kidsministry

Christmas is a time for joy and celebration!  This episode features Go Fish songs Joy To The World, Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee, and It’s About The Cross along with a visit from everyone’s favorite weatherman Frank!

Christmas isn’t just about Jesus being born.  It’s also a time to remember why He came!  This episode features Go Fish songs Christmas With A Capital “C” and It’s About The Cross along with some epic dad jokes!

Our advent series continues with an all new episode!  This Christmas show features Go Fish songs Christmas Time and We Three Kings along with a visit from FRANK THE WEATHERMAN!

Let's get ready for Christmas!  This episode features Go Fish songs Joy To The World and Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee along with a Dad Joke of the Day!

What does it mean to be a light in the world?  This episode features Go Fish songs Shine and This Little Light Of Mine, along with a Dad Joke of the Day!

How does starting another year of school make you feel? This episode features Go Fish songs Rise & Shine and Airplanes, Telephones, and Microwaves along with a Dad Joke of the Day!

A while ago, I mentioned the example of a church where it’s normal for the kids to be present in corporate worship. We were part of that church when our first baby arrived and I was terrified that my child would grow to be the exception. The process of how one could possibly get kids to sit in church was a mystery to me. This is what 16 years of having kids in church has taught us.

The question of “how do we be a family in a local church?” is bigger than finding a church with a kids program. We’re to help our children learn to love all God’s people, not just their peers. Meaningful relationships in church—relationships where we’re obeying Jesus’ command to love one another—are different from a playdate. When we give time to someone who is not like ourselves, our children learn that Jesus’ command to “love one another” is more than just being nice to the people you would have played with anyway.

When a young family is looking for a new church, a typical requirement is that it has “something for the kids”. If they don’t see a children’s program advertised on the church’s website, they might not bother visiting at all. It’s easy to assume that a church with no kids program thinks church is only for adults, that children only become a person once they are grown. There can be very bad reasons for a church not to have a kids’ program.

Just as some churches might reject children’s ministry for bad reasons, a kids' ministry can be done for faulty reasons. Or for good reasons, but in unhelpful ways.

Our knee-high children are not a spiritual tripping hazard. Some thoughts on why we struggle, what might help and what doesn't.

At Westside Church, a two-year-old satellite campus of First UMC (Kearney), a little grant money and creativity took the kid's ministry to the next level. Through digital mediums and activity box deliveries, the church kept connecting with families despite the strange circumstances of 2020. Listen as Children's Director Nicolle Downing and Site Pastor Mitch Buhman share what worked, what didn't and what they'll keep doing as we enter into a new season of ministry.

There is only one YOU in the whole world which makes you pretty special!  This episode features Go Fish songs I Like You, Do Your Ears Hang Low? and Superstar.

This week we’re in conversation with Rev. Tadd Kruithoff to discuss how Trinity UMC in Piedmont, Missouri, does discipleship. Instead of focusing on facts alone, Kruithoff and his team lean into the relational aspect of discipleship through Holy Listening. This method allows kids to lead the conversation and share about their own lives in their own words while volunteers simply guide the conversation, teaching children to see God in everyday life.

Resources

• Spiritual Conversations with Children: Listening to God Together by Lacy Finn Borgo
• General Overview of Holy Listening
• Helpful videos and spiritual formation curriculum: GoodDirtMinistries.org
• Helpful items for accompanying children in their life with God: www.kutsucompanions.com

This week we’re in conversation with Mona Candea, Children’s Ministry Coordinator at Grace UMC in Olathe, Kansas. Mona walks us through the challenging world of COVID-era family ministry. She and her team have evolved the way that they do ministry over the last year, and Mona has a lot of great ideas to share with churches that are struggling with where to start. Through use of new digital media and innovative outreach, there’s a little something for every church to learn.

Orange: Updated every Sunday morning with age specific bible story videos

Illustrated Faith: Sign up for the password-protected archives of children’s bulletins, family devotionals, coloring pages and more.

Deeper KidMin: Think teachers-pay-teachers but for children’s ministry-by-children’s ministry leaders

Canva: A resource to easily create beautiful graphics

Cokesbury: The publishing company posts a Sunday School video weekly on its Facebook page.

Sparkhouse: Hosts Thursday Facebook live trainings that are quick and helpful

Facebook Groups:

• Children’s Pastors and Children’s Ministry Group
• Illustrated Ministry Community
• Mastering Ministry Workshop

Ministry Boost

It's fun to use our imaginations!  This episode features Go Fish songs Big Bad Billy, Friends Of Mine and My Very Own Church!

Go Fish uses music and Scripture to celebrate Easter!

Go Fish uses music and Scripture to get children ready to celebrate Easter!

Go Fish uses music and Scripture to get children ready to celebrate Easter!

Go Fish uses music and Scripture to get children ready to celebrate Easter!