Children's Ministry Talk » Episodes

Episode 44 – Kids Ministry in the Trenches, Digital Footprints, Feeling Overwhelmed, Difficult Conversations

Children's Ministry Talk — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:15:22 +0000

Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing kids ministry in the trenches, digital footprints, feeling overwhelmed, and difficult conversations.

The following links were mentioned:

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Keep the feedback coming! Send your questions, comments, or ideas to childrensministrytalk@gmail.com. You can now give us a call! Leave us your question or comment by calling (484) 442-0322. As always, you can find complete details about this podcast at childrensministrytalk.com.

Episode 43 – Pastor’s Kids, Conflict with Senior Pastor

Children's Ministry Talk — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:16:39 +0000

Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing pastor’s kids and conflict with the senior pastor.

The following links were mentioned:

Dick shared during the show…

In the early days, I thought the job of the children’s pastor was to minister to children. Although that is in large part true, our primary task is to implement the vision of the senior pastor. I have been hired to make him look good. I am to serve him in his ministry. I am to insure that his vision for children and families is carried out.

If conflict with the senior pastor is coming to a head remember jelly is sweet.

Jesus is still Lord of the Harvest (He cares more about you than you do.)
Expect God to do something new (Don’t be surprised when He does it.)
Love one another (Love covers a multitude of wrongs)
Lift up your pastor in prayer (It’s hard to be upset with somebody you are thanking God for.)
You are not alone (We are the Body. If you need a get-a-way come see us.)

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Episode 42 – Talking to Kids about Sex, Childcare Service Expectations, Turmoil in Ministry

Children's Ministry Talk — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:52:37 +0000

Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing talking to kids about sex, childcare service expectations, and turmoil in ministry.

The following resources were mentioned:

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Episode 41 – Music in Ministry, Separate-aged Visitors, Implementing New Ideas, Mid-Week Programs, Parades

Children's Ministry Talk — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:49:51 +0000

Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing music in ministry, separate-aged visitors, implementing new ideas, mid-week programs, and parades.

The following resources were mentioned:

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Episode 40 – Discipline, Measuring Spiritual Growth, Father’s Day, Partnering with Youth Ministry

Children's Ministry Talk — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:07:26 +0000

Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing discipline, measuring spiritual growth, Father’s Day, partnering with youth ministry.

The following resources were mentioned:

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Episode 39 – Using Video in Children’s Church

Children's Ministry Talk — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:19:50 +0000

Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode discuss using video in children’s church.

Dick shared the following guidelines for use of video technology in children’s church:

Stay away from using lengthy video material
Purpose is paramount
Record and edit the clip to fit the message
Involve the children in production of video support
Never use it to fill time
Good video doesn’t have to cost a lot

When to use a video clip…

It says what you wish you could say
It’s the best method you can find to make the message clear in the minds of your kids
It’s noticeable that the kids are bored with your live presentation
It’s appropriate for an evangelistic or special emphasis day
It’s needed to replace a worker who is missing in action

The following resources were mentioned:

Download Dick’s entire article on using video in children’s church!

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Episode 38 – Making an Impact, Child Baptism

Children's Ministry Talk — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:15:28 +0000

Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing making an impact, child baptism.

The following resources were mentioned:

“Fabulous Reinvention of Sunday School” by Aaron Reynolds , ISBN: 0-310-27433-8
“The Disney Wayl” by Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson, ISBN: 0-07-102064-1
Water Baptism Evangel Art Page [PDF] (to be posted soon)

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Episode 37 – Multiple Kids Church Services, Recruiting and Developing Leaders, Out-of-the-Box Outreach Ideas

Children's Ministry Talk — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:58:58 +0000

Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing trainsitioning to multiple kids church services, recruiting and developing leaders, and out-of-the-box outreach ideas.

The following resources were mentioned:

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Episode 36 – Budgeting, Check-in, First Impressions

Children's Ministry Talk — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:56:49 +0000

Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing budgeting, check-in, and first impressions.

In response to Episode 35 on budgets, Children’s Pastor Bernice, shares the following:

Hello there! You asked for information regarding budgeting for CM. This is the information for our ministry which covers K-6th grade in a church of about 3000 members in a suburb of Wash. DC. We serve 700 kids and spend roughly $50,000. This does not include Boys and Girls Clubs (Rangers/MPact). This is only what is spent for weekend Bible classes, services, teacher training, and special events.

Rangers serves about 130 boys and spent about $13,000 in 2009. MPact serves about 140 and spent about $17,000 in 2009.

So, for 700 kids (K-6th grade only), we spent roughly $80,000.

Hope this helps with the survey (but does not discourage those working in small churches).

These sample budget documents were also shared:

The following resources were mentioned:

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.

Episode 35 – Bathrooms, Budgets, and Big Games

Children's Ministry Talk — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:49:08 +0000

Dick Gruber and Jason Rhode respond to listener questions, discussing bathrooms, budgets, and big games.

Children’s Pastor from MI, Blaine, asks this question via email:

Is there a place or document “out there” that gives budgeting trends for Children’s Ministry? Like, dollars per child info and such. This information would help me greatly…

If you are a children’s pastor, to help Blaine out, please consider answering the following 2 questions:

How many kids did your ministry serve last year?
How much money did your children’s ministry spend?

You can either leave a comment here on the blog or email your answers to these questions to childrensministrytalk@gmail.com and we’ll tabulate the responses we receive and share a summary in a future episode.

The following resources were mentioned:

Drop us an email, leave a comment on the blog, or visit us over on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to include your comments and questions in our next episode.