren't doing signs now then you will have to spend more money. I want you to care about how your area looks. I want you to care about how other people see your area. I want to stop mediocrity in this area. If you want help you can e-mail me.

Why is it that customer service has become so bad that the customer must apologize for wanting something from a business?

Prime example... A customer walks up to a deli and asks for cheese to be sliced. The employee behind the counter asks, "Do you want wax paper between your slices of cheese?" The customer's response, "I am sorry to have to put you through the work but yes, wax paper between the slices would be better." First of all, why even ask the question? Second, instead of worrying about the 1 cent you saved on wax paper, why not be more concerned about the headache that you are saving you customers by putting the wax paper in between the slices? Shouldn't it be that the deli gives you an extra slice of cheese just for coming to their store instead of the one down the street anyway?

I try not to apologize for people doing their jobs. I also hope that no one feels like they need to apologize to my ministry. If they ever do then I really need to evaluate my customer service policy.

What do you do?

I had breakfast yesterday with a very good friend. We do this once a week and push each other to be better husbands, dads, and Christians. I know that I am totally blessed to have this type of person in my life and I thank God often because of it. We are doing our normal deal when my friend notices that one of his co-workers is sitting by himself in the restaurant. My friend calls him over to eat with us. I thought this was great. I didn't know the guy and he has only lived in Cincinnati for 6 weeks. I went with the first question that every guy asks, "What do you do?" Typical sizing each other up alpha male type of stuff. Nothing fancy and very standard. The guy goes on to say he is a Merchant Banker. I didn't know what that was and I was to afraid to ask. I didn't want to seem inferior. For those of you like me... It means that he is basically a Venture Capitalist or someone who buys and sells companies. Then he asked me the same question. My response is always simple. I am a Pastor. I love the looks that I get when I say this. I love the way people pause for a second and go through everything they have said up to the point of finding out that I am a Pastor. But that is not the point... The point is that my friend stopped me. He said that it is not fair to call me just a Pastor. Then my friend goes on to give me one of the best titles and compliments that I am soon going to put on a business card. My friend says that I am a.... Drum Roll Please....

Entrepreneur Marketing Technology Guy who happens to be a Pastor.

If you are like my friend who has a CFO, CEO, or another C(something)O after your name then when you see my business card that says Matt McKee EMTGP then you will know what it stands for.

So if you friends were to give you a title, what would it be? What do you do? Do you even like what you do? If not, change the initials after your name. You should do what you love.

A billion dollar idea

I believe everyone in the world has a million dollar idea in them. In some way, shape, or form they see our world and think of a way to improve it. If you then take that idea and make a business or a product out of it then you could make one million dollars. I truly believe everyone has this in them, so don't tell me you don't.

Now the hard part comes when we are talking about a billion dollar idea. Why is this so much harder? Because this has to be an idea that the money is set aside for already or the right company is willing to buy into and the masses must buy into as well and not just a niche market. Well, guess what? I have had a billion dollar idea that I have been trying to get off the ground now for 5 years. That's right. I have recently started the patent process on this idea and have started looking for the right Venture Capitalist.

Why do I tell you this? Because I was checking my stats to see who is checking out this site. For the most part there were no surprises. Mostly churches from around the U.S., England, and Australia. Isn't it amazing that you know when someone from Fellowship Church, Southeast Christian, Saddleback, Willow, First Baptist Orlando, and many other churches are checking out your blog? By the way, a big thank you to all of you. The most interesting one for me though is Google. There are at least 2 people from Google that read my blog on a very regular basis. Now here is a company that could take my billion dollar idea and make it into be a multi-billion dollar idea and it fits in their vision of owning the advertising dollar.

So what is the idea? I can't tell you here but if you readers from Google want an idea that would help every local community with communications during but not limited to emergencies, sell advertising not only to fortune 100 companies but be targeted enough that mom and pop stores buy in was well. The research for guarantee numbers is already there and it is free and the people that this would advertise too would be captivated then I have a proposition. I will lease the patent to you and I get in return 1% of all revenue from the idea. Now if you wanted to go over the top and hire me to see this to completion then that would be great. Just a proposition for a new way to advertise to the masses.

