I am a ballet dancer — performed for years, taught for years, retired to begin a family, became a Montessori teacher while the kids were young, and finally decided to listen to God’s calling — placing me in ministry. My kids have all of the “benefits” of being a PK with no student loans without […]
“Serving Others” Summer Program Ideas for Kids
Planning a Serving Others Summer (SOS) can be a fun way to connect to the community, serve others, and bring the church family together. These are very simple ideas you can carry out quickly. Print water bottle labels with a bible verse and your church information and pass out at a local parade or little league […]
New DVD series based on Spiritual Parenting
On the heels of her incredible book Spiritual Parenting, author Michelle Anthony has a new DVD resource series now available through David C. Cook Publishing. Dr. Michelle Anthony is Pastor of Family Ministries at ROCKHARBOR Church in Costa Mesa, California. A former professor at Biola University and Talbot School of Theology, Dr. Anthony has written […]
Review Prayer Pups Christian Comic for Kids
Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Jeffery Smith, author of Four Panels: A Prayer Pups Compilation and creator of the Prayer Pups, a Comic strip starring 5 adorable pups each sporting their own unique personality. This Christian comic is a fun way to introduce Bible truth to children. Several years ago, Jeff was working […]
Review: 24 Hours That Changed the World Curriculum
24 Hours That Changed the World is Adam Hamilton’s acclaimed study, taking us through Jesus last week on Earth. A church-wide study available for adults, youth, 9 – 12 year olds, and 4 – 8 year olds. In this review, we will take a look at the 7-lesson curriculum for the 4-8 year olds. The […]
FLYTE – An Exciting New Bible Study Series for Preteens
Flyte, the new preteen curriculum from Lifeway is described by Lifeway’s Jeff Land on their website as “a curriculum to call their (preteens) own. If you ask them, preteens would tell you they’re not “in between” anything. They are facing puberty, drugs, sex, acceptance, and self-esteem issues every day. They do not need a “sophisticized” […]
Godly Play: A Review & Introduction
As I walked into the classroom, I noticed the simple white shelves that blended right into the walls. I was drawn like a magnet to the materials on these invisible shelves. The different hues of the natural woods, the heft of the brass, the richness of the velvet. Each material was placed on its own […]
9 Things They Didn’t Teach Me about Children’s Ministry
9 Things They Didn’t teach Me in College about Children’s Ministry promises “practical advice, inspiring stories, and interesting interviews with others involved in children’s ministry.” This pocket-sized composition book look-alike is a cute little package, but inside, it’s spot on and sobering. Author, Ryan Frank, strikes a chord with statistics like “the probability of five-to-twelve-year-old […]
“Long Story Short” Kids Bible Overview Book
Long Story Short is written to present a Biblical Gospel from cover to cover to aid parents in passing the Bible on to their children, day by day. To pass on a clear Gospel message showing children how every story in the bible points forward or back to the gospel of Jesus Christ and God’s […]
Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt, Group’s New Family Outreach Event
Group has new Outreach program for Easter that once again proves that “Group” is spelled “E-A-S-Y”. Churches enlist families to organize egg hunts in their own neighborhood, “becoming the arms and feet of the church”. The impact this could have on a community is endless, but, don’t underestimate what it could do for developing new […]
Journey to the Cross, Group’s Family Outreach for Easter
Overview: Journey to the Cross is a powerfully moving, multisensory family event that guides people along the path that Jesus walked during his last days on Earth. Activities focused on Jesus’ love and forgiveness demonstrate the real meaning of Easter: our risen Christ’s victory over death! Designed specifically for parents and their children to experience […]
A Heart Ready to Fly! – Just in time for Valentine’s Day
This story of a little girl who turns to God to clean her heart so she can see others through God’s eyes is the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day! What better way to say “I love you” to your kids than to give them insight into how to have their heart feel love and joy! […]
Surprise! The Secret of St. Nicholas is not just for December
When I first received this book I immediately thought, “this could be the perfect holiday book.” Soon I discovered it was even better after the holidays. This is not just another Christmas book. It’s the story of a young man who understood how Jesus wanted us to reflect Him in our lives; to love others, […]
Ten Things Every Kid Should Know About God (Book Review)
This book begins with a personal invitation to the reader. “He is waiting… Not just for anyone, God is waiting for you!” Make no mistake, this book is about more than information. It’s about God and helping kids to know Him in their everyday lives. Ten Things Every Kid Should Know About God – Life Applications to […]
Spark Story Bible: Perfect for Reading Aloud
The Spark Story Bible, published by Augsburg Fortress is a hardcover 550 page Bible Story book for children ages 2 – 8. It is a great resource to consider for, not only the Sunday School classroom, but as a family treasure at home. The book contains 150 of the best-loved bible stories from both the […]
New Children’s Story Bible “The Big God Story”
“The Big God Story” is a children’s picture book beautifully written by Dr. Michelle Anthony, and exquisitely illustrated by Cory Godbey. A great enrichment resource to “Spiritual Parenting,” or a stand alone story for children to see God at work through history. The text is very simple and focuses on the flow of the story […]
New Book Helps Fight the Perfect Parent Syndrome
“It’s hard enough to train kids to behave, but good behavior isn’t what Jesus calls for in the Bible.” In Spiritual Parenting, author Michelle Anthony calls us as parents to “depend upon God for our children’s spirtual and moral development, urging us toward a heart posture of surrender and faithfulness. The end goal is a […]
Here’s a Christmas Gift Your Volunteers Will Actually Like
At this time of year, we begin trying to find the perfect way to say “thank you” to all of the women who faithfully serve in children’s ministry all year long. I wanted something that was not a “teaching” book or a “training” book. I even wanted to steer clear of the typical teacher’s gift […]
What You Should Know About Group’s “Family Hour”
Group Publishing has something new for families. Their Fun-for-the-Whole-Family Hour is exactly that – an hourlong event for families to interact, share, discover, laugh, and explore together. This particular theme includes clips from the upcoming Narnia film “Voyage of the Dawn Treader”. Not just cost effective at $19.99, it is extremely efficient, with just the […]
Crash Course: A Must Have Resource for Young Christians
OK – That titles a little stronger than our usual book review. But keep reading and you’ll find out why I’m so impressed with this one. “Crash Course,” by Daniel Darling, promises “that it guides you to know what you believe and why you believe it, to make good choices, to find direction, to stay […]