KidMin with Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia: Recent Episodes
KidMinDoctor
Welcome to the KidMin podcast with Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia where we talk about everything kid min...and pull back the curtain on some of the surprises and challenges in children’s ministry that nobody prepares you for!
In our final installment of the Ask the Experts series for this season, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia asked our experts to give a few words of encouragement for our ministry leaders. We know from experience, there are difficult days that come when you are not sure how your will continue in your calling. Listen in on those days, and take heart that you are not alone.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #leadership #difficultdays # discouragement #encouragingwords
Dr. Ken Coley, a Senior Professor of Christian Education at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Contact Dr. Coley at:
kcoley@sebrs.edu
Helmsman.org
Resources:
Teaching for Change
Ken Coley
https://a.co/d/6Pateym
Transformational Teaching: Instructional Design for Christian Educators
Kenneth S. Coley, Deborah L. MacCullough, Martha E. MacCullough
https://a.co/d/3JIFgWg
Growing with One Another
Tyler Groves, Kenneth S. Coley
https://a.co/d/1baAn92
Sam Luce is the Executive Pastor of Ministries at Redeemer Church in Utica, NY, where he's served for nearly 30 years, focusing primarily on next-generation ministry.
Links Website: http://samluce.com
Substack: https://samluce.substack.com/
Instagram: @samluce
Facebook: @samluce
Twitter/X: @samluce
Amazon: Author Page
Hunter Williams is the children's pastor of Ridgedale Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN and cohost of the Cross Formed KidMin podcast.
Training and Coaching Website:
https://sites.google.com/view/hunter-williams-training/home
How to Teach Kids Theology: Deep Truths for Growing Faith
Dr. Teresa Roberts is Professor of Ministry and Christian Formation, Program Director of Children’s Ministry, and a vice president at Ozark Christian College. She is an expert in children’s spiritual formation training with more than 30 years of ministry experience.
Dr. Roberts holds a Master of Arts in Family and Youth Ministry, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry. She serves in children’s ministry at Carterville Christian Church where she attends with her husband and step-daughter.
Website: www.DrTeresaRoberts.com
Email: teresawelchroberts@gmail.com
Book available: all major booksellers
NavPress (publisher)
https://www.navpress.com/p/raising-disciples/9781641588638
See "Related Sites and Resources" for the free 8-week Parenting Discipleship Curriculum/Small Group Guide
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, 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. You can connect with David and more of his ministry resources at https://davidreneau.org
Next Level Kidmin: The Children's Pastor's Practical Guide to Building a Thriving Ministry
https://www.davidreneau.org/next-level-kidmin-book
Rev. Kayla Smith is the Associate Director of Reach Hurting Kids Institute and serves at Trevecca Community Church of the Nazarene as Pastor of Intergenerational Discipleship.
reachhurtingkids.com/workshop
kayla@reachhurtingkids.com
As children's ministry leaders, we are always recruiting volunteers, those extra hands to help in a classroom with the kids. Teenagers attending your church's student ministry are often willing to volunteer and that can be a blessing, not just for the kids in your ministry, but for the teenagers as well. In this episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss how to prepare teenagers for success and how to create policies for everyone to have the best possible experience.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #volunteers #recruitment #studentministry #teenagers
Sometimes we face major changes within our church - it may be a staff member change, a new building, or a major change in a program that can cause conflict or concern for the entire church family. In this episode of our Ask the Expert series, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia ask guests visiting the podcast for their advice on how to lead our ministries well in the face of a big change.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #change #leadership
Dr. Ken Coley, a Senior Professor of Christian Education at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Contact Dr. Coley at:
kcoley@sebrs.edu
Helmsman.org
Resources:
Teaching for Change
Ken Coley
https://a.co/d/6Pateym
Transformational Teaching: Instructional Design for Christian Educators
Kenneth S. Coley, Deborah L. MacCullough, Martha E. MacCullough
https://a.co/d/3JIFgWg
Growing with One Another
Tyler Groves, Kenneth S. Coley
https://a.co/d/1baAn92
Sam Luce is the Executive Pastor of Ministries at Redeemer Church in Utica, NY, where he's served for nearly 30 years, focusing primarily on next-generation ministry.
Links Website: http://samluce.com
Substack: https://samluce.substack.com/
Instagram: @samluce
Facebook: @samluce
Twitter/X: @samluce
Amazon: Author Page
Hunter Williams is the children's pastor of Ridgedale Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN and cohost of the Cross Formed KidMin podcast.
Training and Coaching Website:
https://sites.google.com/view/hunter-williams-training/home
How to Teach Kids Theology: Deep Truths for Growing Faith
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, 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. You can connect with David and more of his ministry resources at https://davidreneau.org
Next Level Kidmin: The Children's Pastor's Practical Guide to Building a Thriving Ministry
https://www.davidreneau.org/next-level-kidmin-book
Weekday Ministries can be a wonderful way to serve families, build relationships in your community, and create opportunities for discipleship - but how do you know it is the right ministry for your church? In this episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss the questions ministry leaders need to ask before starting a Parent's Day Out, Preschool, Before/After School Care, or Christian School. Although this episode does not provide an exhaustive list as you consider this ministry, the goal is to give you a place to begin and important issues to consider.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #weekdayministry #parentsdayout #daycare #beforeandafterschoolcare #christianschool #christianeducation
In this installment of our Ask the Expert series Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia talk with our experts about how we can better minister to kids that come from hard places, are in difficult situations, and have big behaviors.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #trauma #classroommanagement #familyministry
Sam Luce is the Executive Pastor of Ministries at Redeemer Church in Utica, NY, where he's served for nearly 30 years, focusing primarily on next-generation ministry.
Links Website: http://samluce.com
Substack: https://samluce.substack.com/
Instagram: @samluce
Facebook: @samluce
Twitter/X: @samluce
Hunter Williams is the children's pastor of Ridgedale Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN and cohost of the Cross Formed KidMin podcast.
Training and Coaching Website: https://sites.google.com/view/hunter-williams-training/home
How to Teach Kids Theology: Deep Truths for Growing Faith
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, 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.
You can connect with David and more of his ministry resources at https://davidreneau.org Next Level Kidmin: The Children's Pastor's Practical Guide to Building a Thriving Ministry https://www.davidreneau.org/next-level-kidmin-book
Rev. Kayla Smith is the Associate Director of Reach Hurting Kids Institute and serves at Trevecca Community Church of the Nazarene as Pastor of Intergenerational Discipleship.
reachhurtingkids.com/workshop kayla@reachhurtingkids.com
After an unintended break, we are back this week with a new episode! Sometimes we find ourselves teaching a large group of kids with a wide variety of ages. Whether it is children's worship, chapel, or a special event - it can be difficult to keep the attention of kids when you have to prepare for more than one age group meeting together. Today, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia share some tips and tricks for keeping a large multi-age group engaged and active during your lesson.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #largegroup #teachingtips #multiagegroups #kidsworship #kidschapel #childrensministryspecialevent #activelearning
In Children's Ministry there is always something to prepare, organize, set up, or clean! There are so many potential new volunteers in your church family that have just the skills to help lighten the load. In this episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia share some tasks they have learned to delegate and make suggestions on how to find the right person for the right volunteer position. #preschoolministry #childrensministry #kidmin #administration #volunteers #recruitment #organization
Easter Sunday is one of the most attended days of the year for our churches. Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss some of the options we have for services on Easter Sunday morning, special Easter events, and how we can make our visitors feel welcome. As a bonus, Virginia shares information about the resource she created to help her families prepare for the Easter Celebration together. #kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #easter #discipleship #resources #partnerwithparents
Countdown to Easter: Who is Jesus?
