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

In this episode, I interview Greg Curtis and Joe Schmaltz of Eastside Christian Church. Eastside does a great job helping first time visitors become attenders, plug into groups, and jump onto serving teams. Greg works on the Assimilation team, and Joe leads NextGen, so we talk about how they help new families connect with the church and come back.

Connect with Greg on Facebook and Twitter

Connect with Joe on Facebook and Email: [email protected]

Eastside Christian Church

GregCurtis–Assimilation.com – Check out Greg's website for free resources and assimilation processes

We Struck Assimilation Gold – Greg shares the key to Eastside's assimilation strategy

Basecamp – Sign up for a Basecamp with Greg where you can assess your current strategy and develop a plan to help a higher percentage of first time guests get connected alongside other leaders

1. One place (Guest central)
2. One program (Next steps)
3. Two processes (Volunteer team and groups)
4. Two placements (Volunteer and group placement)

1. Are we succeeding in connecting people?
2. How many new people have come?
3. How many are plugged into a group?
4. How many have joined a volunteer team?

1. Analyze your church's effectiveness in helping guests get connected and engage
2. Outline your current process for new families
3. Compare that process to your church-wide plan
4. Make any necessary changes

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 the next episode, I talk with Scott Magdalein of TrainedUp.Church. Scott shares a full onboarding

In this episode, I talk with Lisa Molite about her site, ReadySetSunday.com and how she creates irresistible environments for kids. Specifically we dive into how she creates a new set and environment related to the curriculum's theme each month. We walk through how she does it, what it looks like on a month-to-month basis, and how she built a team to help create those environments.

Connect with Lisa on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

ReadySetSunday.com

Email: [email protected]

Community Christian Church

Michael Hyatt Productivity Assessment – Check out Michael Hyatt's free webinar, The Seven Deadly Sins of Productivity

Orange

Ready Set Sunday Webinar – You can check out the webinar we did with Lisa on irresistible environments right here.

System Overhaul Series – Lisa shares how she built a team and process for creating monthly sets

October 2017: Stewardship (Use It Or Lose It) – Brainstorming and ideas for the October set

September 2017: Friendship (Lunch Room) – In-process and the final product for the Life App of Friendship

Summer 2017: Uniqueness (Gadgets and Gizmos) – Evaluating the summer environment

Check out specific processes for creating a circus tent, super-sizing objects, and creating a VW bus!

1. Check out ReadySetSunday.com and subscribe to the blog
2. Follow ready set sunday on social media
3. Collaborate with others eac

In this episode, I talk with JC Thompson. JC has transitioned into three different roles over the past ten years at the same church. He shares what it was like going from leading a specific ministry to leading all of NextGen, and what those different roles looked like. We also talk about how his church structures age groups within NextGen, the reasoning behind those age brackets, and the pros and cons of their current structure.

Connect with JC on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: [email protected]

JCIsOnline.com

Brookwood Church

Michael Hyatt's Productivity Assessment – Take Michael Hyatt's Productivity Assessment to help you identify your current strategies for managing time and energy, and how you can become more productive

Orange – Check out Orange's curriculum resources for the different NextGen age groups

JimWideman.com – Resources and coaching to help you become a better leader. Click here to apply for the last Infuse group!

4 Disciplines of Execution (book) – Chris McChesney and Sean Covey outline a simple, repeatable formula for how to execute your most important strategic priorities

Family Talk – Check out Brookwood's format for including family discussion points with Sunday's message so that family's can continue the conversation at home

Family Ministry Field Guidebook (book) – Timothy Paul Jones explores how churches can best equip families to disciple their children

13 Reasons Why Resource  – Brookwood's podcast episode for parents on how to talk to their children about the Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why

1. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of how you group ages and ministries. Ask: Should we shift what we are doing?
2. What is your dream role? What is a plan for you to reach it?

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

In this episode, I welcome my friend, Cindy Fiala, back to the podcast (You can check out Cindy's first episode on the Family Ministry Model and Women in Leadership here). Cindy has recently transitioned into the role of Family Minister at LifeBridge Christian Church. She talks about what that journey has looked like for her and shares a great perspective on transition.  Cindy then walks through some really helpful practices for having hard conversations and navigating conflict. Finally, we dig into how Cindy has partnered with families by creating tribes for parents where they can connect with one another.

Connect with Cindy on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: [email protected]

LifeBridge Christian Church

Mastermind groups for ministry leaders are launching this October! A mastermind group is a group of leaders, who serve in a similar context, and come together to: help each other grow, challenge each other, share resources, and offer accountability. Registration closes this Friday, and groups are over 80% full, so click here for more info and apply now!

The Volunteer Playbook Group is a 10-week challenge to help you recruit more volunteers. You’ll be part of a group of 20+ ministry leaders, and together we'll build our volunteer teams from the ground up. There are only a few spaces left, and the deadline is this Friday so click here for more info and to register today!

