Monday, August 13, 2007

Good Ideas Needed!

Don't you wish sometimes that you could pick the brain of another IOT for help with things like introductions, illustrations and promotion?

One thing we've learned out here at CMI is that no one person has all the great ideas! It's when we get together and pool our creativity that really good things begin to emerge. That's why when we work on developing new classes or updating old ones, we work in groups and bounce ideas around until we arrive at the best one.

Since you are all scattered around the country--and around the world--it's a little harder to get that kind of input. But that's why we created the Instructors' Cafe! One of the purposes of this blog is to create a virtual conference room where we can share ideas with each other. We don't want you to just read the blog and move on. We want you to interact with us and with all our IOTs out there.

The easiest way to interact with a blog subject is to click the "comments" link at the bottom of each post. Type your ideas or other thoughts in the comment box, choose your identity (you can click "other" and type your name, or click "annonymous" and remain a mystery!), and click "publish your comment." That's all there is to it. Your comment will appear on the comment page in the order it was received.

The Instructors' Cafe is designed to be a meeting place for friends to gather and talk (bring your own cappuccino!). Please take a moment to respond to the posts--especially when your input is requested. That's the best way we have to come together and encourage and help one another. If each instructor reading this blog submitted just one idea, think of all the good input that would benefit all of us!

If you just want to say "howdy" to the rest of us, you can do so in the little Shoutbox in the right sidebar. Just click "name" and type your name, click "message" and type your brief message. You can add a smiley face if you want by clicking "smilies", then just click "shout" and your comment will appear in the scrolling box. The chat room link at the bottom of the box is for Shoutbox Pro and is not connected to our blog. Go there at your own risk!

We also encourage you to go to the guestbook (in the sidebar on the right) and click "view guestbook." You'll see comments from other IOTs there, often sharing prayer requests or testimonies. Sometines they are asking for help. If you can offer help to them, either e-mail the person or leave a comment in the guestbook or on the post comment link. If you want to leave your own question in the guestbook, click "sign" and be sure to include your e-mail address.

Recently, Rex Eads left a message in the guestbook asking for help in promoting TCE 1 and 2. Here's your chance, IOTs, to be a help and encouragement! What are some of your ideas for promoting your TCE courses? Click the comment link below and tell us at least one idea for promotion that works for you.

We love that you are visiting the Cafe every week. Now, let us know you're out there by talking to us and to each other!

3 comments:

karia said...

I have found the best promotion to be our TCE graduates. Schedule a time to present their certificates at their churches, and give them a few minutes to share testimonies. Then promote your next class. When doing promotion in other churches, ask a graduate (or two) to come along with you to share a testimony. Their enthusiasm is contagious and their stories of changed lives prove the effectiveness of the TCE training program. Remember the free promotion in Teach Kids! magazine and in your local chapter newsletter, as well.

Anonymous said...

Great ideas, Karia. Thanks for sharing them with us!

Anonymous said...

I especially like the frog story and thought it would be great for teaching on missions in TCE II.