6 Ways to Make Scripture Memory Fun

Scripture memory can be a daunting goal to accomplish, even as adults, but the importance of hiding God’s Word in our hearts is undeniably valuable. Check out some of the ideas below for making memorizing Scripture fun (and therefore easier) for you and your kids. We’ve used several in our ministry context, and they are easy to apply at home or in your ministry too! 1) Make it a game! There are SO MANY ways to make memorizing scripture a game, and the more fun your kids are having, the more they’ll want to memorize! Check out some of our favorite scripture memory games here. 2) Sing it Out! – Make up your own song, chant, cheer, or rap using the words in the verse. You could also check out several resources that are readily available for you and your family. JumpStart3 and Seeds Family Worship both provide relevant worship music...

A Prayer for Unhurried Intimacy

Do you choose a "word for the year"? I used to scoff at the practice, but now, I love finding the ways God works through a particular theme throughout a particular season. I've started documenting my words for each year, and what a testimony they have been to God's faithfulness in my life. In 2020, my word was change (lol). I thought it was just about having my first child, but a month after she was born, a global pandemic hit and changed a lot more than just my family life. But oh the creativity that God has pulled out of that season! In 2021, rest. In 2022, celebrate/celebration. As I've prayed about God's theme for me for 2023, one word continues to show up: intimacy. Intimacy in my family and as a mother as we recently welcomed baby #2. Intimacy in my relationships with others that goes deeper than the superficial. And most...

What Live Christmas Trees Remind Us About Children’s Ministry

Are you team live Christmas tree or team fake Christmas tree at your house? I'm team real Christmas tree all the way. Always have been. Always will be. I love the smell, the excitement of decorating the tree, and the process of choosing just the right tree to take home from a local Christmas tree farm (I have a whole checklist of Christmas tree requirements). I even tried to plan the birth of my second child around being able to go get our live Christmas tree as usual. :) Our live Christmas tree twinkles in the corner of our living room, and it's got me thinking about our calling to serve kids and families. As we head into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I hope these reminders bring you encouragement, hope, and energy as you make the final preparations for some of the biggest services of the year. Here's what live Christmas trees can...

Christmas Shoppe Community Event

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Looking for a way to serve and connect with your community this Christmas season? Ashley, a kidmin leader in LA shared with me about a special Christmas Shoppe event his church puts on every year, where his church provides a Christmas shopping experience to needy families in the area: "We have several low-income families in our campus areas and they would not be able to provide Christmas for their kiddos, so we provide that experience for them. We have different themes each year: last year was Polar Express with trains running around the tops of the lobby walls and this year will be a Christmas farm with red trucks, string lights, and trees." To communicate with families who may want to participate, Ashley's church goes through their school systems, counselors, and those who know the families that need help....

Christmas Shoppe Community Event Details & Documents

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Looking for a way to serve and connect with your community this Christmas season? Ashley, a kidmin leader in LA shared with me about a special Christmas Shoppe event his church puts on every year, where his church provides a Christmas shopping experience to needy families in the area: “We have several low-income families in our campus areas and they would not be able to provide Christmas for their kiddos, so we provide that experience for them." We shared an overview of the Christmas Shoppe event on the blog here, but Ashley also agreed to share some of the documents, plans, and details for hosting a Christmas Shoppe event as a free download for our subscribers![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Christmas Shoppe Event Details and Documents Here!" align="center"...

Help Families “Treasure These Things in their Hearts” this Advent Season

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This post is an excerpt from the family devotion included in the Family Advent Calendar Kit from Vanessa Myers of Family Faith Builders.  "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19 When you think about Christmas, what are some things that come to mind? Your first response might be opening presents! Maybe you also said Christmas lights, candy canes, trees, ornaments, baking cookies, or traveling to visit family. How many of you said the birth of Jesus? As Christians, it's the whole reason we celebrate Christmas! We don't celebrate because we get gifts, but we celebrate because Jesus was born on this earth as a gift from God to save us from our sins so we could live forever with Him in heaven one day. As Christians, we also celebrate the season of Advent. This...