1. Check your motivation for the conversation
2. Align your heart to truth
3. Take time to pray through decisions and conversations–Don't make decisions or have those conversations when you're tired, hungry, or very busy
4. Lead by self differentiation–cast vision, keep people close to you, and always be the non-anxious presence

Orange – Check out Orange's resources for partnering with parents

Parenting Beyond Your Capacity (book) – Reggie Joiner and Carey Nieuwhof help parents lead their family with the end in mind–that a relationship with God matters more than anything

Just a Phase – A project from Orange that helps parents understand and maximize the phase their child is in

1. Engage families at the start of the school year with an event or Family Ministry weekend (Check out Preston Trail's Back to School Weekend for families here)
2. Set up a parent camp or a next step where parents can come together for teaching and small group time
3. Walk through

In this episode, I talk with Author and North Point Community Pastor, Clay Scroggins, about his new book, How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge. We have a great conversation about steps you can take to use your influence even when you’re not in charge, how to apply the principles he talks about in a Family Ministry context, and what they look like practically.

Connect with Clay on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Email: [email protected]

ClayScroggins.com

North Point Community Church

Mastermind groups for ministry leaders are launching this October! A mastermind group is a group of leaders, who serve in a similar context, and come together to: help each other grow, challenge each other, share resources, and offer accountability. The groups are over 2/3 full, so click here for more info and apply now!

The Volunteer Playbook Group is a 10-week challenge to help you recruit more volunteers. You’ll be part of a group of 20+ ministry leaders, and together we'll build our volunteer teams from the ground up. There are only a few spaces left–click here for more info and to register today!

How to Lead When You're Not in Charge

1. What am I supposed to learn from this? (Instead of “Why is this happening to me?”)
2. What characteristics and practices does my boss consistently show? What do I want to repeat? What do I want to do differently?
3. Am I effective where I am now?
4. How can I learn to lead with influence today so that I can be a better boss tomorrow?

1. Get How to Lead When You're Not in Charge here!
2. Make a list of your current spheres of influence, and list three steps you can take to grow that influence in the next month

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 shar

In this episode, I talk with Rich Birch from the unSeminary Podcast. We unpack the differences that exist between Family Ministries in churches that are less than 1,000, and over 1,000. Rich also walks through the unique challenges facing those trying to break through the 1000 barrier. The principles he shares are really helpful whether you are in that stage or not, as you may be facing similar things when you are striving to grow during a different phase.

Connect with Rich on Facebook and  Twitter

unSeminary.com

Mastermind groups for ministry leaders are launching this October! A mastermind group is a group of leaders, who serve in a similar context, and come together to: help each other grow, challenge each other, share resources, and offer accountability. The groups are half full, so click here for more info and apply now!

The Volunteer Playbook Group is a 10-week challenge to help you recruit more volunteers. You’ll be part of a group of 20+ ministry leaders as we build our volunteer teams from the ground up. There are only five spaces left–click here for more info and to register today!

1. Identify why people come to your church
2. Ask: What old habits are we holding onto and why? Are we doing too many things?
3. Evaluate your leadership structure, how decisions are made, and the mindset key leaders have
4. Be intentional about restructuring your organization so that all things don't point to the senior leader
5. Think multiplication

1. Understand what they value
2. Listen to their priorities
3. Know what they are emotionally connected to, and look for ways to add value to that. Ask yourself how the family ministry interacts with that.
4. Speak the language of your lead pastor

1. Identify which of the barriers applies to your church right now
2. Gather a group of people together and talk about how you can strategically overcome that barrier

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

In this episode, I welcome back NextGen Pastor, Kenny Conley, to the podcast (Check out Episode 25 when Kenny talks about the NextGen and Family Ministry Model). This time, Kenny shares the five things to focus on during your first year in a NextGen role. Kenny just finished his first year at a new church in this NextGen role, and coming out of that, he has some great wisdom to share. Whether you lead in NextGen, or specifically in Children’s or Youth Ministry, the principles and practical advice he shares are really helpful.

Connect with Kenny on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

IAmNextGen.com

ChildrensMinistryOnline.com

MISSION Church

Mastermind groups for ministry leaders are launching this October! A mastermind group is a group of leaders, who serve in a similar context, and come together to: help each other grow, challenge each other, share resources, and offer accountability. Click here for more info and to apply!

Orange – Through Orange, get connected with a great community of NextGen/Family Pastors

You Lead Coaching – An initiative dedicated to coaching leaders via themed teaching, discussion groups, and projects within their own churches and organizations

I am NextGen FB Group – Connect with other NextGen leaders and share resources

Jim Wideman's Infuse Program – A 6-month mentoring experience available to Children's Pastors

The First Year (blogpost) – Kenny unpacks what the first year in a NextGen role should look like

Ministry Makeover Resource – Sign up to get Kenny's resource (coming soon), about how to turn your ministry around

1. Take time to learn the culture of your church. Listen and ask lots of questions.
2. Get to know your staff, their perspectives on the ministry, and build trust with them
3. Learn the role and find your rhythm
4. Dive into a role when necessary
5. Know where you're going, and chart your future

1. Take the five things Kenny talked about and evaluate where you are in those areas
2. Create a simple 3-step action plan to help you get better this month
3. Ask: Are you still operating like you are new to the role? If you have been in the role for a while, consider expanding what you do in your role and leading more through other people.

