Having served in five dynamic churches, Jim understands what it takes to to grow exciting, relevant ministries to people of all ages.  For 17 years Jim led one of America's largest local church Children’s Ministries in Tulsa, OK.  Jim has also held various other positions in addition to Children's Ministry throughout his career giving him a background in almost every area of the local church and Christian school.  Jim currently serves as Associate Pastor at World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, TN where he oversees the Next Generation and Family Ministries.

In addition to working in a local church, Jim has successfully trained hundreds of thousands of Children’s Ministry leaders from all denominations and sizes of congregations in conferences and seminars around the world.  Jim is considered an innovator, pioneer and father in the modern Children’s Ministry movement.  In addition to serving as President of ACMA, he also serves as president of Jim Wideman Ministries and is one of the executive editors of K! Magazine. The International Network of Children’s Pastors awarded Jim the “Excellence in Ministry Award” in 1989 for his outstanding work in Children’s Ministry, and Children’s Ministry Magazine in 2001 honored him as one of ten “Pioneers Of the Decade” in Children’s Ministry.

Jim created the Children’s Ministers Leadership Club in 1995 that is known today as “theClub” which has touched thousands of ministry leaders each month.  This monthly audio leadership resource is still impacting leaders and causing them to think differently and become better leaders now.  In 2007 Jim introduced a personal mentorship program called “Infuse” where he and a hand picked group of leaders coach and mentor 20 leaders for a year (a new group of 20 start every 6 months).

Jim has one burning desire and that is to help others become better leaders.  Jim believes his marching orders are to spend the rest of his life taking what he has learned about leadership and ministry and pour it into the next generation of children’s, youth and family ministry leaders.

He is an ordained minister with over ten years experience serving families and children. His current role is at a church of about 20,000 members, Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky. As the Parenting and Family Minister he is charged with “Empowering the church to impress the things of God upon the hearts and minds of this generation.”

His passion for community and disdain for silos led him to create the pureconnect.org communities. The largest of these, cmconnect.org, is the free online social network for Children’s Ministers. Michael is available to speak on issues related to Children's and Family Ministry and community.

According to people who know him the story is different. He launched Kidz Blitz Ministries in 1996 after having planted churches in Kentucky and Florida.

As president of Kidz Blitz he has conducted hundreds of events coast to coast in every major denomination. He grew Kidz Blitz Live into the premier, Christian, family event in America with three event directors covering the nation. Annually, thousands of kids and parents make first-time confessions of faith at Kidz Blitz events.

He has authored Bible curriculum (Big City Studio and Adventure Bay) used in thousands of churches. He writes for K Magazine and the Cold Water Café, an online resource. He speaks for various seminars and conferences.

In summary he is a husband, bald father of four girls (there is a connection), grandfather of three, curriculum author, humble member of Mensa, frustrated bass player, ordained minister, horse farm owner, ministry consultant, occasional stand-up comedian, quote collector, basketball fan, avid reader and current events connoisseur.

He has no recognizable athletic ability or musical talent but would like to be good at one or the other before he dies. He lives on his horse farm outside of Lexington, Kentucky where he spends all his free time…doing chores.

Ryan entered full-time ministry in 1998 after graduating from Indiana Wesleyan University with a degree in Christian Education. He was hired as children’s pastor at Liberty Baptist Church where he currently serves. He then began work on his master’s degree from Pensacola Christian College and was awarded a Master of Arts in Bible Exposition in 2000.

In 1999 Ryan married Beth Bishir. Today they have one daughter named Luci. The Franks reside in Converse, Indiana.

KidzMatter Ministries was created in 2004 and incorporated in 2006. KidzMatter is located in Marion, Indiana. The marvel of KidzMatter Inc. is that every day we have the opportunity, on a global scale, to shape the way people think about children's ministry. The fact that our resources, our magazine, and website put us within reach of virtually everyone on the planet is staggering. We have a strategic opportunity to equip churches to reach children for the Lord Jesus Christ. Our passion is to provide resources that God can best use to that end.

