Articles Zone

Practical and insightful articles about Children's Ministry.

Looking for some expert advice? This Zone is a treasury of Children's Ministry expertise from the Kidologist and other veterans in children's ministry.

Some of the most popular articles are:

Getting into the Home | Mailbox Ministry | Discipline that Disciples | Entering the World of Kids | First Steps for a New Children's Pastor | The Great KID Mission |

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Level Title Topic
All Access 7 Basic Precautions for Children's Ministry

Important steps you need to take in your ministry to keep you, your volunteers and your kids safe.

Saftey, Security
All Access 7 Characteristics of a Healthy Leader

Are you a wise and spirit-filled leader? Paul gives 7 specific qualities in the book of Ephesians to strive for.

Leadership
All Access 7 Deadly Sins of Kidmin Pastors

Do you want to be in kid's ministry for the long haul? If you do, here is a list of sins to avoid.

Leadership, Administration, Pastoral Advice
All Access 7 Greatest Questions Facing Children's Ministry

Other than take-home papers and a summertime VBS, most people - even church boards - don’t know what children’s ministry should do or be.

Challenges
All Access 7 Habits of Highly Effective Small Group Leaders

Be the best small group leader you can be with these helpful tips. 

Small Groups
Free 7 Questions to Hitting Your Target

Don't just set goals. Make sure to take steps to accomplish your goals. Here are seven questions to get you on the right track.

Planning, Success
Free 7 Questions You Can't Ask In Church

Do you know God's commands for your life? Or are you just misunderstanding them? 

Humor, Questions
All Access 7 Reasons Leaders Fall From the Cutting Edge

Some leaders keep expanding, making a contribution into old age, while others make the 'Great Compromise,' settling into a comfortable mediocrity.

Leadership, Innovation
All Access 7 Reasons Why Games Are the Best Teaching Tools Ever

There are lots of effective teaching tools you can use to reach kids, and there are good reasons to use all of them at one time or another. However, one stands out above the rest: games!

Games
Free 7 Surprise Requirements to Become a Children's Pastor

Seminary will give you the education required to be a pastor and leader. But what else is required to be a great Children's Pastor?

Leadership
All Access 7 Things to Include in Every Volunteer Meeting

Make your next volunteer meeting a roaring success with these tips from SuperChurch!

Volunteers, Meetings, Training
All Access 7 Ways to Create Family Connections

In our modern society, it's getting harder and harder to connect with family members. Choose to be intentional and start with these suggestions.

Family, Connecting
All Access 7 Ways to Reach Ministry Goals

I have used the B.H.A.G. for years – it stands for Big Hairy Audacious Goal. Too often we simply allow life to happen around us day-to-day. When we take the time to set goals and see them to completion, we feel a sense of accomplishment and achieve more. With B.H.A.G.’s in mind, I thought I would share 7 Ways you can reach your GOALS.

Ministry Goals
All Access 7 Ways to Simplify Life

We live in a world of bigger, better, faster, stronger. Some would even add “excessive,” and while I don’t believe there is anything wrong with having nice things or many nice things, generally speaking more stuff equals more stress. I’m sure each of us could use a little simplicity in our family life.

Simplifying Life
All Access 7 Ways to Welcome Guests for the Holidays

How you welcome your holiday guests is a powerful tool in your arsenal of customer service offerings. Keep in mind: you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Welcome, Guests, Holidays
All Access 8 Free Ways to Get a Children's Ministry Education

 All Children’s Ministry leaders deserve training. Learn ways to get a CM education for free. 

Education
All Access 8 Healthy Leadership Characteristics I Learned from a Kid

 Learn how God used a kid to teach us about healthy leadership.

Leadership
All Access 8 Ministry Improvements You Can Make This Weekend!

Do you ever feel like you’re buried under the “to do list” pile, or feel like you’re not making enough progress in your ministry?  Here are eight ways that are simple and easy to implement that will make a difference in your ministry THIS WEEKEND!

Improving Your Ministry
All Access 9 Bad Things Happening When You Forget Ministry Vision

What happens when you lose the vision for your ministry?

Vision
Free 9 Habits of Highly Productive People

Here is a list of habits you may want to consider incorporating into a New Year to become more productive.

Productivity, Leadership
Free 9 Tips for Choosing a VBS Program

Here are 9 tips for choosing VBS material and evaluating your options.

Choosing VBS Material
All Access 9 Ways You Can Encourage Families to Come Back Next Week

How do you encourage families to come back to church?

Church Attendance, Growth
All Access A Better Christmas

The message of this Christmas skit is clear: giving is better than receiving!

