Drive-Through Food Drive Back to School Event

Since we can't do our normal Back to School Bash this year (thanks COVID), we're getting creative with another idea instead! Our children's pastor wanted to find a fun way to distribute our Back to School Kits to families while also helping our food pantry stock up on the most-needed items for the year ahead. So she came up with Drive Away Hunger: A Drive-Through Food Drive Event!  What is it? Drive Away Hunger is a back to school event that helps us connect with our people and also gives back to the community. It's a drive-through food drive where families bring donations for our food pantry, and they also pick up a Back to School Kit and an ice cream treat! How will it work? Church members of all ages are invited to drive through the church parking lot and drop off their donations anytime between 6:30-8:00 PM on Wednesday, August 19....

Grief Journal for Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Our giveaway for Martha Black's book is over, but we're also sharing this free printable grief journal for kids that Martha made! Use this journaling activity from author Martha Black to help kids process their grief and remember a loved one who has passed away.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Grief Journal Activity Here! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FAuthor-Martha-Black-Freebie.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]Martha is an author, blogger, wife, mom, and a public elementary school teacher, who lost her mom to cancer in 2015. She felt God leading her to begin a grief ministry for others who were also hurting from the loss of a loved one, and she wrote this book as an extension of that ministry. Thanks Martha, for allowing us to...

Book Review & Giveaway: You’ll Find Me at the Ocean

This week, we're teaming up with Martha Black from Martha Black Ministries to share about her new book: You'll Find Me at the Ocean - A Journey of Grief through the Eyes of a Child. Martha is an author, blogger, wife, mom, and a public elementary school teacher, who lost her mom to cancer in 2015. She felt God leading her to begin a grief ministry for others who were also hurting from the loss of a loved one, and she wrote this book as an extension of that ministry. (Learn how to win a free copy below!) The book tells the story of young Beth, whose mama is dying of cancer. Mama shares with her daughter how she will always be near, even after she has passed away from her earthly life. Mama reassures Beth that she can always be found at the ocean: in the seashells, the salty breeze, the sunrise, and so many more places. One of my favorite...

Brain Dump Activity: 4 Steps to Reduce Stress and Maximize Productivity

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Anyone else feeling just a *bit* overwhelmed lately?  😅 🙋 Me too. Between back to school, figuring out what ministry looks like, feeding the family, finding time to exercise, and all the other things, there’s a lot rattling around in my brain! Maybe you can relate. (And if you can relate, we want to help!) Sometimes it's just all so overwhelming, you don't even know where to start. That’s why I love brain dumps. What is a brain dump? I learned about brain dumps from my friend and leadership coach Joy Canupp, and a brain dump is exactly what it sounds like: dumping the contents of your mind out onto paper to clear out the mental clutter and give you the clarity to move forward. A brain dump is effective because it allows you to calm the whirling tornado of thoughts and bring them to a more...

We Want To Help

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As we move into the school year in the midst of COVID-19, life and ministry look more different than ever before. That's why we wanted to check in, see how you're doing, and ask how we can help you navigate this season. Thank you for taking a few minutes to answer this survey that will help us serve you better as you serve and lead kids! Click here to access the survey or complete the version below. Note: Survey closes August 12,...

Emoji Prayer Activity

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Kids have a lot of feelings as the school year begins in the midst of COVID-19. They may be feeling frustrated, excited, scared, angry, or all of the above. Use this free printable to help kids process their feelings, share them with the Lord, and ask Him for the peace only He can give. (Psst! Educators could probably use some encouragement too! Check out some free educator appreciation video ideas here!)[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Emoji Prayer Printable here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FDKM-Emoji-Prayer-Back-to-School-Freebie.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_single_image image="36745" img_size="medium" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank"...

Educator Appreciation Videos

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As we head back to school (online or in-person), it's the perfect opportunity to honor the teachers and educators in our churches. Below are some video + post ideas to use in your Sunday service and/or to post on your ministry social media accounts to remind your educators how much they are appreciated. On-stage or email script: Thank you, educators! You've put so much time, energy, and love into figuring out the school year ahead. We are grateful for you, and we are praying for your school year. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download this video for free here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fthank-you-educators-video%2F||target:%20_blank|"][vc_separator color="custom" border_width="6" accent_color="#3ac1e1"][vc_column_text] This video from Google is so fun and...

Sunshine Mail Freebie

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Even though we're celebrating our Christmas in July sale this week, there's still time to soak up some sun! Use this Sunshine Cards printable to send some sunshine in the mail to your kids! Print and cut the cards on the download below, then add a little note on the bottom or back of the card. To make it even more special, add other yellow or orange items such as balloons (uninflated), yellow laffy taffy, or other yellow and orange candies. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Sunshine Mail Cards here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FDKM-Sunshine-Mail-Freebie.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="33691" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link"...

