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
Plus Think like a Kidmin

Learn how to think like a kidmin so you can come up with great ideas for your ministry

Brainstorming, Creativity
Free Think Like a Missionary

What methods do we use to teach our kids to be missionaries?

Missions
Plus This Could Be the Most Important Thing You Do In 2013

You’re busy. I’m busy. We’re all busy. We all have our plates full of things to do and places to be. We all have a lot of things we have to remember, way more than we could possibly do on our own. In fact, we have so much we have to remember that we program our smart phones with daily reminders. Our calendars are full of things that remind us of what we should be doing next. So what I am about to say may seem difficult to some people, while to many people it may appear near impossible. It is not impossible, so I’ll go ahead and say it.

Bible Memorization
Plus Those Wow Moments

Be ready to help kids meet their "appointment" with the "WOW" Moments.

Teaching, Encouragement
Plus Thoughts on Departing Volunteers

How to cope when you lose a key volunteer in your ministry.

Departing Volunteers
Plus Threading the Pearls

Ways to help make your trasnitions seamless.

Transitions
Plus Three Keys to Successful KidMin Communication

Whether it’s with parents, volunteers, core leaders, or staff, communication is critical. Here are a few things I’ve learned about communicating effectively in children’s ministry.

Children's Ministry, Communication
Plus Three Last Minute Christmas Lesson Ideas

Since the holidays are such a busy time, we all get behind in something. For this Christmas season, I wanted to provide you with three last minute Christmas lesson ideas to help you, if you are in need of a quick children’s ministry lesson!

Children's Ministry, Christmas Lessons
Starter Three Practices to Beat Busyness

Here are three practices that will help you overcome your tendency toward busyness.

Leadership, Delegation, Busy-ness
Plus Three Questions for a Healthier Children's Ministry

Here's a few questions to help you gauge the health of your Children's Ministry.

leadership
Free Three Things You Probably Didn't Know About Speaking

Do you ever wonder why your message fell flat? Maybe you need to work less on the content and more on the delivery. 

Message Delivery, Public Speaking
Plus Three Tips for Raising Great Adults

You entered into children’s ministry to impact kids. Relationships come first, so continue to intentionally pursue relationships with the kids you minister to.

Influence on Kids
Plus Three Ways Chess Can Help Us Lead Change

One time our boys were playing chess. After watching them for a few minutes, my mind shifted gears to a leadership moment. Here are three ways I believe chess can help us lead change.

Leading Changing
Plus Three Ways Going Pro Helps Kids Grow Spiritually

Teach your kids to 'go PRO' in their spiritual growth.

Spiritual Growth
Free Time To Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

It is the new year and change is in the air. Everyone is talking new goals, habits, routines and more. All systems are a go; time to get out of your comfort zone! Here are some ways to start.

Stretching Yourself
Free Tips for Running a Children's Church Store

Learn the benefits of and instructions for starting a Children's Church Store.

Kid's Church, Store
Plus Tips for Student Participation in Large Group

Give yourself a break and use these tips for active participation during large group time. 

Management, Large Group
Plus Tips for Using Bible Games with Kids

Since Bible games are a teaching tool, you want to do your very best using them in your program. The following tips will help you.

Games
Plus Tips to Help a Child Transition to the Other Parent's Home for the Summer

Read these tips on helping the kids in your church transition between parents' homes for the summer. 

Divorce Care
Free Top 10 Worst Ministry Philosophies of All Time

What ministry philosophies have you adopted that may need to be changed?

Ministry Philosophies, Humore
Plus Top 5 Reasons to have VBS

Is it worth the stress to run a VBS each year?

VBS
Plus Training Kids to be Truthful and Kind

Are your kids meat-eaters and bone-spitters? We need to train them in clarity and charity. 

Truth and Kindness
Plus Training New Leaders

How do you train new leaders? There are many different methods for training new leaders for your ministry, but here are several steps that are each an essential part of every leadership training. The following steps will help guide you as you train your new leaders.  

