They can ask big questions, share their thoughts, and grow in their faith in ways that feel personal and exciting. Plus, they build awesome friendships and learn what it means to follow Jesus together. It’s where faith becomes real, and community comes to life!

Check out these awesome small group studies for kids and grab some resources for your ministry today!

The 13 Very Series: Small Group Studies Made Just for Kids

Leading children closer to Jesus can be challenging—even more so when you have a mix of ages in the same room! What do you do? The 13 Very series is here for you!

These easy-to-teach Bible lessons for a big range of ages are perfect for any children’s ministry opportunity. They are great for Sunday school, children’s church, small groups, and more! The 13 Very series is a must-have as you lead the next generation of God’s kingdom.

13 Very Amazing Animals and How God Used Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing truths tucked into the stories of 13 amazing animals God created and how God used them. They will see how God used some thirsty camels, low-flying quail, a talking donkey, and more. Along the way, kids will be assured that God knows and loves them—and is ready to use them in big ways too!

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13 Very Awesome Promises and How God Always Keeps Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing truths tucked into the stories of 13 very awesome promises God made and how He keeps them. They will see how God kept His word to people like Abram, David, Zechariah, and Elizabeth, and remember God’s promises when they’re afraid, lonely, sick, or in any tough situation. And along the way, kids will be encouraged to trust the God who has never broken a promise—and never will!

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13 Very Bad Days and How God Fixed Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing truths tucked into 13 stories of people who had very bad days and how God fixed them. They will see God’s power at work in the lives of Noah, Daniel, Mary, Lazarus, Stephen, and others. And along the way, kids will discover that the same God of long ago watches over them—and can fix their bad days too!

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13 Very Big Mistakes People Made and What God Did about Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing truths tucked into the stories of 13 very big mistakes people made and what God did about them. They will see how Adam and Eve, Jonah, King Saul, and others stepped away from God and straight into big trouble. And along the way, kids will be challenged to never step away from God and will grow in their certainty that God loves them—no matter what!

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13 Very Cool Stories and Why Jesus Told Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing truths tucked into 13 of Jesus’s very cool stories and why He told them. They will meet a lost and found son, a rich fool, disgruntled vineyard workers, a pretty good Samaritan, and many others. And along the way, kids will explore the eternal truths Jesus wrapped in those stories—and what those truths mean in their lives!

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13 Very Surprising Saying and Why Jesus Said Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing truths tucked into 13 of Jesus’s very surprising sayings and why He said them. They will begin to understand what it means to start fishing for people, love the meanies they know, why they would want to be last, and others. And along the way, kids will see that Jesus changes everything—for those who choose to follow Him!

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The entire 13 Very series is written by Mikal Keefer. He’s a trusted children’s ministry worker who created a towering stack of books and resources. Mikal loves inventing new ways to help kids engage with God’s big story.

13 Very Famous Friends and How Jesus Loved Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing love of Jesus tucked into 13 stories of Jesus’s famous friends and how He loved them. They will begin to understand what it means to love one another as Jesus did.

Download your Bible lesson

Free Lesson

13 Very Famous Friends and How Jesus Loved Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing love of Jesus tucked into 13 stories of Jesus’s famous friends and how He loved them. They will begin to understand what it means to love one another as Jesus did.

Download your bible lesson

Free Lesson

13 Very Famous Friends and How Jesus Loved Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing love of Jesus tucked into 13 stories of Jesus’s famous friends and how He loved them. They will begin to understand what it means to love one another as Jesus did.

Download your bible lesson

Free Lesson

Two or More: Small Church Curriculum for Kids

Looking for a children’s ministry curriculum that’s fun, flexible, and made for small groups of kids? Group’s Two or More is your new best friend! It’s perfect for churches with fewer kids or limited resources. And it’s made to work with mixed ages (think ages 3 to 12 all learning and growing together).

Whether you’ve got a handful of kids or a mini crowd, this curriculum brings big impact in a small group setting.

It’s simple to use, fun to teach, and helps kids grow closer to God—and each other!

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All Together Sunday School

Get ready to make Sundays awesome! Each All Together Sunday School book is packed with 13 fun, Bible-based lessons. Perfect for mixed-age groups (ages 4–12), every lesson is loaded with hands-on activities, easy-to-find supplies, and digital extras. You can teach with confidence and help kids dive into God’s Word with joy!

Learn More

David C Cook has so many great resources to offer. Check out more of our Ministry Spark recommended resources here.

If you’ve ever done Vacation Bible School, you know what I mean.

Every year, the Group team gathers real kids to try out the activities in our upcoming three VBS programs. Yes, programs plural. So if you’re end-of-VBS tired, multiply that by three! Not only do we create the activities for each program, our small-but-mighty team decorates classrooms, shops for supplies, and leads the activities.