Keeping Christ in Christmas at Home (Without Overwhelming Families)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I'm excited to share some thoughts from Christie Thomas, author and one of our DKM Vendors, today! Here's what she has to say about keeping Christ in Christmas at Home (without overwhelming families)... It was the same every November. The same woman in our church would strike up a conversation, which would inevitably lead to the question, “are you going to run a Christmas pageant this year?” I love a great Christmas pageant and was involved in many large-scale pageants and musicals as a child, but it never felt like the right fit for this church. The desire for a pageant seemed to come from a feeling of nostalgia, which, to me, isn’t a good enough reason to burn myself and our families out at Christmas. (Psst - check out a few reasons you should - and shouldn't - host a Christmas pageant here.) I...

Idea Evaluation Flowchart

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You probably have and hear a lot of ideas in children's ministry, whether your own or suggestions from someone else. Use this idea evaluation flowchart to help you determine what ideas are valuable for you to pursue and which ones you can let go or table for the future. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Idea Evaluation Flowchart here! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F09%2FDKM-Idea-Evaluation-Flowchart.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row]

8 Ways to Honor Pregnancy and Infant Loss in Your Ministry

Trigger warning: This post discusses pregnancy and infant loss. If you are struggling with a miscarriage or stillbirth, know that we are praying for you and your family.  October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and it's a great opportunity to honor and remember the children who will never step foot in your ministry but whose absence is felt deeply by their families. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over a million pregnancies end in miscarriages or stillbirths each year, which means chances are high that a family in your ministry has experienced this terrible loss. Many families choose not to share about miscarriages or stillbirths, and even when leaders are aware of the loss, we don't often know how to respond when tragedies like this happen. Here are a few ways you and your ministry can support...

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Sympathy Card

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and it's a great opportunity to honor and remember the children who will never step foot in your ministry but whose absence is felt deeply by their families. Use this printable card to encourage and show support to families who have lost a baby. Simply print the following page, cut the page in half, and fold for a quarter-page-size card. Add a note inside and send to any families who have lost a child. Find more ideas for honoring Pregnancy and Infant Loss here. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Sympathy Card Here" align="center"...

10 Questions to Consider When Planning Your Ministry Fall Event

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As we head into the fall season, you probably have some fun fall events planned for your children's ministry (and if not, we can help). As you start the planning process, consider these questions to help your fall event run smoothly! Who else can I bring into the planning and preparation of the event? Who else (staff, volunteers, etc.) need to be involved? Do those who participate/volunteer need to be background checked or complete a medical release form? Do we need to contact the police to request street closures or traffic assistance? How many guests are we expecting? Will we have any additional vendors (bounce houses, petting zoos, etc.)? Are we asking participants to bring anything (donations, supplies, candy, etc.)? What is the flow of the event both physically and schedule-wise? Do...

Turn Over a New Leaf: Fall Resources For Your KidMin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As we move into a post-pandemic world, use these resources to turn over a new leaf with the families in your ministry this fall! Kick-start your year, bring everyone back together for fellowship, and help families grow deeper in their faith as the weather turns cooler and the leaves change color.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Find a more visual layout of this page here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fturn-over-a-new-leaf-fall-resources-2022%2F|target:_blank"][vc_toggle title="New for 2022"]Click on each image below to learn more about that resource. [/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title="Fall Events"]Click on each image below to learn more about that resource. [/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title="Family Resources for Fall"]Click on each image...

8 Tips for Hosting an All-Star Volunteer Training

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Volunteer Training is a vital part of your ministry, but it can be difficult to pull off with excellence. It's hard to get all of your volunteers in the same room at the same time, and even if you do that, how do you make a somewhat tedious conversation more exciting and informative for your entire team? You want your volunteer training to do three things: train your volunteers in the basics, inspire them with the importance of their role, and equip them to be rockstar leaders. To accomplish these three goals and host an all-star volunteer training, use these 8 tips... 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...

