Something is about to change in children’s ministry. Not overnight. But in the next few years, we’re going to see a shift. For a long time, churches have been trying to make their programs more polished. Better videos. Better graphics. Better production. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But here’s the thing… The world is […]
The internet is full of ridiculous comments. But every now and then, someone says something that completely makes your day. Recently a children’s ministry leader posted this on Facebook after reading Feeding Faith: “Feeding Faith is the best kidmin book I have ever read in 15 years of ministry!” — Shannon Hawkins That’s a big statement. So why would […]
Every once in a while I get questions from KidMin leaders that I know a lot of other leaders are wondering too. So today I’m trying something a little different — a KidMin version of “Dear Abby.” Dear David,I’m a children’s ministry leader at a mid-sized church. We’ve started using your video lessons more often […]
A new ministry year is quickly approaching and we couldn’t be more excited about the fun, faith-filled GO! lessons that are coming your way! Do you want a sneak peek? Click the Scope & Sequences below to see all the exciting stories and storytelling methods we’ll be using as we take elementary and preschool kids through the Bible […]
Our phones have been ringing off the hook. Our inboxes have been filling up. And our incredible customer service team has been busier than ever! So why are so people looking for a new curriculum? And why are they so interested in GO!? Well, here’s what we’ve been hearing… 1. There’s too much AI in […]
Most children’s ministries do a great job teaching kids. We tell Bible stories.We unpack Scripture.We make verses stick. But here’s an important question every KidMin leader should wrestle with: Are we also discipling kids? And what’s the difference? Teaching and discipling are not the same thing. Teaching helps kids understand truth. Discipling helps kids live it. Teaching fills the mind.Discipling […]
I recently had the chance to sit down with Lauren Jackson on the Kids Ministry Circle Podcast to talk about practical ideas to help kids move from simply learning about God to actually walking with Him. And I have to say… It was a blast! We talked honestly about the heart behind my new book, Feeding Faith — why so many kids […]
Every children’s ministry is feeding kids something. The harder question is what—and in what proportions. Most leaders don’t intentionally leave anything out. But without a clear way to evaluate discipleship, it’s easy to overfeed one area while unintentionally starving another. That’s why we created the E.A.T. Assessment. It’s a simple online tool designed to help you quickly […]
Kids can ace Bible trivia and still miss the heart of faith. Information alone doesn’t produce intimacy. I’ve watched kids memorize verses, recite stories, and still struggle to connect personally with God—because no one helped them respond to what they learned. Truth sticks when it moves from the head… to the heart… to everyday life. How do […]
“They’re just kids.” It sounds harmless—but it quietly lowers the bar. Kids are capable of real faith. Real obedience. Real transformation. When we expect less, we usually get less—not because kids can’t grow, but because we never invited them to. Discipleship doesn’t start later.It starts now. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re aiming too low, Chapter […]
Conferences are an incredible opportunity to learn from other leaders in children’s ministry. To help you find the one that’s right for you, we’ve compiled the ULTIMATE list of conferences on the Children’s Ministry Hub. For each conference on the list, you’ll see: Join me this year at the Awesome KidMin Conference This year, I’m one […]
Children’s ministry leaders rarely fail because they don’t care. They fail because they feed kids one part of discipleship really well—and unintentionally starve the rest. I’ve seen ministries packed with strong Bible teaching… but almost no opportunities for kids to practice their faith or respond personally to God. The result? Kids who know the right answers but don’t know […]
Feeding Faith is officially available to purchase! Wahooooooo!!! It’s the first book I’ve ever written, so I might be a little overly excited about it. I take it with me everywhere. When I’m standing in the checkout line at the grocery store, I’ll say things like, “What? Oh—this?” holding the book up as if the cashier asked about it. […]
That’s not just click-bate…it’s true. In August, my family and I were deep in the Peruvian Andes, hiking cross-country through the mountains. Even at 16,000 ft., glacier-covered peaks still towered above us. We were way off the grid—no roads, no trail, no signal, and no quick way out if something went wrong. In the truest […]
I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment. Here’s your very first look at the cover of my new book, Feeding Faith. (Yes… you’re seeing it before the rest of the world!) This book has been years in the making, and it’s designed to help you disciple kids in a way that’s intentional, relational, and […]
I’ve been waiting a long time to share this with you… and today, I finally can. My new book, Feeding Faith, is almost here—and we’re doing something extra special for its pre-release at the Children’s Pastors Conference. ⭐ If you’re coming to CPC: We’re throwing a 10-year GO! Curriculum birthday bash, and I want to put a […]
