In this episode, Nick Blevins sits down with Brian Mosley and Nancy Matossian from RightNow Media to discuss the launch of RightNow Kids, a brand-new curriculum created to equip churches, volunteers, and parents to disciple kids more effectively. They share the story behind the project, what makes the curriculum different, and why empowering families throughout the week—not just on Sundays—is central to their vision.

Whether you're serving in a large ministry or a small volunteer-led church, this conversation offers practical insights into creating engaging, gospel-centered experiences that help kids grow in their faith.

Timestamps

00:00 – Meet Brian Mosley and Nancy Matossian
01:32 – Why RightNow Media entered the kids ministry space
03:13 – Nancy's journey to joining the RightNow Kids team
05:00 – What the RightNow Kids curriculum includes
08:00 – Building a three-year discipleship experience
09:32 – Pricing and making curriculum accessible for churches
11:12 – Supporting volunteers and partnering with parents
14:12 – The parent app and extending discipleship beyond Sunday
17:38 – Why the curriculum was designed with smaller churches in mind
20:45 – The three pillars: God's Family, God's Story, and God's Character
23:22 – Flexible scheduling and customizing the curriculum calendar
25:15 – Early feedback from churches using RightNow Kids
26:50 – Onboarding support and launching successfully
27:55 – Free sample lessons and where to learn more
30:15 – Lessons learned and what's next for RightNow Kids

Healthy children's ministries are built on healthy volunteers—but recruiting volunteers is only the beginning. In this episode, Kristi McElheney shares her memorable "donut" framework for shepherding and discipling volunteers, emphasizing that effective ministry starts with Jesus, grows from a leader's identity in Christ, and flourishes through intentional investment in volunteers.

Kristi explains why leaders must first anchor their own identity in God rather than ministry success, how to build meaningful relationships with volunteers, and practical ways to disciple teams through onboarding, training, observation, and feedback. Whether you're leading a handful of volunteers or an entire ministry team, this conversation will encourage you to move beyond volunteer management and into true spiritual leadership.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet Kristi McElheney and her ministry journey
01:32 – The "donut" analogy for discipling volunteers
02:16 – Why Jesus is the foundation of every volunteer strategy
03:37 – The leader's identity: why the glaze comes before the sprinkles
07:02 – The volunteers as the "sprinkles" and the discipleship cycle
07:49 – Avoiding the trap of finding your identity in ministry success
09:38 – Practical tools for discovering your God-given identity and purpose
13:41 – Four steps to disciple volunteers: onboarding, training, observation, and feedback
16:48 – Why observation isn't criticism—it's an investment in growth
19:12 – Having difficult conversations with volunteers through relationship, not authority
22:42 – Moving beyond volunteer management into genuine discipleship
23:14 – Building relationships through prayer, conversations, and intentional follow-up
25:31 – Creating volunteer trainings that foster spiritual growth, not just logistics
26:47 – Why discipleship should be woven into every ministry environment
27:20 – How to connect with Kristi McElheney

If you've ever struggled to recruit, retain, or shepherd volunteers, this episode offers practical wisdom and biblical encouragement to help you cultivate a thriving, spiritually healthy volunteer team.

What if one of the biggest challenges in ministry isn't what you can see- but what you can't?

In this episode, Beth Guckenberger shares practical, biblical wisdom on recognizing and responding to spiritual warfare in ministry. Drawing from decades of missionary work, leading an international orphan care organization, and her experience serving as an interim senior pastor during the pandemic, Beth explains why ministry leaders should stop living defensively and start leading with spiritual confidence.

Together, Nick and Beth discuss how children's ministry leaders can identify the enemy's tactics, build stronger relationships with church leadership, cultivate authentic community, and equip the next generation to understand spiritual warfare without fear. If you've ever felt discouraged, isolated, or overwhelmed in ministry, this conversation offers hope, encouragement, and practical tools for standing firm in Christ.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and welcoming Beth back to the podcast
00:27 – Beth's ministry journey, family, and recent updates
01:53 – The story behind Throw the First Punch
02:10 – Why spiritual warfare is often overlooked in the church
02:55 – Leading a church through the pandemic and a life-changing staff meeting
04:30 – Shifting from a defensive mindset to spiritual offense
05:33 – Lessons from serving as an interim senior pastor
08:47 – Building empathy and stronger relationships with church leadership
11:15 – Finding a balanced biblical view of spiritual warfare
12:04 – Why children's ministry leaders are significant spiritual targets
12:55 – Confession, community, and staying spiritually healthy
14:23 – The importance of authentic relationships and accountability
15:11 – Overcoming loneliness in ministry through intentional community
17:00 – Teaching children about spiritual warfare without creating fear
17:57 – Beth's children's book series and equipping families
20:05 – Helping kids understand God's victory over evil
21:09 – Living with confidence because Christ has already won
22:06 – Bringing God's light into dark places
23:49 – Spiritual warfare on the mission field versus everyday ministry
26:52 – Recognizing discouragement and conflict as ministry leaders
28:29 – Where to connect with Beth and learn more about her ministry
29:19 – Final encouragement and closing remarks

What does it take to build a church where every generation grows together in faith? In this episode, Christina Embree, founder of Refocus Ministry, shares how churches can move beyond simply having multiple generations under one roof to creating meaningful relationships that lead to lifelong discipleship.

Christina unpacks the difference between multigenerational and intergenerational ministry, explains why authentic relationships are essential for passing on faith, and offers practical ways churches can cultivate stronger connections through prayer, service, and intentional community. She also discusses how churches can better equip parents, empower volunteers, and create a culture where every generation learns from one another.

Whether you're a children's ministry leader, pastor, volunteer, or parent, this conversation is filled with practical ideas to help your church become a place where faith is shared across generations.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to Christina Embree and Refocus Ministry
02:10 – What is intergenerational ministry?
03:48 – Why intergenerational discipleship matters
05:18 – Moving from connection to meaningful relationships
07:16 – Practical ways churches can build intergenerational ministry
08:42 – Small groups, volunteers, and deeper relationships
10:30 – Creating church-wide opportunities across generations
12:13 – Serving together as a pathway to discipleship
12:42 – Thin vs. thick intergenerational ministry
15:29 – How different cultures approach intergenerational relationships
17:26 – Equipping parents and caregivers for discipleship at home
20:29 – Helping volunteers strengthen family discipleship
22:25 – Practical ways to encourage parents every week
23:50 – How to connect with Christina and Refocus Ministry

How do you create a kids ministry that children don't just attend—but genuinely want to come back to week after week?

In this episode, Chris sits down with Corinne Noble to discuss three practical strategies that help churches attract kids, engage them in meaningful relationships, and empower them to grow into lifelong followers of Jesus. From creating unforgettable first impressions to building authentic connections and giving kids opportunities to serve, Corinne shares actionable ideas that leaders of churches of every size can begin implementing right away.

Whether you're leading a large children's ministry or serving in a small church, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways to help you create an environment where kids can thrive.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and welcoming Corinne Noble back to the podcast
00:43 – Corinne shares ministry updates, curriculum, coaching, and consulting
01:32 – Why attracting kids requires intentionality—not just big events
03:17 – Way #1: Create an unforgettable experience
03:40 – Why environments matter more than we think
04:29 – Creating a great first-time guest experience
05:30 – Avoiding church jargon and insider language
06:01 – The importance of follow-up after a family's first visit
06:42 – Training volunteers to create consistent, high-quality experiences
08:44 – Why we shouldn't assume kids know Bible stories or church terminology
11:55 – Way #2: Engage kids in meaningful relationships
12:13 – Helping kids build friendships with peers their own age
13:31 – Practical ways to encourage connection in churches of every size
14:12 – The value of consistent small group leaders
15:12 – Engaging kids with God and His Word every week
17:24 – Why relationships are key to long-term ministry impact
18:34 – Way #3: Empower kids to grow and lead
19:22 – Asking open-ended questions that invite participation
20:28 – Giving kids opportunities to serve in ministry
21:42 – The two biggest factors that keep kids connected to church long-term
23:29 – What age should kids begin serving?
25:21 – Corinne's own childhood leadership experience and ministry calling
26:12 – Where to connect with Corinne and learn about KMC Ministries
27:36 – Social media, reels, and reaching the next generation of ministry leaders
30:12 – Final thoughts and wrap-up

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another children's ministry leader who would benefit from these practical insights.

Chris and Nick explore why churches need to think beyond parenting kids and teenagers, how to create meaningful community for parents of adult children, and what it looks like to offer hope, care, and connection in one of the hardest seasons of family life.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and Chris Sasser’s return to the podcast
01:06 – Chris shares an update on Port City Community Church and the Parent Network
03:42 – Why partnering with parents looks different in every church context
06:25 – The importance of having someone champion parent ministry
08:29 – The story that sparked Port City’s ministry to parents of adult children
10:53 – Launching Hopeful Parents and the unexpected response from families
12:52 – Why parents of adult children often carry hidden pain and uncertainty
16:10 – Helping parents shift from parenting a child to relating adult-to-adult
18:56 – Stories of grief, healing, and hope from parents walking through loss and prodigal seasons
20:26 – How marriage, in-laws, and changing family dynamics affect parent-adult child relationships
22:25 – What Hopeful Parents gatherings actually look like in practice
24:49 – Why community and vulnerability are the real catalysts for healing
26:28 – Chris shares resources for parents and church leaders, including Bags and the Parent Network
27:55 – Final encouragement for churches to care for empty nesters and parents of adult children

In this episode, Nick Blevins sits down with children's ministry coach and leadership expert Josh Denhart to unpack some of the most common issues he encounters while coaching ministry leaders across the country.

From volunteer scheduling headaches and shared-space frustrations to leadership systems, church staffing challenges, and knowing when it's time to leave a ministry role, Josh shares practical solutions that help leaders move from constant crisis management to proactive leadership.

Whether you're a children's pastor, family ministry leader, or church staff member, you'll walk away with actionable strategies to build healthier systems, stronger volunteer teams, and greater ministry sustainability.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and welcome back to Josh Denhart
00:39 – Josh shares his ministry journey, Lead Ministry, and KidMin Science
02:03 – Behind the scenes of the Amazing Chemistry Show and ministry outreach events
03:23 – The most common coaching topics kids ministry leaders bring to Josh
03:35 – Josh's coaching philosophy: balancing urgent problems with long-term growth
08:29 – Why systems and organization are critical for ministry success
09:43 – Solving the shared-space cleanup problem with clear systems and accountability
14:49 – How outside perspectives help leaders solve recurring ministry frustrations
16:05 – The volunteer scheduling crisis every children's pastor knows too well
18:01 – Creating a culture of “switching, not ditching” among volunteers
19:30 – Why volunteer relationships matter more than scheduling tools
21:48 – The psychology behind volunteer ownership and reciprocity
25:06 – The value of an unbiased coaching perspective during seasons of change
25:36 – Navigating church growth and the challenges of adding a new service
27:00 – Why leaders shouldn't make multiple major changes at the same time
28:07 – Coaching through questions versus simply giving advice
30:17 – A difficult reality: helping ministry leaders determine whether it's time to leave
32:37 – Recognizing unhealthy church environments and toxic leadership dynamics
34:30 – A real coaching story about navigating a painful ministry transition
36:08 – Why many children's pastors struggle to find their next ministry opportunity
37:21 – The unique challenges of being “drafted” into kids ministry rather than called to it
38:18 – Finding the right ministry fit and aligning with church culture
39:11 – The personal and family impact of leaving a church staff role
40:10 – Supporting leaders through difficult ministry transitions
41:11 – Final reflections on coaching, leadership, and serving the local church
41:49 – Closing thoughts and where to connect with Josh Denhart

Key Takeaways

• Build systems that eliminate recurring ministry frustrations.
• Create volunteer teams that support one another instead of depending entirely on staff.
• Avoid implementing multiple major changes simultaneously.
• Use coaching questions to uncover better solutions and develop stronger leaders.
• Recognize when a ministry environment has become unhealthy and how to navigate transitions wisely.

Together, they discuss practical ways to maintain a healthy marriage, avoid burnout in ministry, prioritize Sabbath, and create intentional family rhythms that last.

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome and introductions
00:42 – Meet David & Angie Hooie and their family
02:14 – Angie’s role at Two Rivers Church and church growth
03:10 – How the “Purposeful Parenting” group started
05:06 – Why parents need connection and community
06:03 – Why traditional small groups don’t work for some families
08:47 – Parenting groups during church services and practical logistics
10:14 – Topics parents are asking about most today
11:21 – Technology, anxiety, discipline, and parenting challenges
13:03 – Healthy marriage rhythms and putting God first
16:31 – Love languages, communication, and understanding your spouse
18:05 – Why couples need to keep dating after marriage
19:15 – The “no talking about the kids” date night challenge
21:00 – Supporting a spouse in vocational ministry
22:57 – Ministry as a calling and learning to embrace the role
25:05 – Worship, Sabbath, and staying spiritually healthy in ministry
26:36 – Lessons from Israel and practicing intentional Sabbath rhythms
28:03 – Ministry burnout and the importance of rest
30:47 – How to connect with David & Angie Hooie
31:09 – Final encouragement for ministry leaders and parents

If you’re serving in ministry, raising kids, or trying to build healthier rhythms in your marriage and family, this episode is packed with practical encouragement and honest conversation.

David shares the heart behind his book Feeding Faith: The Discipleship of Kids That Last, the story behind launching Go Curriculum, and the practical “EAT Strategy” for building lasting faith in kids through education, application, and transformation. This episode is packed with practical ministry insights, encouragement for parents and church leaders, and actionable ways to help kids develop a real relationship with Jesus that sticks.

Timestamps

04:08 – David Rausch’s ministry journey and children’s ministry background
06:06 – The origin story of Go Curriculum
13:00 – Why David wrote Feeding Faith
13:45 – The alarming reality of kids leaving church after high school
16:03 – Why this is a children’s ministry issue, not just a youth ministry issue
17:01 – The “EAT Strategy”: Education, Application, and Transformation
18:02 – Why biblical education alone isn’t enough
19:00 – Putting application in the right place within lessons
20:15 – The missing piece: spiritual transformation
21:00 – Helping kids build a real relationship with God
23:20 – Practical ways to create transformational moments in ministry
24:00 – Making the gospel central in every lesson
25:00 – Teaching kids how to respond to the gospel
26:20 – Using response stations, prayer, journaling, and reflection with kids
27:50 – Why so many young adults leave church after graduation
29:30 – The critical role parents play in lasting faith formation
30:40 – Why churches need spiritual parenting strategies
32:00 – How culture has shifted parenting responsibility onto the church
33:00 – Why lead pastors must champion family discipleship
34:10 – Where to get Feeding Faith and Go Curriculum resources
35:00 – David’s hope for helping more kids develop faith that lasts

In this episode, Nick sits down with Matt Markins, CEO of Awana, to talk about child discipleship, biblical worldview formation, and the core message of his new book, The Story We Tell Our Children.

Matt shares his personal story, the research behind Awana’s child discipleship focus, and why churches need to move beyond “Bible-lite” teaching toward helping kids understand the full story of Scripture.

They discuss:

• The three biggest factors that shape lasting faith in children
• Why many churches unintentionally teach moralism instead of the gospel
• The difference between teaching Bible stories and teaching the story of the Bible
• How screen culture and modern media shape kids’ worldview
• Why parents and churches both play critical roles in faith formation
• How Awana’s Bright curriculum approaches Scripture and discipleship

If you care about helping kids develop resilient, lasting faith in Jesus, this conversation is packed with practical insight and theological depth.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro and Welcome
00:24 Matt Markins’ Personal Story and Journey into Ministry
03:40 How Awana Has Changed Over the Years
05:20 Why Midweek Kids Ministry Is Growing Again
07:15 The Three Biggest Factors That Shape Lasting Faith
09:20 The Story We Tell Our Children
11:00 Counterfeit Stories Shaping Today’s Kids
13:10 The Role Parents and Churches Play in Faith Formation
15:30 What “Bible-Light” Teaching Looks Like
18:45 Moralism vs the Gospel in Kids Ministry
20:00 Bible Stories vs the Story of the Bible
23:15 How Much Bible Content Kids Can Actually Absorb
25:35 Measuring Child Discipleship Effectiveness
31:20 Can Churches Really Measure Spiritual Growth?
32:20 The Vision Behind Bright Curriculum
34:15 How Bright Approaches Bible Teaching and Discipleship
36:10 Final Thoughts and Resources

In this episode, Nick sits down with Greg Curtis and Tommy Carreras to talk about the real challenges churches are facing right now when it comes to assimilation and next steps.

They unpack what’s changed over the last few years, why many church assimilation strategies are no longer working, and what they’re experimenting with right now to better connect people into community and serving.

You’ll hear:

• Why most churches are running outdated inherited programs
• The shift from information to connection and why that matters more than ever
• The pros and cons of 7 week, 4 week, and 1 week next step models
• Why volunteering is often the best first step for engagement
• A brand new approach Greg is testing that could reshape assimilation strategies

If you want to help people take real next steps toward Jesus, not just attend, this conversation will challenge how you think about assimilation.

