As you continue to steward the hearts of children in your ministry, safety isn’t just a side topic; it’s a priority. In 2026, children’s ministry leaders are innovating, learning, and implementing smart strategies to protect children. Whether you’re a volunteer, director, or church leader, here are the top safety trends to consider. Safety Frameworks Safety isn’t just about locked doors and policies on paper. It’s about creating an environment where children are protected, volunteers and staff feel confident, and families have peace of mind. Ministries are adopting safety frameworks that integrate clear policies and written guidelines, screening, training, onboarding, active...

I am a BIG believer that kids need to learn the Books of the Bible! So, I create incentives and reward for those who do. Adults should too – but if kids learn them young, they will know them for life! “But there are apps for that,” I hear. When you learn the books of the Bible, you gain an understanding of the number of type of books, the flow of the books, and it helps you locate scriptures faster for the rest of your life. If you haven’t learned them yet – regardless of your age – NOW is...

Gratitude Changes Everything By Pastor Karl Bastian The celebration of Thanksgiving every November is wonderful. Families gather. Tables are full. Traditions are honored. Gratitude gets a full day on the calendar. But the downside is that it can subtly relegate gratitude to something we focus on once in a while—sadly, perhaps annually. We pull out thankfulness like fine china, use it for a day, and then pack it back into storage with the pumpkin decorations. The reality is that an attitude of gratitude is the secret to contentment and happiness every single day of our lives. By our human (sinful)...

From the Coach’s In-box: Question: How do I engage home school parents in my ministry that are challenging to engage, seem skeptical of what the church is offering, and don’t respond as I’d expect to the church’s programs? Karl’s Answer: First, normalize what they’re feeling. Homeschool parents often chose that path because they deeply care about what and how their kids are taught. Many made that decision after frustration with systems that didn’t align with their values. That kind of conviction requires confidence. From the outside, that confidence can look like “they think they know everything.” But often it’s protective,...

TODAY Is the Day By Pastor Karl Bastian Every children’s ministry leader has a shelf labeled “Someday.” Someday we’ll launch that parent night. Someday we’ll start that special needs initiative. Someday I’ll write that curriculum. Someday we’ll fix check-in. Someday I’ll call that volunteer who could be amazing. “Someday” is a comfortable word. It asks nothing of us today. But momentum in ministry doesn’t begin with someday. It begins with a decision: Today is the day. Not necessarily the day you pull off the event. Not the day you execute the full plan. But the day you move it forward....

“Life is what happens when you’re making other plans.” My dad used to say this often as I was growing up, and the older I get, the truer it feels. We love plans. We like calendars that behave, weeks that make sense, and outcomes we can predict. We pray for God’s guidance, but if we’re honest, we often hope He’ll guide us exactly where we were already planning to go. He also told me once, “Ever notice the word IF is in the middle of life?” IF is central to life, but we forget that when we settle into routine...