From the account of Cain murdering Abel, to David committing adultery with Bathsheba, to the woman at the well's five husbands, to the beheading of John the Baptist, the Bible is...
Pl ay this fun game to remind kids to be lights for Jesus. You'll need an open space that can be darkened (but not black) and flameless tea lights . Give all kids a tea light (which...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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"...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Christine Yount Jones
Cue the eerie music... "It's the middle ground between light and shadow...between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge...Enter, if you will, The Preteen Zone."...
Dana Wilkerson
Kids often feel the Bible isn't relevant to them -- and they're certainly not motivated to dive into it on their own. Here are strategies for getting your kids hopelessly hooked on...
We know, all too well, that children are radically affected by their environments. In the same way, values are transferred through relational environments--kids don't do what we...
Jim Wideman
Volunteers are looking for a leader with vision... Here's what I know about people: Give them a cause and a hero -- and they'll rally around them both. As a children's ministry...
Stephanie Martin
Does the term 'Sunday school' have negative connotations? Is your curriculum relevant? If there's a change in name only, children can see right past it. Here's how to make sure your...
Erica Fast
What makes a successful children's ministry click? What makes it run smoothly and effortlessly? How can you get deeper commitment from your volunteers? If you've been searching for...
Amy Switzer
A blueprint for special needs ministry success... You've heard the Field of Dreams line, "If you build it, they will come." It's the truth. When God called us to build a special...
"Marlin, go outside now," I'd urged. "You've been in front of the computer long enough. Dad needs help." Marlin,11, grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. His aim of helping...
In this tough economy, don't even think about proposing your children's ministry budget without first listening to these experts. As you plan your 2010 children's ministry budget,...
David Posthuma
Is your children's ministry registration process long overdue for a change? Recently an administrative pastor who was newly employed by a large church shared with me how he tested...
Sue Lennartson
Ministry Leadership: God needs us to be refreshed, restored, refueled, and ready to minister to children for him. Here are 25 ways to refill your cup this summer... This is a bit...
We asked six children's ministers to share what they wish they would've known in their first year of ministry. Their answers may surprise you. However, their honest responses will...
Carmen Kamrath
How to "speak the truth in love" when you'd rather run the other way. Wouldn't it be great if everyone just got along, no one ever got mad, and children and adults did exactly what...
Jennifer Hooks
How is entertainment in education shaping children's ministry? Experts and children's ministers weigh in. "Edutainment" -- new word, old concept. Jesus used it to communicate truth....
Ron Habermas
Professional ministry can be draining and ministry leaders often let their own time with God slip through the cracks. Here's a guide for spending a few hours alone with God... It's...
Dale Hudson
Whether you like it or not and whether you agree with everything its people do or not, you have to admit this: The empire of Mickey Mouse has touched millions of children and their...
Jill Williams
Is your teaching in one ear and out the other? Maybe -- or maybe not. Children's ministry looks a lot different to me now than it used to. Over the past few years my understanding...
Michael Chanley
As a Marine, I can tell you this: The Marine Corps teaches its soldiers to follow this maxim: When faced with any challenge, never surrender; adapt and overcome. A true soldier,...
The best advice and lessons learned from children's ministers -- old and new! Serving in children's ministry is a unique calling that can be life-altering -- in a great way!...
Nathan Williams
Are you a little too immersed in your children's ministry? You're dedicated. You're reliable. You love kids. And you love your children's ministry--oh, yes you do! But it's...
Craig Jutila
It's been said that people who think they're leading with no one following are only taking a walk. Here are seven attributes to help you evaluate if you're leading effectively......
Children's Ministry Magazine
Our classes are filled to capacity; we have 280 children attending. Since there are 15 to 20 children in each class, craft preparation is time-consuming. To help with all the craft...
Gordon West
Use affinity -- or shared interest -- groups to develop relationships among your preteens and adults. Recruit parents or other fun-loving mature adults who are willing to share...
Children's choirs. Children's bulletins. Children's sermons. Children's church. Sounds like kids in our churches today are really a part of the action, right? WRONG! I've asked...
Lorraine Bossé-Smith
How to lead when you're traveling through personal darkness. A friend of mine is an international speaker, and he often jokes about not having a "real" job. I first met him some 20...
Sharon Short
Use these milestones to create opportunities for celebrating faithful attendance, diligent teaching, and successful learning. When parents enroll their children in ballet, soccer,...
Keith Johnson
Why are there more than 122,000 public relations specialists in America? Because bad news travels fast and lingers longer, while good news is rarely heard above the din of bad news....
Rick Chromey
The proliferation of bribes and gimmicks is a common scene in children's ministry today. But do the prizes and gimmicks affect children's hearts -- or only their behavior?...
Jay Hostetler
How do a church and a potential children's pastor begin the process of making the right match? The position of minister to children, director of children's ministry, or family-life...
Michael Bechtle
Someone once compared children's ministry to standing in the middle of a freeway during rush hour. You're surrounded by chaos and it never lets up. Like the strings on a guitar, you...
Laurie Copley
If you look back over your childhood, you can probably remember one adult who really took an interest in you -- who made you feel special. Maybe it was a Sunday school teacher, a...
Reagan Hillier
The entrance to your ministry area defines who you are and sets the tone for visiting guests. Make your entry area an extension of your ministry with these tips... "A whole new...
Faith Tyson
We all have those days when nothing seems to go right and our first instinct is to shout it to anyone with a listening ear... You're all dressed up in your formal evening wear. The...
Davi-Ann Nabors
Here's how you can instill healthy healthy confidence and God's love in kids-one carefully chosen word at a time . Wide-eyed, 6-year-old Jacob could hardly contain his excitement as...
Denise George
Discover how to be your pastor's greatest fan -- from brand-new research on the secret worries and wishes of pastors. A healthy church starts with a healthy pastor. We depend on our...
I remember leaving downtown Nashville one warm summer day, feeling quite satisfied with our new church's first-ever mission trip. Our children's ministry was the very first ministry...
Julianne Winkler Smith
Kids just want to have fun. They want to move their bodies -- they want to create things -- they want to play games. And they want to, well, eat. A lot! To every parent and teacher...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Expectations And Best Practices Young leaders can be see in the Bible, such as Jesus teaching in the temple, David's childhood selection as the future king and subsequent victory...
