Categories: Leadership

Reopening Your Children’s Ministry After COVID-19

Here in Georgia, Governor Kemp has given churches permission to reopen their doors and resume services, as long as we maintain strict social distancing protocols. This announcement has pushed churches to begin the discussion that causes excitement and makes our heads spin at the same time: What will reopening in-person church services look like, and what does that mean for children's ministry? Whether you're reopening this Sunday or not even considering it until June, here are some ideas & resources from a variety of denominational backgrounds and organizations to help inform your decision and plan. I'm still trying to figure out what everything will look like too, but I hope this list helps inform your discussions in planning the best possible options for your ministry. Keep these tips in mind when creating your reopening...
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Think Like a Scientist: Engaging Elementary-Age Kids

Whether online or in-person, if you want to engage elementary-age kids, you have to think like a scientist. I don't mean using beakers and lab coats in your teaching (although that can be fun), but by thinking and teaching concretely. It's Just a Phase (a book you need to have in your kidmin library if you don't already) goes into detail about how elementary-age kids "understand the world through concrete evidence" and learn "through repetition and clear application." They internalize new information best when they can see it happen in their every-day environment, so the more often you can connect a Biblical lesson to an elementary schooler's everyday life, the better. Elementary-age kids think concretely and literally, and they tend to see the world in black and white. Research shows that elementary kids have a strong sense of justice and...
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Spiritual Growth Assessment For Leaders

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]One of Deeper KidMin's goals is to help you grow kids deeper in their relationships with Christ, but we must be growing deeper in our own faith as leaders too. To grow deeper as leaders, we have to identify and evaluate where our faith currently stands. This week's freebie is a resource from LifeWay Christian resources that walks you through a spiritual assessment in 6 key areas: Abide in Christ, Live in the Word, Pray in Faith, Fellowship with Believers, Witness to the World, and Minister to Others.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download Spiritual Growth Assessment Here!" align="center" link="url:http%3A%2F%2Fblog.lifeway.com%2Fgrowingdisciples%2Ffiles%2F2013%2F08%2FSpiritual_Growth_Assessment.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]This personal assessment tool helps you evaluate your spiritual growth in six...
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Filed Under Blog, Free Weekly Downloads, Leadership, Volunteers

6 Ways to Grow as a Leader During Quarantine

Whether life has slowed down or gotten even crazier since the COVID-19 quarantining began, you can use this unique season of ministry to grow as a leader if you... Make time to REST. Do this one first, and if you only pick one thing, let it be this one! As a ministry leader, your schedule is always go-go-go, so take advantage of this slower pace of life that we've all been forced into by social distancing and stay-at-home orders. Don't feel pressure to add something to your plate just because your normal schedule looks different or feels smaller, and don't let someone else's approach to online ministry make you feel guilty for the valuable way you're serving your flock. Repeat after me: It's OK if productivity looks different in this season. Enjoying a time of rest will help you reflect, recharge, and refresh so you can be the best leader...
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Filed Under Blog, Leadership

Mother’s Day Social Media Templates

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We mentioned this idea in our list of Quarantine Mother's Day Ideas, and it's super simple! Lots of high schools are doing something like this to honor their 2020 seniors, and you can do it for the moms in your ministry too. Ask families to share a picture (and maybe even a short note/quote), insert their pics into your favorite template below, then share on your church’s social media pages throughout Mother’s Day weekend to honor the moms and women in your ministry! See more social-distanced ministry resources here. Click on your favorite graphic(s) below, and the template(s) will open in a new tab. Right click and save the template to your computer, then insert the template into your favorite graphics editor or even Microsoft PowerPoint to customize them, export them, and...
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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Free Weekly Downloads, Leadership

Quarantine Mother’s Day Ideas

Mother's Day 2020 will look vastly different than in years past thanks to COVID-19 and quarantines. So how can you honor the women and mothers in your church while maintaining a safe social distance? I learned about these ideas from a live webinar in Jessica Bealer's Don't Quit Ministry Support FaceBook Group and had to share! Donut Delivery - Did you know that Dunkin Donuts delivers? They've partnered with Grub Hub to deliver as few as half a dozen donuts in and around participating locations. Send a breakfast treat to your moms and remind them you "donut" know what you'd do without them! Find out if your Dunkin location is participating here. Pop Cards - I know, I know, moms always get cards for Mother's Day, but what if you splurged a bit and sent the moms in your ministry special Pop Up cards that are almost like works of art? Pop...
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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Leadership

