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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Membership Levels:
Guest Starter All Access
Level Title Topic
Starter CONNECTION

Learn four ways to make a connection with the kids in your ministry.

Connection in Ministry
Starter TEAMWORK

A ministry built on one person will not last.

Teamwork in Ministry
Starter DETERMINATION

Someday is Just Another Word for Never

Determination in Ministry
Starter CREATIVITY

God created you to create!

Creativity in Ministry
Starter DRIVE

These questions can literally change your life!

Drive in Ministry
Starter GOT VISION?

How do you become a visionary leader?

Vision in Ministry Part 3
Starter AIM AT VISION

Your ministry VISION must have something to AIM at. 

Vision in Ministry Part 2
Starter ENVISION THE VISION

What is VISION when it comes to your children’s ministry?  

Vision in Ministry Part 1
Starter ONE WORD Will Set You Above the Rest!

What ONE WORD can set you above the crowd?

Initiative in Ministry
Starter TIME TO FOCUS

How do you win the battle for your focus?

Focus in Ministry
Starter LIFE'S "PAUSE" BUTTON

If you were accused of loving your job, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Pause in Ministry
Starter WORK WITH ZEAL

If you were accused of loving your job, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Zeal in Ministry
Starter TRUTH TO TRUST

A leader who can’t be trusted will lead with a limp.

Trust in Ministry
Starter TIME TO PROCRASTINATE?

Why develop PROCRASTINATION as a leadership trait?

Procrastination in Ministry
Starter EXTRA EFFORT

Be (or become) the one who puts in the most effort. 

Effort in Ministry
Starter OUTLOOK DETERMINES OUTCOME

There is no reason for negativity when we are on the WINNING TEAM!

Outlook in Ministry
Starter THE #1 LEADERSHIP TRAIT THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU

If I were to ask you, "What is the most important skill for a ministry leader to have for success?" what would your answer be?

Kindness in Ministry
Starter PROACTIVE LEADERSHIP

Unless you are intentional, the weekly demands of ministry can quickly push you into a role of a reactive leader.

Proactivity in Ministry
Starter LIVE ON PURPOSE

What is YOUR purpose?

Purpose in Ministry
Starter UNPLANNED URGENCY

Urgency is a 2-sided coin. 

Urgency in Ministry
Starter FAITH REQUIRES RISK

What are you trying that will only succeed if God is in it?

Risk in Ministry
Starter PREPARATION PREVENTS PERSPIRATION!

We’ve all had events creep up on us. We KNOW that preparation is the key to success, but why is it so hard to be prepared in advance?

Preparation in Ministry
Starter JOY IN PERSEVERANCE

Have you ever wanted to quit? Toss in the towel? Take this job and… well, you get the idea. Just remind yourself of one simple fact...

Perseverance in Ministry
Starter BECOME AN INTENTIONAL LEADER!

If you want to have a productive and successful week of ministry, allow me to give you a few practical tips on how be in an INTENTIONAL LEADER.

Intentional Leadership
Starter MAKE IT A BOLD NEW YEAR!

THE NEW YEAR IS HERE! How's it going so far?

Ministry Assessment
All Access Why Our Kids Ministries Should be More Like Mr. Rogers and Less Like Disney

One of the pressures that kids pastors face from parents, leaders, or themselves, and sometimes it’s all three, is to be like Disney.

Structure of Ministry
Free Movie Review: Strawinsky and the Mysterious House

A review of the movie Strawinsky and the Mysterious House from Hope Animation.

Movie Review
Free Kidology Report: Looking Ahead - Trends in Children's Ministry

The Kidology Report tackles the "Top 10 Trends in Children's Ministry" that will impact your ministry in the years ahead.

Children's Ministry Trends
All Access Kidology Report: Book Report - Rock Solid Kids by Larry Fowler

The Kidology Report reviews Larry Fowler's book, Rock Solid Kids, and discusses the need for churches to give "Children's Ministry" back to parents.

Family Ministry
All Access Kidology Report: On Location - Aurora First Assembly of God (Aurora, CO)

The Kidology Report interviews Andrew VanDerLinden, Children's Pastor at Aurora First Assembly of God (Aurora, CO)

Administration
All Access Book Report - Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions by George Barna

The Kidology Report reviews George Barna's book, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, and emphasizes the importance of churches catching a vision for kids' ministry.

Children's Ministry Strategy
All Access Book Report - Children's Ministry that Works! by Various Authors

The Kidology Report reviews the book, Children's Ministry that Works!, which gives valuable insight on how to shape a complete ministry by some of the best-known minds in ministry: Jim Wideman, Christine Yount, Craig Jutila, Sue Miller and several others. In a way, this book is the mentor you never had!

Children's Ministry Foundations
All Access Book Report - Postmodern Children's Ministry by Ivy Beckwith

The Kidology Report reviews Ivy Beckwith's book, Postmodern Children's Ministry, and provides practical ideas on how to reach this emerging generation.

