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

In this episode, I talk with Kurt Brodbeck about his church's family framework for partnering with parents through transitions and milestones. Kurt walks through the different components of their framework, the vision behind each step, and how they set parents up to have conversations with their kids.

Kurt Brodbeck

Connect with Kurt on Facebook and Instagram

Northview Church

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Episode 134: 6 Milestones and Transitions to Celebrate with Parents with Matt Morgan

Episode 137: Building a Preteen Ministry with Zach Matchett

Northview Church Family Framework Website

Bible Presentation Parent Guide

Bible Presentation Student Guide

Faith Commitment and Baptism Parent Guide

Faith Commitment and Baptism Student Guide

Family Framework Brochure

Parenting Beyond Your Capacity – Reggie Joiner talks about how to connect your family to a wider community of people

The Blessing – Gary Smalley talks about the 5 elements of receiving a “blessing” and that dynamic between kids and their parents

Orange Conference – Register and let me know if you're coming!

Action Items

1. Check out the Family Framework
2. Evaluate what you currently do
3. Determine what your one next step is going to be

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In this episode, I talk with Amber Lappin about building faith in babies. In the first few years of a child's life, they are learning so much and growing so fast. Amber talks about how to combine that with the wonder of faith and how we can begin to help them understand faith, hope and love at a young age.

Amber Lappin

Connect with Amber on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

AmberLappin.com

TrainedUp 10% Off

Get online training for your volunteers and equip them like never before through Trained Up. Once you sign up for a subscription, use the code BOOST10 to get 10% off for life.

Links Mentioned in this EpisodeBuilding Faith in Babies – 3 Principles to Pass Along

1. Faith – Be faithful with our words and faithful in our care
2. Hope – Teach them hope and that things that disappear (like their parents) are not gone forever
3. Love – Show up and care for the babies with intentionality

Action Items

1. Learn more about childhood development in the early years
2. Leverage and pass that information onto your volunteers and equip your team to serve that age group better

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Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In this episode, I talk with my friend Will Hutcherson about his new organization, Youth Leadership Collective. This non-profit was born out of a desire to help educators and parents heal despair in teenagers. They are all about bringing hope to students in youth ministries, in schools, and in our communities through relationships and teaching. Whether you work with kids or students, these principles apply across the board and are helpful as we seek to partner with parents and schools.

Will Hutcherson

Connect with Will on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

WillHutch.com

TrainedUp 10% Off

Get online training for your volunteers and equip them like never before through Trained Up. Once you sign up for a subscription, use the code BOOST10 to get 10% off for life.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Episode 054: Partnering With Parents With Will Hutcherson

Youth Leadership Collective – Non-profit all about helping educators and parents heal despair in teenagers

Soul Keeping by John Ortberg

An Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Barton

Psychology of Attunement

• Eye contact
• Conversation
• Appropriate physical contact

Attunement

• A – Attend – Be present and show up randomly
• T – Time
• T – Tone – Self-care for parents
• U – Unplugging – Creating boundaries with smartphones
• N – Notice – Looking beyond the physical or what they may be portraying
• E – Eye contact

3 Steps for Parents When Teens are in Despair

1. Say “I love you.”
2. Thank them for being brave and trusting you.
3. Ask: “Is it okay if we get help together?”

Action Items

1. Learn more about bringing hope to students and parents
2. Reach out to Will for more information on what he does
3. Connect with schools in your area and invite Will to do an assembly on hope for the students

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In this episode, I talk with Beth Guckenberger about Back2Back Ministries, the story and vision behind it, and how church leaders can help kids and students have a heart for the nations. We also talk about her unique communication style and how she seamlessly weaves stories, vision, and a call to action together.

