As I write this, it is Thursday morning, and I am coming off of another exhausting night of running games for the Awana program at our church. I should start by saying that doing that is one of the highlights of my week each week despite the fact that it leaves me thoroughly drained and exhausted. As I walked into … More Children’s Ministry Resources
It is important in teaching God’s kids that we constantly strive to improve. Equally important is networking with like-minded and passionate children’s ministry servant. Fortunately, there are a ton of great conferences out there to accomplish both of these goal. We are striving to pull together one comprehensive resource listing children’s ministry conferences around the globe. With that goal in … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Here is a little game I came up with last week to play with a group of around 60 third through sixth graders. I named it “Ultimate Big Balls” in homage to the show Wipeout which is a favorite in our house. This would be fun to mix in with your AWANA games or Vacation Bible School games. The premise of … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Normally when I share ideas on here, it’s for things I have already done which worked. Today is a little bit different. Today, I want to share an idea I’ve been kicking around in my head for about a year which I haven’t gotten around to putting into practice yet. That idea is called the Bible Time Machine, and I … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Admit it! I got your attention with that title. Who says that sort of thing when they work in children’s ministry? That answer is – no one says it, but I am willing to venture a guess that most of us have thought it at one point or another. So, here are five simple things you can do to keep … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Next to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, the most important thing we can give the kids who pass through our children’s ministries is an understanding of how to use their Bibles. The Bible is critical to the continued spiritual development of kids. If there was any doubt, just read these verses where the Bible describes itself. In my church, I work … More Children’s Ministry Resources
On Sunday mornings, I teach kids about the Gospel of Jesus of Christ. It is the highlight of my week without fail. It combined two things that I am very passionate about – kids and the Gospel. On Wednesday nights, though, my role is a little bit different. On Wednesday nights, I am the “Game Guy” for our Awana program. … More Children’s Ministry Resources
I love Christmas. I always have. I loved Christmas long before I ever loved the reason for it. Now that He is Lord and Savior of my life, I love Christmas in a whole new way. So, when I came home from work last Friday night and found a brand new children’s Christmas book in my mailbox, I was overjoyed. … More Children’s Ministry Resources
It’s happened to all of us. We spend hours and hours and hours preparing for Sunday morning (at least I hope you do). We study our Bibles, we outline the lesson, we plan the crafts. During the final days, we put on the finishing touches, get the props together, and plan the transitions and “special effects.” We practice our delivery, … More Children’s Ministry Resources
“One of Those Days” Have you ever had one of those days in Kidmin? You know the kind, the day where you can feel yourself losing all semblance of patience. The kind of day where you find yourself praying during your lesson that the Holy Spirit will give you love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Today … More Children’s Ministry Resources
At the 2010 Desiring God National Conference, Francis Chan gave a moving talk on humility and loving people. As part of that presentation, he listed seven question that he asks when preparing to teach the Word of God. I think they are the critical questions any children’s minister should also consider as they prepare to teach God’s kids. Those questions … More Children’s Ministry Resources
I was working on reviewing some curriculum the other day for Dad in the Middle, and I needed to come up with some sort of framework for evaluating it. I came up with the following and thought it might be useful for other people. Whether you are writing curriculum reviews or just searching for a curriculum for your children’s ministry, … More Children’s Ministry Resources
At my church, we use Awana for our Wednesday night program. My nine year old son started in Sparks a little over four years ago now, and my seven year old daughter started in Cubbies at the same time when she was three. We have watched them memorize a multitude of verses during that time, and I’ve picked a few … More Children’s Ministry Resources
I realized a couple of weekends ago that I had stopped praying each week before kids’ service. It wasn’t a conscience decision, just something that happened in the hustle and bustle of the weekend. I realized that when I stopped praying that coincided with those weeks that I didn’t feel went very well after they were over. That got me … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Don’t reinvent the wheel – just roll out these classic games kids still love! Use the download links below to keep a printed copy on hand in your teaching space. Some lessons have a related game, which is ideal. Often you just have to improvise your own games. Don’t call it wasted time if the kids are making friends and … More Children’s Ministry Resources
I do not work in the preschool ministry at my church. My time and efforts are geared towards kids kindergarten and above. That said, we do have a great team who does handle the nursery and preschool ages. I know that because my kids have been through the program and I have seen the fruits of these efforts. Last night, … More Children’s Ministry Resources
As someone who has four kids and works in children’s ministry, there is one thing I have found to be true of (most) all kids – they ask questions! Many times they ask lots and lots and lots of questions. Sometimes they ask questions that we don’t know the answer to. In a children’s ministry setting, or as a parent, … More Children’s Ministry Resources
In churches across the nation, this year’s Vacation Bible School is quickly becoming a memory. There are many people out there who think that VBS is an outdated program whose time has come and gone. Fresh off of the excitement and exhaustion that is the controlled chaos that is VBS, here is my list of the top ten reasons to … More Children’s Ministry Resources
I saw a tweet the other day extolling the virtues of summer volunteers because they bring excitement and enough nervousness to rely on Jesus (thanks @mattguevara). That tweet set me thinking about my own approach to children’s ministry. I constantly talk about the need to be prepared, the need to invest the time, the need to memorize your lesson, and … More Children’s Ministry Resources
This is the time of year when churches all around the country are either wrapping up their VBS for this summer or getting their VBS in before the school year starts again. All the planning was done months ago, volunteers were recruited, supplies were purchased, skits were rehearsed, games were planned, and VBS went off without a hitch. Everyone breathes … More Children’s Ministry Resources
If you haven’t heard yet, there is a free e-book called What Matters Now in Children’s Ministry in which 33 members of the children’s ministry community were asked to pick one word which describes what matters now in children’s ministry. That word selection is then explored further in 200-300 words chapters in the book. You can also find much more information … More Children’s Ministry Resources
I am a big fan of music. I do have one criteria when it comes to the music I choose to listen to though – it has to be good. That criteria applies to my kids’ music as well. If they want to listen to bad music when they are by themselves, that’s fine. But, if we’re all going to … More Children’s Ministry Resources
I will preface this post by saying that this is not a post with a whole lot of answers (to be properly read….none). Instead, this post focuses on a series of questions that have been bouncing around my head recently when it comes to teaching kids about God. I recently came across the following quote from Richard Baxter, and I … More Children’s Ministry Resources
I find that it isn’t all that hard to talk to kids. They like to talk if you can find some common ground and explore something that really interests them. As children’s ministers, and as parents, though, there are things that they need to hear from us. Words are powerful things, and the tongue has the power to build up … More Children’s Ministry Resources