“But wouldn’t it be easier just to use AI to generate some fun games and Bible lessons, give them an edit, and send them to the printer?”

While I’m all for saving time and leaning on the creativity of others, three decades of ministry has shown me that we learn by doing. This truth applies to kids and adults. That’s why our team gets inky fingers, wipes runny noses, chases energetic kids, rounds up shopping carts overflowing with supplies, and wears out our step-counters every year in the name of VBS. Here’s why every Group VBS is created by—and tested with—humans.

1. The Holy Spirit Has a Say

Let’s just say it: AI is clever. It can give you a decent outline. But here’s what it can’t do:

• Pray for your kids.
• Discern the heart of a child.
• Know what’s age appropriate, culturally sensitive, or spiritually sound.
• Spot a safety issue before an activity goes sideways.
• Prayerfully seek what God might have in store.

We don’t just brainstorm themes—we pray through them. We don’t just plan games—we ask what God might reveal as kids play. Chat GPT doesn’t guide our Bible focus, we invite the Holy Spirit to lead the way. You might say we make room for divine detours. Sometimes, God gives inspiration as we worship, read Scripture, or talk with kids during VBS activities. Those ideas aren’t automated … and that’s a good thing.

2. Content and Ministry Aren’t the Same

AI can spit out a clever theme or catchy Bible lesson in seconds—that’s content. But AI can’t know the spiritual needs of specific kids. It doesn’t factor in kids who just lost a grandparent, or the child who’s never heard “Jesus loves you” in a way that feels real. AI may not identify “churchy” language that doesn’t make sense to kids. That’s ministry. And ministry comes from people.

Human-created content shines because it accounts for real, nitty-gritty, in-the-trenches reality. If you work with kids, you know that an AI engine can’t anticipate all the “creative” ways a kid can take an activity! (Many of our team members grew up as VBS kids … and their experiences continue to shape new programs!)

3. Testing Saves the Day

Our team has learned the hard way that if we don’t test an activity, there’s a good chance something’s going to fizzle … or explode. And not in the good way.

Testing lets you see:

• What confuses kids
• What doesn’t hold their interest
• What questions spark great discussion—and what doesn’t
• What needs more supplies or a time tweak
• What might not be safe for all kids or consider kids’ allergies
• What could totally backfire in a room of 50 excited kids
• When supplies should be handed out—or not

Plus, testing gives you a sneak peek at how meaningful a moment might be. Sometimes I’ve tested a simple object lesson and found myself tearing up—seeing how powerfully it lands with kids.

Our goal is to set leaders up for success and maximize every second kids spend at VBS. We make the mistakes so leaders don’t have to! (Check out these tips for making any VBS easier!)

4. Our Friends in Ministry Matter

We consider children’s ministry leaders as our friends in ministry. You’re our partners and teammates and we’re cheering you on every step of the way! So those exhausting field tests help us keep you in mind—your goals, creativity, challenges, and the kids you serve. That’s a heartfelt perspective that an AI engine can’t provide.

As we lead Bible adventures, we’re thinking of you and your kids. How will Jesus show up in this moment for you?

When we wipe runny noses, we remember your servant’s heart. What can we create that makes this moment meaningful for you?

During worship, we hear your voices raised in praise. Are we making room in this moment for the Holy Spirit?

We want to give you the very best. We want to give you something we stand by, have tried, and are excited to see in your church. So, we’ll keep doing the hard work to make sure you get the very best.

End-of-VBS tired is a great thing!

12 Awesome Bible Games for Kids of All Ages

Bible learning is serious business, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Choose from games for toddlers to preteens and help kids know that God loves them.

Download your free guide

Free Guide

12 Awesome Bible Games for Kids of All Ages

Bible learning is serious business, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Choose from games for toddlers to preteens and help kids know that God loves them.

Download your free guide

Free Guide

12 Awesome Bible Games for Kids of All Ages

Bible learning is serious business, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Choose from games for toddlers to preteens and help kids know that God loves them.

Download your free guide

Free Guide

You can see this scene in your head. You have done everything on your service order; you gave the small group leader more time and extended the prayer request time as long as possible. Every child has prayed for their dog and their grandma. The children are restless and hungry; if you don’t do something soon, they will do something!

This toolbox is a mental and physical resource that offers pre-planned activities to extend your service with fun and engagement. There will come a time when you’ll need this toolbox of no-prep activities. And having these ideas will be a game-changer so you don’t have to rely on goldfish and a prayer.

10 No-Prep Children’s Ministry Activities

1. Snacks

I know I just joked about goldfish, but if you are serving young kids, and it is getting close to lunch, a simple snack might be needed. Make sure you let parents know that snacks could be an option, but sometimes carbs just have to be your go to.

2. Worship

A great way to extend your service is with extra worship. Reserve a few extra fun songs with lots of motions and actions for just this time. High-energy songs are a great way for kids to get the wiggles out while they wait.

