I made a decision early in my ministry training that built the foundation for my ministry to kids. I was only 20 years old and didn’t even realize I was doing something wise. This is my story about the most intelligent ministry decision I ever made.  It was October of 1978. I was attending Rhema Bible College in Tulsa, Oklahoma. One of my classes was entitled Ministering To Children and was taught by Willie George, a children’s pastor at a local church in Tulsa. I had no intention of ministering to kids, but this became my favorite class. I looked forward to it every day. I’m un ..read more

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” This scripture became very real to me a few years ago. I was ministering at a church in Hilo, Hawaii. I told the pastor I wanted to visit the live volcano about 45 minutes from his church. He gave some specific directions to Volcanoes National Park. My friend told me where to park my car and what path to take, and the best time to go was right before sunset because you see the lava stream best when it’s dark. Then he gave me a vital piece of information. “Be sure to bring a flas ..read more

After 45 years, I retired from my job as Kids Pastor. It was a good weekend. Many parents and kids came by to say “Thank You,” and I reconnected with many kids who grew up on our ministry teams and continue to serve the Lord as adults.  So, what’s next?  Debbie and I will take a four-month sabbatical to celebrate all God has done for us and those we served. I want to take some time to remember all the things God did and reach out to express gratitude to the people along the way who were part of our journey. (I have posted some pics here of the early days of o ..read more

Today, I want to share a story—a story that resonates deeply with the heart of children’s ministry. My wife and I consider ourselves fortunate that a few years ago we were granted a unique opportunity: participation in Jim Wideman’s coaching program. To many, he’s simply “Brother Jim.” His wisdom, experience, and passion for children’s ministry are legendary. During one of our coaching sessions a few months ago, Brother Jim emphasized a critical need—one that often gets overshadowed by other priorities. In recent years, there has been a commendable emphasis on developing leadership skills amon ..read more

Well, we have officially entered into the Christmas Season. It is, after all, after Thanksgiving (or should I say Black Friday)? Either way we are on our way, whether we like it or not, toward Christmas. For some, this is a joyous, happy, exciting time. For others it may be a hard, somewhat painful period. Let’s face it – life is full of hurt. At times we may face disappointment in our family and the idea of celebrating anything is not even realistic. There may be relationships that have been broken and seemingly no mend in sight. Then simply just the struggles of life may pile up leaving us o ..read more

In the KidMin world, the Christmas season can be an exhilarating, yet demanding period. Preparing for special services, organizing events, and ensuring children grasp the significance of Christ’s birth can be all-consuming. The rush to make everything perfect for the children and their families can often leaves Kid’s Pastors feeling drained, both physically and emotionally. Amid the festive celebrations and increased ministry demands, it’s easy to lose sight of the signs you may have of being overwhelmed. That’s why it’s crucial to recognize these signs and understand that setting your boundar ..read more

I used to work in retail at a big box store. It might sound strange, but I used to get pretty anxious when Christmas was on the horizon. In the world of retail, from Thanksgiving through January, the holiday season was a rollercoaster of emotions. Customers often got impatient, frustrated, and sometimes even argumentative. It seemed like the pursuit of the perfect gift for their loved ones had a knack for bringing out the worst in people. One Christmas Eve, I vividly remember a customer berating me because we were out of Airpods, which happened to be the only thing her child had their heart se ..read more

Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner and it brings traditions many of us share.  Things like, a huge turkey dinner, family time with relatives, shopping on Black Friday and last but not least football.  These are all great things, but these things are not what Thanksgiving is all about? Thanksgiving Day began as a day of celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year. The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating “Thanksgivings,” days of prayer thanking God for blessings they had received. Interesting thing about God – e ..read more

In a world filled with complexities, Jesus’ command to “go into all the world and make disciples” may sound like a daunting task. But, when it comes to nurturing the faith of children, it’s all about embracing simplicity. To truly make disciples of the kids in our classes, we need to understand what it means to be a disciple and how we can guide them in their spiritual journey. What Does It Mean to Make a Disciple? Before we delve into the process, let’s clarify what being a disciple really means. Simply put, a disciple is someone who listens to Christ and obeys His teachings. The foundatio ..read more

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” Joshua 1:8 (NLT) How does your faith keeps pace with what you say? Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The first time you hear God’s Word your faith begins to grow. When you say God’s Word out of your mouth it causes your faith to get stronger. This is the best way to build your faith because you will believe your own words more than you believe what someone else says about you. Negative words hurt your faith ..read more