Categories: Leadership

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...
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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...
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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....
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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"...
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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...
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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...
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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]
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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...
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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"...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Filed Under Blog, For Parents, Leadership, Volunteers

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"...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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"...
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5 Tips for Behavior Management at Church

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While behavior modification is NOT the goal of children’s ministry, behavior management is still a very real challenge we face as kidmin leaders. So to help you wrangle in the madness and create an environment your kids and volunteers will love, use these 5 tips for behavior management at church. Set expectations. You can’t expect particular behavior if you don’t communicate those expectations to the kids. Make sure the kids know what you expect of them each time they walk through your doors! Want to see the expectations I set for my ministry? Check out a full overview of SLLRP (pronounced "slurp") here! Repeat, Repeat, Repeat. If kids are going to know what you expect, you have to remind them. That means mentioning your expectations every week. Whether it’s up front and explicit (remember our...
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“Even Your Underwear?!” The Importance of Letting Kids Ask Questions at Church

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]At our church, we practice full immersion baptism, so we dunk you. You go all the way in and come all the way out. We bring the children into the service for baptisms so they can see their friends and other church members get baptized.  A few years ago, we were having a baptism day, and my children's pastor asked me to hang close to one of our first-grade girls. She was a foster child with a very tough story, and she had a hard time focusing, sitting still, and engaging. She was also a runner - you know the kind - so my children's pastor asked me to sit with her during the baptisms. This was the first time she had seen a baptism, and she was very concerned about the people who were getting baptized. She had lots of questions: "Do they have to put their head underwater too?" "Yes, they will go all the...
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Game-ifying Your Teaching Time in KidMin (And Why Its Effective)

I'd bet you have at least one game planned for your children's ministry time this Sunday. That's great! Games are important to include in your children's ministry time for a variety of reasons. But have you ever thought about how game-ifying your teaching time could increase its effectiveness? All kids love games, but digital native kids (the generation we serve now who don't know a world without the existence of the internet and smartphones), in particular, consider games to be the preferred way to learn. They enjoy the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge when it’s presented as a challenge to overcome rather than a list of facts to memorize. According to research, using games in teaching can help increase a child's participation and foster social and emotional learning, something all kids need after 2 years of a worldwide pandemic that...
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“What kind of art does God make in heaven?” A Question about the Lord’s Prayer

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]One day we were learning about the Lord's Prayer. During large group time, we read it out loud, invited kids to read/say it with us, and went through the Lord's prayer, explaining the different parts. When we got back to small group time, I asked the question: "Does anyone have any questions about today’s lesson? Anything that it made you wonder about?" One 2nd grade girl said, “I wonder what kind of art God makes in heaven.” And I said, “You know, that’s a good question, I wonder what kind of art He makes too. What made you think of that?” She said, "Well you know, it says at the beginning of the prayer, our father, who art in heaven. I like to make art too.” This elementary schooler, with her developmentally literal-thinking brain took that to mean "Our father, who does arts...
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Lord’s Prayer Poster For Kids

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Use this Lord's Prayer Poster to help teach kids about the Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6! Print it and hang it in your children's ministry space, or print a copy for each child to take home. It's also a great supplemental resource for any time you're teaching about the Lord's Prayer![/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Download the Lord's Prayer Poster Here!" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F05%2FDKM-Lords-Prayer-Poster-Freebie.pdf|target:_blank"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="64038" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://deeperkidmin.com/product/teach-us-to-pray-a-9-week-series-on-the-lords-prayer/"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]And if you'd...
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5 Reasons Overnight Summer Camp is Important For Your Kids Ministry

You may have a love/hate relationship with overnight summer camp. On the one hand, it's a great week to invest deeper in kids' faith, build relationships, and just have fun together. On the other hand, camp food is not always the greatest, and your back may not appreciate sleeping on a bunk bed for a week. But going to overnight summer camp, whether you attend one that runs the show for you or you create and run your own, is a critical event in a child's faith development, especially as they move into their preteen years and eventually up into the youth group. Here's why: Summer camp creates memories. The fun and shared memories created at camp help bond a group of kids and leaders like not much else can. My husband (a youth pastor) says that camps and retreats are like relationship-building on steroids. This is especially important for...
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