Categories: Leadership

5 Ways to Make Birthdays Special For the Kids In Your Ministry

Last week, our daughter turned 2, and while we had lots of birthday celebrations at home, it was such a special treat to see how our church family celebrated her for her birthday too! So it got me thinking about how important (and easy) it can be to make birthdays special for the kids in your ministry. Recognizing a child’s birthday lets them know that they are valued and worthy of special attention. And when kids feel special, that opens doors with their parents for even more ministry opportunities. So how do you make birthdays special? Here are some ideas... Know about birthdays ahead of time. Set up notifications on your phone to remind you of birthdays or keep a printable like this one on your desk. When you recognize a child’s birthday before they even tell you about it, it heightens their excitement and makes them feel so...
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8 Ways to Encourage Families To Celebrate Lent (No Matter Their Background)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Lent is the Christian season, beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending with Holy Week, that encourages believers to pray, fast, and serve as a way to prepare their hearts for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The ultimate goal of Lent is to draw closer to God. Much like Advent prepares our hearts for Christmas, Lent prepares our hearts for Easter. Not all Christian traditions place the same emphasis on Lent. I never observed Lent growing up, and 99% of what I know about Lent, I've learned as an adult. I have friends who take the season very seriously with daily devotions and family-wide fasting, and I have other friends who don't really pay much attention until Holy Week. At our current church, we host an Ash Wednesday service, our pastor leads us through a Lenten series each Sunday leading up...
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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Leadership

Review Questions Slide Canva Template Freebie

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Use this free Canva Template to create your own review games! Follow the instructions below and on the slides to set up your review questions. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download Printable Version Here" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F02%2FDKM-Review-Question-Slide-Templates-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text] How to Access & Use: Access the Canva template in the printable linked above that has some simple Q&A slide templates ready to go! All you need is a free Canva account. Open the template, edit the slides, download the new slides as .jpgs or .pngs, and you’re ready to play! These templates make it easy to create and customize a simple and effective review game for your Bible story lesson. How to play: Call the game "Bible...
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Filed Under Blog, Free Weekly Downloads, Leadership

6 Reasons to Include Games in Your Children’s Ministry Time

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Games are a key part of children's ministry. But have you ever thought about the value games can really bring? Here's an excerpt from our Ultimate KidMin Game Bundle that shares 6 reasons why you should include games in your children’s ministry time: Games help build relationships – Play and fun help create shared memories among kids and kids/leaders. When kids feel known and loved by their peers and leaders, they are more receptive to learning. Games bring FUN to the lesson – When kids have fun, they want to participate, they want to hear more, and they want to come back next time. Games allow for more engagement – Kids can engage and participate in a game rather than merely sitting and listening to a lecture. This engagement piques more areas of their brains, creating a deeper level of...
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10 Bible Verses About Love That Kids Should Know

The Bible has a lot to say about love, which tells us love is pretty important to God (it is a big part of His character after all). As we enter a season that focuses a lot on love, let's help the kids and families in our ministry know about the love found in Scripture and in our Heavenly Father. Here are 10 Bible verses about love that kids should know: 1 John 4:7 - "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." (NIV) Psalm 136:26 - "Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever." (ESV) 1 Corinthians 13:4,8 - "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud... Love never fails." (NIV) (Psst - here's a Valentine lesson to help you teach this verse to kids through prayer stations!) Romans 12:10 -...
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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Leadership

Valentine Resources For Your Children’s Ministry 2022

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to not only teach kids about God's love but to create space for kids to experience God's love too! These Valentine Resources can help...[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color="custom" border_width="5" accent_color="#3ac1e1"][vc_custom_heading text="Help Kids & Families Experience God's Love Through Prayer..." font_container="tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%233ac1e1" use_theme_fonts="yes" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fproduct%2Flove-one-another-valentine-prayer-stations-lesson%2F|target:_blank"][vc_column_text] The Love One Another Valentine lesson uses self-guided prayer stations and John 15:5-12 to invite kids to experience God’s love, think about how we should love one another, and stay connected to Jesus. Love One Another includes 10 prayer stations...
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Volunteer Training Icebreaker Activity

