Joy Goodwin

Your volunteers are busy. Many of them are working full or part-time, taking care of their children. Attending PTA meetings, mom’s groups, or classes. Carting kids to soccer, football, or dance. Or are just trying to manage their household. Whether moms or dads, empty nesters, or college-aged kids, volunteers have a lot on their plate. AND they want to serve in your ministry. YAY! Before you jump to managing your volunteers’ lives, consider first how you can help them to lead this coming Sunday morning. Really simply, what does it take to prepare your volunteers for Sunday morning children’s ministry?

Chet was carrying a crockpot for his mom to the church kitchen. Once he got situated, he left the kitchen to find his big sister Anna to play with the toddlers and other kids joining them for dinner. He was only 9 years old, but he and Anna were actively part of the ministry to …

Including Kids in Outreach With 3 Steps Read More »

This blog was written as part of the CPC22 Undivided Series. Our hope through these reflections by ministry leaders is that they would prepare your hearts to hear from God while you’re at CPC in person or CPC+ online. You can listen to the whole CPC22 playlist here on Spotify. Let praise be a weapon …

Healing Comes as We Praise Him Read More »

We sat on blankets in the front yard as the sun was setting. All 16 of us (ranging in age from 2 years old to late 50’s) relished the perfect autumn evening as we gathered in a new way in our family small group. Typically, the parents would do a lesson while the kids ran …

3 Tips to Improve Your Family Discipleship Read More »

As children’s leaders, we work with all different kinds of people with different personalities and opinions; some that we get along with, and some that we might, at best (let’s be honest), only tolerate. These are difficult sentiments to utter because, as Christians, we are called to love our brothers and sisters as Christ loves …

4 Tips to Managing Conflict in Challenging Times Read More »

Within the week, the United States and Canada will have celebrated their historical political autonomy from rulers through Canada Day and Independence Day. While we are certainly grateful for the freedoms and liberties we do have, which were achieved through the sacrifices of many, from a spiritual perspective, I am also thinking deeply about the …

Freedom in The Kingdom Read More »

I never worried about Derrick, a preteen who frequented our children’s ministry. His family was great. His grades were good. His extracurriculars were impressive. He seemed like a perfect kid… until his mom called the pastor with concerns. As a 5th grader, Derrick had fallen in with kids who were making really harmful choices. These …

How Simple Connection Can Change a Kid’s Life Read More »

We made it to 2021, and we’re still finding ourselves leading in uncharted territory. When 2020 ended, many of us might have exhaled. Though a new year often signals new possibilities, our leadership circumstances might have only nudged a bit toward fewer restrictions. You might still be leading behind a computer, or maybe, you’re back …

Leadership in Process Read More »