KidMin with Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia

Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia are excited to welcome Dr. Mary Ann McMillan to the podcast. According to recent statistics, there are more than 330,000 children currently in foster care in the United States. Research on adverse childhood experiences continues to demonstrate that early trauma and family separation can have lifelong effects on mental health, relationships, physical wellbeing, and sense of identity. In today's episode, Dr. Mary Ann shares how churches can become long-term communities of care, healing, and belonging.

“Bridging Resilience: A Guide to Healing for Adoptees and Former Foster Youth, Families, and the Leaders Who Walk with Them” (B&H Publishing, July 2026), author, professor, and advocate Mary Ann McMillan explores the lifelong impact of early separation, identity disruption, and attachment trauma.

Mary Ann McMillan is a former foster youth and adoptee whose life has been shaped by the realities of family separation, identity rupture, and the lifelong search for belonging. Now a professor, researcher, and global advocate, she writes and teaches at the intersection of  trauma, justice, and healing. She holds a doctorate in education and teaches courses in human rights, criminal justice, and international relations. Her academic work focuses on vulnerable children, both in the U.S. and globally, including time spent in Rwanda researching family systems, orphan care, and post-conflict restoration.

A follower of Christ, Mary Ann is passionate about integrating spiritual formation with therapeutic insight. She speaks regularly to churches, universities, and conferences, offering honest, theologically rooted conversations around adoption, foster care, orphan care reform, and human rights. Through her work, Mary Ann invites readers to listen to those who’ve lived through the system, to parent with sacred responsibility, and to believe in a kind of healing that holds both truth and grace.

#kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #administration #fosterfamilies #adoption

Volunteers are the heart of children's ministry - but recruitment and retention of volunteers can be a very stressful part of a children's ministry leader's responsibilities. In Part 2 of this conversation, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia talk about the leadership skills needed to build relationships with volunteers that create a healthy, strong, and vibrant culture within the children's ministry. They discuss accountability, speaking the truth in love, encouragement strategies, and how to show volunteers your support.

#kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #volunteers #expectations #burnout #procedures #volunteerrecruitment #administration #training #accountability #support

Volunteers are the heart of children's ministry - but recruitment and retention of volunteers can be a very stressful part of a children's ministry leader's responsibilities. In Part 1 of this conversation, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia talk about how to begin a relationship with volunteers to create a healthy, strong, and vibrant culture within the children's ministry. They discuss expectations, commitment, clear procedures, and volunteer burnout. With a little bit of planning, KidMin leaders can create a culture where volunteers know what's expected, feel supported, and can serve with joy!

#kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #volunteers #expectations #burnout #procedures #volunteerrecruitment #administration #training

In this episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss the importance of creating infant classrooms that not only meet the needs of babies and their families, but begin to lay a biblical foundation - starting at infancy - that will carry them into a lifelong relationship with God's Word. They share practical ideas for safety and security, training and equipping leaders, and developing resources to intentionally provide opportunities for even our littlest ones to experience the love of Jesus.

#kidmin #preschoolministry #safetyandsecurity #Bible #training #partnerwithparents #resources #smallgroups #SundaySchool #worshiphour

It's the start of Season 5 and Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia are excited for the topics, guests, and adventures to come this year! Although they will be talking about everything KidMin, a recurring topic through this season will be Biblical Literacy. Listen in as Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia explain why they chose this as the theme and how it can be beneficial to your ministry.

#kidmin #preschoolministry #childrensministry #biblicalliteracy #Bible #administration

It is exciting when we have a successful Vacation Bible School (or other event) that brings new families into our church! And even though growth is something we look for - it can be challenging to plan for new space and additional volunteers. In this episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss strategies and considerations as you prepare for growth!

#kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #vacationbibleschool #growth #space #volunteers #administration

In our final installment of the Ask the Experts series for this season, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia asked our experts to give a few words of encouragement for our ministry leaders. We know from experience, there are difficult days that come when you are not sure how your will continue in your calling. Listen in on those days, and take heart that you are not alone.

#kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #leadership #difficultdays # discouragement #encouragingwords

Dr. Ken Coley, a Senior Professor of Christian Education at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Contact Dr. Coley at:

[email protected]

Helmsman.org

Resources:

Teaching for Change

Ken Coley

https://a.co/d/6Pateym

Transformational Teaching: Instructional Design for Christian Educators

Kenneth S. Coley, Deborah L. MacCullough, Martha E. MacCullough

https://a.co/d/3JIFgWg

Growing with One Another

Tyler Groves, Kenneth S. Coley

https://a.co/d/1baAn92

Sam Luce is the Executive Pastor of Ministries at Redeemer Church in Utica, NY, where he's served for nearly 30 years, focusing primarily on next-generation ministry.