Ryan enjoys writing, reading, and traveling. You can follow Ryan on Twitter at twitter.com/r_frank.

Prior to this assignment Marcetta served as the Children’s and Youth Minister at Faith Christian Center in Fayetteville and College Park, Georgia for four years.  Her service to children spans more than twenty-four years of experience.  While at Word of Faith, she was responsible for beginning the Children’s Hospital Outreach Ministry in 1989; this ministry touched the lives of hundreds of children for more than fifteen years.  Additionally, Marcetta has had the vital responsibility to counsel hurting and abused children and their parents.

Marcetta is “affectionately” known as a foundation builder, forever imparting that “Jesus Is Lord”, never letting children lose hope, but rather teaching them that real hope only comes from the Word of God.  She has a pioneering spirit and is anointed to start activities from the ground up.  At the age of 14, while receiving treatment for Scoliosis, she developed a heart for hurting children.  This passion has grown, and God has called her to spread His message of love to children all over the world. Equipped with the anointing and a heart for God’s babies, Marcetta has led thousands of children to God. 

Her call is not only to children, but also to the adults who God will use to win children.  She has an extensive background in training others for children’s ministry.  On her previous assignment, she was responsible for helping to identify, develop, and mentor Children’s Ministers in the U.S. and abroad.  Many of her protégés are currently serving children all over the world due to her excellence in this capacity.  She also developed an internship program to train volunteers and those called to minister to children.  In addition she was responsible for directing over 240 volunteers and ministering to over 1,100 children weekly. 

With a mission “to build a strong Christian foundation in the life of a child,” Marcetta’s primary goal is to develop the next generation of servants for God’s Kingdom.  Through sound teaching and ministry tools, she is preparing children all over the world to serve God with all their heart.  The Hand of God on Marcetta’s life qualifies her to “teach the church, train the parents and touch the child.”

Marcetta Kimbrough is a graduate of the Church on the Move School of Ministry (Willie George Ministries) in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Dick and his wife Darlene have four children and five grandchildren. The Grubers have served as volunteers and children’s pastors in churches in Oregon, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania.

Dick served for eight years as the Children’s Ministries Consultant for the Assemblies of God National Sunday School Department. While serving he wrote numerous articles, training helps, and two books, Children’s Church: Turning Your Circus Into A Service, and Focus On Children. He has authored individual chapters in three other pastoral theology and leadership books. Dick has had more than 150 articles published in magazines such as the Sunday School Counselor, Pentecostal Evangel, Children’s Ministries Magazine, and Enrichment.

In June of 2001 Dick joined the faculty at Valley Forge Christian College in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania as the Children’s Ministries Specialist. In 2005, partnering with Jason Rhode and VFCC, Children’s Ministries University Online was launched. CMUO offers online college level training for children’s leaders.

Dick has earned a BA in Interdisciplinary Ministries from North Central University and an MA in Christian Leadership from Valley Forge Christian College.

Dick is a husband, father, pastor, author, poet, composer, and artist. He has illustrated over a dozen discipleship booklets for children as well as produced numerous Scripture Picture Bible memory helps for children’s workers. He is the creator of Sam Saint Super Sleuth and numerous other costumed characters. Dick and his wife Darlene have ministered in conventions, camps and crusades throughout the USA, Canada, Saipan, New Zealand, Argentina, Northern Ireland, and Australia. They love reaching, teaching, and befriending children and those who serve God’s little ones.

Michelle has been in Children's Ministry for over 20 years and has served as a Children's Pastor for approximately 10 years. Currently, she is a speaker and writer for Children's Ministry, joining with Kidz Blitz Ministries. Her newest project is Shapin' Up Fitness Camp, a health program for children combining fitness, nutrition, and the Bible.

Michelle has a passion for kids to know the love of God and understand what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.