LifeWay

Kids Ministry

Dedicated to helping Kids Ministry leaders in their mission of making disciples

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Ministry

Have You Hugged a Volunteer Today?

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Volunteers in Kids Ministry are the very best!  Kidmin volunteers make the whole ministry go smoothly. They are absolutely essential and without a doubt, they deserve all the appreciation we can shower on them!

So … have you hugged a volunteer today??

Maybe you are not a hugger, and that’s OK, you could still hug a volunteer and show appreciation. A wise kids ministry leader is always looking for ways to show volunteers that you care!

At this point, my guess is that your heart is in total agreement with me, but your brain may be saying “I don’t have enough time for an elaborate Pinterest creation!” Nobody does … so here is a list of quick ideas you can totally use in your own context. Add your own creativity and show your volunteers how much you love them:

  1. Give a volunteer a hug. A high-five or fist-bump will suffice if you just aren’t a hugger.  Shake hands if you are into being super-formal. The point is to get in the same space, close enough to make physical contact. Don’t just rely on waving, texting, or emailing … get in there and make contact!
  2. Write a Letter to Say Thanks. Hand-written letter-writing is such a rare thing for so many people. It doesn’t require any great expense, just a little thought and a pen. For those of you without a personalized stationery set, sticky notes will do if you write something nice on them!
  3. Communicate the Vision. Everyone likes to know where the ministry is headed. Find simple ways to share about the “why” for the ministry and what you see on the horizon. Volunteers love hearing about how they contribute to something larger that makes a Kingdom impact!
  4. Invest in Leaders. With volunteers in churches of any size, you can invest for future leadership. It may look different in different seasons. Sometimes just sharing a practical tip with a teen volunteer will make a huge improvement in their delivery of the lesson.
  5. Ask a Question and Listen. You earn major points as a ministry leader when you have the personal buy-in from those who serve with you. Take the time to learn personal details or ministry feedback from those who serve with you. Lead relationally and personally! Listening is one of the best ways to show your heart and appreciation.

For the Kids Ministry leader looking to go the extra mile, step it up with these ideas:

  • Plan to get away together for a conference, a retreat, or even a fun getaway.
  • Share snacks they love, either collectively (think biscuit bar) or individually (based on which coffee or candy they enjoy).
  • Plan a personal or family project to encourage your volunteer(s). Write an acrostic using a volunteer’s name and the things you love about the way they serve.

You can choose the best way to show your volunteers how much they mean to you, but the most important thing is to do it! Share this post with other leaders you know who serve with volunteers and encourage them to hug a volunteer today too!

Jeremy Echols leads the CentriKid Camps team and manages the LifeWay Kids events.  He, his wife Emily, and their precious daughter love their church, their neighborhood, and spending time together.  Jeremy loves to read, watch sports, and grill burgers.

CentriKid, Kids Ministry, Leadership, StudentLife for Kids

5 Not-So-Hidden Benefits of Serving on Camp Staff

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Summer camps begin recruiting for their summer staffing roles every year in the fall. Who do you know that would do an awesome job serving at a camp? Take an opportunity to recommend someone you know, and their life will be changed forever!   

Any former camp staffer knows about the hard work and the blessing of working camp and we want everyone to know these five not-so-hidden benefits of serving on camp staff:

  1. Character-Building, Not Just Resume-Building – when students work at a camp, they gain work experience by having to get up on time, show up prepared, and do a job. This is great work experience early in their career.   
  2. Eternal Impact, Plus Get Paid – serving at a Christian summer camp makes a kingdom impact and it is way more than just a job. Every role at camp has a purpose that goes way beyond just flipping burgers or mopping floors.
  3. Growth as a Leader – so many camp staffers enter the summer and expect to grow in their work ethic, but one of the most amazing things is when a Camp Director sees leadership potential in a a staffer with less experience and begins to invest. This doesn’t happen by accident, it is part of the design!
  4. Ministry Experience Beyond What is on Paper – a two month summer job doesn’t look amazing on paper, but serving churches at camp gives a ton of exposure to a variety of ministry contexts. The opportunity to connect with church leaders from so many different settings really does provide “seasoning” that goes beyond the tasks.
  5. Life-Long Relationships – the bonds formed by working in close proximity all summer will create incredible friendships and lasting relationships. There were camp friends who were in my wedding and whose kids play with my child even today!

