Kids Ministry Calling with Jana Magruder

Jeremy Echols joins Bill Emeott to discuss why camp can be a summer highlight of any kids ministry. Check out more at kidsministry101.com! Jeremy Echols leads the CentriKid Camps and Student Life for Kids teams. He, his wife Emily, and their precious daughter love their church, their neighborhood, and spending time together. Jeremy loves to read, watch sports, and … The post Make Camp a Highlight...

Melita Thomas joins Bill Emeott to discuss ways kids ministry leaders can utilize technology to connect with families and enhance kids ministry programming. Melita Thomas serves as Lifeway’s VBS and Kids Ministry Specialist and was previously an editor of Lifeway’s VBS resources. Melita holds a masters degree in Childhood Ministry from Dallas Baptist University. A … The post Using Technology to En...

Bill Emeott and Micheal Walley discuss why the physical environment of your kids ministry is important to best serve kids and their families. From paint color to tables, you\’ll hear what you can do to make your kids ministry space the best it can be. Bill Emeott serves as Lead Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Kids. A … The post Does the physical environment matter in kids ministry? appeared first...

Delanee Williams, Kids Ministry Specialist, joins Bill to discuss ways we can keep the kids in our ministry safe and secure. How can we make sure that our ministries are safe for the kids and families we serve? Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with Lifeway Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and … The post Keeping Kids Safe appeared first on Kids Ministry . Check out Lifew...

Melita Thomas (VBS Specialist) and Bill Emeott talk about why VBS is worth doing for any kids ministry. Melita Thomas serves as a Ministry Specialist with Lifeway Kids. Melita holds a masters degree in Christian Education/Childhood Ministry and a passion for kids ministry that infuses both her work at Lifeway Kids and her leadership in … The post Say YES to VBS! appeared first on Kids Ministry . C...

Chuck Peters and Bill Emeott discuss ways to effectively communicating your kids ministry vision and goals to the members on your kids ministry team. Chuck Peters is Director of Operations for Lifeway Kids. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck, and his wife, Cris, have served vocationally & voluntarily in Student and Children’s Ministry for many years. They … The post Communicating Visi...

Chuck Peters discusses why making goals for your kids ministry is important, and how to make practical goals for your ministry.   Chuck Peters is Director of Operations for Lifeway Kids. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck, and his wife, Cris, have served vocationally & voluntarily in Student and Children’s Ministry for many years. They have four … The post Making Kids Ministry Goals a...

Landry Holmes and Bill Emeott discuss ways to decide a vision and mission statement for your kids ministry. Landry Holmes is the Manager of Lifeway Kids Ministry Publishing. A graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Landry served on church staffs before joining Lifeway Kids. He is a church leader, writer, workshop facilitator, and publisher. … The post De...

Jana Magruder, Bill Emeott, and Chuck Peters discuss the first thing a kidmin leader should do: develop a kids ministry philosophy. Plus an exciting announcement from Chuck at the end. Find out more: kidsministry101.com Jana Magruder serves as the Director of Lifeway Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion … The post Where do I start in Kids Ministry? appeared...

Micheal Walley shares tips on how to make large group effective and impactful for your kids ministry. Micheal Walley serves as the Lifeway Kids Event Producer and leads the ETCH Family Ministry Conference and other Lifeway Kids Events. He is a graduate of Mississippi College and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Micheal serves as a … The post Tips for an Awesome KidMin Large Group appeared first...

Jamie Ivey shares practical ways that you can love families that are parenting kids from hard places. How does the church come alongside them and serve them well?  Jamie Ivey is a podcaster, writer, and speaker from Austin, Texas. She is the proud mama to four kids and the wife to Aaron, worship pastor of The … The post Ministering to Families with Kids From Hard Places with Jamie Ivey appeared fi...

Jenny Funderburke Smith shares ways to adapt your attitude, philosophy and tactics for on-boarding awesome volunteers and to stop dreading recruiting. Jenny is the wife of Dan and mama of three girls. She serves as Minister to Children at West Bradenton Baptist Church in Bradenton, Florida. She is passionate about equipping the church to disciple … The post How to Stop Dreading Recruiting appeared...

