About this website

Hi there folks! My name is Glen Woods. 

i am here to serve you....

you will find community....

Not only will you have an opportunity to interact with me, you also will be able to interact with each other via live chat and a blog specifically designed to foster meaningful conversation.  

So hang your hat, kick off your shoes and sink back in your chair in the company of like-minded practitioners of children's ministry. No pretenses. No heavy handed marketing. No user fees for the website.  In this place you can be yourself, free to ask questions, share new ideas, collaborate on open source resources, and learn in community with a growing diverse network of folks who love kids. 

If you would like to join my email list to receive  updates about this website and my ministry please email glen@glenwoods.net  and type ADD EMAIL in the subject line. 

Purpose of this website

My goal for the site is to provide an online community dedicated to finding practical solutions to real world children's ministry challenges. 

A Word About My Vocabulary and Style of Writing

I recognize that many of the users of this website minister outside of the USA. I am thankful for that! Wow, what a privilege to communicate with people from all over the world! For this reason I want to point out my limitations. I have lived all of my life on the west coast of the USA, mostly in Oregon. While I have traveled to Canada and Mexico briefly, plus communicated frequently with people around the world via the internet, the reality is that I am very much a product of the USA in general, and the Pacific Northwest in particular. Therefore, please accept in advance my apologies for any inadvertent miscues on my part. It is never my intention to offend anyone. If you catch me using colloquial verbiage which personally offends a specific culture, please let me know by emailing me at glen@glenwoods.net. I want to learn from you. Thank you!

Participation

A key component of this goal is the value of networking by sharing mutual children's ministry wisdom and expertise in a safe moderated context of accountability. This can happen via email,  the blog, and live IRC chat.

Church Visitation

I am available for a limited number of onsite consultations or training events in the local Portland/Vancouver metroplex. To inquire about availability please send an email with your complete information and the type of interaction you are seeking (eg. consultation, teacher training, inspirational speaking). 

I am available most Sunday afternoons, except for the first Sunday of each month. I am also available every other Saturday. Advance notice of at least one month is necessary to ensure availability and preparation for the event. Starting in August, I will only be available on Sunday afternoons and Mondays. 

Church Visitation Pricing

I have had a number of questions regarding pricing for church visitations, so here is a pricing schedule for the remainder of 2007. Checks may be made out to Glen Woods. 

One hour onsite visit: $100. For every additional hour, add $50 per hour. Typical maximum visit length is four hours; minimum visit length is one hour. For the sake of clarity, time is figured in one hour increments. For example, if you choose a four hour visit, the price will be $250. If you desire a longer visit, feel free to email me with what you have in mind. It is conceivable that a six hour intensive, including a lunch or dinner, could be arranged. 

I have tried to be fair in drafting these numbers. They represent a substantial savings compared to the average market price for a consultant. My aim is to remove obstacles which might prevent your church from benefiting from a focused time of learning. 

Who am I?

My ministry resume  is posted on the web. The short version is that God has prepared me through the years to interact with folks just like you about the questions you grapple with pertaining to children's ministry. I love kids and those that work with them.  Currently I serve as a volunteer Children's Pastor of Portland Open Bible Church in SE Portland, Oregon. I have been there since the Spring of 1996. Also I am a student of Western Seminary in Portland. I have one course and a dissertation to complete and defend, and then I will have earned my Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Leadership.

Aside from that I have been actively involved in leading a Christian IRC (internet relay chat) Network for several years, focusing on recruiting, equipping and mentoring a team of diverse talented Christians from around the world to maintain the network as a safe community for real time interaction. This specific ministry expression has fueled my passion for web-based community and informed my understanding of missionally interacting with people who have no previous exposure to the gospel so that they will be compelled to follow Jesus Christ. 

Other obscure facts you might be itching to know about me

Day job: I am a warehouseman/customer service representative for a large local retailer of floor covering. 

Hobbies: Reading novels and specialized books in my  various areas of interest or expertise. Writing in general, but especially poetry and lyrics. Riding roller coasters at amusement parks around the USA. Going to water parks. 

Deep dark secret: I am writing a novel. It is an epic quest fantasy replete with compelling characters, people groups, places and events in an original complex multi-cultural milieu impacting ages past and yet to come, yet personally focused on the immediate. Oh, and there is a constantly escalating conflict.  

Idea of a fun outing: Going some place off the beaten path and remote, but not so far that I can't stay in a decent hotel! Soaking in the scenery, taking lots of photos and writing. 

Primary passion in life: Worshipping God, studying the Scriptures and entering into evangelistic conversation with people who do not know him.

Scholarly Writings: Here are a few papers from my graduate work.