Administration Zone

What does a toxic church environment look like, and when should you leave?

If you want your application to stand out from the rest of the pack, the key may be found in writing a great cover letter. This article examines what people are looking for and how to best write a letter that reflects the real you.

The interview is often the key event that determines whether a candidate moves on in the ministry calling process. This article will present several suggestions that can improve how you present yourself in an interview.

A tool for allowing parents and leaders to evaluate your children's ministry.

This is a sample of a kids ministry brochure from Karl's church. Please dont copy in full - but you are welcome to use it for ideas and inspiration.

These are the Kidologist's workshop notes for his workshop on developing a team of 5-6th Graders to help run children's church.

Here is a list of major children's ministry curricululm providers.  

You went into children’s ministry because you love working with kids, but the ‘higher up’ you get in leadership, the less it seems you get to minister directly to children. Learn how to continue to make a personal impact on many children so that you are as much a shepherd of children as you are an administrator of children.

Don't let the church suck you dry - that isn't God's Will for those in ministry. When the church is killing your joy, you are doing more than God is asking of you and it is time for drastic action. Now. Stop making excuses.

What the Kidologist, Karl Bastian, suggests as the "Top Ten" books, websites, and events for children's ministry leaders.

This is a guide on how to prepare a written salvation testimony with the Kidologist's as a sample. Written for kids, but good for all ages. See the PDF for printing and the sample.

Written by Karl Bastian for his children's ministry, here are ten scripturally based standards you can ask your volunteers to live up to in order to serve in the kids ministry.

What are the qualities that make a great leader?

Need some new workers in your children's minsitry? (Who doesn't?!?) Here are a variety of recruiting ideas compiled by the Kidologist.

Do you ever feel like your whole ministry is about to come crashing down? This may encourage you...  

In the busyness of life and ministry, don't forget your Primary Objectives, because one thing is for sure: your Enemy won't.

Karl presents his Biblical Philosophy of Children's Ministry, why you should have one, and a Word doc version so you can modify it for your own ministry use.

This is a sermon Karl Bastian preaches when he has an opportunity to address an entire church congregation.

This is a fun event your church can host in the summer.

How can a volunteer truly H.E.L.P. their leader?

If you minister to kids you have a powerful opportunity to impact lives in dramatic ways, and the small amount of effort it takes may surprise you.

Looking for church policies to ensure "Child Safety" in the church? The Kidologist has done extensive research on this and offers his findings and his manual for his church.

This is Karl Bastian and Michael Chanley's workshop at CPC 2011.

Every children's ministry needs a gifted leader who is able lead by coaching. He or she is able to call the plays that mobilize a team or class full of children to meet a goal.

Great articles on slowing down and taking time to focus on your own soul.

A Kids Church Video featuring “Da Feet.” An introduction for a lesson on Noah.

Karl Bastian provides tips on how to keep your cool and deal with parents when they get upset with you!

Originally published in Children's Ministry Magazine Professional Edition, Karl Bastian shares insights on how to deal with criticism in leadership.  

Learn to turn something boring into something creative, the way disney does.

Are "FIC" (Family Integrated Churches) really better? Or are we merely trading one ineffective extreme for another?

Would you like to KNOW why God put you here on this earth? Wouldn’t it be great at the end of your life to be able to say, “I have finished the race?” But how will you know if you have finished the race unless you know what race you are running? This article, which reveals the personal story of the Kidologist's calling, will give you some insight on how YOU can discover YOUR calling.

A bunch of kids accept Christ on Sunday - how do you follow up with them? In this post Karl shares the letters he sends out to both kids and parents. You are welcome to edit and adapt.

A look at great resources to help you get started in kidmin

A BUNCH of ideas for encouraging your volunteers from the aisles of the grocery store!

Some advice on planning an all-nighter!

CLASSIC POST: These are the workshop notes and additional details from the workshop that the Kidologist taught at the Children's Pastor's Conference in Nashville and San Diego in 2001.

Karl gives some insight on how he lobbied for administrative support from a senior pastor who was trying to be "fair" to all his staff.

How do you fire a volunteer? That's a tough question, but here are some guidelines you will find helpful as you approach this delicate duty!

Create volunteer meetings your people will WANT to come to!

As shared on Kidmin Talk #99, this is the recruiting flyer I made for my church. And, YES! You can use it too!

Karl talks about ways to Keep It S.I.M.P.L.E. in your ministry when you are starting to feel overwhelmed (Post includes an MP3)

Tired of loose items cluttering up your kidmin space? Here is a fun Lost and Found sign that also warns that items will be disposed of soon.

How to Release the CM from providing Child Care to other ministries.

If you want to be a more proactive leader – don't start your day by checking your e-mail, voice mail, or mail slot at the office. Here is what you do...

A fun recruiting flyer that invites parents to see if their child is a winner!

A Child Security Training Video for use in Your Ministry.

Several people have requested sample children's pastors job descriptions, here are several, plus a sample application for a children's pastor.

Do you have an org chart for your kidmin? You Should! Here is a sample from Pastor Karl.

Educators have long called it a Scope and Sequence. Every thoughtful Bible curriculum has one. If it doesn’t, you might want to re-evaluate the quality of the material or the intentionality of its creators. If there is no scope and sequence, then it is a haphazard approach to education, and that is dangerous.

Signs for both the Check-in area and classrooms stating the importance and requirement to use the security tags for pick up.