CMUOnet is powered by the Elgg social networking platform and was recently featured as one of the latest Elgg-powered education social networks.  CMUOnet is the social learning platform for Children’s Ministries University Online and allows children’s ministry leaders to create communities of learning and meet both socially and academically and network with one another.

Best of all…CMUOnet is free!  Want to give it a try?  Visit cmuonet.org and sign-up for your free account today.  Within minutes you can begin networking with children’s ministry leaders from around the globe.

CMU393: Children’s Presentations offers an overview of puppetry, storytelling, juggling and other visual methods used in children’s ministry. Practical emphasis is placed on choosing, preparing, and presenting content and concepts to children of various ages. Emphasis is placed on tying kid-tested methods to solid Biblical messages in order to delight children with the Gospel.

Some of the topics covered in this course include:

• Powerful Programs
• Method vs. Message
• Elements of a Successful Children’s Sermon
• Using Children as Volunteers
• Object Lessons
• Storytelling
• Snappy Ways to Teach Scripture
• Developing Costumed Characters
• Clowning
• Balloon Tying
• Magic with a Message

Be one of the first to enroll in the new Children’s Presentations course by signing-up today! Register and pay your course registration by February 25, 2009 to receive a $25 discount!

CMUO courses begin monthly, so you can sign-up and begin your journey toward expanding your children’s ministry skills anytime. No matter whether or not you have taken an online course through CMUO before, you can sign-up today to begin your online learning experience as soon as March 1st. Simply logon 24/7 to http://www.cmuo.com and find out more details. Current CMUO learners or those who have already applied and been accepted to CMUO can register for the new “Children’s Presentations” course at: http://www.cmuo.com/register

Registrations for March 1st courses will be accepted thru February 25th.

Free Workshop - What is a Children’s Sermon?

Want to catch a glimpse of what a CMUO instructional presentation is like? You can view a free training workshop entitled, “What is a Children’s Sermon?” at http://www.cmuo.com/workshops/childrensermon.

Additional FREE children’s ministry training workshops are available at http://www.cmuo.com/workshops.

Have a question about CMUO? Contact CMUO Learner support at: http://www.cmuo.com/support

We hope to see you “in class” soon!

- Children’s Ministries University Online

CMU354: Early Childhood Ministry offers an overview of early childhood ministry. This course will begin to prepare the learner for ministry to children within the local church, for ages birth through kindergarten. Attention will be given to understanding the needs of the “whole” child, philosophy of ministry and practical application, and church programs.

Some of the topics covered in this course include:

• Early Childhood Theories and Practices
• Historical and Current Trends
• Setting Up Your Classroom
• Space, Safety, and Resource Considerations
• Organizing a Distinctly Christian Learning Environment
• Teaching the Young Child
• Leading a Young Child to Christ
• Strategies fo Dealing with Challenging Behaviors
• Supporting the Family
• Recruiting Volunteers and Paid Staff

Be one of the first to enroll in the new Early Childhood Ministry course by signing-up today!

CMUO courses begin monthly, so you can sign-up and begin your journey toward expanding your children’s ministry skills anytime. No matter whether or not you have taken an online course through CMUO before, you can sign-up today to begin your online learning experience as soon as September 1st. Simply logon 24/7 to http://www.cmuo.com and find out more details. Current CMUO learners or those who have already applied and been accepted to CMUO can register for the new “Early Childhood Ministry” course at: http://www.cmuo.com/register

Registrations for September 1st courses will be accepted thru August 25th.

Free Workshop - Creative Storytelling

Want to catch a glimpse of what a CMUO instructional presentation is like? You can view a free training workshop entitled, “Creative Storytelling “ at http://www.cmuo.com/workshops/creativestorytelling.

Additional FREE children’s ministry training workshops are available at http://www.cmuo.com/workshops.

Have a question about CMUO? Contact CMUO Learner support at: http://www.cmuo.com/support

We hope to see you “in class” soon!

- Children’s Ministries University Online

Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus. He is our Good shepherd and loves the children.

I wanted to drop you a quick update regarding Children’s Ministries University Online. Since we opened the doors almost three years ago, over 583 students have registered and most have taken one or more classes. It is exciting to watch the progress of these students as they continue to sharpen their tools for ministry to God’s children.

