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 |
Looking for something you didn't find here? Let us know!
‹ Back to ZonesLevel | Title | Topic | |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
10 Questions to Get to Know Your Kids Better
It’s so easy to get caught up in all the details of pulling off a weekend service and totally miss out on the opportunity to get to know the children in your ministry. |
Discipleship | |
![]() |
|
5 Ways to Serve Your Children with Special Needs
Five ways you can better serve Special Needs children in your ministry. |
Special Needs |
![]() |
Are Our Expectations of Children Appropriate for their Maturity Level?
In this essay I question whether we typically have appropriate age-level expectations for children whom we influence in the church. |
Teaching | |
![]() |
Bible Character Museum
Bible Character Museum is a simple way to bring Bible characters to life, using either adult/teen volunteers, or older children. This can be used for just about any context, so read on! |
Live Action Theater | |
![]() |
|
Childlike vs. Childish
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. |
Becoming a Relational Leader to Kids without Losin |
![]() |
Communicating When No One Reads
Ideas for communication with leaders and volunteers |
Communication | |
![]() |
Creating an Anti-Bullying Program: The Components
By including bullying prevention, your organization will foster an environment that encourages transparency, prioritizes communication, and empowers kids and youth to respect and support each other. |
Bullying | |
![]() |
Creating an Anti-Bullying Program: The Framework
By including bullying prevention, your organization will foster an environment that encourages transparency, prioritizes communication, and empowers kids and youth to respect and support each other. |
Bullying | |
![]() |
Creating an Anti-Bullying Program: The Implementation
By including bullying prevention, your organization will foster an environment that encourages transparency, prioritizes communication, and empowers kids and youth to respect and support each other. |
Bullying | |
![]() |
Doing Theology With Children: Grace
What follows is a conversation between me and a group of children in January, 2008. This is one way that I engage them in theological topics. In this example, we discuss grace. This article originally appeared on my personal blog at glenwoods.wordpress.com. |
Discussing grace with children | |
![]() |
Formational Children's Ministry
A review of Ivy Beckwith's book, Formational Children's Ministry. My review is generally favorable, although I do challenge some of the assumptions set forth by the author. |
Book Review | |
![]() |
How to Deal with a Burnt Out Volunteer
Discover 3 ways to help your volunteers through burn-out. |
Volunteer Burn Out | |
![]() |
How to Get Your Message to Parents Every Time
6 great communication tatics that will help get your message to every parent |
Communication, Email, Parents, | |
![]() |
Impress Your Boss by Planning
Don't wait until you're asked to show your pastor your ministry plan! |
Planning, Administration | |
![]() |
Moments in Worship
What is worship? How do we worship on Sunday mornings? Should we show outward expressions to what we feel? |
Worship | |
![]() |
Offering the Gospel to Children
This review is considers the work of an Anglican writer, mining insights which might be helpful in other theological contexts, particularly in the evangelical setting. |
Book Review | |
![]() |
Out of the Basement: A Holistic Approach to Children's Ministry
A book review of Out of the Basement: A Holistic Approach to Children’s Ministry by Diane C. Olson. |
Book Review | |
![]() |
Overcoming Spiritual Apathy in Parents at Home
Last year I began a new initiative in my church which developed into a form of parent coaching. It is very loosely based on Karl Bastian’s VIP strategy, which can be found in the Leadership Lab 4, Partnering with Parents. This post suggests one possible scenario which can lead a family toward participating in parent coaching. Although it is fictitious and the names are not meant to represent any real person, I believe it is a plausible situation. In future posts I will explore in more detail the possible opportunities of parent coaching, as well as potential pitfalls. |
Parent Coaching | |
![]() |
Reflections of a Follow-Upper
