Kids Ministry Answers

019: Teaching Difficult Bible Stories to Kids

There are so many wonderful Bible stories to teach to kids every week. But there are a few that seem more intimidating than helpful. We want to stay true to Scripture without confusing, overwhelming, or oversimplifying things for the kids we're leading. In this episode of Kids Ministry Answers, Paul asked us a question about how to teach the difficult or harder-to-understand Bible stories to kids. So we asked Meredith Miller to join Linda and Jason to share thoughtful, age-appropriate strategies for teaching hard passages of Scripture with honesty, wisdom, and care. QUESTION: “How do you teach difficult Bible stories to kids in a way that keeps the environment safe, honest, and age-appropriate while still staying true to Scripture?” — Paul ANSWER: In this episode, we’ll talk about how to... * Stay true to Scripture by wrestling honestly with difficult stories and understanding their historical and cultural context * Recognize when certain stories may not be developmentally appropriate for kids just yet * Teach hard passages honestly without feeling pressure to defend or simplify every tension in the Bible * Focus on who God is and what God is doing in the story instead of only focusing on people’s behavior Ask a Question: Got a question you want answered? Send it in at kma.show — your question might be featured in a future episode! Subscribe & Review: Subscribe to Kids Ministry Answers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you look for kids ministry ideas, volunteer strategies, and ministry tools you can use right away. If this episode was helpful, leave a quick review to help other leaders find the show. Resources Mentioned: * Meredith's Resources on Kids + Faith [https://www.meredithannemiller.com] * Free 4 weeks [http://meredithannemiller.com/KMA] of access to Meredith's Substack on tricky stories  * Wonder [https://geni.us/3NbjPy] by Meredith Miller

018: How to Leave Your Ministry Well (Crossover)

Leaving a ministry role can feel overwhelming—full of mixed emotions, hard conversations, and uncertainty about what comes next. In this episode of Kids Ministry Answers, we’re tackling a big question about how to leave your ministry well when it’s time to move on. So we asked Dr. Yulee Lee to join the show to share practical wisdom for navigating transitions with honesty, emotional health, and integrity. QUESTION: How do I leave my ministry well when it’s time to move on? ANSWER: In this episode, we’ll talk about how to... * Lower the emotional stakes by recognizing that leaving is a normal and healthy part of ministry seasons * Reframe your anger so it leads to clarity, advocacy, and growth instead of bitterness * Be honest about your reasons for leaving in a way that builds trust and maintains integrity * Set clear boundaries during your transition to protect your time, relationships, and future Ask a Question: Got a question you want answered? Send it in at kma.show [https://stuffyoucanuse.org/kids-ministry-answers/] — your question might be featured in a future episode! Subscribe & Review: Subscribe to Kids Ministry Answers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you look for youth ministry ideas, small group strategies, and ministry tools you can use right away. If this episode was helpful, leave a quick review to help other leaders find the show. Resources Mentioned: * Leadership Labs [https://stuffyoucanuse.org/leadershiplabs/]

017: What We Wish We Knew Before We Got Into Ministry

When you’re starting out in kids ministry, it’s easy to feel like you need to have everything figured out—while simultaneously feeling unprepared. In this episode of Kids Ministry Answers, we got a question about what experienced ministry leaders wish they had known before starting in ministry. So we asked a variety of Stuff You Can Use team members to share honest, practical insights, and Linda and Jason respond to their thoughts while reflecting on lessons they’ve learned along the way. QUESTION: What’s one thing you wish you knew before you got started in ministry? ANSWER: In this episode, we’ll talk about how to... * Let go of the pressure to have it all figured out and embrace growth through experience * Trust your voice and discernment, even when you feel inexperienced * Build healthy structure and rhythms that support sustainable ministry and personal well-being * Remember that people are the ministry—including your team, your leaders, and yourself Ask a Question: Got a question you want answered? Send it in at kma.show [https://stuffyoucanuse.org/kids-ministry-answers/] — your question might be featured in a future episode! Subscribe & Review: Subscribe to Kids Ministry Answers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you look for kids ministry ideas, volunteer strategies, and ministry tools you can use right away. If this episode was helpful, leave a quick review to help other leaders find the show.

016: Our Favorite Event Ideas

When planning events, it’s easy to focus on what sounds the most unique or creative—but not every event should be trying to accomplish the same goal. In this episode of Kids Ministry Answers, someone from our Facebook Group asked a question about favorite kids ministry event ideas. So Linda and Jason break down different types of events and share practical ideas to help you choose and plan events that build relationships, welcome families, and create meaningful ministry moments. QUESTION: What are your favorite event ideas? ANSWER: In this episode, we’ll talk about how to... * Plan just-for-fun events that help kids build friendships and positive associations with church * Leverage holiday events like Christmas and Easter to connect with families and share the story of Jesus * Create outreach and family events that make it easy for new families to engage and feel welcomed * Maximize big opportunities like VBS to combine fun, discipleship, and outreach into one powerful experience Ask a Question: Got a question you want answered? Send it in at kma.show [https://stuffyoucanuse.org/kids-ministry-answers/] — your question might be featured in a future episode! Subscribe & Review: Subscribe to Kids Ministry Answers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you look for kids ministry ideas, volunteer strategies, and ministry tools you can use right away. If this episode was helpful, leave a quick review to help other leaders find the show. Resources Mentioned: * Opposite Day [https://sycu.org/OppositeDay_Events_GrowKids] * Tie Dye Everything [https://sycu.org/TieDyeEverything_Events_GrowKids] * Merry Mini Golf [https://sycu.org/MerryMiniGolf_Events_GrowKids] * Golden Ticket Tour [https://sycu.org/GoldenTicketTour_Events_GrowKids] * Crazy Craft Day [https://sycu.org/CrazyCraftDay_Events_GrowKids] * Grow With God Experience [https://sycu.org/GrowWithGodExperience_Discipleship_GrowKids] * Crossway Station [https://sycu.org/CrosswayStation_Discipleship_GrowKids] * Family Fest [https://sycu.org/FamilyFest_Events_GrowKids] * VBS [https://sycu.org/VBS_Events_GrowKids] * KMA Episode 008: Let's Prep for VBS! [https://youtu.be/nKDg8MFpzhU?si=592PPTgvYtAtDQrJ]

015: Engaging Kids Who Don't Participate

When a few kids hang back, avoid activities, or seem uninterested, it can feel discouraging and tempting to push harder for participation. In this episode of Kids Ministry Answers, Allegra Collins has a question about how to engage kids who don’t want to participate during small group or Bible teaching time. So we asked Christina Paiva to join Linda and Jason to share practical strategies for building trust, creating emotional safety, and gently inviting every child to engage at their own pace. QUESTION: “What are your tips on engaging kids who don’t want to participate or who struggle to engage during small group time and Bible teaching time?” — Allegra Collins ANSWER: In this episode, we’ll talk about how to: * Recognize that engagement looks different for every child * Focus on relationships first, knowing trust and safety often lead to natural engagement * Welcome and invite kids with low-pressure options that meet them where they are * Help kids find relationships with peers, leaders, and families to help connections grow over time Ask a Question: Got a question you want answered? Send it in at kma.show — your question might be featured in a future episode! Subscribe & Review: Subscribe to Kids Ministry Answers on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you look for kids ministry ideas, volunteer strategies, and ministry tools you can use right away. If this episode was helpful, leave a quick review to help other leaders find the show.