Categories: Blog

An Update on Time to Update: What’s Changed in Digital Ministry In Two Years

This week marks the 2-year anniversary of the release of my book, Time to Update: 7 Areas to Integrate Digital Discipleship into Your Children's Ministry Strategy. When Time to Update was first released in 2023, Threads had just launched, AI tools were still new for most of us, and many churches were still figuring out post-pandemic rhythms. Now, two years later, digital discipleship isn’t just a trend or a response to a global crisis. It’s become a key part of how we lead, equip, and connect in children’s ministry. As we celebrate the two-year anniversary of Time to Update, let's get an update (see what I did there?) and look at how things have shifted since the book’s release and what that means for your digital ministry strategy moving forward. Technology Changes: AI Tools Have Become Mainstream - In 2023, AI tools like ChatGPT were...
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Digital Ministry Audit

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] Technology changes fast, and it's time to update! Use this quick audit to assess what’s working, what needs improvement, and where to focus your digital ministry efforts in the year ahead. Reflect on the questions, then evaluate how your ministry is doing. Then make a goal for a small next step to increase the effectiveness of your digital discipleship! [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Digital Ministry Audit Here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F08%2FDKM-Digital-Ministry-Audit-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="108203" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=""...
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3 Systems That Will Improve Relationships in Your KidMin

Ministry is all about relationships, and while systems might feel more administrative than personal, solid systems can help you improve the connections in your ministry. Systems help you organize and automate important tasks, which might sound counterintuitive to relationship-building. But when your ministry includes more than 3 families, systems help you better serve and connect with those families, without letting anything (or anyone) fall through the cracks. Here are 3 systems to help you connect with the people in your ministry (plus a bonus one!): 1. System for Connecting with Kids: Crew Cards How do you connect with the children in your ministry throughout the week? One way we did this was by asking each volunteer to take just a couple minutes after Sunday service to write a postcard to a child. We provide postcards and pens in Crew...
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2 Pencil-Themed Games for Your KidMin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Grab some unsharpened pencils and play these games in your children’s ministry this back-to-school season! They’re fun, simple, and help kids grow deeper in their faith.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download Printable Version Here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F07%2FDKM-2-Pencil-Themed-Games-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text css=""]Pencil Pick Bible Challenge Supplies Needed: pencils labeled with a number 1-10, Bible trivia questions below Directions: Choose a child or family to come up front, pick a numbered pencil, and answer a question related to the Bible. Optional: Give prizes if they answer correctly. Make up questions relating to the Bible story you’re teaching that day, or here are some ideas of questions you...
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5 Ways to Start the School Year Strong in Your Children’s Ministry

Backpacks are packed, first-day-of-school outfits are purchased, and everyone's trying to get back into a routine after the summer, which means it's officially back-to-school season! Whether you’re pumped for a fresh start or still mourning the end of summer fun, now is the perfect time to refocus, refresh, and relaunch your ministry for a brand-new year. Here are 5 ways to start the school year strong in your children’s ministry: Get Organized (Before the Sunday Morning Scramble Hits) - From updated rosters to curriculum plans to stocked classrooms, a little prep now will save you a ton of stress later. Take time to update parent contact info, allergy alerts, and class lists. Make sure your check-in system is ready to go for new families. Clean out all those VBS supplies from your office, and take a look at your overall calendar to figure...
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What School Supplies Remind Us About Leading Children’s Ministry

School supplies are an essential part of the back-to-school season for families, and they're important tools we use every week in our children's ministry. But they're more than just tools for coloring, cutting, and staying organized. These school supplies can be great reminders for leading and structuring our children's ministries. There are some surprising reminders tucked inside those pencil pouches and supply bins that speak straight to our ministry hearts. Here's what I mean: Pencils remind us to always plan with flexibility. I always say we can never plan in pen! In children’s ministry, flexibility isn’t optional; it’s a survival skill. Schedules shift, volunteers cancel, and someone always shows up in the wrong classroom. And they give you the flexibility to try something new! So we plan in pencil, hold our calendars...
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Scripture School Supplies Social Media Posts Freebie