Tassie Green
In the seven years I've been a family pastor, we've covered the feeding of the 5,000 five times in vacation Bible school. Such good drama! Great special effects with a...
Alan Nelson
Sometimes I tell people that I could beat the world's fastest runner in a race. They look at me and curiously wonder what I'm getting at, as they quietly stare at my middle-aged...
Jennifer Brackemyre
Batten down the hatches because conflict is blowing your way! How will you weather the storm? After spending months creating a quality summer ministry for your elementary kids,...
Thom Schultz
You know Bertha. She's your third-grade Sunday school teacher, a veteran of 10 years. She's reliable. But she's standing in the way of effective ministry. You and your other...
Pack it in, pack it out. That's a familiar directive for those who hike into a National Forest's backcountry -- and for nomad church workers who adapt each week to a changing and...
Keith Johnson
And who better to fill your shoes than a fully trained intern? That's right! Replace yourself! No, I'm not telling you to leave your position at your church; I'm just saying that...
I wasn't a pretty child. I was chubby; I had glasses; I had braces. As a preteen, feeling unattractive was fairly traumatic for me. The well-meaning comments that frequently...
Jennifer Buell
Ever wonder what kids think about their world, faith, and families? Here's your chance to find out. Every day we hear about the jaded world we live in and how childhood innocence is...
Jane Carr
I just celebrated my 20th year of ministry at my church. Yep--that's 20 consecutive years at the same church. For my anniversary, the staff assembled a memory book filled with...
Rick Chromey
The financial earthquake many economic pundits predicted has indeed shaken the worldwide economy to its core. In 2008, U.S. home values plummeted while foreclosures soared. The...
Misty Anne Winzenried
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his...
Dwight Mix
There's nothing more motivating for churches than the crying of babies in a worship service. When disruptions are unbearable, it's evident to churches that it's time to put their...
Carmen Kamrath
How to be a children's minister whose own children love your ministry as much as you do It's a few minutes before 2 in the afternoon, and I'm scrambling to get everything together...
Larry Shallenberger
Maps matter. A bad map can ruin a vacation or make you late for a business meeting. Maps set priorities -- they influence how you view your world. Church futurist Leonard Sweet...
Jim Misloski
Branding used to refer to what cowboys did to cattle in the west to differentiate their cows from all the other cattle on the open range. But in the 21st century, the word...
Larry Shallenberger
If your ministry doesn't line up with Big Church, you're going to hit some big potholes along the way... Do you feel as though your church is going in a direction that interferes...
We work to make money. We're careful with our money. We take it to professionals who tell us what to do with it, how to keep it, how to manage it, and how to make it grow. We know...
Jim Wideman
Protect your children and your church from wolves in sheep's clothing It's the universal cry of the children's ministry leader: "We need volunteers, we need volunteers, we need...
Bob Russell
I get amused when experts analyzing church growth attempt to reduce it to some magical formula. Here at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, we've been in the middle...
Larry Shallenberger
Picture the perfect leader. Got that person in mind? What does he or she look like? Does your perfect leader have the charisma of a Kennedy, good looks worthy of People Magazine,...
Jim Wideman
When you don't get a paycheck for ministry, you may need a reality check. Here's how to make the most of where God has placed you in the body of Christ If only... If only I had more...
Darrell Fraley; Carmen Kamrath
First Church's search committee had visited the prospective children's minister's church, checked her references thoroughly, and even interviewed her three different times. The...
Misty Anne Winzenried
Kids all over the world are constantly pulled between traditional childhood culture and up-to-the-minute trends and fads. Fairy tales, popular movies, and fictional stories have...
Selma Johnson
You weren't planning to quit. In fact, you just finished setting your ministry goals, and you thought you were doing what the church called you to do. Suddenly you're told that you...
Dave Jobe
When you feel like quitting, don't leave until you get the green light from God to say goodbye. Here's help for you to know if God is moving you from your current ministry or not...
Dave Stone
Key teamwork principles to help your ministry ride the waves of change When the waters are rough and a change of direction is required, you quickly realize the need for a team...
Elaine Friedrich Hall
Use these ideas to rekindle the reasons you first said yes to God's call to children's ministry It's a typical Monday morning. Before you even get into your office at church, your...
Ben Freudenburg
A child-friendly church helps children sense that they're a part of the church-not apart from the church. It's never too early to help children catch the wonder of being God's...
Laurie Copley
Sarah ran out of the classroom, tears streaming down her face. The sting of the girls' taunts and jeers cut her to the quick. Why were they so cruel? All she longed for was their...
Lois Lindberg
Six years ago, I was waiting to begin my second interview to become the director of children's ministries for a growing suburban church near Minneapolis, when I thought, "I don't...
From " Dangerously Discouraged " in the November/December 2008 issue of Children's Ministry magazine... 1. I look forward to my ministry work. 2. Despite minor frustrations or even...
Jennifer Hooks
Adversity, despair, and disillusionment -- these children's ministers have been to the brink…and survived. Here's how you can, too. Some call it a dry spell. For others it's a low...
Some time ago, Reverend and Mrs. Bateman invited my wife and me over for lunch. When we arrived, set before us was a huge meal and more than a dozen other people from our church for...
Jane Carr
Make the most of -- and give the most to -- interns in your ministry. My first experience as a church intern was the summer after my freshman year of college. The church was small...
Christine Yount Jones
In the Bronx, a 7-year-old child stares at a wall because he's had a nervous breakdown. He lives at a homeless shelter. The volunteers at a middle-income church in Ohio are...
Gordon West
Imagine a ministry planning meeting with a different flavor. It's not your run-of-the-mill gathering because it's filled with some unusual characters. Look who's here. There's the...
Al Newell
Take a deep breath and slay those boogeyman issues in your recruiting closet I cracked an egg to create an omelette. As if the yolk were trying to escape, it fled the shell much...
RanNae Street
Your children's ministry is much more than programs. And that's a good thing because programs don't change people; only God changes people. Yet your children's ministry includes...
Sue Geiman
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters..." Psalm 23:1-2 . She was 6. Her short, sun-lightened...