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Countdown-to-Easter-Who-is-Jesus-15691944
https://linktr.ee/kidmindoctor
In this episode of the Ask the Experts series Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia ask the question "How can we partner with and equip parents to disciple their children?"
If you are interested in Hope Has Come: The Family Advent Adventure that Virginia spoke about in this episode, it is available for purchase at the following website:
Hope Has Come: The Family Advent Adventure
Check out the previous episodes and resources from our quests.
Episode 104: Raising Disciples: An Interview with Dr. Teresa Roberts
Teresa Roberts is Professor of Ministry and Christian Formation, Program Director of Children’s Ministry, and a vice president at Ozark Christian College. Website: www.DrTeresaRoberts.com
Email: teresawelchroberts@gmail.com
Book available: all major booksellers
NavPress (publisher)
https://www.navpress.com/p/raising-disciples/9781641588638
Episode 108: How to Teach Kids Theology with Sam Luce and Hunter Williams
Sam Luce is the Executive Pastor of Ministries at Redeemer Church in Utica, NY, where he's served for nearly 30 years, focusing primarily on next-generation ministry.
Links Website: http://samluce.com
Substack: https://samluce.substack.com/
Instagram: @samluce
Facebook: @samluce
Twitter/X: @samluce
Amazon: Author Page
Hunter Williams is the children's pastor of Ridgedale Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN and cohost of the Cross Formed KidMin podcast.
Training and Coaching Website:
https://sites.google.com/view/hunter-williams-training/home
Episodes 86 and 87: Trauma-Informed Children’s Ministry and Balancing Family and Ministry
Rev. Kayla Smith is the Associate Director of Reach Hurting Kids Institute and serves at Trevecca Community Church of the Nazarene as Pastor of Intergenerational Discipleship.
reachhurtingkids.com/workshop
kayla@reachhurtingkids.com
One of the most challenging responsibilities ministry leaders have is to find resources to help us better serve our children and families. This week Dr. Virginia shares some current resources that she has found to help leaders create policies and practices for Trauma-Informed and Disability Ministries. Listen in as she shares what she has learned.
Boundless Hope for Every Child
Kim Botto
www.kimbotto.com
Trauma-Informed Children's Ministry: A Practical Guide to Reaching Hurting Kids
Lori A. Crosby and Robert G. Crosby
www.reachhurtingkids.com
Disability and the Church: A Vision for Diversity and Inclusion
Lamar Hardwick
Wonderful Works
www.wonderfulworksministry.org
Joni Eareckson Tada
www.joniandfriends.org
Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia started off the new year attending a wonderful conference! The Children's Pastor's Conference, held by the International Network of Children's Ministry (INCM), was in Orlando, FL the first week of January and they had a great time. Listen in as they discuss the conference, break outs, general sessions, resources and more!
kidmin #childrenspastorsconference #cpc26 #INCM #administration #childrensministry #preschoolministry #professionaldevelopment
The Christmas season can be so busy with everything we have planned for our children's ministry and all the things we want to do with our families. In the last podcast episode for 2025, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss finding hope in God's Word when we feel overwhelmed and share their plans for an exciting start to 2026!!
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #overwhelm #devotion #hope #childrenspastorsconference #cpc
As children's ministry leaders, we are always looking for ways to intentionally incorporate Bible skills into our programs. In today's episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss ways we can help families instill a love of the Word of God and help our kids to learn more about the truth of the Bible through activities that teach Bible skills that will last a lifetime.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #bibleskills #awana #bibleskillsthrillsanddrills #bibleskillsactivities #childrensministrycurriculum #childrensministryprograms
!! Parental Advisory: This episode includes a faith-based discussion about the use of Santa Claus and the meaning of Christmas. Parent are encouraged to listen with discretion if children are present.
Christmas time is here! And with it comes all of the excitement of sharing the birth of Christ with our kids and their families. Listen as Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia share some of their favorite Christmas activities for children's ministry - and go on a couple of side discussions about discussing Santa Claus and the Virgin Birth with children!!
If you are interested in Hope Has Come: The Family Advent Adventure that Virginia spoke about in this episode, it is available for purchase at the following website:
Hope Has Come: The Family Advent Adventure
Also, we will be posting some pictures on our Instagram page throughout the Christmas Season!
KidMinDoctor Instagram
Everyone has those days where they question whether or not God has actually called them into this ministry or ask if there is the energy to continue. In Part 2 of this discussion, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia share practical habits and practices you can put into place - not for only on those days you just want to quit, but how to maintain focus on what God has called you to do.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #steadfastness #commitment #ministry #stress #overwhelm #burnout
Everyone has those days where they question whether or not God has actually called them into this ministry or ask if there is the energy to continue. Listen in on the first part of this discussion, as Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia talk about what the Bible says about steadfastness. And not for only on those days you just want to quit, but how to maintain focus on what God has called you to do.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #steadfastness #commitment #ministry #stress #overwhelm #burnout
At some point, all churches will have groups of kids with a wide variety of ages in one classroom. Whether it is for a large worship service or an individual Bible study, teaching multi-age groups effectively can be a challenge. Today, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia answer a listener's question about teaching in a classroom with children with a wide difference of age. This discussion covers setting up the classroom space, safety and security, Bible learning activities, and so much more.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #multiageclassroom #administration #biblestudy #safetyandsecurity #curriculum
In our second installment of our Ask the Experts series, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia ask a very important question about how to avoid or at least mitigate burnout. So many of us have faced seasons of running on empty, being overwhelmed, and feeling unsure of our effectiveness. We feel guilt and frustration, often wondering if we should just quit. Two of our previous guests give us advice about how we can find rhythms to help us guard against burnout.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #burnout #overwhelm #administration #dailyrhythms #sabbath #support
Rev. Kayla Smith is the Associate Director of Reach Hurting Kids Institute and serves at Trevecca Community Church of the Nazarene as Pastor of Intergenerational Discipleship. She spends most of her time tagging along on her five-year-old's adventures. Kayla draws from her background in leadership and special education to empower churches to embody Christ's love to every child. She leads workshops, trains children's and youth teams, and consults with leaders about trauma-informed practices in the Church.
reachhurtingkids.com/workshop
kayla@reachhurtingkids.com
Dr. Teresa Roberts is Professor of Ministry and Christian Formation, Program Director of Children’s Ministry, and a vice president at Ozark Christian College. She is an expert in children’s spiritual formation training with more than 30 years of ministry experience.
Dr. Roberts holds a Master of Arts in Family and Youth Ministry, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry. She serves in children’s ministry at Carterville Christian Church where she attends with her husband and step-daughter.
Website: www.DrTeresaRoberts.com
Email: teresawelchroberts@gmail.com
Book available: all major booksellers
NavPress (publisher)
https://www.navpress.com/p/raising-disciples/9781641588638
See "Related Sites and Resources" for the free 8-week Parenting Discipleship Curriculum/Small Group Guide
Throughout the year churches will often have events or special services where the children's ministry may have to provide additional children's programming for the week. Whether it is a special music service, marriage conference, or revival services, these events are more than childcare - they are opportunities to share the Word of God with our kids. Listen in as Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss how to develop material, organize volunteers, and review the church's safety and security for these special events.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #specialevents #biblestudy #volunteers #safety and security
Today Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia introduce a new series of episodes for this season called Ask the Experts! During our interview with our guests last season, we asked a few "extra" questions and received some wisdom, insight, and advice on how to handle some of children's ministry's most difficult situations. Our first question, "What can we do when volunteers are resistant to our leadership or resistant to change?"
