Multi-Site Kids

Hello!

I feel so honored that Tammy is allowing me to carry the torch with this Multi-Site Kids blog.  So many times when I've gotten phone calls from people with questions about how to do Multi-Site Children's Ministry, I've referred them to this blog.  It has been such a valuable tool over the years to so many... and to myself included!

In the next few weeks we'll launch our 11th campus here at COMMUNITY (and our 10th Kids' City)!!  We continue to grow and learn more and more with each launch.  Some things have stayed the same, but over the past year or two we've also had some changes.  I look forward to sharing some of our experiences and I hope to hear about some of yours.

I guess the best way to start this blog is to tell you a little bit more about myself.  I am currently the Catalyst Director of Kids' City, the Children's Ministry of Community Christian Church. COMMUNITY is a multi-site church that will soon have 11 locations in the Chicagoland area.  Kids' City offers children's programming for infants through 5th grade during 19 services at these locations every weekend.

I joined COMMUNITY's staff in 2004 as a part time small group curriculum writer.  My current role includes leading the team of individuals that write, develop, create and dream about children's curriculum and products for COMMUNITY while assisting with it's implementation at all campus locations. My passion is developing curriculum and products for children and families that carry out the mission of helping people find their way back to God. 

Everyday I am blessed to work with an amazing group of dedicated Christ-followers who are committed to the mission of helping families raise growing, 3C Christ-followers.  The Kids' City Wonder Team (as I like to call them) includes our Champion Cathy Cuny & 10 Campus Directors along with many 5-10 hr/wk teammates.  Kids' City happens each weekend due to the commitment and passion of around 300 volunteers. It's an amazing team I look forward to introducing you to in the coming weeks and months.

Looking forward to learning and growing with you,

Christi Neill

Multi-Site Kids: New Authorship

Tammy Melchien here.  It has been an honor to interact with Children's Ministry leaders through this blog for the past several years.  Even though I haven't posted much in the past year (or at all!), I've continued to appreciate the e-mails and comments I've received from all of you.  It's been great learning from each other.

I wanted to let you know this will be my last post on the multisitekids.com blog.  A few months ago I transitioned out of Children's Ministry here at Community Christian Church to pursue a new opportunity.  I'm still on staff at Community, but I am preparing to launch a new site of our church in the city of Chicago as a Campus Pastor.  I'm very excited about this new path and can't wait to see what God does through this new church in the city.

I'm thrilled to let you know, however, that multisitekids.com will continue!  Christi Neill has been on staff with Kids' City for the past 6 years.  She currently oversees all of our curriculum development and works on a daily basis with our campus Kids' City Directors.  She has a ton of experience and insight to share about multi-site Children's Ministry and has agreed to take over the authorship of this blog.  No doubt you will love interacting with Christi and can learn a lot from her insights.

So with that...let me introduce Christi Neill to you.  And I wish you all the best as you continue to further God's Kingdom by serving children.

By grace, Tammy