Debi Nixon
What can you learn from "snooping" in the business, retail, and amusement world that could refresh and inspire your children's ministry team? Schedule one of our 13 Snoop Trips to...
Craig Jutila
I can remember going to the doctor with a sore throat. The doctor took a cotton swab, rubbed it along the back of my throat, and then put the swab in a petri dish to grow a culture....
Pat Verbal
On March 24 of 1998, Andrew Golden and Mitchell Johnson stole away more than the lives of four girls and one teacher in Jonesboro, Arkansas. They robbed their entire community-and...
Rick Chromey
Everybody gets sick at one time or another. A children's ministry is no different. Congregational "disease" and "illness" can infect your ministry to children, but like most...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Whenever we think of such growth, it seems the most likely place for such things to happen is during an extended retreat, camp, or wilderness trip, but who has time with a packed...
Keith Johnson
Take the quiz at the end of this article to determine if you are "Married to your Ministry." Don't make the mistake of having an illicit affair with your ministry. Here's how to...
Wes Fleming
In a Peanuts comic, Lucy contemplates with Charlie Brown the meaning of life. Lucy says, "Life is like a deck chair. Some place it where they are going; some place it where they...
Keith Johnson
John has played competitive basketball since second grade. He's missed his share of Sunday school since most weekend tournaments include Sunday morning games in their schedules. By...
Misty Anne Winzenried
Trusting God in ministry isn't always easy. We read books and magazines, attend workshops, and talk with mentors to become all that we can be in ministry (and rightfully so). Yet,...
Children's Ministry Magazine
There was a time in Crystal Lake, Illinois, when children were left alone in homes before and after school. That was before. All of that changed after Jennifer Arens and her staff...
Children's Ministry Magazine
We talk about unforgettable lessons a lot in Christian education because we want our Bible studies and lessons to be life-changing. Our staff here at Children's Ministry Magazine...
Teresa Blythe
Do the kids in your ministry worship at the altar of PBS, CBS, ABC, NBC, and hundreds of other cable channels? Or would you say that the kids in your ministry are appropriately...
Debi Nixon
Retailers understand the old adage "you never get a second chance to make a first impression." So the finest retailers do whatever it takes for them to make a favorable first...
Ann Diaz
Make a high-speed connection for your ministry "Wow, that is so old school. Sweet!" my son said, noting a retro-styled guy on a late-model skateboard. What a relief, I thought. My...
Carmen Kamrath
Culture and safety concerns have changed ministry fundraising. Use these creative ideas to raise money -- and keep kids safe. Remember when you were a child, sitting alone at the...
Children's ministry isn't easy. Now, I'm sure you're thinking, I could've told you that. Just take a look at the finger paint stains on my best dress shirt! But for me, an...
Larry Shallenberger
Discover the four surprising cultural trends impacting your ministry. Tucked deep inside 1 Chronicles is the account of Issachar leaders who observed cultural upheaval in Israel....
Carolyn Ross Tomlin
Avoid any Promotion Day blues this year in your Sunday school. Each year when Promotion Sunday rolls around, churches have kids who look forward to moving up to another class....
Melissa Guillebeau
Discover how one amazing woman is providing God's comfort to children from shattered families. "My name is Amber,*" says the little girl with dark eyes and black braids. "Hi,...
Larry Shallenberger
Imagine children's ministry as a children's museum. Step into its hallways to see the three most prevalent programming models that exist today. "In this room, boys and girls, is the...
Paul Allen
A few weeks ago, I experienced a rite of passage with my oldest son. He and a buddy were heading for England and Scotland -- just the two of them. As we were driving to the airport,...
D. Michael Lindsay
People are drawn to friendly places. From the greeters at Wal-Mart to the smiling campus tour guides on Ivy League campuses, institutions today appreciate the value of creating a...
Lois Keffer
For small churches, it may be the best option. Many churches combine age groups because they don't have enough people to staff individual classes. Others combine their groups for...
What to do when the shepherd of the sheep is out of touch with the lambs "I let the Sunday school teachers take care of the kids; my ministry is with adults." Senior pastors don't...
Dick Gruber
The pastor doesn't think you work hard enough. Your spouse wants to see you twice this month. The nursery coordinator quit today. And this is Monday! What might happen the rest of...
Children's Ministry Magazine
There should be a special graveyard for all those saints of God who've died on the vine writing their church's own curriculum. Many churches can pull this off, but more churches...
Ann Murphy
In the space between what you need and what you have in ministry, faith finds room to grow. Let's imagine that God has called your children's ministry team to establish a preschool...
Anita Weldon
Your guide to developing a complete handbook -- before you kick off your fall program. Odds are that your ministry has policies and procedures. As many churches do, you hang them in...
Judy Wortley
Just like God's creation, our ministries cycle through the four seasons. Determine which season you're in and allow God to help you and your ministry grow. SPRING I feel secure...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Here's a FREE Downloadable Handbook Template -- so you don't have to start from scratch! CLICK HERE TO BEGIN from our friends at Church Volunteer Central
Children's Ministry Magazine
If you have children who are too young to attend summer camp or if your church doesn't plan a summer camp, hold a Mini-Camp at your church. At our church, we began our Mini-Camps...
Barbara Beach
Use these tips from children's ministers who have successful summer Sunday schools. School's almost out! But does that mean summer Sunday school should be out also? Teachers,...
Mark von Ehrenkrook
When you unveil your summer blueprint this year, how will kids respond? "Ho-hum"? Or "hip-hip-hooray"? If it's ho-hum, it's time to go back to the drawing board. You can stage a...
Christine Yount Jones
What are you doing to keep sex offenders out of your ministry? If you're not taking reasonable precautions, you're putting every child at risk. Like any new father who's full of...
Listen in as kids offer constructive input to their children's ministers. Feedback is something all good children's ministers want; you seek it from parents, colleagues, and...
Reagan Hillier
Playspaces can add value to your ministry and draw your community -- regardless of your budget. Considering installing a play attraction at your church? You-like many other...
Do you find yourself growing increasingly snappy at your volunteers? postponing phone calls? growing more and more impatient with kids? sighing a lot? Perhaps you're not getting...
Pat Verbal
Throughout Scripture we're called to come out of darkness into God's marvelous light Helping children walk in God's light takes more than church programs and fancy special...
