Categories: Leadership

Should Kids Fast?

Fasting is the spiritual discipline of abstaining from food or drink for spiritual purposes. It allows us to remove distraction, focus on God's blessings or callings, and develop the discipline of training our minds and our bodies. (I highly recommend Richard Foster's book Celebration of Discipline for an in-depth study and application of fasting and other spiritual disciplines.) Jesus (Luke 4), Daniel (Daniel 10), and Esther (Esther 4) are all Biblical examples of fasting, so we know it can be an important part of our faith journey. But what about kids? Should kids fast?  While I don't recommend kids fasting from meals, there are safe ways kids can develop the discipline of fasting. Fasting is all about sacrifice, about giving something up so that something else can take its place as a priority or consuming thought in our lives. It's a...
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Kids Prayer Journal Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Give kids the experience of prayer journaling using this free prayer journal printable! This activity can easily fit into any lesson or small group time, although it was created for the Journey Through Jonah 8-week series.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Prayer Printable Now!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F09%2FDKM-Kids-Prayer-Journal-Printable.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text]Supplies: prayer journal printable, writing utensils, (optional: soft worship music in the background) Details: Explain to kids that one of the ways we can pray to God is through using a journal. Give each kid a prayer journal printable. Play quiet worship music in the background and have kids fill out their first prayer journal sheet. Older kids can write in...
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Family Easter Event: Walk in the Light

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I've been getting a lot of questions about the Walk in the Light Family Easter Event, so I decided I'd give you a closer look at how our event went and answer some of the most common questions. A couple years ago, I was tired of hosting ANOTHER egg hunt for Easter. Even though our Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt events were pretty awesome, I was ready for something new. Plus, I got word that our local community was hosting a lantern parade on the same night as our scheduled Easter event. So after some prayer and talking with my Parent Council, we decided if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, and Walk in the Light was created! We invited families to join us for 2 hours on a Saturday morning for worship, a short lesson, and a time of lantern-decorating. We tied the lesson into 1 John 1:5-7 and talked about how we could...
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10 Psalms Every Kid Should Know

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Psalms are often overlooked in children's ministry since they don't provide the typical story-style teaching. But the book of Psalms is still an important book for kids to know about, especially as they learn to deal with their emotions and discover the character of God. Here are 10 Psalms I think every kid should know. What are some of your favorites? Psalm 1 - This one reminds kids what it looks like to walk with God. Psalm 19 - A great passage for reminding kids how God's Word leads to refreshment, enlightenment, and life, and how God is worthy of our praise. Psalm 19:14 is a great one for kids to memorize! Psalm 23 - Isn't this pretty much everyone's favorite Psalm? The shepherd analogy helps kids understand God as their protector, and this Psalm can be a source of comfort when kids are...
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Lean In Giveaway Results & Your KidMin Goals

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In the latest giveaway for this book from KidMin Nation, I asked you to tell me about one of your goals for the year and how you plan to accomplish it. And boy do you have some big goals! I love seeing how you’re thinking big and starting small with your plans for the year ahead.  Congratulations to Kristina in Washington State for winning a free copy of the book! Kristina said her goal for the year was all about volunteer management: I want to learn how to train and empower my volunteer team. I really struggle with this area in the past. Working toward this goal by strategically planning our bi-annual trainings (the purpose, what we will cover, how to appreciate them). What do I teach them? And how/what do I teach them depending on the age they teach. I'd like to find ways each month to do this rather...
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Lean In Book Review and Giveaway

[vc_row 0=""][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="8992" img_size="medium" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" link="https://amzn.to/2CSaJ99"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text 0=""] Lean In: Leverage Your Influence for Ministry Impact By KidMin Nation (Editor: Tina Houser) My rating: 5/5 stars - It was amazing!     Read: December 2018[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row 0=""][vc_column 0=""][vc_column_text 0=""]This book is for you if... you are a leader, you want to grow as a leader, you don't feel like a leader but want to My thoughts: Third time's a charm! I'm so excited to have had another chance to be included for publication in a KidMin Nation book. While the first book was all about connecting with parents (see more details here) and the second book was all about connecting...
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Resource Review – The Greatest Story Ever Told: The Bible Album

