Administration Zone

Articles and Resources for Leaders and Administrators

So, you're in charge of the Children's Ministry?! HELP IS HERE!

Whether you are a Children's Pastor, Director, Coordinator, or Hold-it-all-together-er, the fact is you need ideas, and you need them fast!! If you're looking for a sample policy manual, or permission slip, or other administrative help, this is the place!

If you have a question or issue you would like to see addressed here, please contact us. We have a team of veteran children's ministry administrators ready to help.

ALSO: We would be interested in any contributions you may have for this section.

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All Access Setting GOALS for Your Ministry

Purpose, Mission and Vision are critical to a ministry's success, but without goals they are difficult to bring into reality. Evaluating your progress also becomes nearly impossible! Goals break down a grand vision into attainable action steps. Let us show you how to setup these goals.

Goals
Starter Speak! Your Audience Listens!

Originally published in Groups CM Mag Professional Edition, Karl challenges your thinking about church communication from "How can I better get information out?" to "Why aren't they listening?"

Church Communication
All Access State of the Kidmin

So, did you watch the STATE of the UNION address by the President? Regardless of your political opinions, it is a good practice to stop once a year and consider the state of the union.

Assessment
All Access Sunday School Testing?

How do you evaluate kids Bible knowledge? Schools test kids, why not at church? People are often surprised to learn that the Kidologist had quarterly testing in his Sunday School. Here he explains why and how.

Testing Kids Bible Knowledge
All Access The Future of Children's Ministry

This is Karl's contribution to the Greg Baird / Kidmin360.com series. Download the COMPLETE book below.

Leadership & Discipleship
Free The Kidologist Top Influencers

Karl Bastian was selected by Group’s CM Magazine as one of kids ministry Top 20 Influencer’s – but who were his “Top Influencers?”

Leaders, Influence
All Access The One Thing: Karl Bastian

Karl answers Greg Baird on what is the ONE THING that is most important aside from his walk with God.

Leadership
Starter The Power of Encouragement

Karl, the Kidologist has had a note from Phil Vischer's mom up next to his desk for over 15 years... find out why!

Young Leader Encouragement
All Access Twitter My Facebook

Karl explains Facebook & Twitter and how they can help you in ministry! Taught at CPC in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Social Networking
All Access Volunteer Evaluation Worksheet

An evaluation worksheet that can be used to help gain feedback as well as help volunteers evaluate their performance.

Volunteer Evaluation
Free Volunteer Recruitment is Best Through Relationships

Become more relational with your volunteers while recruiting.

Volunteers, Relationships
All Access Volunteer Spotlight Templates

A simple fun way to recognize new or super volunteers! Just add a pictures and some interesting facts and post outside the room they serve in!

Volunteer Appreciation
All Access What Happened to the Bible?

A tragedy is happening! The Bible is a rare object in most children's ministries today. What are the steps for action that we need to take?

Using Bibles in Children's Ministry
All Access What Matters Now: Relationships

Karl Bastian, the Kidologist, made this contribution to the book What Matters Now in Children's Ministry.

Relationships
All Access What's Your Excuse?

An inspiring story from Karl about at 67 year old that is not making excuses when it comes to ministry.

Excuses, Serving
All Access When Good People Disagree

Using Halloween as a case study in conflict, this article rises above that issue to provide insight into how Christians should deal with controversial topics, such as Halloween.

Conflict - Halloween
Free Work Expands to Fill the Time Allowed

No matter how early you start to plan, how much you delegate, or how many volunteers show up, why does it always seem that you can't get ahead on all that needs to be done? If you've ever asked this, then you're in the right place!  

Efficiency
All Access Year End Evaluations

This is a sample of a year-end interview form to use with teachers at the end of the year.

CM Evaluation
Free You Don't Have a Recruiting Problem

I hear it often... "I'm having trouble recruiting." May I be so bold as to suggest your problem isn't recruiting. If you focus on something far more important than recruiting, you'll have all the volunteers you'll ever need. You may even have extras! Read on for the secret to building the largest team in the church!

Recruiting, Volunteers
All Access Are You Called to Minister to Children?

You'll never gain fame or glory in children's ministry. So are YOU called?

Ministry Calling
All Access CM Investment Guide

this is a children's ministry promotional peice from my church that is requested whenever I mention it at conferences. You are welcome to adapt the idea for your own church.

CM Promotion
Starter Do You Need Photo Permission Slips for Your Kids Ministry?

It is a common children's ministry myth that you need a media release for pictures to be taken of kids in your ministry. This comes up often in social media conversations, so Karl answers this question here.

Media Releases
All Access Highpoint Kids CM Manual

Pastor Karl's Children's Ministry Manual from his church in Colorado (updated 2022)

CM Manual
All Access Ministry Priorities

On my palm pilot I keep a simple file I use for self-evaluation. It is posted here because it is requested often after I mention it in workshops.

leadership - prioritizing
All Access Recruiting Tool: Fabulous Superhero

A Superhero Themed Recruiting Tool

Recruiting Tool
All Access Sample Recruiting E-mail

A sample recruiting e-mail to parents attending regularly to your church, but not yet serving on any ministry teams to demonstrate how to be positive while making the case for why they should serve.

