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Category: Evangelism

Kidology Lab Notes: Henrietta Mears – Pioneer of Modern Sunday School and Children’s Ministry

You teach a little by what you say. You teach most by what you are. – Henrietta Mears We minister today on the shoulders of those who came before us. There are leaders who paved the way, set an example and inspire us to devote our lives to the evangelization and education of children. My mother will always be my greatest influence in children’s ministry – but a woman who had a profound impact on my mom was Henrietta Mears, and so by extension, my ministry is a continuation of the ministry soil she broke, sowed and watered. Let me tell you about her – because whether you realize it or not, you minister in her shadow as well. Children’s Ministry might not be what it is today were it not for her timeless impact. Henrietta Cornelia Mears (1890–1963) was one of the most influential Christian educators of the 20th century, shaping the future of Sunday School and profoundly impacting children’s ministry. As the founder of Gospel Light and the visionary behind Forest Home Christian Conference Center, Mears’ passion for biblical teaching and innovative methods revolutionized how churches approach education and discipleship. Her legacy continues to inspire children’s ministry leaders today,…

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A Church on the Corner is NOT Enough!

  We are blessed to serve in a time where many churches offer wonderful children’s ministries. We strive to make sure our ministries are safe, creative, fun, biblically sound, and attractive to the families that attend our church. We work hard to make sure our programs engage kids, teach them the truth of God’s Word, and provide a welcoming place for families who visit. But here’s the reality that we can’t ignore: 65-70% of American families never attend a Gospel-preaching church—and many of them never will. It’s easy to focus on how to improve the ministries we offer within our walls, but if we’re honest with ourselves, we know that being a church on the corner, no matter how wonderful, is not enough. There are children in our neighborhoods growing older every day, never hearing the life-changing message of Jesus. Research from George Barna tells us that nearly half of all people who come to faith in Christ do so before the age of 13, and the likelihood of making that decision drops dramatically after age 14. If we’re waiting for families to walk through our doors, we may lose our chance to reach the children in our communities. And…

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Love is Caught, Not Taught

Love is Caught, not Taught

As children’s ministry leaders, we often find ourselves teaching about love—explaining what it is to children, why it’s important, and how it should be expressed. In fact, the word love appears in the Bible over 550 times! (In NIV and ESV) But the truth is, love is not something that can merely be taught; it must be caught. Children can’t truly understand love by merely hearing about it. But they can grasp its meaning when they experience it firsthand. The book of James reminds us that faith without deeds is useless. He uses the example of someone who sees someone hungry and simply says, “Be warm and well fed,” but if they do nothing, they have not shown love at all (James 2:15-17). Similarly, if we talk about love without demonstrating it, our words are hollow. There are kids in our ministries that need love – some extra doses! James goes on to say, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them” (James 4:17). We are commanded to love the children in our care – and we must not neglect to do so! Love is more than just a concept to discuss; it’s an action…

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Could This Be a Good Friday?

Could This Be a Good Friday?   I was born into darkness. Not the kind of darkness that comes with the night, but the darkness that shrouds the world when you cannot see. For I was born blind, navigating the streets of Jerusalem by touch and sound, reliant on the generosity of strangers for my survival. Life was a constant struggle. I scrounged for food wherever I could find it, my tin cup serving as a meager vessel for the coins tossed my way. Some days, I managed to scrape together enough to buy a few morsels of fresh fruit or secure a shelter for the night, but most nights were spent under the open sky, huddled against the cold with only the animals for company. Then, one day, everything changed. I heard the commotion of a crowd approaching, and through the cacophony of voices, I sensed a presence unlike any other. His name was Jesus, a man rumored to perform miracles, including healing the blind! With a desperate plea, I called out to him, my voice barely audible above the din of the crowd. “Rabbi, Rabbi! Give me back my sight!” To my astonishment, he stopped. He knelt beside…

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Kids Ministry Over the Top!

Sunday morning a guest said to me, “We came for the Kidz Blitz show and decided we had to come check out Sunday!” That’s the power of bringing in an over-the-top FUN family event and providing it as a gift to your community! Image your main auditorium filled with cheering kids, smiling parents, fun music and flying tee-pee paper! As soon as people enter the room they know they are in for a super evening! Not only was it a great program, but it was a super easy event to plan! Roger and his team made it easy and it took only a few volunteers to pull it off!I consider Roger Fields the inventor of the over-the-top insanely fun family outreach event! He has several crews around the country making his high-octane high-energy highly effective show available for your church! Bring in kids and families, and share the crazy, amazing love of God like you never have before! I got “POOFED” as part of the show! I was framed! In a game where kids are shaving a water balloon on their dad’s head – I was told to pop the balloon at the end of the games, along with my…

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