DC4K » children’s ministers

Part One: Reasons we do what we do at Christmas and all year long

The little fellow stood off to the side of the room. Everyone was jumping up and down waiting for their special Christmas treat. As each child received their present one could hear laughter and squeals of delight. All this little boy wanted was for his mom to come home for Christmas. If she could just change her mind and come home even if Read more…

Posted: December 18th, 2018 ˑ 3 Comments
Filled under: Accept the Challenge, Family Ministers, Holidays, KidMin

It’s our birthday today!

Today is our five-year anniversary. Wahoo! Just like a mother whose child is five years old, I wonder how it’s possible that our blog is five years old today. How can that be? I’m amazed, blessed, and just a little overwhelmed by the response to this blog. Kids & Divorce set out to educate children’s ministers and to help single parents. Along the Read more…

Posted: April 16th, 2018 ˑ 6 Comments
Filled under: Divorce Issues, KidMin, Modern families, Single Parents

Excitement overflows this week

Every year, the International Children’s Ministry group hosts a Children’s Pastor’s Conference, or CPC, as it’s called by all who attend. This week, the conference is in Orlando. I’ll be presenting a couple of breakout sessions. I get so excited to present to children’s people. The adrenaline starts flowing before I ever arrive. Children’s pastors are the most fun people on the Read more…

Posted: January 15th, 2018 ˑ 1 Comment
Filled under: Accept the Challenge, Conferences

Question of the week: What precautions should we take when publishing pictures of children in our ministries– especially kids of divorce?

39108987 - children kids happines multiethnic group cheerful concept

The other day, I was on a children’s ministry Facebook group. This is a closed group where children’s ministers discuss … children’s ministry things. The discussion was about publishing pictures of kids in different church activities on social media. As I read all of the ideas about how to obtain permission and handle things, it was clear that hardly anyone was discussing how Read more…

Posted: October 25th, 2017 ˑ 4 Comments
Filled under: Accept the Challenge, Co-parenting, Divorce Issues, Military, Research, Single Parents

DivorceCare for Kids: how it meets a HUGE need at local churches

DivorceCare for Kids (DC4K) is a comprehensive, church-based program that equips local churches to help children of divorce. It’s designed to work in parallel with the adult DivorceCare program (although DC4K can also run as a stand-alone program). DC4K created this blog to help church leaders and volunteers understand the issues faced by kids caught in the crossfire of a family breakup. I Read more…

Posted: September 11th, 2017 ˑ 4 Comments
Filled under: Accept the Challenge, Attracting families, Divorce Issues, Modern families

God showed up and ministered to me through a little kid!

45575989 - portrait of a cute little african american boy smiling

I have ministered to thousands of children in my lifetime and learned that all kids influence those in ministry in some way. Sometimes, it’s a kid who you wonder if you can ever reach. Or it’s a child whose behavior can be called challenging, at best. Many times, I’ve walked out of church wondering why on earth I’m still in ministry to Read more…

Posted: March 2nd, 2017 ˑ 2 Comments
Filled under: Divorce Issues, Modern families

The Infiltration of Whirlwind Kids – What Do You Do?

Have you ever had a class or group and all was going well until …….. that one child walked through the doors? You know what I’m talking about. It’s the child that seems to bring a tornado into the room with them leaving a path of destruction all along the way. You may ask What causes a child to be a whirlwind kid? Read more…

Posted: April 26th, 2016 ˑ 2 Comments
Filled under: Accept the Challenge, Discipline, Divorce Issues, Single Parents, Uncategorized, Whirlwind Kids

Think divorce doesn’t hurts kids? Think again.

Don’t think divorce hurts kids? Think again. Of all the ways a divorce negatively impacts a child’s life, the impact on their religious life may be the most detrimental of all. Church attendance and participation in church activities can be particularly cumbersome and tricky. Research shows most single parents drop out of church shortly after the divorce. While a child may want to Read more…

Posted: April 18th, 2016 ˑ 2 Comments
Filled under: Accept the Challenge, Divorce Issues, Emotions, Single Parents

Confusion, stress and other short-term legacies of divorce on kids

Several years ago I had a single mom show up at my house late one evening. She had left the husband that day, taken the kids and a few belongings and had checked into a local hotel. The precious 4th grade little girl looked bewildered. When I asked her what she thought about what was happening she said, “I am sooo confused. Somebody Read more…

Posted: March 2nd, 2016 ˑ 2 Comments
Filled under: Divorce Issues, Single Parents, Stress, Uncategorized

Inspired to develop, lead and disciple at CMLeaders Conference

This past weekend I was privileged to attend the CMLeader’s Conference in Columbus, OH. This conference was sponsored by INCM, International Children’s Minister Network. The theme was develop, lead and disciple. What a treat it was to get to meet face-to-face all my children’s minster friends. Many of us know each other from FaceBook and Twitter but we have never actually met. We Read more…

Posted: September 17th, 2013 ˑ 2 Comments
Filled under: Conferences, Quotes

KidMin networking – see you there!

This fall several children’s ministers conferences are coming up. I’m excited about these interactions. It’s a great time to network, find out what’s going on in the KidMin world. Plus it is a celebration that says to KidMin people they matter! Wednesday I spent most of the morning getting ready for the LifeWay Children’s Ministers Conference. For any of you who know Read more…

Posted: May 13th, 2013 ˑ No Comments
Filled under: Accept the Challenge, Uncategorized