5 Essentials for Kids with Special Needs in Your Ministry

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Does your ministry have kids with special needs? Even if you think the answer is "no," the answer is probably "yes" to some degree. When I say "special needs," leaders often think of the more prominent diagnoses, like autism or physical disabilities. But special needs ministry can also be relevant for kids with ADHD, dyslexia, and speech-language disorders, which can often be more difficult to identify because they're sometimes not as obvious. Special needs ministry is an area of ministry I do not have much experience or knowledge with, so this week, we're bringing in an expert to share their knowledge and ideas with you. Meet Laura Deeken, the creator behind The Adapted Word and printable resources for special needs ministry. Laura is a speech-language pathologist with 28 years of experience, and she has...

3 Keys to Teaching Kids, Not Lessons

What would you say is the most important aspect of your lesson each week? The "hook"? The gamification elements? The life application? Plot twist! One of the most important aspects of your lesson doesn't even have to do with the lesson itself. It's actually the KIDS you are teaching and how well you know them! Effective and creative Bible teachers place as much value on knowing the children they teach as on the content of the lesson.  Yes, solid content and preparation are important, but if you're not taking a few characteristics about the kids you teach into account, your effectiveness drastically decreases. So here are 3 keys to teaching kids, not just lessons. Know your kids relationally. Kids learn best from people they know and love. Build relationships with your kids - both inside and outside of Sunday mornings - to increase...

All About Me Ministry Printable For Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]One of three keys to teaching kids not lessons is knowing who your kids are and what they enjoy doing! Print off as many copies of this All About Me activity as you need, ask kids to complete the page, then keep them and share them with your team! Use the completed printables to learn about the kids you teach so you can more effectively engage them. And if you're looking for an All About Me Activity for kids to complete and keep for later, check out this free activity +printable for back-to-school season![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Printable Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F07%2FDKM-All-About-Me-Detailed-Printable.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_single_image image="86821" img_size="large" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link"...

4 Back-to-School Essentials for Your Children’s Ministry

Back-to-School Season is here, which means you’re planning how to celebrate this important time in a child’s life. As families are thinking about first-day-of-school outfits and school supply shopping, you can help them think intentionally about how their faith can grow this school year too.  Here are 4 back-to-school essentials to incorporate into your children’s ministry:  A back-to-school gift with purpose, like Backpack Blessing Tags or Back-to-School Bible Verse Cards Something to help families celebrate at home, like a Faith Time Capsule Devotional, a Back-to-School Prayer Journal for Kids, or a Back-to-School Survival Kit. Something special for Promotion Sunday, like a full space-themed lesson that LAUNCHES them into the new year, a Promotion Sunday administrative bundle to help you stay organized or a simple...

3 Steps To Mapping Out Your Ministry Year

The Lord guides our steps, but we can be good stewards of the time He’s given us through intentional planning. Planning ahead allows for a more balanced and sustainable year in ministry, and it doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. So grab your calendar and a pencil (because we never plan in pen), and let’s jump in to map out your ministry year! 1) Start with the big picture. Look at the vision of your ministry and use it to set goals for the year (use our Ministry Goal Setting Guide to help). Then create calendar events that help you accomplish those goals. Our goals give us the direction and boundaries for our calendar. Write down all the big, important, we-do-them-every-year, this-isn’t-going-to-change-unless-the-rapture-happens dates first (Easter, Christmas, church-wide events) so you can plan around those. Also make...

6 People to Celebrate With As a New Semester Begins

At the beginning of the year, I shared that my word for the year was celebration, and I confessed that celebration is a spiritual discipline I often skip over in pursuit of the next goal, event, or task. So this year, I've tried to be more intentional about taking time to reflect and celebrate. Want to join me? As we head into back-to-school season, consider celebrating with different groups of people in your ministry: Volunteers - Weave celebration into every interaction or gathering you have with your volunteers (especially your annual volunteer training!). It boosts morale, reminds them of their purpose, and keeps their enthusiasm for serving high! (More on celebrating your volunteers here.) Parents/Grown-ups - Grown-ups love hearing positive stories about the kids in their lives. Share major milestones and even small wins with the...

