Annette Safstrom: Practical Systems to Avoid Burnout

Justyn Smith: Spatial Storytelling in Kids Ministry

Justyn Smith has spent decades raising the bar for kids ministry — from building Disney-inspired environments at River Valley Church to coaching leaders and writing books that have shaped how the whole field thinks about volunteers, systems, and discipleship. In this conversation, Jeremy and Justyn cover a lot of ground — from what the Disney model actually teaches us about environments and family engagement, to the real ROI of investing in physical spaces (including a church that saw over 2,100 first-time kids in year one of their new building). They also dig into the staffing conversation: why churches are searching for unicorns they can't afford, why your next great kids pastor might already be sitting in your pews, and how flexible leadership structures could open doors to high-capacity leaders churches would otherwise never recruit. QUICK LINKS: Kidmin Magic [https://www.instagram.com/kidminmagic/] Justyn Smith's Books [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Justyn-Smith/author/B0CNZHGRVQ?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=d3f02ed0-feda-446c-ba02-7eb266a50b55] KIDMIN U [https://simplekidsministry.com/certification]

Annette Safstrom: Practical Systems to Avoid Burnout

What does it actually take to build a kids ministry that doesn't burn you out? Annette Safstrom — author of Sustainable Children's Ministry and consultant with Ministry Architects — knows firsthand what it feels like to hit the wall. In this conversation, she shares the turning point that brought her back into ministry, why the "workhorse syndrome" is silently crushing so many kids pastors, and the practical systems she put in place to build a ministry that actually works. In this episode: * Why Annette quit kids ministry — and what brought her back * The workhorse syndrome and how to break the cycle * How to build systems that create consistency (and protect your team) * Leading up: what your senior pastor actually needs to hear from you * Why kids ministry is harder than anyone tells you — and how to get the support you need QUICK LINKS: Annette Safstrom: annette.safstrom@ministryarchitects.com Ministry Architects [https://ministryarchitects.com/] Sustainable Children's Ministry Book [https://www.amazon.com/Sustainable-Childrens-Ministry-Last-Minute-Scrambling/dp/0830845224/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OP5GA79ZMCDG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.H54snQa1Iq4BN_gXPJJEyT4I6LHnVCuPB3Qzr2-yvg1YHXBN5-08yZl5pg3x15zi7uJsiE8FHKKbImwURlgRU8KndLSIDF__fEvitN6wJIjXgjD76KuFcfL7io4YXVr5iIv9S3LBPSsu48bGmTguRMF9-TCy-8Nk8LssucTevkkO1KTjCvCevDtRmDhZsE1FIJMOnIF1MuAS9OzUoFWxu1pt1UVxkeiISZ-Wn65ZcYQ.l0i6a02VAb37CIvBD8fhdZFWHaTxc2eIhKGfCLFlEG4&dib_tag=se&keywords=sustainable+children%27s+ministry&qid=1779770667&sprefix=sustainable+childre%2Caps%2C278&sr=8-1] KIDMIN U [https://simplekidsministry.com/certification]

Mal Corwin: Building a Spirit-filled Kids Ministry

What does it look like when kids actually encounter the presence of God? Mal Corwin, Kids Pastor at The Belonging Co, shares how they have cultivated a place where children lead in worship, pray for healing, and hear from God in real and tangible ways. Mal unpacks the philosophy behind the phrase "there's no junior Holy Spirit" — and what it actually looks like in practice. From teaching kids how to worship (not just sing songs) to creating space for prayer ministry, and big faith moments, this episode is packed with practical wisdom for any kids pastor who wants more of the Holy Spirit's presence in their ministry. Quick Links: KIDMIN U [https://simplekidsministry.com/certification] The Belonging Co [https://thebelonging.co/] malcorwin.com [https://malcorwin.com/] The Volunteer Buy-in Blueprint [https://malcorwin.com/store/p/real-blueprint]

David Rausch: The Story Behind GO! Curriculum

What does it look like when God calls you to something that terrifies you? David Rausch, founder of GO! Curriculum and author of Feeding Faith, shares the story behind his leap from kids ministry director to curriculum creator. Jeremy and David dig into what makes curriculum actually work: developmental appropriateness, the E.A.T. framework, and why GO!'s chronological scope and sequence was built around the rhythms of the calendar year. If you've ever used GO! Curriculum, wondered how curriculum gets made, or needed a reminder that God often calls the wrong person on purpose, this one's for you. Quick Links: GO! Curriculum [https://gocurriculum.com/] Feeding Faith by David Rausch [https://www.amazon.com/Feeding-Faith-Childrens-Ministry-Generation/dp/B0GCM76D8K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2KWXG9GIZTJZT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.iyW_Fya1UdtJ_-tlsI3Wzxaz0vWWOmyPa9OIVy287Zbm_vMA82X-WL7vbc9cMvXX.PtvtetblAI0LgccCRrp5236N3_pxoHqkTomthbDrp0U&dib_tag=se&keywords=feeding+faith+by+david+rausch&qid=1778304269&sprefix=feeding+faith%2Caps%2C218&sr=8-1] Two Minute Trainer for Small Group Leaders [https://gocurriculum.com/wp-content/uploads/2-Minute-Trainer_Small-Group.pdf] Two Minute Trainer for Large Group Teachers [https://gocurriculum.com/wp-content/uploads/2-Minute-Trainer_Large-Group-Edition-1.pdf]

Lauren Jackson: The Blueprint for Onboarding Volunteers

n this episode, Lauren Jackson from Kids Ministry Circle joins us to dig into one of the most important (and often overlooked) parts of building a healthy kids ministry: onboarding volunteers. We talk about what a great onboarding experience actually looks like, how to set volunteers up to stay, and why so many leaders skip steps that matter. We also get into the nuances of working with student volunteers and why teenagers might be your most underrated asset on a Sunday morning. Lauren brings the kind of wisdom that only comes from years of doing the work. If you want a volunteer culture worth staying for, this one's for you. Quick Links: Simple Kids Ministry [https://simplekidsministry.com/] KIDMIN U [https://simplekidsministry.com/certification] Kids Ministry Circle Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/6dwVnOySmsqrwOBYlIeMF8]