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Use these social media captions with the included social media graphics to post some encouraging and faith-focused tips on your ministry social media for back-to-school season! This freebie includes 2 sets of graphics + ready-to-post captions to share on your ministry social media accounts during back-to-school season. The download is a zipped folder and won't be viewable on a mobile device.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F07%2FDKM-Scripture-School-Supplies-Freebie.zip|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="157602" img_size="full" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=""...
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Back-to-School Survival Kits

Making back-to-school survival kits are the perfect opportunity for you to connect with the families in your ministry as they head back to school. A Back-to-School Survival Kit can be a great opportunity to provide families with simple ways to connect with God and each other! The point of the survival kit is to provide families with items they’ll need to “survive” the school year. You can include a spiritual element like this free customizable calendar, this Back to School Prayer Journal for Kids, or this full Back to School Survival Kit that includes a family devotional and the list of ideas below. You can also include physical items that offer practical help and encouragement. Here are some ideas for packing and distributing your Back-to-School Survival Kits! What do I pack the Back to School Survival Kits in? Colorful gift...
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5 Ways to Celebrate Back-To-School Season in Your Ministry

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Knowing the rhythms of life for the families you serve and stepping into those rhythms to celebrate milestones is a key factor in connecting with your families. One of the biggest milestones each year is back-to-school season! So here are 5 ways to celebrate this important time in your children's ministry: Host a special event - Whether it's a family event like a Back to School Prayer Bash, a Taco Bingo Night, a Family Trivia Night, or a kids-only event that gives the parents a break (like our science-themed Parents' Night Out), hosting a fun kick-off event for the Back to School Season is a great way to help families celebrate! Find all our favorite Back-to-School Special Events here. Equip families to celebrate at home - A lot of prep goes into the back-to-school season for families. School supply...
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Out of This World Back-to-School Gift Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] Give your kids a back-to-school gift with purpose that reminds them they are never alone! Supplies: Earth stress balls, plastic sandwich bags, and this printable tag Prep: Print and cut the printable tags. Place an earth ball into a plastic bag. Fold the tag over the top of the bag and staple once on each side. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F07%2FDKM-Out-of-This-World-Back-to-School-Gift-Tag-Printable-PDF-from-Launch-lesson.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="86143" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=""...
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4 Classroom Management Tips For Your Volunteers

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Classroom Management will make or break your volunteers' experience teaching and your kids' experience learning. Share these simple and quick best practices for classroom management with your volunteers to help them serve and lead well. Sharing simple strategies and techniques like these with your team helps them enjoy leading/serving in your ministry (which means they'll stick around longer) and helps kids enjoy learning about Jesus (always a win).[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download a Printable Version Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F07%2FDKM-Classroom-Management-Tips-Tricks-for-Volunteers.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text] Be early. Be prepared - The first one to arrive is the one in charge. Be sure that you are the first one in the...
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5 Tips for Turning a Meeting into a Party

No one wants to attend ANOTHER boring meeting, and your volunteers are no different! Using just a few simple and applicable ideas, you can host trainings that volunteers actually WANT to attend. Whether it’s an annual volunteer training or your weekly volunteer meeting, here are five tips for turning your meetings into a party! Don’t call it a “meeting.” You probably aren’t super excited about attending meetings, and your volunteers aren’t either. Whether you call it a training session, a convention, a conference, a summit, a rally, or even a gathering, what you call your training event will subliminally influence a volunteer’s attitude about attending. Offer food (even if it’s just a brownie bite). It’s a great way to show appreciation for your volunteers from the very beginning. If you feed them, they will come. ...
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Bumps and Bandaids: Why Incident Report Forms Belong in Your KidMin Administration Processes

Whether it's a game that gets a little too rough at VBS or some heightened emotions on a Sunday morning, accidents and injuries happen in your children's ministry. Do you have a system in place for when they do? Once the dust settles and the bandaids are put on, the incident isn't over yet. Next, you want to complete an Accident/Incident Form to document what happened. Filling out an Accident/Incident Form might feel like extra paperwork in the moment, but it's a simple step that serves a big purpose. These forms protect your ministry, your volunteers, and most importantly, your kids. By clearly documenting what happened, when it happened, and how it was handled, you're creating a record that can help clarify misunderstandings, answer parent questions, and demonstrate your commitment to safety and care. It also sets a tone of professionalism...
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12 Low-Prep Summer Preschool Playdates

