Teaching kids isn’t just about today — it’s about shaping generations for God’s glory.
You’re not just reaching kids — you’re impacting future families and shaping generations for Christ!
I am in ministry today because I was inspired by creative teachers who brought the Bible to life for me. Like Timothy, who learned the Word at a young age from his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice, if Paul were to write 2 Timothy 1:5 to me in the KBV (Karl Bastian Version), he might have said: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your Aunt Linda and in your mother Patti, and I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”
Both of these godly women made church the highlight of my week. That’s why my kids ministry motto in my present ministry is, “We want to make Sunday the high point of our kids’ week.” Whether it was the “Apple Red Happiness” song led so enthusiastically by my aunt (which I can still sing from memory), or the Treasure Chest Sundays my mom created — where every child who came got a key that might open the pirate chest to win a prize (with a bonus key if they brought a friend!) — or the countless other ways faithful volunteers made Sundays special, they left a lasting mark. Marget (we called her Mugzie), Helen, Charlie, Wanona, Candy, Sherm… the list goes on.
They were what I call Excellent Kid Communicators. They didn’t just tell Bible stories — they brought God’s Word to life in ways that stuck with me to this day. And now, every child I teach, every kid I reach, every volunteer I train… they all trace back to those early seeds of joy and wonder planted by faithful servants. Their fruit is now part of mine. That’s the miraculous multiplication of ministry. Fruit produces seeds. Seeds produce more fruit.
We’re not just doing ministry for today — we’re shaping the future of the Church.
It all starts with our own faithfulness. We’re reaping the benefits of those who were faithful long before us, and others will benefit from our investment long after we’re gone. That’s why Nehemiah 8:8 continues to inspire: “They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.”
We don’t just read Scripture to kids. We make it clear. We help them understand. We creatively explainGod’s truth so they in turn, can pass it on. As Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
As C.S. Lewis wisely said, “Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.”
That’s why I’ve launched this series — to share with you twelve “SECRETS” I’ve learned from decades of being a Kid Communicator: lessons I learned as a child sitting under Excellent Communicators, through thousands of hours teaching kids myself, and from rubbing shoulders with some of the most incredible children’s ministry leaders on the planet who I am blessed to call my friends.
But I want to address something head-on: the way people refer to what we do. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked to provide “child care” at my churches over the years. And while I always smile and agree, never showing offense — on the inside, I chuckle a little. Because yes, on the surface, of course we care for children. But what we’re doing is so much more than “child care.” It’s ministry. Eternal-impact, soul-shaping, destiny-directing ministry.
To get this point across in a fun, disarming way, I started putting a small phrase at the bottom of my children’s ministry flyers: “Adult Care Provided in the Main Auditorium.” After all, while I care for kids, our lead pastor is caring for the adults. Everyone deserves excellent, intentional, Spirit-led “care”, right?
And just as adults want a pastor who is an effective communicator of God’s Word, kids deserve no less. They need teachers who don’t just fill time, but ignite hearts.
So let’s rise to the calling. Let’s become Excellent Kid Communicators.
My Prayer for You:
Father, thank You for the privilege of teaching Your children. Help us to see beyond today and recognize the future You are shaping through these precious lives. Give us wisdom to rightly divide Your Word, creativity to make it clear, and hearts full of joy as we serve. May our faithfulness echo through generations yet to come.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
FINAL THOUGHT:
Kidmin isn’t babysitting. It’s legacy-building — one child, one story, one seed at a time.
