Nick Blevins Family Ministry Podcast: Children | Youth | Students | NextGen

In this episode, Adam Weber shares some personal revelation about how to love people who are different and how that has impacted his personal ministry. Adam also tells some personal stories of how God has used small moments for a big impact.

Connect with Adam through Instagram.

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org.

Love Has A Name:

• Came from a season of life where he didn't want to love anyone
• Wanted to stay in bitterness, but Jesus wouldn't let him
• Switched from thinking about all the people who have wronged him to people who have loved him
• Rather than shut down conversations, embrace difficult conversations
• Rather than avoiding those who are different, seek them out, especially those who think differently

Cookies:

• Prayer: “Lord, help me to cross paths with at least one person today to show the love of Jesus to”
• The things we think are really big are actually really small things
• The things we think are really small are actually really big things
  • Do more of those type of things
  • If not, we may miss out on some of the most important moments

1. Get the book – Love Has A Name
2. Find one person who is different
3. Listen to The Conversation with Adam Weber podcast

Use the form below to subscribe to my email list where you’ll get an email each Tuesday when a new podcast comes out. That email will also include something exclusive related to the podcast that’s not found in the post or in the episode.

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

In this episode, Dana Williams gives a behind the scenes look into her ministry of partnering with parents through online strategies. Dana shares years of family ministry experience and how that has led to some very intentional conversations around the social media strategies used within her ministry, Table112.

Connect with Dana online through her Instagram and the Table112 Instagram.

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org.

TABLE112:

• Focused on creating a space to encourage parents = When parents live inspired, kids thrive
• 112 = number of hours left in a week (after sleep) where you choose who you become
• Romans 1:12
• Social media platforms: Instagram, Facebook, 2-minute Tuesday (Youtube), and IGTV.
• Rhythm:
  • Shifts from season-to-season
  • Intentional time each day
  • Use what works to engage and attract people

What changes have been made due to the current season:

• People need hope
  • Don't just look to inform or entertain – look for ways to give hope
  • Privacy is different from authenticity (use discretion, but be personal)

Online Strategies through Table112:

• Encourage parents by starting with themselves (start with me)
• Partner in community (widen the circle as parents)
• Empower parents to engage their kids (foster meaningful conversations)
  • Hooks/Hangers for guiding conversations: Identity, Faith, Integrity, Compassion

1. Subscribe to Dana's Podcast through her Website
2. Find 1 way to connect with parents online
3. Feature some conversations with parents in your church

Use the form below to subscribe to my email list where you’ll get an email each Tuesday when a new podcast comes out. That email will also include something exclusive related to the podcast that’s not found in the post or in the episode.

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

In this episode, my friend Andrae Jones talks about kidmin online and in-person, what they have learned and some unique experience they created during COVID. Andrae also shares about his church's recent return to in-person services and how they have won the heart of their volunteers.

Connect with Andrae online through Instagram.

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org.

Kidmin Online at One Church:

• Online programming – full video
• Video content launched Saturday evenings
• Online groups during Sunday mornings
• Midweek message for kids, going deeper into the weekend content

Student Ministry Online at One Church:

• Online programming – full video
• Separate content for Junior High and High School
• Groups online, but in-person options coming soon

Volunteer Opportunities during COVID:

• Tutoring Team (30)
• Care Call Team (10)
• Digital Experience Team
• Virtual Small Group Team (65)
• Engagement Team – Youtube and Facebook interactions through groups (20)

Party in Place:

• In response to Seniors not having prom, and other events not being able to take place
• Friday Night Experience – ONLINE ONLY
• Giveaways
• Worship
• Connections
• Allowing kids/students to be visible

Additional Resources:

• Creating Online Events For Kids
• How to Engage Kids Digitally

1. Recruit to digital and in-person roles
2. Make care call team
3. Try virtual groups

Use the form below to subscribe to my email list where you’ll get an email each Tuesday when a new podcast comes out. That email will also include something exclusive related to the podcast that’s not found in the post or in the episode.

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

In this episode, Jamey Dickens gives some background to his church-planting journey at East Cobb Church and his unique leadership role as the lead pastor. Jamey also has a long history of communicating to youth and he shares some of his most helpful tips for speaking in youth ministry.

Connect with Chris online through Instagram or at the East Cobb Church website.

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org.

Keys for healthy church-planting:

• A genuine and invested launch team
• Health
  • Financially
  • Church culture
• The mission is front and center
• Collaboration with other local churches and ministries

Student Ministry:

• Effective communication to students requires you to communicate often
• Preparation, execution, and evaluation
• Be ruthless about having a straight line with your content
  • what you start with connects to what you finish with
  • be clear
• Do you need more engine, or do you need more brakes?
  • plan the moments you slow down
  • plan the moments you bring the fire
• Communication evolves
• Be you; don't try to be someone else
• Discover who you are
• Review:
  • listen to it and watch it
  • work on your application
  • ask the right people (not just your critics and not just your fans)

1. Self-scout your own communication
2. Come up with a plan to change up your flow
3. Invest in who is there – do something this week

Use the form below to subscribe to my email list where you’ll get an email each Tuesday when a new podcast comes out. That email will also include something exclusive related to the podcast that’s not found in the post or in the episode.

