Summer in kids' ministry is unlike any other season — full of VBS, camp, new team building, and big energy. But if you run hard all summer long, you'll hit the Fall completely empty. In this episode, I share five practical strategies to help you pace yourself, protect your people, and actually enjoy the summer season in ministry.

Resourced Mentioned

-Kids Ministry Roundtable Membership

-3-Call Coaching Bundle

What if the best VBS your neighborhood kids ever attended happened in someone's backyard?

In today's episode, I chat with Madison Roberts, founder of Backyard VBS — a free, adaptable, homegrown curriculum that's spreading neighborhood by neighborhood across the country. Madison shares how it started with an 18-month-old and a 3-month-old in tow, why she believes any mom can do this, and what she's seen God do through one simple yes.

Resources Mentioned:

Backyard VBS

Kids Ministry Circle Community on Skool

What does it look like to lead with faithfulness, longevity, and joy in kids and family ministry?

In this conversation, Lauren sits down with Kendra Fleming — Executive Director of Family Ministry at North Point Ministries — for an honest, practical, and deeply encouraging conversation about 25 years of ministry leadership. From building volunteer pipelines to navigating criticism, Kendra brings wisdom that every ministry leader needs to hear.

Follow Kendra: @kendrafleming

In this episode, I talk with Danielle Wilkins from Next Wave Staffing, a boutique ministry staffing company helping churches and next-gen candidates find the right fit.

Danielle brings years of experience in kids ministry leadership and staffing, and she does not hold back on the things people are afraid to talk about: salary, generational tension in hiring, how to ask hard questions in an interview, and what it really takes to stand out as a young leader.

Whether you're a kids ministry leader looking for your next role or a church trying to find your next hire, this conversation is for you.

Resources Mentioned

Next Wave Staffing

@nextwavestaffing

In this episode, I chat with Sean Sweet, founder of Preteen Ministry HQ and author of Let Go and Run Beside, to talk about one of the most overlooked age groups in the local church — preteens. Sean brings decades of experience as both a public school teacher and children's pastor to help ministry leaders understand who preteens really are, why this season is so spiritually critical, and what churches of every size can do to disciple them well.

PreteenMinistryHQ

Join the community on Skool

Are the stories kids are hearing actually shaping who they believe they are? In this episode, I chat with Matt Markins — President & CEO of Awana and author of The Story We Tell Our Children: Gospel Formation in a World of Counterfeit Imitation — to talk about one of the most pressing issues facing kids ministry today.

What is it that the church does that tends to form lasting faith in kids?

Together, we unpack the counterfeit stories competing for kids' attention (identity, instant gratification, hyper-individualization) and give kids ministry leaders two practical tools for fighting back: the side-by-side comparison and the consistent, clear retelling of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration.

Resourced Mentioned:

Buy The Story We Tell Our Children

I am so excited to introduce you to a brand new curriculum, The Park!

I met this team at the Children's Pastors Conference and I loved learning more about this curriculum and the heart behind the mission and vision.

Resources Mentioned

The Park Curriculum

The Kids Ministry Circle Summit

In this episode, I chat with Kyle Worley — pastor, author, and podcast host — to talk about his new children's book The Dragon Slayer and His Super Special Suit, the doctrine of union with Christ, and what deep discipleship actually looks like for kids, volunteers, and families.

Resources mentioned:

The Dragon Slayer and His Super Special Suit

Deep Discipleship Curriculum

More from Kyle Worley

In this episode, I am joined by a Abbey Wedgeworth. Abbey is a mom, wife, writer, chief encourager of moms. She has a new book out this week called, Help! I'm Ruining my Kids and it is centered around how the Gospel can transform motherhood.

We talk about how the local church can be a safe place for parents who are struggling and how we can partner well without bringing shame.

This is the book of the summer for moms and I hope you gift it to a few of the moms in your community!

Resources Mentioned:

Abbey's new book

Kids Ministry Circle Summit

In this episode I am joined by Irene Tucker, a staff and writer at Axis. Together we explore how parents, ministry leaders, and volunteers can better disciple the next generation by leaning into culture rather than shying away from it.

We discuss the difference between Gen Z and Gen Alpha, why critical thinking and apologetics matter more than ever for young kids, and why the foundation of any meaningful spiritual conversation is relationship. Irene shares practical wisdom on how to engage kids through music, media, and everyday moments — and why showing up consistently in the small things matters far more than having all the right answers.

Resources Mentioned:

Kids Ministry Circle Summit

AXIS