Notes from the Editor

by Carol Padgett

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The Charlotte Convention Center has a tight-knit, non-intimidating feel. I arrived here from Atlanta at about noon today, and by the time I got my badge and headed into WFX Charlotte, there were people in the hallways and all kinds of sessions going on.

I headed straight for the Pastors Programming, led by Dr. David Fletcher of XPastor.org, and David was kind to bring me up to speed. The main question posed by today's Pastors Programming was Question Zero, or "what, exactly, are we trying to accomplish?" The pastors attending were taking a look at the mission and the core DNA of their churches, and asking how questions that arise in the course of their leadership could be most effectively answered. We all know that sometimes it's hard to decide who are the decision makers and what questions ought to be addressed now -- and which should be saved for later.

An interesting idea I heard the pastors articulate was that sometimes a decision making group needs some parameters set down by senior leadership. Dr. Fletcher embraced this idea, too, saying that sometimes leadership can set a framework for a group to work within. Here's the notion: Set the frame and give the group that's making the decision on a given topic the freedom to paint within that canvas.

I also set in on a session entitled "Reaching Kids for Christ, by Design," led by Bruce Barry of Wacky World Studios. Bruce answered so many questions, encouraging them all along, that I wish I'd counted exactly how many he took within his hour-long presentation. With each answer, he shared tips and tricks to help church staffers create their own incredible children's spaces. Bruce's goal is to help bring kids to Christ, and he'll do just about anything to help churches succeed. Here are some money-saving tips that you missed if you weren't there: When you're crafting 2D and 3D themes from foam core, invest in a simple Hot Head tool that cuts through the foam like butter. He showed us what this tool can do, and it's awesome. When you're creating a scene, if you do it yourself, don't forget scale, Bruce said. Here's his rule for a professional-looking, no-fail do-it-yourself theming job: One inch equals one foot. 

That's all I have for now. But I'll bring you more tomorrow -- impressions from the Expo floor. I'll see if I can dig up some more money-saving tips and tricks.

Blessings,
Carol Badaracco Padgett

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