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

In this episode, Chris Sasser shares some resources from the Parent Network at his church and how staff and volunteers have realigned to support a holistic approach to family ministry. Chris leads a family ministry team where the staff has dedicated significant energy to partnering with parents and providing resources to empower them as the key spiritual leaders in the home.

Connect with Chris online through Instagram or Online.

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org.

Resources for partnering with parents:

• PARENT NETWORK – https://www.pc3parents.org/
• Intentional Parent Connect Groups (online and in-person)
• Port City Family Page
• Whole Family Ministry Model
  • Solid foundational ministry for kids
  • Dynamic and engaging ministry for students
  • Practical and helpful ministry for parents

1. Create your buckets
2. Try an online family event
3. What are your keys for successfully partnering with families?

Use the form below to subscribe to my email list where you’ll get an email each Tuesday when a new podcast comes out. That email will also include something exclusive related to the podcast that’s not found in the post or in the episode.

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or social media.

In this episode, Todd Lesher gives some practical ways to build guiding principles and culture for family ministry both online or in person. Todd also shares some of the adjustments his church made along the way as they returned to in-person ministry and the ways they have stayed relationally connected with kids and students.

Connect with Todd online through Facebook, Instagram. or Email.

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org. Also, here are some amazing

• Replay of Volunteer Bootcamp on Facebook
• Register for KMX or YMX
• Volunteer Reboot Course
• Ministry Boost Membership Exclusive
• Ministry Boxes

Learnings going to online ministry:

• HUSTLE – kids and students online, but had to figure out connecting interpersonally through a screen
• Kids did online content and some supplemental Zoom groups
• Students did Zoom, Kahoot, Q&A Live on Instagram
• Family Ministry Game Nights for the whole family

Adjustments back to on-campus ministry:

• Needed to know what volunteers were coming back
• RSVP system
• Updated cleaning procedures
• Weekend Family experience for Preschool age
  • Started with First Look lesson in preschool environments, then broadcast the message from the main room for the rest of the service
• Small changes to policies and procedures
• Take ownership of the ones who are coming to service – taking advantage of the opportunity to serve them

Values and Decision-making principles (THE HOME PLATE):

• Work prayer into your work
  • should be the first and the last thing we do
  • easy to be “in the business” of God's work instead of joining Him in His work
  • schedule this time and make it a routine to develop consistency
• Be relational with all, but intentional with a few
  • modeled after Christ; core group of 12 and His “few”
  • pray for people by name – relational
  • empower others to be relational because you can't do it all – intentional
  • intentionally use your platforms proactively to be relational
• Celebrate steps
  • celebrating the decisions people make in their faith journey that are worth celebrating
    • not only salvation/conversion or baptism
    • returning kids
    • people who have taken action steps that were prompted
• Look for potential, not perfection
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In this episode, Mike Clear talks about children's ministry online and some of the pivots the team at Orange has made in recent months. Mike also shares some helpful ideas on how to effectively continue the engagement of kids, students, and volunteers whether meeting in-person or not.

Connect with Mike online through Facebook, or Instagram.

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org. Also, here are some amazing

• Replay of Volunteer Bootcamp on Facebook
• Register for KMX or YMX
• Volunteer Reboot Course
• Ministry Boost Membership Exclusive
• Ministry Boxes

Orange Curriculum Overview:

• First Look (Babies – Preschool)
• 252 Kids (Elementary)
• 252 Preteen (Upper Elementary/Preteen)

Updates or pivots immediately following COVID:

• Taking all the individual pieces that Orange provides and created full “experiences”
  • Preschool Online
  • Kids Online
  • Preteen Online
• Resources made available to everyone, not only subscribed organizations
• Created Parent Guides and Activities for families in homes
• Activities for online group calls to compliment the weekly curriculum

Ongoing engagement ideas:

• For students
  • Relationship touch-points
  • Connections with leaders
  • Partnership with parents
• Don't just settle for video content for kids
  • Group Calls for kids, including connections with leaders and other kids in their groups
  • Personal cards
  • Drive-bys
  • Phone calls
• Don't rely on old systems and traditions as you continue in ministry

1. Check out OrangeKidmin.com
2. Do something to empower small group leaders – relational connection
3. Consider a dual/collaborative approach – online and in-person

Use the form below to subscribe to my email list where you’ll get an email each Tuesday when a new podcast comes out. That email will also include something exclusive related to the podcast that’s not found in the post or in the episode.

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in 

In this episode, Mallory Wright from Mosiac Church gives a behind-the-scenes look at their very successful YouTube content for kids and families. Each week, Mosiac uses video content to connect with families, prompt meaningful interactions with kids and parents, and champion the ministry of the entire church.