New Leaders, Training
Free Training Volunteers in the 21st Century

Don't have time for volunteer training? Think again. Use these tips to fit it into any schedule...and get a great turn out too!

Volunteer Training
Plus Training Your Volunteers on How to Work With Children of Divorce

Here are some ways that you can train your volunteers to help them minister to children of divorce or children from single-parent homes.

Training Volunteers
Plus Training Youth to Become Children's Ministry Leaders

Steps to train youth to help them become outstanding children's ministry leaders.

Training, Youth
Plus Trauma-informed churches

Trauma causes toxic stress on the brains of young children. But trauma isn't just seen in those who experience child abuse, neglect or poverty. It also occurs in children of divorce.

Divorce, Trauma in Kids
Plus Truth that Stands the Test of a Global Pandemic

God doesn’t lie, His promises can be trusted.

Truth
Plus 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Poem for Kidmin Workers

A poem to send to your volunteers to show your appreciation this Christmas.

Volunteer Appreciation
Plus Tweens and the Effects of Divorce on Their Lives

Here is a list of the effects of divorce on tweens, and tips for parents and church leaders.

Effects of Divorce on Tweens
Plus Two Trips to the Grocery Store: A Parable about Biblical Relationships

Do you and your kids have a contract relationship or a covenant relationship?

Covenant Relationships
Plus Understanding Your Child's Temperament

While this article is written for parents, it can be easily applied to the kids in your care on Sundays or during the week. The better we understand a child's temperament, the better we can understand and love the child. 

Relationships, Parents
Plus Using Technology in Children's Ministry

Here are the many ways that I use technology in children's ministry.

Technology, Children's Ministry
Plus Volunteer Engagement: How To Keep Volunteers Involved In Your Ministry

How to keep volunteers engaged in your ministry

Volunteers, Involvement
Free Volunteer Recruitment is Fun

Make recruiting fun while you purposefully involve your volunteers in the process.

Volunteers, Relationships
Plus Volunteer/Employee Background Checks

Organizations know background checks help reduce risk, maintain a safe environment and minimize liability. But how often, for whom, and how important is it really?

Child Safety, Background Checks
Plus Walking with a Slow Walker

Recognizing when your stride as a leader is not right for your followers

Leadership
Plus Warm Your Heart Sunday

A Sunday School Empahsis to get kids excited about attending and bringing their friends.

Caring,
Free Watch Where You Step!

Here is an object lesson to demonstrate how we need to follow God and watch where we step!

Following God
Plus Water Games to Beat the Heat

Try these fun water games to beat the summer heat. 

Summer Fun
Plus We All Need to Recharge in Christ - Devotion

Are you fully charged to do what God has called you to do? Make sure you're plugged into THE power source. 

Technology, Relationships
Plus Websites to Keep Current with Kids

Some Websites to Keep Current with Kids (in addition to Kidology.org, or course!)

Websites
Plus We're Not All That Different

Here are some common “themes” of ministry that are literally worldwide.  

Leadership
Starter What 2020 Reminded Me About Kidmin Leaders

"When Covid hit, I was reminded of a few things that are true about kidmin leaders."

Leadership
Plus What a Difference a Smile Makes!

Do you smile enough? Do you smile at the kids in your ministry enough? Read here about the benefits of smiling...for you and those around you.

Smiling, Divorce
Free What a Home Improvement Project Reminded Me About Leaders

Does your Children's Ministry need a project manager?

Leadership
Plus What Are You Thankful For?

Here is an object lesson for Thanksgiving to remind us how much we have to be thankful for!

Thankfulness
Plus What Can I Give Mephibosheth?

Here is a fun Bible school activity you can play to help your preschoolers learn to be cheerful givers.  It’s called “What Can I Give Mephibosheth?”

Bible Activity
Plus What Can Tree Roots Teach about Ministry?

Learn to focus on your roots so the rest of your life can flourish.

Foundation, Leadership
Starter What Children's Ministry Will Look Like in 10 Years

With the growing use of technology, how could children's ministry look 10 years from now? 

Technology and Kidmin
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