Encouragement & Vision

Does this story seem familiar? “Slumped down in her chair, the children’s pastor gave a deep sigh of frustration. Nothing had worked out as she planned. The kids seemed disinterested; parents were distant. It had been over a month since anyone new had visited the kids’ church. Feeling empty and discouraged, she wondered if perhaps, she should step down.” This … More Children’s Ministry Resources

I’ve been thinking a lot about fear lately.  I have many fears.  I fear the unknown; I fear the known, sometimes.  I fear for my son; I fear for my husband.  These are just a few, and I know that they are ultimately unfounded.  Probably the thing I fear most is change!  I struggle with that one a lot! One … More Children’s Ministry Resources

Children’s ministry is a work of love but there are times when your feelings can get the best of you. It’s not unusual for a pastor or volunteer to feel lonely, unappreciated and forgotten; we aren’t robots. During these seasons, some leaders consider quitting or at the very least, they lose their passion for ministry. If you’ve ever felt this … More Children’s Ministry Resources

A few years ago, I was asked a question that radically changed the way I operated my children’s ministry. (Nothing like a change of perspective to adjust your viewpoint, just look at Ezekiel; I’m thankful that at least, God didn’t have to tug me by the hair to get my attention.) A kids’ ministry conference speaker asked the gathered teachers … More Children’s Ministry Resources

If your students are die-hard John Deere advocates, then you might serve in a small country church.  If you have a homegrown cow in your freezer, then you might serve in a small country church.  If your students come to church in boots and buckles and have guns and know how to use them, then you might serve in a … More Children’s Ministry Resources

Christian teachers teach all the time, whether they know it or not. I think to keep teaching fun, God provides us the occassional “aha” or teaching moment. It’s our job to recognize those windows of opportunity to unite kids with their God and a greater understanding of the faith. Besides these golden moments, Christian teachers should expect a few other … More Children’s Ministry Resources

**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net I remember one of our first over-the-top preteen events. We named it Nick at Night and it was held on a Friday night. It was a clever name because my name is Nick and the event included lots of Nickelodeon style-games. We rented water inflatables and played games like slime dodge … More Children’s Ministry Resources

**This is a guest post by Glenys Nellist  from Kids Ministry Matters Whether we’re “lovin’ it,” or hatin’ it, there’s one thing we can all agree on—McDonald’s restaurants are successful. With over 33,000 franchises operating in 118 countries of the world and their golden arches gleaming from small village to big city, McDonald’s is rising in popularity. I don’t know about you, … More Children’s Ministry Resources

Recently our community experienced a great tragedy in which it was revealed that an individual who was highly respected and trusted had been living a life of unbelievable sin for decades.  Yet again, a trusted leader who claimed to be a believer in Jesus had broken trust with an entire town. Our world hears these stories over and over.  In … More Children’s Ministry Resources

**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net In my last post, I offered many reasons for small churches (or church plants) to launch a preteen ministry. In this post, I’m going to share a few ways they can effectively reach preteens. 1. Split up preteens for weekend services. Ideally, it’s the best way to go. If preteens meet … More Children’s Ministry Resources

**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net Many churches everywhere are realizing the need for a preteen ministry. Most large churches see the need for a ministry specific to 4th, 5th or 6th graders. Sometimes because of the large amount of kids in attendance and other times in an attempt to target the specific needs of preteens. However, … More Children’s Ministry Resources

**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net After 8 years of fighting the idea, I finally agreed to get a family dog. Her name is BonBon and she is a Chihuahua and Dotson mix, Chiweenie for short. After the first week, I quickly became attached to her. Good thing, since I am usually the one to give … More Children’s Ministry Resources

Scientists who study trees have determined that a tree’s roots grow outward to about three times the spread of its branches.  Roots have a vast network underground that is largely unseen. We never consider a tree’s roots unless a problem unearths itself. Maybe hurricane force winds threaten the structure of a tree.  Maybe erosion along a river exposes the roots to the … More Children’s Ministry Resources

This funny story came to me through email. I’m not sure who first wrote it but wanted to share it with you here. Leave a comment to share your own humorous stories. One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered with names and small … More Children’s Ministry Resources

Lately, I keep asking myself the same question every morning. What can I do today that’s really going to matter in the long run? Without getting too philosophical, this little question aligns the day with my real values. This personal challenge helps me make little choices that define the most important issues. Here are the answers I’m banking on today: … More Children’s Ministry Resources

We all run into it at some point in ministry… discouragement.  Sometimes it creeps in gradually and sometimes it hits us like a brick wall.  It could be a particular situation that causes it, a season where things are tough, or it could come from nowhere.  However, it is universal.  Every person in kidmin will face discouragement in ministry.  Here … More Children’s Ministry Resources

Welcome to the second installment in my ongoing series on connecting with the kids in your ministry. Last time we looked at the importance of learning names. In this post I will examine the power of prayer. A quick glance at the Bible reveals that prayer is a very important part of our spiritual journey. Philippians 4:6 tells us: …do … More Children’s Ministry Resources

You can help! If you were a child of divorced parents, please click here to take a survey related to your experience. This will help us better understand the challenges divorce presents to ministry. You might be surprised to find out that the divorce rate in the United States is actually decreasing and has been since it reached its high … More Children’s Ministry Resources

When it comes to working with kids, there are some simple things you can do to help build a connection that will, hopefully, allow you to speak into the life of children.  The first, and oftentimes most important, thing you have to do is learn a child’s name.  If you’re like me, and a lot of other people out there, … More Children’s Ministry Resources