Kids Ministry Collective

When was the last time you took a Sunday off? If the honest answer is never — this episode is for you. In this candid and deeply practical conversation, Tom, Cole, Ben, and Vicki get real about one of the most common traps in kids ministry: building a ministry that only runs when you show up. They share their own confessions, their burnout stories, and the mindset shifts that changed everything. Here's what's covered in this episode: The team dives into why kids ministry leaders struggle to step away — from the lie that "nobody can do this but me," to the fear of taking advantage of volunteers. They unpack the difference between a ministry that's healthy and one that's secretly dependent on a single person showing up 52 weeks a year. You'll hear practical, scalable strategies for raising up volunteer leaders at every church size — from small churches with fewer than 10 volunteers, to multi-site ministries with 40-plus team members. Whether you're looking for your first right-hand person or building out a full coach model, this episode meets you where you are. The crew also tackles one of the biggest mental hurdles in volunteer recruitment: "don't say their no." Stop disqualifying people before you even ask. Give the Holy Spirit room to work — and be surprised by who steps up. Finally, the team issues a Find Your One challenge: ask God to show you the one person you can begin pouring into today. Then come share that name in the Kids Ministry Collective Facebook group or YouTube comments so the community can pray with you. You don't have to do this alone. A healthy kids ministry never depends on just one person. We are better together. Join the conversation in the Kids Ministry Collective Facebook Group and share the name of the one person you're going to invest in this week! Need a Coach: Kidmincoach.net Learn about what the KMC offers YOU!: KidsMinistryCollective.com

Do you ever feel like you’re one tiny package of Goldfish away from a meltdown? You aren't alone. This week on the Kids Ministry Collective, Tom, Cole, and Vicki are getting real about the things they are officially "over" in children’s ministry. From the frustration of being labeled "childcare" instead of a discipleship powerhouse, to the struggle of managing drop-off chaos, the team vents so you don't have to. But we aren’t just complaining—we’re finding the "positive spin" and leading with vision. Tune in for a rapid-fire episode filled with laughs, relatable rants, and practical shifts to help you move from babysitting to true ministry. Want a SAFE place to talk things through? Set up a 30 minute Conversation with a KMC Coach! Want to learn more about the Kids Ministry Collective one of the Original Places for Childrens Ministry Leaders!

Every children's ministry leader — whether brand new or battle-tested — wrestles with the same thing: building a healthy volunteer team. In this episode, Tom, Cole, Ben, and Vicki tackle real questions from real leaders about structuring teams for single and multi-service churches, the "serve one, attend one" philosophy, why giving your team scheduled breaks actually prevents burnout and grows your roster, how to gracefully release a volunteer who isn't the right fit (with raw, real stories from their own ministries), and what to do when a volunteer wants to throw out your curriculum and go rogue on a Sunday morning. If you've ever thought, "I'll never have enough volunteers" or "I'm afraid to give my team a break because they won't come back" — This episode will change how you lead. Book a free Clarity Call at kmccoach.net and join the conversation in the KMC Facebook Group.To learn about the Kids Ministry Collective Click HERE

Learn how to plan intentional Easter outreach that leads to lasting family discipleship—not just packed rooms. Practical follow-up strategies for kids ministry leaders.

In this episode of the KMC Collective Podcast, the KMC team, including Tom, Cole, Ben, and Vicky, shares practical insights and strategies for engaging children in worship. They discuss the challenges of getting children, especially fourth and fifth-graders, to participate in worship and explore various methods, such as live lyric videos, interactive stations, and incorporating different music styles and age groups in worship leadership. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the culture and community of your ministry, the significance of explaining the 'why' behind worship to children, and the value of variety in worship practices to maintain engagement. Tune in to discover actionable tips and resources that can transform your children's ministry worship experience. Need Help? Set up your 30-Minute Clarity call with a KMC Coach Want a deeper community to learn from, grow with and be pushed forward? Join the Kidminplus.net leadership community.

Are you drowning in kids ministry ideas, resources, and expectations—and not sure what to actually say “yes” to? In this episode of the KMC Collective Podcast, Tom, Cole, and Ben talk honestly about moving from overwhelmed to focused by sorting “good stuff” from “God stuff” in children’s ministry. Fresh off the Children’s Pastors Conference and its jam‑packed resource rooms, they unpack: How to handle conference overload and come home with a clear plan A simple filter for deciding which ideas, tools, and curriculums fit YOUR church Why mission, vision, and values must drive your calendar (not trends or pressure) Practical ways to plan VBS, Easter, and summer without burning out How to use systems (folders, notes, digital tools) to capture ideas and fight overwhelm Why some long‑standing events might need to end—and how to evaluate them How coaching and community can help you stop leading alone If you’re a kids pastor, children’s director, or key volunteer staring at a packed ministry calendar and feeling the weight of it all, this conversation will help you breathe, refocus, and take your next right step. Connect with KMC Collective: Join the KMC Collective Facebook Group to keep the conversation going Learn more about Kidminplus.net and coaching at KMC Coach (clarity calls, support, and resources for kids ministry leaders)

Join The Kids Ministry Collective Team as they have a conversation of how one word can be so impactful for childrens ministry leaders. So many kidmin leaders get stuck and have no idea how to move forward. Let the KMC Podcast team share how when they focus on one word it can transform everything. This is part one of a two part episode