Kids Ministry Circle Podcast

In today's episode I invited Matt McDermott, the Director of Student Ministry Circle to talk all about promotion Sunday! We share our own promotion Sunday experiences, talk through how to celebrate kids well from kindergarten to high school graduation, and how to include parents every step of the way. We talk about promotion Sunday and all milestones through the lens of three different steps:...

We all know that there is no jr. Holy Spirit but how does that truth play out in Sunday morning programming? I invited Mal Corwin to help us think about that questions. Mal is the lead kids pastor at the Belonging Co. in Nashville, TN and she shares so many stories of how her church is making space for kids to hear and talk to God. In any podcast conversation, it is helpful to be reminded that you...

What if we raised up a generation that changes the world instead of the world changing them? That is the question that my friend Mel MacDonald asked in her new book Discipling World Changers and it was such a gift to have her on the podcast to talk all things kids ministry. We seriously talk about a little of everything and I know you will leave being encouraged and equipped to keep going! Resourc...

Get ready to laugh and get ready to up your plans for Summer 2025! I am excited to introduce you to my friend Aaron from WinShape Camps. We talk all about WinShape's Summer Day Camp program that comes right to your church. I learned so much throughout this interview and I am so excited to see how God works through WinShape this summer and maybe at your church in the coming years. Learn more ab...

In our last episode of the Who's In Your Circle Series, we are talking about the importance of having a counselor on your team. I invited Joel Sneed LPC to join the podcast today. Joel is a counselor at Forth Worth Counseling & Intervention. We talk about church hurt, how to navigate conflict, the importance of validating emotions, and how to journey alongside families who have experienced sufferi...

Our Who's In Your Circle series continues as we dive into the conversation around friendship. Finding friends and building intentional friendships can be hard as a ministry leader, but even through the difficulty, it is worth it! For today's episode, I invited my friend Kaeli Patrick. Kaeli is a Kids Pastor in Washington and has done an incredible job at building a team of friends around h...

Our Who's In Your Circle Podcast continues and in this episode, I am talking to real life volunteers! I interview my friends Lindsay & Sarah and both of them have served in kids ministry for many many years. They are EXCELLENT volunteers! They share their unique perspectives and what they have to say will definitely help you lead and love your teams better! Let me give you a hint: no more...

We continue our "Who's In Your Circle" series by talking about the relationships between a kids ministry leader and a student ministry leader. Rachel Sawhook is the Director of Next Gen at Transformation Church and shares so much wisdom on how she works to bring these two ministries together. Resources Mentioned Who's In Your Circle Guidebook Kids Ministry Circle Cohort Student M...

Welcome to a brand new series, Who's In Your Circle! I am so honored to have Adam Griffin joining me on the podcast to talk about the relationship between a lead pastor and kids ministry pastor. We know this relationship is so crucial to so many aspects of the local church and we also know, this relationship can be a hard one to navigate. I am grateful for Adam's wisdom and authenticity as...

Today's episode will definitely make you think long after the episode is over. Matt Markins, Awana CEO, joins me as we talk about the pieces that must come together to create a lifelong faith. It truly is the mundane, mysterious, and miraculous work of teaching kids the Gospel. Resources Mentioned Kids Ministry Circle Cohort Student Ministry Circle Next Gen Leader Cohort Awana Brite Curriculum...

Is VBS still an effective way to reach our communities teach the next generation the Gospel? I'll let Barb tell you what she thinks...(hint: is a huge YES!) Barb has served in Kids Ministry for 30 years and is a writer behind Answers VBS by Answers in Genesis. Her story is such a great reminder of God's faithfulness and how He truly does care about every little detail. She offers so much w...

In todays episode, I talk with two of the three team members from Wit. Co Creative--the team behind the viral interchangeable signs (IYKYK) We talk all about kids ministry environments, why they matter, and how to make both small and big improvements to your environment. Looking for paint colors or rugs—don't miss the show notes! Kids Ministry Circle Cohort Next Gen Leader Cohort Student Minis...