Postmodern Children's Ministry
All Access Book Report - The Fabulous Reinvention of Sunday School by Aaron Reynolds

The Kidology Report reviews Aaron Reynolds' book, The Fabulous Reinvention of Sunday School, and provides ideas on how to transform your children's ministry.

Reinventing Children's Ministry
All Access Kidology Report: Book Report - Children Matter by Various Authors

The Kidology Report reviews the book, Children Matter, which focuses on the people and relationships of children's ministry, authored by four seminary professors: Scottie May, Beth Posterski, Catherine Stonehouse, and Linda Cannell. It's challenging and refreshing!

Children's Ministry Theory
All Access Kidology Report: Book Report - Crucial Concepts in Kids' Ministry by Randy Christensen

The Kidology Report reviews Randy Christensen's book, Crucial Concepts in Kids' Ministry, which discusses the foundational issues of children's ministry from the ground up.

Children's Ministry Fundamentals
All Access Kidology Report: Book Report - Children's Ministry in the 21st Century by Various Authors

The Kidology Report reviews the book, Children's Ministry in the 21st Century, which focuses upcoming trends shaping children's ministry, authored by Craig Jutila, Jim Wideman, Pat Verbal, and others.

Children's Ministry Trends
All Access Kidology Report: Book Report - Volunteers That Stick by Jim Wideman

The Kidology Report reviews the book Volunteers That Stick by Jim Wideman, which focuses building and keeping a solid volunteer ministry team.

Volunteers
All Access Kidology Report: Book Report - Making Your Children's Ministry the Best Hour...

The Kidology Report reviews the book Making Your Children's Ministry the Best Hour of Every Kid's Week by Sue Miller & David Staal, which focuses on setting realistic vision, values, and improvements in your children's ministry.

Improving your Children's Ministry
Starter Kidology Report: Book Report - Lead the Way God Made You by Larry Shallenberger

The Kidology Report reviews the book Lead the Way God Made You by Larry Shallenberger, which focuses on not comparing your leadership style with those of others.

Leadership Style
All Access Kidology Report: Book Report - Planning Church Events With Ease by V. Kerry Inman

The Kidology Report reviews the book Planning Church Events With Ease by V. Kerry Inman, which focuses on planning, preparing, and executing great events.

Event Planning
All Access Kidology Report: Book Report - Simple Church by Thom S. Rainer & Eric Geiger

The Kidology Report reviews the book Simple Church by Thom S. Rainer & Eric Geiger, which focuses on redefining your ministry priorities to four words: Clarity, Movement, Alignment, and Focus.

Redefining ministry priorities
All Access Kidology Report: Book Report - Reveal by Greg Hawkins & Cally Parkinson

The Kidology Report reviews the book Reveal by Greg Hawkins & Cally Parkinson, which helps answer the questions "Am I leading an effective ministry?" and "How would I even know I'm being effective?"

Evaluation, Effectiveness
All Access Kidology Report: Book Report - The 'Faith At Home' series

The Kidology Report reviews the "Faith At Home" series by Mark Holmen, discussing how churches can focus on family ministry and equip the home to be the primary place where faith is nurtured.

Family Ministry
All Access Kidology Report: Book Report - Kid CEO by Ed Young Jr.

The Kidology Report reviews the book Kid CEO by Ed Young Jr., which challenges parents to take back God-given leadership role in their homes.

Parenting, Family Ministry
All Access Kidology Report: Book Report - Children's Ministry Leadership: The You-Can-Do-It Guide

The Kidology Report reviews the book Children's Ministry Leadership: The You-Can-Do-It Guide by Jim Wideman, which provides helpful step-by-step guidance for getting things "up and running" in the world of children's ministry.

Leadership
All Access Kidology Report: Book Report - Who Made the Moon?

The Kidology Report reviews the book Who Made the Moon? A Father Explores How Faith and Science Agree by Sigmund Brouwer, which explores the conflicts between faith and science, while walking through a historical journey on the topics.

Faith and Science
All Access Kidology Report: Book Report - Death by Meeting

The Kidology Report reviews the book Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni, explores leading effective meetings, which often lead to vision casting, idea sharing, and momentum changing opportunities in your organization.

Meetings
All Access Kidology Report: Book Report - Nurturing the Leader Within Your Child

The Kidology Report reviews the book Nurturing the Leader Within Your Child by Tim Elmore, explores the idea of building leadership traits in kids.

Leadership
Starter Kidology Report: Book Report - Raising a Modern Day Joseph

The Kidology Report reviews the book Raising a Modern Day Joseph by Larry Fowler, explores the need for a family-based plan of ministry.

Family Ministry
Best Christmas Pageant Ever Recruiting Tools - Fishing KidCheck YouthCheck Guitar FUNtastic Bible Activity Book 88 Games with 8 Objects Book Kidology's Ultimate Toolbox for Children's Ministr My Awesome Adventure DiscipleTown Unit 8 - How to Pray Order of the Ancient Kidology Online Training
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