We have just awarded our very first certificate in children’s ministries. Ruthie Hill has completed all requirements and is our first student to complete the certificate program. We are proud of her accomplishment. Several other students are nearing completion as I write this letter.

Take a look at cmuolite.com for information our upcoming live training event. October 9-11, 2008 we will host a live training event on the campus of Valley Forge Christian College. Students may participate on campus or virtually from the comfort of their own homes. Both on campus and virtual attendees will enjoy the content of this conference through our conference archive. All general sessions and workshops will be available to every registrant well beyond the week of the event. You will be able to use this material for your inspiration and that of your workers for months to come.

Speakers such as Jim Wideman, Dale VonSeggen, Wayne Tesch, and Dave Boyd will be featured at this event. Many others will be teaching workshops and sharing in our general sessions. We’ve got a great selection of exhibitors participating on campus and/or online with more yet to come on board. Excitement is building here at CMUO central as we receive registrations from around the world.

Children’s Pastor Jessica Vega has been organizing the workshop leaders and topics for the conference and all of these are nearly in place. Here are just ten of the over 50 workshops available:

• Discipline Strategies in an Undisciplined World
• 17 Habits of a Successful Children’s Leader
• Organizing Your Ministry and Yourself
• Building a Biblical Worldview
• Building a Team That Lasts
• Breakthrough Spiritual Retreats
• Your Church Should Have A Puppet Ministry
• Using Contemporary Puppets and Ventriloquism
• Active and Engaging Worship
• Collaborative Planning and Document Creation using Google Docs

Check out the conference and register today at cmuolite.com. Register by August 28th to receive a discount. Student and group discounts are also available. We look forward to participating with you in this historic conference.

May God richly bless you in your continuing ministry to His children.

Dick Gruber
Children’s Ministries Specialist
Valley Forge Christian College
Children’s Ministries University Online

There is still time to register and receive the early-bird registration discount for the first ever Children’s Ministries University Online Live International Training Experience (CMUO LITE) to be offered October 9-11, 2008 on the campus of Valley Forge Christian College just outside of Philadelphia, PA. Join with children’s ministry leaders from around the globe to learn practical ways to connect deeper with God, your ministry skills, and others.

In addition to the inspiring general sessions, you’ll be able to choose from over 30 different hands-on workshop sessions covering a wide variety of practical children’s ministry topics. Those who attend on-campus will not only have the benefit of attending many fabulous sessions, but will be able to access recordings of all 30+ breakout sessions after the event is over. Online attendees will also enjoy access to archives of all general sessions and breakouts.

Logon to cmuolite.com for more details. Register before June 15th to receive the early-bird discount! Group and student discounts are also available!

We look forward to reserving your spot at CMUO LITE 2008! Would you like to help us continue to spread the word about CMUO LITE? You can click here to download a printable poster [PDF] to put up on your church bulletin board or distribute to your fellow children’s ministry leaders.

In case you haven’t heard, Children’s Ministries University Online will be offering the first ever Live International Training Experience (CMUO LITE) October 9-11, 2008 on the campus of Valley Forge Christian College just outside of Philadelphia, PA. Join with children’s ministry leaders from around the globe to learn practical ways to connect deeper with God, your ministry skills, and others.

In addition to the inspiring general sessions, you’ll be able to choose from over 30 different hands-on workshop sessions covering a wide variety of practical children’s ministry topics. Those who attend on-campus will not only have the benefit of attending many fabulous sessions, but will be able to access recordings of all 30+ breakout sessions after the event is over. Online attendees will also enjoy access to archives of all general sessions and breakouts.

Logon to cmuolite.com for more details. Register before May 1st to receive the early-bird discount! Group and student discounts are also available!

We look forward to reserving your spot at CMUO LITE 2008!

CMU114: New Testament Survey offers a panoramic view of the chief events, prominent characters, main themes and salient teachings of each New Testament book in relation to its historical, geographical, and cultural contexts.

