This has been a long year, but Christmas is finally almost here! If you’re looking for some ideas and resources on how best to celebrate Christmas in your Children’s Ministry this year, look no further! We’ve got a bunch of ideas to help you have COVID-19-friendly Christmas celebrations from music to games to activities to books and even some toys! Listed below are links to some of the resources we talk about in the episode!
On this episode, we have the privilege to interview Youth Pastor Néstor Hernandez Zambrana about what Youth Pastors wish Children’s Ministry Leaders knew about Youth Ministry. We know that YouthMin and KidMin can seem like vastly different worlds, so we’re demystifying Youth Ministry as we discuss the differences and similarities between Youth and Children’s Ministry, as well as what to do with difficult conversations between ministry leaders and how best to partner with the whole family. This is one conversation you definitely don’t want to miss!
Today on the podcast we are unpacking ministry burnout and how as a Children’s Ministry Leader to find creative ways to take a moment to be still and remember who God is. We all face those moments in ministry when we’re tired, worn out, or maybe on the way to burnout. Even Jesus was tired at points in His ministry and knew He needed to recharge by spending time with the Father. So if rest is good for the God of the universe, what does that mean for humanity? Join us as we walk this journey together.
On today’s podcast, we interview Anne Marie Gosnell and find out what it means to be an excellent Bible teacher! We talk about everything from what if an object lesson goes wrong to how we can learn from Jesus what it means to be a master teacher, because He is the master teacher! Anne Marie Gosnell is the author of six books on object lessons and children’s ministry and discipleship, and has thirty years of experience in teaching kids God’s Word. You definitely don’t want to miss this conversation!
This week on the podcast we are talking all about games — the how’s, the what’s, the when’s, and even the why’s of playing games in your Kid’s Ministry. We’ll talk all about everything from Safety to Picking Teams to Competition and Rules, as well as ask the most important question of all: is “fun” biblical? Spoiler: Yes! Join us and have a lot of fun thinking about playing games in your Children’s Ministry!
We love Set Design Week! Every time we change our up-front set we go through a process of picking a theme, choosing set pieces, and designing the overall stage! This week we’ll discuss our process for stage design, as well as give you some tips and ideas on how to change up the stage in your Children’s Ministry space so that it really draws kids in and creates a fun environment for them to discover Jesus! Stage design doesn’t have to break the budget or be difficult! You can set the stage in your Children’s Ministry too!
“Asking Jesus Into My Heart” is a phrase we often use in Children’s Ministry to talk with kids about salvation. But is it the best way to talk about salvation? Is it a biblical way? Often, the words we say can communicate unintentional messages to kids, leaving them growing up and internalizing ideas that we never thought we were communicating in the first place! Join us today as we unpack the ways we’ve often talked about who Jesus is, how salvation works, and even that little Wordless Book.
It’s a super episode! Today we are talking about Ministry Transitions: What should you prioritize in a new church? How do you say goodbye to the kids at your previous church? What are the crucial conversations you need to have right at the beginning of starting a new ministry? We’ll talk about all of these and more, as well as tell you about that one time we discover a furry visitor in the Children’s Ministry Supplies!
Have questions about reopening your Children’s Ministry? We’re here with some ideas and considerations that might help you as you plan for reopening your Children’s Ministry! We talk about everything from temperature checks to themes to creative ways to keep kids socially distanced. Even though this season is difficult, we have a God who still calls, still leads, and is still with us through every twist and turn of 2020.
Many churches have not reopened their Children’s Ministries yet, and some have turned to making online videos a regular part of what they do. On today’s podcast, we’re talking some simple strategies, creative tips, and fun ideas to incorporate into your online videos for Kids Church — because it doesn’t have to be complicated! You don’t need tons of fancy equipment to get started: all you need is a device to record with, some creativity, and a whole lot of God’s love!
Today on the podcast we’re designing a Kids Church Worship Service! What things should we include on a Sunday morning for grade school aged kids in the context of a Kids Church time? We’ll talk about how to structure a Kids Church Worship Service, and even discuss why a Kids Church time should be considered a worship service in its own right.
Today on the podcast, Shaun and Sarah interview some very special guests who have been teaching preschool Sunday School for over 40 years! We talk about everything preschool ministry from coloring tables to how to help preschoolers memorize verses to what to do on those discouraging days when nothing seems to be going well. This is one conversation you don’t want to miss!
Have you ever considered that the time infants and toddlers spend in your nursery could be a worship service itself? It might seem impossible or even strange, but the truth is, even infants and toddlers can praise Jesus! Join us as we discuss how to incorporate elements of worship into your nursery space and time and truly transform your nursery from childcare to worship of the Savior.
Today we’re answering questions from the Children’s Ministry community! We talk about all the things from promotions for fifth graders and kindergartners to how to plan for Fall Festivals and what to do about baby dedication gifts! You have great questions for us; we have creative ideas for you!
Today we’re counting down our Top 5 Current Favorite Worship Songs for Kids! Sarah and Shaun have both picked their top favorites, songs they lead with the kids at their own church! Come join us and discover a new song you could use in your Children’s Ministry. We’ll also talk about a bit of the theory behind how to pick worship songs for your church, as well as how to find lyric videos you can use in your ministry.
Today we’re taking a second look at pivoting from crowd control to crowd engagement and diving deep on the role volunteers should play in helping to redirect kids when issues arise. We’ll also talk about how to manage a crowd from up front when you’re speaking and kids ask you those difficult or sometimes funny questions during the middle of your message!
Today we’re talking about crowd control — what happens when kids just aren’t listening? Or what do we do when no matter how hard we try, kids can’t seem to follow expectations? We’ll take a deep dive into some questions you can ask yourself about your ministry, your space, and your curriculum to pivot from merely controlling a crowd and barely making it through to engaging the kids in your group.
The KidMin Creatives dive into the world of object lessons! Have you ever wondered if you could make your messages more engaging? Maybe what you’re missing is an object lesson or two! Discovering how to incorporate object lessons into your Kids Church, Sunday School, or midweek program isn’t as hard as it looks. You can take everyday objects around you and turn them into life-changing moments that leave an eternal impact.
This week we’re talking about how to integrate kids into the worship service with the adults! During COVID-19, many churches are not operating with a Children’s Ministry area, so how do you help kids integrate into what is happening in the worship service without just trying to occupy their time and keep them “busy”? We’ll discuss strategies for Worship Bags, ways to help families engage together with the service, and of course memories from our own childhoods growing up in the worship service!
This week Shaun and Sarah dive into the world of redesigning Kid’s Ministry spaces! Carpet looking a little drab? Paint need an update? We’ll talk about some do’s and don’t’s to help you creatively refresh the spaces where your kids discover Jesus! Design and Decor don’t have to be a headache. We’ve got some creative solutions and strategies you can start implementing right away.