Episode 18: Storyteller Training Part 1 (Using Your Voice)

This is the first of a three-part series focused on training for Children's Ministry storytellers and large group teachers.  

Today we will look at the worst advice ever given to storytellers and several ways storytellers can use their voices to bring the Bible to life.

Check it out in iTunes or in player below.

Episode 15: How to Create a Compelling Leader Training Experience

How do you create a compelling training experience for Children’s Ministry leaders?  It may be easier than you think. That’s what we’re going to be talking about today on this episode of the Simple Kidmin podcast.

Listen here on the blog or in iTunes.

Episode 004: How to Set Your Leaders up to Win (Part 2)

This is the second part of a two-part episode about setting our leaders up to win in Children's Ministry.  In Part One I said there are eight things every leader needs from us to succeed, and I covered the first four on the list: 

   1. Vision
   2. Clear Expectations
   3. The Right Tools
   4. The Right Environment

In today's episode we will look at the other four things our leaders need from us for success. You can listen on iTunes or on the embedded player below.

 

Once you're done with this episode, download the Leader Culture Report Card to grade yourself on how you're doing in each category.  

On the report card you'll see there is a column to evaluate where you were a year ago, where you are now and one more column you can use for a mid-year check-up six months from now.  

You'll notice there's one version of the report card for you to fill out, and if you're feeling brave, another version to share with your leaders to get their feedback. 

Here are the other four things our leaders need from us along with links to specific books and other resources I reference in the podcast.  

Welcome to the Simple Kidmin Podcast!

Big news today!  This morning I am officially launching the Simple Kidmin Podcast, a podcast designed to encourage and equip you as you lead kids, parents and volunteers. I'm celebrating 21 years in Children's Ministry this year and just want to pass on what I'm learning along the way.

I'll be releasing a new episode every other Monday morning.  If you subscribe to the Simple Kidmin newsletter below, you'll receive the show notes delivered straight to your inbox loaded with helpful links, pictures and videos that will take each podcast topic a little bit deeper.

You can take a look at the show notes here:  

Episode 000: About the Podcast
Epidode 001: Living as a Kid of the King
Episode 002: KidSplash Family Experience
Episode 003: How to Set Leaders up to Win (Part 1)

Building a Team that Works Together

It was one of those programs you always dream about.  The storytellers brought their "A" game that Sunday, and the kids were glued.  The teachers had been practicing all week, putting in hours of rehearsal to deliver a Bible story that was fun, creative and crazy-powerful.  

The only trouble was it was about to blow a hole in my team.

I was standing in the back of children's worship with a guy I'll call Jim.  Jim led the admin volunteers who made sure all the small group supplies were copied, cut out, prepared and sorted into baskets for each of the small group leaders.  Hours of work went into prepping a single weekend's lesson.

Jim was watching the clock.  The large group lesson was awesome, but it was also running long.  Small groups should have started ten minutes ago and the storytellers were still going strong.  Once parents showed up at end of service, we would be done.  

There was no way we were going to have time for small groups today.  Jim was fuming.  He stood in the back of the room, arms crossed, shaking his head.

"All that work," he said.  "All those supplies.  All the small group leaders who studied the lesson.  We won't get to do any of it.   And they don't even care."