The Amazing Kids Ministry Podcast

In this episode of the Amazing Kids Ministry Podcast, worship leader and songwriter Matthew Harris shares his powerful journey into worship ministry — from growing up in a ministry family, walking away from faith, getting saved in college, and discovering that God was calling him into something he did not feel equipped to do. Matthew unpacks how a simple “yes” to God led him from college football...

In this solo episode, Tyler Bates tackles a tension many kids ministry leaders feel: Should kids ministry be fun, or should it focus on deep discipleship? His answer is clear — it should be both. Tyler challenges the idea that fun and faith formation are competing priorities, arguing that fun is the language kids speak, and when used intentionally, it can become the doorway to meaningful spiritual...

In this episode of the Amazing Kids Podcast, Andy Kirk shares the unexpected story of how he found his way into children’s ministry—not through a traditional church-kid background, but through a burden to help kids avoid the pain and brokenness he saw in his own friends growing up.   Andy talks about becoming a first-generation Christian, stepping into ministry through local schools and community...

We sit down with Matt Markins, President and CEO of Awana, for a rich conversation on children’s ministry, discipleship, church innovation, and what it really takes to form lasting faith in kids. A major focus of the episode is the tension between content and connection. Churches often tell parents they are the primary spiritual influence in their kids’ lives and give them resources, but many pare...

Kids ministry leaders are often carrying more than people realize: curriculum prep, crafts, volunteer care, family ministry, events, admin, budgets, teaching, discipleship, and everything in between. In this episode, Amanda Druffel joins the Kids Min Podcast to talk about why systems matter, not because ministry should become mechanical, but because the right systems create space for the work kids...

In this episode, Tyler sits down with Pastor Larry Cramer from Christ’s Church of the Valley in Arizona to talk about his unexpected journey into kids ministry, leaving ministry, serving as a police officer, and eventually following God’s call back into church leadership. Larry shares practical wisdom on creating a kids ministry culture that is safe, clean, fun, and biblical — while reminding us t...

What if kids worship is not just a song slot in your service, but a discipleship opportunity? In this episode of the Amazing Kids Min Podcast, Tyler welcomes back Yancy for a conversation about kids worship, family worship experiences, and why churches need to be more intentional about helping children encounter God. Yancy shares what she has been seeing while leading live worship events across th...

What if kids ministry was never your original plan, but exactly where God was leading you? In this episode, we sit down with Justin Edge from Life. Church to talk about his unexpected journey into kids ministry, the leadership lessons he learned through both success and hurt, and why no kids pastor should lead alone.   This conversation is full of practical wisdom for kids pastors, ministry leader...

  Tyler sits down with Kim Botto for a deeply practical and heart-shaping conversation about creating church environments where every child belongs—especially kids who are neurodivergent, have experienced trauma, come from foster/adoptive backgrounds, or carry “big behaviors” into ministry spaces. Kim shares how her journey through business, church leadership, adoption, and years of kids ministry...

What if kids ministry burnout is not caused by a lack of passion — but by a lack of the right tools? In this episode, Chris Heaslip shares the heart behind Amazing Life, his journey from Pushpay into children’s ministry, and why the next chapter of KidsMin is about more than curriculum, strategy, or content. It is about helping pastors pastor again. We talk honestly about Orange, burnout, parent p...

What happens when God asks a new generation to lead what someone else built? In this episode of the Amazing Kids Ministry Podcast, we sit down with Keturah Boston to talk about one of the biggest shifts happening in ministry right now: the leadership baton pass. As more seasoned pastors and kids ministry leaders step into new seasons, younger leaders are being asked to lead teams, volunteers, and...

What if kids ministry could be fun, excellent, and deeply transformational all at once? In this episode, Rudy Rupert shares his journey through church leadership — from growing up in ministry, to missionary years in Germany, to leading at Journey Church in Ohio. Together, we explore one of the biggest tensions in kids ministry today: creating highly engaging environments without losing real discip...

What happens when a kid raised in church grows up and reflects on what actually mattered? In this powerful episode , Tyler sits down with Emily Smith, a product of kids ministry, to unpack the real impact of growing up in church. From “I grew up in church. My dad is on staff…” to discovering her own faith, Emily shares what stuck, what didn’t, and what today’s leaders NEED to understand. If you le...

This episode of the Amazing Kids Ministry podcast features Charlotte Cox, a kids pastor deeply involved in abuse prevention within church environments. The conversation explores her journey into kids ministry and how her passion evolved into advocating for child safety. The discussion emphasizes the urgent need for churches to address abuse prevention proactively rather than reactively. Charlotte...