00:00 Intro and Guest Welcome
01:00 Greg and Tommy Backgrounds
03:00 The Evolution of Assimilation at Eastside
06:00 From 7 Weeks to 4 Weeks to 1 Week
09:30 Why Most Church Assimilation Strategies Fail
12:00 The Power of Connection over Information
14:30 Why Volunteering Is the Best First Step
18:30 Rethinking Discipleship and Small Groups
22:00 What Most Churches Are Doing Wrong Right Now
24:30 The “Window” for Getting People Engaged
27:00 How Long It Actually Takes to Get Connected
29:30 Why Timing and Targeting Matter
32:00 Stop Overloading People with Information
35:00 Just-in-Time vs Just-in-Case Communication
37:30 The One Week Model Explained
41:00 New Trends Post-COVID in Church Engagement
43:30 A Bold New Assimilation Strategy
46:00 Interest Meetings Instead of Classes
48:30 Creating “Hot Leads” Instead of Cold Leads
50:00 The Role of Follow-Up and “Knownness”
52:00 Practical Ideas Churches Can Try Right Now
54:00 Climbing the Assimileas and Sherpa Tribe
56:00 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

In this episode, Nick sits down with Jeremy O'Neill to talk all things VBS, from big-picture planning and promotion timelines to volunteer leadership, programming strategy, registration questions, and what actually makes a VBS successful. Jeremy shares lessons from years in local church kids ministry, why he wrote How to VBS, and how church leaders can think more clearly about whether their event is primarily about evangelism, discipleship, or both.

They also talk through practical issues every ministry leader faces: when to start planning, whether VBS should be free or paid, how to reduce no-shows, how to measure if your event is really reaching new families, and how to use summer events to build your volunteer team for the rest of the year.

Jeremy also shares creative ideas like staggered promotion plans, invite-day strategy, planning grids that reduce stress, and how VBS leadership roles can become a training ground for future ministry leaders.

Whether you’re leading a traditional VBS, a summer camp, or any large kids ministry event, this conversation is full of practical wisdom to help you plan smarter, lead better, and make the most of one of the biggest ministry opportunities of the year.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why Jeremy wrote How to VBS
• A realistic VBS planning timeline
• Save the date vs theme reveal vs registration launch
• Free vs paid VBS and the pros and cons of each
• How to think about attendance, outreach, and follow-up
• Evangelism vs discipleship in VBS strategy
• A smart registration question every church should ask
• How to use VBS to recruit and develop future leaders
• Planning grids and systems that reduce overwhelm
• Jeremy’s new projects: Simple Kids Ministry, KidmenU, and the VBS Vault

Links mentioned:

• Howtovbs.com
• SimpleKidsMinistry.com
• KidminU.com

Chapters

00:00 Intro and welcome
00:07 Why this is the right time to talk about VBS
00:54 Jeremy O'Neill update and what he’s doing now
01:25 Family update, adoption, and life with two little ones
03:01 Why Jeremy wrote How to VBS
06:10 What makes this book different from publisher guides
07:13 The structure of the book: planning, programming, and people
09:11 When should you start planning VBS?
12:03 Save the date, theme reveal, and registration strategy
13:15 Should VBS be free or paid?
17:43 How pricing affects commitment and no-shows
18:35 What actually makes a VBS successful?
21:37 Practical ways to reach more new families
22:24 The power of an invite day
24:29 Is VBS more about evangelism or discipleship?
31:53 A must-have registration question for every VBS
34:08 Programming tip: planning grids that reduce stress
42:54 People tip: use VBS to identify and develop leaders
47:44 Jeremy shares about Simple Kids Ministry and KidmenU
48:53 Book release, VBS Vault, and where to find everything
51:10 Final thoughts and wrap-up

Brian Dollar

Connect with Brian on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

BrianDollar.com

First Assembly NLR 

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Talk Now and Later: How to Lead Kids Through Life's Tough Topics (book) – Brian gives practical advice on how to be proactive in conversations with your kids about everything from God to divorce, death, tragedy, sex, money, choosing good friends, and much more

Playing for Keeps (book) – Reggie Joiner talks about playing for keeps–knowing how much time you have with your kids so that you can make the most of that time

Legacy Countdown App – Encourage parents to use this to keep track of the time they have left with their kids

Divorce Care – A great para-church resource that sets up divorce groups with trained leaders to help adults, students, and kids walk through divorce

“I Blew It!” (book) – Brian shares the biggest mistakes he made while working in kids' ministry and how you can avoid them

High Voltage Kids Ministry – Check out kids' curriculum and resources created by Brian and his team

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Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Next Episode: Carey Nieuwhof

In the next episode, I interview Carey Nieuwhof. Carey and I talk about his new book Lasting Impact: 7 Powerful Conversations to Help Your Church Grow as well as what every pastor wants from their family ministry staff.

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is out! Purchase the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Action Items

1. Create a path
2. Make sure a volunteer push is part of it
3. Measure it for 6 months

Ministry Boost Membership is available!

To learn more about how to build a healthy volunteer culture, check out Ministry Boost Membership.

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Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Special Sponsor: Clearstream

This episode is sponsored by Clearstream. Clearstream.io works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. You can get started on a free trial, and if you're with a new church plant under 1 year old can use Clearstream free for 12 months.

Brian Aaby

Connect with Brian through Email

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is out! Buy the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Episode Notes

Observations from Slingshot, in regard to high-school attendance dropping within the church:

• Rise in searches for staffing with many youth pastors leaving their roles
• Frustrated executive leadership who are unable to find and keep youth pastors
• The 2nd most formative time in the lives of adolescents is between 11 to 14 years old
• Kids who were 11-14 during the pandemic are now 14-17 years old, and their neuro-paths were formed uniquely during that time
  • Bottom Line: High schoolers today were affected by the pandemic in ways we are just now witnessing
• Some pastors may need to extend some more grace to that youth pastor experiencing
• May need to track different types of attendance than just your large gathering of students to truly evaluate engagement
  • Ex: small Bible study on a separate night with students who cannot attend a youth service
• Read Brian's Article HERE

The current state of church staff searching within NextGen:

• Changes on average every 3 months, increasing and then decreasing again
• The average church using Slingshot is between 800-1500
  • Average searches are now taking longer
  • Expectations have had to change
• Churches must start building their own benches through residencies and internships

Action Items

1. Talk to other student ministers
2. Prepare your leaders to help teens
3. Focus on smaller groups

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Michael Covington

Connect with Michael on Facebook and Twitter

Email : michael@disciplr.com

Disciplr.com

DavidCCook.com

Free Resource

Check out my new free resource: 100 Volunteer Appreciation Ideas

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Get a 7-day, no-strings-attached free trial now and experience 

MailChimp – An email marketing platform that allows you to design and send mass, personalized emails to various segments of people

Slack – A tool for team communication that provides different channels of conversation for different topics

Trello – A project management resource for teams that integrates with Slack

Evernote – An online set of notebooks that allows you to keep track of all your ideas, checklists, and notes. It has team sharing capabilities as well.

3 Free Tools Your Team Should Know About – Check out Michael's article for specifics on how teams can leverage Slack, Trello, and Evernote

3 digital children's ministry curriculum organizations available on Disciplr : Tru | Gospel Light | Standard

Leveraging Technology

1. Recognize that the majority of ministries and churches are behind the times
2. Ask: How do we cut through the noise?
3. Think about your audience and meet them where they are
4. Train people in how they can leverage technology to carry out the great commission

Action Items

1. Check out Disciplr for digital children's ministry curriculum and get your 2.0 discount
2. Consider polling your church, or the parents in your ministry, and ask what their preferred methods of communication are
3. Check out MailChimp, Slack, Trello, and Evernote to see if any or all of these tool

Larry Cramer

Connect with Larry through Email | Instagram

Orange Tour

Partnering with Orange Tour! **Head to orangetour.org to get your team signed up today!

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is out! Buy the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Episode Notes

NOTES COMING SOON!

Action Items

1. Measure your retention
2. Put in a plan to gamify retention
3. Re-evaluate space based on “backyards”

Watch it on YouTube

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Russ & Gail Ewell

Connect with Russ and Gail and find resources at the following sites:

• Bay Area Christian – https://bacc.cc/
• Deep Spirituality – https://deepspirituality.com/
• Website – https://russewell.com/

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is out! Buy the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Episode Notes

• Building a culture of doing good takes time and commitment.
• Inclusion in ministry benefits both special needs and typical children.
• Creating sensory-friendly environments is essential for special needs ministry.
• Friendship deficits in special needs communities can be addressed through inclusive programs.
• Emotional intelligence is crucial for children in today's society.
• Start small when developing a special needs ministry to ensure success.
• Community outreach is a vital aspect of church ministry.
• Every child deserves the opportunity to participate in church activities.
• Volunteers play a key role in the success of special needs ministries.
• Churches can make a significant impact by being inclusive and supportive.
  

Watch it on YouTube

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Sean Sweet

Connect with Sean and find resources at the following sites:

• Sean's Email
• FourFiveSix.org

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is out! Buy the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Episode Notes

• Preteen ministry is essential for addressing the unique developmental needs of preteens.
• Creating intentional spaces for preteens is crucial for their growth and engagement.
• Events specifically for preteens help them take ownership of their faith and friendships.
• The evolution of preteen ministry has led to more resources and awareness in churches today.
• Leadership structure matters; preteen ministries can thrive under either children's or youth ministry, depending on context.
• Preteens are at a stage where they begin to question and explore their faith more deeply.
• Distinct experiences for preteens help them transition smoothly into youth ministry.
• The importance of community and relationship-building in preteen ministry cannot be overstated.
• Preteen ministry should not mimic youth ministry but rather cater to the specific needs of preteens.
• The age of 12 is significant in faith development, marking a transition in maturity.

Watch it on YouTube

Ministry Boost Coaching

Click here to check out the amazing benefits of coaching groups with Ministry Boost.

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Jen Edwards

Connect with Jen and find resources at the following sites:

• Jen Edwards Website
• Jen Edwards IG

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is out! Buy the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Episode Notes

• Jen Edwards has a decade of experience in kids ministry.
• Measuring success should go beyond just head counts.
• Milestones like baptisms and dedications are key indicators of health.
• Trust is built through consistent relationships with leaders.
• Attendance numbers can be misleading and should be contextualized.
• It's important to track engagement and partnership with families.
• The long-term impact of ministry is often unseen but significant.
• Ministry work requires patience and a focus on relationships.
• Leaders should not tie their worth to attendance numbers.
• Engagement metrics can provide a more accurate picture of success.

Watch it on YouTube

Ministry Boost Coaching

Click here to check out the amazing benefits of coaching groups with Ministry Boost.

Get An Email When Each New Episode Comes Out

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Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Special Sponsor: Clearstream

This episode is sponsored by Clearstream. Clearstream.io works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, C

Jessica Bealer

Connect with Jessica and find resources at the following sites:

• Jessica Bealer IG
• Jessica Bealer at Generis

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is out! Buy the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Episode Notes

• Jessica Bealer has 23 years of experience in family ministry.
• The church must adapt to technology, including AI, for efficiency.
• Multi-use strategies for church buildings can bridge community gaps.
• Communication methods must evolve as people are less responsive to emails.
• Healthy volunteer culture is crucial for church growth and retention.
• Clarity, empowerment, and appreciation are key to volunteer longevity.
• Personalized communication fosters deeper connections with volunteers.
• Layered leadership is essential for managing larger volunteer teams.
• Creative appreciation strategies can enhance volunteer morale.
• Understanding volunteer retention rates helps in effective recruitment.

Watch it on YouTube

Ministry Boost Coaching

Click here to check out the amazing benefits of coaching groups with Ministry Boost.

Get An Email When Each New Episode Comes Out

Use the form below to subscribe to my email list where you’ll get an email each Tuesday when a new podcast comes out.

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Special Sponsor: Clearstream

This episode is sponsored by Clearstream. C

Mutheu Esilaba

Connect with Mutheu via Email

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is out! Buy the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Episode Notes

• The importance of recruiting volunteers for family ministry.
• The shift from programming to small groups in student ministry.
• Vulnerability in leadership fosters trust and engagement.
• Gen Z is open to hard conversations about faith.
• Discipleship should be the core focus of youth ministry.
• COVID-19 accelerated the need for authentic community.
• Fun and discipleship can coexist in youth ministry.
• The next generation is looking for a big God.
• Churches need to adapt to the changing cultural landscape.
• Engaging students in meaningful roles is crucial for their growth.

Watch it on YouTube

Ministry Boost Coaching

Click here to check out the amazing benefits of coaching groups with Ministry Boost.

Get An Email When Each New Episode Comes Out

Use the form below to subscribe to my email list where you’ll get an email each Tuesday when a new podcast comes out.

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Special Sponsor: Clearstream

This episode is sponsored by Clearstream. Clearstream.io works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. You can get started on a free-trial, and if you're with a new church plant under 1 year old can use Clearstream free for 12 months.

Matt Morgan

Connect with Matt on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

MattMo.org

Fellowship Bible Church

MINISTRY BOOST

Ministry Boost is launching 12 courses and 3 new coaching groups beginning in February. Registration is now open and closes February 7th at 12PM EST. Click here for more details and to sign up.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Nothing Less – Jana MacGruder talks about how to engage kids for a lifetime of faith

6 Milestone and Transition Events

1. Baby Dedication
2. Bible Presentation
3. Baptism
4. Preparing for Adolescence
5. Rite of Passage
6. Graduation

Milestone and Transition Events Resources

ESV Grow Bible

Following Jesus Bible

I Will Praise You Art Journal for Kids

I Will Thank You Art Journal for Kids

Action Items

1. Ask yourself: What is one milestone you already do that you can approve?
2. Ask yourself: What is a milestone you are not currently doing? Can you take steps to add that in the coming year?

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Tony Morgan

Connect with Tony on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

TonyMorganLive.com

The Unstuck Group

Mastermind Groups (Oct-Apr)

Mastermind groups for ministry leaders are launching this October! A mastermind group is a group of leaders, who serve in a similar context, and come together to: help each other grow, challenge each other, share resources, and offer accountability. Every month, your group will have a 90-minute video call where you share what's going well, and the challenges and barriers you are facing. You will also have access to a private Facebook group, two opportunities for 1-on-1 coaching with your host, and several bonus resources, including FREE access to the Volunteer Playbook Group.

Details: Oct-Apr, $400 | Click here for more info and to apply.

Volunteer Playbook Group

This is a brand new group,  designed to help you recruit volunteers and create a great volunteer culture. You'll spend ten weeks building your volunteer culture from the ground up, clarifying the vision of your ministry, learning how to build your team, and finishing with how to grow your team.

Details: Oct 2-Dec 4, $200 | Click here for more info and to apply.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

TheUnstuckChurch.com – An overview of the seven stages in the life cycle of a church and resources to help your church get unstuck

The Unstuck Church (book) – Tony Morgan walks through the seven life stages of a church, from launch to needing life support

The Unstuck Church Assessment – Pinpoint where your church is in the life cycle

Leadership Coaching Networks – Coaching networks offered this fall to help your church get unstuck. The three offered this fall are Multisite Leadership, The Unstuck Church: Reaching 1,000, and The Unstuck Church: Growing Beyond 2,000.

The Life Cycle of a Church: 7 Stages

Brittany Nelson

Connect with Brittany on Facebook and Instagram.

Ministry Boost

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org.

Notes

COVID Response in Youth/Kids Ministry:

• Youth
  • Google Sites Bible Study: worship songs, Scripture, weekly zoom and Bible study
  • Sunday Nights on Zoom for High School, Wednesday Nights for Middle School
• Kids
  • church-at-home approach
  • personal connection with families
  • equipping parents to lead
• Changes to initial approach
  • Less Zoom, more Zoom hangouts
  • More interaction: JackBox, Netflix parties, MarioKart parties, less Bible and more fellowship
  • Some scoially-distances events since the end of May

COVID Journey:

• 2-3 Staff tested positive
• Email to the entire church: 2-3 staff tested positive
  • explained postponing services until cleared
  • no contact tracing
• Not meeting now until September
  • with numbers rising, decision to reevaluate after Labor Day

Deeper Kidmin:

• Began as a blog and an outlet for ministry ideas
• Free downloads are given every Friday
• Celebrate and Highlight creative ideas from ministry leaders
  • Leadership, Life and Ministry
  • Volunteer Training Events
  • Christmas and Easter Lessons
  • On-screen games
  • Back-to-school Prayer Journal
• Others Contribute
  • Leaders who have their own blogs
  • Creative ideas from ministry leaders

Action Items

1. Create your church comm plan if someone is positive
2. Check out Deeper Kidmin
3. Check out Ministry Boost – Your Ministry Boxed

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Amber Baker

Connect with Amber on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: ABaker@grace-church.com

Grace Church of Glendora

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Real Colors Personality Test

Understanding Your Team's Wiring

1. Gives you common language
2. Allows you to anticipate how team members will respond to something, and know how to communicate with them
3. Gives your team points to talk through and opportunities to understand one another better
4. Helps you decide who to onboard and what your team needs

Men Who Lead With Women in Ministry

1. Be a support to those staff members or volunteers
2. Champion the gifts you see in them
3. Be mindful of the words and verbiage you use

Tips for Women in Ministry

1. Connect with other women in ministry
2. Share and pray together with your spouse concerning this area
3. Find a safe space to process

Action Items

1. Take the Real Colors assessment to help you understand your team's wiring, and discuss it together
2. Learn together about women in ministry and have a conversation about why you believe what you believe

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Next Episode: Alex Beaverson

In the next episode, I talk with Alex Beaverson of Mariners Church. Alex and I have a great conversation about how they empower students to serve and lead in high school ministry. He walks through the different volunteer teams they have, and the process for training and onboarding them. Whether you serve in kids or student ministry, the principles for empowering students to serve apply across the board.

