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You are here: Home / me / Things Go Better With Coke

Things Go Better With Coke

One of my heroes is a man named Jim Wideman. He’s a children’s ministry extraordinaire, a great dad, published author, musician and all around fun guy. I met him back in the day when I was on a puppet ministry team. We went to a puppetry festival to perform and Bro. Jim (as he is affectionately called) was the children’s pastor at the hosting church. My mom became friends with him because she was a children’s pastor and I mean, really, how many children’s pastors were there 20 years ago?

I don’t remember keeping in touch, but we must have because my brother & Bro. Jim’s daughter, Yancy (now one of my great great friends) started communicating (or you know, phone dating). Then when Les and I were married & in college I had to find a place to intern, and for some unknown reason I said, “Let’s call Bro. Jim!” He was the children’s pastor at one of the most amazing churches in the country, Church on the Move in Tulsa, OK. He said, “come on!” and we came! It literally changed our life to see ministry to the masses. We saw 2500 kids a weekend, worked every single day and absolutely loved it.

Wow, that was a long intro! The point is, he’s been our mentor since then and we try to keep in touch as often as possible. He’s from Bham, so when we lived there, we saw him occasionally. And this last week he was in Atlanta doing some consulting at a local church. So, we hooked up and went to the World of Coke. This is the new World of Coke, at their new location next to the Aquarium–they just had their grand opening was in May.

It was really a lot of fun. First of all, there is just something about being downtown. I love looking up and seeing the skyscrapers. I love being in an open area like Centennial Park or out on the sidewalk and just feeling the city bustling around you! I could so live downtown!

The World of Coke is a self-guided tour but they only let you come in at designated times. So, we bought our tickets but couldn’t enter until 45 minutes later! Oh, but they thought of everything and had the largest Coke gift shop you’ve ever seen. And there was really a lot of cool stuff-clothes, dishes, even purses made out of can pop-tops!

After the shopping and standing in line in the Georgia heat (see Bro Jim’s blog for the leadership lesson he found in our line!) we filed into look at memorabilia which was just a holding area to watch a movie that was based on this commercial. Totally weird but totally funny. (I love Coke’s commercials! Remember this one?)

At the end of the movie, the screen lifted into the ceiling and we walked into the rest of the museum. There were several different areas–the art of Coke, the “factory”, the memorabilia and even a 4d movie. But the best part is the TASTE ROOM! Oh yeah. There are about 5 stations set up with drinks from all the regions of the world–South American, Asia, etc. And you can drink as much as you want. If you actually can! Some of the drinks are straight up revolting. If you ever go, please please please drink the Beverly from Italy. I physically shudder after drinking it. Ugh.

 

As we left the building they gave us our own commemorative glass bottle of Coca-Cola! But Lydia was too interested in drinking the Coke. She’s never had it before (unless one you mean grandparents slipped it to her)! She thought she was in sugar heaven!

There it is. All you wanted to know about The World of Coke! So, who is your hero and where would you spend a day with him?

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Comments

  1. says

    August 2, 2007 at 6:22 pm

    What a small world!! We totally know Jim Wideman (although he may not know us). My husband used to be an assistant pastor at a church in NW Indiana where Jim made several visits (as well as Blain Bartel). The church also sent almost all it’s leaders to Church on the Move for their camps and leader training. Yancy even came to do a concert one time. The church was up in arms afterward because she sang Smelly Cat (they were extremely legalistic among other things). But we loved it and left that church as soon as the Lord gave us the green light (uh, us leaving had nothing to do with Yancy’s performance). anyway, sounds like you had fun!

  2. says

    August 2, 2007 at 7:39 pm

    Aw, you were in Oklahoma! I hear about church on the move when listening to teachings on oasis network during the day. We are about two hours south of Tulsa but Matt’s mom lives there… That is so cool, the coke world sound wonderful. I am quite a fan of coke btw!
    What a wonderful day you had.

  3. says

    August 2, 2007 at 7:47 pm

    Hey Amanda,

    I met Jim 2 years ago at I-Fest. His daughter also sang there. I went to all of his workshops. I LOVED him! I read 2 of his books. He has helped me so much in my Children’s Church. I actually just read another book that he wrote a forward in. He is amazing. I would love to go to one of his services one day. I actually saw him on the side of your blog in the small pictures, and I was like, “hey, I know him.”

    Natalie

  4. says

    August 2, 2007 at 10:56 pm

    We went to the old World of Coke in Atlanta when we visited several summers ago. We had a great time too, and totally loved that tasting room. You’re right, some of them are nasty and downright revolting. Your post brought back some fond memories from that little mini-vacation, thank you! 🙂

  5. Anonymous says

    August 2, 2007 at 6:58 pm

    What a fun day! We’ve been there years back so I’m sure it has changed a lot. Jim’s name sounds familiar and I have heard of Church on the Move. You guys have just been so many places and have done so many awesome things!

    I hope you’re having a good week!

  6. says

    August 3, 2007 at 12:24 am

    Fun! I’ve never made it past the gift shop at World of Coke. You know, there was a really, really big mall I had to get to!

  7. says

    August 3, 2007 at 2:52 am

    What a fun day! I would love to go to the World of Coke… I think I have a lot to do with Coke staying in business (I’m an addict)!!

    Jane, P&B Girls

  8. says

    August 3, 2007 at 1:46 pm

    I remember telling you how I had seen Yancy at our church before and Sheryl (PB&Jellyboats) went to the same church.

    I LOVE Coke in a bottle!!

    Oh, and I responded to your question in my vaccine post comments!!

    Steph

  9. says

    August 3, 2007 at 1:59 pm

    Great fun!! I LOVE COKE!! I too think my family has helped keep them a monster success!! I would love to take that tour! Everytime you share a site in Atlanta, you make me want to go!!!!!!!!

  10. says

    August 3, 2007 at 4:40 pm

    Coke with lemon anyone???

    My favorite.

  11. says

    August 3, 2007 at 4:44 pm

    I remember the taste testing at the old world of coke and there were some really nasty sodas. I can’t wait to visit the new!

  12. says

    August 3, 2007 at 6:01 pm

    Wow, looks like fun! I’d like to go there some time. Closest I’ve been is the Coke section of Epcot Center where you can sample the sodas from around the world.

  13. says

    August 6, 2007 at 7:54 pm

    a, when I was in Brazil, “Coke Light” was a favorite there. It tasted in between a regular Coke and a Diet Coke. It was really yum. When we got home, I even wrote to Coke asking them to start carrying it here! Of course they didn’t listen to me then, but about 3 years later they started coming out with all kinds of new things for Americans. Ha! Anyway, I would so love to visit that place, too. What fun that probably was. Did Lydia get enough sugar? 🙂

Welcome!


I like to think of fun ways to lead my kids to Jesus and I like to share them with you. If you're new here, start here for some fun family-time ideas!

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