This episode explores a powerful and unconventional journey into kids ministry, highlighting how calling often emerges from unexpected places rather than formal preparation. Beth Cunningham shares how her background in worship and adult ministry uniquely shaped her leadership approach in children’s ministry. A recurring theme is the impact of faithfulness in small, consistent spaces—like leading a...

This episode features Evan Cummins, a seasoned kids pastor, sharing insights from over a decade of ministry leadership at Keystone Church. He unpacks how effective kids ministry goes far beyond creative environments and engaging curriculum. The conversation highlights the importance of discipleship, relational leadership, and seeing each child individually. Evan emphasizes that ministry is about p...

In this episode, we sit down with Terri Kelly, Kids Pastor at Seacoast Church, who brings over 25 years of ministry experience and has helped pioneer one of the first multi-campus kids ministry models. She shares how churches can effectively disciple kids at scale, build strong volunteer teams, and create environments where every child feels seen, loved, and connected to God. If you're a pastor, l...

What does ministry really look like behind the scenes — beyond the platform, the titles, and the Sunday moments? In this episode,  Tyler and Adam Wright have an honest, heartfelt conversation about the real journey of serving the local church. From the sacrifices of church planting to finding your identity beyond a role, and rediscovering why kids ministry is deeply strategic to the future of the...

0:00 - Coming Up 0:52 - Today’s Guest, Todd Lane: Passionate About Leadership 8:47 - Battling Misunderstanding: Dealing With Friction 19:05 - Ad: Join Us At Church Conference - achurchconference.com 20:19 - Delegation vs. Empowerment 28:22 - Investing In The Next Generation 33:49 - Where You Can Find Todd Lane 34:58 - Let’s Pray What does faithful leadership look like in today’s Church? In this im...

0:00 - Coming Up 0:42 - Today’s Guest, Grant Bieberstein: Getting Into Kids Ministry 4:50 - Time-Stealing Systems, Building Great Tools 7:15 - Common Misconceptions Regarding Tools Amazing Life Offers 9:20 - What Pastors Are Saying 11:00 - Parent+ App Explained 19:44 - Service Builder, APlay, and Aplay Pro Explained 23:43 - What Grant Wants You to Know 25:32 - Final Thoughts In this powerful episo...

00:00 - Coming Up 00:44 - Today’s Guest, Payton Bates: Why Kidsmin 05:27 - Part of A Big Church 10:57 - Leading People Twice Her Age, Building Systems 20:11 - When Dynamics Change 29:08 - Keeping The Ask Honest 33:31 - Casting and Understanding Vision 41:42 - Volunteers of All Ages 44:35 - Final Thoughts   Tyler sits down with Payton Bates—his actual sister—and what starts as playful sibling bante...

00:00 - Coming Up 00:55 - Today’s Guest, Renata Redman: How Kids Ministry Life Came To Be 07:29 - The Global Church: Differences and Similarities 11:19 - The Response to Kids Ministry Life 16:00 - Recruiting Volunteers 24:48 - Using Orange Curriculum: Renata’s Experience 28:59 - The Future of Kidsmin: Hopeful and Excited 35:07 - Where to Find Renata 36:04 - Final Thoughts In this episode, Renata f...

00:00 - Coming Up 00:48 - Today’s Guest Ryan McCully 03:38 - Growing Up Catholic: Consistency and Practice 06:19 - Finding Consistent Leaders, Making The Ask 10:17 - Casting Vision with Leadership 14:33 - Intentional Shifts: The Fruit 20:29 - Neurodivergent Families: Meeting Their Needs 31:05 - The Why, The Ask, and The Strategy 37:53 - Final Thoughts Kids ministry is one of the most important—and...

0:00 - Coming Up 1:02 - Today’s Guest, Leda Rupert: Her Call To Kids Ministry 4:11 - The Non-Negotiables and The Importance of Training 17:19 - Vision Casting: Safety 22:36 - Keeping Secrets 25:10 - Why Leda Cares 26:07 - Implementing Policies: Where To Start 30:21 - Leda’s Non-Negotiables 30:59 - Final Thoughts Tyler and Leda take on a vital conversation about protecting children and ensuring the...

0:00 - Coming Up 0:51 - Today’s Guest, Andrae Jones: Staying Curious 6:32 - Finding A Balance 10:38 - Leading Diverse Groups: Intentional Shepherding 18:38 - Protecting Culture 22:09 - Reaching Out and Learing 28:44 - Books Kid’s Pastors Should Read 30:19 - Wrapping Up Kids pastor Andrae Jones joins the Amazing Kids Ministry podcast to break down how he leads a fast-growing, multi-site kids minist...