May is Mental Health Awareness Month! How are you doing?When I started being intentional about my mental health, there was a strong stigma about it in the church body. Pastors and leaders liked to give the “solution” to pray more or fast more or [insert spiritual discipline here] more. Very few acknowledged the need for […]
20 Second Handwashing Songs for Kids
As the world works together to end the coronavirus pandemic, one of the top advice given is washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. They recommend singing “Happy Birthday” twice, but that gets old quick. Here are 20 second handwashing songs for kids (and adults, let’s be honest). You can download the […]
Ministry Loneliness
Loneliness. We know what it is and we’ve all felt it, but I like how Wikipedia puts it: Loneliness is a complex and usually unpleasant emotional response to isolation. Loneliness typically includes anxious feelings about a lack of connection or communication with other beings, both in the present and extending into the future. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loneliness […]
1 Hour Disney Family VBS
If you missed them, here are my posts on Family VBS: Part 1 on why we made the switch from traditional to family vbsPart 2 on what the 1 hour consisted of with our daily schedulePart 3 on the wins and fails we experienced It was honestly one of the most fun VBS we’ve ever […]
Wins & Fails in 1 Hour (Family VBS Part 3)
With only one hour, what could go wrong? Famous last words. All joking aside, there were a lot of things that went right AND wrong. Here they are in list form. I’m including wins and fails specific to our 2018 Family VBS, which may be not be relevant to Family VBS in general. 1 Hour […]
1 Hour Family VBS (Family VBS Part 2)
A few years into doing Family VBS, I saw another decline mostly due to busyness. Families were going on vacation more, more kids were in summer schools or summer sports, and many other reasons. This time, I stepped back. I prayed, assessed, and played around with many ideas. I met with my team and we […]
From VBS to Family VBS (Family VBS Part 1)
I still remember my first VBS, then called Daily Vacation Bible School or DVBS. It was Camp Courageous from the late 90s and the theme song went like this: Camp Courageous, incredible funCamp Courageous, where we follow God’s SonCamp Courageous is the place to beSo come on, friends, to Camp Courageous with me! That was […]
Movie Review: Breakthrough + Discussion Questions for Kids
Based on a true story, “Breakthrough” is the story of a boy who, after drowning in an icy lake and being declared dead for almost an hour, came back to life when his mother started to pray. “Breakthrough” is an inspiring, heart-tugging, must-see movie for everyone. Mark your calendars, get your tickets, and bring tissues. […]
Christmas Carols 4 Week Lesson
Have you ever stopped and really listened to the lyrics of the popular Christmas carols we sing and hear in the radio? We know them so well, the words just spill out. Christmas Carols is a 4-week lesson for upper elementary where children will be introduced to four traditional and popular Christmas carols. These carols […]
“What Pastors Do” Pastors’ Appreciation Day Skit
Here’s a very easy and funny skit for Pastors’ Appreciation Day called “What Pastors Do.” You only need two children who know how to speak with dramatic effect and zero props. There’s no need to memorize it, either. Our children read off their papers, and the whole thing lasted a little less than 2 minutes. […]