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

In this week’s episode, I talk with Jessica Bealer. Jessica and I have a great conversation about multisite children's ministry – what kids' ministry looks like in a multisite context, from great principles to specific, helpful practices. Whether or not you serve in a multisite context, there are a ton of great principles and resources you can apply to your ministry.

Connect with Jessica on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

FamilyMinistry.Church

Check out this FREE resource full of gift/follow up ideas from different churches that are intentional about reaching out to first time families, and encouraging them to return.

Mastermind groups for ministry leaders are launching this October! A mastermind group is a group of leaders, who serve in a similar context, and come together to: help each other grow, challenge each other, share resources, and offer accountability. Click here for more info and to apply!

Elevation Church – A multisite church in Matthews, NC that's all about helping people have a relationship with God and experiencing what he can do through you

eKidz – The kids' ministry at Elevation

eKidz Evaluation Document – Elevation's tool for helping evaluate every area/role of the kids' ministry

Quick Check Weekend Observations – A checklist for Sunday morning environments designed to help maintain excellence in a multisite children's ministry context

Haves and Needs Template – Check out Elevation's method for organizing and determining the volunteers required to run Sunday morning, the ones they currently have, and the number they need to recruit

The Magical Lanyard (blogpost) – Jessica shares details about the lanyard children receive when they are first time guests

Kidmin Multisite – Where to Start (blogpost) – A starting point for launching a multisite children's ministry

Ready or Not: 3 Steps to a Successful Launch (blogpost) – Principles to keep in mind when casting the vision, recruiting, and communicating to a core team

In this episode, I interview Tony Morgan, founder of The Unstuck Group. This organization works with churches through coaching and consulting to help them get unstuck. Tony recently released a new book called The Unstuck Church that looks at the life cycle churches go through. We talk about this life cycle in terms of family ministry, how to figure out where your ministry is, and what you need to do to either maximize your current season or get out of it.

Connect with Tony on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

TonyMorganLive.com

The Unstuck Group

Mastermind groups for ministry leaders are launching this October! A mastermind group is a group of leaders, who serve in a similar context, and come together to: help each other grow, challenge each other, share resources, and offer accountability. Every month, your group will have a 90-minute video call where you share what's going well, and the challenges and barriers you are facing. You will also have access to a private Facebook group, two opportunities for 1-on-1 coaching with your host, and several bonus resources, including FREE access to the Volunteer Playbook Group.

Details: Oct-Apr, $400 | Click here for more info and to apply.

This is a brand new group,  designed to help you recruit volunteers and create a great volunteer culture. You'll spend ten weeks building your volunteer culture from the ground up, clarifying the vision of your ministry, learning how to build your team, and finishing with how to grow your team.

Details: Oct 2-Dec 4, $200 | Click here for more info and to apply.

TheUnstuckChurch.com – An overview of the seven stages in the life cycle of a church and resources to help your church get unstuck

The Unstuck Church (book) – Tony Morgan walks through the seven life stages of a church, from launch to needing life support

The Unstuck Church Assessment – Pinpoint where your church is in the life cycle

Leadership Coaching Networks – Coaching networks offered this fall to help your church get unstuck. The three offered this fall are Multisite Leadership, The Unstuck Church: Reaching 1,000, and The Unstuck Church: Growing Beyond 2,000.

The Life Cycle of a Church: 7 Stages

In this episode, I talk with Children’s Pastor and Evangelist, Ricardo Miller. We have a great conversation about the top mistakes ministry leaders make. Ricardo shares from the perspective of a children’s pastor, but the list and principles he walks through apply across the board to leaders in all areas of ministry.

Connect with Ricardo on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

RicardoMiller.com

Pathway of Life Church

1. Not having a mentor
2. Not attending conferences and seminars or being a part of a learning environment
3. Not learning how to delegate
4. Not learning how to build a team
5. Not celebrating the victories of others
6. Not taking a vacation
7. Not giving back as much as you take
8. Not learning how to empower parents to take the lead in their kids' development
9. Not saying “Thank you” enough
10. Not being ourselves

1. Texts
2. Conference calls (FreeConferenceCall.com)
3. Weekly meetings
4. Retreats
5. Twice a year trainings
6. Annual Conference

1. Look at the list of mistakes ministry leaders make, and pick the one that you're making right now, or struggle with the most
2. Choose one thing you can do this week to change that

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 the next episode, I interview Tony Morgan, founder of The Unstuck Group. This organization works with churches through coaching and consulting to help them get unstuck. Tony recently released a new book called The Unstuck Church that looks at the life cycle churches go through. We talk about this life cycle in terms of family ministry, how to figure out where your ministry is, and what you need to do to either maximize your current season or get out of it.