I love finding new ways to draw kids into the overarching story of the Bible and helping them connect the storyline throughout the Scriptures. Which is why I'm IN LOVE with this new album from High Point Church. There are 66 books of the Bible, and The Greatest Story Ever Told: The Bible helps kids see how all of those books connect through 12 catchy songs. It was created by a children's pastor with a passion for helping kids enjoy the Bible. My favorite song? #6: Rise of the Kingship (Forever Be) - First of all, it's a beautiful melody. But then you get to the lyrics and that's where it got me. Even though it talks about Saul and David and the rise of the Kingship in Israel (hence the title), it emphasizes how these kings point to a future King... "But it's not about David, you see. David pointed to a much greater king... God will put a...
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Getting Away to Pray, Plan, and Dream

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a "work retreat" with Joy Canupp, a women's Christian leadership coach/speaker and the creator behind Simply Joy. It was AWESOME. The point of the weekend was for creators, writers, business leaders, etc. to come together for a time of productivity and shared learning. We stayed in Joy's vacation home in the mountains of NC, and the 100+-year-old house had so much character and so much space to spread out and work. (The electric heated blanket on my bed and the hot tea selection also made my stay super cozy). Throughout the Thursday-lunch to Saturday-lunch event, there were over 14 hours of individual, uninterrupted work time scheduled, and it was glorious. I was able to pray, plan, dream, and write for the year ahead, jotting down ideas and checking...
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Top Nine 2018

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There's a handy little app that consolidates your top 9 Instagram posts from the year into one easy post, so as we head into 2019, I wanted to take a minute and celebrate the moments and posts you enjoyed most! (And you can create your own Top Nine image here.)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]May 1 - Shared a review of this book on the blog today. If you have children or serve children, this is a great read! Read the full review here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="8604" img_size="full" alignment="center"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="8609" img_size="full" alignment="center"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]January 13 - "Thank you for the fantastic idea...
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Rock N Roll Christmas Party: A Unique Family Christmas Event

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]My friends over at RISING Church in GA hosted a family-fun Christmas event that was a huge hit with the whole church. They rented out the local skate rink from 6-8 PM on a Sunday evening for a “Rock N Roll” Christmas Party! [/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="7910" img_size="full" alignment="center"][vc_column_text]They hosted a special night for their entire church family to start off the Christmas season with some good old fashioned fun! With desserts, the concession stand, and extra activities for all ages, families could join them for an evening of laughter and Christmas-themed fellowship. They had an ornament craft that families could make together or as individuals, Christmas Trivia elimination, themed skates, a rock-n-roll Christmas cake for all to enjoy, and there was even a Frozen...
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Last Christmas 2018

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Last Christmas, I gave you these printables, but some of you weren't here. This year, to save you some time, I'm bringing them back in cased you missed them. Ok, so maybe those aren't the lyrics, but it's true! (And you already have my heart anyway, kidmin leader.) Here are our top resources from Last Christmas and a sneak peek at what's coming this year![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="7269" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/candy-cane-poem-printable/"][vc_custom_heading text="Candy Cane Printable" font_container="tag:h2|text_align:center" use_theme_fonts="yes"...
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2 Christmas Volunteer Appreciation Ideas

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Earlier in the week, we talked about 3 tips for appreciating your volunteers this Christmas. Spread some Christmas cheer to your volunteers with these simple, easy, and affordable gifts! Download the printable below for two different gift tag options. Then print, sign your name, cut, and attach to the gifts! Both designs are available as Christmas-themed or general appreciation, so use one this Christmas and save the other one for the spring![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Christmas Volunteer Appreciation Printables Now!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F09%2FDKM-Christmas-Volunteer-Appreciation-2018.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_single_image image="7172" img_size="full" alignment="center"][vc_column_text]Idea #1:...
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Advent in a Box: A Small Box with a Big Impact

I just found out about a brand new resource from Family Ministry Tools that helps kids and families not only understand what Advent is but also spend time preparing for the coming of Jesus together. Advent in a Box is a small box with a big impact. You download the printables from Family Ministry Tools, order the necessary supplies, pack your boxes, then distribute them to the families in your ministry to use at home all December long. Each download includes start-up instructions, printable labels for the boxes, and all of the printables you need to include. To make life easier, they’ve even included an Amazon shopping list for you with all of the necessary items for each box. With Advent in a Box, the planning and thinking are done for you; you just have to do the organizing. Here’s what I like about this resource: It’s...
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The Best Gift You Can Give the Parents In Your Ministry

