Articles

Five Tips for Smiling Parents and Safe Kids

Today’s post comes from Alex Smith, the CEO of KidCheck, a data security and child safety expert, church safety team leader, and former police officer. Children’s ministry continues to face the challenge of balancing a fun, welcoming environment with today’s growing security demands. You have to…

The Power of the First Impression

Today’s post comes from Angela Lewton, the face behind the KidCheck blog and expert on the latest child safety research and trends. In children’s ministry, a parent’s first impression of the ministry is important and difficult to overcome if it’s not positive. People make either conscious or unconscious judgments…

What New Parents Want You to Know about Their First Time Leaving Their Child in Nursery

It was a little bit like walking into the dentist’s office as a little kid — nerve-wracking, unknown possible outcomes, and crying children. That’s a little dramatic, but pretty close to what I remember it felt like as new parents walking our son to nursery…

Top 10 Summer Ideas for Kidmin

Ideas fuel children’s ministry. Thanks to the Dispatch content team, we put together a list of the TOP 10 Summer Ideas for Kidmin. Check it out! Time management is your best friend in the #kidmin world. Try the 30/30 App to organize your day and…

5 Ways to Make a Volunteer’s Day

It’s summer time! We know many of you are settling into your summer time rhythms (which we hope includes some margin for you to rest and get recharged). The shift in seasons provides a great opportunity to reflect on some key volunteers in your ministry…

Where Guilt Is

It kind of felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest this morning. There’s nothing that makes my descent into guilt feel more like Six Flags’ Giant Drop instead of a gradual decline than when my son is battling separation anxiety as…

The Most Important Thing You Can Do to Stay Rooted

I was planting flowers this past weekend in our front yard. My son (who is almost two years old) woke up from his nap as I was wrapping up. I brought my groggy Little Man outside, and gave him some chalk to play with while…

2 Spiritual Disciplines You Might Have Forgotten (That Are Good For Your Soul)

It’s getting close, friend… summer time. You’re probably gearing up for VBS, summer camps, or maybe your ministry throttles down a little bit over the summer. Whatever the case may be, one thing is for sure: your soul could probably use some rest and attention….

Reaching “None” Families

Today’s post comes from Colleen Derr, Associate Professor Wesley Seminary. I didn’t know there was the option of “none”! Supposedly the fastest growing religious group in America is “none” – people who have no religious affiliation at all. I grew up in eastern PA during…