Christine Yount Jones
The Unique Challenges And Joys Women Face In Children's Ministry. *Names changed. While on the staff of an organization that ministered to college students, I attended an...
Rick Chromey
How to beat the "giants" that stalk a small church Imposing. Monstrous. Unbeatable. Such are the "giants" that stalk a small church. If left to roam, they can erode our confidence,...
Martin Johnson
How to respond to child abuse and offer healing to its victims He doesn't want his dad to hear him crying. If he hears, he'll just get even madder. He tries his best to hide his...
Jennifer Hooks
The Futuristic generation is standing at your church's doorstep. Are you ready for them? Effective churches have struggled to successfully connect with Boomers, GenXers, and...
Jim Wideman
"Do everything in love" ( 1 Corinthians 16:14 ). A hallmark of your career leading volunteers is your love for people; it's your job to let Jesus' love rub off on everyone you come...
Mary Van Aalsburg
1. You must resist the urge to recruit your spouse to teach yet another group. 2. You count it a privilege to spend a portion of your Christmas day visiting a sick child in the...
Fend off the summer attendance slump by intentionally connecting families to your ministry. It's almost here -- that glorious season when the sun's warmth descends like a heavy...
Debra Vos
How to get kids who bite at your special events to get totally hooked on your ministry When I was young, my dad thought fishing was a must-learn skill. He'd lived through the...
Valerie Von Kooten
How to keep your children's ministry strong during church turmoil -- from people who've been there Consider these recent headlines pulled from news outlets nationwide: Donations...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Hang on to summer a little longer with these super-fun celebration activities that are sure to make the end of summer a whole lot more fun for everyone. The summer's end is near --...
Marlene Wilson
Much of learning seems to happen through trial and error, and that's true of learning to be a leader. We know when something hasn't gone well, but often we aren't sure why. Let's...
Dana Wilkerson
When it comes to slipping into a swimming pool, there are two kinds of people. There are the Jumpers and the Inchers. The Jumpers don't care how cold it is. They know they can...
Adam Day
20 Sure-fire ways to ignite your ministry Most people want to spend their lives doing something worthwhile. If you're trying to convince people that your ministry is a worthwhile...
Rhonda Haslett
Plan now to make your kids' summer camp experience life-changing-before and after the fun. Every summer churches everywhere send kids off to camp for life-altering experiences. Kids...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Loss and grief, just like joy and celebration, are part of life. Throughout your years as a children's minister, you'll undoubtedly cross paths with a tragedy involving one or more...
Eric Rogers
from the January, 2008 issue of Children's Ministry Magazine Professional Edition Today's children are exposed to ever-increasing rates of violence. We often associate this violence...
Christine Yount Jones
Use this meeting plan to help parents learn to naturally pass on their faith to their children. 1. Tell Me More -- (Before the meeting, write this question where everyone can see...
Our church ministers to inner city kids all year long, and Christmas is a special time for the kids in our ministry. Most don't lead easy lives; the thought of receiving gifts,...
Dale Hudson
Dreaming, risk-taking, and diligence -- here's what you can learn from the man who pioneered family entertainment experiences with passion and purpose. A few weeks ago I revisited...
Valerie Van Kooten
Thinking about writing your own curriculum this year? Read this first. Lisa Burney didn't think she'd be able to find a vacation Bible school curriculum that would work for 350...
Christine Yount Jones
It's a cliché, but you get more bees with honey than with vinegar. The same is true about volunteers. You'll attract more volunteers with excitement, energy, creativity, and a fun...
I found a seat in the back of our church after the service had already begun, the pressing issues in the children's department at last put to rest. As I settled in, our missions...
Cindy and Mark Rose
These children's ministers believe kids are the church's ministers and leaders -- of today. Here's how they're growing kids' gifts and skills for power-packed ministry. There's a...
Larry Shallenberger
REWARDS -- long a staple in Christian classrooms -- may be more harmful than helpful. You remember the familiar image of the stubborn donkey being prompted forward when tempted by a...
Tim Miller
Recently I sorted through an accumulation of ministry stuff-props, musical tapes, songbooks, and other things. I've discovered that when it's time to clean house at church, it's...
Lynda Freeman
Summer break, vacation Bible school, summer vacation, family camp -- you've had a busy summer! Why, it feels like just yesterday you were selecting VBS and checking volunteers'...
Faith for the Ages I love kids. Children, especially the youngest ones, are the epitome of innocence, kindness, grace, and wide-eyed wonder. For them, everything is new and bright...
Gordon and Becki West
Take a fresh look at kids who don't quite fit in -- and the amazing gifts they bring to your classroom. "How would you like to be a spotted elephant or a choo-choo with square...
Christine Yount Jones
The top trends that could rattle your ministry from the ground up -- if you let them. Trend-spotting is best done by experts. It takes a savvy person to distinguish the difference...
Sue Kahawaii
We recently had a situation at our church where a mentally ill man entered our building on a weeknight and made phone call threats that he had a gun and was going to kill people....
Rod Butler
Create an irresistible ministry with these 6 powerful kid magnets... You've heard this story before. Now imagine it: Almost 2,000 years ago, a 7-year-old boy runs to the beach and...
Have you ever noticed that no one's made crayons specifically for adults? I wonder why. Crayons -- in my opinion -- are one of our best inventions. They're a great innovation --...
Deb Vos
What is it about space? There never seems to be enough! This is true for all sizes of ministries in all sizes of churches. When my husband was in seminary, I taught in a preschool...
Greg Stier
The green-and-white circular sign beckoned, a refuge in a hectic world. It wasn't a church sign, but the logo for Starbucks, the church of the Frappuccino generation. A...
Stephanie Martin
Kids not only make priceless contributions to church capital campaigns-they also take away invaluable lessons about love and stewardship. What comes to mind when you hear the phrase...
Kristi Rector
What makes a children's ministry truly unique? Let your imagination soar. Chances are, if you can dream it, there's a children's ministry out there somewhere doing it. Children's...
Stephanie Dyslin Martin
Creative ways for churches to include children in worship. If you've ever dreamed of the children in your ministry becoming more involved in worship and visible to the rest...