3. Bible Time

This is an oldie but goodie no-prep activity. Sword drills have been done for ages but saving them for special occasions definitely makes them more of a goodie than an oldie. Have children hold their Bibles. Call out a passage of Scripture—the first child to find it wins. The real win is that you are teaching Bible study skills while having fun!

4. Books of the Bible

This is a fun game for older children. Line up the kids in two lines. Say a letter and see who can name a book of the Bible that starts with that letter. If they get it right, they go to the back of their line and keep going. If they don’t, they are out. The line that empties first loses.

5. Dance Freeze

This is a super-fun-no-prep activity for younger children to have extra worship time and get their wiggles out. Play a worship song and encourage them to dance. When the song pauses, have them freeze. When they freeze, you can use it as a moment to share the big idea from the lesson. Then play again and again! This is an easy way to get kiddos to soak in worship music without even realizing it.

6. Limbo

This is a worship game you can play with older children. Play worship songs and let the children Limbo. While they go as low as they can, they will also learn worship songs that they might sing on repeat at school next week

7. Art Time

If you want to extend your small group time, use art. Lay out plain paper, crayons, colored pencils, and markers. Ask younger children to draw a picture of the Bible story and ask older children to make a comic strip showing their favorite part of the story.

8. Trivia

This can be done in a large group or small group. Every week when you prep the curriculum, add a few trivia questions that a small group leader or stage speaker can ask if the service is running long. Make it super fun by giving the children noise makers, buzzers, party horns, or clapping hands to help them chime in with the answer.

9. Prayer Stations

This is for when you know the service is not over, but transitioning to a fun activity would not be appropriate. This is great for children who understand the power of prayer. You can easily set up different stations.

The first station is for a prayer of thanks, which can be done by writing on a small index card and putting it in a gift bag or box. The next station is a prayer for someone else. Children can write someone’s name on a sticky note and post it on a wall or window.

The last station can be a prayer for themselves. Children can use whiteboard markers to write their name on a full-length mirror. Having these few supplies ready and available for when the Spirit is moving makes it easy to have this in your toolbox.

10. Games

Structured games are a key tool in your no-prep activities toolbox. Whether it’s Four Corners, Keepy Uppy, Rock Paper Scissors, Charades, Cup Stacker, or another children’s favorite, having a back-up plan in place ensures fun is structured.

Regardless of what you include in your toolbox, the key is to be prepared. It’s not a matter of if but when a service is going to run long. No matter how fantastic your service was, what a parent sees at pick-up is what they believe represents the entire service. This is why a structured moment, even an unplanned one, is the best approach. By being prepared, you can take control of the situation and ensure a positive experience for everyone involved.

Don’t let unplanned time be wasted time. We are accountable for how we spend our time, and while we may not be able to control the service length, we can control what we do with the time we have.

By infusing joy and excitement into these activities, we can keep children engaged and make the service a memorable and enjoyable experience for them.

Have fun, build skills, worship in new ways, pray in unexpected moments, and indulge in some animal crackers. It’s all holy, and it is as important as whatever is going on and on and on and on in the adult service.

More Awesome Activities for Your KidMin

• 13 Creative Bible Verse Memory Games and Activities for Kids
• 49 Brilliant Easter Games, Crafts, and Activities for Sunday School
• 10 Commandments Activities Free to Download
• Simple Noah’s Ark Crafts and Activities You Can Download for Free
• St. Patrick’s Day and Kidmin: Fantastic Free Activities
• Awesome Palm Sunday Activities for Kids and Families
• Celebrating Jesus: Good Friday Activities for Kids and Families
• Activities to Spark Joy for Mother’s Day
• Over 100 Christmas Activities for Your Children’s Ministry
• Free Children’s Ministry Easter Activities
• 13+ Children’s Ministry Bible Games that Spark Joy
• 36 Thanksgiving Games, Crafts, and Snacks to Delight Kids
• Father’s Day Service Bonanza: Crafts Fit for Dad
• Fun and Easy Valentine’s Day Crafts for Your Kids’ Ministry

With a combined 200 years of serving the Church, David C Cook (founded 1875) and Group Publishing (founded 1974), provide tested and trusted resources for churches just like yours. With children’s curriculum created for Sunday school, children’s church, and midweek programs, you can find exactly what you need to serve the children in your ministry.

As you explore the options below, be sure to think about the following:

• What is your context?
• Is there a particular format you prefer?
• What do you want your children to leave your ministry knowing?
• Are you highlighting the things that are most important to your ministry?
• What is your mission and how does the curriculum align?
• Is the curriculum practical for you to use?
• Can it serve your ministry in multiple areas?
• Plus, check out this comprehensive article and download to help you choose the right curriculum for your ministry.