Sean Sweet

Connect with Sean by Email or at FourFiveSix.org.

Ministry Boost

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org.

Notes

What is FourFiveSix.org?

• Community, Training platform, Resources
• Letting go of the bike and giving ownership to preteen's faith
  • Ready developmentally, but not experientially
  • Minister to them for who they are, rather than just keeping them in a holding pattern
  • Help them begin thinking about taking their first faith steps
• Podcast of 4,5, or 6 minutes
  • 360 episodes (goal to have 456)
• 3-year Scope and Sequence curriculum designed for preteens
• Summer VBS option for preteens
• Peer Groups for preteen ministry leaders
• Online Conference (Onference) annually
• Launch-inar

How does preteen ministry bridge the gap from Kids to Student Ministry?

• Middle School/Junior High Pastors typically want to hop right in and ride alongside the students, but kids are typically just told “about the bike”; so preteen ministry allows for preteens to learn “how to ride”
• Children's ministries can be stronger and focus on the younger age groups
• Youth ministries can now focus on the awkwardness of kids moving right into students
• **Great idea… 30-week preteen leadership/discipleship program
  

How do you structure services?

• No small groups on Sunday; small groups on Wednesdays
• Easier for preteens to invite to a mid-week

Action Items

1. Check out FourFiveSix.org
2. Do a Zoom call w/ preteens in this season
3. Create a preteen plan

Get Exclusive Content from this Week's Episode

Use the form below to subscribe to my email list where you’ll get an email each Tuesday when a new podcast comes out. That email will also include something exclusive related to the podcast that’s not found in the post or in the episode.

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Ricardo Miller

Connect with Ricardo on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

RicardoMiller.com

Pathway of Life Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Top 10 Mistakes Ministry Leaders Make

1. Not having a mentor
2. Not attending conferences and seminars or being a part of a learning environment
3. Not learning how to delegate
4. Not learning how to build a team
5. Not celebrating the victories of others
6. Not taking a vacation
7. Not giving back as much as you take
8. Not learning how to empower parents to take the lead in their kids' development
9. Not saying “Thank you” enough
10. Not being ourselves

Ideas for Training Volunteers

1. Texts
2. Conference calls (FreeConferenceCall.com)
3. Weekly meetings
4. Retreats
5. Twice a year trainings
6. Annual Conference

Action Items

1. Look at the list of mistakes ministry leaders make, and pick the one that you're making right now, or struggle with the most
2. Choose one thing you can do this week to change that

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Next Episode: Tony Morgan

In the next episode, I interview Tony Morgan, founder of The Unstuck Group. This organization works with churches through coaching and consulting to help them get unstuck. Tony recently released a new book called The Unstuck Church that looks at the life cycle churches go through. We talk about this life cycle in terms of family ministry, how to figure out where your ministry is, and what you need to do to either maximize your current season or get out of it.

Matt McKee

Connect with Matt on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

MattMcKee.me

ParentChat.tv

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Parent Chat: The Technology Talk for Every Family (book) – Get practical advice on how to keep the conversation about technology open with kids. Listen to the new audio version here.

Circle With Disney – Check out circle to help you manage time and content on all your internet devices

Get a free copy of Parent Chat when you purchase a Circle With Disney device. Click here to email Matt a copy of your receipt, and he will send you a book!

The Four Questions Parents Should Ask:

1. What have you seen recently that was really interesting?
2. What is the craziest thing you've seen your friends doing?
3. What is something that has surprised you?
4. Can you teach me how?

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Next Episode: Bill Hegedus

In the next episode, I interview my friend Bill Hegedus. Bill and I talk about how to best serve preteens and kids who are in their last years of elementary school before moving on to middle school. We also talk about some practical ways his church seeks to partner with parents.

Kevin Monahan

Connect with Kevin on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: kevin@ministryboost.org

12Stone Church

MINISTRY BOOST–TWO DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER

Ministry Boost recently launched – an organization led by myself, Kenny Conley, and Kevin Monahan dedicated to helping you fast forward growth in your ministry through training and consulting for ministry leaders. We’ll also be offering coaching in partnership with YouLead Coaching.

Register for the course Kevin is co-leading, Aligning Your NextGen Team, or one of his coaching groups (NextGen or Multisite) here. Sign ups close Thursday, October 27 at 12pm EST.

ORANGE TOUR

Be sure to check out the dates and locations for Orange Tour at OrangeTour.org and get your tickets today!

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Episode 009: Kevin Monahan on Volunteer and Staff Development

Episode 094: Internships, Residencies, and Leadership Development With Kevin Monahan

The Monahan 10 – A list of leader expectations, values, and agreements that create common language and allow everyone to be on the same page

Student Metrics

• Average Weekly Attendance
• Total First Time Guests
• Average Weekly Leader Attendance
• Total Salvations
• Total Baptisms
• Total New Class Attenders
• Total Small Groups Available
• Total in Small Groups
• Total serving in 12Stone Ministries
• Total in Mission Trips
• Total Called to Full Time Ministry

Action Items

1. Download the Monahan 10 and revise it
2. Share your list with your leaders and other ministry leaders
3. Check out a course or coaching group with Ministry Boost

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, 

Phil Bell

Connect with Phil on Facebook and Twitter

Email: phil@philbell.me

Hope Community Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Team Up: The Family Ministry Playbook for Partnering With Parents (book) – Phil shares key questions to ask, and practical steps you can take, to come alongside the families in your church

Family Ministry Field Guide: How Your Church Can Equip Parents to Make Disciples (book) – Timothy Paul Jones shares four models that churches use to equip families–church centered, family based, family equipping, and family centered

Resources For Parents

Talk Now and Later (book) – Brian Dollar shares practical, detailed advice on how to lead kids through life's tough topics. Brian shares more about this book on Episode 22 of the podcast.

MinistryToParents.com – An organization dedicated to providing you with platforms, tools, and resources that will allow you to partner with parents better

ParentCue.org – Orange's app, blog, podcast, and other media that points parents to make the most of each phase in their child's life, and helps cue great conversations about faith at home

HomeWord – An organization committed to strengthening and equipping families

Champion Tribes –A group-based experience giving fathers a plan to raise their middle school sons into men of character. Check out my conversation with co-founder, Jeff Henderson, on Episode 52 of the podcast here.

Rite of Passage Curriculum – An interactive experience for middle school students and their parents to walk through

TheParentHub.net – Hope Community Church's resource hub for parents

EJ Swanson

Connect with EJ on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

EJSwanson.org

Woodside Bible Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Good Reader – Get Apple's app for reading, annotating, and managing your books, PDF's, and other files

Orange – Orange provides curriculum and messages for kids and students, grades K-12

Communicating for a Change (book) – Learn more from Andy Stanley about how to write and deliver statements that stick

Preaching Rocket – Check out resources to help you learn how to write and deliver better messages

PaulEkman.com – Learn how to read the people you are teaching and leading by diving into Paul Ekman's research and books, including Unmasking the Face

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Next Episode: Gina McClain

In the next episode, I talk with Gina McClain, Pastor of Children's Ministries at Faith Promise Church. Previously, Gina led children's ministry at Life.Church. We talk about how to implement small groups for kids and what it takes to stick it out long-term i

Greg Stier

Connect with Greg on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Ministry Boost

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org.

Notes

A little about Dare 2 Share:

• Early on – Dare2Share Weekend Conferences
  • Friday-Saturday
• Now: Live Simulcast
  • 126 cities in one day
  • Dare2Share Live – 10.10.2020
  • Inspiration – Motivation – Application – Activation
• Curriculum for Student Ministries
• Lead the Cause Camps
• Apps
  • Life in 6 Words Mobile App
  • Dare2Share App

• Inspiration
  • Share the WHY behind sharing faith – eternal significance
  • Gen Z does not have a context for “hellfire and brimstone”
• Tell them “How” to share
  • Ask
  • Admire
  • Admit
  • Gospel presented through their personal story
• Choose a way to care for people AND share the gospel
• If you're not risking a social death, then you're not really growing

• Everything has changed – social media and being in a post-Christian nation
• But in some ways, nothing has changed
  • teenagers are seeking a king, a cause, and a crew
  • the gospel doesn't change, but it's not the front door (having to explain the meta-narrative)
• Teenagers that are equipped to have face-to-face conversations become “like flowers for bees” – people want to flock toward them

• Focus on advancing the gospel
• Program your services accordingly
• Youth Ministries need to have more time
  • Prayer Time
  • Story-telling Time
  • Equipping Time
• Have a set of values for volunteers
  • Volunteers should set the bar for the students as someone who grows in their faith, shares their faith, and is making disciples

Action Items

1. Check out Dare 2 Share
2. Teach students practical evangelism
3. One per

Carl Kuhl

Connect with Carl on Facebook | Instagram | Website

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Episode Notes

About Carl's Book

• Blood Stained Pews mindset = our churches should be places where the truly hurting and truly broken can be vulnerable and find healing to go back out into the world

Thoughts from Carl

• It's good to have vulnerability; It's better to have a gospel-centered vulnerability (you are worthy and you are enough)
• Gospel-centered vulnerability leads to freedom
• Difference between skepticism and cynicism
  • Skepticism = honest question that wants an answer
  • Cynicism = negative questions that just want to tear down
• You can’t love Jesus and hate the church
• Stories worth celebrating = when a hurting person finds hope
• Celebrate stories that don’t have a bow on them yet
• Kids are being indoctrinated so we must inoculate them with the truth; gospel-centered vulnerability is the secret weapon in ministering to kids in today’s culture and in parenting them so they do not end up deconstructing their faith

Action Items

1. Read Carl's book
2. Make a plan to share vulnerable stories
3. Find a way to challenge men directly

Ministry Boost Coaching is back!

Click here to check out the amazing benefits of coaching groups with Ministry Boost.

Get Exclusive Content from

Annette Safstrom

Connect with Annette on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: annette.safstrom@ministryarchitects.com

MinistryArchitects.com

YouLead Coaching

Sign up for coaching with YouLead by Oct 31st. Join us for a tease of what these will be like during our Ministry Boost Tribe Conversations on Facebook.

• Preschool – Monday Oct 15th @ 1PM EST
• Elementary – Thursday Oct 11th @ 1PM EST
• Students – Oct 10th @ 1PM EST

Register for coaching by Oct 17th and join us on a webinar with all the coaches.  OR, be sure to register by Oct 24th, and you'll get access to a Q & A with Kara Powell.

You can find details for all of the above at YLCoaching.com or MinistryBoost.org/Coaching.

Staffing & Volunteer Ratios Survey

Click here to view the results of the survey I did concerning staff and volunteer ratios to determine how you compare as a church.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Sustainable Children's Ministry

Sustainable Youth Ministry

Episode 028: Staff, Volunteer & Budget Benchmarks for Children's & Youth Ministry With Anthony Prince

Ministry Ratios & Benchmarks

1. $1000/kid/year
2. One full time equivalent staff member for every 75 kids
3. 1 volunteer for every 5 kids that attend weekly
4. 15% of the worshipping congregation is kids

Recruiting Volunteers

1. Pray
2. Start early
3. Make a list of needs
4. Ask people if they are going to be on the team for the coming year
5. Make a list of prospective volunteers
6. Rank the list of volunteers using WEB (With kids, Behind the scenes, Everywhere)
7. Put names next to roles you would most like certain prospects to have
8. Start asking
9. Follow up

Action Items

1. Get the book,

Andrea Goslee

Connect with Andrea through Email.

Ministry Boost

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org.

Notes

Kid and Family Connection Opportunities:

• Groups on Zoom
  • Leaders and kids in breakout rooms
  • Staff leading games to start
• Online Preteen Camp (3-hour event)
  • Interactive activities
  • Contests
  • Google Drive “Escape Room”
  • Large group (pre-recorded campfire worship)
• On-campus Drive-thru for leader connection
• Radical Kindness
  • social media campaign – showing kindness to specific people/groups during the quarantine

How they are tracking connection:

• Personally called families a couple of times during quarantine
• List of all families/individuals – marked orange when they have attended something online, on-campus, or personally
• 35% have been engaged
  

Parent Connection:

• Parent Facebook Group
  • prompted parents/families to post pictures of an activity
  • posted polls for interaction
  • sometimes it's a hit or miss
• Preschool Facebook Page – not a win 

RESOURCES:

• Preteen Virtual Escape Room
• Kids Virtual Adventure

Action Items

1. Start tracking engagement
2. Serve parents in August
3. Check out New Digital Church

Get Exclusive Content from this Week's Episode

Use the form below to subscribe to my email list where you’ll get an email each Tuesday when a new podcast comes out. That email will also include something exclusive related to the podcast that’s not found in the post or in the episode.

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Will Hutcherson

Connect with Will on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Ministry Boost Membership + New Courses

Click here to check out the amazing benefits of membership with Ministry Boost.

Episode Notes

• Limit the labels
• A feeling of sadness does not equal depression
• No one is immune to struggling with depression
  • This doesn't mean you don't have faith
• Take steps toward health, just like you would for your heart or eyes
• Connection is key — it has the ability to heal and influence the brain toward healing

How do we set up our ministries to be ministries of connection (to be seen)?

• Consistent training – this must be a first priority
• Showing up – being present (the ministry of presence)
• Make sure they are SEEN – and see beyond the behavior (how they feel)
• Listen (tell me more)
• Speak life
• Build up grit in the next generation
  ***Every kid is one caring adult away from success

• The Seen Book
• Amazon Book link

Action Items

1. Get the book and books – many of them
2. Go through it with your team
3. Make a plan to share this with parents

Get Exclusive Content from this Week's Episode

Use the form below to subscribe to my email list where you’ll get an email each Tuesday when a new podcast comes out. That email will also include something exclusive related to the podcast that’s not found in the post or in the episode.

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Sherry Surratt

Connect with Sherry on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: ssurratt@rethinkgroup.org

Orange

Southeast Christian Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) – An organization that seeks to celebrate motherhood, connect moms, and equip, encourage, and mentor them. Hosting a MOPS group is a great way for a church to reach young families.

GoWeekly – A resource that helps church leaders connect with their small group leaders and partner with parents every week

• Leader–>Parent: Events, kits, and things to talk about at the dinner table, in the car, or during other naturally occurring moments
• Church–>Parent: The ParentCue connects parents to what their kids learned that week, complete with questions and discussion starters
• Directly–>Parent: Parent Cue Blog, Parent Cue Podcast, and the Parent Cue App

Orange's Social Media Plan for Leaders – Orange‘s weekly social media plans that help leader partner with parents. Posts correspond to the weekly teaching and cue the parent during natural moments like morning time, meal time, drive time, and bedtime.

Just a Phase – A project dedicated to helping parents understand and leverage each phase of their child's life

Phase Guides (books) – Individual books that each focus on a different year and phase of a child's life. These guides are designed to help parents make the most of each phase.

Levels of Partnership With Parents (article) – The different levels of engagement and partnership the church has with parents

Orange Conference 2018 – Orange's annual conference for children, student, and family ministry leaders. Registration opens October 12.

Annual Family Wheel

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is out! Purchase the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Action Items

1. Get the book or the Frequency Course
2. Customize your timeline
3. Gather key leaders to dicsuss the plan

Ministry Boost Membership is available!

To learn more about how to build a healthy volunteer culture, check out Ministry Boost Membership.

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Special Sponsor: Clearstream

This episode is sponsored by Clearstream. Clearstream.io works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. You can get started on a free trial, and if you're with a new church plant under 1 year old can use Clearstream free for 12 months.

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is out! Purchase the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Action Items

1. Partner with Student Ministry
2. Create a student-only gathering of those volunteers
3. Encourage students who serve to recruit

Ministry Boost Membership is available!

To learn more about how to build a healthy volunteer culture, check out Ministry Boost Membership.

Get An Email When Each New Episode Comes Out

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Special Sponsor: Clearstream

This episode is sponsored by Clearstream. Clearstream.io works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. You can get started on a free trial, and if you're with a new church plant under 1 year old can use Clearstream free for 12 months.