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Use this activity to open up your volunteer training, help your team get to know each other, and encourage them to start thinking about the importance of their volunteer roles. It's also a great lead-in to sharing about your ministry's vision and goals![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Click Here to Download a Printable version of the activity! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F01%2FDKM-Volunteer-Training-Icebreaker-Activity.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text] Supplies: index cards, pens, Instructions: Pass out an index card and a pen to everyone. If you have a large group, you can split them into groups of 5-10. Tell them to number their cards and write their answers to the following questions, but they shouldn’t write their name on their...
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Filed Under Blog, Free Weekly Downloads, Leadership, Volunteers

Mid-Year Volunteer Training

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As we continue on into a new semester, have you checked in with your volunteers lately? I know you may be thinking, "Lol what volunteers?" but no matter how big or small your team is, now is a great time to check in with them to share updates, cast vision for the year, and equip them in their serving roles. One January, I had the opportunity to speak at a local church's mid-year children's ministry volunteer training, and the leader, Caroline, did such a great job, I wanted to share about the event! If you're looking to host a mid-year volunteer training, keep some of these ideas in mind. (And find even more volunteer ideas and resources here!) Show Appreciation - As soon as volunteers walked through the doors, they were greeted with a spread of some yummy snacks and a small volunteer gift. Showing...
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Filed Under Blog, Leadership, Volunteers

What are you celebrating?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So often we jump into our goal-setting for the year ahead that we don't take the time to celebrate and remember what God has done in the year before. But celebration is a key part of discipleship, growth, and our relationship with God. In Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster describes celebration, or a spirit of joy, as a spiritual discipline that produces energy, momentum, and strength within an individual and a body of believers. It is the foundation for all other disciplines, as without celebration, practicing the other disciplines becomes dull and legalistic. Celebration brings freedom from “taking ourselves too seriously” (p. 196), alleviates sadness, and gives us a fresh perspective on life. Ultimately, celebration provides the basis for successful spiritual growth and acts as a springboard for...
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VIP Meeting Planning Guide

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]What if you invested several hours per month/semester in a meeting with yourself that would end up giving you more focus and less stress overall? Use this week's free download to give it a try![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Click Here to Download the VIP Meeting Planning Guide! " align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F12%2FDKM-VIP-Meeting-Planning-Guide.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text]A VIP Meeting is a once-a-month meeting with yourself that gives you space to be still, dream, plan, and brainstorm. It's a vital check-in for your goals and helps you stay on track with the most important things in your life and your ministry. (This is just one of the many tools and resources I learned about as part of a Leadership Circle with Joy Canupp, and it's been so...
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Filed Under Blog, Free Weekly Downloads, Leadership

The 1 Thing That Will Help You Stick With Your Goals

Welcome to the new year! January and the start of a new calendar year is always a time for reflection, dreaming, goal-setting, and looking ahead to what God has in store. Unfortunately, two-thirds of people will abandon their goals and resolutions by the end of the month. But that doesn't have to be you! If there's 1 thing that will help you stick to your goals, it's this: accountability. But not just accountability from your boss, spouse, or even a friend. What if you could have intentional accountability with a group of like-minded leaders in a setting that fostered encouragement, laughter, growth, and deep relationships?  Enter: Leadership Circles with Joy Canupp. I've been part of a Leadership Circle with Joy in the past, and it's not only a space for encouragement but also for practical steps that help me move forward in whatever goals...
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Brand New Bible Games! (And a giveaway!)

I don't know about you, but we love board games at our house! I'm always on the lookout for fun and new games, and when I heard about Bible Games Central's latest games, the biblical themes and focus were a major bonus! Here are 3 new games from Bible Games Central we are loving: Bible Match It Link It - This game is like the Bible version of Spot It, which has been my niece's favorite game to play since she was little. Bible Match It Link It is a fast-paced game played with 57 unique octagonal tiles. Each tile has eight images, one on each edge of the octagon. On any 2 Bible Match It Link It tiles, there is always 1 (and only 1) matching image. I can't wait to try out this Bible version with her this holiday season! I can already imagine the conversations it will spark as we explore the 4 different ways to play and read through the accompanying...
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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Leadership