Children’s Church Curriculums for Small Churches

Wonder Ink

Inspire kids to discover their identity in God’s Big Story.

Created by ministry practitioners and discipleship thought leaders, Wonder Ink curriculum for kids is a trusted solution for your children’s church or Sunday school program. It helps the local church inspire children in faith, walk alongside parents at home, and equip volunteers for ministry.

With a focus on God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, children discover who God is and who they are in Him.

Plus, Wonder Ink’s theological guideposts ensure every lesson points children to God. These guideposts focus on God’s Big Story, the gospel of Jesus, real people of Scripture (not characters or superheroes), biblical language in the context of Scripture, and kids’ identity as image bearers.

In the world today, this curriculum reminds children of who they were created to be—known, loved, and led by their Creator in heaven.

• 2 Age Levels: Early Childhood (Pre-K & K with Toddler Track) and Elementary
• Format: Classroom or Large Group/Small Group
• Scope & Sequence: 3 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

Bible-in-Life

Connect everyday moments to biblical wisdom.

Connect everyday situations to God’s Word with Bible-in-Life. The lessons help the kids in your ministry see God’s truth all around them as you disciple this generation with lifelong faith.

Bible-in-Life (also available for youth and adults) helps kids form faith and express their faith in everyday life moments. With a variety of age-appropriate activities to support Bible learning, there are built-in options for multiple learning styles and class sizes.

With the flexible materials, you can build a ministry program that works for your volunteers, your budget, and your church.

• 8 Age Levels: Toddler – Adult
• Format: Classroom
• Scope & Sequence: Toddler – Early Elementary 2 Years, Elementary – High School 3 Years, Adult Comprehensive Bible Study 6 Years, Adult Understanding the Bible 8 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

Simply Loved

A Sunday school curriculum with focus, clarity, and permission to exhale.

With Simply Loved, you get a simpler approach to Sunday school where kids experience God’s greatest gift.

Sundays can be simple and meaningful as you take children on a journey through the Bible with Simply Loved. No matter a child’s age, Bible Memory Buddies help make learning stick.

Some of your best buddies from Group VBS are part of Sunday school!

It’s a proven brainy thing that kids are conditioned to remember fun facts and crazy connections to characters they know and love.

So, when kids meet Savanna the giraffe, they remember that just like Savanna’s long neck, all God’s people should understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep God’s love is. Every week your Bible Buddy makes an unforgettable Bible point. Plus, a new Bible Memory Buddy is featured every month in Simply Loved.

• 3 Age Levels: Pre-K & K – Upper Elementary
• Format: Classroom or Large Group/Small Group
• Scope & Sequence: 3 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

HeartShaper

Instilling God’s Word in every child’s heart.

Help kids discover God through His Word with HeartShaper. With Special Needs Friendly activities, inclusive ministry is central as you disciple every child in God’s kingdom work.

HeartShaper provides teacher-friendly lessons to reach the heart of every child. From toddler years through grade six, HeartShaper takes kids on a journey through the Bible five times to discover God’s story and how they fit into it. Plus, this children’s curriculum makes it easy to include every child in each step of the lesson—no matter their ability.

With HeartShaper’s well-crafted program, training tools, and free extras, your team is equipped to teach Bible skills and help kids grow in their walk with God.

• 6 Age Levels: Toddlers – Preteen
• Format: Classroom
• Scope & Sequence: Toddlers & 2s 1 Year, Preschool – PreTeen 2 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

Dig In

Dig deep into the Bible and equip kids with a solid faith foundation.

With Dig In Sunday school and children’s church, you get flexible options to fit any ministry with a simple online lesson builder.

Dig In was designed with your ministry in mind. Its creative, adaptable, time-saving approach can support both your Sunday school and children’s church times. The easy-to-use online lesson builder lets you build exactly what you need for each portion of your children’s ministry.

• 4 Age Levels: Preschool – Elementary
• Format: Classroom or Large Group/Small Group
• Scope & Sequence: 5 one-year programs to choose from
• Try for Free
• Learn More

Gospel Light

Point kids to Jesus in every Bible lesson.

Point kids to Jesus and build strong relationships with this children’s curriculum. Emphasize evangelism and discipleship as you teach children in their formative years.

Each Bible lesson connects to Jesus and has a big impact on the faith formation of kids and volunteers alike! From Baby Beginnings through Grade 6, Gospel Light guides children to explore the Bible five times.

Through an engaging approach to Bible storytelling and relationships, you can build a children’s ministry that inspires volunteers to share the gospel. Plus, guide kids to a deep understanding of Jesus and what a relationship with Him offers.

• 6 Age Levels: Nursery – Preteen
• Format: Classroom or Large Group/Small Group
• Scope & Sequence: Nursery – Pre-K/K & Preteen 2 Years, Elementary 4 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

Hands-On Bible Curriculum

Hands-on learning for a faith that sticks!