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #change #administration #leadership #volunteers #resistancetochange
https://linktr.ee/kidmindoctor
Dr. Ken Coley, a Senior Professor of Christian Education at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Contact Dr. Coley at:
kcoley@sebrs.edu
Helmsman.org
Resources:
Teaching for Change
Ken Coley
https://a.co/d/6Pateym
Transformational Teaching: Instructional Design for Christian Educators
Kenneth S. Coley, Deborah L. MacCullough, Martha E. MacCullough
https://a.co/d/3JIFgWg
Growing with One Another
Tyler Groves, Kenneth S. Coley
https://a.co/d/1baAn92
Dr. Teresa Roberts is Professor of Ministry and Christian Formation, Program Director of Children’s Ministry, and a vice president at Ozark Christian College. She is an expert in children’s spiritual formation training with more than 30 years of ministry experience.
Dr. Roberts holds a Master of Arts in Family and Youth Ministry, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry. She serves in children’s ministry at Carterville Christian Church where she attends with her husband and step-daughter.
Website: www.DrTeresaRoberts.com
Email: teresawelchroberts@gmail.com
Book available: all major booksellers
NavPress (publisher)
https://www.navpress.com/p/raising-disciples/9781641588638
See "Related Sites and Resources" for the free 8-week Parenting Discipleship Curriculum/Small Group Guide
Join Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia as they discuss Virginia's week of camp! We talk about why we love camp, the pros and cons of different types of camps, how to plan, how to prepare your kids, and leadership struggles!
kidmin #childrensministry #camp #summer #administration #planningcamp #ministry
This week Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia welcome back David Reneau to the podcast!! David has written a great new book, Next Level Kidmin: The Children's Pastor's Practical Guide to Building a Thriving Ministry.
Val and David discuss practical information that he gives in his new book for every leader in Children's ministry. In our chat we talk about partnering with other staff members, communicating with parents, follow up with visitors, and so much more!!
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #NextLevelKidmin #administration #communication #communitcatingwithparents #followup #minsitry #practicalstrategies
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, 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. You can connect with David and more of his ministry resources at https://davidreneau.org
Next Level Kidmin: The Children's Pastor's Practical Guide to Building a Thriving Ministry
https://www.davidreneau.org/next-level-kidmin-book
Welcome to Season 4 friends!! It’s time for back to school prep, promotion Sunday, and buying new school supplies. (My favorite part!) Join us and listen in on our conversation covering a summer recap, VBS reflection, and how we are handling the overwhelm of ministry! We also offer a little bit of fall encouragement as we jump into one of our busiest seasons of the year.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #vbs #summerrecap #administration #church #encouragement
Continuing the series "Two Truths and a Lie" - Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia talk about Balancing Life and Ministry. A really challenging topic but an important one! This discussion covers time management, the expectations of ministry, planning, and spiritual growth.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #timemanagement #planning #administration #spiritualgrowth #personalworship #Biblestudy
Can rules be beneficial in children's ministry? Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia talk with David Reneau about having a discipline plan that works. David shares how being prepared with classroom rules and expectations can help with classroom management.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrenministry #classroommanagement #disciplineplan #administration #volunteertraining
David Reneau is the Executive Pastor at Christ Chapel East in Macon, GA with his wife Liz and son Caleb. With over 16 years of experience in ministry, most of it in kids, 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.
A Discipline Plan that Works
https://www.davidreneau.org/blog/2021/03/a-discipline-plan-that-works.html
3 Questions to Guide Your Discipline Conversations
https://www.davidreneau.org/blog/3-questions-to-guide-your-discipline-conversations
- Blog: https://davidreneau.org
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@davidreneau
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidereneau
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/davidreneau
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidreneau
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/davidereneau
In today's episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia have a great conversation with Sam Luce and Hunter Williams about how to effectively teach kids the Word of God.
In their new book, How to Teach Kids Theology: Deep Truths for Growing Faith, Sam and Hunter take the deep truths of the Christian faith and give practical, actionable direction for sharing them with children.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #theology #Biblestudy
https://newgrowthpress.com/upcoming-books/how-to-teach-kids-theology-deep-truths-for-growing-faith/
Sam Luce is the Executive Pastor of Ministries at Redeemer Church in Utica, NY, where he's served for nearly 30 years, focusing primarily on next-generation ministry. Holding BA and two MA degrees, he's currently a doctoral candidate at Western Theological Seminary. A co-author of two books and a sought-after conference speaker for 18 years, Sam is also a long-time blogger. Passionate about discipleship and mentoring the next generation of disciple-makers, he and his wife Sandra, married for 26 years, have four children and reside in Upstate New York.
Links Website: http://samluce.com
Substack: https://samluce.substack.com/
Instagram: @samluce
Facebook: @samluce
Twitter/X: @samluce
Amazon: Author Page
Hunter Williams is the children's pastor of Ridgedale Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN and cohost of the Cross Formed KidMin podcast. He has served in various ministry roles, including chaplain, youth pastor, and missionary with Awana. He has written articles for numerous ministries such as INCM, The Gospel Coalition and KidzMatter magazine and is the coauthor of How to Teach Kids Theology. Hunter and his wife, Sammie, have four children and love serving in their local church.
Training and Coaching Website:
https://sites.google.com/view/hunter-williams-training/home
VBS is one of the largest, most exciting events of the year. Churches should do everything possible to keep children safe while they are learning about Jesus. In Part 2, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss recreation safety, training for volunteers, allergy policies, and much more!
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #vacationbibleschool #safetyandsecurity #policyandprocedures #training #allergies #specialevent
VBS is one of the largest, most exciting events of the year. Churches should do everything possible to keep children safe while they are learning about Jesus. Listen in on Part 1 today as Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss insurance policies, check-in systems, and drop off and pick up ideas.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #vacationbibleschool #safetyandsecurity #checkin #dropoff #pickup #specialevent
The next episode in the Two Truths and a Lie series, join Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia as they discuss the common misconceptions about curriculum in children's ministry. The importance of creating a curriculum guide, how to choose the most effective material for your ministry, and the pros and cons of writing your own lessons are just some of the topics in today's conversation.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #curriculum #biblestudy #curriculumguides
Join Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia today as they have a discussion with Dr. Teresa Roberts, author of the book Raising Disciples: Guiding Your Kids into a Faith of Their Own. Dr. Roberts shares how to guide children into a deeper understanding of their faith, how to use questions well in our discipleship of children, understanding spiritual formation, and what to do when kids ask the hard questions.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #discipleship #spiritualformation #biblestudy
Teresa Roberts is Professor of Ministry and Christian Formation, Program Director of Children’s Ministry, and a vice president at Ozark Christian College. She is an expert in children’s spiritual formation training with more than 30 years of ministry experience.
Dr. Roberts holds a Master of Arts in Family and Youth Ministry, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry. She serves in children’s ministry at Carterville Christian Church where she attends with her husband and step-daughter.
Website: www.DrTeresaRoberts.com
Email: teresawelchroberts@gmail.com
Book available: all major booksellers
NavPress (publisher)
https://www.navpress.com/p/raising-disciples/9781641588638
See "Related Sites and Resources" for the free 8-week Parenting Discipleship Curriculum/Small Group Guide
Join Dr. Val today (since the snow storm in Florida left her flying solo on the podcast) as she shares a portion of the breakout she and Dr. Virginia led at the Children's Pastors Conference. Dr. Val discusses the importance of creating a Roadmap to Biblical Literacy in our children's ministries and how it can help us teach children the Word of God more effectively.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #biblical literacy #teachingtheBible #christianeducation #biblestudy
Join Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia today as they discuss their time at the Children's Pastors Conference in Orlando, FL. Hear all about the breakouts, worship time, keynotes, and info that make CPC not only fun but so informative and helpful to children's ministry!