Brittany Compton

Connect with Brittany on Facebook and Instagram

Email: bcompton@rethinkgroup.org

Orange

Ministry Boost – FREE Webinars

Ministry Boost is hosting a FREE webinar this Thursday on June 27th at 2PM EST all about Empowering Volunteers to Lead Like Staff You can sign up for that here.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

First Look Partners Page

Orange Kids Page

First Look Scope and Cycle

3 Keys for Preschool Ministry

1. Encouraging parents and equipping them
2. Inviting leaders to serve consistently with kids
3. Creating safe, irresistible environments

Characteristics of Preschool Ministry Environments

1. Safety
2. Have several of the same toy
3. Do research before painting your rooms – there are colors that irritate children
4. Have an unchurched person walk through the halls

Action Items

1. Evaluate your toddlers/2's plan
2. Get the scope and cycle
3. Download the job descriptions (in this week's email)

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Justin Edge

Connect with Justin on Facebook and Instagram

Email: justin.edge@life.church

Life.Church

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Episode 151: Life.Church Student Ministry With Vince Parker

15Five – Continuous feedback software

Tableau – Training platform

Characteristics of Kids' Pastor

1. Strong work ethic
2. Integrity
3. Resilience

Action Items

1. Empower other leaders
2. If you lead a multi-site kids' ministry, simplify
3. Visit open.life.church

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Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Jordan Geist

Connect with Jordan on Facebook and Instagram

Email: jordan.geist@npaustin.com

Northpoint Church Austin

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Episode 115: Ministry Boost + Mission Trip Strategy with Calla Parker

Camp 75

InsideOut Instagram

Action Items

1. Discuss student service trips
2. Discuss hosting neighborhood kids' event
3. Start leadership development for students

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Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Craig Cable

Email Craig at ccable@group.com

Call Craig at 970-292-4697

Group Publishing

FREE Ministry Boost Webinars on Baby Dedication and Volunteer Training

Sign up HERE 

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Common Risks We Miss

• Slips and falls
• Sexual misconduct
• Theft, burglary, and/or vandalism
• Medical incidents

Developing a Plan for Church Security

• Get leadership buy-in
• Determine a person or group of people to run point and be responsible for the plan
• Budget for background checks and re-screening
• Never leave a child alone with an adult
• Require training (with scenario training)  for volunteers
• Be proactive about having conversations concerning domestic disputes

Assessments for Church Security

• Children’s Assessment
• Youth Assessment
• Pastors' Assessment

Safe & Secure Church Training Kit

Action Items

1. List the things Craig talked about and use them as an audit for your church. Ask: What do we not have in place?
2. Check out the assessments
3. Look through the Safe & Secure Church Training Kit
4. Have a conversation about church security with the rest of your staff

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Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Chap Clark

Connect with Chap on Facebook and Twitter

St. Andrews Presbyterian Church

FREE Ministry Boost Webinars on Baby Dedication and Volunteer Training

Sign up HERE 

Links Mentioned in This Episode

4 Steps to Creating an Adoptive Church

1. Get senior leadership to buy in
2. Agree on language and put words around creating an adoptive environment
3. Look at your structures and staffing and ask: What is our goal?
4. Have conversations that carefully evaluate the first 3 steps

Action Items

1. Read the book, Adoptive Church
2. Develop action steps from the book, based on your church and your ministry

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Corey Ray Jones

Connect with Corey on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: coreyjonesbatman@gmail.com

CoreyRayJones.com

Southern Hills – The Church at City Station

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Episode 033: Corey Ray Jones on Productivity and Effective Planning

Action Items

1. Check out CityStation.org
2. Ask: Is there a way we can leverage our space to serve the community?

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Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Amazing Life and OC25 Opening Session

Connect with Amazing Life via Website | ORANGE CONFERENCE 2025 OPENING SESSION | Amazing Life Commitment

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is out! Buy the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Episode Notes

• The mission of Orange is centered around serving the next generation.
• Building trust requires open communication and feedback.
  
  • WATCH Opening Session of OC25
• Chris Heaslip emphasizes the importance of serving in ministry.
• Amy Fenton is recognized for her expertise in children's ministry.
• The merger with Amazing Life aims to enhance the resources for churches.
• Effective ministry requires understanding the needs of the community.
• Chris's journey reflects a focus on giving value and serving others.
• The importance of nurturing relationships in children's ministry is emphasized.
• Feedback from church leaders is crucial for continuous improvement. Engaging with feedback is crucial for improvement.
• Change can be difficult, but it often leads to positive outcomes.
• Listening to concerns helps build trust within the community.
  • READ AMAZING LIFE COMMITMENT LETTER
  • ORANGE CURRICULUM UPDATES

Danielle Bell

Connect with Danielle on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

DandiBell.com

Dawson Memorial Baptist Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

ChurchLeaders.com – Check out content and resources for ministry leaders

Gospel Project – An organization dedicated to resourcing people of all ages with gospel-centered content and studies

Hillsong Kids Big | Lifeway Zip | Children Desiring God | North Point Superhero Series

The Gospel: God's Plan for Me (book)– A booklet for kids that presents the gospel in kid-friendly language and points kids to Jesus while giving them next steps to take in their faith

Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry (book) – Brian Dembowczyk talks about the good news of Jesus, pointing kids to the gospel, and how that can change their lives and the world

Components of a Discipleship Strategy

1. Sunday morning: Life Group hour and church with adults
2. Wednesday night: Application

Kevin Monahan

Connect with Kevin on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: Kevin.Monahan@12Stone.com

12Stone Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Episode 009: Kevin Monahan on Volunteer and Staff Development

ChurchResidency.com – All the details on 12Stone's Residency program

ChurchResidency.com Partnership – Apply to partner with 12Stone's Residency program today

Resources.12stone.com

3-Part Strategy for Leadership Development

1. Support them
2. Work with them
3. Let them lead on their own

Action Items

1. Check out ChurchResidency.com
2. Have a discussion about whether or not your church should have an internship/residency program, or if any changes need to be made to a program that may already be in place
3. Follow the 3-part strategy when bringing someone on and developing them as a leader

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Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Jody Livingston

Connect with Jody via TheLongerHaul.com

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is out! Buy the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Episode Notes

• Jody has 26 years of experience in youth ministry.
• Longevity in youth ministry is crucial for effectiveness.
• The average tenure of youth pastors is often debated.
• Personal health is essential for successful ministry.
• Expectations in ministry should be clear and realistic.
• Building a strong team is vital for youth ministry success.
• Ministry should be a family affair, not a balance.
• Recognizing when to leave a ministry is important.
• Vision in ministry should align with the church's mission.
• Personal development is key to sustaining a long-term ministry.

Watch it on YouTube

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David Reneau

David Reneau is the Lead Pastor of Encounter Church in Toccoa, Georgia with his wife Liz and son Caleb. With over 17 years of experience in ministry, most of it in kids ministry, he has developed a passion to help others lead in their churches well. He loves to talk about ministry, leadership, video games and Star Wars. His goal is to develop an authentic faith in people that will last a lifetime.

Connect with David via his website.

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is out! Buy the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Episode Notes

• Maintaining a relationship with God is crucial for ministry leaders.
• Curriculum selection should align with church doctrine and mission.
• Building a leadership team helps share the load in kids ministry.
• Effective leadership teams can prevent burnout and ensure continuity.
• Investing in volunteer development is essential for ministry growth.
• Creating a supportive community among ministry leaders enhances effectiveness.
• Curriculum should be practical and tailored to the needs of the children.
• Regular meetings with leadership teams foster collaboration and innovation.
• A well-structured ministry can sustain itself even during leadership transitions.
• Pre-order/Order new book HERE

Watch it on YouTube

Ministry Boost Coaching

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Tyler Bates

Connect with Tyler via Instagram

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is out! Buy the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Episode Notes

• Tyler Bates has a rich background in kids ministry and worship.
• Orange Curriculum is evolving to better serve churches and families.
• Amazing Kids Curriculum will continue to exist alongside Orange.
• Changes in the Orange curriculum aim to enhance biblical depth and practical application.
• Worship plays a crucial role in kids ministry and is being expanded.
• A-Play app has the potential to revolutionize how churches access and use media.
• Feedback from churches is essential for curriculum development.
• The goal is to create a sustainable model for effective ministry.

Watch it on YouTube

Ministry Boost Coaching

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The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is on sale now! Buy the book or find more info by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Action Items

1. Use the VCR formula
2. Where will you invite people from? Maybe choose a subset.
3. Start reaching out

Ministry Boost Membership is available!

To learn more about how to build a healthy volunteer culture, check out Ministry Boost Membership.

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Special Sponsor: Clearstream

This episode is sponsored by Clearstream. Clearstream.io works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. You can get started on a free-trial, and if you're with a new church plant under 1 year old can use Clearstream free for 12 months.

John Huber

Connect with John on Instagram | Facebook | Email.

John's 2021 Growth Plan

Ministry Boost Membership + New Courses

Click here to check out the amazing benefits of membership with Ministry Boost.

Episode Notes

COMING SOON

Action Items

1. Define groups by engagement – orbit – focus on some
2. Relationally stay connected somehow – Volunteer app
3. Personal and professional growth plan

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Kadi Cole

Connect with Kadi on Facebook | Instagram | Website

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Episode Notes

Current State of Female Leadership in Churches

• Open conversation from pastoral staff (including male pastors)
• However, for most women in leadership, the leadership opportunity offered is not a win
• More opportunities have been opened up and more people are championing dialogue on this topic

Points of tension

• Male leaders who believe this conversation is not important
• Not much momentum for women in leadership
• Friction from women who want to grow into leadership
• Mindset: “we have a lot of women on staff” so that should settle it
• A lack of pastoral leadership and fairness around women in leadership

Positive movements

• Those in historically conservative organizations who are taking elders and staff through this conversation
• Correction around practices that align with their theology
• Lead Pastors being clear with everyone about leadership roles available to women
• Clarity breeds confidence, which accelerates people into leadership
• Best practice: Clarify your theology
• Churches not viewing this as a binary choice of being “for” women or “against” women
• What can women in leadership do to develop this conversation within their church?
  • Ask great questions: Help me understand why ____?
  • Approach with a posture of honesty and honor
  • Address the real/specific issues
  • Resource: Developing Female Leaders

What can the church do to develop women?

• Consider the public view of your team – adjust to 30%-40% of “diversity”
• Take on diversity around
• Consider who you have on the platform for announcements, on social media, etc.
• Invite women into leadership development tracks (not just creating one specifically for women)
• Teach leadership concepts not around gender but around biblical leadership principles
• Affirm leadership potential in young women (teenagers) – leadership named and affirmed in them before the age of 19

Action Items

1. Read the book as a leadership team
2. Use the chart to see where your church fits (and you fit)
3. Take steps to clarify beliefs

Ministry Boost Coaching is back!

Esther Moreno

Connect with Esther on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Episode Notes

HIGHLIGHTS

• Importance of having difficult conversations at age/phase-appropriate settings
  • If we avoid these topics, the church becomes judgmental and stodgy
• The body of Christ has been divided by the topic of racial unrest
  • Stemming from NOT loving with Christ's love, but also NOT listening to understand
• What happens when there is a kid who attends your church who is dealing with racial discrimination in places like their school?
  • How do we stay mindful of those who are part of the minority within the church, and creating space for them to feel included?
  • How can we be part of the solution?
• Playing it safe may represent that you stand on nothing — it's ok to stand on truth and what you believe
• “Don't “bleed” on social media”
• Learn to be OK with expressing your heart on social media, but understand you must have thick skin

Action Items

1. Children's Ministry Moving Forward FB & Books
2. Have an uncomfortable conversation
3. Esther on Demand

Ministry Boost Coaching is back!

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Dale Hudson

Connect with Dale on Facebook | Instagram | Website

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Episode Notes

Building Teams:

• personal asks
• casting vision for weekly volunteers
• building church culture around volunteering

Dale's New Book: Fertile Soil

Creating Fertile Soil:

• Main reasons kids walk away from the church
  • 25% – church disillusionment
  • loss of belief
  • too busy for church
• What needs to be in the soil for it to be “fertile”?
  • teaching some doctrine/apologetics for kids/families
  • giving opportunities to serve
  • placing consistent leaders in their lives
  • helping parents understand the importance of regular church attendance
  • Parent-Child Dedication
  • create another service opportunity (another night of the week)
  • invest in parents, not just kids
  • celebrate milestones

Action Items

1. Talk with parents about what would help them
2. Plan to talk apologetics
3. Move to weekly leaders

Ministry Boost Coaching is back!

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Jim Wideman

Connect with Jim on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

JimWideman.com

Ministry Boost Membership + New Courses

Click here to check out the amazing benefits of membership with Ministry Boost.

Episode Notes

Click here to find the full webinar of 21 Big Ideas for Finding and Leading Volunteers featuring Christine Kreisher and Jim Wideman.

Action Items

1. Define what you're looking for
2. Simplify the onboarding process
3. Invite them to a party

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Lisa Molite

Connect with Lisa on Facebook | Instagram

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Action Items

1. Gather large group volunteers once a month
2. Delegate to youth/teenagers
3. Talk about large group and online priorities with direct report

**BONUS: If you plan on attending the Orange Conference, use the discount code BLEVINSPOD to receive 10% off tickets

Ministry Boost Coaching is back!

Click here to check out the amazing benefits of coaching groups with Ministry Boost.

Multiply Ministry Conference – All-Access Pass

Click here to get the All-Access Pass to get access to the Multiply Ministry Conference replays of every main session and breakout. Over 30 sessions of content about empowering volunteers.

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Special Sponsor: Clearstream

This episode is sponsored by Clearstream. Clears

Kenny Conley and Nick Blevins

Connect with them through Ministry Boost

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Episode Notes

First Step:

• Create a “stop doing” list
• Create a “pause and delegate” list
• Protect your time and develop some accountability to these steps

Second Step:

• Create the list: Prospects
• Your list should be 10x the amount of volunteers you actually need

Get access FULL NOTES by checking out Ministryboost.org.

**BONUS: If you plan on attending the Orange Conference, use the discount code BLEVINSPOD to receive 10% off tickets

Action Items

1. Download the workbook
2. Put this into practice
3. Consider membership or Volunteer Boost (5STEPS – 25%)

**BONUS: If you plan on attending the Orange Conference, use the discount code BLEVINSPOD to receive 10% off tickets

Multiply Ministry Conference – All-Access Pass

Click here to get the All-Access Pass to get access to the Multiply Ministry Conference replays of every main session and breakout. Over 30 sessions of content about empowering volunteers.

Ministry Boost Membership + New Courses

Click here to check out the amazing benefits of membership with Ministry Boost.

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Jim Wideman

Connect with Jim on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

JimWideman.com

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Episode Notes

New look for an old leadership book

• Original concepts were from a leader who ran ministry very hand-on
• Mindset has changed to empowering and serving other leaders to be hands-on
• Book is all about leadership, no matter what ministry you lead within

Action Items

1. Get the book and go through with a team
2. Change one thing in your leadership this week
3. Turn a policy into bullet points
   

**BONUS: If you plan on attending the Orange Conference, use the discount code BLEVINSPOD to receive 10% off tickets

Multiply Ministry Conference – All-Access Pass

Click here to get the All-Access Pass to get access to the Multiply Ministry Conference replays of every main session and breakout. Over 30 sessions of content about empowering volunteers.

Ministry Boost Membership + New Courses

Click here to check out the amazing benefits of membership with Ministry Boost.

Get Exclusive Content from this Week's Episode

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Josh Denhart

Connect with Josh through Instagram | Facebook | Podcast

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Episode Notes

Notes Coming Soon!

Action Items

1. Check out LeadVolunteers
2. Make 5 recruiting calls
3. Digital training – TrainedUp

Ministry Boost Membership + New Courses

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Special Sponsor: Clearstream

This episode is sponsored by Clearstream. Clearstream.io works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. You can get started on a free-trial, and if you're with a new church plant under 1 year old can use Clearstream free for 12 months.

Christine Kreisher

Connect with Christine on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter.

Ministry Boost Membership + New Courses

Click here to check out the amazing benefits of membership with Ministry Boost.

Episode Notes

Click here to find the full webinar of 21 Big Ideas for Finding and Leading Volunteers featuring Christine Kreisher and Jim Wideman.

Action Items

1. Redefine wins for your ministry – especially now
2. Huddle somehow – Marco polo, something
3. Check out the “Replenish” book

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Trisha Peach

Connect with Tom on Facebook | Instagram.

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Episode Notes

• Rely on kids/youth to be involved in ministry
  • Allow teenagers to lead in kids ministry
  • Create unique teams for young people to serve within and have ownership
  • “You will keep the ones you involve”
• Creativity always trumps budget
  • Creativity matters no matter what size church you lead in
  • Incorporate music into everything
  • Use lots of visuals

• Ask the question “Why would they want to come back into the church?”
• Same applicable principle: “You will keep the ones you involve”

Children's Ministry Online (with a church plant):

• Amped up online presence
• Recording LIVE to post online later
• The Both/And (in-person and online)
  • Don't exclude either group
  • Consider those you currently serve (sick, elderly, unable to gather, etc.)

• Book: Children's Ministry From Scratch
• Book: Your Children's Ministry, Beyond Basics
• Book: Why We Quit
• Website: www.kidmin.ninja
• Youtube: The Peach Buzz

Action Items

1. Get older kids/students involved
2. Write down everything you would do (do what you can with what you have)

Micheal Byrd

Connect with Micheal SignPresenter.com or on Facebook.

Multiply Ministry Webinar

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Episode Notes

• It's already begin used for signage in so many places (restaurants, theatres, etc.)
• Saves time
• SignPresenter originally created using raspberry pie computer systems
• Now it runs fully from Amazon Fire Sticks

How can it be used?

• Not just used for complicated playlists
• Runs curriculum
• Runs playlists that are pre-built
• It automatically updates

• It's broken down by messages, playlists and screens
• There are vertical and horizontal orientation options
• Works with different curriculums

Action Items

1. Check out Ministryboost.org/screens
2. Try one for digital signage
3. Try one for curriculum

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Kristen Ivy

Connect with Kristen through her website.