The summer will be here before you know it, so who do you know that would be an asset to a camp team and would benefit from serving in this way? For all the LifeWay Camps, the summer staff applications can be found here. But of course, we recommend serving at Kids Camp!  

Please share this post with someone who serves in your ministry and offers to be a reference. Help them get started with applying for CentriKid Camps or Student Life For Kids.

Jeremy Echols leads the CentriKid Camps team and manages the LifeWay Kids events. He, his wife Emily, and their precious daughter love their church, their neighborhood, and spending time together. Jeremy loves to read, watch sports, and grill burgers.

CentriKid, Evangelism, Kids Ministry, Leadership

Share the Gospel with Kids – Training Session from CentriKid

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At CentriKid Camps, we are clear about our purpose—we serve the church in her mission of making disciples. One of the best ways we can do that is by using every activity at camp to intentionally make the message of Christ clear in the lives of kids.  

Bible Study and Worship are obviously times when we share the gospel and unpack what it means to live a life that is committed to God. We also train our staff to share the gospel through Recreation, Track Time activities, and even Hang Time.  

We aim to help kids grow in their relationship with Christ and to present the message clearly for those who don’t have a relationship with Christ. Our staffers are faithful to share clearly in every programmed activity of the day—never with the intent of pressuring children, but always with the heart of making it easy to talk about the things of God and ask questions.

Download the free Training Plan and prepare for your next training session:

With this training session, we are opening up the playbook and equipping kids ministry leaders to train their volunteers with the same materials and plan that we use to train CentriKid staffers. Thousands of adult leaders experienced this training session at camp in 2018 and we hope this resource is valuable for many more to be trained for sharing the gospel with kids.

Jeremy Echols leads the CentriKid Camps team and manages the LifeWay Kids events.  He, his wife Emily, and their precious daughter love their church, their neighborhood, and spending time together.  Jeremy loves to read, watch sports, and grill burgers.

CentriKid, Kids Ministry

The Best Summer Days are at CentriKid!

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CentriKid Camps are underway again this summer and kids are learning about “Blueprint: God’s Design.” Each year we are able to serve hundreds of churches and thousands of campers with Bible Study, Recreation, and Worship each night. The best days of summer really are at CentriKid Camps!

Track Times and Bible Study are great times when kids are hearing the gospel while participating in fun activities. Worship has also been a powerful experience where kids are taught about what it means to be God’s workmanship, and how we are completely forgiven. We’ve already heard from churches after camp about over 100 campers who began a relationship with Christ for the very first time while at CentriKid! That’s something to celebrate!

Kids in the Sign Language Track Time perform in Closing on Day 5 at camp and it is a really special time as they share what they’ve learned all week in front of the camp.

CentriKid is having an impact on the adults who attend camp too! One mom who attended camp in Kentucky with her church group said: “my 6th grader is thoroughly embarrassed (by me), and my 3rd-grade daughter thinks I’m cool stuff.”  

We would love to serve your group at camp next summer, and registration is already open for 2019. Check out all the dates and locations at centrikid.com and sign up today! Contact our team anytime by email at centrikid@lifeway.com with logistical questions, parent questions, or anything else that we can help you with.

Jeremy Echols leads the CentriKid Camps team and manages the LifeWay Kids events.  He, his wife Emily, and their precious daughter love their church, their neighborhood, and spending time together.  Jeremy loves to read, watch sports, and grill burgers.

CentriKid, Kids Ministry, Leadership

Go Behind the Scenes with CentriKid Staff Training

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Here is a peek behind the scenes at CentriKid Camps staffer training. Every summer we hire a couple hundred summer staffers to facilitate the CentriKid program elements of Bible Study, Recreation, Worship, Track Times, and everything else! These leaders make the most of their opportunity because through each camp element they share the gospel with kids in practical ways. Staffers value their role serving the Church each week by making the message of Christ clear in the lives of kids at camp.

Each aspect of camp is woven into the overall spiritual direction for the week of camp. For camp this summer, at overnight camps as well as day camps, we develop a theme and graphical motif to teach kids how God loves them, they can be forgiven from sin, and God has big plans for their life.

Allyson is a new staffer with CentriKid this summer, and as she prepares for the summer, she is excited about the opportunity to serve churches and invest in kids. She helped at another camp last year but was drawn to CentriKid because she had a chance to help as a team Assistant with her church and fell in love with the way CentriKid staffers are so intentional with teaching kids and making the gospel clear on an age-appropriate level.