Someone recently suggested I was wasting my gifts running the nursery at our church. After all, I could be teaching adults; I know a thing or two about the Bible. I should be...
Franki Barra
Make the most of what you've got -- whether it's a little or a lot -- for an irresistible, kid-centered environment. In the beginning, God set the standard. He created the...
Here's our best to you! 15 years of great ideas and ministry-shaping advice from Children's Ministry Magazine. Over the years, Children's Ministry Magazine has offered you,...
Kids going to Bible camp... that's not so unusual. But it might be when it's Jesus Camp. According to Magnolia Pictures' recent press release: "Jesus Camp highlights the...
"What I like best about Sunday school...is that there aren't any Herdmans here." In Barbara Robinson's The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the Herdmans were the worst kids in the...
Lesleigh Keetch
Secrets to eliminating your stress--from children's ministry veterans. It's no secret -- children's ministry is a lot of fun. It's also a lot of work. And no matter how...
He's young. He's driven. He's shaking up children's ministry. Justin Browning is on a mission to shake up children's ministry and create a flourishing, faith-yielding family...
"Just one more and I'll be done." Once again, temptation is too strong to resist. "I'll just add one more and that'll do it." Like children building block towers and hoping they...
Something's catching--and these preteens are hooked! Warning: Christianity May Be Catching Recently I looked at our church parking lot and was amazed to see more than 100 kids at...
Jennifer Hooks
Sensational ways to "wow" kids in your ministry. Stop for a moment and close your eyes. Think about a time-in ministry, in school, in your life -- when someone or something truly...
Children's pastor Julia A'Bell from Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia, gives strategies to elevate your church's view of children's ministry. Six years ago my senior...
Rick Chromey
Andrew is a tech-savvy sixth-grader. His bedroom has satellite TV and a computer. He listens to MP3s, and he blogs and emails daily. For Christmas, Andrew's parents bought him a...
Reader Submitted
by Tracy Carpenter What: The children's ministry at Crossroads Christian Church in Corona, California; Where: Where kids are the stars Who: Reaches 1,100 kids from birth to sixth...
Carmen Kamrath
Unusual Suspect Imagine a children's ministry where children beg to come. Where kids never want to miss a thing. Where no volunteer ever complains. Where children's lives are...
Children's Ministry Magazine
"By 2010, everything that marketers know today about elementary-aged kids will be completely outdated. There will be a new generation of elementary-school students -- and a whole...
Alan Nelson
At first, I was a little embarrassed that I was overseeing too many departments and having my hand in too many pies, which is a typical scenario in a growth-oriented organization....
Christine Yount Jones
You've heard of them all . . .What Not to Wear, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Nanny 911. Reality shows on television. Meet Ministry Makeover . . .where reality meets the church....
Jennifer Hooks
Expectations can be a touchy subject. Christian parents quietly wonder whether their kids are learning anything of value in Sunday school. Children's ministers wonder how parents...
For years I'd floated through life with a high-profile job, a nice home, and a great husband. I thought I had everything. Then I discovered I was pregnant. Everyone told me life...
Judi Bailey
"A ministry that makes safety and security for kids a high priority is a witness to God's love, expressed through caring staff and volunteers." Playground accidents result in 17...
Carmen Kamrath
Buzzzzzzz. It can happen on any given day. Buzzzzzz. It may be at the grocery store, soccer practice, or my children's school when I enter into a conversation. Someone asks where I...
I'm a Cradle Christian. I was taught when I was very young that I should ask Jesus into my life, so I did. In a refugee camp in Hong Kong, I made a faith decision…and that day...
Children's Ministry Magazine
THE CHURCHES Church: Community Fellowship, Waterloo, Ontario Church Size: 1,100 Children's Ministry Size: 250 Church: Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas Church...
Stephanie Martin
Your preteens will need a strong spiritual foundation to face serious distractions such as doubt, peer pressure, temptations, and stress. To help you take steps now to prepare kids...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Avoiding misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and wounded parents by Wes Fleming Rolling Hills Church was growing like crazy, and Joanie, the Christian education director, had her...
Children's Ministry Magazine
Sometimes all we need is a bit of outside help. Once you decide to pursue counseling, it's often tricky to figure out who to go to. by Kimberly Gaines No one is immune to problems...
Stephanie Dyslin
Children's ministry was Ann's life, and her first year at a new church was a honeymoon. All her requests were granted. Then, when her ministry started taking off, the honeymoon...
David Staal
Typically, children's ministry leaders focus most of their attention on kids, parents, volunteers, and staff. Many don't consider their senior pastor on the list of those they lead....
Thom Schultz
Curriculum publishers sell boxcar loads of printed pieces they call teaching materials. Here's an example from a well-known Christian publisher's fifth- and sixth-grade student...
Christine Yount
Education without assessment is like spitting in the wind. You pour so much energy into planning for kids' spiritual growth, but how can you be sure you're accomplishing all your...
Paul Woods
An article to copy and give to Sunday school teachers. "Why do I keep doing this? I'll never reach those kids. Josh already knows more than I do. And AJ doesn't know any answers and...
Carmen Kamrath
Summer. Kids are experiencing down time -- time that could easily be filled with video games and television after the initial thrill of a break from school wears off. At Crossroads...
The desks have been cleaned and the report cards handed out, but there's only one thing on every child's mind -- the sound of the last bell that rings out loud and clear, "SUMMER IS...
Pat Verbal
Get a handle on these five filters for effective problem solving in your ministry. It was appalling! A board member in my church wrote weekly critiques to our children's ministry...
Deborah Evers
"Put your money where your mouth is." You've probably heard that saying before. A more accurate saying is "Put your money where your heart is." After all, the way we spend money...
Stephanie Martin
"I resigned a few weeks ago because of the pay factor. I was doing as much as the pastors who get $30,000. And I was getting $600. The church leaders admitted I should be paid but...
Rick Chromey
If your children's church is just sputtering along or if it's simply derailed because disinterested kids are sitting in the regular church service, it's time to switch tracks. Hitch...
Jennifer Hooks
Come with me, I'm fading underneath the lights. Come with me, Come with me, Come with me now... Can't you see the signs? -- Creed, "Signs" Kids today are complex. They grow up...
