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Kid Communicator Secret #12: End with a Challenge – Move Kids from Hearing to Doing

Calling kids to action today shapes warriors for Christ tomorrow. Don’t just inform — inspire action! Learn how to leave kids ready to live out what they’ve learned. A few years ago, a mom called me and said something had happened that she couldn’t quite explain and hoped I could shed some light. Her younger son, Gabe, had received five dollars in a birthday card from Grandma with a note encouraging him to buy something he’d enjoy. So off to the toy store they went. As they browsed the shelves, the boy suddenly asked, “What is Sam saving up for?” Sam was his older brother. His mom replied, “He’s saving up for a Spider-Man action figure.” That’s when the boy shocked her by saying, “Then that’s what I want to buy.” Assuming he was trying to make his brother jealous, she told him, “No, you need to get something different. I don’t want you picking the same thing just to make him mad.” But Gabe quickly responded, “No, sorry Mom, I wouldn’t do that. I want to buy it for him.” Now totally confused, she asked, “Why would you spend your birthday money on your brother?” And this is what…

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GUYS ONLY – Time to UNPLUG and Reconnect!

Have you ever wanted to UNPLUG from the hectic busy pace of ministry life? That is the entire point of Yosemite Summit. It is a week where you are unplugged in every sense of the word. No computer, no e-mail, no phone calls, no work, no deadlines, no ’emergencies’, no pressure. Better than a day off spent catching up on personal things – it is a complete break for the sake of complete rest and renewal. I was once told by a very wise mentor, “Karl, you need to stop being a human doing, and learn to become a human being.” That is what Yosemite Summit is all about. It is an annual cessation of activity. Too often we confuse busyness with what God is truly seeking from us. Not that we aren’t busy doing good things! But we get so busy doing these good things that our relationship with God can grow distant, and soon God is wondering, why or who we are truly busy for. Stopping completely, once a year, is an opportunity to recalibrate. It is a time for reflection and renewal. It is not a time of evaluating ministry goals and seeking a new “ministry vision”…

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Kidology Lab Notes: A Rational Faith – What I Learned from Josh McDowell

When I was in seventh grade, my dad made a decision that would profoundly shape my faith and my understanding of Christianity. He pulled me out of school for a Friday and Saturday seminar called “Six Hours with Josh,” led by evangelist and apologist Josh McDowell. At the time, I didn’t fully grasp the significance of this decision, but looking back, it was one of the most impactful experiences of my life. My dad explained that it was crucial for me, even as a young man, to own my faith—to believe not simply because it was the faith of my parents, but because I had examined it for myself. He told me that while we come to Christ “by faith,” it is not a “blind faith,” as many critics suggest. Instead, it is a rational faith, grounded in evidence and able to withstand scrutiny. Josh McDowell’s story itself is compelling. A former atheist, he set out to disprove Christianity. However, as he investigated the claims of Jesus, he encountered evidence that changed his life. His journey of skepticism transformed into a vibrant faith, and he has spent decades sharing this transformation with others. His book More Than a Carpenter has…

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Kidology Lab Notes: D.L. Moody – A Life Devoted to Reaching the Lost, Starting with Children

Kidology Lab Notes: D.L. Moody – A Life Devoted to Reaching the Lost, Starting with Children Dwight L. Moody is a name that stands tall in the history of evangelism. Known for leading immense revival meetings on both sides of the Atlantic, Moody brought tens of thousands to faith in Christ during the 19th century. His legacy includes the founding of significant institutions like the YMCA, Moody Church, Moody Bible Institute, and Moody Press, each a testament to his tireless devotion to spreading the Gospel. Yet, despite all his remarkable achievements, at the end of his life, Moody reflected with profound clarity: “If I had my life to live over, I would devote it entirely to the evangelization of children.” This statement holds an extraordinary challenge for children’s ministry leaders. Moody’s wisdom stems from both his personal experience and his understanding of the potential within a child’s life. Reaching children is not a steppingstone for ministry—it is the ministry. A Humble Beginning Born on February 5th, in 1837 in Northfield, Massachusetts, Moody’s childhood was marked by tragedy and hardship. His father passed away when he was just four years old, leaving the family in dire financial straits. To help support…

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Kidology Lab Notes: Corrie ten Boom – Lessons in Ministry Courage

“The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation.” – Corrie ten Boom When I was a child, one of the stories I learned in Sunday School that stuck with me for life was the story of Corrie ten Boom. I remember sitting in a circle with my classmates, listening intently as my mom shared how a seemingly ordinary woman became a hero of the faith. It wasn’t because she had superhuman strength or wealth or status, but because she trusted in God no matter the cost. Even as a young child, I was struck by her courage, her unwavering belief in doing what was right, and her incredible forgiveness. As I grew older, I came to appreciate how her story speaks directly to the challenges we face as believers, especially as leaders in children’s ministry. Corrie ten Boom’s life is one that inspires courage and faith. She was born in the Netherlands in 1892 into a Christian family. Her father, a watchmaker, taught her to love God and others. During World War II, Corrie and her family became deeply involved in the Dutch resistance, hiding Jews from the Nazis in a secret room in…

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