Camp ministry doesn’t just exist for one week out of the summer. Through the years, I have seen how that one season in a staffer’s life has impacted their ministry beyond just the summer. 

Jesse is a returning staffer who came to CentriKid in a Media Tech role with plans of completing college and going on with his career. 

After serving a couple of summers, Jesse expressed an interest in the Camp Pastor role and has served well in that capacity. Now he’s changed the course of his education to pursue a seminary degree and train to serve as a pastor of a church!

God is working already in the lives of kids, adults, and even summer staffers who will be at CentriKid. We look forward to sharing ministry results from camp and celebrating how lives are changed for eternity because of the impact of camp.

To learn more about CentriKid Camps, visit www.centrikid.com and if you know a young adult who should consider serving for a summer on camp staff, share the “Become a Staffer” page and help that student get plugged into the application process. The summer staff application is online and already available next summer! There are several FAQ’s there and a link to the online application.

Jeremy Echols leads the CentriKid Camps team and manages the LifeWay Kids events.  He, his wife Emily, and their precious daughter love their church, their neighborhood, and spending time together.  Jeremy loves to read, watch sports, and grill burgers.

CentriKid, Kids Ministry, Leadership

When is a child ready to go to overnight camp?

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Kids camp is a great time to make memories. Church camp takes all the fun elements and combines a spiritual application to each aspect of camp—making it even better! But parents want to know when their child is really ready for overnight camp. Answers may vary for different families, sometimes the readiness may vary for different kids in the same family!

Here are 5 questions to ask when figuring out if a child is ready for overnight camp.

  1. Do they meet the age requirement for overnight camp? All camps and activities have age restrictions for a reason. It isn’t to keep kids out, but to make sure they are able to have a safe and successful week.
  2. Are there special needs to consider? Some campers have dietary, mobility, or emotional needs to consider before sending them on an overnight camp trip. The church leaders and camp staff want to see every child succeed, but some situations require extra help or specialized knowledge.  Make sure you communicate about any special needs with the group leader for the church and with the camp staff so they are ready.
  3. What is their confidence in going away from home overnight? Some kids do just fine going away from home without mom or dad, but other kids really struggle with the thought of it. Some parents have given kids a “practice trip” to grandparents or sleepovers with friends to help build the confidence for a first-time overnight camper.
  4. What is their independence level without mom or dad present? Going away to camp requires a child to get up, get dressed, and get going on their own. You can pack all the clothes for the week, but the kid still has to get up and get dressed (hopefully in a different shirt than he wore all day yesterday!)
  5. Would it help if a parent attended also for the child’s first camp? Sometimes a child just needs the reassurance that mom is close-by, so having a parent on the trip can be a healthy step in growing up, without facing all the fears of being away from the whole family. Don’t bring the family dog, but mom, dad, or a sibling can be a huge help in overcoming homesickness with a young child concerned about being away.

We know the impact of camp is powerful. Campers make lifelong memories while trying new activities, meeting new friends, and growing in their faith. My hope is that every child has the opportunity to make camp memories and grow in their spiritual journey through the camp experience. Here are several insights about helping parents have peace-of-mind with kids going to camp.

At CentriKid, we offer camp for 3rd-6th graders, but not every church sends their kids who are entering 3rd grade, some wait for kids to complete 3rd grade. That is something you as a kids ministry leader and the parents of the individual kids can best determine. We want kids to have a great time, be safe, and comprehend what’s going on at camp.

We serve tons of churches every summer with kids camp and we love having experienced kids at camp and also first timers! For more information about CentriKid Camps visit www.centrikid.com and contact us with any questions you have along the way.  

Jeremy Echols leads the CentriKid Camps team and manages the LifeWay Kids events.  He, his wife Emily, and their precious daughter love their church, their neighborhood, and spending time together.  Jeremy loves to read, watch sports, and grill burgers.

CentriKid, Kids Ministry, Leadership

How helpful are teenagers at kids camp?

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Kids camp is for kids, right? Right! But have you considered having teenagers involved in the kids ministry at your church?  

We all know that kids don’t stay kids … and at LifeWay Kids, we talk a lot about breaking down ministry silos between kids and student ministries. Summer camp is a great way to plug in some trusted teens to gain valuable ministry experience and it is a simple way to partner with the Student Ministry team at your church. You’ll want to bring older teens who have displayed maturity or who may have helped out before.  