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #cpc25 #unfading25 #conference
Join the celebration - part 2!! It's the 100th episode (well technically this is Episode 101) and Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia are talking about 100 things they love about Children's Ministry. There were so many things it had to be broken into two episodes. Listen in as they talk about favorite games, favorite resources, and so much more!!
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration
Join the celebration!! It's the 100th episode and Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia are talking about 100 things they love about Children's Ministry. Listen in as they talk about favorite games, favorite resources, and so much more that it will take two episodes to get it all in!!
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration
Welcome friends! Join our conversation today as we start a new series we are calling Two Truths and a Lie. There are so many common misconceptions about Children's Ministry and in this series we will be talking about the things people believe about KidMin and discuss how they are not always true. In today's episode we talk about some common misconceptions about Volunteers and Recruitment.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #volunteers #recruitment #administration #scheduling
In today's podcast, Dr.Val and Dr.Virginia discuss the final topic in their series on Learning Styles. Based on research done many years ago on Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner, learning styles help teachers focus on the way children naturally learn. This week they share the characteristics of Verbal Learners and give examples of activities that will help teach biblical concepts to students through activities focusing on words.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #education #learningstyles #verballearners #teachers #Bibleactivities #relationships
This week Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia talk about daily Time Management - sharing how they schedule their week to be able to focus on the important and not let the urgent take over their days.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #timemanagement #planning #administration
Bloom's Taxonomy is a framework that can help teachers develop educational goals. In Part 2, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia continue to discuss how Bloom's Taxonomy can help you create goals for your ministry, develop curriculum, choose material, and create a positive learning environment for your preschool and children's ministry.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #curriculum #bloomstaxonomy #biblicalliteracy
Bloom's Taxonomy is a framework that can help teachers develop educational goals. In today's episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss how Bloom's Taxonomy can help you create goals for your ministry, develop curriculum, choose material, and create a positive learning environment for your preschool and children's ministry.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #curriculum #bloomstaxonomy #biblicalliteracy
In Children's Ministry we seem to move from one very busy season to the next - and we are getting ready to head into one of the most busy seasons of the year - not only for our ministry but also with our friends and family. Join Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia as the discuss seeking wisdom while finding time to do all that needs to be done.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #wisdom #seasons
Welcome friends!! In today's podcast, Dr.Val and Dr.Virginia discuss the next topic in their series on Learning Styles. Based on research done many years ago on Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner, learning styles help teachers focus on the way children naturally learn. This week they share the characteristics of Relational Learners and give examples of activities that will help teach biblical concepts to students through working with others.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #education #learningstyles #relationallearners #teachers #Bibleactivities #relationships
Warning: Just letting you know upfront that this episode might not be suitable to listen to with the kids around.
If you have worked with kids for very long in church you know the stories…Rahab, David and Bathsheba, Philip and the Ethiopian, the Virgin Mary. These are the stories with challenging words that are hard to describe to children. In this episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss ways to define difficult words and how you can answer those hard questions in a classroom setting.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #biblestudy #difficulttopics
Fall is underway and our schools are fully into the new year. This week Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss ways our churches can partner with the schools in our community and share the love of Jesus with faculty, administration, and our kids!
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #schools #community #missionprojects
It is that time of year again…leaves are falling, temperatures are dropping, and pumpkin spice is everywhere…your church's fall event is just around the corner!! Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss creative ways to share the gospel with your community during this important event.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #outreach #evangelism #fallfestival #trunkortreat #sharingthegospel
Dr.Val and Dr.Virginia continue their series on Learning Styles. Based on research done many years ago on Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner, learning styles help teachers focus on the way children naturally learn. This week the KidMin Doctors talk about the characteristics of Logical Learners and give examples of activities that will help teach biblical concepts to students through order and logic.
#kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #education #learningstyles #logicallearners #teachers #Bibleactivities
Our episode today is Part 2 of our interview with Rev. Kayla Smith, the Associate Director of Reach Hurting Kids Institute and the Pastor of Intergenerational Discipleship at Trevecca Community Church of the Nazarene. Kayla shares about her work with Trauma-Informed Children's Ministry and gives some great advice with how we can reach hurting kids in our churches.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #classroommanagement #traumainformedchildrensministry
Rev. Kayla Smith is the Associate Director of Reach Hurting Kids Institute and serves at Trevecca Community Church of the Nazarene as Pastor of Intergenerational Discipleship. She spends most of her time tagging along on her five-year-old's adventures. Kayla draws from her background in leadership and special education to empower churches to embody Christ's love to every child. She leads workshops, trains children's and youth teams, and consults with leaders about trauma-informed practices in the Church.
reachhurtingkids.com/workshop
kayla@reachhurtingkids.com
Everyone who works in ministry has felt the tug and the strain of balancing ministry and family life. In this episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia were honored to speak with Rev. Kayla Smith. Kayla shares about how she transitioned into her current ministry role and the way she has balanced being a mother and serving in ministry.
We would like to apologize for some sound problems that were due to the weather but we just loved this interview so much and wanted to share this great information.
Rev. Kayla Smith is the Associate Director of Reach Hurting Kids Institute and serves at Trevecca Community Church of the Nazarene as Pastor of Intergenerational Discipleship. She spends most of her time tagging along on her five-year-old's adventures. Kayla draws from her background in leadership and special education to empower churches to embody Christ's love to every child. She leads workshops, trains children's and youth teams, and consults with leaders about trauma-informed practices in the Church.
reachhurtingkids.com/workshop
kayla@reachhurtingkids.com
It does not seem to matter if a church has a big budget or a small budget, there is never enough money to do everything we want in children's ministry. In this episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss creative ways to provide a strong Biblical foundation for our kids, even if there is not a lot of money available.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #budget #money #volunteerleader
In today's episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia has the honor of interviewing Dr. Ken Coley, a Senior Professor of Christian Education at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Coley shares with us about teaching for change, developing engaging training for leaders, Christ centered leadership, how to find balance in ministry, and how to handle conflict in a constructive way.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #teachingforchange #admin #training #leadership #balance #conflict
Contact Dr. Coley at:
kcoley@sebrs.edu
Helmsman.org
Resources:
Teaching for Change
Ken Coley
https://a.co/d/6Pateym
Transformational Teaching: Instructional Design for Christian Educators
Kenneth S. Coley, Deborah L. MacCullough, Martha E. MacCullough
https://a.co/d/3JIFgWg
Growing with One Another
Tyler Groves, Kenneth S. Coley
https://a.co/d/1baAn92
Dr.Val and Dr.Virginia discuss the next topic in their series on Learning Styles. Based on research done many years ago on Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner, learning styles help teachers focus on the way children naturally learn. This week the KidMin Doctors talk about the characteristics of Natural Learners, kids who learn best by being in nature, and give examples of activities that will help teach biblical concepts to students through God's creation.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #education #learningstyles #naturallearners #teachers #Bibleactivities #nature
Births, baby/child dedications, promotion Sunday, professions of faith, loss…there are so many important milestones in the life of a child and their family. Join Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia as they discuss how you can be better prepared for some of these important moments in your ministry.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #resources #administration #milestones
To learn more about Reach Hurting Kids Institute, visit
https://reachhurtingkids.com
Follow Reach Hurting Kids Institute on Facebook at
https://facebook.com/reachhurtingkids
To learn more about the Reach Hurting Kids Workshop, a self-guided, evidence-based trauma care training for children's ministries, visit
https://reachhurtingkids.com/workshop
To buy the book, "Trauma-Informed Children's Ministry: A Practical Guide to Reaching Hurting Kids," on Amazon, visit
https://www.amzn.com/dp/1666715743
Summer is over for so many of us and it is time to start a new school year! Join Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia and they kick off Season 3 by discussing a little VBS, a little Promotion Sunday, and share why they suddenly disappeared at the end of May!!