Anthony M. Sirianni
"Mommy, I want to arrest God for taking Daddy!" Words like this are expressed by children daily. Every year roughly 2.3 million people die in the United States; 16,000 are children....
Victor Parachin
"Grief forced underground can emerge months or years later to haunt and hurt the child." *During the night, a fire breaks out in a home. The parents manage to carry out two of their...
Malinda Zellman
From: September/October 1993 Children's Ministry Magazine "The United States reports 1.6 million abortions every year," says Martha Harper, a crisis pregnancy services specialist...
Mary Davis
David was once outgoing and happy, without a care in the world. Now he's withdrawn and sad. Annie can't seem to calm herself. And Steve is always on the verge of tears. These...
Jennifer Root Wilger
"I really like the idea of letting kids do group work," Ruth said, "but every time I try it, they get off task." Ruth isn't alone in her experience. She's heard about the benefits...
Phyllis Ring
Keep preteen girls' emotional and physical health from vanishing. Britney Spears has gained weight; Lindsay Lohan has lost it. Nicole Ritchie is way too thin, but Paris Hilton is...
There's a gentleman in our congregation who's had a huge influence on the children and young parents of our church. Each Sunday Bill Trump is there, impeccably dressed in a suit and...
How should you react to the magic in these two influential blockbusters? During this holiday season, two huge movies are vying for the attention and hearts of the kids in your care....
As I passed the adult Bible fellowship on the way to my classroom of precocious 4- and 5-year-olds, I could see all my friends laughing and eating doughnuts. With an envious twinge,...
I was in the sixth grade when I began serving in children's ministry. There were 30 kids then; six years later, I'm still serving. Now, however, I work with more than 200 children....
I shivered and wrapped my arms tightly around myself as Marcia pulled her van away from the curb, the stacks of Christmas costumes piled high in the back. "I'll bring them back...
I have my father's eyes -- dark, snapping brown that seem to seek out everything at once. When people remark on the resemblance, I'm flattered. Yet I wonder...how much do I really...
12 easy ways you can equip parents to lead their children spiritually Parents need simple, quick faith-builders that'll make an impact on their children. You can give parents the...
Kathy Dieterich
You didn't come to children's ministry seeking fame and fortune. We know you're not in it for the applause. But unless your church supports your program enthusiastically, how will...
Misty Anne Winzenried
Imagine this nightmare in church security. For her first visit to a new church, Linda leaves baby Johnny with a volunteer in the nursery who asks for no information about Johnny --...
"Your job focuses on families and steering the Christian education program for children," the minister said, reciting a job description that quite honestly left me flat. Don't get...
While I was herding a group of children to their classroom, a little boy rushed up and tugged on my pant leg. "I know who you are," he said, grinning enthusiastically. "You're The...
Within 10 minutes of meeting a group of youth workers for the first time, I know I'll hear someone launch into a disapproving critique of "program-driven" youth ministry: "All this...
We hear you. Here at Group Publishing (the publisher of this magazine), we get a lot of desperate messages from churches. • Amy, an enthusiastic children's minister, said, "I feel...
The most exciting opportunity I've had as a children's minister is to witness a child who "gets it." I don't mean a child who's memorized a dozen verses or who can answer all my...
THOM AND JOANI SCHULTZ
Here's how to diagnose if your ministry is making "the one thing" your top priority, and how to move toward it if you're not. An excerpt from the just-released book The 1 Thing by...
Dale Hudson
Do you have a Mickey Mouse ministry? Discover how it's a good thing for the kids and families in your church. Whether you like it or not and whether you agree with everything its...
Children's church was a game of chance -- literally. Every week it was the same question: What mood would 4-year-old Chance be in today? I found myself growing more tense every week...
Allie Hayes and Nate Wagner
We only need eyes to see and ears to hear their pain -- and then the courage to act when children are sexually abused. They are in our midst, although often nearly invisible. They...
Misty Anne Winzenried
Discover what this cultural buzzword is all about -- and what it means for your children's ministry. The unknown is always frightening, and postmodernism, for most of us, is an...
Carmen Kamrath
Practical solutions for children's ministries that set up and tear down their entire rented facility week in and week out. Pack it in, pack it out. That's a familiar directive for...
Cheryl Russell
Early the morning after Thanksgiving, there was a chill in the air and the sun was struggling to shine. My husband, Bob, and I were headed to the toy store to wait in line. This was...
Steve Alley
How to use current methods to attract today's kids -- without ever compromising the integrity of the gospel. What do Rush Hour 2, Lizzie McGuire, The Simpsons, the Harry Potter...
Sharyn Spradlin and Cyndie Steenis
The new tolerance movement has made it a social sin to disagree with anyone's beliefs. Here's how to help kids understand what tolerance really is. "There are lots of ways to find...
If hindsight is 20/20, then why not get a rearview picture to begin with? That's exactly why we asked six children's ministers to share what they wish they would've known in their...
Dale Hudson
Have you ever wondered, Is it worth it? Are these kids really getting anything I'm trying to teach them? Have you ever had one of those days when you didn't know if it was the day,...
Tracy Carpenter
Doing children's ministry the way it's always been done will never work to reach this generation. Discover real ways to minister to today's kids! You're running out of time with...
It was Sunday morning, and I stood outside my children's church room. I still had 15 quiet minutes until Sunday school ended and the children would run down the hallway for the...
Steven Leggett
A puppet ministry is a great way to teach children basic Christian values. Children often listen and respond better to puppets than they do to teachers. But as you might guess,...
As we entered the city gates, it was as though we went back in time. The hustle and bustle of Bethlehem 2,000 years ago unfolded in front of our very eyes. Three-year-old Katelyn...
Larry Shallenberger
Our children's ministry has many strengths -- evangelistic fervor is not one of them. When I came here five years ago, I banned all rewards programs. The days of "invite a friend,...
Misty Anne Winzenried
Is your Sunday morning routine on the verge of becoming prehistoric? Dig into the 6 most popular Christian education models to unearth a living choice for your ministry. There's no...
I must be a slow learner. It took me three books before I saw the connection. My daughter recommended the first two books, Angela's Ashes and The Color of Water. My son had to read...
Carmen Kamrath
At KidStuf, kids bring their parents to church -- and family worship will never be the same again. A place where kids bring their parents to church -- could such a place really...