[vc_row 0=""][vc_column 0=""][vc_column_text 0=""]This holiday season, give the parents in your ministry the best gift ever: a night out without the kids. Host a Parents’ Night Out (PNO) where you have youth or empty nesters watch the children while their parents enjoy 4 hours of children-free time. You basically throw one big party for the kids, use youth as your volunteers, and the parents have a night out for dinner and a movie, Christmas shopping, or just relaxing at home with no kids! I don't normally like hosting events in December (it was a month my families blacked out on my calendar planning checklist), but they LOVED having a PNO in December. It gave them a well-deserved break or the chance to get some Christmas shopping/wrapping done.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="7059" img_size="full"][vc_column_text 0=""]Because of the...
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How Do You Handle Halloween in KidMin?

The History Channel gives a great overview of the history of Halloween, so I won’t go into it here, but it’s not uncommon for Christians to struggle with whether or not to celebrate this spooky holiday. Some see it as a dark day full of evil influence while others deem it a harmless time for fun costumes and candy. So how do you handle Halloween as a children’s pastor? The answer to this question will be different for every leader because it’s all about your context. How you handle Halloween in your children’s ministry should be more about the families you serve than your personal convictions. For me, if I hosted an event on Halloween, no one would come because they’d all be out trick-or-treating. I can condemn them for that, or I can equip them to use that time as a way to connect with the gospel. I know other churches that...
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Top 10 Posts/Freebies From DKM’s First Year

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Deeper KidMin celebrated its first birthday last Friday with the announcement of the new DKM Marketplace and the opportunity YOU have to be part of it as a DKM Marketplace Vendor. I decided to keep the party going with this week's post and highlight the top posts/freebies from the last year, so here are the top 10 posts y'all enjoyed most. Just click on each picture to access the post/freebie.[/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title="#1 - Over 5,000 Downloads!" color="custom" border_width="3" accent_color="#3ac1e1"][vc_single_image image="4748" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/thirsty-for-god-object-lesson/"][vc_text_separator title="#2 - SLLRP Behavior Management System" color="custom" border_width="3"...
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KidMin Nation Mega-Con 2018 Notes

Last week I attended KidMin Nation Mega-Con 2018 in Nashville, TN, and while I did use my conference reflection worksheet to help me process the week, here are my notes from the general sessions! Ryan Frank - “State of the Nation” Talked about the 4 major ingredients of success, according to Norman Winarsky (creator of Siri - make a joke about how my phone picked it up throughout the talk?) Address a pain point Use differentiated technology Build a team Create value proposition So what does that look like for us as kidmin leaders? Address a pain point - what problem are we solving? We solve a spiritual problem, and there is eternal value in our job. Our job = evangelizing and discipling kids We also solve other problems that kids and parents face Differentiated technology - what do we do about...
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Post-Conference Reflection Worksheet

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Attending conferences is great (I’m a conference junkie myself), but sometimes they can feel like trying to drink from a fire hose. [/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="6087" img_size="full" alignment="center"][vc_column_text]There are just so many new ideas, new people, new resources, new everything! And as an introvert, just being around that many people 3 days in a row is exhausting. So I use the process below after every conference I attend to help me reflect on the week and focus on what it means for me as I head home.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Printable Version Here" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fpost-conference-reflection-worksheet%2F||target:%20_blank|"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Pray. Thank God for the...
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Do It Again: A Testimony of God’s Faithfulness

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As I head to MegaCon 2018 this week, I’ve been reflecting on the past year, and all that has happened since MegaCon 2017. I attended last year during my final weeks as a full-time children’s pastor in a season of struggle. I’m attending this year from a place of joy and awe at God’s faithfulness... 2017 was a tough year. My husband and I had decided that it was time for us to move on from the church where we were both working full-time (me as the children’s pastor, him as the youth pastor). Nothing had gone wrong. There was no drama. Things were going great, in fact. But we’d been with this community and under the same leadership since middle school and felt like it was time for us to “move out of the house” if we wanted to continue to grow. So my husband stepped down in May and started...
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10 Fall Fest Games