Teach as Jesus taught using creative objects illustrating eternal truths. Jesus was the master at using creative objects to connect eternal truths to everyday life—and now you can master it too!

With Hands-On Bible Curriculum, kids experience the same powerful connections between Scripture and everyday life by engaging all five of their senses. Bring the Bible alive with these awesome lessons and activities.

• 6 Age Levels: Toddler – Grade 6
• Format: Classroom
• Scope & Sequence: 2 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

Echoes

Celebrate African American faith and cultural heritage.

Share God’s resounding Word and celebrate black history and faith with Echoes. Relatable lessons and teacher-friendly options help you disciple children through adults. Plus, connect all ages thematically with the Sunday School Superintendent Manual!

Echoes provides teacher-friendly options, helping today’s generations come to know God’s Word. Motivate students to study more and more with inspiring, relevant, and soul-searching materials. Plus, get options for every age level to develop Bible knowledge and foster lifelong spiritual growth—all while making meaningful connections to the African American experience.

With flexible materials, you can build a children’s ministry that works for your volunteers, your budget, and your church.

• 8 Age Levels: Toddler – Adult
• Format: Classroom
• Scope & Sequence: Toddler – Early Elementary 2 Years, Elementary – High School 3 Years, Adult Comprehensive Bible Study 6 Years, Adult Understanding the Bible 8 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

FaithWeaver Now

Create a foundation of faith that lasts a lifetime.

FaithWeaver Now weaves together fundamental elements of children’s ministry to create lasting faith: explore the Bible every 3 years, engage kids through proven, Jesus-style methods, and empower families by synchronizing all age levels.

FaithWeaver Now is a quarterly, age-graded curriculum for infants through adults, where every age level studies the same Bible passage at the same time. The 3-year scope and sequence covers the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Each quarter goes through 13 sequential Bible events, so families get a snapshot of the Bible timeline.

• 10 Age Levels: Infant – Adult
• Format: Classroom
• Scope & Sequence: 3 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

Be Bold

Fearless Preteen Curriculum

With Be Bold, preteens explore the Bible and dive into the faith questions on their minds. Help preteens answer their own questions. Questions about God. About themselves. About where they fit in the world.

Give preteens exactly what they need—validation of their faith questions, and a place to connect as they explore those questions together. And be guided every step of the way as you become their conversation guide … and fellow explorer.

Tackle what preteens want to know and need to know and help them grow in their relationship with God.

• 1 Age Level: Preteen
• Format: Classroom
• Scope & Sequence: 6 Quarters (1.5 years)
• Try for Free
• Learn More

As you research and look for a children’s church curriculum for your ministry, remember that large or small, you are doing kingdom work, and every life is valued beyond measure.

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7 NIV

Keep up the good work as you point kids to Jesus.

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist

Need help evaluating curriculum? Grab this downloadable list and follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.

Download your Curriculum Checklist

Free Guide

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist

Need help evaluating curriculum? Grab this downloadable list and follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.

Download your Curriculum Checklist

Free Guide

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist

Need help evaluating curriculum? Grab this downloadable list and follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.

Download Your Curriculum Checklist

Free Guide

But it’s now possible with the Connected Easter series and Around the Table: A Taste of Passover event bundle.

For $99 (now $49.50), leaders have access to 5 weeks of fully resourced lessons from the Wonder Ink series, Connected Easter, that includes activities for families to do together at home during the week. Plus, you get a fully resourced guide for leading a Passover Seder, including promotional materials and welcome video.

Celebrate Jesus this Easter with a “taste” of a Jewish Seder meal, looking to our Savior!

Connected Easter: What’s the Story?

Easter Children’s Ministry Lessons

This 5-part series helps toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary kids walk through what it looks like for God to show up, promise His presence, and make the way where there was none. They will connect the long journey of God’s people from slavery to freedom, from Moses and the Israelites in Egypt to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus is alive, and because of Him we can transition from slavery to freedom, from death to life—now those are connections worth celebrating!

Death could not keep Jesus in the ground. He is too powerful!

• Lesson 1 is about the burning bush (Exodus 3) and how God hears and see His people.
• Lesson 2 shares the story of the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 13-15) and how God rescues His people.
• Lesson 3 features the story of holy week (John 12-13; 19) and how Jesus loves us and gave His life for us.
• Lesson 4 celebrates the resurrection (John 20) as kids celebrate that Jesus lives!
• Lesson 5 covers the road to Emmaus (Luke 24) and how Jesus surprises us.

What’s Included in the Connected Easter Lesson Materials?

Each Wonder Ink lesson is divided into 4 sections: Curiosity, Belief, Faith, and Identity.

Curiosity

The curiosity lesson step is a multi-sensory object lesson, STEM experiment, or group activity that sparks curiosity, encourages exploration, and gets kids thinking about the wonder of God.

