networking is working!

This is a phrase I first heard while studying at Cliff College "networking is working" and it was music to my ears and I have never forgotten it. In the past two days alone the truth of this phrase has been proven in my ministry.

Yesterday I was invited to discuss the possibility of exploring with church leaders in partnership with other key organizations how "it takes a whole church to raise a child" initiative in Scotland. Today I sat with other denominational staff and planned for our third series of ACTS conferences for children's workers and as we racked our minds to think of potential contributors it became clear that the wealth of contacts and knowledge in that room enables us to pull in a wide range of contexts and perspectives on a wide range of topics that will hopefully engage and equip delegates in November. Working together in collaboration towards a common goal enabled us to list 2,3 sometimes 4 people able to speak into various subjects we had chosen for the day.

I believe in networking, I believe spending time chatting over ideas in Starbucks is worthwhile! Its not just about the coffee. HONEST....

aim higher!

Over 4 1/2 years ago I was appointed as the Divisional Children's Officer in the west of Scotland with The Salvation Army. At the first regional gathering after my appointment I was introduced by the then leaders of the Division and I was put on the spot and asked to "spiritualise" why I had a small basketball hoop on my desk? It did take me a few moments to think of something and while there was actually no spiritual reason why I had the basketball hoop my response went something along the lines that in basketball you end to aim high to get a basket and my ambition was to aim high in my ministry with children because they deserve the best!

I still hold that this is true. And this was brought to mind this week when I feel that a group of fellow professional seemed happy to settle for the "status quo" rather than aiming for the highest and best in our ministry. While I am disappointed in the decision I am pleased with my holy dissatisfaction with it!

What's done about us, but not done with us, isn't for us!

I recently heard this phrase used in a sermon (yes I was listening) in relation to churches ministry in urban priority communities. This phrase expresses something of the danger of organising events and ministries about people, without including them in the process and as a result they don't participate in them.

It struck me as someone who works with children and young people in a Church context that we are often guilty of this, we organise things for children, yet don't involve them in the process and expect them to be consumers only and as a result we have seen the alarming decline in the numbers of young people in the Church in the West. Could it be that much more involvement in decision making process would lead to an increased ownership and have a preferred end result?  

Welcome

Hello and welcome to my new years resolution for 2012. Now I know blogging is nothing new and might even be considered very old hat but I'm going to give it a go and see if I can keep it upto date. You are welcome to join me on this exploration of the thoughts and questions of Richard Knott.

Why "Let the little ones lead"? well I am passionate about children in the Kingdom of God and in the Church as the visible and practical expression of God's Kingdom on earth. In Isaiah 11 we are given a picture of what the Kingdom of God will look like and what a very different picture it is from what we see in the world now. Verse 6 for example states that "a little child will lead them" for me this is a symbol and sign of God's priority view of little children and I am committed to seeing more and more of that priority in this generation.