Encouragement & Vision - Kids Bible Lessons

Church Decline: Ministry in a Shrinking Church

April 20, 2024September 3, 2009 by Tony Kummer

Confession time – my church is shrinking. I would not say that we are dying, but the numbers show a steady 20% downtrend over the past five years. That is an approximate number for both giving and attendance. There are several factors, but without question my church is in a period of decline. This is … Read more

Charles Spurgeon’s Encouragement for Children’s Workers

September 1, 2009 by Tony Kummer

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the “Prince of Preachers,” served as Pastor at Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, England from 1854-1891. Here are words of wisdom on children’s ministry taken from a chapter in his book “Come, My Children:” “Nowadays, since the world has in it, alas! so few of Christian mothers and grandmothers, the church has thought … Read more

Is Your Kids Ministry Becoming Spiritually Toxic?

December 25, 2022August 28, 2009 by Tony Kummer

Over the last few years, there have been hundreds of toy recalls. Some have been poor design, but many are due to toxic materials. As a parent, I shudder to think of my little ones playing (and chewing) on toys covered in lead paint. Every church that loves children has been equally careful to remove … Read more

Developing a Vision for Your Children’s Ministry

August 5, 2009 by Tony Kummer

No one plants a tree and doesn’t expect it to grow. You cultivate it. You protect the tree from the blistering heat and the frigid blasts. You jealously guard it keeping pests away. When the tree was dry and thirsty you watered it. Lastly you pruned it as it grew, coaxing the sapling with your … Read more

In Pursuit of What Matters

June 17, 2009 by Tony Kummer

Do you ever find yourself forgetting what is most important? I know I do. My keys, my debit card, my license. Yep, they have all been lost this week to my husband’s horror. But at least I haven’t yet forgotten our kids anywhere. Or maybe I have. Sometimes I beam with pride over my son’s … Read more

Funny Job Requirements for Kids Pastors

June 2, 2009 by Tony Kummer

There was a funny thread on the forums at CM Connect and I thought I would share some of it here. For the whole scoop, check out this comment thread on their site. Basically, they wanted to come up with some funny “job requirements” for children’s ministry. Here are a few of my favorites, feel … Read more

Thank You for Your Sacrifice (Printable Card)

May 25, 2009 by Tony Kummer

[click below to print from web or save the image file] Print this beautiful card to show honor & respect to Veterans (and anyone who sacrifices). Make it a Sunday School project to accompany their Bible lesson. You may also like our Pledge of Allegiance printable Honor Veterans Print the card above to use for … Read more

1/168: Children’s Ministry Hours Per Week

May 15, 2009 by Tony Kummer

I recently attended the Connecting Church and Home conference (read our live blog) back in March. While there, I saw a man wearing a black t-shirt with white embroidered 1/168. I was immediately intrigued by the small fraction. Given the context of the conference, I figured it had something to do with student ministry. My … Read more

Sending Missionaries To The Future

March 10, 2009 by Tony Kummer

Last week I watched a documentary about my city. It included video footage from the early 1930s. Several clips showed children at local elementary schools lining up for school dismissal. These boys and girls had bright eyes and faces full of hope. Many of them looked familiar and I almost expected to see kids from … Read more

Do You Get Discouraged In Children’s Ministry?

September 8, 2008 by Tony Kummer

I want to make a confession, sometimes I feel discouraged about our children’s ministry. From an outsiders perspective it is anything but glamorous and sometimes it just feels like a Christian job. There are constant discouragements and I’ve wondered how people serve in children’s ministry decades after decade.