Every August, parents race through store aisles checking off school supply lists. Backpacks? Check. Pencils? Check. Notebooks? Check. Lunchbox? Check. But as children's ministry leaders, we have the privilege of helping children carry something no store can provide. Before the first bell rings, every child needs three things that will matter far longer than anything they'll find in a backpack. 1. They Need to Know Who They Are Our children are walking into a world that will spend the next...

Let me tell you a secret… One of the greatest gifts you can give your ministry isn't another event, another volunteer, or another curriculum. It's a healthy relationship with your senior pastor. The truth is, every children's ministry leader longs to feel seen, supported, and championed by senior leadership. That's a good desire. We all want to know we're valued. But while we can't control how another leader leads, we can control the kind of teammate we choose to become. Healthy partnerships...

If I asked you to identify the most influential person in your children's ministry, who would you choose? The children's pastor? The volunteer who never misses a Sunday? The gifted storyteller who can captivate a room full of energetic six-year-olds? The answer is none of the above. The most important person in your children's ministry is the parent. One of the greatest temptations in children's ministry is believing that if we can just create an incredible enough experience, children will...