Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Make 2021 the Year Your Church Hands Down Confident Faith!
Thursday, December 24, 2020
Equip Parents & Grandparents to Hand Down Confident Faith in 2021
It is also the reason why we must be focused upon equipping parents and grandparents to hand down confident faith to the children. If families rely on church to do this - as so many do - then what happens when we experience a pandemic (and we are likely to experience this again)? Handing down confident faith is something which must take place during the day-in-day-out living of our lives - not something which must depend upon being able to go to church.
Monday, December 21, 2020
Why Integrity Matters in Children's Ministry - Do What We Say We Will Do
If asked, I'm confident we would all agree integrity matters in Children's Ministry, but do we actually live as people who show integrity in our Children's Ministry? When it actually comes down to it, do the volunteers, families and children truly see us as people of integrity? People who actually do what we say we will do? People who do not gossip? People who tell the truth? People who do not take credit for what others think of and do? People who can truly be trusted?
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
What Survivor Taught Me About Children's Ministry!
How Do You Measure the "Success" of Your Children's Ministry?
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
This Christmas Be the Gift God Wants You to Be!
Today I want to share a few thoughts about Christmas. While it is the time of the year when we tend to be more joyful, more merry . . . at least, many of us are, it can also be a very difficult time of year for some of the children and families in our ministries if they are experiencing difficult times in their families. Along with leading children in worshipping and celebrating the birth of Jesus, we need to also be on the watch for those children and families who may need our help. Watch for . . .
Monday, November 30, 2020
Ask the Question - What About the Grandparents?
When we think about the questions we need to ask on a regular basis about our Children's Ministry, there are definitely several important questions to keep in mind. One you may not think about, but need to, is; what about the grandparents? This question, and it's answer, matters for the following reasons . . .
What Inspired You to Become Involved in Children's Ministry? What Inspires You to Continue in Children's Ministry?
A few years back on CM Connect I saw a question posted by a man named David - he said he was being given the opportunity in an upcoming service to speak on behalf of the Children's Ministry. He asked fellow kidmins to "inspire" him. This got me to thinking about what inspired me to be involved in Children's' Ministry in the first place and what inspires me to continue to do so.
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Yes, Our Children's Ministries Need to Change
Monday, November 16, 2020
Don't Let Covid Stop Children From Growing in Their Walk with God
The past eight months have been difficult. Some of you may have caught covid. Some of you may have people you love who have battled with this disease. Some of you may have people you love who died due to covid. The children in your church have likely learned what it means to go to school "virtually". You, and the ones you love, may have experienced times of unemployment. Most of the families in your church, if not all of them, have likely not been to church in eight months - and this is likely true for the ones you love as well. If you have been able to return to church, it is extremely possible the Children's Ministry has not restarted - or if it has, it has done so in an extremely limited way.
Sunday, November 15, 2020
Did You Know?
Please share with the parents and grandparents in your ministry - and plan to use the church package ($1 per family per digital book) to use this as a church! (Details at this link.)
Did you know simple cells are so complex for them to develop on their own is just not possible? Did you know DNA is actually programmed to do the things it does - which means it had to have an intelligence design it as it is not possible for it to develop on its own? Did you know animals have their own unique features and abilities which differentiate them from other animals? For example, did you know Pangolins have spines - "teeth" in their stomach, but not in their mouth? Did you know Wombats have very thick skin - actually cartilage on their backsides so when a hungry neighbor finds a Wombat, all the Wombat has to do is dive head-first into a near-by tunnel (and since they dig tunnels a lot there is likely a near-by tunnel for it to dive into) and the hungry neighbor will not be able to bite on to the Wombat's backside and pull it out?
Saturday, November 14, 2020
Engage the Children in Your Church
When I think of the word "faithful", I think of God; He is ALWAYS faithful! Just look at these wonderful verses which tells us of God's incredible faithfulness:
Monday, November 9, 2020
Give the Gift of Confident Faith
Please share this post with the parents and grandparents in your church . . .
Christmas is just a month and a half away! Have you started your Christmas gift list? I'd like to make a gift recommendation today which will equip you to give the best gift you will ever give to the ones you love . . . a confident faith! The "Life on the Goldilocks Planet" curriculum/book series makes a terrific gift for your grandchildren/ children and for your grown children as well. This unique book series will engage the ones you love - of all ages - as they learn about interesting, unique, strange, and familiar animals. There are fun activities - science projects, crafts, recipes, games - to help everyone think about and remember how these animals show us God is real and why they are able to trust Him with confidence.
Thursday, November 5, 2020
Sculpt their Souls
Are you one of the grandmas (or grandpas) who are so blessed to have grown children who love and walk with God, and who are committed to hand down confident faith with you to the children you love? Do your grandchildren want to go to church, want to talk about their walk with God, and embrace a confident faith of their own? Or, do you have grown children who, like so many their age, are no longer involved in church, who do not embrace a confident faith of their own, and/or grandchildren who tell you they are, "not into that church thing any more"?
If you have grown children and grandchildren who want to grow in their own walk with God, or ones who do not, you, as a purposeful grandparent, need to have resources which help you hand down confident faith and will engage those who walk with God and engage those who do not. We must not just leave the handing of confident faith to our grown children who are walking with God, or the church. We must not, "wave the white flag of defeat" when we have people we love who show little if any interest in God. Handing down confident faith matters too much for us to do either of these things. "Co-laboring over the sculpting of souls is a sacred profession, a humbling privilege. Never forget." It is for this reason the Life on the Goldilocks Planet curriculum/book series was developed.