CMUO courses begin monthly, so you can sign-up and begin your journey toward expanding your children’s ministry skills anytime. No matter whether or not you have taken an online course through CMUO before, you can sign-up today to begin your online learning experience as soon as May 1st. Simply logon 24/7 to http://www.cmuo.com and find out more details. Current CMUO learners or those who have already applied and been accepted to CMUO can register for the new “New Testament Survey” course at: http://www.cmuo.com/register

Have a question about CMUO? Contact CMUO Learner support at: http://www.cmuo.com/support

Join Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode for this first-of-its-kind 3 hour interactive online workshop where you’ll discover the practical steps to Cultivating a Cutting-Edge Children’s Church.

In conjunction with the National Children’s Ministries Leadership Conference, this pre-conference workshop offered face-to-face at the conference will be webcast live online on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 from 9:00am-12:00pm (CDT) and then repeated later that day from 1:00pm-4:00pm. View the FREE session online and interact with the presenters and other participants live online during the session!

Two identical sessions will be offered:

• Session 1: Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 9:00am-12:00pm (CDT)
• Session 2: Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 1:00pm-4:00pm (CDT)

Both sessions will be webcast live online using Ustream. To participate in the chat room to ask questions and post comments during the workshop, you need to login to Ustream. If you do not have a Ustream account yet, click here to register for free. Then, 10-15 mins before the session begins, click here to login to participate live online!

For those unable to participate live, the sessions will be recorded and archives made available afterwards at www.cmuo.com/workshops/kidschurch. Links to additional resource materials and the slides referenced during the sessions will also be posted there.

Biblical Interpretation (CMU 305)

This course will examine the science of hermeneutical analysis, processes, and methods in which one can derive the most accurate and valid interpretation of passages of the Bible. Due consideration will be given to the art involved in integrating various lines of thought in the Bible to accomplish an adequate understanding and application of any passage in the Bible. This theology elective course can fulfill the 3 credit theology requirement for the 1 year certificate in children’s ministries. Prerequisites for this course are Old Testament Survey (CMU123) and New Testament Survey (CMU114).

Children’s Ministries Conference (CMU 493)

Are you planning to attend a national children’s ministry conference? Would you like to earn 3 college credits for doing so? This new CMUO elective course is for you! This class will give the student a deeper understanding of the development and implementation of vision and goals in children’s ministry leadership. Through reading, research, and participation in leadership training at a national children’s ministries conference, students will gain knowledge and insight into practical application of children’s ministries theory.

Those enrolling in this course in conjunction with attending a national children’s ministries conference will attend a pre-conference training day as well as twelve workshops/plenary sessions at the national conference. Total time spent in pre-conference and workshops/plenary sessions should be 25-30 hours. Post-conference assignments are required.

Register online today to be among the first to take one of these new CMUO courses. Registrations for April 1st courses will be accepted thru March 25th.

CMUO courses begin monthly, so you can sign-up and begin your journey toward expanding your children’s ministry skills anytime. No matter whether or not you have taken an online course through CMUO before, you can sign-up today to begin your online learning experience as soon as March 1st. You can logon 24/7 to http://www.cmuo.com and find out more details. Current CMUO learners or those who have already applied and been accepted to CMUO can register for the new “Biblical Interpretation ” or “Children’s Ministries Conference” course at: http://www.cmuo.com/register.

Course development efforts are ongoing, so watch for several additional courses to be released in the months ahead. Courses currently under development include: Biblical Theology, New Testament Survey, Early Childhood Ministry, Children’s Presentations, Music in Ministry, and Pastoral Counseling.

Wondering what it’s like to take an online children’s ministry training course from CMUO? Read a few comments from CMUO learners at: http://www.cmuo.com/elearning/learnerexperience.htm

We hope to see you “in class” soon!

CMUO LITE

The planning is well underway to our first-of-its kind Live Interational Training Experience that we are calling CMUO LITE. You can either join us on the campus of Valley Forge Christian College or online for this unique conference event to be held October 9-11, 2008. We’ve got a fabulous lineup of general session speakers scheduled, including David Boyd, Dick Gruber, Dale VonSeggen, and Jim Wideman and you’ll also be able to choose from over 30 other breakout sessions. For complete details, visit www.cmuolite.com. To take advantage of the early-bird registration discount, make sure to register before May 1st.

Those participating in CMUO LITE either on-campus or online can earn 3 credits for participating in the conference by registering for and completing CMU 493 described above. Yet another great reason why you won’t want to miss CMUO LITE!