Mike Johnson

Elevate: Roanoke Jones Logo Development Process

I thought you might like to see how we create the logos you see for each Elevate series. This is the development process we went through to get the Roanoke Jones logo.

Step 1 - Different logo concepts were sketched out and we chose the one that fit best.

Step 2 - The sketch was recreated digitally.

Step 3 - More detail was added to the logo and different variations were created.

Step 4 - The best attributes of each variation were merged into the final design.

Step 5 - Texture and shading were added to the design to arrive at the final logo.

I hope you enjoyed this look at our development process. I am very excited about Roanoke Jones and can't wait for you to see the rest of it!

C3 Kids - Heading to South Korea!

Over the past four years I have developed a relationship with Steve Kim, a man who has a strong heartbeat for churches in South Korea. As I have gotten to know him, his enthusiasm has ignited a passion within me to help Korean churches better understand the importance of children's ministry. Well, this Thursday I will have the privilege go to South Korea for nine days of teaching (and learning).

While in Korea I will be leading two C3 Kids conferences for ministry leaders and volunteers. One conference will be in Seoul and the other in Pusan (also spelled Busan). Each conference will last two days as I speak on the core principles of FC Kids and on how to recruit and retain volunteers. At Fellowship Church we have a great gal named Hae who has translated, with subtitles, all my videos and my notes. All of my spoken material will be translated by an interpreter as I speak. I will also be making some contacts to see if we can get Elevate translated into Korean... which would be awesome! 

I'm excited to see Christ moving in a culture different from the one I see every day. I hope to be inspired and encouraged in the fact that even though we come from different parts of the world, with different backgrounds and cultures, we are all united in our relationship with Jesus Christ. 

As excited as I am about this trip, I'm a bit nervous about a steady diet of Korean food. Is chicken fried rice Korean? ! I will have a translator with me, so he will be my lead. Maybe he'll know where the local McDonald's or Pizza Hut is!

Welcome to the Elevate Dojo!

The series we currently have in production is Dojo, the first series of Elevate peak 4! Check out these iPhone photos taken during some of our shoots. The folks you see are a mix of FC Kids staff and volunteers. You'll even see some real live kids!

     

 

          

Elevate Year 4 is Here!

The fourth "peak" of Elevate has arrived... and Renee Huisinga was the closest to guessing all seven themes. So close, in fact, it was almost scary! Congratulations Renee!

The seven themes are as follows: 

Dojo: Practicing The Right Moves For A Successful Christian Life

The Great Race: Learning To Never Give Up 

At The Big Top: The Three-ring Circus Life Of Some Of The Bible's Most Interesting Characters 

Roanoke Jones, Ace Detective: Using The Bible To Solve Life's Mysteries

Power Up: Learning To Control Your Character

Allaso Ranch: Getting Away And Getting To Know God 

Professor Playtime's Christmas Shop of Wonders: Come Experience The Wonders Of Christmas

These subtitles apply to Elevate; Elevate Jr. will continue to use the same basic themes to teach lessons that are age appropriate for our preschoolers.

For more Elevate Year 4, check out the fly-over of our newest peak!
 

Final Elevate Year 4 Map - Can You Guess It?

Here is the final version of the Elevate Year 4 map, minus the titles. Notice the previous maps in the background. Cool, huh?

This is your last chance to guess the themes and win a prize! Whoever gets closest to all seven themes will win a $25 gift card to Amazon.com. In the comments on the last map, someone gets every theme almost right, except the top right corner. No one has that yet! If you follow @elevatekids on Twitter, you should know the bottom right theme (it's the one we are working on now and will be the first released in year 4.)

Give your answers in the comments by April 12 and you just might be the winner!

Children's Ministry - The Fun Factor

When it comes to teaching children, you have to capture their eyes and ears so that the Holy Spirit can capture their hearts. To do that, you need to make sure they are having fun. Fun is the currency of a child. If they think something is fun, they will want to do it. If they don't, then they will not want to do it. It's that simple. Just ask any kid if he or she would rather go to the doctor or Disney World. You'll get your answer quickly. So it stands to reason that if you want a child engaged, attentive, and involved in your ministry, you need to make sure they are having fun.

I don't believe that having fun in church means "making fun" of the Bible or the applications of the Bible to our lives. I just believe that having fun while learning is the best way to create an experience that can increase the retention of knowledge and encourage the children to return.

So, if you want to make a church experience meaningful for kids, make it fun.

C3 Kids West Starts Today!

Hey everyone, here we are in Sunny San Diego for C3 Kids West! If you 
can't be here (sorry) then be sure to follow along on Twitter under 
the tag #c3kidsWC. All our "twitterers" will give you minute by minute 
coverage!

If you couldn't make C3 Kids Dallas either, make plans now to attend 
C3 Kids East Coast in October. Dates and location will be announced 
next week!

It's all about volunteers...

 
 

Elevate Year 4 Map - Can You Guess It?

Development on Elevate Year 4 is well under way. The first series has been approved and is being written right now!

Above is the second rendition (but still not the final) of the Year 4 map. By looking at the above map can you guess what the 7 series are? Take a look at the last map I posted (the first rendition) because 2 of the themes were guessed correctly...hmmm, I wonder which ones? Don't forget that the prize will go to whoever can guess the 7 themes correctly first, so give it a guess!

CPC Nashville is Here!

Below are a few photos taken with our iPhones as Creative Pastors sets up the Elevate booth for CPC Nashville 2010. I’ll be at the booth some so if you're here, be sure to drop by and say hi.

   
  

Elevate Year 4 Map Will Be Unveiled Soon…

Hard to believe but Year 4 of Elevate is upon us! We are in the stage of developing the concept drawings for the Year 4 map. If anyone can guess what the seven series are from this image I have something pretty cool that I will send you. The offer is only available until I post the next concept drawing. Come on, give a guess...what have you got to lose?