Lydia McMillan and Logan Meek share about the benefits of bringing adults with you to camp. You\’ll also get some tips to recruit adults to go with your group.   Lydia McMillan works on the CentriKid Camps team. She manages social media, produces videos, works with actors, and leads production elements. She is married to Joshua and they … The post Recruiting Adults for Camp appeared first on Kids...

Dr. Jennifer Garrison shares how families can navigate bullying with age-appropriate conflict resolution. Dr. Garrison is a professor of marriage and family in the Campbellsville University School of Theology. She is a wife, mother of two sons, and advocate for healthy, God-honoring families. The post Bullying and Your Kids: What Would Jesus Do? appeared first on Kids Ministry . Check out Lifeway...

Diane Dokko Kim gives insight about common challenges, workarounds, teaching tools and strategies for the church to partner with families for inclusion. Diane is a special needs ministry consultant, speaker, and author of Unbroken Faith: Spiritual Recovery for the Special-Needs Parent. Connect with her at www.dianedokkokim.com   The post Autism and the Church appeared first on Kids Ministry . Chec...

Brian Dembowczyk discusses practical ways we can guard our motivation in ministry and keep it fixed firmly on the gospel. Brian Dembowczyk is the managing editor for The Gospel Project and team leader for The Gospel Project for Kids. He served in local church ministry for over 16 years before coming to Lifeway. Brian earned … The post Maintaining a Gospel Focus in Your Kids Ministry appeared first...

Terry Ann Kelly shares tips for how to reach the public school with the message of the gospel. Terry Ann Kelly speaks to audiences across the country on topics varying from home and family life to moral and social issues. Her expansive background in public speaking, radio and television spans more than 30 years. She … The post Reaching the Public School for Christ appeared first on Kids Ministry ....

Matt Morgan discusses practical ways you can use your position to support and to lead those above you.  Matt Morgan is Kids Pastor for Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, AR. He has served over 15 years in children’s ministry, and he is passionate about seeing kids of all ages understand the richness of the … The post How to Lead When You\’re Not the Leader appeared first on Kids Ministry . Ch...

Jana Magruder & Landry Holmes share research supporting why VBS is worth the time, energy, and expense to reach the families in your ministry. Jana Magruder serves as the Director of Lifeway Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the … The post VBS: It’s Worth It appeared first on Kids Ministry . Check o...

Rhonda Van Cleave shares 4 things she wishes she knew when she began serving in kids ministry.  Rhonda Van Cleave is the Publishing Team Leader for Lifeway VBS. She was a writer for kids curriculum for Lifeway for 15 years prior to joining Lifeway full time. She has taught children over 40 years. Her husband … The post 4 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started in KidMin appeared first on Kids Ministry...

Dr. Kevin Jones shares how churches can identify and understand its opportunity to shape culture. Hosted by Chuck Peters & Jana Magruder. Kevin Jones is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. He is the Co-Editor of Removing the Stain of Racism from the Southern Baptist Convention: Diverse African American and White Perspective and contributor in Perspectives … The post The Church’s Role in Culture...

Parents should be the spiritual leaders in their homes, and we can equip them. Delanee Williams, Kids Ministry Special, shares ways to equip and partner with parents. Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with Lifeway Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Delanee has served in kids ministry … The post Equipping Parents to be Spiritu...

Dr. Donna Peavey shares ways your church can provide faith formation experiences to help a child  develop a vital, maturing faith and to engage with the faith community. Dr. Donna Peavey is on a mission to equip the faith community, parents, and children’s ministry leaders, to guide children to know, experience, and embrace Christ. A … The post Best Practices in Faith Formation for Kids appeared f...

Klista Storts discusses what kidmin leaders need to know about parents in their ministry. Listen for practical ways you as a kids ministry leader can help parents in your ministry.   Klista Storts is the editor for our VBS preschool curriculum. She has also served as a Kids Ministry Specialist here at Lifeway. Before coming to … The post What KidMin Leaders Need to Know About Parents appeared firs...

Join us as we look back through the Best of the Kidsministry 101 Podcast The post Keeping Your Kids Safe: Safeguards and Best Practices appeared first on Kids Ministry . Check out Lifeway Kids Curriculum Connect with Lifeway Kids Leave us a voice message here with any questions or feedback! Join us at ETCH 2026