Multiply Ministry Webinar

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Episode Notes

• We must think about engaging in both physical and digital spaces
• New updates to the Parent Cue App
  • Strong focus on helping parents have daily faith conversations
  • Integration and customization with individual churches
• New ways to track metrics and data for logins/downloads from families

• Think about the parent who doesn't come to your church yet
• New marketing materials coming soon for parents both inside and outside the church walls
  • The hope is that it looks like your church created the app specifically for your community
• Simplify by putting everything in one location
• The app is not the ministry; it just exists as a tool to enhance your ministry
• Think about your digital platform as a relational baseline for engagement
  

• What is your WHY for a family attending in-person?
• Some have legitimate reasons for choosing NOT to attend an in-person gathering
• Have more than one solution for how a parent/child can develop their faith

Action Items

1. Watch the replay of the webinar HERE
2. Check out Parentcueapp.church
3. Create a rollout plan and ongoing plan at your church

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Ministry Boost Membership + New Courses

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Episode Extras

• The Fabulous Reinvention of Sunday School Book
• Anthem Church – Gainesville, FL
  • Anthem Church Instagram
  • Kids Youtube
• Hope City Church – Las Vegas, NV
  • Elementary Instagram
  • Preschool Instagram
  • Kids Youtube

• Annie Tucker
  • Email
• Tony Caniglia
  • Email 

Action Items

1. Intentionally plan your large group time – cue sheet
2. Identify staff or volunteers who can own creativity – a team
3. Tighten up transitions (create questions)

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Keith Ferrin

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Episode Notes

1 Corinthians 14:12 – So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

• Live events
• Books
• Physical and digital resources
• Online courses

• Requires trusting the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do
• Ministry leaders should create environments where this can be championed and adopted
• Leaders/Parents: YOU MUST LOVE IT FIRST
• Most of what we have learned, we learn from the “general” to the “specific”; the same goes for the Bible
  • • Analogy: you cannot understand a movie until you watch it; you must watch it and then you can speak about it; watching the movie is the starting place
• The primary purpose for reading the Bible is to spend time with Christ, not just to learn how to live
• Study it relationally so others can see its importance in your life; share what you ready about often

Key takeaway – when we have an accurate picture of who God is and who we are in Christ, this generation will be ready to make the hard decisions they need to make because they know WHO THEY ARE.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM KEITH:

Relational Bible Study for $47 (instead of $97)

BibleLife Community $1 Trial for 14 Days

Simplest Way PDF Download

Action Items

1. Check out nickblevins.com/keith
2. Consider joining the community

James Sabin

Connect with James on Instagram.

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Episode Notes

Before COVID:

• Church began with 250-300 in overall attendance, only a few teenagers engaged in youth ministry
• Started with a partnership with FCA
• Grew to 120 active youth
• Group-based model

• Created “Late-Night-Live” online experience for youth; whole family participated
• Core families were the core watchers, but picked up new families as well
• Regathering began; JH and HS gathered in main worship center on Sunday nights
• Student-led worship teams
• Steady with 30-40 in attendance after regathering

• First-time strategy… have youth invite and own giving a gift
• Lots of swag and branded giveaways
• Ideas: Starbucks gift card (first-time gift), t-shirts, stickers, etc.

• Creating online experience that matches the production quality of adults
• First 15 minutes in-person is with groups, but online they wait for the large group time to start
• Make it viewable after Sunday night for those who can’t watch

Action Items

1. Stream online
2. Overhaul your retention plan – 50% off
3. Consider a rally/event/shorter/in and out

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Crystal Mazzuca

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Episode Notes

Key takeaways from Volunteer Boost:

• Prospects – you typically need 10x the amount of your volunteer needs in a prospect list; define your needs
• Prepare email/text scripts to use, focusing on encouraging verbiage, not from a place of desperation
• Find the “best place” for each person to serve, not just filling spots
• Have multiple orientation opportunities
• Organize your process and follow up
• Stick to a deadline

Action Items

1. Sign up for Volunteer Boost
2. Start hosting Orientations
3. Give prizes away at Orientations

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Amber Baker

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Episode Notes

Getting back to the basics (Kidmin after pandemic):

• Outside in pavilion
• Bible story without a TV
• Hand-written tags
• Games in the field

Changes online since regathering:

• Focus on outside events at church over the digital
• Summer kick-off, Fall kick-off, on-campus events
• Getting more personal

Transition to new leadership model:

• Originally hired as a co-pastor over children’s
• During a pastor’s sabbatical, moved to overseeing youth
• Tension in beginning to oversee the youth leadership
• Some team members made transitions off staff
• Began to create new team culture and make hires to support the ministry

Action Items

1. Track trends for online engagement
2. Plan events, maybe small, to re-engage
3. Evaluate your model – job descriptions to support the team

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Andrae Jones

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Ministry Boost

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Notes

Kidmin Online at One Church:

• Online programming – full video
• Video content launched Saturday evenings
• Online groups during Sunday mornings
• Midweek message for kids, going deeper into the weekend content

Student Ministry Online at One Church:

• Online programming – full video
• Separate content for Junior High and High School
• Groups online, but in-person options coming soon

Volunteer Opportunities during COVID:

• Tutoring Team (30)
• Care Call Team (10)
• Digital Experience Team
• Virtual Small Group Team (65)
• Engagement Team – Youtube and Facebook interactions through groups (20)

Party in Place:

• In response to Seniors not having prom, and other events not being able to take place
• Friday Night Experience – ONLINE ONLY
• Giveaways
• Worship
• Connections
• Allowing kids/students to be visible

Additional Resources:

• Creating Online Events For Kids
• How to Engage Kids Digitally

Action Items

1. Recruit to digital and in-person roles
2. Make care call team
3. Try virtual groups

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Jamey Dickens

Connect with Chris online through Instagram or at the East Cobb Church website.

Ministry Boost

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Notes

Keys for healthy church-planting:

• A genuine and invested launch team
• Health
  • Financially
  • Church culture
• The mission is front and center
• Collaboration with other local churches and ministries

Student Ministry:

• Effective communication to students requires you to communicate often
• Preparation, execution, and evaluation
• Be ruthless about having a straight line with your content
  • what you start with connects to what you finish with
  • be clear
• Do you need more engine, or do you need more brakes?
  • plan the moments you slow down
  • plan the moments you bring the fire
• Communication evolves
• Be you; don't try to be someone else
• Discover who you are
• Review:
  • listen to it and watch it
  • work on your application
  • ask the right people (not just your critics and not just your fans)

Action Items

1. Self-scout your own communication
2. Come up with a plan to change up your flow
3. Invest in who is there – do something this week

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Todd Lesher

Connect with Todd online through Facebook, Instagram. or Email.

Ministry Boost

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org. Also, here are some amazing

• Replay of Volunteer Bootcamp on Facebook
• Register for KMX or YMX
• Volunteer Reboot Course
• Ministry Boost Membership Exclusive
• Ministry Boxes

Notes

Learnings going to online ministry:

• HUSTLE – kids and students online, but had to figure out connecting interpersonally through a screen
• Kids did online content and some supplemental Zoom groups
• Students did Zoom, Kahoot, Q&A Live on Instagram
• Family Ministry Game Nights for the whole family

Adjustments back to on-campus ministry:

• Needed to know what volunteers were coming back
• RSVP system
• Updated cleaning procedures
• Weekend Family experience for Preschool age
  • Started with First Look lesson in preschool environments, then broadcast the message from the main room for the rest of the service
• Small changes to policies and procedures
• Take ownership of the ones who are coming to service – taking advantage of the opportunity to serve them

Values and Decision-making principles (THE HOME PLATE):

• Work prayer into your work
  • should be the first and the last thing we do
  • easy to be “in the business” of God's work instead of joining Him in His work
  • schedule this time and make it a routine to develop consistency
• Be relational with all, but intentional with a few
  • modeled after Christ; core group of 12 and His “few”
  • pray for people by name – relational
  • empower others to be relational because you can't do it all – intentional
  • intentionally use your platforms proactively to be relational
• Celebrate steps
  • celebrating the decisions people make in their faith journey that are worth celebrating
    • not only salvation/conversion or baptism
    • returning kids
    • people who have taken action steps that were prompted
• Look for potential, not perfection
  <

Jeremy O'Neill

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Ministry Boost

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Notes

Sandals Kids at 11 campuses:

• Use a Small Group and Large Group model
• Digital Storybook for preschool
• Range from 70 kids to over 1,000 kids (2,000 across all campuses)
• Content completely original for all kid's ministry
• Created Roku app for devices on their campuses for Kid's content

Sandalskids.tv:

• This is where ALL content lives
• A mixture of fun and serious
  • Youtube videos are mainly for fun
  • The Sandalskids.tv platform is more for engaging content

What's going well at Sandals Church:

• Measurement of everything
  • The return rate of attendees
  • Recognizing trends
• Invite Events, Develop People, Serve Events
  • Schedule these strategically for families to adopt church as a part of their lives
• Consider all your data (key audiences – survey them)
  • Volunteers
  • Parents
  • Kids (Idea: emoji survey)
  • Staff
• Ask the hard questions
  • How are we doing? Is there a disconnect with how kids feel and how parents feel? What is working, what isn't, and where should we invest more of our energy?

What needs some work at Sandals:

• Bringing people around the VISION
• Address the gap in identifying potential leaders
  • Identify leadership levels (pipeline)
• Simple Model for leadership development
  • Tasks
  • Projects
  • Role

Action Items

1. MinistryBoost.org/screens
2. Look at return rate – retention plan
3. Sample survey or visit sandalskids.tv

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Dr. Terry Linhart

Connect with Terry through Instagram, Twitter or his Website.

Ministry Boost

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Notes

Talking about being self-aware:

• People develop patterns and preferences over time; we just need to be open to identifying these things
• Dramatic identity stages in the 20s – and it's hard to get them all together
  • singles
  • married people
  • those who went to college and those who did not
  • people with kids
• Areas where there is a common lack of self-awareness
  • People who are forward-thinking/moving tend to have a harder time looking back and seeing and helping those around them
  • Barna Data: approximately 7 our of 10 lead pastors tend to steer away from caring for their staff/teams
  • Must be careful not to become too similar to a CEO where you just move things forward
• Emotions involved in self-awareness
  • When we have an emotional reaction to something, we should take a “reactions selfie”
  • Ask the questions: Why did I react that way?
    

The State of Teaching in Youth Ministry

• Observations
  • Need for teaching to be rooted in discipleship
  • Need to be student-centered and lean more into the relational aspect of ministry
  • Concern – we can be all “minds-on” without being “hand-on” or “hearts-on”
• Pivots student ministry leaders should make in regard to disciplining students
  • Consider art – program expressions of worship and enhance experiences through art/video/creative elements
  • Provide opportunities for your introverts
  • Teaching – teach in the 7s, vary what you do
    • Do 7 different things and change every 7 minutes
    • Virtually – program in the 7s, rather than full 30+ minute teachings
  • Link everything together
  • Something to consider… changing methods does not mean the quality of content changes as well (example: panel discussions)

Action Items

1. Get the book, read it, and journal – The Self-Aware Leader

Jason Young

Connect with Jason through Instagram, Twitter or his Website.

Ministry Boost

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Notes

The Comeback Effect:

• How do you USE hospitality in a way that compels a guest to come back?
• Create a culture, not a job title (chapter 2)

Experience at Northpoint:

• Autonomy to try things in regards to guests
  • NEXT: an opportunity to hear more about the church (stopped using this approach)
  • Realized that it was more about presentation than interaction
• Simplified: Life can be complicated. You want to get it right. We can help.
  • Instead of starting with the church, start with the person, and guide them to what the church offers and how that can match the person's needs
• Sometimes, we are so close to the experience that we don't understand what is wrong with our approach
  • Consider getting an outside ear to listen to your approach
• Tension: Groups got the majority of stage time, but volunteering was not as much of a priority
  • groups are amazing, but there was a systemic volunteer challenge because there was not a healthy approach to recruiting and retaining those volunteers

How did you get families to come back a second time (in some capacity)?

• No prescribed process, but there was an intentional approach to move people somewhere
• Create a culture of clarity
  • Be clear, Be clear, Be clear (say it again)
  • Instead, think about these questions, “What do we want them to know?” and “What do we want them to do?”
  • Build toward clarity by saying less and giving a call to action
• We often fall in love with what we do FUNCTIONALLY, but it's more important to understand how people FEEL about the church and how they FEEL when they leave
• The church is being compared to everyday moments that people experience; the church should be lead out on how people FEEL

How does this translate to NextGen/Family Ministry?

• There must be a partnership between the ministry spaces
  • Have similar language and hand-offs from ministry to ministry
  • Volunteers and Staff know the plan for this experience and intentionally look for ways to serve families based on their needs
  • Aim for congruency and then consistently deliver on that
• Help families know that you “have the

Kenny Conley

Connect with Kenny on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Volunteer Bootcamp

Get access to the full Volunteer Bootcamp sessions and notes here.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Volunteer Bootcamp Webinar

3 Hacks for Volunteer Onboarding

• Hack One: Stop Recruiting
  • If the odds are against you, change the game
  • It’s to easy for someone to tell you “no.” Instead, invite them to an experience where it’s easy to say “yes.”
    • Recruit them to an orientation (it’s easy to say “yes” to come to an orientation – 1-hour time commitment)
    • Create a compelling environment in your orientation where all the benefits of serving far outweigh the negatives

     

• Hack Two: Double Your Potential
  • To double the number of potential volunteers, simply double the number of volunteer orientations
  • Few churches do orientations more than once a month. Here’s the problem with this frequency (infrequency rather)
    • They get sick
    • Their kids get sick
    • They have things come up
    • They forget

     

• Hack Three: Host a Volun-TOUR
  • **The BEST way to engage potential volunteers is to have them GET UP and take a walk.
  • Don’t just talk to potential volunteers. Give them a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most exciting things happening at your church. Why?
    • Tours are personal
    • Everyone loves a tour
    • People learn differently, tours engage everyone differently
    • Tours are really easy to pull off well

     

  • When recruiting someone to serve, they have a lot of questions. But tours help resolve the unknown in two very important ways:
    • Tours give potentials

Nina Schmidgall

Connect with Nina on Instagram, and Twitter.

Volunteer Bootcamp

Get access to the full Volunteer Bootcamp sessions and notes here.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Volunteer Bootcamp Webinar

Recruitment 101

• recruit to VISION, not to NEED
  • • tell the stories
    • have an “elevator pitch”
    • give good verbiage to those leading the conversation of recruiting
• direct ask (bold friendliness)
• reduce barriers to serve
• when recruiting, do not leave the ball in their court; always get their email for follow up
• eliminate the word “only” from verbiage (Ex: “it’s only one service”)
• spend time evaluating and determine your “currency”
  • • community
    • investment and leadership
    • fun and celebration

“When you are calling people to something great, it will take a level of investment.”

Action Items

1. Increase commitment
2. Meet with potential volunteers
3. Get Playbook course

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Reed Moore

Connect with Reed on Facebook and Instagram

Gwinnett Church

Passion City Church

Ministry Boost FREE Online Event – Volunteer Bootcamp

Join Ministry Boost for a FREE online event, Wednesday, August 28 at 1PM EST all about recruiting, encouraging, training, and retaining volunteers. Register HERE.

Notes From this Episode

Keys to a Great Student Ministry Culture

1. Create common language as a team
2. Put values into repeatable phrases (Ex: Best night of the week; We're family here and family is for everyone)
3. Recruit great small group leaders
4. Host weekly gatherings for leaders prior to youth programming
5. Celebrate and reinforce culture (Ex: Social posts; telling stories)
6. Share and document stories

Tips for Student Ministry Programming & Teaching Content

1. Have a student leadership team
2. Diversify who you listen to
3. Seek feedback
4. Think through connection, truth, tension & application

Action Items

1. Create key language
2. Create opportunities for student leadership and have them apply for it
3. Share stories

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Lisa Molite

Connect with Lisa on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Community Christian Church

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Pictures of CCC's 45 Environment

Orange + 252 Preteen

Orange Conference

Caught in Between (book)

Action Items

1. Get Caught in Between
2. Talk to 5 leaders
3. Make something different/unique

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Kyle Price

Connect with Kyle on Instagram

Email: Kylep@missionaz.org

Mission Church

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Episode 067: Kennly Conley – 5 Keys to a Good Start

Episode 110: Ministry Hacks with Kenny Conley

Episode 139: Shane Sanchez on Student Ministry and the Junior/Senior Gap

Orange

Download Youth Ministry

Action Items

1. Start a creative team – invite students to be a part of that.
2. Get students serving in your ministry.
3. Make a checklist.

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Justin Herman

Connect with Justin on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: justinherman@controlledchaos.fun

ControlledChaos.Fun

Controlled Chaos Podcast

Ministry Boost – Course Registration Now Open

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Links Mentioned in this Episode

Episode 109: The 3 Pillars of Junior High Ministry with Justin Herman

Controlled Chaos Episode 54: I Lost My Job So You Don't Have To

Controlled Chaos (book)

How to Lead When You're Not in Charge (book)

Keys to Junior High Ministry

1. Be diverse in how you think about volunteer roles
2. View transition as a year-round strategy
3. Be accessible to parents
4. Develop a parent advisory council

Action Items

1. Make sure you ask questions of a church you're considering working for
2. If you're interviewing or hiring staff, ask a lot of questions too, specifically about what energizes and what drains the person
3. Write down what energizes and drains you in your current role
4. Get the Controlled Chaos book

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Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Al

Michelle Suarez

Connect with Michelle on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: Michelle_Suarez@hotmail.com

First Baptist Church, Wagner Oklahoma

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Orange 

Orange Conference 2019 – Let me know if you'll be there! I'd love for you to join Ministry Boost at our breakout or checkout my breakout on building a comprehensive NextGen strategy. Or, if you'd like to join our YouLead Coaching lunch, email me at nick@nickblevins.com.