What would I do with the money? I would then help Christian business men and women across the world start their business in their countries. All of this in hopes to evangelize each country through business and the marketplace and fund local churches to reach the masses. There you have a little global vision from a guy who happens to be in Children's Ministry right now. See it's not about the money. It's about reaching people all over the world. I know some of you were worried.

What is your million dollar idea? If you could make everyday life better, how would you do it? What would you do to change the world with the money you make.

Chocolate, Wonderful Chocolate

I am on a chocolate kick right now. I can't get enough. Why you ask? Because while Jessica and I were away on our retreat without the kids we went to a chocolate factory/shop. Out in the middle of Corn Field, Indiana otherwise known as Union City, Indiana is a little place called Ghyslain Chocolatier. Ghyslain's is a very modest little chocolate place that you would pass by and never know it, but has some of the best chocolate in the world. I am not kidding. The one thing they do that is remarkable is that they hand paint a variety of chocolates. Here are some pictures of their hand painted chocolates:

They also do chocolate sculptures that are incredible. I took some pictures with my phone, MDA, so the quality is not great but you will get the idea and yes it really is chocolate.

So if you are ever in Union City, Indiana stop by and pay $5 to tour their factory. The tour itself is not great but the chocolate is well worth it. If you are anything like me, you will also walk away with some creative ideas for your environment, the colors in your ministry space, and the idea of a personal experience within your ministry space.

The Human Side

I got this question from someone calling himself (I hope it is a him) "Tank":

Mckee, Great idea, but how does it work when 2 of the guys you mentioned are suing each other b/c of stolen ideas?

Now this was in response to a post I have called "A Children's Curriculum Idea". First of all, if you want to comment on this site please feel free. That is why I do this blog and I hope that I have some thought, idea or review that warrants a response. I do ask though that you at least let us know who you are. Tank, thanks for the encouragement about the idea and the question but please let me know how I can contact you.

Okay, that is done and now let me get to my point of why I call this post "The Human Side."

Children's Ministry as a business is like any other industry. You have your major players who have been loyal to their company and have been through many years of trials, hardships, and successes. Because of their experience, vision, leadership, and insight many people follow them and look up to them as mentors. Like any other industry many of those major players change over the years. For instance in Children's Ministry... If you take a look at Saddleback, Willow, and North Point, all of the heads of state are no longer in the same role they where in just 2 years ago. Reggie Joiner is doing his own thing with the reThink Group and doing quite well if I might add. Sue Miller has joined Reggie in the reThink Group. Talk about a dynamic team. I did interview with Willow to see if I could take over for her. I didn't make the cut. I got the, "We think you need more experience. You are just to young. This was after interviewing with them for 3 months. Don't worry, I'm not bitter. Craig Jutila is no longer at Saddleback and is taking a break to refocus himself. By the way, I know I have knocked Craig a little on this site, but I will say that I have the utmost respect for his decision and the way he handled it was nothing but class. I still want him on my bus when it comes to ministry. He is truly gifted. Anyway, Children's Ministry has a human side. Like it or not there is a business side. My hope is that we can get past both of these and get to the ministry side of things. The 2 guys that are suing each other need to come together. Both need to ask for forgiveness and then start working together again. Their stuff was much better when they were on speaking terms. I understand that things went down in a really bad way but it is the past. Sins happen and God gives grace. Believe me, I know I need grace from "ministry" things that I have done and in ways that I have treated people. The most important thing that we can do as Children's ministers is not get caught up on this human side. It isn't going to matter who the next head of state is because they are going to be human as well. Things, people, ministries, and industries change but let us learn from their mistakes. Today's kids need us too and believe me when I say that tomorrow's kids expect us too.