Christmas in July Sale!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Get in the holiday spirit early this year with our Christmas in July sale! This week only (July 19-26, 2020), we're offering 20% off select Christmas resources so you can plan, prepare, and save early for the jolly season at the end of the year. Explore our resources on sale below, and browse all of our Christmas resources here![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="19295" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/a-praise-in-a-manger-4-week-christmas-unit-on-worship/"][vc_column_text]A Praise in a Manger is a 4-week Christmas series for elementary kids focusing on worship as a whole-life response to God and His greatness. Using the Christmas story, kids will learn we can worship...

VBS Mad Libs Game For Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Use the VBS-themed Mad Lib game in this week's free download for a fun activity to play with your kids! Underneath each blank line in the story, there is a prompt for the type of word you need. Make a copy for each child to make their own story, or use it as a group activity. To use in a small or large group setting: One at a time, call on kids to help you fill in the blanks, but only tell them the prompt, not the title, theme, or sentence. Write down kids’ answers in the blank, then read your Mad Lib VBS Story to the kids once all of the blanks are filled in. It’s sure to get some laughs! [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Mad Libs Game Here!" align="center"...

Hoops: A Social-Distanced Kids Event

Jolie, the children's pastor at my church, came up with a BRILLIANT social-distanced kids event for the K-5th graders at our church, and she has graciously agreed to let me share her ideas with you! What is Hoops? A social-distanced event for kids that everyone loves (and that's easy to host)! How does Hoops work? Set up hula hoops 6ft apart in your church or ministry space. Invite kids to pack a lunch and meet you at the church (we divide up by small groups - each small group comes on a specific day to keep our numbers low). Hoops is a social-distanced kids event where parents drop their kids off at the church at 11:15 am for lunch, then pick the kids up again at 12:15 once lunch is over. Kids enter the building, find a hula hoop to sit in, and the fun begins! We talk, laugh, play a game, invite kids to share any prayer requests, and then...

Made in His Image Family Devotional

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Talking to kids about racial issues can be intimidating, but share this free devotional with your parents to help them start conversations about equality, race, and justice at home![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the free devotional here! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F06%2FDKM-Free-Truth-1-of-Precious-in-His-Sight.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]The devotional includes Scripture verses, discussion questions, and an easy object lesson to help kids understand and apply biblical truths.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="34486" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank"...

2020 Halfway Checkpoint

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We're just about halfway through the year 2020. Have you seen those memes about how 2020 has gone so far? Here are some of my favorites...[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="34544" img_size="full" alignment="center"][vc_single_image image="34545" img_size="full" alignment="center"][vc_single_image image="34546" img_size="full" alignment="center"][vc_single_image image="34547" img_size="full" alignment="center"][vc_single_image image="34549" img_size="full" alignment="center"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]These make me smile, but what a tough and strange year it's been (and I think we've all felt like Chandler at some point)! When God put the word "change" on my heart as my word for 2020, I had no idea how much things would change! I expected the changes that would come with life...

Return-To-Worship FAQs

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As you return to in-person worship services, your families probably have a lot of questions about what that means for their kids. Use this list of frequently-asked-questions about returning to worship to help communicate the changes with your families. Post these FAQs on your church website, as social media posts (download a set of editable pre-made Canva templates here), and/or in email communications with your families.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the FAQs list here! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F06%2FDeeper-KidMin-Return-to-Worship-FAQs-Freebie.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="34461" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank"...

Be a Traffic Light Ministry

One of the churches in my area, 12Stone Church, proposed a simple but profound analogy for talking about COVID-19 with its members and community. In the notes from their May 2020 message, they explain: A Traffic Light Green Light - Go Yellow Light - Proceed with caution Red Light - Stop There are 3 different groups of people and how they view COVID-19. Green Light - Don't wear mask or use hand sanitizer. Believes we should not shut down everything. Let people decide their own risk. Green will immediately return to church with no worries. Yellow Light - Believes there is a reason to be cautious and will abide by the rules set - will wear a mask and will obey social distancing. Yellow will return to church but not immediately. Red Light - Those who are afraid to leave their homes because the risk is not worth it. Red...

Encouragement Challenge for Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With all that's going on in the world these days, we could use a bit of encouragement (and if you need some yourself, be encouraged here). Summer is a great time to help kids practice the discipline of encouragement![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Encouragement Challenge Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F06%2FDKM-Encouragement-Challenge-Grow-Like-Jesus-Freebie.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]Print or email copies of the pages in the freebie, share with your families, and challenge kids to encourage others and "fill up their hearts" this summer.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text] This freebie is an excerpt from the Grow Like Jesus Summer Growth Plan, a self-guided growth program that...

Encouragement for the Worn Out KidMin Leader

Usually, you're worn out by now because of all the excitement and energy that goes into prepping (or completing) VBS, but this summer, you might be exhausted for a completely different reason. Maybe you've finally got the hang of the technology you need to host Zoom calls and FaceBook Lives, but that doesn't mean it takes any less energy to be engaging over video. Maybe you feel like your creativity is spent when it comes to games that are Zoom-friendly. (We can help with that! See our best online-friendly games here.) Maybe you're wrestling with your own understanding of racial injustice and aren't sure how to equip your families to move toward racial reconciliation too. Maybe you're driving all over town to deliver Summer Fun Packs to every family since you can't yet meet in person. Maybe you're in the midst of reopening and...