Action Items

1. Look at your current summer strategy
2. Think through how your church could give young the opportunity to learn and come alongside you in the summer
3. Evaluate your current summer plan – What is missing? What is wrong?
4. Ask: What special Sundays could I add? How could I make one Sunday a great invite for kids?

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Jeremy Lee

Connect with Jeremy on Facebook and Twitter

Email: info@ministrytoparents.com

MinistryToParents.com

Jeremy's CaringBridge page

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Enter to Win a LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP to Parent Ministry (through Sep 9, 2016)

Rites of Passage/Family Experiences – Ministry toolboxes to help you partner with parents

Magic Button Site – Use this generic parent ministry site and adapt and brand it to your ministry

The Blessing (book) – Check out this book by John Trent that teaches parents the power of their blessing

Make a List:

1. What do you do in your ministry? (Ex: Weekly programming, events, small groups, leaders).
2. What do you do for parents?
3. What is one thing you can do or implement to bring parents into your ministry?

Action Items

1. Make the list.
2. Talk with your parents about blessing their kids.
3. Enter to Win a LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP to Parent Ministry
4. Partner with small group leaders to ask students who gets spiritual leadership at home.

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Next Episode: Matt McKee

In the next episode, I talk with my friend Matt McKee about his new book Parent Chat. You do not want to miss that conversation as we talk about how parents can lead their children best when it comes to technology. Be sure to subscribe so you don'

Gina McClain

Connect with Gina on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: GinaM@faithpromise.org

Faith Promise Church

GinaMcClain.com

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Life.Church – Gina previously led Children's Ministry at Life.Church

Guts and Glory of Small Groups – Check out Gina's book for practical advice on implementing the small group model in your ministry

Fellowship One – An online check-in system for churches

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance – Read Angela Duckworth's book all about having the willingness to do whatever it takes

5 Steps to Implementing Small Groups In Your Elementary Environment (blog posts) – Check out a series of blog posts I wrote that outline five steps to help you implement small groups in your ministry

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Next Episode: Jeremy Lee

In the next episode, I interview Jeremy Lee, founder of Parent Ministry (ministrytoparents.com). We talk about the incredibly important topic of partnering with parents and equipping them to lead their children well. Jeremy offers some extremely practical insights and ideas to help us partner with parents better.

Lisette Fraser

Connect with Lisette on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: lisette.fraser@madeforfellowship.com

Fellowship Monrovia

YouLead Coaching

Sign up for coaching with YouLead by Oct 31st. Join us for a tease of what these will be like during our Ministry Boost Tribe Conversations on Facebook.

• Preschool Ministry: Oct 15 @ 1PM Eastern – We're talking about volunteer scheduling, curriculum prep, baby dedication, etc.Elementary Ministry: Oct 15 @ 3PM Eastern – We're talking about large group stage volunteers, invite ideas, volunteer sub processes, etc.Student Ministry: Oct 16 @ 3PM Eastern – We're talking series planning, small group leader training, retreat planning, etc. Click the link below to see the dates/times and choose the one(s) you're interested in joining:http://ylcoaching.com/tribe-conversations/

Register for coaching by Oct 17th and join us on a webinar with all the coaches.  OR, be sure to register by Oct 24th, and you'll get access to a Q & A with Kara Powell.

You can find details for all of the above at YLCoaching.com or MinistryBoost.org/Coaching.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Orange

Orange City Strategy

Waking up Stories of Jesus and Race and Reconciliation

Cornerstones & Milestones (PDF)

Cornerstones & Milestones Documentation (PDF)

Action Items

1. Download Waking up Stories of Jesus and Race and Reconciliation and evaluate where your church is in terms of being multi-ethnic, representing the community and the kingdom of God
2. Ask: How can you serve and reach your community?
3. Work on your discipleship pathway

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Gina McClain

Connect with Gina on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: gina.c.mcclain@gmail.com

GinaMcClain.com

Cross Point Church

MINISTRY BOOST

Ministry Boost recently launched – an organization led by myself, Kenny Conley, and Kevin Monahan dedicated to helping you fast forward growth in your ministry through training and consulting for ministry leaders. We’ll also be offering coaching in partnership with YouLead Coaching.

Register for Gina's course, all about small groups for kids and students & check out the other options here.

ORANGE TOUR

Be sure to check out the dates and locations for Orange Tour at OrangeTour.org and get your tickets today!

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Episode 015: Gina McClain on Small Groups and Sticking With Your Church

Episode 077: “Don't Quit” with Gina McClain and Jessica Bealer

Guts and Glory of Small Groups – Check out Gina’s book for practical advice on implementing the small group model in your ministry

Action Items

1. Get the books Lead Small,

Kelly Stockdale

Connect with Kelly on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Email

KellyStockdale.com

Grace Hill Church

MINISTRY BOOST

Ministry Boost recently launched – an organization led by myself, Kenny Conley, and Kevin Monahan dedicated to helping you fast forward growth in your ministry through training and consulting for ministry leaders. We’ll also be offering coaching in partnership with YouLead Coaching.

Register for Kelly's course, all about preschool ministry & check out the other options here.

ORANGE TOUR

Be sure to check out the dates and locations at OrangeTour.org and get your tickets today!

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Leadership and Church Size Dynamics – Tim Keller talks church size and how it effects leadership and culture

Things to Prioritize in a Small Church

1. Valuing volunteers
2. Small groups
3. Resourcing parents
4. Partnering with local schools
5. Coming alongside other camps and organizations that are already doing great things

Action Items

1. Connect with other leaders who are in a small church (or a church your size)
2. Begin recruiting to a leadership team
3. Ask: What is one thing I can stop doing?

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Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it

Erin English

Connect with Erin on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: EEnglish@westsidefamilychurch.com

Westside Family Church

MINISTRY BOOST

Ministry Boost recently launched – an organization led by myself, Kenny Conley, and Kevin Monahan dedicated to helping you fast forward growth in your ministry through training and consulting for ministry leaders. We’ll also be offering coaching in partnership with YouLead Coaching.

Register for Erin's coaching group, all about redefining preschool ministry & check out the other options here.

ORANGE TOUR

Be sure to check out the dates and locations at OrangeTour.org and get your tickets today!

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Redefining Preschool Ministry at Westside

1. Emphasis on small group relationships and the gospel
2. Created a separate large group environment with a clubhouse set
3. Hosted a Lead Small Training using Orange content
4. Shared with volunteers about the preschool phase and the importance of relationships
5. Previewed new large group time for leaders & cast the vision for them to be present during large group
6. Picked best two SGLs and cleared out their classrooms
7. Tried bare space with small groups for a month
8. Cleared out all of the classrooms

Typical Preschool Morning at Westside

1. Ten minutes of small group time
2. Go to large group with host that introduces story and a song
3. Leave large group and return to small groups for application activities

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Calla Parker

Connect with Calla on Facebook and Instagram

Email: Calla.Parker@gmail.com

Gateway Church

Ministry Boost FREE Webinar

Ministry Boost recently launched – an organization led by myself, Kenny Conley, and Kevin Monahan dedicated to helping you fast forward growth in your ministry through training and consulting for ministry leaders. We'll also be offering coaching in partnership with YouLead coaching.

Register for our FREE Webinar, Thursday, August 23, from 1-4PM EST here.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Student Mission Trips: A Timeline from Gateway

1. Fall: Promote winter camp
2. January: Winter camp announces all teams on the last day of camp
3. Mid-January through Mid-March: Application process
4. End of March: Process Applications
5. End of March through Beginning of April: Assign people to teams and communicate with them
6. April through May: Pre-field trainings where teams meet 3-4 times on Sunday evenings
7. June: Teams are sent out after a Sending Sunday
8. Mid-June: Celebrate service

Team Leader Training for Student Mission Trips

1. Culture and worldview
2. Poverty and brokenness
3. Crisis management
4. Biblical basis for mission trips
5. Leadership skills
6. How to work with students
7. Spiritual maturity
8. In-field coaching
9. 4-week class

Thrive Studies – Small group and devotional resources for students

Managed Missions – A platform that can house applications, training materials, support and fundraising info, and any other pertinent documents for your mission processing support and funds coming through, all pertinent documents

Action Items

1. Evaluate your current ministry – What do you do? Where is it strong? What is missing?
2. Create a timeline from beginning to end of the mission trip process and develop the pieces of the timeline

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Ministry Boost

Ministry Boost is launching 12 courses and 3 new coaching groups beginning in February. Registration is now open. Register by Monday, January 28th for a FREE Volunteer Pipeline course and more in bonuses. Click here for more details and to sign up.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

A Strategy for Partnering with Parents Ministry Boost Course

5-Part Strategy for Partnering with Parents Notes

5-Part Strategy for Partnering with Parents PPT

Key Things to Acknowledge when Partnering with Parents

1. Parents have the most influence in the life of their child
2. Partnering with parents is critical
3. Every parent is not in the same stage in their parenting or in their faith
4. Partnering always feels like “extra” because it's not “always coming” like Sunday is

5-Part Strategy for Partnering with Parents

1. Communication
2. Resources
3. Events
4. Small Group Leaders
5. Community for Parents

Resources for Parents

• DriveFaithHome.com
• HomeFrontMag.com
• Crosswalk.com
• Homeword.com
• Parent Cue
• SaddlebackParents.com
• Parents.PortCityChurch.org
• TheParentHub.net
• KidsMinistry.Lifeway.com
• Fuller Youth Institute

Roadmap for Partnering with Parents

1. M

Keith Ferrin

Connect with Keith on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

KeithFerrin.com

FREE Ministry Boost Webinar on Volunteer Training- Sign up HERE 

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Action Items

1. Evaluate your personal faith and health
2. Get the book

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Jess Berryhill

Connect with Jess on Facebook and Instagram

Email: JessBerryhill@gmail.com

Mt. Pleasant Church

FREE Ministry Boost Webinars on Baby Dedication and Volunteer Training

Sign up HERE

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Boosts for Mt. Pleasant Special Needs Ministry

1. Moving youth group to Tuesday nights with the Upward basketball league
2. Hosting a Night to Shine through the Tim Tebow Foundation
3. Getting connected with organizations in the community doing great things with social needs families
4. Tapping into student IEPs and having conversations with parents

Action Items

1. Evaluate your own student ministry
2. Ask: Are there opportunities in the community or conversations that would further our special needs ministry that I need to pursue?

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Nick Salyers

Connect with Nick on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Facebook and Instagram

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Collegiate: 7 Big Ideas to Make College Awesome – Nick Salyers and Caleb Stevens walk through seven big ideas – purpose, vision, community, growth, impact, adventure, and urgency – that will help college students make the most of their college years and intentionally become the person they want to be

Normal Triangle – A typical approach to college and the actions that result

Remarkable Triangle – A remarkable approach to college driven by vision and passion, and the life that results

Episode 013: Ben Kerns on Youth Ministry Challenges (check out his plan for high school seniors)

Episode 052: Jeff Henderson on Helping Dads Invest in Their Sons

Champion Tribes – An organization dedicated to equipping busy dads to invest deeply in their middle school sons' lives through a rite of passage experience (Follow on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram)

Action Items

1. Get the book
2. If you’re a parent of a high school student, read it alongside your child
3.  If you’re a leader, get it in the hands of a few parents and students in your ministry. Consider working this book, or the principles in it, into an overall plan for seniors during their high school year at your church

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Connect with Justin on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Call or Text Justin at: 7146000354

HeyJustinHerman.com

Mariner's Church | Sandals Church

Volunteer Playbook Summer Session – 25% OFF

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Controlled Chaos Podcast – A podcast for junior high ministry leaders

Trumpia – Mass text messaging system

The Youth Cartel – An organization dedicated to encouraging and coaching youth ministry workers

ChurchSwag.org – Custom branded products and apparel

3 Essential Components of Junior High Ministry

1. Your ministry needs to be fun-real, relevant, a place to belong, a place where students have friends, and a place where everyone is known
2. It's all about leaders–have more and better leaders
3. Partner with parents–let them know you are there for them and their kids

What It Takes to Be Fun

1. Know what the plan is when a new kid shows up, and make it feel like you were expecting them
2. Know what your plan is when kids are gone so they know they are missed
3. Take it easy on the rules

Keys to Partnering with Parents

1. Communicate with parents often and in a manner they can predict
2. Make time for parents and have conversations with them
3. Host parent nights

Action Items

1. Take the 3 pillars Justin talked about and give your ministry a grade for each of them. Then, develop some actions steps you can take to improve one of them (whether it's the one you are strongest or weakest in.)
2. Ask: Is there a long term strategy you need to develop and implement?
3. Determine one step you can take to improve your connection with parents.

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Connect with Tom Bump on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Kidmin Collective Podcast

Connect with David Maddron on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | David Maddron | DavidMaddron.me

Connect with Tom Pounder on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YM Sidekick Podcast

Connect with Steve Cullum on Facebook | Twitter| Instagram | Student Ministry Podcast

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Rewatch OC18 live here & Register for Orange Conference 2019 here

Orange

Married People – Orange's ministry for Married People in your church

Made Known – Kenny Conley and Orange partnered together to put out a resource that equips you to reach out to families in your church who have suffered pregnancy and/or infant loss

Creating a Volunteer Strategy for Getting it all Done – Crystal Chiang's presentation and notes from OC18

Key Takeaways from OC18

1. Listen to parents
2. Invest in leaders and develop a leadership structure
3. Create an environment where people feel comfortable belonging before they believe
4. Pursue ministry for Married People
5. Provide your volunteer leadership with authentic community and envision them
6. Ask: What do I need to stop doing so that my ministry can grow?

Action Items

1. Ask: Which of t

Jim Murphy

Connect with Jim on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: jim@bemidjicovenant.com

TheNextGenBlog.com

The Evangelical Covenant Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

4 Stages of Event Planning

1. Development (6-12 months out): Event on calendar; debrief from previous event; determine teams, roles, and people needed
2. Implementation: Plan for renting, purchases, facility, needed mock ups, and promotion
3. Execution (3 weeks out): Teams are fully recruited and have instructions; work on plan for set up; and make final creative adjustments
4. Evaluation: Begin evaluating process during execution, and do final evaluation after event

Covenant Church NextGen Newsletter – Check out an example of Covenant Church's quarterly NextGen update

TextInChurch.com – A communication channel churches can use to message volunteers, parents, attendees, and other groups of people

Basecamp – A system teams can use to collaborate on projects, have conversations, share files, etc.

Basecamp Training Video – Jim walks through a practical demonstration of how his team uses Basecamp

Trello – A collaborative project management tool

Asana – A tool teams use to track their work

Action Items

1. Watch the Basecamp training video
2. Choose a project management tool
3. Define your event planning process

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L

Amy Fenton

Connect with Amy on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Orange

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Episode 008: Amy Fenton on Recruiting Volunteers and VBS

OrangeVBS.com

Orange VBS Facebook Group

Making the Connection After VBS-Don't Miss It – Thoughts on how to follow up well with families after Vacation Bible School

Genius Expert: Plan a Top-Notch Vacation Bible School – Amy shares how your ministry can leverage sign up genius to plan ahead for Vacation Bible School

Planning Vacation Bible School

1. Start right now
2. Pick a great curriculum – Check out Orange's here
3. Make a plan
4. Ask core leaders in your ministry to own different parts
5. Pray
6. Make a plan for follow up

Best Practices for Running Vacation Bible School

1. Do sign ups ahead of time
2. Distribute registration info and details about kids' leaders and groups before the week of
3. Leave room for guests
4. Communicate about a deadline
5. Communicate often what to expect when they arrive
6. Prepare daily emails in advance to send to parents each afternoon, letting them know what their child learned that day
7. Figure out who was there and follow up
8. Network with other leaders in your area

Action Items

1. Check out Orange's resources for VBS
2. Determine the priority for your VBS–evangelism or discipleship
3. Write a plan and develop a timeline for your church's VBS. Save that in a system as you work this year so you can duplicate it next year.

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Louie Lovoy

Connect with Louie on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: louie.lovoy@northpoint.org

North Point Ministries

Links Mentioned in This Episode

North Point Partners – Learn more about North Point's network and strategic partner churches

InsideNorthPoint.org – An overview of how North Point does ministry

Drive Conference – A conference hosted by North Point every two years to help church leaders go further, faster by encouraging, envisioning, and resourcing them

ReGroup Conference – A conference hosted by North Point every two years designed to help church leaders build a vibrant groups culture

The Seven Checkpoints for Student Leaders (book) – Andy Stanley, Stuart Hall, and Louie Giglio share the seven key things student leaders should focus on as they communicate with students throughout middle and high school

Lead Small (book) – The five things every small group leader needs to know

Orange XP3 Curriculum – Orange's curriculum for middle and high school students

Double Dog Dare-A-Thon – A series North Point does every year with students to help them learn about investing in and inviting their friends.

Tony Morgan & The Unstuck Group – Tony Morgan and his team help churches get unstuck, uncover the barriers they are facing, and create a strategic plan for growth. You can take their church life cycle assessment here.