VBS 2020 Thank You Cards Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]VBS 2020 will soon be upon us, and while your planning this year may look different because of the coronavirus, you'll need to thank your volunteers no matter what VBS becomes. Use these 2 thank you card designs (tailored to a construction VBS theme and a train VBS theme) to show your volunteers some love! Just print on cardstock, cut, and write a VBS-themed thank you note to each person on your team! And be sure to check out our list of resources to help make your VBS a success![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download VBS 2020 Thank You Cards Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F03%2FVBS-2020-Thank-You-Cards.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="27133" img_size="full" alignment="center"...
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Filed Under Blog, Free Weekly Downloads, Leadership, Volunteers

6 Resources to Make Your VBS a Success

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]From planning to volunteers to follow-up, here are 6 resources to help make your VBS a success![/vc_column_text][vc_separator color="custom" border_width="5" accent_color="#3ac1e1"][vc_custom_heading text="VBS Master To-Do List Printable" font_container="tag:h1|text_align:center" use_theme_fonts="yes" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fvbs-master-to-do-list-printable%2F||target:%20_blank|"][vc_single_image image="24370" img_size="large" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/vbs-master-to-do-list-printable/"][vc_column_text]Take your VBS planning to the next level with this printable fill-in-the-blank VBS plan. Go from sleepless nights, wondering if you got all the details in place to waking well-rested and refreshed because you...
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Filed Under Blog, Leadership, Volunteers

Free Zoom Backgrounds for Online Kids Church

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Earlier in the week, we talked about how to use virtual backgrounds on Zoom to engage kids while teaching online, so of course this week's freebie includes 8 free Zoom backgrounds you can use for Easter and beyond! Click on the title or image below, and it will open in a new tab. Right Click and "Save As" to download to your computer for use in your next Zoom meeting with kids.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_custom_heading text="Crosses" font_container="tag:h2|text_align:center" use_theme_fonts="yes" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F04%2FZoom-Crosses.png||target:%20_blank|"][vc_single_image image="27677" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank"...
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Change Your Zoom Background To Engage Kids While Teaching Online

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Did you know you can change your background on Zoom while hosting online kids church (how-to instructions below)? You can be teaching from outer space, under the sea, or even in front of the city of Jerusalem, and you don't have to use the same background the entire time. Using virtual backgrounds on Zoom is not only fun, but you can also use this feature as a teaching tool. You can easily change the background in the middle of your teaching to engage kids and involve them in the story! Zoom Background Teaching Ideas: Bible Story Images: Find pictures that fit your story or that include objects within the story. As you teach, change the background to match what you're talking about to help keep kids engaged virtually. Eye Spy: Create a background with a collage of various items (people, words, objects,...
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Filed Under Blog, Leadership

Easter Egg Hunt Alternatives for COVID-19 Quarantine Printable!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Earlier in the week, we talked about Easter Egg Hunt Alternatives during this time of social distancing and quarantining for COVID-19, so today we're sharing a free printable to help you pull that off![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download You've Been Egged Easter Egg Hunt Alternative Printable Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F03%2FDKM-Youve-been-Egged-COVID-19-Update.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]It’s simple, it’s cheap (you only need some colored paper and plastic Easter eggs), and most importantly, it’s so fun! Print & copy the printable pages double-sided on colored paper, adding in details about your church Easter services (online or in person) in the space provided. You can also share this PDF with your families via email so...
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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Free Weekly Downloads, Leadership

Easter Egg Hunt Alternatives for COVID-19 Quarantine

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As Easter draws near and the COVID-19 pandemic continues, you may be wondering what to do about your Easter Egg Hunt in this time of social distancing and quarantines. Here are a few alternative egg hunt ideas to help you and your families celebrate Easter, and check out all of our COVID-19 ministry resources here. You've Been Egged (Free Printable here!) - We adapted this from an Easter Egg Hunt invite to a family activity! It’s simple, it’s cheap (you only need some colored paper and plastic Easter eggs), and most importantly, it’s so fun! Print & copy this free download, adding in details about your church Easter services (online or in person) in the space provided. Then leave the printable on a family's doorstep, ring the doorbell, and run! Kids hunt for the empty egg in the yard, then "egg"...
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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Leadership