Belief

The belief lesson step is a deep and interactive dive into Scripture that guides kids into knowing God more deeply, exploring His Big Story, and marveling at His wonder.

Faith

The faith lesson step is an intentional conversation that helps kids see the wonder of God’s Story and how it connects to their own, emboldening their faith, and fostering a deeper understanding of their place in God’s kingdom.

Identity

The identity lesson step is an interactive response activity that ushers kids into worship and creates space for Him to remind them of these core truths: I am known by God, I am loved by Jesus, I am led by the Holy Spirit, and my life can tell of God’s wonder.

Additional List of Lesson Resources

• Welcome and Introduction
• Series Overview
• 5 lessons (Toddler; Early Childhood; Elementary)
• Elementary Bible Story Videos
• Early Childhood Bible Story Videos
• Wonder@Home Bible Story Videos
• Volunteer prep resources
• Social media images
• Slides
• Volunteer communication templates
• Family communication templates
• Worship playlists

Around the Table: A Taste of Passover Family Event

Easter Children’s Ministry Event

The Around the Table event is an event that aligns with the Wonder Ink Connected Easter lesson series.

Around the Table is a Seder Meal event that equips churches to lead families easily through an immersive retelling of the Passover story. This “taste” of Passover event creates a meaningful experience for the families in your ministry to connect the dots from the Exodus to Jesus’ resurrection. It draws on many of the customs practiced in traditional Jewish Seder meals, which utilize specific food items as symbols to help tell the story of redemption, and points throughout to Jesus, the Lamb of God whose sacrifice on the cross brings us freedom from sin!

In Hebrew, the word Seder (SAY-der) means “order.” A Passover Seder is a special meal in which the components and structure recall the Exodus—when God freed His people from slavery in Egypt. As Christians, whether Jewish or non-Jewish, we are invited to the Passover Seder table as a way of remembering God’s faithfulness throughout history and celebrating Jesus—the Lamb of God—whose death and resurrection make it possible for us to be part of God’s family now and forever.

The event kit is digital and customizable, and it includes everything you need to host the event.

Additional List of Event Resources

• Editable and Downloadable Event Guide
• Promotional Materials
• Traditional Passover Seder Plate Elements and Explanations
• Seder Plate Template
• Shopping List
• Setting the Table
• Passover Storytelling
• Decorating Ideas
• Communication Templates

An Easter Celebration You Won’t Forget

Remembering what Jesus did for us fills us with emotion and gratitude. His sacrifice leaves us in awe and His resurrection gives us hope for an eternity with Him. We get to celebrate that we have new life in Jesus! Check out Connected Easter, available in your Wonder Ink subscription, or sold separately.

Let’s celebrate our risen Savior!

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

I could talk all day about children’s ministry curriculum. It’s such an important topic in children’s ministry. Now, is there a perfect curriculum? There is no perfect curriculum, and every curriculum is not made for your specific people and your specific kids and volunteers in your church setting. So, it is going to take some editing and customization to fit your church. But if you start with the right bones and the right structure, it’ll release a lot of the pressure and the burden from you, and free you up to do ministry better.

No curriculum can disciple your kids. You disciple your kids because a disciple is the one who creates more disciples and invites them into that relationship with Jesus. So, the most important thing to remember is that curriculum is a tool and a framework. It is a structure that carries us while we are doing the relational work of ministry, and the right curriculum can free us up to really invest in our people and do the work of ministry. So, it is important to find the right fit for your specific church.

Curriculum allows kids to encounter and experience God, to worship and respond to Him, and it helps kids discover biblical truth. When you purchase a curriculum and adjust it to fit your text, it frees you up to do the real work of ministry. And that is pouring into your people. It really gives such a joy and freedom that allows God to work in our ministry. My personal ministry began to thrive once I chose the right curriculum.

Choosing the Right Children’s Ministry Curriculum

Know Your Destination

That’s what we want for you. We want to know where we’re going, what we want our kids to know, and where we’d like them to be spiritually.

Having that destination and clear vision in your mind is one of the most important things you can do for your church before you choose your curriculum. What are the spiritual goals you have for the kids in your ministry? What are the milestones? Ask yourself how the curriculum aligns with your church’s mission and vision. Ask what outcome you are looking for?

And most importantly, as you begin, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and help you discern as you’re choosing curriculum.

Utilize Your Team

As you go through this process, be sure to bring your team alongside you, gather research, and get feedback from people.

A year and a half ago, David C Cook did a survey for children’s ministry leaders asking all kinds of fun questions. Questions like: What do you want in a children’s ministry curriculum? How do you discover curriculum? How do you choose a curriculum? What is most important to you? What is not important to you in your curriculum? It’s a really interesting study, and we learned a lot of insights.