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Preschool playdates are the perfect way to help preschool families connect with each other and make memories all at the same time, and summer is the prime time to host them! But life (and plans) with a preschooler can often change quickly and at the last-minute. So you don’t want to spend a lot of time planning and preparing for an event that ends up with low attendance because Liza's nap went long or because Caden had an accident while potty-training. Here are 12 low-prep Preschool Playdate ideas that help preschool families connect and grow without using too much of your prep time (and here’s a free printable to help you plan!). Bonus: Most work for elementary-age kiddos too, so the whole family can join! (Find even more summer events for your kidmin here!) Park & Popsicles - Meet at a...
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Beyond Sunday: Equipping Families for Worship at Home

Last week, we talked about why summer is the prime time for connecting with families, and this week's guest blog post from Dylan Arms, a worship leader based in Greenville, SC, has a great resource + ideas for equipping families specifically in worship at home:  As someone who’s been in ministry for years—and now a new parent myself—I’ve come to recognize something simple but powerful: what happens inside our church walls is only a small part of a child’s spiritual formation. The songs they sing on Sunday can echo throughout the week, especially when we equip parents to carry the experience home. Music has a way of lodging truth deep in the heart. A child may forget a memory verse or a lesson summary, but they’ll remember the lyrics of a worship song they love. That’s why it’s so important that the worship moment doesn’t...
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Summer Family Faith Playlist

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] As ministry leaders, we have a great opportunity to bridge the gap between Sunday and the rest of the week. Sharing music resources with families can plant big seeds in a child’s walk with Jesus and equip them to worship at home. So share this Kids Worship Playlist Printable with the families in your church this summer! It's got a QR code that links to a curated mix of fun, Christ-centered songs that are upbeat, engaging, and full of truth. It’s designed for the car ride, the kitchen, bedtime routines—anywhere life happens. It’s a small tool that helps turn daily moments into lasting spiritual ones. Just print the printable, cut into half sheets, and share! [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=""] Find more ideas for equipping families for worship at home here. Find more at-home family...
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Summer: The Prime Time to Connect with Families in Your KidMin

Summer is a prime time to connect with families. I know what you’re thinking. “But they don’t come to church as often.”“They’re out of town more.”“I feel like we barely see our families in the summer!” Exactly. That’s why summer is the ultimate opportunity to connect with families. It may seem counterintuitive, especially when the rest of the church seems to hit pause until the fall. But when attendance gets sporadic and the normal rhythms fade, we’re handed a unique opportunity: the chance to reach families outside of our (and their) usual routines. Summer offers built-in moments for memory-making, creativity, and connection. And if we approach it intentionally, we can make a big impact on our families—even if we don’t see them every Sunday. Here's why (and a few ideas for how): Families spend more time...
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Summer Family Prayer Day Challenge

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Summer is a prime time to equip families for at-home discipleship, but parents today need SIMPLE ideas they can implement with minimal supplies that take just a few minutes. So share this Family Day Prayer Challenge with your families and encourage them to choose 1 day over the summer to pray like the early church did at 9:00am, noon, and 3:00pm! Share the printable with them and encourage them to try out this holy habit that’s simple and impactful.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Summer Family Prayer Day Challenge Here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F05%2FDKM-Family-Prayer-Day-Challenge-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="152883" img_size="full"...
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Super Dad Coloring Pages for Father’s Day

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Use these “super dad” coloring pages as early arriver or small group activities on Father’s Day! Find more Father's Day resources here! [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="DOWNLOAD HERE!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F05%2FDKM-Super-Dad-Coloring-Pages-for-Fathers-Day.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="129702" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css="" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/fathers-day-superhero-pop-can-chocolate-bar-wrapper/"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text css=""] Want to make dads feel extra special and keep the superhero theme going? These coloring pages come from this Father’s...
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20+ Father’s Day Ideas for Your KidMin

