Three things I wish I’d known about training children’s ministry leaders
Running an after-school kids program was definitely a highlight of my first ministry role. A growing leadership team was also a joy but working out how to train and support them was an area I never felt confident in. Here are three things I wish I’d known back then about training children’s ministry leaders.
Leadership Skills: three ways to listen more deeply
One of the most valuable tools in a ministry team leader’s toolbox isn’t just the ability to speak clearly—it’s the ability to listen deeply. Because when leaders fail to listen, communication breaks down. And when communication breaks down, teams struggle.
Deep listening is crucial for fostering relationships, building rapport, and establishing trust. It’s a key tool that can strengthen your leadership and communication in ministry. I’d like to share three practical ways we can listen more deeply.
Kids’ holiday club gems
Kids’ Holiday Clubs are often where it all comes together for children. Over a few days, they grasp precious gospel truths and form deep connections with their local church.
Here are a few gems and resources shared by various churches - maybe these could help you with your next holiday club?
Self-care through the seasons of life
Being a ministry worker brings with it joys and challenges, and everything in between. It is a profound privilege to journey alongside people through the varying seasons of life.
Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s stewardship, and a necessity for sustainable, healthy and resilient ministry. Making space for rest, spiritual renewal, and personal boundaries allows ministry workers to continue serving with joy, resilience, and integrity.
Creation was never perfect
“In the beginning God made the world and everything perfect” is what I often hear people say when they recount the story of creation through salvation history. The problem with calling God’s creation perfect is that it invites us to think of God’s creation as pristine and static, as if it was completed and, well…perfect. But that is not what God made. God makes a creation that needs to be completed and fulfilled.
Small group tips: ‘The rule of thirds”
Does facilitating Friday night youth group discussion time feel like you’re trying to push a boulder up a hill? Many youth group leaders have fallen into the trap of focusing too much on one aspect of the group time. If this is you, then adopting the Rule of Thirds can be a significant help.
Hannah More and radical discipleship
What does a radical disciple of Jesus look like? I think it looks like Hannah More, a woman who trusted in God’s providence, used her gifts, cared for the poor, taught children and fought for justice.
Going the distance in youth ministry: Longevity, role and personal life.
Wondering how you might be able to keep going the distance in youth ministry? This is what Andy Stevenson has found helpful to keep him going for over 25 years in youth ministry!
Fostering a love of God in youth ministry
In this article, I want to parse out what I think are 2 (perhaps self-evident) essential aspects to loving God, and their implications for the kind of youth ministry we’ll do.
The Questions Kids Always Ask in Primary SRE Classes
Here are some ways you can prepare yourself when the tough questions come up in your SRE class.
Five Tips For Leading Games Well
So, what makes a youth group game awesome? Here are five tips that will help you to take game-time to the next level.
TayTay and Gifts of the Spirit
Whether you're a Swiftie, a curious bystander, or someone seeking deeper spiritual insights, this article helps us to contemplate the divine origins of talent and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Key routines and expectations for my SRE class this year
Three expectations and three routines you can develop for your Kindy SRE class.
Equipping and Empowering Junior Leaders to Serve
Equipping and empowering teenagers to serve as junior leaders within your church’s ministry programs is one of the best places for this to happen.
So how should we be thinking about junior leaders, and how can we best help them to start well?
Why Mission is Only Half the Answer
Over the last few years, there has been a corrective occurring in our churches, kids' ministries and youth ministries. More and more I’m hearing about evangelism being put back on the agenda and discussion around strategies for mission and how to increase “mission heat”.
Youth Ministry is More Than Future Fruit
Why do we do children’s and youth ministry? Is it so that in 5-10 years’ time we can have faithful adult disciples of Jesus who can become children’s and youth ministry leaders?
Lessons from Christian Endeavour, A Training School for the Church.
Today, Christian Endeavour has faded from memory and few young people have heard of it. But are there lessons that we can learn from this remarkable youth organisation?
Helping kids recognise and name their feelings
Helping young people grow in their emotional understanding is all part of helping them grow as embodied humans made in the image of God. Here are three ways to help young people recognise and name their emotions.
Summer Church: Effectively Communicating Routine Changes For Neurodivergent Members
As the end of year draws near and Christmas time approaches, regular church routines will change. While many of us expect things to be different, neurodivergent children are likely to find the change in routine difficult. How can we help neurodivergent young people cope with these changes?
Interview with Josh Peterson about House Conference
Hear Josh Peterson share his experience at House Conference.