Here are 5 benefits to having trusted teens help at kids camp:

  1. Help with the Adult: Camper ratio. Every summer I hear from church leaders who have a tough time getting enough adults to accompany their group to camp. At CentriKid Camps, we offer the “Team Assistant” program where college students or juniors and seniors in high school can attend camp as one of your adults.  
  2. Engage another family member. There is so much benefit to a family by being together and serving together. At camp, you could have an opportunity to get one or more parents attending camp along with a teen because of a younger sibling who is a camper. This isn’t feasible for every family, but for some, they could make this a “family bonding ministry experience.” What if that phrase became a norm in your ministry … consider the impact of families serving together in other contexts at your church!
  3. Capitalize on their energy. With bringing an older, trusted teen to camp, there is a good chance that you are bringing a former camper from kids camp, which means they will be fired up to serve and will jump in with amazing energy!
  4. Invest in future leaders. As a Kids Ministry leader, you have a chance to share your heart and connect with a student who is considering where to serve in the future. You’ve got a chance during camp to find out more about the interests, calling, and direction of some future leaders in your church.
  5. Give valuable ministry experience. Have a trusted teen lead a portion of your Church Group Devotion at camp. Encourage relationship building opportunities and even gospel-sharing opportunities with kids in your group. All of this experience is good during the week of camp, but it pays off tenfold when a student gains experience and confidence to continue serving with kids back home!

This summer, consider inviting a couple of teens to be a part of your kids camp group. If they understand the opportunity they have to do Kingdom work, then starting at kids camp as a helper could lead to a future where they serve in your church and maybe even continue on with other ministry opportunities in college and afterwards!

CentriKid, Kids Ministry, Leadership

Blueprint – Helping Kids Discover God’s Design at CentriKid

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This summer at CentriKid Camps we will be helping kids discover God’s design for our lives.  Of course, this includes making the gospel message clear and age-appropriate, but CentriKid always unpacks the spiritual content with an emphasis on both evangelism and discipleship.

God’s Design for Evangelism

We know some kids attend camp as a guest of a friend and may not have any church background. Other campers may be regular attendees at church, but they are beginning to ask questions and seek to understand what it means to have a relationship with Christ. For all of these campers, we make numerous connections to the gospel throughout the day and in Bible Study, the camp staffers will walk through “The Gospel God’s Plan for Me” and answer questions.

God’s Design for Discipleship

In every church group, there are campers who already have a relationship with Christ. These young believers might have made a profession of faith the prior week at VBS or they may have been growing for a couple of years. For these campers, the gospel is referenced throughout the day and spiritual applications are made at Recreation, Track Times, and of course, there will be activities that spark more questions and growth in Bible Study.

God’s Design for Response Time

Every night at Worship, we offer a response time for campers to ask questions about the gospel or to begin a relationship with Christ. We never pressure any type of response, but we always make it available so campers can seek out a church leader they know, or talk with a staffer they met at camp. We always emphasize that Worship is a great time to respond, but it is not the only time. Camp Pastors always emphasize that kids can find an adult at camp and ask questions anytime.

God’s Design for Returning Home

Each week of camp is just a week. It can be a milestone experience, but we hope to see the camp week become a spiritual marker of growth. The best way for kids to continue their growth at home is to have adults in their lives continue to invest and mentor them.  

We consider it a blessing to serve churches with kids camp this summer and we know God has amazing plans for campers and church leaders at CentriKid this summer. For more information about CentriKid, visit www.centrikid.com  or call 1-877-CAMP-123. There is still space available for several of our camp weeks this summer.

Jeremy Echols leads the CentriKid Camps team and manages the LifeWay Kids events.  He, his wife Emily, and their precious daughter love their church, their neighborhood, and spending time together.  Jeremy loves to read, watch sports, and grill burgers.

CentriKid, Kids Ministry, Leadership

How to Make the First Trip to Camp Successful

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Every year there are children who will attend camp for the very first time. Because we know the importance of summer camp in the life of a child, we want every one of them to attend but some will need some help and encouragement. Here is a checklist you can follow to help make the first trip to camp successful for young campers.

(1) Grab Their Interest

For making this first experience a win, approach it with a campaign to build interest. Announce camp dates, show a few of the videos from our website in whatever format you can (kids church, emails to families in your ministry, or even in “big church” if you can). Hopefully, you can gain attention and begin to build interest in camp. Invite everybody to attend an information meeting about summer camp.

