Misty Anne Winzenried
Use this quick devotion to remind volunteers that God can do miracles with what they offer kids each week--even when it doesn't feel like a lot. You'll n eed a piece of bread and a...
Share a light-hearted moment of joy and discovery with your volunteers this Christmas. You'll need a small matchbox stuffed completely with tiny items such as a staple, paper clip,...
Dan Webster
OBSERVATION: The power of seeing a child Observation is the first window we peer through as we help kids discover who they are. Adults who leverage the Observation window understand...
Deploy your kids for undercover operations with the Christian Secret Service (CSS). Have kids serve others covertly-leaving their recipients blessed, while kids delight in serving...
Megan Lacefield
Unless you're a big Star Trek fan, chances are you hear the phrase "next generation" mainly while shopping in your favorite big-box electronics store or watching a smart-phone...
The first 12 months are critical in closing your church's back door. But, what's the long-term goal? It's more than just getting families through the first year. Actually, Jesus...
Charles Arn
"Lost." Few words capture the imagination and attention more than "lost." Countless novels, films, and TV dramas in modern society are centered on the idea of being lost or of...
She's not a paid minister. She's had no formal training. In fact, she isn't even on our official volunteer schedule. But the impact Rose has had on our volunteer team isn't...
Larry Shallenberger
Get the inside scoop on the top 3 family ministry models-and discover which one is right for your church. You're convinced: It's time to get into the family ministry game. But where...
Pat Verbal
A recent case in Wylie, Texas, puts a face on abuse suffered by children with special needs. Gerren Isgrigg, a 6-year-old boy with disabilities, was found dead on April 15, 2010, in...
Timothy Paul Jones
If we're not careful, there are pitfalls to family ministry that may threaten effective ministry to children. Sunny days, sweepin' the clouds away. On my way to where the air is...
Matt Guevara
Meet the tech-savvy kids in your ministry -- and discover what they need from you. Battery manufacturer Duracell compiles a list every year of the toys children want for Christmas...
Matt Gergeni
Practical, innovative ways to BEEF UP the male presence on your kidmin team... From the earliest days of his ministry, Jesus recognized the importance of enlisting the assistance of...
For a children's leader in Maryland, it happened during the Wednesday night program: Without warning, one of Barbara's preschoolers fell to the floor, jerking with muscle spasms and...
Something borrowed, but nothing blue! Check out these 20 volunteer leadership tips from us to keep from being "blue" in your ministry! During the first 20 years of Children's...
To celebrate our 20th anniversary, we've spent a year making your dreams come true! Meet the five final winners of our Ministry Dreams Come True contest! Watch our winners talk...
Patty Smith
Discover how to lead meaningful worship -- from, dynamic children's worship leader Yancy. As she trains worship leaders throughout the country, Yancy Richmond often quotes this...
Carmen Kamrath
You're winding down after the busy holiday season and enjoying a bit of a lull in your ministry when the phone rings. It's one of your preschool volunteers. Casual chitchat about...
"If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles" ( Matthew 5:41 ). Israel was under Roman rule when Jesus spoke these words. He told his followers to do...
Every age and every stage presents its challenges and joys--just ask the parents of kids in your ministry! No matter what age group you work with--babies, preschoolers, elementary,...
Able to leap giant obstacles, mild-mannered children's ministers lead the way in innovation. Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall...
Marty Martin
Stop being a ringleader! Take off your top hat and let someone else tame your ministry's time-sucking "lions" so you can shepherd children. When I graduated from Bible college more...
A fun Christmas idea for the whole family! Ready! Help kids (and families) prepare their hearts for Jesus' birth with this fun party after a night of caroling in the neighborhood...
Your church can give to parents and children through a Kids Night Out Program. This evening provides parents with free baby-sitting, and it also gives kids a fun evening at church....
Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time of togetherness, but too often families are traveling on the Sunday after the holiday and can't worship together. So host an informal...