North Point's Student Ministry Camp Rhythm

1. Fall – Bootcamp (6th grade, vertical trip)
2. Fall – Frequency (7th & 8th grade, vertical trip)
3. Fall –

Kevin Jennings

Connect with Kevin on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Call/Text: 615-455-3399

KBJ2.me

Orange

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Think Orange Podcast | ParentCue Podcast | Married People Podcast | Carey Nieuwhof Podcast

Common Mistakes Churches Make in Their Social Media Strategy

• Using social media to replace email, newsletters, bulletins, and handouts
• “Screaming and yelling” (Look what we're doing)
• Providing boring content that is full of info
• Promoting your ministry and events, but not the character or culture of the church and the people
• Recruiting followers but not engaging them
• Using bad designs and graphics

Tools for Your Digital Content and Social Media Strategy

• Canva
• MailChimp
• Squarespace
• Design Pickle
• Pro Church Tools
• Creative Market -download Insta story templates, infographic, logo bundles
• Piktochart
• Fiverr
• Go Weekly

Scheduling Tools for Your Social Media Strategy

• Onlypult
• Hootsuite
• Buffer
• Bulk.ly

Build or Re-create Your Social Media Strategy

• Clarify your purpose and what the win is
• Capture email addresses
• Choose one primary platform and one secondary platform, and give each a purpose
• Operate by the 60-20-20 rule (60% content is about others, 20% is get-to-know and behind-the scenes, 20% is to directly pitch or talk about what you are offering them)

The Five P's of a Social Media Strategy

1. Define the purpose
2. Create a plan
3. Build a process
4. Choose people to be part

Michayla White

Connect with Michayla on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: Michayla.White@incm.org

INCM

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Pew Research – A foundation that seeks to help people and organizations make wise decisions with the support of data

Millennial Parents of Faith and What You Need to Know – A presentation to help educate leaders on millennial parents, who they are, and what matters most to them. Michayla shares the key findings of their survey in this presentation.

5 Things You Can Do to Reach Millennial Parents

1. Value invitation and meet them in the their spaces
2. Care about their marriages
3. Prioritize safety and security in your environments
4. Train volunteers to interact with parents
5. Resource them and allow them to inspire you

INCM Resources

Children's Pastors Conference – Register for CPC19 here

Kidmin.com – Resources for children's ministry leaders

Children's Ministry Certification

Online Events

Webinars

Action Items

1. Review your preschool environment for safety and security
2. Start a focus group of millenial parents

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Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Next Episode: Jim Murphy

Bill Hegedus

Connect with Bill on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: bill@bethlehemchurch.us

Bethlehem Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Children's Pastor's Conference – An opportunity for children's and family ministry leaders to come together, share ideas, be encouraged, and learn from one another. Register for the 2018 conference here, happening January 16-18.

Grapple – Curriculum for preteen ministry from Group that is primarily question based

252 Preteen – Orange's curriculum for preteen ministry

Bethlehem Church's Preteen House Party: Details/Ideas

1. Food
2. Obstacle course
3. Laser tag
4. Build your own light saber area
5. Video game arcade
6. Virtual reality flight simulator
7. Glow in the dark nails
8. Dance  party
9. Building an android

Action Items

1. Evaluate what you do for preteen kids at your church
2. Test run an event or camp for that age group at your church
3. Check out curriculum specific to preteens

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Alston Causey

Connect with Alston on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Gwinnett UpStreet Facebook | Gwinnett UpStreet Instagram

Email: alston.causey@gwinnettchurch.org

Gwinnett Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

7 Practices of Effective Ministry (book) – Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, and Lane Jones walk through seven key things you can do to help your ministry win

Making Vision Stick (book) – Andy Stanley shares the three reasons why vision leaks, and the three things you can do to help vision stick

Volunteer Win Statements – Check out the win statements, or one-sentence job descriptions, for Gwinnett UpStreet production volunteers

Volunteer Survey – The volunteer survey the Gwinnett UpStreet team sent to all of their volunteer leaders to learn what would make serving in UpStreet a more remarkable experience

Creating an Irresistible Volunteer Culture

1. Limit the span of care to a reasonable number
2. Ask leaders to commit more to less things
3. Hold very few meetings
4. Pay their way to all camps and events
5. Host a VIP room for them every Sunday
6. Give them strategic Sundays off
7. Shower them with free t-shirts and swag

Onboarding in UpStreet

1. Orientation—Vision and overview of Upstreet
2. Interview–Get to know them on a personal level
3. Training – Train them in the specific role, and have them shadow another leader
4. Plug them in!

Action Items

1. Examine your communication with volunteers and look at it through a “for vs. from” filter. Ask yourself: How much am I asking from them, and how much am I doing for them?
2. Try doing the Remarkable Experiment for a month or a couple of months with your volunteers
3. Send out a survey to your volunteers to help you learn what would make serving a remarkable experience for them
4. Evaluate your win statements, or begin crafting a few for your different volunteer roles

Alison Leamon

Connect with Alison on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: aleamon@prestontrail.org

Preston Trail Community Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

First Look – Orange's preschool strategy and curriculum

Stop Recruiting, Start Retaining (book) – Christine Kreisher, Darren Kizer, and Steph Whitacre share four strategies that they believe are the secret sauce to retaining volunteers and creating an environment that they don't feel like they have to be in, but that they want to be in

Episode 003: Volunteers: Stop Recruiting, Start Retaining With Christine Kreisher

Onboarding Process

1. Phone interview
2. Test drive
3. In-classroom training
4. Family Ministry orientation
5. Regular training events (Ex: Orange Tour)

Baby Dedication Process

1. Parent orientation (1 month out)
2. Parents write letters to children
3. Baby Dedication program (Saturday morning message and celebration)

Action Items

1. Consider moving to weekly volunteers
2. Evaluate the Large Group/Small Group format of your preschool ministry
3. Think through your Parent Child Dedication, and ask yourself: “What are we doing really well?” and “What could we do better?”

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Leave a rating and a co

Andrae Jones

Connect with Andrae on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: Andrae.Jones@visitonecc.com

One Community Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Orange – Books, blogs, and other resources for leadership development

GoWeekly – Check out Orange's resources for connecting with and investing in volunteers

Designed to Lead – Eric Geiger and Kevin Peck argue that the church wins when it values and creates a culture of leadership development

Leading Not Normal Volunteers – Sue Miller and Adam Duckworth share the secret sauce to leading your team and showing them the difference they can make

New Kind of Leader – Reggie Joiner talks about how to lead from the belief that the greatest impact happens when the church and family partner together

Leadership Development Ideas (Plus a FREE small group resource based on Craig Groeschel's Chazown) – Ideas for church leaders as they develop volunteers. Check out a step-by-step small group guide, with content from Craig Groeschel's Chazown.

Children's Ministry and Youth Ministry Staffing Ratios – Over 700 churches took this survey to help tease out the question: Are you overstaffed, understaffed, or just right?

Leadership Development at One Community

1. 1-year leadership development college–Participants attend for 2 semesters, meet twice a month, read 7 books, write papers, serve weekly, and learn from other churches
2. 2-week coaching session for kidmin volunteers
3. 5-week leadership course for kidmin volunteers

Action Items

1. Start somewhere–Train one person or invite multiple people to a leadership training group
2. Don't say “no” for someone. Always make the ask, call out their gifts, and invite them into something bigger

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Scott Magdalein

Connect with Scott on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

TrainedUp.Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Volunteer Onboarding Process

1. Person fills out a signup card or interest form
2. Follow up with a phone call
3. Send them pre-qualified online training or invite them to an orientation meeting
4. Run a background check
5. Have a designated person meet them for their First Serve Sunday
6. Follow up with a phone call or conversation–ask how it went and if they are still interested
7. Send them back to online training for skills and best practices
8. Schedule them to begin serving
9. Send a survey after a month or so to find out how they are doing in their role

How TrainedUp.Church Works:

• Training videos 2-5 minutes long
• Includes a webcam feature where you can record right there or upload videos
• Access to a library of ready-made courses (series of videos with follow up questions)
• Ability to track volunteer progress
• Automated reminder emails to complete courses

Action Items

1. Evaluate your onboarding process. If you do not have one, being to build that.
2. Check out TrainedUp.Church and other online training platforms for volunteers

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Lisa Molite

Connect with Lisa on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

ReadySetSunday.com

Email: Lisa@readysetsunday.com

Community Christian Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Michael Hyatt Productivity Assessment – Check out Michael Hyatt's free webinar, The Seven Deadly Sins of Productivity

Orange

Ready Set Sunday Webinar – You can check out the webinar we did with Lisa on irresistible environments right here.

System Overhaul Series – Lisa shares how she built a team and process for creating monthly sets

Favorite Tools | Key Tips |  Must Have Supplies

Monthly Environment Blog Post Highlights

October 2017: Stewardship (Use It Or Lose It) – Brainstorming and ideas for the October set

September 2017: Friendship (Lunch Room) – In-process and the final product for the Life App of Friendship

Summer 2017: Uniqueness (Gadgets and Gizmos) – Evaluating the summer environment

Check out specific processes for creating a circus tent, super-sizing objects, and creating a VW bus!

Action Items

1. Check out ReadySetSunday.com and subscribe to the blog
2. Follow ready set sunday on social media
3. Collaborate with others eac

Gina McClain

Connect with Gina on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: Gina@ginamcclain.com

GinaMcClain.com

Faith Promise Church

Jessica Bealer

Connect with Jessica on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

FamilyMinistry.Church

Orange

Don't Quit Book

Don't Quit – Gina and Jessica explore practical ways you can intentionally build a structure and strategy that gives you hope and resilience in difficult seasons. Be sure to leave a rating and review-this really helps get it in front of other leaders.

Don'tQuitBook.com – Get the book and other free resources and customizable downloads that Jessica and Gina use on a weekly basis in their ministries.

Action Items

1. Get the book here
2. Use it as a guide to work on your ministry
3. Try to walk through 1-2 chapters a week, applying the practical steps they lay out each week

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Brad Griffin

Connect with Brad on Facebook and Twitter

Fuller Youth Institute

One Year Anniversary

The One Year Anniversary of the podcast is Tuesday, May 16th. You won't want to miss this episode! Like NickBlevins.com on Facebook and check your email for giveaways and more info as it approaches. I'll also be doing a special Q&A episode, where I answer a lot of questions that you've sent in throughout the year. If you'd like to submit a question, email me at nick@nickblevins.com, send it on Twitter @nickblevins, or click the “Ask a Question” button on the right side of this page to leave a message. I'd love to hear from you!

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Growing Young (book) – Dr. Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin dive into the six essential strategies that help churches reach young people and create churches they love to attend

ChurchesGrowingYoung.com – Check out more resources for Growing Young

FREE Assessment – See where your church lands with regards to the six core strategies

Kara Powell and Carey Nieuwhof talk Growing Young – Carey Nieuwhof interviews Dr. Kara Powell about what she has discovered about what matters and what doesn't when it comes to reaching young people

Sticky Faith (book) – Dr. Kara Powell and Dr. Chap Clark talk about the relationships and best practices required to help young people develop long-term faith

Growing Young Found that These Things Didn't Matter

1. Church size
2. Church age
3. Location or region of the country
4. Denomination

A Strategy of Disproportionate Prioritization

1. Intentionally pay attention to young people
2. Support and equip parents

The LCBC Team

Connect with LCBC on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

LCBC Church

Jason Sheaffer: Director of kidMinistry at LCBC

Sonja Waltman: Executive Director of Ministries

Chad Herman: Central Director of Student Ministry

Children & Youth Ministry Staff/Volunteer Survey

The results are in! Thanks to everyone who participated in the Children & Youth Ministry Staff/Volunteer Survey. Click here for highlights, a list of the prize winners, and a link to take the survey if you would like to add your church's data and receive the full results.

Notes From This Episode

Volunteer Onboarding Process

1. Give potential volunteer a tour
2. Potential volunteer chooses an area where they are interested in serving
3. Set up a time for them to observe and apprentice under an expert volunteer
4. Application process and background check
5. Attend orientation
6. New volunteer is placed

Action Items

1. If you are part of a multi-site family ministry, compare your church's model to LCBC. Ask: What do you like more about what they do? What do you like more about what you do? Why do you do things this way?
2. Talk with your team about how you can define roles in your ministry that will maximize content creation and relationship building
3. Begin to create or refine your volunteer on boarding process for this year

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Next Episode: Tom Pounder

In the next episode, I talk with Tom Pounder. Tom is the Student Minister at

Sam Luce

Connect with Sam on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

SamLuce.com

Redeemer Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

“Pastor Success Is Not Your Goal” – Sam talks about fighting the urge for success and seeking faithfulness

The Confessions of St. Augustine (book) – St. Augustine shares his story of redemption in a way that is both personal and universal

True Spirituality (book) – Francis Schaeffer wrestles with the question “Did Christianity really make any difference in my life?”

The Summit – A worldview training camp for high school kids

Systematic Theology Books

Ages 2-5: Everything a Child Should Know About God

Ages 5-9: The Ology: Ancient Truths, Ever New

Ages 9-13: Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God

Ages 13+: Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith

Action Items

1. Evaluate your ministry. Ask some hard questions about where your ministry is living in that tension between entertainment and discipleship
2. Have a conversation with parents who have been in your ministry for a long time and get their perspectives on where the ministry is
3. Check out the list above for the books that Sam uses to partner with parents

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers u

Bill Hegedus

Connect with Bill on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: bill@bethlehemchurch.us

Bethlehem Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Failing Forward (book) – Change the way you look at failure as you read John C. Maxwell's thoughts on turning mistakes into stepping stones

Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions (book) – George Barna emphasizes the importance of the church coming alongside parents so that the kids of today will lead the church of tomorrow

Slow Fade (book) – Check out Reggie Joiner's book all about how to help high school students transition into their twenties

Just a Phase – The Phase summary handouts are a great resource to give parents. Consider pairing them with a print piece of books and websites parents can go to for help on specific topics.

Curriculum – Orange | Grapple | The Gospel Project | D6Family | Preteen Ministry

NickBlevins.com/MasterMind – Let me know if you're interested in joining a group so that we can learn and grow together

Action Items

1. Gather volunteers and ask what your kids and students need
2. Recruit a team of people to invest in curriculum
3. Consider using a specific curriculum for the preteens in your ministry

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast

Josh Griffin

Connect with Josh on Twitter and Instagram

DownloadYouthMinistry.com

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Purpose Driven Youth Ministry (book) – Check out Doug Fields' nine principles on how to grow your youth ministry

Speaking to Teenagers (book) – Doug Fields and Duffy Robbins offer practical advice on how to effectively communicate with teenagers

Made to Stick (book) – Learn how to craft messages that people will retain

Blink (book) – Understand how your brain works as you teach and interact with others

Dugout App – This app helps form prayer groups as students are “drafted” and have “coaches” that invest in and pray for them

Annual Teaching Plan for Students

1. Relationships
2. Parents
3. Sex
4. Cover an entire book of the Bible

Tips for Teaching by Topic

1. Take breaks from series
2. Never do a series that is longer than 4-5 weeks
3. Know your basic teaching plan for the year so that you can collect ideas
4. Invite students and volunteers into the conversation

Creating an Engaging Teaching Experience

1. Know your audience and plan your message length accordingly
2. If you can't say it in thirty minutes, you didn't plan well
3. Every seven minutes, create a moment of pause, laughter, or relief
4. Use students and volunteers as other voices
5. Involve the different senses

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Next Episode: Nina Schmidgall

In the

Ben Kerns

Connect with Ben on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: BenjaminKerns@gmail.com

AverageYouthMinistry.com

Marin Covenant Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Holy Parenting: Making the Common Sacred (book)

From the Pen to the Palace: A Youth Ministry Evangelism and Discipleship Strategy for a Post-Christian Culture (book)

Average Youth Ministry (book)

Posts About Plan for High School Seniors

“The Myth of Senioritis” (blog post)

“Helping Seniors Develop a Faith That Is Ready for College” (blog post)

“How Do We Advise Our Students Who Are Dealing With Those College Rejection Letters?” (blog post)

More Resources

“Why Are Kids So Apathetic These Days?” (blog post)

“Are You Emotionally Ready for the Spring Drop Off?” (blog post)

Free Weekly Devotionals for Student Ministry – Check out all of Ben's past weekly devotionals, including devotionals on the books of Colossians, Ephesians, John, and the Ten Commandments

The End of Absolutes: America's New Moral Code (article) – Barna Group research shows that only 59% of adult Americans strongly agree that  “the Bible provides us with absolute moral truths which are the same for all people in all situations, without exception”

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Rob Cizek

NorthShore Christian Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Orange

Interview Matrix

StrengthsFinder 2.0

DISC Personality Test

Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis Assessment

StephenCovey.com – Check out Dr. Stephen Covey's books for wisdom in leadership: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People | The 8th Habit | Everyday Greatness | Leader in Me 

How To Get Along With Your Pastor

1. Seek first to understand before being understood
2. Empathize with your pastor
3. Create trust
4. Don’t be a silo
5. Give 100% support in public
6. Bring solutions, not problems
7. Figure out the best time to approach
8. Share success stories with your pastor
9. Be on time
10. Be prepared
11. Start the job well
12. Leave the job well

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Next Episode: Ben Kerns

In the next episode, I interview Ben Kerns, Student Pastor and writer behind averageyouthministry.com. I talk with Ben about the challenges he's seeing in student ministry and how he's tackling them at his church. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss it!