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #promotionsunday #vbs
Welcome!! Dr. Virginia invited Dr. Val to speak to the preschool leaders at a conference her church hosted last month. The conference break out was a very basic, introductory conference for leaders teaching Bible to preschoolers. Before the welcome dinner, Val shared a portion of that conference with some of Virginia's leaders that would be serving during the breakout sessions. Val's husband offered to record that quick overview so we could share it here on the podcast today. We hope you find the information presented helpful!
kidmin #preschoolministry #biblestudy #howpreschoolerslearn #conference
References:
Teaching Preschoolers: First Steps Toward Faith. Tommy Sanders & Mary Ann Bradberry. LifeWay Press. 2000
Wholly Kids. LifeWay Press. 2015
This week Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia were in the same city!!! So they took this opportunity to hang out and ask each other some questions. Some silly, some about KidMin, but all of them give you a chance to get to know them a little bit better!!
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #questions
Many churches today are adding a Next Gen Minister to their staff. This staff member is usually given the general oversight of Birth through High School. Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss advice they would give to new ministers or the current church's Youth or Adult Ministers who have found themselves assigned with this special responsibility.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #preteenministry #nextgen #newminiters #administration #biblestudy
It happens in every church eventually, a senior pastor leaves and the staff has to plan and prepare for a big transition. Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia go over some of the basic concerns and how you can best prepare your ministry and your heart for a big change.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #leadership #transition
As a church family we are so excited to celebrate Mother's and Father's on their special days! We also have to be mindful of our children, church family, and visitors that may struggle on these days. Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia share how they have found ways to celebrate our church families and show compassion to those hurting.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #mothersday #fathersday #celebratefamilies #administration
Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia continue the series on Learning Styles. Based on research done many years ago on Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner, learning styles help teachers focus on the way children naturally learn. This week the KidMin Doctors talk about the characteristics of Reflective Learners and give examples of activities that will help teach biblical concepts to students who learn best reflectively.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #education #learningstyles #reflectivelearning #teachers #Bibleactivities #intrapersonal
Join Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia as they discuss some of their favorite resources for leaders of Preschool and Children's Ministries. Podcasts, magazines, children's books, and more!
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #resources #kidsbooks
Ministry Safe
Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
Raising Boys and Girls Podcast - Sissy Goff and David Thomas
The Glass House Podcast- Ben and Lynley Mandrell
Help Me Teach the Bible Podcast with Nancy Guthrie - The Gospel Coalition
Ages and Stages: Levels of Biblical Learning - LifeWay Christian Resources
Day Designer Planner - Target
My Daily Planner - Digital Planner
Experiencing God - Henry T. Blackaby - LifeWay Christian Resources
Yarrow - Precept Ministries
The Next Right Thing - Emily Freeman
Little Bible Heroes - B&H Kids
Here I Am! Biographies (Lottie Moon) - B&H Kids
Tiny Theologian Series (Does God Go on Vacation) - Amy Gannett - B&H Kids
Kidzmatter Magazine
Kids Ministry 101 Magazine
Good News for Little Hearts (Buster's Ears Trip Him Up) - New Growth Press
What Do I Do with Worry - Dr. Josh and Christi Straub - B&H Kids
You Count! - Champ Thornton, David Creighton-Pester - B&H Publishing
What am I Feeling? - Dr. Josh and Christi Straub, Jane Butler - B&H Kids
Children's Pastor Conference
Kizmatter Conference
Etch Conference
D-6 Conference
Children's Ministry Expo
Choosing curriculum is a challenging responsibility. Finding material from a publisher that can meet all of your ministry's needs can be difficult. Listen as Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss the steps they recommend to help churches create a plan necessary for your children to build a relationship with Jesus, learn about church doctrine, and lay a foundation for knowing the Word of God.
kidmin #childrensminsitry #preschoolministry #curriculum #teachingmaterials #administration #biblestudy
One of the greatest challenges in planning Vacation Bible School is finding the most effective way to connect with families in your church and your community. VBS is a great opportunity to build relationships with not only the children but also their families. Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss having a plan and strategy for intentionally designing your VBS to meet the needs of the families in your community.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #vacationbibleschool #VBS #familynights #backyardbibleclub #families #parents #followup
Continuing the series on Learning Styles, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss auditory learners. Some children may learn best through sound. They enjoy activities that include music, rhythm, and social interaction. Find new strategies to help integrate auditory activities into your Bible study classroom.
#kidmin #preschoolminsitry #childrensministry #learningstyles #multipleintelligences #auditorylearners #classroomstrategies #teaching #biblestudy
Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia share what they have learned when challenges come up in life and ministry and their very special set of skills do not apply.
There is never a shortage of challenges or days you find yourself surviving in crisis mode when you serve in KidMin. Today Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia share an update, some personal prayer requests, and discuss what God has been teaching them through His Word during a season of unexpected challenges.
Job 38
Hebrews 12:3-13
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #crisis #GodsWord #administration #burnout
Space and building issues are a constant concern in children's ministry. As our ministries grow, we often find the need to adjust space or build. Listen in as Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss some common ministry building issues and give you some suggestions as you make decisions about space in your classrooms.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #classroomspace #building #sharedspace #decorating
We are so excited…Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia were together leading a couple of conferences at the Children's Pastors Conference in Orlando and were able to record an episode together!! Join the conversation today as we share some of the questions leaders asked during our conferences.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #vbs #specialneeds #donations #decorating #teachingpreschoolers #trainingleaders #administration #policiyandprocedures
Today Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss the cultural trends and data from the most current research and consider how this information impacts the future of preschool and children's ministries. Being aware of the changes in our culture and characteristics of the different generations can help us as we plan for our ministries and serve our families.
Links:
Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast, Tim Keller Episode: https://careynieuwhof.com/episode583/
3 Circles Evangelism: https://www.namb.net/evangelism/3circles/
Church Statistics: https://careynieuwhof.com/church-attendance-statistics/
Millennials Largest Living Adult Generation: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/04/28/millennials-overtake-baby-boomers-as-americas-largest-generation/
ATS Seminary Enrollment Info: https://www.ats.edu/files/galleries/ats-enrollment-trend-snapshot-fall-2023.pdf
Diversity of Gen Alpha & Cell Phone Usage: https://www.insiderintelligence.com/content/gen-alpha-diverse-us-population
COVID Pandemic and Child Abuse and Neglect: https://cicm.wustl.edu/items/covid-19-and-child-abuse-and-neglect-brief/#:~:text=Environmental%20Factors&text=Domestic%20violence%20reports%20increased%20during,et%20al.%2C%202008).