First, let me start by thanking YOU. Thank YOU, Children's Minister. Thank YOU, Children's Ministry volunteer. Thank YOU, Person Who Cares about Kids, whatever your role in the...
To continue marking Children's Ministry Magazine's 20th anniversary, we're celebrating 20 high-energy, high-impact leaders who are thinking big. They're currently engaged in local...
Craig Jutila
Pull up a chair, and let's be honest. Sometimes ministry can travel far beyond the realm of challenging, deep into the land of downright difficult, discouraging, and overflowing...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Meet Children's Ministry Magazine's picks for the 20 most influential and impacting voices in children's ministry today! Here at Children's Ministry Magazine, we believe that...
Consider how your family ministry events might be more effective using this TIE Test, which simply asks, "How could this activity Train, Involve, or Equip parents as primary faith...
Timothy Paul Jones
Sunny days, sweepin' the clouds away. On my way to where the air is sweet. Can you tell me how to get, how to get to... If those couplets strike a chord in your memories of...
Emily Springfield
Shelly-Ann Brown's faith-infused mission to help children experience Jesus' love...is crossing borders and boldly spreading a message of hope across Haiti. I'm sitting in a little...
My confidence was shattered as a minister to children; I felt as though I was riding a merry-go-round that had spun out of control. Gossip, pettiness, and misunderstanding swirled...
Jennifer Buell
In a recruiting rut? Join our conversation with veteran recruiters to discover their secrets for effective recruiting that stands the test of time! It's crunch time, folks. Will...
Children's Ministry Magazine is covering the issue of copyright infringement as it relates to ministry. This survey aims to gather your opinions, experiences, and actions when it...
Ali Thompson
When you're in search of volunteers for your ministry, it's easy to feel alone in your plight. The needs are often many; the solutions seemingly few. But the fact is, there are...
Six ministry veterans reveal how they make genuine disciples out of kids. It's the ultimate goal of everything you do... changing a life, saving a life, cultivating a heart that...
Keep kids coming back with these 9 hot-and-happening ideas! School's back in session! And that means the pressure is on to grab kids' attention -- and keep it -- for your ministry....
An usher coming my way in the middle of a worship service means one of two things: It's time for the offering, or there's trouble in the preschool area. This time he looks worried....
Julie Beader
How to know when it's time to say goodbye to your current position -- and begin traveling down the road to your future in ministry. Sherry walked inside her church with a heavy...
Adam Walsh
Don't do ministry alone! Tap the creative genius of a diverse (and possibly unlikely) mix of people, and your ministry will reap the rewards. The head of maintenance from a local...
To give ( prizes, points, candy, and treats ) or not to give? That is the question. Some experts say that giving kids tokens, rewards, candy, and the like destroys their intrinsic...
I heard laughter and hoots outside, and my first thought was, Oh no, what now? It was hot; I admit I was exhausted. I was in the church kitchen preparing snacks. Our VBS was in high...
Kyla's* seen a lot in her 11 years. Her mom, who's been in recovery for almost two years, was addicted to meth for 20. Kyla's dad was recently court-ordered out of her life. She and...
Look what we've rounded up for your amazing summer fun! Giant Bowling Game Take this traditionally indoor game outside for giant fun. These oversized inflatable pins and ball can be...
Listen in as we get to the heart of parents' real-life hopes, heartaches, and questions... Ask parents in your ministry what they really want, and you likely hear a lot of "right"...
Becky Olmstead
Have you ever felt like you were trapped in a revolving door when it comes to recruiting? Just when you begin to feel you finally have enough volunteers, someone quits, and you're...
Outreach events can be a lot of work, but they're worth it when done right. Children's ministers agree that it's great to have lots of people attend. But if it doesn't result in new...
Create a polished "ticket" to your event that your church members can give out. Download and use this customizable ticket. http://www.childrensministry....
