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

In this episode, David Reneau shares some of the most important metrics he tracks within his kid's ministry as well as some goals he sets for his environments. David also talks through some of the principles he implements for challenges with kids' behavior.

David Reneau

Connect with David on Instagram | Facebook | Blog

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

The Volunteer Playbook

My first book goes on sale on April 18th! Pre-order or buy the book by visiting volunteerplaybook.com or by visiting Amazon. 

Orange Conference 2023

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Episode Notes

HIGHLIGHTS

Church Metrics

• Most metrics begin with “total attendance” (how many kids you have each weekend)
• Comparative numbers (month over month, year over year, event over event)
• Age/demographic-specific metrics (gender/grade level)
• Milestones (saved, baptized, other faith steps, serving)
• Visitors

Behavior Management in kids ministry

• General but specific rules (expected behaviors)
• Consequences:
  • Warning (verbal acknowledgment)
  • Move to another location (remove the distraction)
  • Moved from everyone and parents/families are told
• Involve high-capacity leaders in this redirection and discipline

Action Items

1. What are 4 goals you have for every kid?
2. 4 metrics you will track
3. 4 behavior escalations you will have

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In this episode, Scott Pace shares about the concepts behind his book focused on students accepting the calling into vocational ministry. Scott also shares more form a collegiate perspective about the changes they are seeing on campus in regard to those following a call to ministry.

Scott Pace

Connect with Scott on Instagram | Facebook

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Orange Conference 2023

**BONUS: If you plan on attending the Orange Conference, head to nickblevins.com/OC23 to save $30 on your ticket!

Episode Notes

HIGHLIGHTS

Changes on the college campus

• Lower number of students enrolling in vocational ministry degrees
• Combination of ministry degree programs/courses (undergraduate and graduate)
• The topic of “calling” has shifted and less students are leaning into a vocational calling

Calling

• Universal: the calling of all believers
• Unique: the calling to those set apart for vocational ministry

What can the church do?

• Elevate the conversation about being called into ministry
• Share your “calling” testimony
• Celebrate the church rather than only about the difficulties and hardships (the privilege to serve the bride of Christ)
• Provide opportunities for people to serve (especially those who are exploring and sensing a calling)
• Focus more on what you “get to do” instead of what you “have to do”

Action Items

1. Gift the book to a few students
2. Start student leadership experience
3. Start a vocational ministry pathway

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In this episode, Shane Sanchez spends some time sharing about current trends in student ministry. Shane also gives some insight on his new book focused on helping students see God in their everyday lives.

Shane Sanchez

Connect with Shane on Instagram | Facebook

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Orange Conference 2023

**BONUS: If you plan on attending the Orange Conference, head to nickblevins.com/OC23 to save $30 on your ticket!

Episode Notes

HIGHLIGHTS

Current trends in Youth Ministry

• The main questions being asked: “What's working? What isn't working?”
• People trying to get a pulse on the future of culture – pioneering and trying new things
• Doubling-down on discipleship
• Rethinking programming
• Consistent desire and awareness of high-schoolers' unique needs (and how that affects attendance)

New shifts in Youth Ministry

• Making curriculum more conversational and elevate the experience through hot topics
• Moving from a monologue to more of a dialogue
  • “If you're talked into something, you can probably be talked out of it” – this is what you should believe
  • However, dialogue invites them into the conversation where their questions are welcomed and they form their beliefs based on biblical truth

How To See God

• A 4-week devotional focused on the applicable attributes of Jesus through the fruit of the Spirit
• We can see God in our everyday lives when we recognize the fruit of the Spirit evidence in the world
• Focused content each day that gives actionable steps to reflect on where they see God each day

Action Items

1. Get the book for your students – HowToSeeGodBook.com
2. Start a bonus group
3. Consider less monologue for critical topics

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In this episode, Brent Moxey gives a behind the scenes look into how they have grown their digital Kid's ministry which far exceeds the size of their church. Brent also shares how this digital strategy integrates with their weekly engagement with kids and families.