"Lord, I'm miserable. The kids woke me last night with bad dreams and sore throats. I'm starting the day already exhausted, and today's the first day of vacation Bible school. I...
Seasoned children's ministry experts tell how to keep kids' faith on track for a lifetime. If developing children's faith is the primary thing we do as children's ministers, then we...
I think it all started with a new bulletin board in the church nursery. It showed a likeness of Jesus holding out his hands. My son Joseph, then 3, wanted to know who this man was....
The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 3:7-8 that he became a servant of the gospel by God's grace -- despite being "less than the least of all." What humility! Perhaps because of...
Erica Fast
If you've been searching for a way to unify your ministry team, core values may be your solution. In this interview with Dennis Bloodworth, you'll learn how to develop core values...
Rick Chromey
The Millennial Generation. Generation Tech. Generation Next. The Echo Boom. Generation Y. No matter the label, this generation is making waves. Born since 1982, Millennials are a...
Erwin McManus
From the book An Unstoppable Force, discover how you can create an environment that changes children's lives. Emotions are those unusual, inside-out experiences and feelings that...
It felt like an inquisition. She was attempting to create a report to bring back to a church that had given money to our inner city after-school program. Though well-meaning, her...
We wish you could experience the process that occurs here at Group every time a new product is created. The power of team is evident from the birth of a new idea, article, book,...
Lynda Freeman
We sent out our toy scout to find the best toys for your nursery and preschool ministries. Check out her 13 finds. Watch a child for a few minutes, and you'll discover a playful...
Rick Chromey
Competition is a fact of life, but should there be losers in the church? And should children be purposely targeted so they fail? First, let me say that I'm not against standards or...
Carmen Kamrath
Months after the holidays are over, I find myself singing songs from our Christmas musical. They pop into my head sporadically, bringing me back to the evening when more than 100...
Randall Hasper
When the fifth- and sixth-graders arrived at class to find a disc jockey spinning hot, new Christian CDs and suggesting that if they liked Britney Spears, they'd also like Stacie...
This will never work," Bob said as he threw the leaders guide on his desk. "Where's that author coming from? Mars? That'll never work -- anywhere!" At this very moment there are...
He was one of the meanest men I'd ever met in my life, and he was my new neighbor. The first time I saw him, the Holy Spirit said to me, "Go, tell him of my love." With some...
Thom and Joani Schultz
It's amazing to watch: adults and young people captivated by an experience none of them really expected -- The Prayer Path. Those who enter this multisensory, multimedia experience...
Christine Yount Jones
Brodrick Wilcox is an amazing volunteer who's waging war for the souls of children in Dumfries, Virginia. I am sitting in a restaurant in the Pentagon with Brodrick Wilcox Sr. If I...
The phone rang around 5 a.m. The broken voice on the phone cracked, "The church is burning. It's burning down." Minutes later I watched firefighters combat the bright flames that...
As we march into a new millennium, it's only natural to look back and take stock of where we've been and to gaze ahead and anticipate the future. So what's happened in children's...
Akin to emptying the oceans with a tablespoon, we shovel out attention and love to a population of kids that grows both in size and neediness. Flagging our bus down, he leaned over...
Our own church here in Colorado faces a crossroad. What will define our ministry in the years to come? We're preparing to design and move to a new location-a prime spot on a busy...
I opened the refrigerator and stared at the chilled leftover lima beans; they were bleached pale green, they were wrinkled, and they had a bland smell. I popped one in my mouth but...
Whenever our staff travels, we're amazed at the wonderful things children's ministers do with their classrooms. So we decided to have a contest to ferret out those hidden wonders --...
Debi Nixon
Practical ways to discover if your ministry is making the grade. "Class, Take out a piece of paper and a pencil." Remember how your heart raced when a teacher blurted out those...
Think you'll never say those words in your ministry? It's possible! Lenny La Guardia has a waiting list for volunteers at his church in Rockford, Illinois. Find out his passionate...
It had been a difficult year. As "luck" would have it, three out of the 12 first- and second-graders in my Sunday school class had distinct behavior problems. Jill, Martye, and Ted...
Have you seen the PowerBar commercial where a guy who's running a marathon runs to the finish line, but the finish line doesn't break? He bounces backward and lies on his back...
Unfortunately, the nicks of life can bleed a long time. And the scars are forever. So consider your next lesson. Preparing to teach is like shaving your head. It has to be done very...
Christine Yount Jones
Mined nuggets of truth from a national conference to help you understand today's kids. Years ago, our family took a tour of a gold mine somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. Of course,...
Y2K is not over; it's only just begun! You know of course, that Y2K stands for Yes-to-Kids. From the beginning of time, God has been saying yes to kids. God loves kids. In Matthew...
Erwin W. Lutzer
More than 145 years ago, D.L. Moody reached out to children on the streets of Chicago. The Illinois Street Church (now Moody Church) grew out of his Sunday school ministry. Today,...
Steve Alley
Critical safety policies to protect your church and the children in it. On Palm Sunday in 1998, a 12-year-old girl disappeared from Memorial United Methodist Church in Charlotte,...
Columbine High School is only a few miles from my office. On the day of the shooting, the gunfire and explosions rocked the school. Young people ran for their lives from the false...
"The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out." D. L. Moody I grew up in a conservative community which some called Fundagelical. I realize the term...
Gordon and Becki West
Spend time with any group of children's ministers these days, and one of the topics of conversation is sure to be ministry to sixth-graders. What works? Are there any helpful...
There should be a special graveyard for all those saints of God who've died on the vine writing their church's own curriculum. Many churches can pull this off, but more churches...
Joel Lund
26 questions that'll help you uncover the expectations that drive you, frustrate you, help you, and hinder you. You can't sleep because you're rehashing some emotional loose end...
Jim Wideman
When you don't get a paycheck for ministry, you may need a reality check. Here's how to make the most of where God has placed you in the body of Christ. If only…If only I had more...
Jerry Lenz
God longs to pour his love and power out to your children. But if you don't understand the dynamics of renewal and revival, you may never move your children into God's...
Christine Yount Jones
There's a driving purpose behind everything Craig Jutila does as he shepherds 16 paid staff, 600 volunteers, and 2,400 children at one of the largest churches in America. It's sunny...