(2) Reassure the Parents

Seek out the parents of those kids who may be attending for the first time. They may have specific concerns to ask about or they may just have a general uneasiness about sending their child to camp for the first time. This conversation is where you can reassure them about the safety of camp and the way you watch over each of the kids under your care. In the conversation, invite them to the information meeting. Some parents may feel more comfortable attending camp with their child the first time, so let them know that can be an option.

(3) Provide Details About the Trip

In your summer camp informational meeting, you should plan to explain the dates, the travel plan, the camp activities, and share your heart for why you take kids to summer camp. Show them the daily schedule, talk about the camp location . . . those things will be early details that parents will want to know. You don’t have to be a summer camp expert to host that first meeting, and they may even ask questions you don’t know the answers to, so collect those, contact us and you can follow up with parents later on.

(4) Follow Up with Reminders

Some parents and kids may benefit from a follow-up conversation and a personal invitation to camp. Everybody should see visual reminders about camp in the kids ministry area and in any regular email or newsletter communication you send out. We have some promotion tools that you can download, print, and customize and videos online at centrikid.com.

(5) Sign Them Up!

Start a sign-up sheet because you’ll want to have a gauge of interest, and maybe even collect deposits before you are required to make non-refundable deposits. Registration is always open for CentriKid as long as space is available, so contact us today to reserve your spots at camp. Call 1-877-CAMP-123 or register at www.centrikid.com.

Of course, the biggest success factor is actually going to camp and having a great time, but your preparation will help get them there. That’s the biggest hurdle. The camp experience will be a ton of fun and camp staffers will join you in loving on the kids in your group. Do those wacky activities and make the most of every moment at camp this summer.

Jeremy Echols leads the CentriKid Camps team and manages the LifeWay Kids events.  He, his wife Emily, and their precious daughter love their church, their neighborhood, and spending time together.  Jeremy loves to read, watch sports, and grill burgers.

 

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Ministry

2018 Essential Reading List for a Kids Ministry Leader

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Many folks ask for tips on where to begin or what to read next so we’ve compiled the 2018 Essential Reading List for a Kids Ministry Leader. Make 2018 a year of growth in your ministry and in your leadership skills. The list this year features some of the recent kids ministry books from LifeWay and a few leadership classics as well.  

At CentriKid, we pour into our camp staff as leaders for us at camp and for their service back home. We believe that you can never have too much leadership. During the fall and winter of 2017, the CentriKid Camps office team read through “Nothing Less” and “Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry.” These books are great for your growth, but also beneficial for your ministry team to read and discuss.

Kids Ministry & Leadership Books from LifeWay — find each of these books at lifeway.com or local LifeWay Stores.

  • Designed to Lead – Eric Geiger – foundational leadership book for growing leaders.  This book replaces “21 Laws” by John Maxwell as my recommendation for new leaders.
  • Nothing Less – Jana Magruder – research made easily accessible for you to help parents understand the importance of kids spending time in God’s Word. You may find this a helpful gift for new parents or a recommendation to all parents in your ministry.
  • Kids Ministry that Nourishes – Jana Magruder – Kids ministry philosophy and practical tips from the Director of LifeWay Kids.
  • Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry – Brian Dembowczyk – This book stepped on my toes and challenged my thinking about how I teach kids and how I raise my own daughter
  • This is Our Time – Trevin Wax – timely cultural insights with guidance for 21st century Christians. 
  • Keep an eye out for “What about Kids Ministry” coming in 2018!

These leadership books are considered “classics” in our CentriKid culture — we’ve read through these at different times with our office team and with summer staff leaders like our Camp Directors.

  • Spiritual Leadership – Oswald Sanders
  • The Advantage – Patrick Lencioni
  • Next Generation Leader – Andy Stanley
  • StrengthsFinder 2.0 – Tom Rath

As a bonus tip—add the Kids Ministry 101 podcast to your commute or your workout. This podcast is always quick, it stays on-topic and gives great insights from voices in Kids Ministry and ministry leadership.

I hope that 2018 is a great year for you personally—and my prayer is that all leaders in kids ministry will be strong in their faith, grow in leadership, and make the message of Christ clear in the lives of kids under your care.

Jeremy Echols leads the CentriKid Camps team and manages the LifeWay Kids events.  He, his wife Emily, and their precious daughter love their church, their neighborhood, and spending time together.  Jeremy loves to read, watch sports, and grill burgers.

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