Ecclesiastes chapter 3 tells us that
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
Commander Bill has been a respected name in Awana for almost 20 years. Over the last several years, Commander Bill has also become a respected name in the larger circles of children’s ministry. About a year and a half ago, I believe that God began starting something new.
As I attend non-Awana children’s ministry conferences across the country, many people do not know Commander Bill, or they view me as “the Awana guy”. I realize that Commander Bill has credibility in Awana circles and in children’s ministry in general, but simply going by Commander Bill can be limiting in reaching people serving in children’s ministry in general.
What you may not know is that I maintain several other ministry websites which I recently placed under a gateway website using the first domain name I ever purchased almost three decades ago (as well as running other blogs and social media efforts). I plan to place a greater focus on those websites. The gateway website is gfme.com and here is a list of the other websites and their focus:
- PB&J Kidzone – (Pastor Bill & Jesus) General children’s’ ministry items, lessons, resources, etc geared toward leaders, parents, and children
- Pastor Bill Online – General ministry items, which will include children’s ministry
- Time Out with God – A devotional site that I encouraged my wife to start years ago that is being revived
You also may not have known that I have served as a volunteer (working a FT job outside of ministry) in all of my ministry roles except for a brief time when I received a small stipend serving as a Children’s Pastor in a small church. My heart goes out to those serving in children’s ministry as volunteers, especially in a small church. Statistics show that about 85% of churches in America have a total average attendance on a Sunday morning (all ages) of 250 or less. About 50% have a total attendance of 100 or less. The people leading children’s ministry in these small churches often feel isolated, maybe you can relate. Within the last year, I launched the Small Church Kidmin website and the Small Church Kidmin Facebook Group to begin to provide encouragement, resources, and support to those serving in children’s ministry in the small church. It has started slow, but I plan to be putting forth a greater emphasis on serving those in small church children’s ministries through the website and Facebook group. If you serve in Awana in a small church, then this new resource would be an asset to you as well. Some articles may be cross-posted on Small Church Kidmin and Commander Bill as applicable.
So what does this mean for Commander Bill?
If you receive, and read, my weekly e-mails, then you will know that I’ve stated that Commander Bill is not going anywhere. Here is what is currently planned for CommanderBill.net and what you can expect over the next few months:
- CommanderBill.net will be more strongly focused on Awana – what is happening in Awana, help for your club, etc. I will share the good and my concerns with Awana as I have in the past. General children’s ministry items will be posted on Pastor Bill Online and may be cross-posted on CommanderBill.net
- I plan to redesign CommanderBill.net over the summer. I ask for your patience during this time.
- The resource download area will be revised/updated, removing vintage items and trying to streamline it more.
- Once I receive copies of the “retrofitted” Grace in Action Book and the new Agents of Grace Book, I will be developing Quiz guides for the upcoming quiz season.
- I will continue to administer the Awana Commanders (Awana Ministry Directors) Facebook group
- The weekly e-mail will undergo changes. The exact changes are to be determined. I would encourage you to subscribe to my Children’s Ministry Daily Paper that is sent daily and contains various blog posts regarding children’s ministry.
- I will be leading breakouts/workshops, as scheduled, at a minimum of (4) Awana Ministry Conferences this fall in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
- To be a better steward of my time and resources, some requests that I receive throughout the year may now have a small fee requested. While my desire is to serve, there are some requests that require a significant amount of time. By attaching a modest fee, it helps me be a better steward of my time, serving those who are serious about seeking the help or resource.
So while CommanderBill.net will undergo some overdue maintenance, you may not see much difference except a new layout and possibly not as much activity (although with my FT job and schedule this past year there was not as much activity as I had hoped) and the possible elimination, or reduced frequency, of the “weekly e-mail”.
If you were concerned that Commander Bill was retiring or coming to an end, rest assured there are no plans for that at this time. Commander Bill has become a respected, trusted, voice in Awana which I do not take lightly and shall not be silenced at this time.
Please keep me in prayer as I begin to focus more on ministering to those serving in small churches while continuing my other endeavors.
My mission is to serve those serving in children’s ministry to help them do their best to reach children to come to know, love, and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. If there is anyway that I might be able to help you, or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
