Kids Ministry

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

Parenting, Podcasts, Training

What Christian Parents Are and Are Not Teaching Their Kids About Sexuality

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

Today’s episode features Dr. Shane and Jennifer Garrison as they discuss the struggle Christian parents face with “The Talk.” Dr. Shane Garrison is now serving as VP for Enrollment & Associate Professor at Campbellsville University, and his wife Dr. Jennifer Garrison, is also an assistant professor of education ministry at Campbellsville University. On this episode, hear what parents wish their church’s kids & student leaders were doing to give them help they desperately need.

Bible Study, Kids Ministry, Kids Ministry Curriculum, Leadership, Levels of Biblical Learning, Podcasts, Training

Bible Studies for Life: Helping Kids Apply The Bible To Real Life

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

This is the second episode in a series of four podcasts designed to help churches choose and use curriculum.  Jeff Land, team leader of Bible Studies for Life Kids joins our hosts, Jana Magruder and Chuck Peters.  They discuss how teachers can help boys and girls study the Bible and apply biblical concepts to their life in an age appropriate way. In addition, hear new updates and resources for Bible Studies for Life Kids beginning in Fall 2016.

Kids Ministry, Kids Ministry Curriculum, Leadership, Podcasts, Training

Choosing and Using a Strategy for Teaching Kids the Bible

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

Choosing and using curriculum is one of the biggest and most important decisions a church will make.  Landry Holmes who leads the kids publishing teams at Lifeway visits with our hosts, Jana Magruder and Chuck Peters about choosing and using curriculum.  Listen as they discuss what curriculum is, why it’s important, and essential factors to look for in curriculum for your children’s ministry.  This episode is the first in a series of four podcasts designed to help churches choose and use curriculum that best meets the needs of their church.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Podcasts, Training

Helping Families In Crisis

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

Dr. Shelly Melia joins the Lifeway Kids Podcast this week to help us think through helping families dealing with grief & crisis situations.

  • What are some of the crisis situations that families find themselves in?
  • How well equipped are Children’s Ministers in addressing these types of situations?
  • Why is it important for Children’s Ministers to move closer & lean in to these crisis situations?
  • When is it appropriate to lean in to a crisis situation versus when it’s appropriate to take a step back?
  • How do we help a child or family work through their grief in a crisis situation?
Leadership, Podcasts, Resources, Training

Reaching Kids Outside the Walls of Your Church

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

Linda Ranson Jacobs, of DC4K joins us again on the Lifeway Kids Podcast to discuss how to reach kids outside the walls of your church. This more than likely will mean addressing tough issues that are prevalent in our culture. Linda & Chuck Peters address some of the following questions and issues:

  • How are families different today than they were in biblical times?
  • How do we address these new issues & pressures from our society that are becoming prevalent in our culture?
  • Most kids pastors are not well prepared for tough conversations and because things move so fast, it’s hard to keep up with how to appropriately respond to specific issues.
  • Leaders and teachers in the church should provide a safe place for a child to come, but leaders should also be aware of how to face tough issues.
  • As a children’s minister, if a child comes into my ministry from a family of a homosexual couple or transgender parents, how do you serve that child well?
  • You should not necessarily change what you do in your ministry, but be aware of the approach you take, and what that means for kids that might not be regular attenders at your church.
  • What are some specific pitfalls you should avoid in handling tough situations?
Leadership, Podcasts, Training

Ministering to Children of Divorce

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

This week’s episode of the Lifeway Kids Podcast features Linda Ranson Jacobs, of DC4K, to discuss how we can better minister to children of divorce in our churches.

  • Why is ministering to children of divorce somewhat of a culture shock?
  • How does our limited view of a child’s life affect how a child receives the ministry we offer to them?
  • When a child’s behavior gets out of control, what are some practices we should avoid?
  • How do we make sure these children feel like they belong to your ministry?
  • What are some proactive steps we can take to minister to children of divorce?
Leadership, Podcasts, Resources, Training

Security for Your Kids Ministry

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

John Murchison, Director of Children’s Ministry at the Austin Stone Community Church, provides several tips & procedures for keeping your kids safe in your ministry.

  • As a children’s minister, you must get educated & trained.
  • Have policies in your church that are known and followed.
  • Background checks are very important, but they are not enough.
  • Complete reference checks on your volunteers.
  • Train as many volunteers as you can on the risk of sexual abuse to kids in your church.
Evangelism, Leadership, Podcasts, Resources, Training, Uncategorized

The Gospel Is For Volunteers Too

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

This week’s episode of the Lifeway Kids Podcast features a conversation with John Murchison, the Director of Children’s Ministry at The Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, TX. In our desire to share the gospel with kids, have we neglected to share that same gospel with the volunteers serving with us? The gospel is not just the way to become a Christian, it also sustains and motivates the work of ministry. In this episode John & Jeffrey discuss ways to recruit, train, sustain, and send volunteers with the basis of the good news of Jesus Christ.

Encouragement, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Podcasts, Resources, Training

Growing as a Leader to Grow Your Ministry

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

In this week’s episode, we gathered a few kids ministry leaders together to answer an important question: “What can a leader do, in their own life, to grow with their church or to grow their ministry?” The reality is that as a leader, two of your main responsibilities are to develop others and develop a vision for your ministry for the future. Regardless if you are at a small to mid-size church or a larger church, these principles remain the same. We invited Brent Moxey – Children’s Pastor at Westridge Church in Dallas GA, Danielle Bell – Minister to Children at Dawson Memorial in Birmingham AL, and Chad Owens –  Kids Associate Director at Grace Church in Overland Park KS to help us think about this question. These ministry leaders provide some lessons learned from their own journey of leading teams in their various ministries.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Podcasts, Resources, Training, Uncategorized

The Art of Delegation

By

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

In children’s ministry, it is very easy drift into the mindset that you must do everything yourself. This is why the art of delegation is, for many of us, an area of growth in our leadership. Does delegation mean you are working yourself out of a job? How do you know when you need to delegate something? In the newest episode of the Lifeway Kids Podcast, Chuck Peters, Lifeway Kids Director of Operations, sits down with Heidi Hensley, Children’s Pastor at Bayside Church to discuss answers to these questions. Heidi also shares some of her insights and delegation techniques as she leads her team of staff and volunteers at Bayside Church.

All Ministry Sites

Leadership
Kids Ministry
Student Ministry
Groups Ministry
Women’s Ministry
Worship Ministry

Digital Resources

Ministry Grid
Lifeway Worship
Digital Church
KidEvent Pro
MyCurriculum Manager
Simulcast Manager
Lifeway Reader eBooks
Generosity
WORDsearch
SmallGroup.com

Lifeway Network

Lifeway Research
B&H