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A Tribute to Larry Mahan — “Mr. SONshine”

A Tribute to Larry Mahan — “Mr. SONshine” By Karl Bastian I lost a dear friend in ministry this week—Larry Mahan. To many, he was a Gospel Magician. But to those who really knew him, he was far more than that. Larry was a joyful innovator, a creative light, and a humble servant of Jesus who spent his life making ministry not only impactful, but irresistibly fun. Affectionately known as Mr. SONshine, Larry lived up to his name. Wherever he went—whether a church, a school, or a Fellowship of Christian Magicians meeting—he brought the joy and warmth of Jesus. He wasn’t just shining; he was reflecting the “Light of the world” (John 8:12) with every trick, every laugh, every lesson, and every encounter. Larry created simple, fun illusions that anyone could use to share the Good News with kids. He understood something essential: ministry to children doesn’t need to be complicated—it needs to be engaging, joyful, and Jesus-centered. His book, Shtick: The Art of Entertaining Children, remains one of the first resources I recommend to children’s pastors. When I first read it, I felt like I could’ve written it myself—not to rob him of the credit, but because I found…

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Secrets of Effective Kid Communicators #3: Break the Mold – Try Something Bold

God’s not calling us to copy — He’s calling us to create. When it comes to teaching and reaching kids, the best path forward might not be found in what you did last year — but in what’s never been done before. I love the saying — and I repeat it often: “There are three types of people in the world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who say, ‘What just happened?’” Obviously, I’d like to consider myself in that first category. When Steve Jobs introduced the iPad, he was told, “No one’s asking for that.” He replied, “They will after I make it.” And now? We all carry tablets. When he merged music players with phones, he didn’t just improve the phone — he changed the way the entire world consumes music. That’s what it means to break the mold — to challenge assumptions, rethink the “normal,” and reimagine what’s possible. And this kind of bold innovation is just as powerful in children’s ministry. For years we did Easter egg hunts where we invited the entire community to the church. But one year, we flipped the script. We stuffed 50,000 eggs (like always)…

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New: Photo Permission Icon on KidCheck Check-In Labels

Pastor Karl here! I’m excited to tell you about a new update to my favorite Kids Check-In System, KIDCHECK! Child Security is not something you can take for granted or skip. Even small churches must have security in place for their kids ministry. The struggle with providing child security is real, and one small incident could put you at risk for a lawsuit or liability that could ultimately close the doors of any church.  KidCheck understands this, and that’s why they continue to upgrade their products and services, adding new and innovative ideas to make child security and check-in easier and safer for the kids under your care.  The name badge provides an at-a-glance, visual representation of what each child requires to be safe, celebrated, and served while reducing the time and effort staff and volunteers need to spend assessing important information about each child.  Their latest update is a photo permission icon that prints directly on the kids labels. Not using KidCheck yet in your ministry? Read more about the safety features included on the KidCheck labels by visiting KidCheck, then jump over to Kidology.org to activate a discount for our All Access Members to help save on your…

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Secrets of Effective Kid Communicators #2: Plan Surprises – Keep Them on Their Toes

Surprise is a secret weapon in the communicator’s toolbox. Wonder fuels learning — discover how surprise moments boost engagement and memory! Ever planned a surprise party? Or better yet — ever been the one surprised? Everyone loves surprises! Surprise dates. Surprise bonuses. Surprise presents after you thought you’d opened the last one. Surprise discounts at checkout. Surprise upgrades on a flight or at a hotel. Those unexpected acts of kindness — like someone showing up with your favorite coffee just because. And of course, who doesn’t love a good movie with a surprise twist ending? There’s something thrilling about the unexpected. It wakes us up. It locks a moment into our memory. It makes the ordinary unforgettable. That same principle is powerful in kidmin: Surprise is a secret weapon in the communicator’s toolbox. It instantly reignites curiosity, resets attention, and supercharges engagement. Remember screensavers? Back in the day, if a computer sat idle too long, a screensaver would pop up to protect the monitor. You had to tap the keyboard or bump the mouse to get the regular screen back. Well, kids have an internal screensaver too. When your teaching gets repetitive or boring, they check out — mentally —…

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Secrets of Effective Kid Communicators #1: Start with a BANG!

Capturing attention today sets a foundation for faith tomorrow. The first minute matters most — learn how to hook kids fast and set the stage for life-changing teaching. Which would you rather watch: a long train starting from a standstill or a horse race when the gates fly open? The answer is obvious. In the same way, few things are more painful (or boring) than sitting through a service — kids or adults — where the communicator slowly stumbles up front and begins to drone: “Welcome, everyone… how are you… how was your week… what did we learn about last week?” Blah, blah, blah. It’s been said you never get a second chance to make a first impression (attributed to Will Rogers). That’s true EVERY SUNDAY. Kids decide almost immediately whether this is going to be a great experience. Church growth experts say even adult guests know in the first five minutes whether they’ll return. Attention is earned — and lost — fast. That’s why Secret #1 is so important: Start with a BANG! Your opener is your chance to answer the unspoken question every kid is asking: “Why should I listen to you today?” A great Kid Communicator doesn’t…

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