Recruiting
All Access Fostering Camaraderie: Building Friendships in Church Volunteer Teams

The strength of the team often determines its success. This rings particularly true in the context of church volunteer settings, where individuals come together driven by a shared purpose. However, beyond mere cooperation, cultivating camaraderie among team members is crucial. Camaraderie not only enhances productivity and efficiency but also fosters a sense of belonging and support, ultimately enriching the volunteering experience. Let’s delve into the significance of building camaraderie within church volunteer teams and explore practical strategies to transform teammates into genuine friendships.

Leadership & Team Development
All Access "Kindergarten Welcome Wagon" - Great Way To Welcome Preschoolers Into Elementary Ministry

Welcome your Kindergartener's into kids church with a special event designed just for them (and their parents)!

Welcoming Ideas
Free 10 Children's Ministry Secrets

Not everything in ministry is self-evident. Some things that seem true—or effective—can produce substandard results. Read these tips on how to be most effective in your ministry.

Leadership Tips
Free 10 Common Mistakes Church Staff Members Make

If you work (or have worked) on a multiple member staff at a local church, you know that it is not always easy to maintain unity and cohesion among the team. Much of the reason for that includes some of these common mistakes made by church staff members.

Leadership, Relationships, Workplace Issues
Free 10 Fundraising Ideas for Kids Church

Exciting ways to raise money for your Children's Ministry and get others involved.

Fundraise, Money
Free 10 Tips To Help You Prepare for the Fall

Fall is right around the corner, and we have to be ready! Prepare now by keeping the following tips in mind.

Preparation for Fall
All Access 10 Ways To Build a Prayer Team for Your Children's Ministry

Do you have a prayer team for your children's ministry? One of the most powerful tools believers have in ministry is prayer! Here are ten ways to build a prayer team for your children's ministry.

Children's Ministry, Prayer
All Access 10 Ways to Manage Behavior Problems in Sunday School

How to deal with behavior problems with kids in your ministry

Behavior, Correction,
All Access 10 Ways To Overcome Ministry Discouragement

Every kidmin faces discouragement, this article gives you ten ways to overcome it.

Discouragement,
Free 11 Great Team Meeting Questions

Make your staff/volunteer meetings more productive and focused.

Volunteers, Meetings, Training
All Access 15 Minute Anxiety Detox for Leaders

Do you need an anxiety detox? Take 15 minutes and help yourself with these steps to decrease anxiety.

Stress Relief
All Access 15 Ways to Have an Average Children's Ministry

Many children’s ministry leaders do things that keep their ministry average at best. Here are a few of the ways I’ve seen that churches  maintain average instead of healthy and excellent.

Leadership
All Access 16 Things You Should NEVER Say To A Children's Pastor

Phrases that everyone should refrain from saying in front of any Children's Pastor.

Humorous
All Access 2 Words To Avoid With Your Kids (And Co-Workers)

Have you ever used "Extreme Language"? We all have. The trick is to become aware when we're doing it, and put an end to it. Otherwise, we might start to believe it. 

Relationships, Leadership
All Access 29 Ways to Do Ministry When Church is Cancelled

You don't have to be in a church to do ministry.

Church Ministry
All Access 3 Characteristics of Healthy Teams

Two people are better than one. They get more done by working together. Ecclesiastes 4:9

Teams, Volunteers
Free 3 Delegation Tips for Busy Kidmin Volunteers

In charge of ministry? You don't have to do it all!

Volunteers, Delegation, Administration
Free 3 Keys to Add More Volunteers To Your Ministry Team

How do you get more volunteers into your children's ministry?

Recruiting Volunteers
All Access 3 Reminders From The Rough Side of Ministry

Sandpaper can hurt. But it also smoothes out our rough edges. How will you use the sandpaper that God has put in your life?

Leadership, Difficult People
All Access 3 Steps for Taking Ownership of Your Curriculum

The curriculum we use should not set the direction of our children's ministry. As a #kidmin leader, you should tell the curriculum the direction of your ministry.

Curriculum, Planning, Leadership
Free 3 Temptations Every Leader Has to Face

What are the temptaions that new... and seasoned... leaders face? How can you overcome them?

Leadership
Free 3 Things I Tell EVERY Volunteer

How do you minister to the kids in your care? It shouldn't be just in the classroom. 

Volunteers
All Access 3 Things to Help Improve Yourself

How do you work on improving yourself? Is it working?

Self-Improvement
All Access 3 Things We Can't Do While Staring At A Screen

Do you spend too much time in front of a screen? Find out how how you can stay engaged, even while staying plugged in. 

Technology, Relationships
Best Christmas Pageant Ever Recruiting Tools - Fishing KidCheck Girl Kid Conversation Cards 88 Games with 8 Objects Book Kidology's Ultimate Toolbox for Children's Ministr My Awesome Adventure The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe Next Steps for Kids Kidology Online Training
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