Download and use this customizable invitation. Simply cut the opening and place a sucker in it. http://www.childrensministry. com/magazine/extras/2010/pdf/ 0510/SuckerInvites.pdf
See Christine Yount Jones' videocast about Celebration Station:
Use these websites to locate active military personnel that kids in your ministry can support in prayer. Let U.S. Pray http://cac.us.com/prayer/Let-US-Pray.asp Association for...
Autism is a developmental disability affecting communication and social interaction that affects one in every 150 children in the U.S. And families are looking to the church for...
The economy's tight and you need to say "thank you" to your amazing team of volunteers. Here are 14 ways to do it with style--and without busting your budget! Budgets may be tight,...
Stephanie Caro
What will it cost you to impact a generation of children to love Jesus for a lifetime? It may not be pretty, but it'll definitely leave the marks of giving life to others. And it's...
Sophia Winter
If your senior pastor, team members, or parents just don't seem to hear what you're saying, listen up... I recall one of the more embarrassing and unpleasant experiences I've had in...
Do today's curriculum and resources focus so much on making God's Word palatable to kids that they've lost the meat? Sugary Sweet Isn't the Solution by Jamie Statema God is many...
• Accion ( www.accion.org )- Microlending focused on Brazil • Kiva ( www.kiva.org )- Large organization focused on global assistance • Mercy Corps ( www.globalenvision.org ) -Global...
Download a quick reference guide. Today's headlines are fraught with reports of missing children, child custody disputes, and children's food allergy dangers. These issues of safety...
Larry Shallenberger
Your children's ministry has a problem-one you don't plan to live with much longer. It's okay-every children's ministry has its issues. Yours might be a volunteer shortfall, an...
Jessica Nelson, Debbie Rowley
Of all the issues that'll get children's ministers debating, this one has to be the hottest. Where should kids worship -- with adults in "big" church or in their own children's...
Scott Kinner
A 7-year-old girl in Indiana gives $27 to help victims of the tsunami disaster in South Asia-that's her entire savings. An 11-year-old boy in Colorado gives his allowance to help...
Everyone loves a party! It's the perfect opportunity for connecting families at your church. It's also a great opportunity to demonstrate that church can be fun for everyone, not...
Christine Yount Jones
If your church is the friendliest place in town, you're the exception. In our exclusive research, we asked more than 750 churched and non-churched people in the U.S. to name the...
Tracy Carpenter
Today's parents are different. Use these blueprints to understand them--and help them pass on their faith to their children. Erin, a single mom, has three daughters, ages 8, 12, and...
The Best Medicine On the day my son was born, he was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect that included a hole between the two lower chambers of his heart. There was plenty of...
Amy Dolan
Find out how Michael Novelli's biblical storying method has changed the way kids experience the events of the Bible... Imagine your elementary kids completely enthralled as you...
Ali Thompson and Karl Leuthauser
Your team won't want to miss your meetings with these fun and creative plans! Ahhh...training meetings. You plan. You show up early. You wait. You watch the clock. Eventually a...
Larry Shallenberger
Donald Miller, author of To Own a Dragon, and John Sowers explain their amazing strategy to reach fatherless boys... Churches know--and research confirms--that passionate faith...
Post tip sheet for handling kids' severe allergic reactions. How to Handle a Severe Allergic Reaction • Call 911. A child suffering a severe allergic reaction needs medical...
Follow these links to find detailed information about Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences and education. You'll discover great insights for how you can reach every...
To learn more about Group's State of the Church 2010 research and find free resources, click on the following. Group's State of the Church 2010 research and resources
Visit these sites for family-friendly, faith-based web resources. www.christiansunite.com This comprehensive Christian web resource offers direct links to everything you could ask...
Use this comprehensive list of family service ideas to help you decide the best ways your family can serve together. 366 Ways to Serve By Janet Fox
Click here for hundreds of simple, practical ideas you can use to create a needed care package for deployed personnel.
Throughout history God has been known by many names. During the holiday season, families can use the names of God to create memorable ornaments to celebrate His love. Families can...
A wonderful Christmas family service opportunity. Mitten Angels Stuff: 11/2-inch foam balls, 1