Brent Moxey

Connect with Brent on Instagram | Youtube | Email

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Episode Notes

HIGHLIGHTS

Staff Structure

• Kids Pastor – K-5th
• Preschool Director – Birth-PreK
• Kids Admin – part-time
• Groups Coordinator – part-time
• Kids Large Group/Production and Events – part-time
• **Volunteer teams

Digital Kid's Ministry

• Started pre-COVID… numbers were not huge
  • Commit to doing something for at least 6-12 months
• Content and strategy changed over time, but purpose stayed the same
• Including biblical message, but always wrapped with a lot of fun
• Epiphany – these videos were not only for kids, but parents and even teenagers were watching as well
  • Created content that was engaging for multiple age groups
• Discussion questions for kids and families always geared toward the Bible content
• Working about two weeks out and constantly have more ideas being added to their content cue
• Not as focused on “subscribers” or comments
  • Many kids are watching on parents devices (not logged in)
  • Watching on TVs where they aren't signed in to Youtube
  • Kids watching but they aren't old enough to have an account, etc.

Action Items

1. Re-evaluate your online approach – ROI
2. Decide on a new approach for 6 months
3. Recruit a team to do this if possible

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In this episode, Esther Moreno shares openly about some personal examples she has experienced in regard to racial unrest within kidmin. She also takes time to speak about the future of kidmin and the opportunities to engage in uncomfortable conversations within the local church.

Esther Moreno

Connect with Esther on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Episode Notes

HIGHLIGHTS

• Importance of having difficult conversations at age/phase-appropriate settings
  • If we avoid these topics, the church becomes judgmental and stodgy
• The body of Christ has been divided by the topic of racial unrest
  • Stemming from NOT loving with Christ's love, but also NOT listening to understand
• What happens when there is a kid who attends your church who is dealing with racial discrimination in places like their school?
  • How do we stay mindful of those who are part of the minority within the church, and creating space for them to feel included?
  • How can we be part of the solution?
• Playing it safe may represent that you stand on nothing — it's ok to stand on truth and what you believe
• “Don't “bleed” on social media”
• Learn to be OK with expressing your heart on social media, but understand you must have thick skin

Action Items

1. Children's Ministry Moving Forward FB & Books
2. Have an uncomfortable conversation
3. Esther on Demand

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In this episode, the legendary Jim Wideman takes time to share about volunteer recruitment and building a strong culture within volunteer teams.

Jim Wideman

Connect with Jim on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

JimWideman.com

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Episode Notes

NOTES COMING SOON

Action Items

1. Connect your volunteers for fun
2. Set a volunteer recruitment – talk to – quota
3. One step to improve your volunteer culture

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Special Sponsor: Clearstream

This episode is sponsored by Clearstream. Clearstream.io works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. You can get started on a free-trial, and if you're with a new church plant under 1 year old can use Clearstream free for 12 months.

In this episode, Carl shares the importance of creating a church culture that embraces vulnerability and helps guide toward celebrating a journey of brokenness in people's lives. Carl also opens up about the “middle ground” that exists for churches around controversial topics and how to approach difficult conversations.

Carl Kuhl

Connect with Carl on Facebook | Instagram | Website

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Episode Notes

About Carl's Book

• Blood Stained Pews mindset = our churches should be places where the truly hurting and truly broken can be vulnerable and find healing to go back out into the world

 

Thoughts from Carl

• It's good to have vulnerability; It's better to have a gospel-centered vulnerability (you are worthy and you are enough)
• Gospel-centered vulnerability leads to freedom
• Difference between skepticism and cynicism
  • Skepticism = honest question that wants an answer
  • Cynicism = negative questions that just want to tear down
• You can’t love Jesus and hate the church
• Stories worth celebrating = when a hurting person finds hope
• Celebrate stories that don’t have a bow on them yet
• Kids are being indoctrinated so we must inoculate them with the truth; gospel-centered vulnerability is the secret weapon in ministering to kids in today’s culture and in parenting them so they do not end up deconstructing their faith

Action Items

1. Read Carl's book
2. Make a plan to share vulnerable stories
3. Find a way to challenge men directly

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In this episode, Kadi Cole engages in a conversation about how churches can develop female leaders. In this rich and informative discussion, Kadi also gives some applicable steps toward churches clarifying leasership roles for women.