If a child ate donuts and gummy bears every day… We wouldn’t be surprised if they grew weak and unhealthy. But spiritually?We sometimes do just that. Pointless games. Cute videos. “Be kind” lessons.A sprinkle of Scripture here and there. But kids don’t need spiritual snack food.They need a balanced diet of discipleship that feeds mind, hands, and […]
There was a season in ministry when I thought: If kids were having fun and learning the story, we were winning. But then I watched students grow up —and many didn’t carry their faith with them. That shook me. Because fun matters. Creativity matters.But formation matters most. Jesus didn’t say, “Entertain my lambs.”He said, “Feed my lambs.” And I […]
Did you know…Christmas is just over a month away! Don’t worry, though! We’ve got you covered with these incredible Christmas freebies: Click the buttons below, then sign in (or sign up) for free. You can easily download ALL of the materials from the top of the “Free Resources” tab on the GO! Dashboard. Christmas Coloring […]
With Christmas just around the corner, I wanted to share some simple and budget-friendly ideas to bring extra cheer to your classroom this season! Many of these can even include the kids — making the fun (and the memories) even bigger. You’ll find a few of my favorite ideas below, plus even more ideas and inspiration on […]
Does it ever feel like you’re doing everything yourself in children’s ministry? From setting up classrooms to prepping crafts to leading small groups, the pressure to do it all can leave you exhausted and on the edge of burnout. Here’s the truth: ministry multiplies when you delegate. But handing off responsibility doesn’t mean losing control. In fact, […]
I’ve been keeping a little secret for a while now… and I can finally share it. 👉 I’m writing a book! It’s called Feeding Faith: Using the E.A.T. Strategy to Raise Lifelong Disciples in Children’s Ministry You might wonder…What’s the E.A.T. Strategy? Well, it’s the foundation upon which GO! Curriculum is built. E.A.T. stands for —Education, Application, and Transformation. Those […]
When a Christmas event is this fun, this easy to host, and this centered on Jesus, churches can’t help but bring it back year after year. That’s why Gingerbread Bash has become the BIGGEST selling event we’ve ever created! Here’s what leaders are saying: “This was our 3rd year doing Gingerbread Bash, and it was the best and biggest so far! With […]
What if your volunteers didn’t just show up to serve — what if they showed up with ownership? When volunteers feel like stakeholders instead of seat-fillers, everything changes. They come early. They bring ideas. They notice problems and solve them. They lead others. A culture of ownership isn’t about handing over control—it’s about inviting people into the […]
Let’s be honest—volunteering in children’s ministry isn’t always easy. Between wrangling preschoolers, prepping crafts, and leading small groups, even the most committed volunteers can feel tired and unseen. That’s why encouragement matters. When you take time to uplift your team, you’re doing more than boosting morale—you’re building a culture where volunteers feel valued, energized, and excited […]
Recruiting volunteers is one thing. Keeping them is another. Every children’s ministry leader has felt the struggle—someone joins the team with enthusiasm, serves for a few months, and then quietly disappears. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The secret to long-term volunteer retention isn’t about offering big rewards or lowering expectations. It’s about building a culture where […]
What a bright time, it’s the right time…for a “Gingerbread Bash!” Gingerbread Bash is a fun, hands-on Christmas event for kids and families. During this all new 60—90 minute program, families will build gingerbread nativities, hear the Christmas story from the Bible, play games, sing songs, and discover God’s incredible gift to the world. It’s perfect for churches […]
It’s easy to make Easter Sunday all about the gospel — and forget about it the rest of the year. But kids don’t just need to hear the good news once a year. They need it every week. GO! Curriculum ensures that: If we want kids to build their lives on Jesus, we have to give […]
I love healthy debate! Especially when it’s about how to most effectively reach kids with the gospel of Jesus. With that in mind, I present to you another “This or That!” It’s a blog series where I debate with myself on both sides of a hot-button topic in children’s ministry. (The great thing about debating […]
If you’ve ever found yourself knee-deep in curriculum samples wondering, “How do I even begin to compare all of these?”— you’re not alone. That’s exactly why we created the brand-new Curriculum Finder page at the Children’s Ministry Hub! Of course, we think GO! Curriculum is the best, but we’re not afraid to show you the others so you can see […]
If you’ve been in Children’s Ministry for awhile you’ve probably heard this classic story: A Sunday school teacher is giving a lesson and holds up a picture of a furry little animal with a bushy tail. She asks the kids, “What’s small, has a fluffy tail, climbs trees, and eats nuts?” The class is silent for a […]
As a children’s ministry leader, one of your most powerful tools is a clear, compelling vision. It’s not just a motivational phrase — it’s the heartbeat of your ministry. A strong vision inspires your team, aligns your church, and keeps everyone moving in the same direction. But creating a vision that sticks isn’t always easy. […]