5 Ways To Make Your Christmas Eve Service Memorable

Christmas Eve services can sometimes feel like the Super Bowl of ministry life. But how can we make them memorable while also staying true to our budgets, church traditions, and the real reason for the season? Here are 5 ways to make your Christmas Eve Service Memorable for families:  Keep kids in mind. Many families choose to worship together on Christmas Eve, so whether your Christmas Eve service is promoted as a family service or not, keep kids in mind. That means consider shortening the service (honestly, Christmas Eve services don't need to be longer than about an hour anyway), invite kids into the storytelling action, and incorporate elements in your service that allow for intergenerational engagement. Using something like our Interactive Nativity Kits, Instant Christmas Pageant, or Noisy Christmas resources, you can invite the...
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Amazing Volunteer Christmas Appreciation Printable Freebie

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Tell your volunteers how AMAZING they are this Christmas with this simple printable! Just print, cut, and use Glue Dots to add an Amazon Gift Card.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Christmas Volunteer Appreciation Printable Here!" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F11%2FDKM-Amazing-Volunteer-Gift-Card-Freebie-Printable.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="69294" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/amazing-volunteer-christmas-appreciation-printables/"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]Want even more options including different sayings and a folding card option? Check out our full Amazing Volunteer Christmas...
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Filed Under Blog, Free Weekly Downloads, Leadership

Last Christmas 2021

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Last Christmas, we shared these ideas & freebies, but some of you weren't here. This year, to save you some time, I'm bringing them back in case 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 Last Last Christmas and  Last Last Last Christmas and Last Last Last Last Christmas too!)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="44994" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/christmas-nativity-jigsaw-printable/"][vc_custom_heading text="Christmas Nativity Jigsaw Printable" font_container="tag:h2|text_align:center" use_theme_fonts="yes"...
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Twas the Season of Advent Devotional Giveaway!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As someone whose only experience with Advent growing up was putting another velcro plushie ornament on our cloth Advent tree wall hanging, I've been trying to learn more and be more intentional with the season of Advent as an adult. And now that I have a daughter of my own, I want to share what I'm learning with her! That's why I'm super excited about author Glenys Nellist's new book: Twas the Season of Advent: Devotions and Stories for the Christmas season. And what's even more exciting is Glenys and ZonderKids have agreed to host a giveaway for our Deeper KidMin followers this week! Twas the Season of Advent shares stories from the Old and New Testaments that highlight the promise of Jesus' birth. Beginning December 1, there are 25 total readings leading up to Christmas Day on December 25. Each reading...
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Filed Under Blog, Book Shelf, For Parents, Leadership

Christmas Catalog 2021

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It's time to Deck the Halls and have a cup of cheer! We hope these Christmas ideas/resources help make your season merry and bright! Want a more visual rundown of our best Christmas resources for 2021? Check out our DKM 2021 Christmas Catalog![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the DKM 2021 Christmas Catalog here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F11%2FDKM-Christmas-Catalog-2021.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_toggle title="Brand New for 2021"]Sing to the Lord 4-Week Christmas Series - The Sing to the Lord series is aimed at children ages 5-11 years to help them learn what it means to worship, give to and praise the Lord this Christmas. This teaching series includes lots of different elements to help make your lesson Biblical, fun, interactive, relational,...
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From Gratitude to Generosity

November in the U.S. means Thanksgiving will soon be upon us. It will be a month focused on gratitude and thankfulness, and we've even shared 4 ways to help kids develop an attitude of gratitude in the past. But if our focus ends at gratitude, we do our kids and families a disservice. Thanksgiving is not just about gratitude; it's about how our gratitude leads to generosity. Take a look at the name itself. Sure, Thanksgiving is all about "giving thanks," but I think we can also identify the themes of gratitude (thanks-) and generosity (-giving) in the title. Gratitude and generosity coexist as two sides of the same coin, and we can't cultivate one without the other. Gratitude stems from a place of contentment and causes an abundance mindset in life. If life is abundance and not scarcity, then I can afford to be generous with others....
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Creating Rhythms of Rest