Cindy Fiala

Connect with Cindy on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Preston Trail Community Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Watermark – Check out Watermark Church's Marriage Ministry and resources

Marriagehelp.org

Preston Trail Family Ministry Org Charts

Just Lead (book)

JustAPhase.com

Additional Links Related to This Episode

Gifted to Lead (book)

Church Unique (book)

Auxano – Church Vision Consulting and Campaigns

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Next Episode: Chris Wesley

In the next episode, I talk with Christopher Wesley, the Youth Minister at Church of the Nativity, a Catholic Church right in the same county I'm in here in Maryland. Church of the Nativity does an amazing job holding to Catholic traditions and practices while pushing the envelope to reach people who are not a part of any church. Primarily, however, we talk with Chris about having a strategy for youth ministry. Subscribe so you don't miss it!

Eric Bryant

Connect with Eric on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

Gateway Church

Ministry Boost FREE Webinar

Ministry Boost recently launched – an organization led by myself, Kenny Conley, and Kevin Monahan dedicated to helping you fast forward growth in your ministry through training and consulting for ministry leaders. We'll also be offering coaching in partnership with YouLead Coaching.

Register for our FREE Webinar, Thursday, August 23, from 1-4PM EST here.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

EricBryant.org

Not Like Me

Resources

The Church Growth Summit

Action Items

1. Get the book
2. Evaluate your ministry in light of the book
3. Do something to help volunteers learn how to help kids/students belong before they believe

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Heidi Hensley

Connect with Heidi on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

HeidiMHensley.com

Bayside Church

Notes From This Episode

Bayside Church First Time Family Gift – Look for this in the first time family gift resource coming soon on my blog.

Firing a Volunteer: Having the Conversation

These conversations are best to have face-to-face and should take a month at minimum.

1. Identify that someone has an issue
2. Have a conversation with them
3. Monitor the situation and see if anything improves
4. Train them and invest in them
5. Move seats on the bus–see if another position would fit their gift set better
6. Talk with them and reassess the situation. Ask: Should I connect you to another ministry? At this point, it is reassessing to dismiss.
7. Give it two more weeks, and then have another conversation. Either affirm that things have improved or ask them to step down.

Controversial Topics: Having the Conversation

Consider having a code of conduct that anyone serving in a ministry signs. This code of conduct can essentially say that volunteers understand they are held to a higher standard, and that they will not pursue certain lifestyles while serving.

1. Say that you need to take some time and have other conversations
2. Know what your church believes and their doctrine
3. Know how to articulate the beliefs of your church
4. Prepare yourself for conversations by talking with other church leadership
5. Have a script in your head when you go back to the person, and always leave room for grace to work

Action Items

1. Think through your new family follow-up process. Remember to consider the adult follow-up system already in place in your church.
2. Have the conversation to make things right.

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Next Episode: Tom Shefchunas

In the next episode, I interview Tom Shefchunas. Tom is the Multi Campus Middle School Director at North Point Ministries

Kerri-Ann Hayes

Connect with Kerri-Ann on Facebook | Instagram |  Email

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Episode Notes

Notes Coming Soon

Action Items

1. Get Kerri-Ann's book
2. Find someone who knows this – learn
3. Train your team

Ministry Boost Coaching is back!

Click here to check out the amazing benefits of coaching groups with Ministry Boost.

Multiply Ministry Conference – All-Access Pass

Click here to get the All-Access Pass to get access to the Multiply Ministry Conference replays of every main session and breakout. Over 30 sessions of content about empowering volunteers.

Get Exclusive Content from this Week's Episode

Use the form below to subscribe to my email list where you’ll get an email each Tuesday when a new podcast comes out. That email will also include something exclusive related to the podcast that’s not found in the post or in the episode.

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Special Sponsor: Clearstream

This episode is sponsored by Clearstream. Clearstream.io works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community B

Frank Bealer

Connect with Frank on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

MythofBalance.com

Orange

Win a FREE Copy of The Myth of Balance

Like @nickblevinsblog on Facebook, and I'll pick 5 people from that page this week to receive FREE copies of The Myth of Balance!

Links Mentioned in This Episode

The Myth of Balance Workshop Series – Beginning July 10, join Frank for an 8-week workshop as he guides you through each chapter of the book, hosts Q&A's, fosters group conversations, and gives practical resources

Creativity Inc (book) – Ed Catmull, the co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios, shares key principles about creativity in business and leadership

You Lead Coaching – An initiative dedicated to coaching leaders via themed teaching, discussion groups, and projects within their own churches and organizations

New Resources from Orange

1. You Lead Coaching
2. Orange Leaders Blog
3. Think Orange Podcast
4. New Parent Cue App
5. Preteen Curriculum (coming soon)
6. Revamping kids' curriculum (coming soon)
7. Worship resource (coming soon)

Action Items

1. Let go of the myth that you can balance family and ministry
2. Get

One Year Celebration

Congratulations to Jhark423 for winning the $50 Amazon Gift Card. Thanks for the rating and review you left on iTunes, and for listening and learning along with us!

If you'd like a chance to win a copy of Carey Nieuwhof's course, High Impact Leader, check out The Ultimate Guide to Productivity, and leave a comment with your name and a tool, app, or best practice that helps you stay productive. On Friday, we will randomly choose one person who commented to win Carey's awesome resource.

The Five Questions

1. How do you train volunteers when time is limited? What are some practical ideas for when you are training volunteers? And, what does it look like to train volunteers in a digital age? Start Time: 9:35
2. How do you recruit and develop coaches, or volunteers who lead other volunteers? Start Time: 19:37
3. What are some ways you can measure and determine whether or not you are winning in ministry? Start Time: 37:25
4. What are some suggestions or best practices when following up with new families? Start Time: 48:57
5. How do you navigate leading in a role, or in a church, that is not what you expected? Start Time: 56:30

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Question #1: Training Volunteers

1. Develop a good onboarding process. Download our Volunteer Onboarding Process,  Application and Background Check Email, Volunteer Application, Volunteer Reference Email, Volunteer Reference Form, Volunteer Interview Questions, Orientation Book, and 6 Week Follow-Up to help you get started.
   1. Cast vision and answer, “Why does this matter? Why should you serve on this team? And, what is the difference you can make?“
   2. Clarify and communicate the fundamentals of your environment, ministry policies, and security procedures
   3. Pair them with an expert volunteer and allow them to apprentice for six weeks
   4. Have conversations throughout the process to see if the role they are pursuing, or the ministry environment, is a good fit for them
2. Create a culture where the leaders who lead a group of volunteers have one-on-ones with them. These meetings allow for personal care and leadership development. (Check out Episode 041 with Allyson Evans for some great thoughts on leadership development)
3. Hold trainings (Read the 7 Keys to an Effective Volunteer Training System here a

Dale Hudson

Connect with Dale on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: dalehudsoncm2@gmail.com

RelevantChildrensMinistry.com

Share Your Staffing & Volunteer Ratios

I’m running a survey of church leaders to see what their staffing and volunteer ratios are like and I’d love your input. I’m also giving away 25 prizes worth almost $2,500 as motivation.

Click here to see the post and complete the survey

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Christ Fellowship Church – A multi-site, multi-ethnic congregation in South Florida that's all about helping people draw closer to God

If Disney Ran Your Children's Ministry (book) – Dale Hudson, Bruce Barry, and Justyn Smith share ten keys from Disney's success that will help you build the ministry you've always dreamed about

“5 Things You're Saying to Guest Families That You Shouldn't Say” (blogpost) – Check out Dale's post for five key phrases you should not be using with guest families

Volunteer Onboarding Process at Christ Fellowship Church

1. Family Ministry staff attend final week of members' class and follow up with people who express interest in serving
2. Potential volunteers fill out applications
3. Conduct personal interviews
4. Run background checks
5. Invite them to a volunteer orientation
6. Hand-off to individual areas for specific training

Action Items

1. Get If Disney Ran Your Children's Ministry and walk through each of the ten key points
2. Be intentional about getting stories and sharing them with your team
3. Begin the practice of a pre-service huddle or circle up. Be intentional about that time and plan the teaching that will occur–some motivational, spiritual, and practical.

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-wor

Jeff Reed

Connect with Jeff on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: jeffrey.reed@lifeway.com

The Church at Spring Hill

Share Your Staffing & Volunteer Ratios

I'm running a survey of church leaders to see what their staffing and volunteer ratios are like and I'd love your input. I'm also giving away 25 prizes worth almost $2,500 as motivation.

Click here to see the post and complete the survey

Links Mentioned in This Episode

LifeWay Kids – Great #kidmin resources, supplies, music, and more from the LifeWay store

The Gospel Project – Small group and large group curriculum that walks through Scripture chronologically, telling every story in the context of the Good News about Jesus

Included in the Gospel Project:

• 3-year teaching plan
• Preschool and elementary curriculum small group and large group curriculum
• Large group curriculum includes Bible story videos, scripts for live storytelling, worship songs with videos, and graphics
• Gospel Project for Kids Family App
• Parent handouts with activities and questions
• Social media plan
• Free weekly online training for upcoming lesson

Etch Conference – A new conference designed to excite, engage, and inspire Kids, Student, NextGen, and Family Ministry teams. Click here to register for the 2017 conference.

Action Items

1. Spend time evaluating your current curriculum and exploring other options. Look for curriculum that unpacks the Bible in a practical way that kids can understand.
2. Consider structuring your children's environment around small groups where leaders sit in circles with kids.
3. Recruit leaders and ask them to be that second voice in a kid's life while partnering with parents.
4. Develop a training process where you teach your leaders how to practically lead kids in conversation from week to week.
5. Check out the Gospel Project and invest in the different resources it has to offer (curriculum, worship, training videos).

Subscribe | Share | Rate | Comment

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or 

Anthony Prince

Connect with Anthony on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Newhope Church

Share Your Staffing & Volunteer Ratios

I'm running a survey of church leaders to see what their staffing and volunteer ratios are like and I'd love your input. I'm also giving away 25 prizes worth almost $2,500 as motivation.

Click here to see the post and complete the survey

Links Mentioned in This Episode

MinistryArchitects.com – A consulting firm that helps churches create systems for sustainability

Sustainable Youth Ministry (book) – Mark DeVries shares the main reasons most youth ministries fail and points leaders to questions and structures that will help them thrive

Staff and Volunteer Ratios

1. 1 full-time staff equivalent for every 75 kids
2. 1 full-time staff equivalent for every 50 students
3. 1 (present) volunteer for every 5 kids and students

Percentage of Kids

1. Kids should make up 15% of your church
2. If you are under 10%, your church is probably dying
3. After 25%, the ministry is unsustainable

Percentage of Students

1. Students should make up 10% of your church
2. If you are under 5%, your church is probably dying
3. After 20%, the ministry is unsustainable

Budget Benchmarks

1. A sustainable budget is based on $1000 per kid/student
2. Budgets include staffing dollars and program dollars

Pay The Rent

1. Numbers: Are you at 10% students and 15% kids?
2. Programs: Do the families in your church know what programs are offered?
3. Enthusiasm: If the people who work in your ministry were asked to describe it, would they use positive or negative terms?

Action Items

1. Have a conversation with your leadership and identify how many families you want to be able to care for.
2. Determine what your current staff, volunteer, and budget ratios are. Begin building your volunteer base, then hire staff, and then make budget requests.
3. Ask: What systems are broken? Pick one and commit to fixing it.
4. Walk through the steps of “paying the rent.”
5. Reach out to Anthony and consider connecting your church with Ministry Architects.

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Matt Guevara

Connect with Matt on Facebook | Twitter

Email: Matt.Guevara@incm.org

INCM.org

Links Mentioned in This Episode

KidMin.com – Check out Dispatch for ministry tools and resources to help you grow as a leader and implement new ideas

ChildrensPastorsConference.com – Register before August 15 for the 2017 conference and save $100

CPC+ – Sign up for two-day training webinars

Practical Ways to Focus on Your Relationship With God

1. Remind yourself of the importance of being rooted in God as a leader. Read Psalm 71 and Isaiah 61.
2. Have a tough conversation with yourself. Ask: Where am I?
3. Have a conversation with your senior leadership. Ask: Am I getting into a corporate worship session on a regular basis?
4. Find a version of the Bible that you enjoy reading.
5. Establish a regular reading plan. Check out the YouVersion Bible App and Scripture Union for reading plans.
6. Find an accountability partner who is at the same level.
7. Get out of the office – find silence and solitude.

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Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

Next Episode: Rob Cizek

In the next episode, I interview Rob Cizek, the

Kristen Ivy

Connect with Kristen on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

JustAPhase.com

Orange Leaders

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Phase Resources for Leaders – Check out Phase Summaries, Phase Cards, Phase Videos, a Phase Graphics Kit, and other resources to leverage each phase

Just a Phase Blog – Subscribe to the blog and you will automatically receive the Phase maps

It's Just a Phase – So Don't Miss It (book) – Challenges church leaders to care for each child at every phase

Phase Resources for Parents – Point parents to resources like the Legacy Marble Jar and the Legacy Marble App

Movie Lists – Movie suggestions for kids in each phase

Don't Miss It: Parent Like Every Week Counts (book) – Encourages and teaches parents to make every week count

Zero to One: Parenting Through The “I Need You Now” Phase (book) – The first in a series of books to help parents make the most of each phase

Click here to register for Orange Conference 2017

BigStuf.com

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Dr. Kara Powell

Connect with Kara on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Ministry Boost

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Fuller Youth Institute

Growing Young book

Growing Young assessment

Growing With book

Three Age Categories for Teenagers/Young Adults (but hold them loosely)

• Learners – 13-18-year-olds
  • Experiencing rapid growth in numerous areas and newness in relationships and faith
• Explorers – 18-23-year-olds
  • Excited about the future but unsure about themselves
• Focusers – 23-29-year-olds
  • Adopting a clearer sense of self

Three Parenting Stages for these Categories

• Learner – needs a parent who is a TEACHER
  • Hands-on parenting focused on self-reflection, self-discipline, and collaboration
• Explorer – parent transitions from a teacher to a GUIDE
  • Figuring out when your teenager needs guidance and when “they've got it”
• Focuser – parents become RESOUCERS

Growing With VERBS

1. • WITHing – parents are urged to be “a wall” that kids can return to when they are ready (swimming analogy)
   • FAITHing – owning and embodying our journeys with God as we encounter new experiences and information
   • ADULTing – our child's growth in agency as they embrace opportunities to shape the world around them

Action Items

1. Read Growing With
2. Resources from Growing Wit

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is on sale now! Buy the book or find more info by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Action Items

1. Block out two-time blocks
2. Get accountability
3. Use the framework from the book

Ministry Boost Membership is available!

To learn more about how to build a healthy volunteer culture, check out Ministry Boost Membership.

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To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

Special Sponsor: Clearstream

This episode is sponsored by Clearstream. Clearstream.io works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. You can get started on a free-trial, and if you're with a new church plant under 1 year old can use Clearstream free for 12 months.

Kim Botto

Connect with Kim via Instagram | Kimbotto.com

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book is out! Buy the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Episode Notes

• Understanding children's backgrounds is crucial for effective ministry.
• Practical strategies are essential in children's ministry.
• Connection before correction leads to better outcomes.
• Volunteers need training to handle diverse behaviors.
• Creating a safe environment is vital for children with trauma.
• Fidgets should be viewed as tools for regulation.
  • Fidgets can be beneficial for preschoolers with sensory needs.
• Visual schedules help children feel secure.
• Empathy is key in responding to children's needs.
  • Every child deserves to feel valued and understood.
  • Engaging with parents requires empathy and understanding of their challenges.
  • Effective communication with parents can foster a positive relationship.
  • Building community support is crucial for families with neurodivergent children.
• Creating an inclusive environment requires understanding children's needs.
  • Sensory rooms can support neurodivergent children while promoting inclusion.
• Invisible disabilities often lead to behavioral challenges that need addressing.

Connect with the Authors

Shelley Donaldson: Facebook | Twitter |Instagram | Email | TheTravellingTheologian.com

Gemma Dunning: Facebook | Twitter | GemmaDunning.com

Nick Elio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | NickElio.com

Mark Oestreicher: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Email | WhyIsMarko.com

Eric Woods: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |  EricDWoods.com

Links Mentioned in This Episode

4 Views on Pastoring LGBTQ Teenagers

4 Views on Pastoring LGBTQ Teenagers (Kindle Edition)

TheYouthCartel.com

What should I do when LGBTQ teenagers in my ministry come out to me?

1. Remember you are ministering to people
2. Know that you’re the first resource to offer
3. Understand that your role is is to remind them they are loved by God, they are loved by you, you're there for them, and you want them there
4. Affirm their courage in telling you
5. Be honest about where

Chris Sasser

Connect with Chris on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Follow The Parent Network on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: chris.sasser@portcitychurch.org

Port City Community Church

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Ministry Architects – A team of church leaders who want to help you develop a clear plan for your ministry (One of the ways they do this is by helping you facilitate focus groups in your church)

The Phase Project – A project dedicated to helping parents understand and leverage each phase of their child’s life

The Parent Network – A hub for all the parents of Port City Community Church who have plugged into The Parent Network. This is the primary place where resources for parents are shared. Some content is original, and other content is pulled from sites like Orange, D6Family.com, and AllProDad.com.

Parent Network Podcast – A podcast that the Family Ministry of Port City Community Church started for the parents and families in their church

4 Components of The Parent Network

1. Events for parents (2 big events/year and a few topical seminars)
2. Events for parents and kids (4/year)
3. Resources (Shared on the church's website)