“Let’s Build Something New!” Embracing Creativity and Experimentation in KidMin

“Now let’s build something new!” says my toddler after we just completed the coolest freeform Lego treehouse that ever existed.

“Don’t you want to play with this awesome treehouse we just made?” I ask, not sure we’ll ever be able to top the masterpiece in front of us. (It even had a garage.)

“No Mommy, let’s build something new!” Toddler responds.

It’s a true test of my creativity to come up with varying Lego layouts of a treehouse. But because my daughter loves building with Legos and enjoys the times we get to build together, I take a deep breath and we tear down our Lego masterpiece to start all over again.

Leading children’s ministry presents a similar challenge. We may be comfortable sticking with what we’ve got, doing what we’ve always done, and hosting the same events year after year in the name of tradition and comfort.

But when was the last time you built something new? When was the last time you pushed your creativity as a leader to experiment with new ideas, new systems, new strategies, or even simply new activities?

God is a god of new. Isaiah 43:19 says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (NIV). In Revelation 21:5, God, seated on His throne, says “I am making everything new!” We see Christ’s role in newness when 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (NIV). And Romans 6:4 reminds us that those of us buried with Jesus in baptism have been raised to a new life. 

So, as we head into a new school year with our ministries, let’s embrace creativity, lean into experimentation, and build something new.

Not sure where to start? These ideas may help:

• Implementing a new digital discipleship strategy? Learn how to do that with my new book.
• Want to host a volunteer training your team actually wants to attend? We can help. 
• Searching for new curriculum? Explore all of our series here.
• Share something new this back-to-school season with one of these resources.
• Find new event ideas here.
• Looking for ways to resource parents with at-home devotions? Here are our favorites.
• Consider exploring Family Worship Services.
• Get organized with your administration or create a KidMin Operations Handbook.
• Launch a Prayer Buddies Campaign.
• Up your game on social media with engaging posts.
• Set up a Bible Bucks store.
• Discover the true purpose of games in your ministry, explore some fun new game ideas, and develop a system for evaluating the games you use (this resource can help!).
• Be more intentional about documenting the wins and celebrations from Sunday to Sunday with this Sunday Celebrations Journal.
• And speaking of new, check out all our new releases here.