To The Best POP Father’s Day Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Summertime means Father's Day, and you can use this printable to give a little gift to the men in your church this summer season! Hand out the gifts during service, offer them at a drive-through service, or make a few runs to deliver them right to your families' front doors! See other resources for Summer 2020 here.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Father's Day Printable Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fto-the-best-pop-fathers-day-printable%2F|target:_blank"][vc_column_text]Print the freebie on cardstock, cut out the circles, and attach to a bag of popcorn or a can/bottle of soda using ribbon or tape. For the popcorn, tie them around an unpopped bag or even a gourmet bag of popcorn like these. For the soda, purchase a variety of different sodas and just tie the...

Summer Resources for Your Children’s Ministry

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Summer 2020 will probably look different than any other summer in kidmin. Here are some resources to help you connect with your families, whether you're able to meet in person or not.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="32588" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/grow-like-jesus-summer-growth-plan-for-kids/"][vc_custom_heading text="Grow Like Jesus: Summer Growth Plan for Kids" font_container="tag:h2|text_align:center" use_theme_fonts="yes" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fgrow-like-jesus-summer-growth-plan-for-kids%2F||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]Grow Like Jesus is a self-guided, choose-your-own-adventure summer growth plan that gives children...

Summer Fun Packs Details & Links Freebie

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Earlier this week, we shared about how our mission partners at Path Project are creating Summer Fun Packs for the kids in their various communities. As promised, here is a freebie of their plans with all the links and details so you can create your own Summer Fun Packs for the kids in your ministry too![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Click here to download the plans!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F05%2FDKM-Path-Project-Summer-Fun-Kits-2020.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]This freebie gives you a full month's worth of weekly summer goodies for your kids that will help them connect with the church and their family. And let's be honest, parents will thank you for providing something for the kids to do! Use the ideas and links in the download as...

Resources for Talking With Kids About Race

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Racism is a sin. In an episode of The Kids Ministry Collective Podcast, Mahogany Dudley-Finley labels racism for what it is: a sin. She encourages children's ministry leaders to recognize that and then approach teaching about racism the same way we teach children about other sins. (Listen to the full podcast episode here.) As we examine our own hearts regarding racism and equip the families we lead to do the same, here are some resources to facilitate conversations and change on a personal, communal, and global level:[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion][vc_tta_section title="Resources to Share with Families" tab_id="1591196869353-de23a9f8-e82a"][vc_column_text] Resource Roundup - An entire blog post about talking with kids about race including developmental studies (babies as young as 6 months notice...

Summer Fun Packs from the Path Project

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Because you chose to download resources from us here at Deeper KidMin in May, we were able to support our mission partners, Path Project, in their special Summer Fun Packs initiative! Like many of us, Path Project usually has camps, retreats, and more during the summer, which have all been canceled this year. So they created the Summer Fun Packs as a way to provide kids with resources to stay connected and have fun! We used a portion of our May sales to sponsor a Summer Fun Pack for 8 different kids in the Buford, Georgia community. THANK YOU for helping us make that possible!  I was so excited to donate 8 Summer Fun Packs, and the more I looked into them, the more I thought, "Well hey, that's a fun idea for children's ministry leaders too!" So I reached out to the community director of the Buford location...

“Why do we do it?” Helping Kids Understand Worship Practices

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Kids ask a lot of questions. And they might be asking questions about your family or adult service that their parents don't know how to answer. Share this printable with the families in your ministry to help parents teach their kids about worship practices. The more kids understand what they're doing and why, the more they'll engage in the service! [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the printable here! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F05%2FDKM-Why-Do-We-Do-It-Freebie.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="29708" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/a-guide-to-family-worship/"][/vc_column][vc_column...

Church in Cars? Drive In and Drive Through Church

As churches experiment with ways to gather their people in a safe and controlled environment during the pandemic, one popular idea is holding church in cars with either a drive-in or a drive-through service! What's the difference? A drive-in service typically involves participants driving to the church parking lot, parking their cars, and viewing the service from their vehicle. A drive-through service means the families drive through a designated route on the church campus, stopping by different stations to interact with the pastors or complete aspects of worship (like giving offering, taking Communion, picking up family devotionals from the kids department, etc.). Both offer ways for your church community to connect with you, see each other, and be on the church campus, all while staying safe.  Vanessa Myers, one of our DKM Marketplace Vendors...

Emoji Sermon Notes for Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Share this Emoji Sermon Notes printable with your kids to help them engage in a family or adult service! They're the perfect addition to your worship activity bags for kids! Find more ideas and printables for sermon notes for kids here, and dive deeper into the topic of including, not just occupying, kids in a family service with this online training.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Emoji Sermon Notes Printable Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F05%2FDKM-Emoji-Sermon-Notes-Freebie.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_single_image image="30696" img_size="large" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank"...

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