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The Gift of Advent

God’s Crazy, Immense Love

November 16, 2021

A dream of mine came true recently, in the release of my first published book: The King Is Coming: Advent Devotional for Children. It’s been an amazing and unexpected journey that God placed me in, completely surprising me with such growth and blessing. And isn’t that what Advent is about?

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keys to building community in children's ministry

The Keys to Building Meaningful Christian Community in Your Children’s Ministry

November 02, 2021

There is an old saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” and although I can tire of hearing that adage, I must admit there is so much truth to it. Even the sweetest kids will challenge and exhaust their parents. I was so grateful then, and am so grateful now, that I had a strong “village” (community) to help me.

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Making the Most of Sunday School

Making the Most of Sunday School

October 19, 2021

Every Sunday School teacher has had that one Sunday morning where things just went off the rails in the blink of an eye. It can be frustrating when things don’t go the way you imagined. Here are three easy and practical tips that can help you create a fun and fulfilling Sunday School hour for you and your students!

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How to Make Children’s Church Great

How to Make Children’s Church Great

October 05, 2021

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The Power (and Problem) of Priorities

The Power (and Problem) of Priorities

September 21, 2021

I don’t know if we will ever truly know the reason Martha chose dishes over sitting with Jesus. But I do think we all have had Martha moments when we are blinded by things that in the big picture aren’t very significant, only to miss out on beautiful moments with people or with God.

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God Is Always Working

God Is Always Working

September 08, 2021

It is so easy to miss God's truth in the middle of the battle or despair. We often miss the small moments when God makes himself known because we are so focused on our feelings of doubt or frustration. We overlook the basic goodness and faithfulness he pours out onto us each and every day.

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implementing Hearts Alive curriculum

4 Steps to Implementing Hearts Alive Curriculum

August 24, 2021 2 Comments

Hearts Alive's goal is to introduce children to God through his Word with a strong overview of the story of salvation and how it ties to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This three-year course of study covers the entire Bible and mirrors the liturgical cycles of the Revised Common Lectionary.

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Creating a Positive Volunteer Experience

Creating a Positive Volunteer Experience

August 10, 2021

“How do we recruit and hold on to volunteers?” This is a loaded question, and there are all sorts of theories on why volunteers can be hard to come by and even harder to retain. I don’t believe there is a magic formula, as in my experience so much of volunteerism is based on the overall culture of the church.

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Setting Your Children's Ministry Up for Success

Setting Your Children's Ministry Up for Success

July 27, 2021

Nothing is tougher than when you feel you have lost all control over a group of children. You have some kids running around with excessive energy, others crying out that they’re bored or want to go home. It can make for a miserable experience for all. The good news is that 95% of the time the remedy is quite simple! And it is to make sure your lessons are hands-on and developmentally appropriate.

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You Never Know What Seeds You Are Planting

Radical Perseverance

July 13, 2021

Ministry can be a tough journey, especially in children’s ministry where so often we don’t get to see the fruit of our labor as we are loving on and teaching such young minds and hearts. If you are feeling ineffective, frustrated, or doubtful, then this message is for you… Keep planting seeds.

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a child in prayer

Let the Little Children Come to Me

June 29, 2021

Modeling a healthy prayer life is one of the greatest gifts we can give children. So often prayer is something we as adults often shy away from demonstrating because we don’t feel like we are “good” at it. Yet it is such an instrumental part of a rich relationship with God.

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Children's Ministry

Children’s Ministry Is BACK!

June 15, 2021

Children are so resilient–much more resilient than we often give them credit for. But even with that understanding, there are some things you and your ministry staff and volunteers can do to help them ease back into activities.

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