Sunday Celebrations Printable Journal

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As a ministry leader, you probably have a lot of plates spinning on a Sunday morning. From check-in to new guests to volunteers to supply bins, there's a lot to think about. It can be hard to slow down and celebrate the ways God shows up week in and week out. Use this 5-year celebrations journal to help you pause, reflect, and celebrate what God does in your ministry each week, no matter how small the celebrations may seem.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Sunday Celebration Journal Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F07%2FDKM-Sunday-Celebrations-Journal.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text] How To Use: Print off this journal and place it in a 3-ring binder or folder. There are typically 52 Sundays a year. Each page in this journal...

My Favorite Promotion Sunday Tradition in Kids Ministry

Do you have any traditions or special ideas for back-to-school season or Promotion Sunday? Something you do every year that encourages kids to reflect on the past year but also get pumped for the year ahead? A special way to celebrate the start of a school year or moving to new ministry classes/small groups? My favorite back-to-school or Promotion Sunday tradition is much simpler than you might think: showing a picture slideshow or video that recaps the past year. This video or slideshow shares pictures and clips of special events, Sunday mornings, mid-week programs, etc. Set it to an upbeat worship song your kids loved from the year, and you're all set! I like to show this video recap on Promotion Sunday every year and use it as a launching point for small group discussion questions like: What was your favorite thing we did at church...

6 Ideas for Following Up After Summer Events

Summer is often a busy season in ministry with extra events, special services, and even overnight trips. So much planning and preparation go into these events that we can sometimes forget about the importance of following up AFTER the events are over! But we miss out on crucial opportunities to connect with families when we ignore the follow-up opportunities that summer events provide. So here are 6 ideas for following up after your summer event(s). Plan ahead. Make your follow-up procedure part of the planning process for the entire event. So while you're thinking about VBS decorations, volunteer appreciation, and worship playlists, think about how you can follow up with families after your event is over. When you include the follow-up in the main planning of the event itself, it helps make sure follow-up doesn't slip through the post-event...

Special Event Review/Evaluation Template

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Reviewing and evaluating your ministry events can often be just as important as planning them, but sometimes we get so caught up in the event itself that we forget to evaluate! Use this simple and easy special event review template to recap your special events, take notes for next time, and keep a record of your special event details.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Word version here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F06%2FDKM-Special-Event-Review-Template.docx|target:_blank"][vc_column_text]Check out some of our favorite events below! [/vc_column_text][products columns="3" orderby="rand" order="ASC" ids="7039, 49656, 16784, 19953, 84335, 81303, 9476, 22133, 14214, 45338, 76761, 48447, 11075"][vc_btn title="Explore all of our Event Resources...

Share This With Your Families: Kids Bible Experience

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We all know this generation of digital natives requires a unique approach to ministry, and this is especially true for our preteens! I'm always on the lookout for new resources to share with families, and this might be one of my new favorites! You may already know about the Bible App for Kids, but YouVersion in partnership with OneHope has now created the Kids Bible Experience as the next step for preteens once they've outgrown the kid version. Designed for 7-11-year-olds, the Kids Bible Experience is the next level of scripture engagement for kids and preteens. It features new videos, questions, and scripture verses every day to help preteens cultivate daily habits of engaging with God's Word. In the experience, preteens will find… Fun, fresh perspectives - They’ll hear relevant insights from a...

Faith-Based Apps for Kids & Families

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It's summertime, which means screen time at home has probably risen over the last couple of weeks as parents are trying to find ways to keep their kids busy. Help your families make screen time, God time with this awesome list of faith-based apps for kids! Download the ready-to-print PDF version, or edit the list using our customizable Canva template.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_btn title="Download the PDF version here (ready to share with families)!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F06%2FDKM-Faith-Based-Apps.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_btn title="Download the Customizable Canva Template Here" align="center"...