Let’s be honest—every children’s ministry leader dreams of hearing kids say, “I can’t wait for church!” A fun, engaging Sunday morning doesn’t just magically happen, though. It takes some planning, a whole lot of creativity, and a sprinkle of that Sunday morning magic (a.k.a. coffee and prayer). In this post, we’re sharing five simple ways to create […]
You’ve probably heard this statistic before. A study by Barna found that nearly 75% of Christian youth fall away from the faith and leave the church after high school. But you can change this…and GO! wants to help! Please join me for a GO! demo where we’ll explore how you can lead kids towards a life-long faith in […]
Children’s ministry has long focused on reaching kids through church programs —Sunday school, midweek gatherings, and special events. But what if one of the biggest opportunities for ministry isn’t inside the church walls? What if it’s in the homes of families who are taking on the responsibility of educating their children? Did you know… Homeschooling […]
With Christmas just around the corner, I wanted to share some budget-friendly and easy ideas that will bring cheer to your classroom. You can even include the kids in some of them! I hope you and your KidMin enjoy bringing these festive ideas to life as much as I did putting them together! Balloon Christmas […]
I recently came across this idea on the interweb and thought it was great for a children’s ministry room too, so I wanted to share it with you. It’s as simple as it is brilliant! It’s a GIANT 4 x 6 foot coloring sheet that your whole room can work on together over multiple weeks! […]
My passion is to help you help kids find Jesus. And normally, that’s what these emails are all about, but this time I was wondering if you could help me with something. Here’s what I could use help with… I need help building a Shared Resources tool that I’ve been working on for awhile. It’s […]
People just can’t get enough of the Gingerbread Bash! We’ve had SO MANY churches asking to do it again. Your Christmas wish is our command! The GO! team is hard at work putting the final touches on an all NEW Gingerbread Bash for this coming Christmas, so put it on your church calendar! Just like the […]
I’m always on the lookout for awesome resources – and I bet you are, too! So, here are four that I’m loving right now! (And as always, these are NOT paid promotions. I recommend them because I actually like them!!!) I know John from way back in the day. We went to college together and […]
There are two things you will find in every episode of the “Journey Today Show!” 1. Rich Biblical content that points kids toward Jesus. 2. Laugh-out-loud humor. That’s not by accident! Laughter is one of the greatest tools for getting kids interested in learning. That’s why we pack so much comedy into each opener of […]
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over my years in children’s ministry it’s this…KidMin leaders are like contortionists—if you’re not flexible, you won’t last long! That’s why I think this short devotional from my friend, Casey, is SO IMPORTANT! Give it a quick read and check out the unique opportunity she’s offering below. Blessed Are […]
TOPHER TIME IS NOW AVAILABLE! What time is it?…IT’S TOPHER TIME! One of the things we hear over and over from churches who use GO! preschool curriculum is how much their kids LOVE Topher the Gopher! He’s a playful and mischievous little gopher who helps the preschoolers learn to love and follow Jesus. And now, […]
I’m always on the lookout for awesome resources – and I bet you are, too! So, here are three that I’m loving right now! (And as always, these are NOT paid promotions. I recommend them because I actually like them!!!) Do the kids in your ministry ever get squirrely? (If not, have you checked their […]
Trust The Guide | By: Casey Jordan I’ll never forget the terror I felt as the old, repurposed school bus rumbled down a dirt road towards the Rio Grande River. I was seven-years-old and about to go white water rafting for the first time. The guide had just finished giving us the safety instructions, warning […]
Now that Easter is over, summer is on the horizon, and GO! has the perfect event for the season! It’s called “The Big Drop”—a gospel-centered family experience unlike any other! During this event, families will play games, eat sweet treats, and watch gravity do its thing as you drop stuff from way up high and […]
I’m always on the lookout for awesome resources – and I bet you are, too! So, here are four that I’m loving right now! (By the way…these are NOT paid endorsements! I only recommend resources that I think are truly awesome and worthy of your attention! Tips are appreciated though. JK…no tips either!) I met […]
As children’s ministry leaders, we all know what it’s like having to stretch every last penny in the KidMin budget! That’s why “dupes” are so awesome! What’s a dupe? It’s cyber-speak for “duplicate.” It’s a less-expensive (yet still high quality) version of something awesome. Here are 4 dupes that your preschoolers AND your preschool budget […]
To be bussin, or not to be bussin? That is the question. Have no idea what I’m talking about? Yeah, me neither. “Bussin” is one of many words that are thrown around by kids nowadays that often leave adults like me feeling out of touch and totally uncool. For grown-ups like us who aren’t lit, […]
An AWESOME group management tool for preschoolers… A KidMin leader recently posted in one of our Facebook groups about something BRILLIANT her preschool teacher is doing to help manager behavior in the room, so I wanted to share it with everyone! A bit of background… In the GO! preschool curriculum, there’s a character named Maisy […]