Beth Guckenberger

Connect with Beth on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: [email protected]

Back2Back Ministries

BethGuckenberger.com

TrainedUp 10% Off

Get online training for your volunteers and equip them like never before through Trained Up. Once you sign up for a subscription, use the code BOOST10 to get 10% off for life.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

CRU

The Tales Books

5 Point Child Development Plan

1. Physical Needs
2. Emotional Needs
3. Spiritual Needs
4. Educational Needs
5. Social Needs

3 Communication Points

1. God’s story
2. My story
3. Audience story

Action Items

1. Check out Back2Back Ministries
2. Listen to one of Beth's teachings and apply her storytelling to your own communication

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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.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In this episode I talk with Shane Sanchez all about student ministry – what they do at his church, how they structure middle and high school ministries, when they meet, and their different formats and environments. He also talks about what they've done to create a different experience for juniors and seniors in high school and shares helpful questions we can be asking ourselves as we seek to re-engage them.

Shane Sanchez

Connect with Shane on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

MISSION Community Church

5 Barriers to Volunteer Recruitment

I just launched a brand new course with Ministry Boost all about the 5 big things that are barriers to recruiting ministry volunteers. This course is on sale for just $10 through Monday, March 18. Register today at ministryboost.org/courses using the code PODCAST.

Links Mentioned in this EpisodeMISSION Student Ministry Staff

1. Youth Pastor – Focus on vision, leadership, teaching, and caring for the team
2. Programming Director – Oversees weekend services, camps, worship team, and production
3. Groups Director – Recruits volunteers, is relational, and loves small groups and training leaders

Episode 027: Tom Shefchunas on Volunteer Coaches and Metrics in Ministry

Action Items

1. Evaluate your student ministry. Ask: Where do we have momentum and why?
2. Ask: Where do we not have momentum and how can we create it? Start talking about that with parents and volunteers.
3. Talk through one thing you can do with juniors and seniors to re-engage them. 

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In this episode, I talk with Becky Rydman about how to reach your community by partnering with schools. Becky shares what is at the core of this partnership – relationships – and talks about how she got plugged into her local school and how churches in her area have made an impact in the school system.

Becky Rydman

Connect with Becky on Facebook and Twitter

Email: [email protected]

BeckyRydman.com

McCord Road Church

5 Barriers to Volunteer Recruitment

I just launched a brand new course with Ministry Boost all about the 5 big things that are barriers to recruiting ministry volunteers. Right now, this course is on sale for just $10. Register today at ministryboost.org/courses using the code PODCAST.

Links Mentioned in this EpisodeOrange Curriculum FXOrange School Curriculum – Core EssentialsSteps to Partnering with Schools

1. Get in the school
2. Build a relationship with the principal
3. Establish a relationship with the school guidance counselor
4. Volunteer and show up
5. Attend parent organization meetings
6. Ask what the felt needs are

Organizations to Help in Partnering with Schools

• Keep Watch Prayer
• Young Life
• FCA

Action Items

1. Pick one school where your church already has influence, or a greater potential to influence, and start a partnership. Reach out and talk to someone at the school and ask what the needs are and how the church could serve them.
2. Gather parents and use them to brainstorm how to partner with schools.

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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.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In this episode, I talk with Preteen Pastor, Zach Matchett about creating environments for preteens. Zach talks about his vision for creating spaces for preteens to be in awe of who God is. He also talks about the importance of creating community for preteens, combining their spiritual and social lives in the late elementary/early middle school. Zach also walks through the program and structure at his church, talks about how he has built their preteen ministry, what they do week to week, and how they equip their leaders.

Zach Matchett

Connect with Zach on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: [email protected]

Northview Church

5 Barriers to Volunteer Recruitment

I just launched a brand new course with Ministry Boost all about the 5 big things that are barriers to recruiting ministry volunteers. Right now, this course is on sale for just $10. Register today at ministryboost.org/courses.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Caught in Between – Dan Scott explores the keys to preteen ministry

Lead Small – Five essentials for leading a small group

Lead Small Tool Kit – Practical ways for leaders to live out the five essentials in Lead Small

Northview Church Preteen Ministry Programming

1. Show stupid video of the week
2. MC welcomes everyone
3. Set up vision for time together: We learn about God, make good friends, and have fun
4. Group game
5. Table time – Opening discussion questions, preteens share highlight of their week and do icebreaker questions
6. Worship time led by student worship team
7. Message (15-20 min of teaching content)
8. Closing small group time
9. Dismissal

Action Items

1. Check out the Caught in Between workshops with Dan Scott (email me at [email protected]) and get the book
2. Pick one thing you could start doing to make the experience of preteens unique and make a plan to implement it

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In this episode, I talk with Jason Tilley about creativity in ministry. Jason walks through seven steps he uses to solve problems, create things from scratch, or improve something that already exists. He then takes us through practical examples and gives tips for each of the steps to help you be more successful in the process.

