Articles Zone

Five ways you can better serve Special Needs children in your ministry.

The Apostle Paul said when he became a man he put away childish things, but then Jesus said we are to come to Him as children. How do we connect with children, relationally, while maintaining the respect of adults? Pastor Karl - a self-identified "big kid" explains how to keep that tricky balance.

Ensure the safety of your kids as they return to school. 

Help kids understand the 'problem of evil'

The world of kids is constantly changing and so it takes constant effort to keep current. Learn how to minister from within the context of the culture... and see your results drastically improve!

Learn how a Children's Pastor who calls himself "The Kidologist" came to Christ as a four year old, received his call to the ministry as an elementary age boy, and headed into children's ministry before founding Kidology.org.

Why do we need music? We use music to express our worship and love to God, our fears, dreams, hopes, and even our testimony to others.

The WORDLESS BOOK is one of the most effective ways to present the Gospel to children! WORDLESS BOOKS can be purchased, but are very simple to make yourself.

An case for allowing boys to be boys in a Christ-honoring way, rather than a shadow of what God intended for them to be.

In his seminal book “Will Our Children Have Faith” John H. Westerhoff, III grapples with the state of Christian Education. Originally published in 1976 by Seabury Press and later revised, expanded and republished in 2000 by Morehouse Publishing, Westerhoff’s discourse deserves wider consideration from church leaders, children’s ministry leaders and educational thinkers beyond the scope of mainline denominations. While many evangelicals would quibble with some of his theological assumptions–he is Anglican, having been originally Church of Christ–they would be wise to listen to the heart of a man who has walked out the struggle of shifting educational tides, especially in the church context. He is a distinguished scholar to be sure. But more importantly he is a thoughtful practitioner of ministry.

Karl Bastian, founder of Kidology.org, reflects on the passing of Apple founder and CEO, Steve Jobs, October 2011.

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.

How to launch a Children's Ministry in a church with little or no children.

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.

Being the leader of the children's ministry team in your church is an important calling. Children's ministry is now considered one of the major reasons why people choose a church. Take a moment to consider these "words of wisdom."

The Calling I am a minister. I minister to the largest mission field in the world. I minister to children. My calling is sure. My challenge is big. My vision is clear. My desire is strong. My influence is eternal....

A great story about a great Children's Pastor.

Kids are not the church of tomorrow, they are the church of today as demonstrated by these examples in the Bible!

It may surprise you that the original "wordless book" was written for adults! It was a sermon by Spurgeon in 1866, later published in 1911, and had only three colors! DL Moody added the gold color in 1875 and Child Evangelism Fellowship popularized the modern five color version by adding green.

Defining what Children's Ministry is and what it does.

Love those challenging kids, and know you are making a difference!

What are the qualities that make a great leader?

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.

A look at our Basic Needs, the Fundamental Question behind them, and the Fear that drives them.

A FRESH ANSWER TO THE ISSUE OF GIVING CANDY AND PRIZES TO KIDS AT CHURCH. Do I give candy and prizes to the kids in my ministry? Most certainly, YES! Am I bribing them? Certainly not! For the sake of children everywhere, allow me to present a defense for this practice, before you take the kids’ candy away! Someone needs to stand up and protect the little plastic toys from extinction!

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.

It has come to our attention that Children’s Pastors see the world a little differently than most others. This handy reference guide will help bridge the language gap that so often divides them from the rest of society. We recommend this guide be kept for ready reference at all staff and board meetings so as to help understand your children’s pastor and his/her perspective.

This was a seminary research project on the subject using essays written by grade school children on the topic: "Who is God, and what is He like?"

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.

Time and money that you spend creating an exciting environment will pay for itself many times over. The kids will respond by offering their attention while adults will respond by placing their children in your care. Beige walls, an overhead projector, and rows of metal chairs will not work the same magic. Here are some suggestions.

Good ideas to keep in touch with your children and encourage them.

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

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

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

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.

The phone can be an effective tool in building stronger relationships with the children in your ministry. So here are some ideas for ways you can use the phone to touch kids lives and some tips to make you r calls more meaningful.

Some things you likely never knew about Psalm 118 that are pretty cool!  

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.

Take care of the "Big Rocks" in your life, and then worry about everything else. If you can't, then you simply are doing more than God is asking you to, and you need to take a hard look at your life and ministry. It may require some heart-searching prayer about what God is asking you to do.

If you want to understand children, you've got to get into their homes. It is amazing what you can learn about the interests and influencers of children from their bedrooms! A kid's room is like a diorama of their heart.

This is a teaching outline on personal discipline. Can be used for individual study, or for teaching a workshop.

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