One of the things I thought was interesting was that the size of the church determines the various ways in which we choose and use our curriculum. What a church of 20 kids is going to need from a curriculum is different from a church that might have 500 kids.

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist

Need help evaluating curriculum? Grab this downloadable list and follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.

Download your Curriculum Checklist

Free Guide

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist

Need help evaluating curriculum? Grab this downloadable list and follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.

Download your Curriculum Checklist

Free Guide

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist

Need help evaluating curriculum? Grab this downloadable list and follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.

Download Your Curriculum Checklist

Free Guide

Align with What’s Important

Look at the specific needs of the people in your church ask what’s important to your church.

• Who is in your church? Look at your demographics, your audience, the needs of the kids and families.
• Consider your volunteers. Where they are spiritually. Do they come from a highly “churched” background or are they new to the faith?
• Look at the mission and vision for your kids and families.

Earlier this year at CPC, we had an interactive experience where people got to go through and answer certain questions about their children’s ministry. These questions helped them discover what curriculum might be a good fit for their church. And one of the questions was, what is most important in your ministry?

As people were going through the maze, they answered most of the questions very quickly. Then when they got to this one, they would pause. It caused them to think deeply about their mission is and how it aligns with what they are teaching. So, think about that question and consider what is most important.

Think Critically

Evaluate all kinds of different curriculum lines, gather samples, and look at the scope and sequence for them. Is it random? Does it make sense? Is it balanced? Are kids getting to see a full picture of the Bible and how it’s all connected? And are they getting the gospel and Jesus?

If you possibly can, teach the sample lessons in your children’s ministry—that’s such a great way to get a good feel for a curriculum.

Don’t simply think that simply because it’s published that it is going to be biblically accurate and theologically sound. I have seen some things that just weren’t a good fit for my church’s theology or my understanding of the Bible. And so really look at the curriculum and think critically about what it’s saying and what it’s teaching, and how it’s teaching the Word of God.

God’s Word as Authority

And just remember the responsibility that we have when we teach kids the Word of God. It’s so important that we take that seriously and teach the Bible as it’s meant to be taught.

Not taking the Bible as God intended and twisting it to make it more entertaining or more fun for kids, or to make it fit what we want it to say, is not okay. We want the Bible to speak the text, to speak for itself within the context of what it was meant to say. And so, as you’re looking at the lessons, read the Bible stories in Scripture against the lesson, and look at how they’re taught and what they teach us about God. Consider the vision of the curriculum, the philosophy, and the values.

Go see it in action. If you can, visit a church that’s using the curriculum you’re evaluating (just ask their children’s pastor ahead of time). You can learn a lot quickly if you can see what their Sundays look like and talk with the volunteers and the children’s pastors and kids.

And then, most importantly before you choose a curriculum, ask yourself: does it draw kids closer to Jesus and allow them to experience Him and connect with Him? Is it discipleship-, gospel-, and Bible-centered?

Discover more on choosing and implementing children’s ministry curriculum by watching the full webinar here.

• Curriculum Feedback Survey 
  
  Want to know how families and volunteers feel about your ministry and the curriculum you use? Gather feedback from those in your ministry using this simple survey.  Download it now!
  
• Curriculum Evaluation Checklist
  
  Need help evaluating curriculum? Follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.
  
  Grab this free checklist and evaluate curriculum like a champ!

With relatable lessons and volunteer-friendly options within the curriculum, leaders can be sure to share the truth of the gospel with children, teens, and adults. And while each age level is age-appropriate, each lesson is also connected thematically to all the other age levels so that generations can grow in faith together.

In the articles below, you can discover the importance of celebrating African American faith with children.

From being made in the image of God, to understanding faith from a cultural context, children need to see themselves as God sees them. Help every child discover God’s plan for their lives and know without a doubt that He created them and loves them beyond their wildest imagination.

Why Echoes Children’s Curriculum Is Important to Today’s Church: A Parent’s Point of View

In the African American church, children need to understand their cultural history. Echoes provides this with relatable, relevant content. Read More >>

Black History and Faith: Why and How It Matters to Kids

Black children need to understand that they are part of God’s Story—made in His image. Discover why history and community matters in faith. Read More >>

Echoes​

Celebrating African American Heritage and Faith

With our 4-step lessons, teachers can focus on engaging kids, youth, and adults to discover God’s Word while celebrating African American heritage and faith.

Learn more

How to Celebrate People of Color in Your Sunday Lessons

I want to challenge us to recognize the importance of choosing a curriculum that celebrates our biblical and cultural heritage. Read More >>

How to Make Black History Month Part of Your Children’s Ministry

Celebrate Black History Month in your kids’ ministry as a way to tell the story of God’s redemptive power!
Read More >>

30 Free Coloring Pages to Celebrate Black Faith Leaders

These stories and coloring pages will help you celebrate some amazing heroes of faith! Read More >>

Why Echoes?

