I just got off the phone with 9 great friends who are some of the greatest children’s ministry leaders in America. We spent 90 minutes talking on the KidzMatter conference line about K! Magazine and the world of children’s ministry. You know what I’ve been thinking about since we all said goodbye? The power of networking.

I’ve always enjoyed burning the trash. I guess what I really enjoy is the time with my blow torch. It’s fun to start a fire and watch it spread (to a degree, of course). If I am sounding creepy, just hang on. There are some basic things that are true about fire. For one, a spark can go out pretty fast left to itself. Second, a spark combined with another spark combined with another spark (and so on) will create a blaze.

I’ve never understood why so many people in ministry want to do things all by themselves. Why don’t more children’s pastors connect with other children’s pastors? Why don’t they do lunch, talk on the phone, provide mutual encouragement and support?

Remember, it’s easy to stop a spark. It’s difficult to stop a blaze. The devil knows this and he would rather that you get into your groove and then exclude everyone else. If he can get you alone, he has a lot better chance of squelching the fire. You need other people! Man, I’m charged up after spending 90 minutes on the phone with my friends. So what are you waiting for? Start connecting!

That’s the way I see it.