People who are using this series are reporting - particularly with grandchildren who may not be interested in things of God - this series is engaging them in important conversations which show why they are able to believe in God and trust Him with confidence. This is what we want to happen! If you are curious about this series and want to get a look at what it is like, today I am happy to share with you about the Red-Lipped Batfish - from book four - Red-Lipped Batfish, Giant Purple Squirrels, Kakapo & More! -
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
This Christmas Impact & Inspire with the "Life on the Goldilocks Planet" Curriculum & Book Series
Christmas 2020 is just under two months away and is one of the special times of the year when we grandmas (and grandpas/parents, too) have an opportunity to impact and inspire the ones we love. For the coming month, I will from time-to-time share gift ideas with you. Today I am sharing some excellent reasons for you to give the gift of confident faith with the "Life on the Goldilocks Planet" curriculum/book series to children, parents, and grandparents on your gift list this year . . .
Saturday, October 24, 2020
Jesus was NOT Boring - Why are We?
Why is it so many of our Children's Ministries are committed to boring the socks off the children in their ministries? Well, they may not be "committed" to boring children, but they are not committed to engaging them. When we insist on teaching children by having them sit and listen as we "yak" at them, then we are boring them and we end up leaving them with these utterly false beliefs - Jesus and the Bible are boring. This leads to children choosing to leave church as soon as they are possibly able to do so. Oh yes. We pay an extremely high price when we insist on teaching by talking and not by engaging.
Friday, October 23, 2020
Build Memories to Hand Down a Confident Conviction
I posted this on my blog for grandmas (and grandpas and parents, too) and want to share it with those of you who are involved in Children's Ministry. Please take the message to heart and commit to share it with the grandparents and parents in your ministry. Better yet, commit to equip them by getting a digital license to use the Life on the Goldilocks Planet series with the families in your church ($1 per family - check the details at this link.)
When we share memories with our grandchildren, we are helping them connect with the past. This is why it matters for us to tell them the ways God has worked in the lives of their family who came before them - as you do this, they will see God is real and is still working in the lives of real people in their own family. This matters.
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Thank You . . . with a Little Fun and Creativity!
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Safety Alert - Phones Are Everywhere
One thing we have to keep in mind in our Children's Ministry; even at the top of our list of things we must do, is the safety of the children in our ministry. This means we are resolute about running safety checks, background checks and following up with references for each and every person working/serving in the Children's Ministry as well as for each and every person who volunteers to serve.
Monday, October 12, 2020
Hand Down Confident Faith with Blue Dragons, Eyelash Vipers, Civets, Red-Lipped Batfish & More!
Well, it was a busy Summer and Fall around this grandma's house! My grandsons helped with the development of four books designed to engage children, teens, young adults, adults, and help grandparents/ parents hand down a confident faith. They tested a water-balloon launcher, made "bugs" and then spent time shooting them off plants outside with water-guns, tested recipes, enjoyed science projects, made tie-dye shirts, created hover-crafts, participated in an egg drop activity and many more activities chosen to engage children/teens/adults and help make the message of our books "stick"! Most importantly, we have been able to have important conversations about why we are able to believe in God and trust Him with confidence.
Sunday, October 11, 2020
Equip Parents/Grandparents to Hand Down Confident Faith
Saturday, October 10, 2020
Book Four is Available - Red-Lipped Batfish, Giant Purple Squirrels, Kakapo & More!
I am very happy today to let you know about a new book in the Life on the "Goldilocks Planet" series . . . book four - Red-Lipped Batfish, Giant Purple Squirrels, Kakapo & More! In this book/curriculum tool for grandparents/parents, you will find twelve unique animals with full-color photos, fun facts, activities, quotes from scientists, and questions to get you talking - all designed to enable parents/grandparents so they are able to hand down a confident faith.
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Why Wouldn't You Use It?
I'm very happy today to announce the release of book three in
the new "Life on the 'Goldilocks Planet'" curriculum and book series - Civets, Tree Kangaroos, Batoids & More! This book will equip you with the tools you need to help the grandparents and parents in your ministry so they are able to hand down confident faith.Tuesday, September 22, 2020
God's Best Plan
I began writing about Children's Ministry twenty five years ago. It was the beginning of the time where churches saw the need for staff who actually focused upon developing a solid ministry to the children in their church - beyond the DCE (Director of Christian Ed) who often was an Elder/Deacon and pretty much just handed out quarterlies to teachers and planned a VBS each year. People were starting to see how it truly mattered for our churches to take their Children's Ministry seriously - they saw it mattered for them to have effective Children's Ministry and choices about curriculum and programming truly mattered.
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Curriculum to Help Grandparents & Parents Hand Down Confident Faith
I am often asked by grandmas (and grandpas, too) how they are able to do more to hand down confident faith than pray and invite their grandchildren to go to church with them, and my answer is always to watch for unexpected opportunities for conversations which connect life with God, be sure we live what we say, and plan special opportunities to have those important conversations. It is typically the third of these three things with which they find the most challenging, so today I'm going to walk you though a new curriculum written to help you plan these special opportunities.
Sunday, September 13, 2020
Equip Grandparents for Grandparent's Day

Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Eyelash Vipers, Pygmy Elephants, Pangolins & More! - the Tool You Need to Hand Down a Confident Faith

Thursday, September 3, 2020
Equip & Engage Families for Just $1 Per Family

Monday, August 31, 2020
Parents, Grandparents, & Our Primary Job Description

Thursday, August 27, 2020
Do the Most Important Thing - Hand Down Confident Faith

If we are serious about handing down the faith, we need to share with the children we love not only what to believe (although this is important), but also why they are able to believe with confidence. The day will come when they will be faced with people who do not believe. If we have not equipped them with the "whys" for their faith, the ones we love may join the increasing numbers of young adults who walk away from their faith. It is vital for us to teach our grandchildren and children the "whys" - and this book will help you do so.
Look what people are saying about this book . . .
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Hand Down a Confident Faith with "Eyelash Vipers, Pygmy Elephants, Pangolins & More!"

This book will equip you to engage your grandchildren, have a great time learning about the amazing world around us, and see how God's design is everywhere we look - and shows us why we are able to believe He is real! I am so humbled and thankful for this endorsement from Tim & Darcy Kimmel for my new book series - they said . . .
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Top Three Reasons to Leave Children's Ministry
If you are serving in a Children's Ministry where you are not supported and it is a struggle to go to work, but you think it would be wrong to quit; you may look at this post and wonder if there could really be even one reason to leave Children's Ministry.
Well, I've been in both places and after 45 years in Children's Ministry, I am here today to tell you there are reasons to leave Children's Ministry and am sharing with you what I see as the top three reasons to do so.
Friday, August 14, 2020
What is the Job of Your Church?

