Articles about ministry situations or themes.
I am a runner. I shamelessly display my “26.2” bumper stickers and Road Runners club key fob, and I rarely have all ten toenails intact. Running is in some ways rather an odd passion: it requires vast discipline and sacrifice, yet yields minimal immediate visible results (minus the black toenails). In spite of that, there is such joy and satisfaction … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Encountering frustration in ministry comes with the territory, but when is it time to really call it quits? Believers can have the misconception – like I did – that a ministry will be instantly successful if it’s a true calling from God, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. It’s simply not the pattern scripture displays. Most of the … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Pastoral changes are hard on everyone, especially the kids. Imagine how you would feel if you were seven and the only pastor you have ever known decided to leave the church. Whether the parting of ways is truly a God thing or something else, it can diminish a child’s concept of stability–and quiet possibly even his or her ideas about … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Because all life is important to God, it’s never too early to introduce Sanctity of Life to children. This is core value of the Christian faith – that all people matter because they reflect God’s image. It’s much bigger than the political drama in the USA regarding abortion or the pro-life movement. Each January is dedicated toward recognizing, educating, and … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Congratulations and welcome to ministry! I’m sure you know quite a lot about children’s ministry already but it can’t hurt to hear a few tips. I have been working with children for almost 20 years and I can assure you that is a satisfying and rewarding occupation. Children love the Lord and they love those that serve him. To encourage … More Children’s Ministry Resources
The Christmas season seems like it is just getting busier and busier. Our calendars get filled up with school events, family events, church events, and friend events. We make cookies, decorate the house, go look at Christmas lights, and sing Christmas carols. I love doing all of these things and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them. As I am … More Children’s Ministry Resources
If teaching children’s church or Sunday School was as easy as showing up and teaching a Bible story, everyone would do it! However, that’s rarely the case. We serve an awesome God but we’re all human–that includes our leaders. A recent email from a discouraged teacher has me thinking about one particular subject–when teaching styles clash. You know what I … More Children’s Ministry Resources
If you need to dig out of a rut using the same types of Sunday School lessons and formatting class identically, do something a bit differently and have fun in the process! There is a lot that can be learned from the great outdoors, and the principles of God’s creation are worthwhile even if you cannot access a trailhead or … More Children’s Ministry Resources
The musical term “dissonance” means, “a tension or clash resulting from the combination of two disharmonious or unsuitable elements1.” Basically, when two notes are too close together it results in an uncomfortable, colliding sound. A way to think about it is like hearing a fork scrape across a plate or fingers running down a chalk board; the instant shudder you … More Children’s Ministry Resources
I realize I may be “preaching to the choir” here but I had to share this list. After twenty years in kids’ ministry, I’m still in shock and awe at how much people really don’t know about what we kids min folks actually do. So for fun, I put together this snapshot of 9 things that might surprise you (or … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Kids are loving beings who don’t mind getting muddy to help a friend in need. They have big hearts and feel very deeply about things. I love kids! I’ve been serving them for nearly twenty years! However, they can also be selfish and display a sense of entitlement that is nothing short of shocking. You know, kind of like some … More Children’s Ministry Resources
What’s in it for me? This is a refrain often repeated and wondered in our modern culture. As Christian workers, we know that our reward may not be measurable here on earth. However, in the practicality of daily living and in the simple state of being human, we also tend to be concerned with receiving proper credit and compensation for … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Leadership comes with a huge amount of responsibility and sometimes the leader doesn’t always get it right. Even if they do, that doesn’t mean the leader is immune to discouragement. If you sense your leader is struggling with discouragement you don’t have to sit back and wait for things to get better. YOU could be the person God uses to … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Do you remember the first time you heard the truth of the gospel? For many of us who grew up in Christian homes, the answer is no. Most of us can’t remember the first time we heard someone say that Jesus died for our sins. We might remember when we really understood the significance or really believed it, but not … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Awhile back I was at the mall food court after church, and one of my four year old teachers came running up to me saying he needed to talk. He had taught that morning and honestly I was little worried what might have come up in his class. Then, I saw the smile on his face. He said, ‘you won’t believe … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Where do you find yourself devoting the most enthusiasm? Where is your passion? And how do you know what gives you the most drive? As football season rolls around, we see grown men lose all sense of dignity as they gather around a TV or a tailgate. We see entire towns come together in support of teams or schools. A … More Children’s Ministry Resources
In 1 Corinthians 2:2, Paul says “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (ESV) Let those words sink in for a minute. What does it mean to know nothing except Jesus Christ? Take just a minute to stop and take inventory of your thoughts for the last 60 seconds. If we’re honest, most … More Children’s Ministry Resources
In a previous article, “How to Become More Creative,” I mentioned that you should work your creative muscles daily if you want to improve it. Believe me, I wasn’t born writing object lessons or designing kids’ crusades. It took time and lots of practice but it all began at a children’s ministry conference in my hometown. It was my first … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Imagine visiting another country and walking into a church service, already in progress and being conducted in a foreign language. You are unfamiliar with the style of worship and completely at a loss at what the words and songs being spoken might mean. Bewildered, you try to watch the actions of others around you to guess at the best methods … More Children’s Ministry Resources
It’s a little secret that every mother knows… No matter how much we love spending time with our kids, the grown-up world is always working to steal our joy. I am approaching the twenty-year mark in children’s ministry? Where did the time go? I have enjoyed every minute of it–I feel a little selfish for loving it so much. Working with kids … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Who remembers the 90’s cartoon ‘Pinky & the Brain?’ I was in college when the show was airing, but I work with kids and therefore I am not too proud to admit to regularly watching cartoons. My favorite part of the show was a conversation that happened in every episode. PINKY – “Gee Brain, what do you want to do tonight?” BRAIN- “The … More Children’s Ministry Resources
One thing I hear a lot from new children’s ministry volunteers is, “I’m not that creative.” I used to argue with people who said this. Like a responsible children’s ministry leader, I’d tell them what I believed, that God made us all creative beings, that creativity can be expressed in infinite ways. I even took some by the hand and … More Children’s Ministry Resources
If you glance around at people lately, it seems like anywhere you happen to be you will notice a majority of bystanders looking down. At restaurants, in stores, even walking down the road, so many people are intensely preoccupied with their phones, apparently glued to them as an extra arm extension. Even couples on a date or friends chatting will … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Prayer is an important and essential part of our lives as Christians. But sometimes adults and kids alike miss out on this precious tool because we think somehow we have to have just the right words, environment, or circumstances to pray. We put it off or forget altogether that we have constant and direct access to the Almighty, the creator … More Children’s Ministry Resources