Christmas, Children's Skit
All Access A Biblical View of Discipline

To discipline literally means, “to make a disciple.” That is the goal you should try to reach! You are making disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Discipline
All Access A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Movie Devotional

Thanksgiving Sunday PJ Day. Using A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving movie, explain that God keeps His P-romises and remind them that no matter what life throws our way, He brings J-oy to our life!

Thanksgiving Lesson Idea
All Access A Delegation Question

An answer to a delegation question about expectations and standards

Delegation, Leading, Expectations
All Access A Few Things About Gratitude

What are you grateful for today?

Thanksgiving, Gratitude
All Access A Gift for Dad

What does Dad want for Father's Day? Here is a great puppet skit to illustrate this to children.

Skit, Puppet Skit, Father's Day
Free A Great Way to Get Your Kids Leading Adults in Worship

First Timothy 4:12 commands children to be an example for those older than them. Can children set an example in leading adults in worship? Brian Dollar shares how the kids at his church are able to do so.

Serving, Kids Leading Worship
All Access A Kidmin Bargainologist

Do more ministry with your money by using these thirteen creative ways to spend less and get more. Make a small budget go far!

Money, Discounts, Budget
All Access A Kidmin Giant?

Learn how to set reasonable goals for YOUR ministry, instead of just emulating others.

Ministry, Setting Goals
All Access A Narnia Discipleship Book for Children

This Narnia Discipleship Book for Children is intended to help young children as they start their faith and learn how to grow in it! This devotional book is a great resource for helping your kids begin their new walk in Christ.

Children's Ministry, Discipleship Book
All Access A Reminder from Your Future

Children's Ministry is difficult, so take a look into your future...

Future, Endurance
All Access A Revolutionary Ministry Strategy

A document once thought lost forever in the archives of the Kidologist’s vast children’s ministry vault of hand written resources from before the dawn of the computer has recently been uncovered. Could it reveal a ministry strategy that will revolutionize your ministry today?

Ministry Strategy
All Access A Season for Everything

“How do I know when the season for a ministry program is ending, and how do I end it well?” There is no easy answer to this question, but here are some things to consider when evaluating a program that might be at the end of its season.

Ministry Programs
All Access A Season For Everything, Part 2

When the time comes for a program to end, we should end it. I stand completely firm in that conviction. However, there may be a program that is faltering that still has life to it and could still be effective for the kingdom. It is programs like these, which may be teetering on the brink, that we will consider today.

Ministry Evaluation
All Access A Sincere Response to NO

How do you respond when told no? This may directly affect how your kids will respond when they are told no as well.

Relationships, Discipline
Free A Twist on Volunteer Training:

Training and equipping our kidmin leaders is of utmost importance if we want them to lead well in their ministry area and to have longevity in serving with us.

Volunteer Training
All Access A Whole New Kind of Swearing

I had been taught all my life that this commandment, meant you couldn't swear, or yell out "OH GOD!" when you stub your toe, but as I grew older, this interpretation seemed shallow to me, and on this day I hungered for something deeper to teach my kids.

Watching Your Words
All Access A Zeal that Consumes: Finding Passion for Your Ministry

How exciting is your Sunday School hour?

Sunday School
All Access Act Like a Fool

Don't be afraid to get emotional over your relationship with God. 

Worship, Relationship
All Access Add Bells & Whistles

Make your ministry different from others by adding some Bells and Whistles.

Extras, being different
All Access Addressing Allergies in Your Children's Ministry

Implementing a plan to address children’s allergy issues is essential. Part of successfully planning to keep the children in your care safe includes having accurate information, using that information effectively, and utilizing a system to easily communicate with parents.

Allergies
All Access Adoption: The Very Heart of Our Father

The bond between a parent and a child is not just biological. It's a heart bond. 

Adoption
All Access Advent is About Waiting

The essence of Advent that has been lost in a culture that never stops is learning to wait.

Christmas, Advent, Waiting
All Access All Eyes Forward

Learn to keep the attention of large groups of kids.

Attention, Speaking,
All Access An alternative to electronic check in

Can't afford an electronic check in system? Maybe your kid's ministry is still growing and doesn't justify the investment yet. Here is a solution that worked well for one church. 

Check In, Safety
All Access An Open House Policy

Here are some ideas that may help you create an ‘open house’ policy with your family.

Create a Welcoming Home
All Access Are Hungry Hearts Listening?

How should churches minister to hurting children?

Children of Divorce
All Access Are Some Sins Worse Than Others?

The Answer Guys bring you another great skit to help your kids answer the question: "Are some sins worse than others?"

Puppet Skit
Thanksgiving Jokes Recruiting Tools - Fishing KidCheck Toddler FUNtastic Bible Activity Book 88 Games with 8 Objects Book Kidology's Ultimate Toolbox for Children's Ministr My Awesome Adventure DiscipleTown Unit 12 - How to Meet with God Next Steps for Kids Kidology Online Training
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