Monday, August 10, 2020
Equip Families to Hand Down a Confident Faith

Wednesday, August 5, 2020
Connect with Children & Families - Equip them During Covid & Beyond

Lay the Foundation AND Teach the "Whys" - It Matters

I read a post on Cogent Christianity which made me think. George Brahm said; "Most of us have attended churches where apologetics is never an issue of focus. And what Marty’s case reveals is that a lack of apologetics-training in the local church can often be what causes a young person to apostatize, either when they are still young or later in the future." He goes on to say we tend to tell children what to believe, but do not ever tell them "why" they not only "should" believe it, but "why" it is the truth. Take a few minutes to follow the link above and read this article.
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Teach the Whys & Help Your Grandchildren Develop a Confident Faith

As I wrote on my other blog today (grandmaswithheart.blogspot.com)- it absolutely is essential for us to tell the ones we love the "whys" - why we are able to believe God is real and trust the Bible with confidence. If we do not, we run the terrible risk of the day coming when they turn away from their faith. This is happening more and more to families across our country - maybe even to your family. If we do not equip the ones we love with solid reasons for why they are able to believe, when difficulties come there way they may turn from their faith. But, when we equip them with the "whys", we are helping them develop a confident faith.
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
"A Great & Powerful Tool" to Help You Hand Down a Confident Faith

Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More! is more than just an animal picture book - it is a tool which will help you hand down a confident faith! As Cavin Harper, from the Christian Grandparenting Network said; "I LOVE this little book you have created. What a great and powerful tool for shaping young minds to see and acknowledge the truth about God's creation. Well done. Every parent and grandparent ought to have this tool in their toolkit to teach the truth about creation and evolution. This is a marvelous tool I want to let every grandparent know about. Thank you for taking time with your grandsons to create this extraordinary piece."
Monday, July 27, 2020
Creation Shows God's Design & Gives Us a Confident Faith

Friday, July 24, 2020
Re-Opening Children's Ministry?

Monday, July 20, 2020
Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More is Available & I'm Giving One Digital Copy Away!

Most importantly, and the reason for this book, is how it is designed to help grandparents and parents equip the children they love so they are able to see, recognize, and believe the truth about how God designed and created the world upon which we live and everything in it. You will find quotes from scientists which reinforce how science clearly shows everything on this world was designed to be as they are. This means there has to be a Designer and gives us so many reasons to believe God is real!
Look what people are saying about Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More . . .
Saturday, July 18, 2020
Help the Ones You Love See the Design & Believe in the Designer

Thursday, July 9, 2020
Help the Children Be Continually Amazed

Not only are we left amazed by creation, but it shows us over and over again how God designed it all "just right", which helps us know we are able to believe in God with confidence!
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Help the Grandparents

Monday, June 29, 2020
Grandparents Need to Be in Their Grandchildren's Lives Today

Saturday, June 27, 2020
Please Share Your Opinion

Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Virtual Grand Camp!

Sherry Schumann and Cathy Jacobs are two of our Grandmas with Heart. They are also two grandmas who lead a GrandCamp each year for their church. This year with covid-19, they decided to make this year's GrandCamp a Virtual GrandCamp and open it up to any grandparent, anywhere, so they are able to use it with their grandchildren. Today I am so delighted to share the information you need to make a Virtual GrandCamp part of what you do with your grandchildren this summer!
Monday, June 22, 2020
Let Them Know - Grandmas DO Make a Difference

Sunday, June 14, 2020
Happy Children's Day!

Chase’s Calendar of Events cites Children’s Sunday and notes The Commonwealth of Massachusetts issues an annual proclamation for the second Sunday in June. Numerous churches and denominations currently observe the second Sunday in June, including the African Methodist Episcopal Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Church of the Nazarene."
The website - nationalchildrensday.us says; "American families and the entire country need this day to love, evaluate, and commit to the betterment of our children." Encourage the parents and grandparents in your church to enjoy the day celebrating the children they love today - go for it! If they have not planned to do anything to celebrate Children's Day, share the following ideas with them . . .
Monday, June 8, 2020
Buy One for $5 & Get the Oher Book for Free!

So, since Children's Day is just a few days away (it is on June 14th) I wanted to make it easy for you to equip the grandparents/ parents in your church to give the children they love ages four through fourteen a gift which has the potential to change their lives as it helps them learn to talk with God, and give them the copy for grandparents and parents; so not only are the children they love able to learn to talk with God, but they are able to pray with them for a year - which has the potential to lead to some wonderful conversations all year long!