In this episode, I got to talk to Denise Muir Kjesbo, the program director for the Masters of Arts in Children & Family Ministry at Bethel Seminary and Shelley Henning, a recent graduate from the program. They both shared their love for higher eduction, and how this program has deeply shaped how they serve in their local church. The conversation emphasizes the importance of balancing higher educat...

In this episode, Lexi Bartlett, the Kids Minister at Mosaic Church. shares her experience in church planting and the unique challenges and rewards it brings. She shares about the importance of effective communication and building relationships with space owners when navigating building moves and set-up/tear-down. Lexi also shares her approach to inviting parents to serve in kids ministry and the c...

Today's episode is with my new friend, Tyler Bates, one of the creators behind Amazing Kids Curriculum. I have been following Amazing Kids since they launched this Summer and I have definitely been amazed by all the incredible resources they are putting out for kids ministry leaders and kids. I loved hearing from Tyler how they intentionally create space for kids to learn how to hear God's...

In this episode, Lauren walks you through the do's & don'ts of goal setting for 2024. She walks you through all her favorite tips and tricks and helps you steer clear of goal setting mistakes. Head into 2024 ready to tackle your goals, one little step at a time! Resources Mentioned: Jon Acuff's new book "All It Takes is a Goal" Goal Setting Guide

In today's episode I chat with my friend Kiana Pendergrass, the Director of Kids Ministry at Greenwood Community Church. We talk about how kids ministry leaders can still grow and learn at every stage of their ministry career. Kiani gives so many great nuggets of advice on how she prepares for a new year of ministry and decides what area she wants to grow in next. This was a perfect conversati...

In this episode, I was able to talk to Charlotte Cox, a Kids Pastor from Seacoast Church in South Carolina. We talk about all the ways she builds, trains, and connects with her volunteer tips. Charlotte has over a decade of experience leading in Kids Ministry and she has learned a thing or two along the way. I am grateful for her wisdom and her willingness to share! Resources Mentioned: Kids Minis...

The Kids Ministry Circle Podcast is back from a short fall break and we are so excited to jump in with this incredible conversation with Brian Dollar. We talk about how he has learned from his own failures over many years of ministry and how he now leads a team where people can fail, learn from their mistakes, and keep leading! Resources Mentioned: Brian's book: I Blew It High Voltage Curriculum I...

The Kids Ministry Circle Podcast Christmas mini-series continues! Today is all about helping parents and families create rhythms & habits around discipleship at home. Advent & Christmas is my favorite season to champion parents and equip them to begin or continue the process of discipling their kids in small & big ways. Clayton Greene is one of the creators behind the company @goodkind...

Who is ready for a Christmas mini-series?? Our favorite kids ministry worship leader, Yancy, joins us on the podcast today to talk all about Christmas performances. Regardless if you love them or just like them, everyone loves seeing kiddos up on stage signing & dancing their little hearts out. Yancy encourages us on how to start and plan for a Christmas performance and she gives us the inside...

To the ministry leaders who wear all the hats—this one is for you! Amy Gannett is a wife, mom, church planter, business owner, and so passionate about people studying the Bible and growing in their knowledge of God. In this episode we talk about everything from church planting to the importance of striving to know and love God deeper. You are going to love it! Resources Mentioned: Connect with Amy...

Have you ever thought about writing your own curriculum ?!? If that's you—you are going to LOVE today's podcast episode with Anna Brantley. Anna serves as the Kids Director at The Village Church in Flower Mound, TX and her and her team write their own curriculum. (Also, they give it away for FREE!) We talk about the why and how of creating curriculum and what fruit they have seen from it. Don't mi...

Today's episode is with my friend James Lott. James is the Kids Ministry Director at Stonehill Church and we talk all about transitions in ministry. James recently left a job in kids ministry, moved his family across a few states, and started over in a new ministry role. We talk about how he was able to leave well, what it looks like to move to a new state with a family in tow, and how he is s...

In this week's episode, I got to virtually sit down with Dan Scott. Dan is the Executive Director of Lifestage Content Strategy at Orange and we get deep into the weeds of Generation Alpha and how to adapt to the changing world of kids ministry. Dan has been a longtime trusted voice and so it was a gift to be able to talk ministry with him on the podcast! Resources Mentioned: Orange Tour use c...