A Habit of Joy

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I've been reading through Bob Goff's Live In Grace, Walk in Love Devotional, and one of the days from last month has really stuck with me. Bob was talking about the power of habits and connected the physical process of building habits with the spiritual process of building habits that help us create a lifestyle of loving others. He said... "When joy is a habit, love is a reflex."  And then he posed the question: How do we make joy a habit in our everyday lives so our reflex is always love for the people around us? Confession: I'm not very good at making joy a habit. I tend to over-analyze and have a critical attitude of everything, from myself to my ministry to other people. So I have to be very intentional about making joy a habit in my life. One way I've done that is by keeping a gratitude journal,...
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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Leadership

Apps for Online Kids Church

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You may be trying to navigate the new normal of hosting kids church online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are a few apps to consider, and no matter which one you use, read these 5 tips for engaging kids through video to make it the best possible experience for everyone involved! FACEBOOK LIVE - So far, this seems to be the most popular platform for online children's ministry. Why? Because most parents are already on FaceBook and familiar with how to use it. When you go Live on Facebook, families can interact by leaving comments in real-time. Plus, the video stays on your church's FB page for those families who couldn't watch it live. I love this platform because it encourages parents to watch with their kids, giving them a glimpse into what Sunday mornings in the kids area looks like and encouraging family...
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5 Tips for Engaging Kids Through Video For Online Church

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As you're hosting kids church online through video during the Coronavirus pandemic, use the tips below to make it the best possible experience for your kids and families (and you)! And check out all of our COVID-19 ministry tips & resources here. Make a plan. Just like you wouldn't walk into a regular Sunday morning without a plan for the day, don't try to do that with a video either! Make sure you and your team know the order and flow of the video, and be sure to set any props off-screen but within reach. You may also want to have links ready to share, like links to a folder on Google Drive of activity worksheets that go with the lesson, links to worship videos, links to a video lesson, and more! (Just make sure your curriculum & worship songs allows sharing the resources in this way). Spend the...
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Book Review: The Family Board Meeting

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In January, I shared my KidMin Reading List for 2020, and I wanted to tell you about the first book I read: The Family Board Meeting.  My friend Joy Canupp sent me this book when we announced our pregnancy back in August 2019, and as my husband and I are now a month in to life as new parents, this book has already given me so much to think about, pray about, and implement as our family grows. And with kids across the country at home this week from Covid-19 school closings, the book's emphasis on quality family time is relevant for everyone.  It's a nice, quick little read (not even 100 pages), but it's full of encouragement and ideas for being intentional at home, even in the midst of the busy-ness. As a ministry leader, I know you know the challenge of balancing family and ministry, and this book had...
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Filed Under Blog, Book Shelf, For Parents, Leadership

How To Prepare for the Coronavirus at Your Church

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The coronavirus pandemic will have medical and economical effects, but it doesn't have to affect the spiritual growth of the families we serve. While we don't quite yet know the full extent of this virus's impact, we do know we have to be prepared. My pastor related the pandemic to a weatherman's warning of an upcoming hurricane. It may be as bad as they predict; it may not. Either way, we have to be prepared. Use the ideas and resources below to prepare for the effects of this virus and equip families during this uncertain time, and check out all of our COVID-19 tips, resources, and ideas here.  If your church will continue to meet:  Make a plan. You may not be closing this weekend, but chances are you might in the future, and you should still adjust practices based on the current circumstances. This...
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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Leadership, Volunteers

5 Family Easter Resources 2020

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Easter is always an important season in children's ministry, especially as we help families connect with each other and with Jesus. Browse all of our Easter resources here, but check out our top 5 Family Easter resources below to help families engage and interact with the Easter story in a variety of ways![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_empty_space height="25px"][vc_single_image image="24219" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/40-days-of-remembering-jesus-a-lent-resource-for-families/"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]40 Days of Remembering Jesus - I know Lent started 2 weeks ago, but it's never too late for a family to start being intentional about remembering Jesus...
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10 Scriptures For Kids About Light