Connect with Mosaic Kids online through Instagram or YouTube.

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org. Also, here are some amazing

• Replay of Volunteer Bootcamp on Facebook
• Register for KMX or YMX
• Volunteer Reboot Course
• Ministry Boost Membership Exclusive
• Ministry Boxes

A little bit about Mosaic:

• Pre-COVID – 354 kids babies thru 5th grade (about a 50/50 split from preschool to elementary)
• Large space for elementary
• Preschool split up into 8 rooms

What pivots were made as you moved to YouTube?

• Lead Pastor led the charge in reaching families through online content
• Used Orange curriculum, but modify the hosting portions, intros, and outros
• Created studio with unused space
• Elementary vids average 30 minutes; preschool average 15 minutes in length
• Utilizing small group leaders and production teams to film and produce
• Prompted parents with discussion questions at the end of videos
• Midweek re-releases on YouTube of the Orange videos
• Midweek releases of weekly videos (Ex: hotdog races), but prompting kids/parents to engage with the videos by answering questions

Tips and Tricks for engaging volunteers and promoting YouTube content:

• Utilizing large group volunteers to edit scripts, staff reviews, then schedule filming
• Leverage videographer professional to record, but use whatever talent you have
• Cross-posting on church YouTube channel with Kids content (prompt to subscribe whenever possible)
• Make the content relevant to today and tomorrow
• Use this as a platform to promote other social links
• Learned NOT to engage kids through the comments
• Mostly kids watching without parents
• Take calculated risks; try new stuff

1. Check out Mosaic Kids on YouTube
2. Get your kid's content on YouTube
3. Build up your subscriber base

Use the form below to subscribe to my email list where you’ll get an email each Tuesday when a new podcast comes out. That email will also incl

In this episode, Clent Wells shares some of the key insights that have led to James River Kids being so successful on Instagram. The kid's ministry at James River Church has been intentional with using their social media as a support for their weekend vision and to prompt multiple connections between kid's and parents throughout the week.

Connect with Clent and James River Kids on Instagram.

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org.

How do you create great social media for kids/families?

• Recruit great people who can create a great team
• Look for ways to extend engagement
• Create moments on the weekend that kids keep talking about, but realize that social media can support that overall vision (multiple connection points throughout the week)
• Engage through shorter connection points for kids and parents during the week

What channels do you use for social media?

• Instagram (primarily), Facebook, Youtube
• The target audience is parents (marketing to moms)
• Look for ways to mimic what is working on social media and bring excitement to your “church brand”

Tips and Tricks:

• Their philosophy is to be a CHAMPION for the church, pointing toward one focus for the family
• Utilize it for event promotion, capture attention and give information
• Find an owner for the look and feel of your strategy
• The strategy needs to fit in line with the mission/vision of the overall church

How did you shift and adjust with COVID and now returning to campus?

• Made the shift to using online presence to move people toward gathering in-person
• Created a format that leaves kids wanting more, whether online or in-person

1. Check out James River Kids IG
2. Start kid's ministry Instagram
3. Make highlights to help orient parents

Use the form below to subscribe to my email list where you’ll get an email each Tuesday when a new podcast comes out. That email will also include something exclusive related to the podcast that’s not found in the post or in the episode.

To make sure you never miss a post, hit the subscribe button in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or Tune In radio. Keep your friends and co-workers up-to-date as well by sharing it with them via email or

In this episode, Beth Cunningham from Church of the Highlands gives some practical steps to thriving in kid's ministry in the midst of change. Beth also shares what shifts they have made to continuing partnering with families and utilizing growth track to support kid's ministry.

Connect with Beth and get more resources through Facebook, Grow Leader, or Instagram.

Check out our courses and register now at MinistryBoost.org.

Highlands Kids Overview:

• Elementary (1st-5th), Preschool (Babies-Kinder), Guest Services, Special Needs (accommodation ministry)
• Small Groups minded
• Creating environments through the lens of parents (5 values)
  • Easy drop-off
  • Safe and Clean environment (has to “feel” this way, not just “look” this way)
  • Church Ambassadors (bigger picture for volunteers; major connection with families and church enthusiasts)
  • Learning something
  • Picking up a happy child

Shifts to weekend experience:

• Creating experiences with short bytes of video, or shorter segments during live services
• Continuing online experience even though they have gathered
• Adjusting to an “individual” mindset with each ministry area, rather than preparing things for groups

How Growth Track supports kid's ministry:

• Bringing great people onto volunteer teams (Dream Teams)
• Excitement for kid's as they begin to serve
• Prompts conversations with families about “growth track” for kids and recognizing their unique purpose

1. Check out Highlands Kids Curriculum and Download Highlands Kids Resouces
2. Think about “Growth Track” for kids and students
3. Think through online and in-person kidmin

Use the form below to subscribe to my email list where you’ll get an email each Tuesday when a new podcast comes out. That email will also include something exclusive related to the podcast that’s not found in the post or in the episode.