The Kidmin Huddle

Ministry is great, but not all the time. There are hard days and rough seasons. Be reminded of why you do what you do and the difference you are making. 

Christmas is more than just a story and we need to be doing more than just half-heartedly listening. Take a few moments to pause and prepare your heart as we enter into the Christmas season.  *You also get to hear the train breaking in the background of my church towards the end!

How often do you teach on heaven? Are you teaching the truth about heaven or spreading lies? Kids have questions about heaven (even preschoolers). Kidmin Leader, you need to make sure you're teaching the truth about heaven, and teaching it often. 

Sometimes discouragement happens in kidmin, especially when numbers are low. But numbers don't always matter.  Be reminded of the words in Galatians 6:9. Don't give up. What you do matters to the Kingdom!

If the goal of ministry is to teach boys and girls about Jesus, we want to make sure we are reaching the maximum amount of kids! With a little organization and intentionality, you can maximize your reach. 

Mega-Con was last week. Hear what messages God spoke and what's next. 

How do you lead children to Christ? Do you do mass altar calls, where kids raise their hands and repeat a prayer after you? Don't!  In this episode, Amber goes over some important do's and don'ts about leading a child to Christ. 

Kids need more than a lesson full of fluff! But not all curriculum has enough meat. With a little creativity and some intentionality, it's an easy fix to go from fluff to meat. 

This Sunday I found myself with a new dynamic in my class... mostly preschoolers. Since this is my new norm, I have to shift how I teach, but what.  Preschoolers don't need a smaller version of faith. They don't need a watered down version of the Bible. They need deep theologically sound teaching... just on their level. 

Kidmin is full of hits and misses. What works one time might bomb the next. If you are intentional though, you can work towards more wins for your kids and your families. Plus hear about Amber's new book, The Family Cookbook Devotional , and how this has been a win in her home.  https://bit.ly/3zHpJ60

Are you training your kids to listen to sermons and the Word? Unless you want to see your new youth group taking multiple bathroom breaks per sermon each and every week, you need to take the time to train the how to listen to sermons. Note taking might be the key. 

When you get sick or have a family emergency, do you have a plan and a person in place? In this episode Amber Pike talks about some very practical must-haves for every ministry. 

Do you know the names of the children in your ministry? Do you use them? What about after children leave your ministry area? Don't underestimate the power of knowing (and using) a child's name. It can make a huge difference. 

Kids are capable of learning more than you think. Are you teaching them more? How often to do use theological terms? When’s the last time you taught about the attributes of God? Kids need to know God’s story and how everything in the Bible connect, but they also need to learn about the God of the Bible. 

What do you do before services with kids? You probably have activities out: Legos, Play-Doh, cups to stack, crafts, and things like that. But do you have a pre-service show? Pre-service shows are a wonderful way to not only engage kids before service, but to get the word of God in their hearts.  Check out amberpike.org for a blog post with a PDF all about how to make a pre-service show.  Under the...

Being a parent and a ministry leader can be hard... especially if your child is in your ministry. There are challenges and at times it's rough on your child.  As a mom and a ministry leader, I get it.  But if God has called you to be both a parent and ministry leader (at the same time) it can be done and done well!

Fun is important for kids. Kids learn through fun. Kids crave fun.  How fun is your kidmin? What sort of an impact could some simple changes make in your ministry?

How much time do you spend getting to know the boys and girls in your ministry? Do you know more than just their attendance records? Getting to know boys and girls, really knowing them, is huge!

Life and ministry are busy. Sometimes we find ourselves so busy that we think we don’t have the time to rest. But we need it. We need to rest in God.   Learn to recognize the signs of burnout in your life. Take the time to be present in life. Be still and rest in Christ. 

There is value in taking your kids to camp each summer.  Learn from Amber’s 13 years of camp experience about some tips and tricks to make camp the best that it can be!

How well are you supporting parents in their role as primary shepherds? Generation to Generation is to tell stories of God's faithfulness. Are you training, resourcing, and encouraging mom and dad as they lead?

How often does God ask you to move out of our comfort zone? Do you go willingly or kicking and screaming? When God asks us to do something, it’s not because of our own skills or power. He wants us to trust in him to give us all we need so that he gets the glory. 

No matter what is happening, God is sovereign. He is always in control of your life, and he's working and planning things for your future, whether you realize it or not.  Like Job, we might question God's control. But God reminds us like he did Job, he is in control!

We all have rough days (or seasons) in ministry. They can rock our confidence or even have us question our calling. But a lot of times, a simple checkup can show the real issue. 

Games are an important part of kidmin! But do you play games just for the sake of playing a game or are you intentional with your game time?