Follow-up ministry is so important for children's ministry. Whether it's camp ministry or church ministry, kids need to be discipled year round. Kendra shares her story about her own experience at camp and how follow-up plays a key role in her life now. |
Follow-up Ministry | |
![]() |
Safety Beyond CheckIn
An active duty law enforcement officer, SWAT operator, and former pastor gives advice on how to best protect the kids in your ministry. |
Child Safety, | |
![]() |
|
Safety Tips for Back-to-School Season
Ensure the safety of your kids as they return to school. |
Child Safety, Back to School |
![]() |
Simplicity: Fertile Soil for Trusting Relationships and Teachable Moments
An essay highlighting the value of simplicity and depth of relationship in producing teachable moments. |
Classroom Teaching | |
![]() |
Six Ways to Motivate Your Team in Challenging Times
Six ideas to build an engaged and motivated team. |
Motivating Your Team | |
![]() |
the danger of formulaic ministry solutions
This article warns about the dangers of relying more on a ministry formula for family ministry, than upon God's grace to change lives. |
Family Ministry | |
![]() |
|
The Day the King Unlocked the Gates
Help kids understand the 'problem of evil' |
Free eBook for Kids! |
![]() |
The Great KID Mission
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! |
Relational Ministry | |
![]() |
The Kidologist's Salvation Testimony
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. |
Testimony | |
![]() |
The Purpose of Music
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. |
Worship | |
![]() |
|
Using the Wordless Book to Share the Gospel
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. |
Evangelism |
![]() |
Who Are These Kids?
Do you know how to connect to today's device- and media-saturated kids? |
Connecting with Today's Kids | |
![]() |
Why Won't We Let Boys Be Boys?
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. |
Boys | |
![]() |
Will Our Children Have Faith?
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. |
Book Review | |
![]() |
On the Passing of Steve Jobs
Karl Bastian, founder of Kidology.org, reflects on the passing of Apple founder and CEO, Steve Jobs, October 2011. |
Leadership Tribute | |
![]() |
Take Your Life Back from the Church
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. |
Leadership & Life & Priorities | |
![]() |
The Enemy's Victory: Darkened Homes and Harvest Parties
The biggest trick played on Halloween is Christian kids and adults being bottled up inside churches or homes all night. |
Halloween Hiding? | |
![]() |
The Kidologist's Top Ten in CM
What the Kidologist, Karl Bastian, suggests as the "Top Ten" books, websites, and events for children's ministry leaders. |
Top Books, Websites and Events in CM | |
![]() |
Reinventing The Sunday School in Childless Churches
How to launch a Children's Ministry in a church with little or no children. |
Small Church Ministry | |
![]() |
|
Your Salvation Story
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. |
How To Write a Testimony |
![]() |
Seven Steps To Becoming A Successful Children's Minister
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." |
Leadership | |
![]() |
The Calling
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.... |
Leadership | |
![]() |
The Children's Pastor Who Changed the World
A great story about a great Children's Pastor. |
Perseverance | |
![]() |
The Church of Today
Kids are not the church of tomorrow, they are the church of today as demonstrated by these examples in the Bible! |
Children's Ministry | |
![]() |
|
The ORIGINAL Wordless Book
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. |
Gospel |
![]() |
The Seven Greatest Questions Facing Children's Ministry
Defining what Children's Ministry is and what it does. |
Leadership | |
![]() |
3 Qualities of Great Leaders
What are the qualities that make a great leader? |
Leadership Volunteers | |
![]() |
A Ministry Lesson from Darth Vader
In the busyness of life and ministry, don't forget your Primary Objectives, because one thing is for sure: your Enemy won't. |
Priorities | |
![]() |
A Philosophy of Children's Ministry
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. |
Philosophy of Ministry | |
![]() |
A Shift in Focus
A look at our Basic Needs, the Fundamental Question behind them, and the Fear that drives them. |
Spiritual Growth | |
![]() |
Are We Bribing Kids Into the Kingdom?
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! |
Prize Incentives | |
![]() |
Backyard Bible Splash!
This is a fun event your church can host in the summer. |
Water Sports, Summer |