Categories: Leadership

Technology continues to expand and make our lives easier as ministry leaders. The latest advancement includes AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Google's Bard. When I asked ChatGPT to define itself and its capabilities, it responded: "ChatGPT is an advanced language model developed by OpenAI. It uses artificial intelligence to generate human-like text responses based on the prompts it receives. Essentially, it's a computer program that can have text-based conversations with users, providing information, answering questions, and engaging in discussions on a wide range of topics. Its purpose is to assist users in various tasks, from finding information to creative writing, and more." By using an AI chatbot like ChatGPT or Google’s Bard, leaders can cut their email-writing time in half, streamline the research process, and explore creative series...

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As the end of another school year rolls around, you may be planning the transition of your preteens from the children's ministry to the youth ministry. The transition from children’s ministry to youth ministry should be a collaboration between the leaders of those two ministries, not just a hand-off. So here are 5 ways to work together with your ministry counterpart (the youth pastor) to ensure the transition goes smoothly... Think about what elements of youth ministry can you pull into kids ministry. Consider creating a “hybrid” ministry that pulls in elements of both the children’s and youth ministry for your preteens. This can be as elaborate as a separately-named-and-run ministry or as simple as adjusting small group time. Learn how the small group format works in the youth ministry, and start...

This week's post comes from my friends over at Small Church Ministry, a site devoted exclusively to ministry leaders in small churches! And while their goal is to help small churches do ministry better (by sharing ideas and hosting free online conferences like this one coming up on April 29, 2023), this blog post has relevance and encouragement for churches of all sizes... The reality of another failed kids’ event isn’t a fun one. Or teaching children’s Sunday school class and wondering if it’s making a difference. Or having to miss worship every week because there’s no one else to serve in the nursery. I’ve been there. We’ve all been there. Yes, it can be deflating at times, but it really IS possible to serve in a small church and have a children’s ministry that rocks! Unfortunately, we sometimes get sucked into these...

The Easter season typically brings in visitors and guests from the community, but how many of those visitors actually come back and get plugged into your church? Sometimes the follow-up plan for staying connected with families can be more important than the initial connection, so here are 5 steps to effectively follow up with families AFTER the Easter rush... Prepare well. An effective follow-up begins before the event or special service even happens. Prepare to follow up with guests before they even walk through your doors by having a solid system in place for collecting their information with new family registration cards or online options through your check-in system. Know how and when you'll follow up with families before the event takes place so you can rest and recover after. Create a welcoming environment. Make sure your ministry...

At Easter, it's common to see an influx of guests and new families. So is your church ready to welcome them? This week's guest blog post comes from Julia Ball, the creator of Equip Family and a family pastor in Newfoundland, Canada. Find her amazing resources here, and read on as Julia Ball shares 5 ways to welcome young families any time of the year, but especially during the Easter season. Can I make a confession? Before I had kids, I could never understand comments from parents that getting to church on Sundays was “hard.” I honestly wondered – how hard can it be? When my kids came along, I discovered the answer: getting to church with kids is really, really hard. At times, it feels nearly impossible. While I can’t prove it scientifically or with stats, I am convinced that Sundays are THE most difficult day of the week...

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]If you're putting on an Easter Egg Hunt but need to cut back on your budget, try one of these cost-saving ideas! Ask church members to donate pre-filled eggs. Reuse eggs year to year. After the egg hunt, have kids empty the eggs and keep the candy, then collect eggs to reuse for the next year. OR don't stuff the eggs to begin with, and have kids turn in their empty eggs for a goody bag of candy. Rather than handing out food such as cotton candy, popcorn, etc., see if local food trucks would be willing to come set up at your event. Combine your egg hunt with another local church to help save money. Shop at your local dollar store for eggs and prizes. Limit kids to 20 eggs a piece (or fewer). Shop the day(s) after Easter for next year’s event. Buy prizes/trinkets rather than using...

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Though it may have its negatives, our digital world provides lots of new tools and resources we can use to help us do ministry more effectively and efficiently. Last year, I asked kidmin leaders in a FB group about the 1-2 apps or tech tools they can't live without in children's ministry. Here were the top 25 answers (in no particular order):[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Canva (top recommended) Remind FaceBook Page & FaceBook Groups (Psst Here's a training to help you make the most of your ministry's social media.) Propresenter Right Now Media Planning Center Amazon - "It's where I get all my supplies!" Weather Channel App - "Just in case I need a rain plan." Notion - "Basically you can make pages which house all the different notes you need as a children’s minister. Then...

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I'm a schedule-and-routine person through and through. I like my calendar and my daily task lists, and the predictability of a schedule brings my head comfort and my heart joy. But as we head into the Lenten season, I've been pondering this question: What would my schedule look like if God were in charge of it? I'd probably spend less time scrolling social media. I bet I'd spend more time resting and even sleeping. I'd probably spend more time investing in intentional relationships with others. I'd definitely spend more time in prayer and the Word. When I shift my view of my schedule from something all mine to control to an offering to sacrifice to God, how I spend my time shifts dramatically. Interruptions in my day become divine appointments that God just didn't put on my calendar. Quiet times and studying...

As we head into a new year, you might be looking for new and creative ways to engage kids with the gospel. Check out this week's blog post from Rosemary Winbush, one of our DKM Vendors, about how to not only think outside the box, but how to EXPAND the box when it comes to creativity in children's ministry:  More than ever before, there is a need in Children’s Ministry for more innovative ways to reach children and enhance the ministry we provide for them. It’s getting harder and harder for children to hear the Word of God, so we must become more resourceful to get the job done. The global call to children’s ministry has not changed, but the ways we do it need change. We have all heard of the saying ‘think outside the box,’ but in the future, let’s not only think outside the box; let’s EXPAND THE BOX. Let’s allow our minds to...

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...

[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....