In the book Toy Box Leadership, the chapter on Little Green Army Men provides a rich metaphor for leadership and preparation. These small, iconic toys symbolize much more than childhood play; they offer profound lessons about strategy, teamwork, and what the military...
Ministry is wonderful and can also be hard. Over the past year, I’ve spoken with many children’s ministry leaders who feel isolated and overwhelmed. Recently in a kid’s ministry Facebook group, leaders were sharing that they rarely had the opportunity to participate...
Isn’t it great we get to participate in helping kids learn about the Lord, His Word, and His plan for their lives? Each week, in big and small ways, you are making a difference. I hope you believe this! The time you spend is a sure investment in the...
You’re already busy and on the front lines of youth ministry, so why go to seminary now? Denise Muir Kjesbo, Bethel Seminary’s children’s, youth, and family ministry program director, along with Heather Flies, the program’s youth ministry advisor, weigh in on five...
Sarah spent her days chasing after two energetic boys under age five. Making sure they had clean clothes, healthy food, and afternoon naps sapped all her strength. Motherhood had quenched the flame in her heart to take God’s love to the world. Surely God did not want...
(Excerpt from Chapter 1 of Disciplemaking With Guys) One Sunday night I was late for our high school guys' Bible study. When I came into the room, the guys were playing catch with a baseball they had made from playdough. When I asked them to put it away, Trevor asked,...
Are you a report card person? The digital age has ruined the trauma we used to feel with a good ol’ paper report card. Do you remember how the teacher would place that thick-papered official document in your hand at 2:48 on Friday afternoon and say, “Bring this back...
The phrase “fear not” appears 158 times in the Bible. Fear is an emotional response to a real or perceived imminent threat; anxiety is the anticipation of a future threat. Left unchecked, it can wreck our lives. I have witnessed the damage of untamed fear. Long ago, I...
We have 13 critical years to meet kids where they are—to show up in the hard places, equip parents, and biblically lead children together—so they unmistakably recognize Jesus and hold fast to Him in every situation. Kids are asking important questions and seeking...
There are worse things than not having a pastor, and few things more important than selecting the right shepherd. There is no “magic bullet” for the call process, but starting the process with some theological and practical wisdom will make that process more likely to...
Have you ever seen a group get sidetracked by a controversial debate? I imagine you have, and I’m sure it was awkward. We want to help you discover how to navigate controversial topics in your group setting. There is no better place for people to learn how to process...
Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:4). “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is...