Links Website: http://samluce.com

Substack: https://samluce.substack.com/

Instagram: @samluce 

Facebook: @samluce 

Twitter/X: @samluce 

Amazon: Author Page

Hunter Williams is the children's pastor of Ridgedale Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN and cohost of the Cross Formed KidMin podcast.

Training and Coaching Website:

https://sites.google.com/view/hunter-williams-training/home

How to Teach Kids Theology: Deep Truths for Growing Faith

Dr. Teresa Roberts is Professor of Ministry and Christian Formation, Program Director of Children’s Ministry, and a vice president at Ozark Christian College. She is an expert in children’s spiritual formation training with more than 30 years of ministry experience.

Dr. Roberts holds a Master of Arts in Family and Youth Ministry, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry. She serves in children’s ministry at Carterville Christian Church where she attends with her husband and step-daughter.

Website:  www.DrTeresaRoberts.com

Email: [email protected]

Book available: all major booksellers

NavPress (publisher)

https://www.navpress.com/p/raising-disciples/9781641588638

See "Related Sites and Resources" for the free 8-week Parenting Discipleship Curriculum/Small Group Guide

David Reneau is the Lead Pastor of Encounter Church in Toccoa, Georgia with his wife Liz and son Caleb. With over 17 years of experience in ministry, most of it in kids, he has developed a passion to help others lead in their churches well. He loves to talk about ministry, leadership, video games and Star Wars. His goal is to develop an authentic faith in people that will last a lifetime. You can connect with David and more of his ministry resources at https://davidreneau.org

Next Level Kidmin: The Children's Pastor's Practical Guide to Building a Thriving Ministry

https://www.davidreneau.org/next-level-kidmin-book

Rev. Kayla Smith is the Associate Director of Reach Hurting Kids Institute and serves at Trevecca Community Church of the Nazarene as Pastor of Intergenerational Discipleship.

reachhurtingkids.com/workshop

[email protected]

As children's ministry leaders, we are always recruiting volunteers, those extra hands to help in a classroom with the kids. Teenagers attending your church's student ministry are often willing to volunteer and that can be a  blessing, not just for the kids in your ministry, but for the teenagers as well. In this episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss how to prepare teenagers for success and how to create policies for everyone to have the best possible experience.

#kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #volunteers #recruitment #studentministry #teenagers

Sometimes we face major changes within our church - it may be a staff member change, a new building, or a major change in a program that can cause conflict or concern for the entire church family. In this episode of our Ask the Expert series, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia ask guests visiting the podcast for their advice on how to lead our ministries well in the face of a big change.

#kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #administration #change #leadership

Dr. Ken Coley, a Senior Professor of Christian Education at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Contact Dr. Coley at:

[email protected]

Helmsman.org

Resources:

Teaching for Change

Ken Coley

https://a.co/d/6Pateym

Transformational Teaching: Instructional Design for Christian Educators

Kenneth S. Coley, Deborah L. MacCullough, Martha E. MacCullough

https://a.co/d/3JIFgWg

Growing with One Another

Tyler Groves, Kenneth S. Coley

https://a.co/d/1baAn92

Sam Luce is the Executive Pastor of Ministries at Redeemer Church in Utica, NY, where he's served for nearly 30 years, focusing primarily on next-generation ministry.

Links Website: http://samluce.com

Substack: https://samluce.substack.com/

Instagram: @samluce 

Facebook: @samluce 

Twitter/X: @samluce 

Amazon: Author Page

Hunter Williams is the children's pastor of Ridgedale Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN and cohost of the Cross Formed KidMin podcast.

Training and Coaching Website:

https://sites.google.com/view/hunter-williams-training/home

How to Teach Kids Theology: Deep Truths for Growing Faith

David Reneau is the Lead Pastor of Encounter Church in Toccoa, Georgia with his wife Liz and son Caleb. With over 17 years of experience in ministry, most of it in kids, he has developed a passion to help others lead in their churches well. He loves to talk about ministry, leadership, video games and Star Wars. His goal is to develop an authentic faith in people that will last a lifetime. You can connect with David and more of his ministry resources at https://davidreneau.org

Next Level Kidmin: The Children's Pastor's Practical Guide to Building a Thriving Ministry

https://www.davidreneau.org/next-level-kidmin-book

Weekday Ministries can be a wonderful way to serve families, build relationships in your community, and create opportunities for discipleship - but how do you know it is the right ministry for your church? In this episode, Dr. Val and Dr. Virginia discuss the questions ministry leaders need to ask before starting a Parent's Day Out, Preschool, Before/After School Care, or Christian School. Although this episode does not provide an exhaustive list as you consider this ministry, the goal is to give you a place to begin and important issues to consider.

#kidmin #childrensministry #preschoolministry #weekdayministry #parentsdayout #daycare #beforeandafterschoolcare #christianschool #christianeducation