Trauma Informed Children’s Ministry https://reachhurtingkids.com/
COVID Pandemic and Depression in Kids:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/10/health/covid-child-teen-depression-anxiety-wellness/index.html
Flip the Script: https://www.lifeway.com/en/special-emphasis/flip-the-script-ebook-download
Nothing Less: Engaging Kids in a Lifetime of Faith - Jana Magruder https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/nothing-less-P005799608
Janine McNally When You See Fireflies: https://www.grace4kidz.org/fireflies
Dr.Val and Dr.Virginia continue the series on Learning Styles. Based on research done many years ago on Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner, learning styles help teachers focus on the way children naturally learn. Join the conversation this week as they give characteristics and examples of activities that will help teach biblical concepts to students who learn best visually.
#kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #education #learningstyles #visuallearnings #teachers #Bibleactivities
We all have them…days of overwhelm when we think the only option is to just quit! Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss how we can be prepared to respond to those feelings and how we can tell if it is just a momentary struggle or if we are truly being called to walk away.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #burnout #overwhelm #stress
In this last episode of 2023, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia are prayerfully going into this Christmas season asking God to orient our hearts away from the busyness of the season and find a worshipful and loving way to focus on God and share Him with our people.
Friends, thank you for all of the encouragement and support you have shown us this year!! We look forward to spending time with you again in January 2024!!
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #christmasdevotion
Children's ministry is so busy during the holiday season. Join Dr.Val and Dr. Virginia as they discuss some things we can do to prepare our ministry so we can focus our hearts and minds on Jesus.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #christmaschallenges #christmasevents #planning #administration
A time may come where we find ourselves in need of an extended leave of absence from our ministry. Whether it is unplanned like an illness or family emergency…or a planned leave for a sabbatical or maternity leave…there are many ways we can prepare our staff and volunteers to keep the ministry running smoothly in our absence.
Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia are excited to be talking with Lauren Jackson, creator of Kid's Ministry Circle. Lauren shares with us her experiences taking maternity leave and her recommendations for how we can be prepared for these times when we must be away.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #childrensminister #maternityleave #leaveofabsence #illness #familyemergency
Kid's Ministry Circle
Lauren Jackson
kidsministrycircle.com
Intagram: @kidsmministrycircle
Today Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia are sharing their Thanksgiving thoughts. Life has been busy and stressful…and that can be how we find the weeks leading up to the holidays in children's ministry. This week provides us the wonderful opportunity to share joy, love, and peace to our kids and their families…and to take a moment to remember God's Word and His faithfulness.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #thanksgiving #stress #blessing #GodsWord
How can we help teachers and leaders that serve in our KidMin create and maintain a positive and effective classroom environment? Welcome to the second part of our discussion about Basic Classroom Management. This week Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia share strategies for handling big emotions, discuss a Calm, Care, Coaching process learned from the Reach Hurting Kids Institute, and talk about how to think through reward systems and discipline.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #classroommanagement #teachers #administration
To learn more about Reach Hurting Kids Institute, visit
https://reachhurtingkids.com
Follow Reach Hurting Kids Institute on Facebook at
https://facebook.com/reachhurtingkids
To learn more about the Reach Hurting Kids Workshop, a self-guided, evidence-based trauma care training for children's ministries, visit
https://reachhurtingkids.com/workshop
To buy the book, "Trauma-Informed Children's Ministry: A Practical Guide to Reaching Hurting Kids," on Amazon, visit
https://www.amzn.com/dp/1666715743
There are many challenges when leading any classroom and when you have children for such a short time in church each week the challenges can be even greater. In this episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss how teachers can create the basic foundation for classroom management by providing a positive teaching environment, engaging students, setting expectations, and developing strategies to minimize classroom disruptions.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #classroommanagement #studentengagement #teaching
Every child is created by God uniquely. They have special gifts, talents, and ways they naturally learn. Kicking off a new series (that will not appear in any specific order) Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia talk about 8 special ways to learn based on research done on Multiple Intelligences by Howard Gardner. They begin this series with information on how Kinesthetic learners process information and give examples of activities that will help teach biblical concepts.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #activegames #kinestheticlearners #teachers #Bibleactivities
The constant struggle in Preschool and Children's Ministry is not only finding the right people to volunteer in the right position but also helping them stay. Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss the basic things we can do to help retain our volunteers and encourage them to commit to being a key part of the ministry.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #recruitment #retention #volunteers #leaders #administration
Sometimes it is the small things that make the biggest impact. In today's episode Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia share 5 Little Things that can help you make connections and build relationships in your ministry with the kids and church families.
kidmin #childrensminstry #preschoolministry #buildingrelationships #administration
Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia pull out all of their favorite Bible Skills Activities to share with you this week. These are easy to prepare games that focus on Bible verses and Books of the Bible - created with inexpensive materials that can help you share the Word of God with Preschoolers and Elementary aged kids.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #bibleskills #Biblegames
Be sure to follow us on Instagram and YouTube!!
https://www.instagram.com/kidmindoctor/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC96i8odtak0hdJh6mw7Cxcw
What do we do when we face challenges in our ministry and are not sure what to do next? We all find ourselves in seasons of waiting sometimes in our lives and ministry…they may be short or longer that we expected…either way it is hard waiting on directions from God. This week Val and Virginia discuss what they are learning about waiting and how to discover the next right thing to do.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #waiting #discipleship #Biblestudy
None of us are going to be in our leadership position forever…when God leads us to our next place of service it is important to be prepared to leave well. Join Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia for Part 2 as they continue to discuss how to prepare our ministry, our church family, and ourselves for this inevitable transition.
David is a pastor in Macon, GA with his wife Liz and son Caleb. With over 15 years of experience in ministry, most of it in kids, 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.
Websites
- Blog: https://davidreneau.org
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@davidreneau
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidereneau
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/davidreneau
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidreneau
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/davidereneau
Find everything David's written about transitions here: https://www.davidreneau.org/blog?category=Ministry%20Transitions
None of us are going to be in our leadership position forever…when God leads us to our next place of service it is important to be prepared to leave well. Join Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia as they discuss how to prepare our ministry, our church family, and ourselves for this inevitable transition.
David is a pastor in Macon, GA with his wife Liz and son Caleb. With over 15 years of experience in ministry, most of it in kids, 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.
Websites
- Blog: https://davidreneau.org
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@davidreneau
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidereneau
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/davidreneau
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidreneau
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/davidereneau
Find everything David's written about transitions here: https://www.davidreneau.org/blog?category=Ministry%20Transitions
Building relationships as an adult is not always easy, especially if you are an introvert or have an insanely busy schedule. Today, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia talk about how important it is in KidMin to be intentional about finding support, encouragement, accountability, and a person you can trust just when you need to vent.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #networking #mentors #support
Join Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia this week as they discuss our identity in Christ, the stress often found in Children's Ministry, and how important it is to protect our personal relationship with God.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #stress #identity #relationshipwithGod #spiritualgrowth #worship
Every church has a different philosophy and design for kid's worship. Whether your church has a dedicated children's worship service or if the kids worship with their families, listen in as Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss how important it is to be intentional with every minute we have with our kids - from birth until they are ready to move into student ministry.
kidmin #childrensminsitry #preschoolministry #extendedteachingcare #kidsworship #church
Last week we discussed preschool ministry…this week we are sharing advice with directors of children's ministry. Whether you have been doing this for a while or it's your first week...listen in as Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss all of the tips they give to new preschool ministry leaders just starting out.
kidmin #childrensministry #administration
No matter how much experience you may have…that first day in your new office as the director of a preschool ministry will be overwhelming…it is hard to know where to start. Whether you have been doing this for a while or it's your first week...listen in as Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss all of the advice they give to new preschool ministry leaders when they are just starting out.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #administration
New notebooks, freshly sharpened pencils, the smell of a new box of crayons…it is time to get ready to go back to school!! We are all preparing to restart programs that have been on a break during the summer, planning promotion Sunday, and trying to support our families as they kick off a new school year. Listen in as Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss how they prepare for the return of the school year and look ahead to fall and winter events.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #fall events #backtoschool #fallkickoff
Also, we mentioned a couple of previous episodes today...here are some links!