Kadi Cole

Connect with Kadi on Facebook | Instagram | Website

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Episode Notes

Current State of Female Leadership in Churches

• Open conversation from pastoral staff (including male pastors)
• However, for most women in leadership, the leadership opportunity offered is not a win
• More opportunities have been opened up and more people are championing dialogue on this topic

Points of tension

• Male leaders who believe this conversation is not important
• Not much momentum for women in leadership
• Friction from women who want to grow into leadership
• Mindset: “we have a lot of women on staff” so that should settle it
• A lack of pastoral leadership and fairness around women in leadership

Positive movements

• Those in historically conservative organizations who are taking elders and staff through this conversation
• Correction around practices that align with their theology
• Lead Pastors being clear with everyone about leadership roles available to women
• Clarity breeds confidence, which accelerates people into leadership
• Best practice: Clarify your theology
• Churches not viewing this as a binary choice of being “for” women or “against” women
• What can women in leadership do to develop this conversation within their church?
  • Ask great questions: Help me understand why ____?
  • Approach with a posture of honesty and honor
  • Address the real/specific issues
  • Resource: Developing Female Leaders

What can the church do to develop women?

• Consider the public view of your team – adjust to 30%-40% of “diversity”
• Take on diversity around
• Consider who you have on the platform for announcements, on social media, etc.
• Invite women into leadership development tracks (not just creating one specifically for women)
• Teach leadership concepts not around gender but around biblical leadership principles
• Affirm leadership potential in young women (teenagers) – leadership named and affirmed in them before the age of 19

Action Items

1. Read the book as a leadership team
2. Use the chart to see where your church fits (and you fit)
3. Take steps to clarify beliefs

Ministry Boost Coaching is back!

In this episode, Dale Hudson shares his experience serving in children's ministry for more than 30 years, and the growing need for creating fertile soil to help kids' faith grow within our ministries. Dale also shares some vision around building volunteer teams with weekly leaders to establish relationships with kids and families.

Dale Hudson

Connect with Dale on Facebook | Instagram | Website

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Episode Notes

Building Teams:

• personal asks
• casting vision for weekly volunteers
• building church culture around volunteering

Dale's New Book: Fertile Soil

Creating Fertile Soil:

• Main reasons kids walk away from the church
  • 25% – church disillusionment
  • loss of belief
  • too busy for church
• What needs to be in the soil for it to be “fertile”?
  • teaching some doctrine/apologetics for kids/families
  • giving opportunities to serve
  • placing consistent leaders in their lives
  • helping parents understand the importance of regular church attendance
  • Parent-Child Dedication
  • create another service opportunity (another night of the week)
  • invest in parents, not just kids
  • celebrate milestones

Action Items

1. Talk with parents about what would help them
2. Plan to talk apologetics
3. Move to weekly leaders

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In this episode, Kerri-Ann Hayes shares her passion for churches finding ways to become more accessible to the special needs community and to those that have experienced trauma.

Kerri-Ann Hayes

Connect with Kerri-Ann on Facebook | Instagram |  Email

Clearstream

Clearstream works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community Builder, Rock RMS, Planning Center, and more. Find out more at Clearstream.io.

Episode Notes

Notes Coming Soon

 

Action Items

1. Get Kerri-Ann's book
2. Find someone who knows this – learn
3. Train your team

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Multiply Ministry Conference – All-Access Pass

Click here to get the All-Access Pass to get access to the Multiply Ministry Conference replays of every main session and breakout. Over 30 sessions of content about empowering volunteers.

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Special Sponsor: Clearstream

This episode is sponsored by Clearstream. Clearstream.io works with thousands of churches worldwide and integrates with tools your church already uses such as MailChimp, Church Community B