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Fall season is here, which means Fall Fest season is here too. Here are 10 Fall Fest games/activities kids love! Happy Fall, Y'all! Pumpkin Ring Toss - Write points on 3-5 large pumpkins, set them up, then invite kids to toss a hula hoop around the pumpkins, earning the most points possible! Donut Tree - What kid doesn't love eating donuts? In this game, hang donuts from string in a tree, and see how fast kids can eat a donut without using their hands! Leaf Rubbings - Collect and dry some large fall leaves. Provide paper and crayons for kids to create rubbings with the leaves for a cool fall craft! Lay the paper on top of the leaf, then using the side of the crayon, gently rub the paper until the imprint of the leaf shows through. Pro tip: lay the leaf upside down so the veins are facing up (this...
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Eternal & Intimate

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]One of the cool things about God is that His character is full of juxtapositions. Of opposite traits that shouldn’t be able to co-exist in one person but do. He is a judge and yet merciful. He (in Jesus) is holy and yet human. And my favorite one is that He is eternal and yet intimate. The same God who created the heavens and the earth - who built universes and exists outside of time - is the same God who wants a personal relationship with me. It makes my heart sing when He pursues me in the midst of His busy schedule. He’s got a lot going on, and yet He still makes time for me every day. He draws near to me just as I draw near to Him, and even when He feels far away, He’s not. I’m reminded of the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:11-13. Elijah goes to stand out on the side of the mountain to wait...
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My Favorite Feedback Questions

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We've been talking about receiving feedback well and asking the right questions, so this week's download is a list of my favorite questions to ask families and volunteers! These questions help provide insight into my leadership and how I can improve the ministry. As we each work to receive feedback well, I pray these questions provide answers that encourage willing and humble hearts to grow. (Please note: the download is a Microsoft Word document so you can easily use and adapt the questions for your ministry.)[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download a Word Doc List of the Questions" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Fkidmin-planning-bundle%2F||target:%20_blank|"][vc_column_text] My Favorite Children/Family Questions  Event-Specific: What questions did you have going into...
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Asking the Right Questions

Last week we talked about receiving feedback well, but once your heart is in check, how do you ask the questions that will give you the most valuable answers? Start with yourself. Appreciation, coaching, and evaluation shouldn’t only come from others. We have to receive feedback from ourselves too! Plus, if you intentionally evaluate the things you could have done better, it doesn’t sting as much when someone else points them out too. Create a culture of openness and feedback. People want to know their voice matters, and they want to feel heard. Consistently ask for feedback from your key volunteers and parents about your leadership and the week-to-week happenings of your ministry. Set up a volunteer or parent council that meets at least twice a year for evaluation and coaching. By being open to at least hearing all ideas, we give...
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Proverbs 19:20 Printable

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We're in the middle of a short series about receiving feedback well and asking the right questions in KidMin. Earlier in the week, we talked about how receiving feedback well is a more about our heart than our questions. One verse that always helps me check my heart when it comes to feedback is Proverbs 19:20, so I made this printable to help me remember that wisdom comes from listening to counsel and advice. It even comes with 2 options so you can choose which one matches your style best.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Proverbs 19:20 Printable " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F09%2FDKM-Proverbs-19.20-printable.pdf||target:%20_blank|"][vc_single_image image="5675" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank"...
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Receiving Feedback Well in KidMin

The beginning of a new school year means new volunteers, new policies, and new procedures. And sometimes that comes with opinions and feedback on how the new changes are going. So for the next couple of weeks, we'll talk about receiving feedback well and asking the right questions. That may seem backward. Shouldn’t asking the right questions happen before we talk about receiving feedback well? From my experiences, no. Receiving feedback well is more about our heart than our questions. We have to be mentally, emotionally, and prayerfully ready to hear feedback and accept it gracefully before we even start asking the questions. Otherwise, the responses to our questions get tangled up in our own emotions and blind spots. As a young leader, I worked so hard to prove myself and gain the trust of parents and families that I often closed...
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