Fall Events
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-hcryx-12f4b4e
Planning Christmas Events
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-jwk69-1304b72
Welcome friends! Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia are back from a very busy summer break and we are excited to be chatting again! Join us as we discuss a few lessons learned from VBS and share some of the exciting things we have for you as we begin our second season!!
https://linktr.ee/kidmindoctor
Summer is here! Listen in as Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia give some encouraging words, discuss some of the most popular episodes from the year, and share a few exciting updates.
Trigger Warning: We just wanted to let you know up front there is some discussion regarding trauma that mentions sexual abuse in this episode.
In this episode Dr. Virginia talks with Robert and Lori Crosby, authors of the book “Trauma-Informed Children’s Ministry: A Practical Guide to Reaching Hurting Kids.” Statistically, 2 out of 3 children will experience a traumatic event in their childhood. Join us as we discuss how to minister to the hurting children in our churches.
Robert Crosby, PhD is the executive director of Reach Hurting Kids Institute. A former children’s director with over twenty-five years’ experience in children’s and youth ministry, he is the world’s leading scholar in the field of children’s ministry research. He recently co-authored “Trauma-Informed Children’s Ministry: A Practical Guide to Reaching Hurting Kids.”
Lori Crosby, MFT, RPT-S is a Licensed marriage and Family Therapist and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor who specializes in treating children who have experienced trauma. She has served in children’s ministry for over twenty years, and she recently co-authored “Trauma-Informed Children’s Ministry: A Practical Guide to Reaching Hurting Kids."
To learn more about Reach Hurting Kids Institute, visit
https://reachhurtingkids.com
Follow Reach Hurting Kids Institute on Facebook at
https://facebook.com/reachhurtingkids
To learn more about the Reach Hurting Kids Workshop, a self-guided, evidence-based trauma care training for children's ministries, visit
https://reachhurtingkids.com/workshop
To buy the book, "Trauma-Informed Children's Ministry: A Practical Guide to Reaching Hurting Kids," on Amazon, visit
https://www.amzn.com/dp/1666715743
This week Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia continue their conversation with Angela Lewton, a Child Safety Expert with KidCheck. Angela discusses how to create an Emergency Action Plan for your ministry including health and behavioral emergencies, important components to include in an EAP, and plans to maintain a safe environment.
Angela Lewton
Child Safety Expert
KidCheck
https://www.kidcheck.com/best-practice/emergency-flip-book/
https://www.kidcheck.com/best-practice/child-safety-ebook/
Joining Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia today is Angela Lewton, a Child Safety Expert with KidCheck. Angela will be discussing how to create an Emergency Action Plan for your preschool and children's ministries. Having a written procedure for responding to emergencies is an important necessity that can be overwhelming to create. In Part 1 of our interview, Angela will discuss how to prepare for emergencies that may happen inside or outside of your building.
Angela Lewton
Child Safety Expert
KidCheck
https://www.kidcheck.com/best-practice/emergency-flip-book/
https://www.kidcheck.com/best-practice/child-safety-ebook/
There are so many needs that must be met in children's ministry. Bible study, music, games, administration, scheduling, safety and security - the list goes on. No one person can do everything. Join Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia as they discuss how we must serve our children and families through our strengths and God given talents. Learn how to serve as you in your ministry and recruit others to use their gifts as well.
Resources mentioned:
Working Genius - Patrick Lencioni
Cues - Vanessa Van Edwards
The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #recruitment #administration #volunteers
We know you are working hard to get ready for VBS and Camp…but there are so many other opportunities for ministry during the summer. Join Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia as they talk about all the preparations for the special summer season in children’s ministry, how they plan for vacationing volunteers, and some ideas for additional summer activities.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #summer #vacation #summeractivities #volunteers #administration #schedule #planning
Is your resource room an organizational marvel or does it stay a complete disaster? No matter how organized you may be, all church resource rooms become a mess at some time during the year. In today's episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia are discussing how to best organize your storage rooms to maximize the space and make the supplies easy to find.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #resources #supplies #storage #resourcerooms #craftitems #organization
It doesn't matter how long we have been serving in ministry, one month or twenty years, we have all had tough conversations. Safety and Security guidelines, personality conflicts, frustrated parents - none of these discussions are easy. Listen in as Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia share some practical tips to facilitate positive, useful conversations that can help resolve conflicts.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrens ministry #difficultconversations #conflict #confrontation #meetings #administration #parents #teachers #saftyandsecurity
All ministries share space sometimes. Whether your church has a Weekday program, open your building to community events, or have children's choir meeting in the same room as a Bible study, every ministry has to find creative ways to maintain multiple ministries in singular spaces. In this episode, Val and Virginia talk about strategies that can help keep the peace and get the most function out of your space.
kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #weekday #christianeducation #sharingspace #buildings #administration #organization
Dr. Virginia recently led a VBS Follow Up Conference and she wanted to share it with us! Listen in as she discusses the importance of having a plan for the weeks after Vacation Bible School.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #vacationbibleschool #followup #outreach
There are so many things to consider when you are setting policies for the health and wellness of the church's preschool and children's ministry. Listen in as we discuss some of the key procedures and supplies you need to keep your ministry safe.
#kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #firstaid #safety #health #wellness #policies #handbook
There are certain things that have to be in place before a child can even begin to learn. Listen in today as Val and Virginia talk about how to lay the foundation for a successful classroom.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #biblestudy #sundayschool #teachers
Building relationships when you are a leader in ministry can sometimes be challenging. Today we discuss the importance of making friends, finding mentors, and how we need to be intentional with our relationships inside and outside of our ministry.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #mentors #friends #relationships
Welcome friends! Listen in on our conversation with Dr. Faye Scott as we discuss the importance of having a Pre-Teen Ministry and share some of the important things to remember as you plan for this special age group!
childrensministry #preteenministry #administration #kidmin
Trigger Warning.
Dr. Faye Scott joins our discussion today as we talk about policies and procedures that can be created for our children’s ministry to better protect our children and families. We wanted to let you know we do discuss research and policies pertaining to sexual abuse throughout the episode so you can be mindful of who may be listening along.
kidmin #childrensministry #safetyandsecurity #preschoolministry #childprotectionpolicies
Join the discussion as Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia share some of their favorite games and activities they use when things don't go as planned.
#kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #games #activities
We are excited to have so many new subscribers! We thought this week we would introduce ourselves again and share our hearts with you. Listen in as we discuss our personal ministry stories and how God has lead us to this exciting (and a little scary) new ministry.
https://linktr.ee/kidmindoctor
Today Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia are talking about how your children's ministry can partner with parents to help children learn God's Word and grow in their relationship with Jesus. Beginning with Deuteronomy 6:4- 9, discover how your ministry can create intentional strategies to meet the needs of the families you serve.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #parents #administration #spiritualdevelopment
Why do we love camp so much? Listen in today to find out why we feel camp is an important experience for you and your kids. (We also go into detail about everything from how to decide your location to what you will need to pack - so you don't want to miss this one!!)
https://linktr.ee/kidmindoctor
kidmin #childrensministry #planning #administration #ministry #camp #childrenscamp
We love VBS! This special week is usually the largest event for your church and it takes a lot of planning...all year long. Listen in as we discuss how to plan for a successful VBS.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #vacationbibleschool #vbsplanning #planning #administration #ministry
Welcome friends! Listen in today as we discuss planning a time for parents and the church to make a commitment to our children. What ever your faith or denomination may be - we hope that through our conversation we can help you plan a special time for your families.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #families #babydedication #childdedication #parents #ministry #christianeducation
We're back! Join us as we discuss all of the things we like to prepare for in January. We know you are exhausted from the holidays, but a little planning during the month of January will start the new year strong and help you have less stress in the months to come! #kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #planning
We're back! Join us as we discuss all of the things we like to prepare for in January. We know you are exhausted from the holidays, but a little planning during the month of January will start the new year strong and help you have less stress in the months to come! #kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #planning
Happy Thanksgiving! We are so thankful for all of our volunteers and we want to make sure we show it. We couldn't talk about thanking our volunteers without mentioning (often) how we can build better relationships to encourage our partners in ministry that we appreciate so very much!
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #teacherappreciation #volunteers #buildingrelationships #administration
Welcome friends! Join us as we discuss the importance of communicating with your staff, volunteers, families, and communities. We are hitting the basics, hopefully it will remind you of things you have been meaning to do or inspire you to try something new!!
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #communication #publicity #calendar #socialmedia
Val and Virginia welcome Shelley Waters as a guest on the podcast today! Shelley is the Children's Director at Pine Terrace Baptist Church. She shares how the church staff worked together to create Vision and Mission Statements and how she created ones specifically for the children's ministry. Join us as we learn how Shelley implemented these statements and the impact it made on their ministry.
kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #visionstatement #missionstatement #vision #mission #programming #churchevents
Christmas is on it's way! Listen in as we discuss our favorite Christmas events and how we help our families focus on the most important celebration of the season - the birth of Jesus.
#kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #Christmas #Christmasevents #ministry
We are thrilled to have Mary Ann Bradberry joining us this week discussing the importance of play for our preschoolers and how it is vital to children's faith. Mary Ann also shares what she has learned about childhood brain development and how it connects to the heart. Mary Ann Bradberry brings many years of experience in Christian education. After eight years as the Executive Director of the Texas Baptist Church Weekday Association, Mary Ann recently retired to spend more time exploring the world through the eyes of her five-year-old granddaughter.
childrensministry #preschoolministry #childhooddevelopment #kidmin #play #learning
We are so excited to get you Part 2 of our discussion about child development! We share information about older children and teens and how we can best share the love of Jesus by meeting them where they are developmentally! Join us as we discuss how we can help them learn! (And listen to a few tangents as we geek out on the information!!)
childrensministry #preteenministry #studentministry #spiritualformation #childdevelopment #biblestudy #sundayschool #kidmin
Join our conversation about why we love attending conferences, listen as we fan girl over some resources and mascots, and hear Dr. Virginia's review of the ETCH NextGen Ministry Conference!
childrensministry #conferences #ETCH #LifeWay #preschoolministry #professionaldevelopement
Today we jump into a favorite topic - child development and how it impacts spiritual formation. Join our conversation as we discuss preschoolers and early elementary aged children and how we must create ways to help them learn where they are developmentally.
childrensministry #preschoolministry #spiritualformation #childdevelopment #biblestudy #sundayschool #kidmin
We have our first guest! Join the conversation as we talk with Dr. Ray Summerlin about finding key leaders and learning to delegate!
preschoolministry #childrensministry #keyleaders #delegation #ministry #administration #directors #kidmin
Helping children understand the Gospel can be intimidating. Join us as we discuss how to plan and prepare for sharing the Gospel with children. #childrensministry #kidmin #preschoolministry #sharingthegospel #ministry #salvation #baptism
Today we tackle a topic we really don't like to think about but a reality we must consider. How do we take care of ourselves as we care for others? Join the conversation as we discuss strategies that have helped us find balance in our spiritual life and ministry.
burnout #overwhelmed #preschoolministry #childrensministry #balance #spirituallife #kidmin
Resources: At Your Best - Carey Nieuwhof
Pinterest: KidMin Doctor
Are you thinking about planning an event for your church this fall? Join our conversation to hear our tips and suggestions for making your event successful. Please excuse the video quality, we are still learning and felt the content was worth some fuzzy video!
childrensministry #fallevents #trunkortreat #harvestfestival #preschoolministry #kidmin #trunkortreat
Finding volunteer leaders can always be a challenge. Sometimes we need to find help! Join us as we discuss the pros and cons to paying adult leaders and utilizing youth in the preschool and children's classroom.
childrensministry #paidleaders #youth #volunteers #recruitment #preschoolministry #kidmin
Join today's conversation, we are sharing the things we have learned about setting up a successful classroom. The goal is to share the Word of God with our kids each week, listen in for some suggestions on how to help kids focus and have a positive experience!!
childrensministry #kidmin #preschoolministry #successfulclassroom #teachingtips
Join the conversation as we discuss the challenging task of Volunteer Training. Discover ways to encourage leaders to participate and how to make training opportunities worth the time and effort!
childrensministry #preschoolministry #kidmin #volunteers #volunteertraining #kidmintraining
Come be a part of today's conversation! How do you find and recruit volunteers to serve in the Preschool and Children's Ministry? It is a constant need and one that takes prayer and planning!!
childrensministry #preschoolministry #volunteers #recruitment #kidmin
Join us as we discuss the importance of having a check-in system for your preschool and children's ministries. We talk about why you need this important policy and how to best make it work for your church!
safetyandsecurity #checkinsystems #childrensministry #preschoolministry #kidmin
Join the conversation about safety and security policies. We discuss the important items that should be considered and suggest areas of your ministry that may need review!
Follow us on Pinterest https://pin.it/2fxZZnB - see you there!!
Join us as we geek out over resources that we have found helpful for Children's Ministry.
Resource List:
CSB Holy Land Illustrated Bible
Holman ESV Archaeology Study Bible
Crossway CSB One Big Story Bible
B&H Kids The Big Book of Bible Stories for Toddlers
B&H Kids Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids - Holman
Wholly Kids - LifeWay Church Resources
Teaching Preschoolers: First Steps Toward Faith - Sanders and Bradberry
KidMin Toolbox - LifeWay The Art of Storytelling - John Walsh
What About Kids Ministry - LifeWay
The Child Safeguarding Policy for Churches and Ministries - Tchividjian and Berkovits
Growing True Disciples - George Barna
Why They Stay - Steve Parr and Tom Crites
At Your Best - Carey Nieuwhof
https://MrMarksClassroom.com
Help Me Teach the Bible Podcast - Nancy Guthrie
The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
We mentioned the next video would be about check in systems, but we needed a little more time. So this week, we talk all about student engagement. How to have a successful classroom, engaging the kids to limit disruptions. #childrensministry #kidmin #christianeducation #classroommanagement
Resources:
Kidmin Toolbox: LifeWay Press
Growing God's Word: Levels of Biblical Learning: LifeWay Kids
In this episode, join us as we discuss our favorite things about Vacation Bible School and give you some ideas to help make the week of VBS go a little smoother! #kidmin #childrensministry #christianeducation #vbs #vacationbibleschool
Resources:
It's Worth It: Landry Holmes (lifeway.com)
Welcome to the KidMin podcast with Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia where we talk about everything preschool and children's ministry. Join the conversation where we will pull back the curtain on some of the surprises and challenges in children’s ministry that nobody prepares you for!