Kristen Ivy
Kristen Ivy is the President of Orange and the founder of The Phase Project, and co-author of the Phase Guide series, "It's Just a Phase," and "Playing for Keeps." She combines her degree in secondary education with a Master of Divinity and lives out the full Orange spectrum as the wife of XP3 Students Orange Specialist, Matt Ivy, and the mother of three children, Sawyer, Hensley, and Raleigh.
Voices of the Phase Project :: Sherry Surratt
Wednesday September 27, 2017 | Kristen IvyAs the former visionary CEO and President of MOPS International and now as our Executive Director of Family Strategy, Sherry Surratt is one of the most influential champions for kids in the preschool phase. Sherry’s wisdom about parenting and about preschoolers comes not only from an academic background in child development, but also her time as a teacher […] Read more
God Is like a Balloon
Wednesday September 13, 2017 | Kristen IvyMaybe God is like a balloon. There are two ways to think about thinking. Maybe that sounds too philosophical to be practical, but it may be the most critical idea when it comes to how a kid relates to God. It’s also just one more thing that separates humans from the rest of creation. Animals […] Read more
Voices of the Phase Project :: Jon Acuff
Wednesday September 6, 2017 | Kristen IvyThis fall Jon Acuff is joining Orange for Orange Tour. Behind the scenes, we asked Jon a few more personal questions about how these ideas show up in his own life. https://youtu.be/dqPEn7iI2iw Read more
Voices of the Phase Project :: Tom Shefchunas
Wednesday August 16, 2017 | Kristen IvyYou know you’re talking to a phase expert when they answer the “Why is this the most important phase?” question with a smile and a simple “because it is.” Tom Shefchunas has not only the gift of simplification and sarcasm, he is actually one of the smartest leaders we know when it comes to understanding […] Read more
Can You Influence Someone You Don’t Know?
Wednesday August 9, 2017 | Kristen IvyKids know more about you than you know about them. People are wired to pay closer attention to someone who has power over their world. Think about it. You probably know more about the President than he knows about you. As kids and teenagers grow up, they depend on the adults in their world to […] Read more
Voices of the Phase Project :: Brad Griffin
Wednesday August 2, 2017 | Kristen IvyAnyone who wants to know more about the high school phases probably already knows Brad Griffin. We love hanging out with Brad because he blends academia and real-world ministry—which just means he’s the kind of smart that also feels incredibly relatable. Brad’s experience as a youth pastor and small group leader combined with his discoveries […] Read more
Phase Defined: 4 Things That Are True for Every Child
Wednesday July 26, 2017 | Kristen IvyThis post was written by Kristen Ivy, Director of Messaging at Orange and Director of The Phase Project. What does phase really mean? If you really break it down, there are four things that are true at every phase: 1. Every phase has significant relationships you can influence. Kids in different phases listen to different voices […] Read more
5 Ways to Reactivate Parents Every Year
Wednesday July 12, 2017 | Kristen IvyThe start of a new school year usually means the start of new small groups, the start of soccer games, the start of PTA meetings, and the start of a busy season for parents. This is a perfect time to reactivate parents, so kids at every phase will stay connected to them. Regardless of how […] Read more
Voices of the Phase Project :: Sue Miller
Wednesday July 5, 2017 | Kristen IvySue Miller can most accurately be described as a cornerstone, not just for us at Orange, but for preschool ministry as a whole. For 17 years she led a 3,000-strong children’s ministry at Willow Creek Community Church, and since 2005 she’s developed groundbreaking ministry books, resources and events for preschool leaders, volunteers, and parents. She’s […] Read more
Presenting Parents With a Plan: Phase Event Recap
Wednesday June 28, 2017 | Kristen IvyPreston Trail Community Church in Frisco, Texas hosted a Phase event at their church. This wasn’t a small gathering for parents only, but a full Sunday take over for parents, kids and every member of the community! Cindy Fiala, who was the Family Pastor at Preston Trail at the time, was able to join Kristen […] Read more