Celebrate the dads and men in your church this Father's Day with one or more of these fun 20 ideas! TEACHING/STUDIES Father's Day Holiday History Lesson Super Bible Father Figures Bible Study Guide for Kids CRAFTS/PRINTABLES Father's Day Superhero Soda Can or Chocolate Bar Wrappers Father's Day Handprint Crafts Father's Day Coloring Cards Father's Day Dad Joke Coloring Cards Father's Day Tie Goody Bag Craft Father's Day Printables Father's Day Tie Craft Father's Day Coupons To the Best Pop (Soda or Popcorn) Father's Day Scratch-Off Printables GAMES Does Dad Have Hair on His Chinny Chin Chin?  Double Vision: Father's Day Name That Super Dad Screen Game Father's Day Minute to Win It Games MEDIA I Love My Dad Because... Mini Movie Things Dads Say Mini Movie  Dad Jokes Mini...
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What Next? Parent Resource Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""] It’s an exciting moment when a child makes a salvation decision to follow Christ, and it’s our job as ministry leaders to equip and shepherd them as they live out their faith in their everyday lives. That means we have to equip and encourage their parents in the discipleship of their children. But some parents may not know what to do next. Share this simple printable with any family whose child makes a faith decision to give them ideas for how to foster their faith at home. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download Here!" align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F03%2FDKM-WHAT-NEXT-Parent-Page-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="149329" img_size="full" alignment="center"...
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3 Spiritual Growth Milestones to Celebrate With Kids

Sometimes it's hard to measure "success" in children's ministry. How do you know if what you're doing is effective? What can you share with leadership to show tangible results? Discipleship is a heart matter, so the numbers and the results are often hard to see, but there are 3 spiritual growth milestones you can celebrate in your children's ministry, and this week's blog post from Courtney Weaver from David C Cook helps us explore these important milestones to celebrate with kids:  As children’s ministry leaders, we aim not to regurgitate lessons from our curriculum but to truly teach kids in ways that deepen their faith. While every child’s faith journey is unique, there are key spiritual milestones that signal their growth—and we should be celebrating them! Think about the example that Abram sets in Genesis 12—God appears to...
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5 Ways to Change Things Up This Summer in Your KidMin

Summer often means more sporadic attendance - for both families and volunteers. It's a great season to change things up and keep things exciting for the kids, but sometimes it means relying on volunteers who don't typically serve in your ministry. So what can you do to change things up to accommodate fluctuating numbers and give a more laid-back feel for you and your team? Here are 5 ideas: Take things outside (or at least change up your seating). If your weather, size, and space allows, invite kids to grab a chair or set up some picnic blankets and teach the lesson outside! They’ll love the change of scenery and it’s a much more casual environment that sometimes more easily allows for the next two ideas. If you can’t go outside, consider changing the seating to sit in a circle, on the floor instead of in chairs, etc. - something to...
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Faith and Fun Summer Bucket List for Families

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Share this printable with the families in your ministry to help them make their own personalized summer bucket list with a focus on faith AND fun! Or use the printable as an activity during your ministry time - for early-arrivers, as a small group discussion tool, or as a summer kick-off activity![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="DOWNLOAD HERE! " align="center" css="" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F05%2FDKM-Faith-and-Fun-Summer-Bucket-List.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="152970" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css="" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/prayer-pails-summer-family-resource/"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text css=""]This...
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4 Places to Find Summer Volunteers for Your Ministry

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Volunteers are hard to come by in the world of children's ministry, especially during the summer after your team has been serving all year long! When possible, it can help to give your regular volunteer team a break during the summer months so they can relax, recharge, and refresh. Our subscribers have access to a Summer Serve printable that can help them recruit a team of summer volunteers, and here are 4 specific places to find volunteers to serve in your ministry during the summer months... College Students - They're headed home for the summer and most of them will be looking for something to do! Invite them to be part of your ministry on Sunday mornings. They often get out of school earlier than local public schools, so try and connect with them early or mid-May when they're just getting home! Present it...
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