Jason Tilley

Connect with Jason on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: [email protected]

MinistryAccelerator.org

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Children's Pastors Conference

OneHope.net

7 Steps to Creativity in Ministry

1. Believe you’re creative
2. Fill your creative tank
3. Choose what your challenge is
4. Assemble a team
5. Find your solution
6. Start small
7. Make your choice

Action Items

1. Take the 7 steps and think about something you want to change, add, or improve in your ministry
2. Apply it to that one thing this month, and build a team to carry out the plan.
3. Come back and evaluate how the creative process worked and then make changes as needed

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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.

Leave a rating and a comment in iTunes to let me know how this podcast is helping you and your ministry. Also, let me know how we can make it better!

In this episode, I talk with Steven Knight about how to recruit volunteers. Steven talks about some boosts they do throughout the year and then gets really practical with the steps we need to be taking each week to build relationships and connect with potential volunteers. We then dive into what it looks like to create a great culture to serve in and how to retain those volunteers.

Steven Knight

Connect with Steven on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: [email protected]

Kidmin Tools

Fellowship Bible Church

Links Mentioned in this Episode

How to Find Volunteers for Ministry – FREE ebook on volunteer recruitment

How to Cast Vision in Kids Ministry

Recruiting Email Template for Kids Ministry

5 Practical Ways to Recruit Volunteers for the Volunteer Equation

Boost Volunteer Recruitment by Addressing 3 Fears Upfront

Preparing to Recruit Volunteers

1. Make a list of absolute needs
2. Make a list of roles you need if you want to grow your team
3. Create job descriptions and training processes to equip volunteers well
4. Create a community culture on your team

Ways to Recruit Volunteers

1. Make personal asks
2. Find ways to continue to build relationships with people outside of your circles
3. Create first-serve opportunities
4. Lean into different times of the year to recruit – The start of school, beginning of the year, and summer kick off
5. Highlight current volunteers and encourage them to share their stories
6. Encourage your team to invite people to serve alongside them

GroupMe – FREE texting app you can use for volunteers

Action Items

1. Make a list of how many volunteers you need; how many you need to survive; and how many you need to grow. 
2. Download the ebook and determine 2-3 steps you can take this month to recruit volunteers.
3. Block off time every week this month to r

In this episode, I talk with Matt Morgan about milestones and transition events for families. Matt shares the 6 milestones that his church not only celebrates with parents, but equips them for. Essentially, at each milestone, they offer a seminar style class to equip parents for the next phase ahead, and have a ceremony to celebrate the child. Matt walks us through the classes, seminars, and resources they offer and talks through what each of those celebrations looks like.

Matt Morgan

Connect with Matt on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

MattMo.org

Fellowship Bible Church

MINISTRY BOOST

Ministry Boost is launching 12 courses and 3 new coaching groups beginning in February. Registration is now open and closes February 7th at 12PM EST. Click here for more details and to sign up.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Nothing Less – Jana MacGruder talks about how to engage kids for a lifetime of faith

6 Milestone and Transition Events

1. Baby Dedication
2. Bible Presentation
3. Baptism
4. Preparing for Adolescence
5. Rite of Passage
6. Graduation

Milestone and Transition Events Resources

ESV Grow Bible

Following Jesus Bible

I Will Praise You Art Journal for Kids

I Will Thank You Art Journal for Kids

Action Items

1. Ask yourself: What is one milestone you already do that you can approve?
2. Ask yourself: What is a milestone you are not currently doing? Can you take steps to add that in the coming year?

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