Martin Johnson
8 critical steps to take when you're the new staff person at a church. Good morning. Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to oversee a creative ministry to children from...
Scot Butwell
This zany team of children's ministers is cruising a hilarious river of life with children in Palm Desert, California. It's 10 o'clock on a Sunday morning, and about 150 first-...
Dick Gruber
I know a young college student, who happens to be related to me, who's serving in a church as the children's pastor. Her church pays her a modest salary to take charge of certain...
I believe music has a higher purpose than just filling time. Toward the end of children's church, I stepped in and was greeted by the familiar tune "Father Abraham." I asked one of...
Dick Gruber
I'm writing this article less than a week after the big one. What big one? The mighty four-zero, of course. That's correct! You wouldn't guess it from the really young picture of me...
Sharyn and David Spradlin
The most effective way to reach today's kids is through small groups. Here's how Eastside Foursquare Church in Kirkland, Washington, is doing just that! "I didn't want to go to...
PRAISE BREAK Worship is the unashamed proclamation of God's worth by our actions, attitudes, and words. Worship is pure in the mouth and life of a child who realizes the bounty of...
Dick Gruber
"The sun is shining, the sky is blue. I love Jesus and I love you." The tune is catchy as it's sung in a front yard on Garden View Drive in Apple Valley, Minnesota. Forty-plus...
Dick Gruber
If we fall, our Good Shepherd is there to pick us up and help us mount the bike of life again. How many times have you wondered or even questioned out loud, "How can God care about...
Janice Long
Use this safety overview to navigate the hidden dangers in your ministry. "A ministry that makes safety and security for kids a high priority is a witness to God's love, expressed...
Dick Gruber
God knew exactly what the kids at your church needed, and he gave them you. My daughter Sarah just became a children's pastor. She calls or e-mails me almost every day with...
To can or not to can? Children's ministers explain the choices they've made. In: "We should never take a vacation from God's Word." Out: "The teachers deserve a break." An...
I've repented, and with God's help, I'm going to put the Christian back in Christian education. One of my key coordinators was having trouble with her teenage son, but I didn't know...
Christine Yount Jones
Anything "spiritual" that children do for a reward is a cheap imitation-not worth the plastic the reward is made of We may be getting the outward signs of spiritual growth, but it's...
No ministry takes precedence over caring for and overseeing the spiritual development of our children. I asked my 14-year-old daughter, Rachel, what I should write about in my...
Ellen Larson
The good times in your ministry that can fry you if you're not careful. The last few weeks at Sid Balchew's church have been so much fun! Tons of new families have visited the...
Dick Gruber
I'm still doing well to plan my children's church before Friday and to show up at the right church on Sunday morning. My mom used to say, "Cleanliness is next to godliness." I know...
Stephanie Martin
A closer look at whether the much-used "magical" tool is really good for kids. "Now you see it, now you don't." Do those words belong in a Christian children's ministry? Gospel...
The results of CHILDREN'S MINISTRY's 1995 National Children's Minister Salary Survey . Children's ministry is more than money. We all know that. It's not why you chose to dedicate...
Kathleen Dieterich
Money isn't everything, but support is! Here's how to earn more support for your children's ministry. Unless your church supports your program enthusiastically, how will you support...
Chris Daniel and Dick Gruber
The battle rages between children's church advocates and opponents. I'd sooner try to hold fire in my hands than attempt to restrain a child in a setting that sometimes lulls me to...
Stephanie Martin
To memorize or not to memorize-that's a controversial question for children's ministers. And for some, it's an extremely uncomfortable question. As Thom and Joani Schultz write in...
Sharyn Spradlin
Expert tips from a church that's effectively reaching this generation. Joe and Marsha had searched for a new home church for five months. When they visited our church,...
Christine Yount Jones
Every so often, we encounter people whose lives leave us forever changed. It is those rare people, who like Enoch, have walked with God. They brush up against us and we drink from...
Mary Van Aalsburg
This thing we call "ministry." It gives us the opportunity to use our gifts and talents to serve God. And it's rejuvenating and rewarding as we see children's lives changed. There...
Debbie Trafton O'Neal
Almost every Sunday morning after class, children run out of classrooms with a new craft. Some of these crafts make it home to be displayed in a place of honor. Other crafts may...
Christine Yount Jones
Seven-year-old Cheltzie Hentz was rudely awakened to the world of sexual harassment on her school bus. Boys repeatedly called the Eden Prairie, Minnesota, second-grader crude names...
Drew Crislip
Children's ministry security is not an issue that should be taken lightly. A church-affiliated middle school interviewed Mitch for a teaching position. But, when asked why he'd left...
Connie Neal
Janis was a top-notch minister. After being on staff for two years, her ministry had grown from 35 to 150 kids. She led an activity every day of the week. Her ministry was booming....
Barbara Beach
If you're in a growing church, you're facing an age-old challenge-a space crunch. So how can you uncrunch the space you have? Check out these ideas. Space Expanders If you want to...
Dorene Taylor
My husband, Kirk, fell into clowning naturally. Finding humor in every situation and being the brunt of people's jokes was what he lived for. When he discovered clowning, it didn't...
Drew Crislip
Expert tips from a lawyer on legal issues in your ministry. Brad had caused trouble the entire week of camp. Skip Doyle, the camp counselor, had tried to gently discipline the...
Christine Yount Jones
Five-year-old Katy's first time to see a lot of black people in real life was during a trip to a large city. Katy turned to her mom and said, "Look, Mom, The Cosby Show!" For many...
Christine Yount Jones
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Lion delivered the witch's broomstick to get their rewards from the Wizard of Oz. The Wizard got what he wanted, and the others got what they...
Christine Yount Jones
A critical look at what Big Bird and Sesame Street are teaching your kids. "Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday, dear Big Bird, Ernie, Bert, Oscar, Tully...
Barbara Beach
Support. Presidential candidates, sports teams and families need it. Without it, bridges and buildings collapse. Children's ministers need support too. But when you build up...
Jolene L. Roehlkepartain
"This year I resolve to get organized!" How many years have you been saying that? Well, now's the time to turn your resolutions into executions. Take the time now to get organized...
