Home Archive by category "Children’s Ministry"

Category: Children’s Ministry

Why Patience Is One of the Greatest Leadership Skills

Patience may be one of the most overlooked leadership qualities in children’s ministry. We want quick growth. Quick results. Quick behavior improvement. Quick volunteer development. But discipleship rarely happens quickly. Galatians 5:22 reminds us that patience is part of the Fruit of the Spirit—not simply a personality trait. Patience grows as we walk closely with God. James 5:8 says: You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Patient leaders create room for growth. Kids need time to mature spiritually. Volunteers need time to build confidence. Parents need grace while navigating challenges at home. And honestly? We need patience with ourselves too. One impatient response from a leader can discourage a volunteer or embarrass a child in ways that linger longer than we realize. But patient leadership creates safety. It communicates: You matter more than your mistakes. Romans 12:12 says: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. That verse feels tailor-made for ministry leaders. Patience doesn’t mean lowering standards. It means leading with grace while trusting God to work over time. Remember: God is patient with us every single day. We have the opportunity to reflect that same patience to others. And if…

Continue reading

The Best Tool for Kids Choirs!

Hey! I just discovered little JAM Sessions, and it is wonderful! I know in kids ministry, we are often looking for fresh, original, fun kids choir songs – but we also want to disciple kids and help equip families to raise kids that love Jesus! little JAM Sessions – brings it all together with fun but meaningful songs, but they go the extra mile with curriculum to help teach the Truth behind the songs! I asked it’s creator, Brenda, if I could share it with my audience, and she was delighted to offer a coupon code: KIDOLOGY for 20% OFF any 6-week series! Here is an overview of what little JAM Sessions offer: PLUS: Learn more at Little JAM Sessions – and tell Brenda I sent you!

Continue reading

Leading With Joy When Ministry Gets Hard

Every ministry leader has difficult days. Low attendance. Volunteer shortages. Unexpected criticism. Tech failures five minutes before service starts. The question isn’t whether challenges will come. The real question is: What spirit will we carry into those moments? Galatians 5:22 reminds us: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Joy is not pretending everything is perfect. Biblical joy is confidence that God is still at work even when circumstances feel messy. Nehemiah 8:10 says: Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. That changes how we lead. Joyful leaders create environments where volunteers feel encouraged instead of pressured. Joy brings emotional stability to a ministry team. It lowers tension, builds resilience, and reminds everyone why we serve in the first place. And peace matters too. Kids today carry far more anxiety and stress than many adults realize. A calm, peaceful leader can become a stabilizing presence in a child’s week. Philippians 4:7 says: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Ministry leaders who walk closely with God often bring peace into chaotic environments simply…

Continue reading

Love Is More Than Being Nice

Children’s ministry leaders talk about love constantly. Love kids. Love families. Love your team. But biblical love is far deeper than simply being nice. The Fruit of the Spirit begins with love because love shapes every other fruit. Joy, peace, patience, kindness, and the rest all flow from a heart transformed by God. Galatians 5:22 says: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And Jesus raised the bar even higher in John 13:34: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. That kind of love changes how we lead. Love changes how we speak to volunteers when they make mistakes. Love changes how we respond to difficult parents. Love changes how we treat exhausted team members after a long Sunday morning. Love notices people. One of the greatest leadership traps in ministry is becoming so focused on programs that we stop seeing people. But healthy ministry grows when leaders intentionally put people ahead of productivity. Kids notice this too. Children may not remember every lesson we teach, but they absolutely remember how we made them feel. A child…

Continue reading

Stop Holding Up the Rock

I snapped the photo below of my friend Zach while hiking in Yosemite. At first glance, it looks like he’s holding up a massive boulder. His face says it all—strained, burdened, fighting to keep the weight from crushing him. Of course, He’s not really holding up the rock. The rock is holding itself up. But isn’t that exactly how ministry can feel sometimes? There are seasons when it seems like we’re carrying everything. Recruiting volunteers. Writing lessons. Scheduling teams. Solving staffing problems. Ordering supplies. Managing budgets. Answering parent emails. Training leaders. Following up with guests. Planning events. Putting out fires. Preparing for Sunday while already worrying about next Sunday. The list never seems to end. Before long, we begin to feel like the success of the ministry rests entirely on our shoulders. We start pushing up against the weight of it all, convinced that if we stop for even a moment, everything will come crashing down. Yet God never asked us to hold up the rock. In fact, Scripture paints an entirely different picture. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” A refuge is not something you carry. A refuge is something that…

Continue reading

Helping Kids Shine Their Light in a Dark World

Most kids do not think of themselves as influencers. They are just trying to figure out life, friendships, and where they fit. But the truth is, every child is already influencing the people around them, whether they realize it or not. This week we are helping kids understand something simple but powerful: their life is a light, and they can shine for Jesus. Light does not have to be big to make a difference. Even a small light stands out in the dark. It guides, it reveals, and it points the way. That is the picture we want kids to see. They do not have to wait until they are older to make a difference. Right now, through their kindness, their words, and their actions, they can point people toward Jesus. We see this in Peter’s life. After failing, he was restored and went on to boldly share his faith. God used him to impact thousands. That is what God does. He takes ordinary people and uses them in extraordinary ways. So we help kids make it personal. Think of one person. One friend, one classmate, one neighbor. Someone they can pray for, encourage, or invite. Because shining your light…

Continue reading