Experiencing peace requires that we slow down enough to notice the presence of the Lord. But as ministry leaders, we’re too often running around doing things for Jesus that we forget to spend time with Jesus (guilty!). In a breakout session I taught at MegaCon 2021 last week, we acknowledged the importance of creating rhythms of rest in our lives and ministries, then explored different types of rest that can help prevent ministry burnout. It was a practical time of planning and implementing a strategy for avoiding burnout through intentional Sabbath.  One of the biggest takeaways? Rest doesn’t always mean physical rest (though it can), so we discussed a variety of options for what rest may look like and talked about how resting isn’t always passive. We also dove into what a rhythm of rest may look like daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly....
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I Wonder – New Illustrated Bible Giveaway!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I'm a big fan of Christian author, Glenys Nellist (one of my daughter's favorite books is Good News! God Made Me), so when I heard she was releasing a brand new, illustrated children's Bible, I was PUMPED! And what's even better is Glenys and ZonderKids have agreed to host a giveaway for our Deeper KidMin followers this week! I Wonder: Exploring God's Grand Story takes 16 stories from the Old Testament and 14 stories from the New Testament, sharing them in a storytelling narrative alongside beautiful illustrations. But most children's Bibles do that, right? So what makes I Wonder any different? With each story, Glenys has included 3 "I wonder..." questions that encourage kids to explore God's character, think intentionally about the story, and imagine how they fit into God's big story themselves. For...
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15 Fall Service Projects for Families

The fall season is the perfect time to encourage families to serve your church and your community! Here are 15 fall service project ideas families can complete together: Write a thank you note to your teacher Shop for and stuff a box for Operation Christmas Child (This event guide does the work for you!) Leave a snack & note for the mail carrier Clean something for someone else Raise & donate money for offering or a mission partner at church Pick up trash in a local park Visit a nursing home Donate used towels and blankets to a local animal shelter Send flowers to someone going through a hard time Volunteer at church on a Sunday morning Write a holiday card to a soldier Make a freezer meal for your church’s foster families (This free download makes it easy!) Donate to a local food bank Rake...
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DIY Trunk-or-Treat Trophies

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Do you host an annual Trunk-or-Treat at your church? Here's a fun and easy way to make trophies for the winners! (And if you're looking to shake things up and try a new event, here are 5 unique fall family events!)[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download printable instructions here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F08%2FDIY-Trunk-or-Treat-Trophies-DKM.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text]Supplies needed: Wooden Plaques Gold, Silver, and Bronze Spray Paint Paint Pen or Scrapbook Letter stickers/ ModPodge Large Hot Wheels Cars (approximately 5 inches in length) Super Glue E6000 Glue Instructions: Super glue the wheels of your hot wheels cars to the car itself so they do not roll. Super glue the doors of the hot wheels car shut. ...
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5 Unique Fall Family Events

Fall is a great season to reconnect with families! Whether you're connecting with families in-person, digitally, or at a distance, here are some of our favorite and most creative fall family events: Reverse Trick or Treating - Every kid is familiar with trick-or-treating. You dress up, walk to a neighbor’s house, ring the doorbell, say “Trick or Treat!” and you get free candy! But what if you could REVERSE this fall activity and utilize it as a community outreach and family service project? In this Fall outreach event, instead of going door-to-door asking for candy, families go door-to-door to hand out candy and collect donations for a local charity! Read more about how this works here and download a full guide to host your own Reverse Trick or Treating Event here. Glow Night - Whether your church recognizes Halloween or not, your...
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Jump into Fall: Fall Resources for your KidMin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Are you ready to jump into the fall season in your ministry? Here are our favorite resources for making the fall season unbe-leaf-able for the families you serve![/vc_column_text][vc_toggle title="New for 2021"]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 below to learn more about that resource. [/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title="Fall Fun"]Click on each image below to learn more about that resource. [/vc_toggle][vc_toggle title="Thanksgiving Resources (For Those Really Planning Ahead!)"]Click on each image below to...
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4 Things Disney Prioritizes that KidMin Leaders Should Too

My family and I recently spent a week at the beach and decided to make a 1-day trip to Disney World while we were there. So we packed up all the snacks and diapers and spent a day at Magic Kingdom with our 1.5-year-old. It was a blast! While we were riding Dumbo, waving to Winnie the Pooh, and eating Dole whip, I noticed a few of Disney's priorities that are good reminders for children's ministry leaders too:  Prioritize kids. This one seems obvious, but it's a good reminder. Disney World prioritizes kids, especially in kid-specific areas of the parks and around kid-specific rides. There are designated stroller parking zones throughout the park to make it easy for families to leave their belongings in a safe place while riding. These stroller parking zones take up space and may be inconvenient to maintain, but they enhance the guest experience...
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