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Use these Scriptures in your lesson about Jesus as the Light of the World, for your Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt, your Walk in the Light Easter Event, or for any lesson teaching kids about light! They're short enough for kids to memorize, and they coordinate with any light or glowing theme. (Note: All verses in NIrV) John 12:36a - “While you have the light, believe in it. Then you can become children of light.” 1 John 1:5b - “God is light. There is no darkness in him at all.” John 9:5 - “Jesus said, ‘While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’” John 12:46 - “Jesus said, ‘I have come into the world to be its light. So no one who believes in me will stay in darkness.’” John 8:12 - “Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Anyone...
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3 Things a Permanent Church Can Learn From a Mobile Church

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Mobile churches are churches that have no permanent building but meet in a local venue like a school or community center. Having served on staff in mobile ministry for five years at a church that met at a local high school, I understand the struggle, frustration, and downright difficult task of mobile ministry. But there are aspects of mobile ministry that even churches with a brick-and-mortar building can learn and should adopt. 1) How to leverage resources – As a mobile church, the supplies you use on Sunday are often limited to what you can haul in and out each week. That means you have to get creative in how you store, prepare, and even use resources, and there’s no room for fluff! Renting a space rather than owning a building can also allow churches to leverage their financial resources for their...
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7 Ways to Break the Ice With Kids

Connecting with kids on Sunday mornings must be a priority in order to make Sunday mornings successful. Breaking the ice with the kids and forming personal relationships encourages them to be excited about coming to church and creates a better environment for them to learn more about God. While you may feel comfortable walking up to a brand-new kid, your volunteers might need some help in how to break the ice and build relationships with the kids in their small group. Here are 7 helpful hints to share with your team on breaking the ice with kids... Make an effort to see eye to eye with the kids! When the kids arrive in the morning, get down to their level to listen to them.  Give plenty of high fives because (appropriate) physical touch can go a long way. Engage in conservation with the kids and listen to what they have to say. That...
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Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt FAQs

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So you're thinking about hosting a Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt, but you're not really sure what that really entails? Here's a closer look at how our Jesus is Light Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt event went + answers to some of the questions you've been asking about hosting your own glow in the dark egg hunt! We offered the event for free, but we did ask families to register ahead of time so we could know how many to expect. With the way we did our egg hunts using specific letters and numbers, we needed a general head count. We of course made extras for those who showed up the day-of, but it really helped to at least have an idea of our total numbers. As families arrived, they received details about all of our available stations![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="22387" img_size="full"...
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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Leadership

4 Ways to Change Up Your Easter Egg Hunt

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Are you looking for ways to add some variety to your regular annual Easter Egg Hunt? Use these 4 ideas to change up your egg hunts and provide a whole new hunt experience! Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt - Stuff your eggs with glow sticks or finger lights, then wait for the sun to go down, and hunt for glowing eggs in the dark! This is a popular and really fun way to add variety to your egg hunt. The first year we hosted a Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt, one family had to miss it, and the kids were so disappointed they asked mom to re-create it for them at home! (Psst - if you want to host a Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt, we've done the planning for you! See the details here. Colored Egg Hunt - This hunt works great if you have multiple ages hunting at the same time. In this type of egg hunt, certain ages can pick up...
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Filed Under Blog, Leadership

Staying Motivated in Ministry

Let's face it. Children's ministry is challenging! There will be plenty of times when we will want to hit snooze on the alarm clock and call in sick or when we feel like we just can't handle it anymore. But the gospel will be the one thing to bring us back to where we need to be. The gospel is what will get us out of bed in the morning and into church so we can share the gospel with kids and lead our volunteers with integrity. LifeWay shared a post about leadership lessons from Paul, and they offered ideas for staying motivated in ministry and leadership and how the gospel kept Paul motivated through chaos like imprisonment, shipwreck, and more. Practice these things this month so the joy of the gospel can be your motivation to serve well and persevere. Spend time in the Word. (To be motivated by the gospel, you have to know the gospel!) ...
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Never Plan in Pen

I like having a plan just as much (if not more) than the average leader, but if you serve in ministry (especially children's ministry), then you know that being flexible and able to adapt to a constantly-changing situation is vital. Sometimes the plans have to change. So as you're planning your calendar year (use this Calendar Planning Checklist to help balance the year!), always plan in pencil so you can be adaptable and flexible when plans have to change. Here are some situations in KidMin when I've had to be flexible (some amusing, some not so much)... When the previously sunny skies unexpectedly turn into rain, meaning you won't be heading to the park for your Fall Scavenger Hunt Preschool Playdate. When no one signs up or shows up for an event you've scheduled. (No shame - this really happened.) When you show up at the fire...
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