• Echoes lessons are Christ-Centered and biblically sound.
• Students will learn everyday life lessons to apply in their daily lives.
• Echoes includes a Quarterly Black History Feature.
• Echoes lessons are age appropriate for ages toddler through adult.
• Lessons include Life Needs, Bible Learning, Bible Application, and Life Response.
• Teachers receive Bible resources to help when preparing and teaching the lessons.
• Lessons are available in print or as downloadable PDF’s.

More Articles About Curriculum from David C Cook

• The Top Children’s Curriculum from David C Cook
• Why Choose Digital Curriculum from David C Cook?
• Why Your Children’s Curriculum Needs the Gospel, Not Morals

Saying thank you intentionally, often, and personally is a massive encouragement to your volunteers. And of course, you want to encourage volunteers—they’re the heartbeat of your ministry! I know that’s so true for me and my ministry too. Valentine’s Day is an especially great time to say thanks as your volunteers are showing and telling the LOVE of Jesus to the children of your congregation.

Volunteers do holy and hard work, the fruit of which spans generations.

One of the most meaningful thank you gifts, in my experience as both a volunteer and a ministry leader, is a handwritten, personal note. This is especially true of notes that highlight specific moments. A great tip for being able to remember significant moments is to keep a notes file open on your phone to capture significant immediately after you witness or experience them!

Celebrating your volunteers’ wins is a fabulous way to honor them and let them know they are seen and appreciated. No matter how else you decide to honor your volunteers this Valentine’s Day, I highly recommend writing those notes.

Without further ado, here are some more ideas to celebrate your volunteers.

Thank Volunteers this Valentine’s Day

• I love a classic candy basket. A sweet treat is an easy way to communicate “thank you!!” This article has some cute ideas to put together baskets at different budget points—including a great idea for a coffee themed basket!

• Looking for a fun way to upgrade candy bars? Check out these candy bar wrapper printables!

• This article talks about crafts kids can do. Many of these would be easy to make yourself or have kids within your ministry make and gift to your volunteers! I think the ideas revolving around God’s love are so cute.

If you are able, have kids create an element of the thank you, whether writing notes, decorating bookmarks, or making a craft. You could even stitch together a video of kids saying thank you and sharing it on your church’s social media.

Inviting the children of your ministry to participate in thanking volunteers offers them an opportunity to build into the ministry that serves them so well. It’s a win-win really!

More Ideas for Celebrating Volunteers

• If you’re anything like me, you appreciate a solid pun. Here’s some kidmin candy-related thank you notes that will do just the trick!

• Speaking of puns, here’s a customizable pretzel pack that would be a sweet addition to any gift basket.

• If you’ve recently come into a wealth of mason jars, they make an excellent vehicle for valentines’ gifts! See here for ideas.

• This article has so many intentional ideas for volunteer appreciation! Many of which are timeless and applicable year ‘round. #2 is my favorite.

• These thank you notes source relevant Bible verses to encourage any volunteer!

• If you’re looking for ways to personalize treats for your volunteers, check out these Bible-verse-inspired tags.

• This article shares 100 ideas (WHAT?!?!) for volunteer thank you gifts. Most of these prompts come with printables, so much of the work—besides dropping by the store—is done for you.

• These “we’re in good hands with you” tags could accompany some hand lotion or soap very well. If you have one locally, Trader Joes has some quality, budget-conscious options.

• These Christian Valentines cards are great options. The pizza-themed cards would be super fun to send in the mail to invite volunteers for an after-church pizza party social.

• Speaking of, here’s a variety of food-themed thank-you gifts. I love the bundt cake idea. Nothing Bundt Cakes, as well as many other bakeries, offer gluten free bundt cakes to make sure all your volunteers can have a sweet, thank you treat. Making sure that your volunteers get a sweet treat is an incredible gesture to make them feel appreciated.

Saying Thank You

Another way to communicate thanks is to equip volunteers by offering resources. In addition to a sweet treat, distributing a book and resourcing your volunteers—whether with a compelling read pertaining to children’s ministry or a book all about personal spiritual development—is a great way to care for them!

I hope you found inspiration from these ideas of ways to thank your volunteers this coming Valentine season. Whether decorating a table and having a bagel spread available for your volunteers or mailing letters and grocery store gift cards to their homes, there are so many ways to extend care and appreciation to your volunteers.

Have fun with it! Any chance we get to thank the people who help make children’s ministry possible is an opportunity to re-energize and excite volunteers. It is an opportunity to thank God for providing for His church and celebrate all the beautiful things happening within your ministry.

Even more so, I’m so thankful for the volunteers—within my context, and across the globe—who have poured their time, talent, and love into reaching children. What a gift to be part of this community!

Volunteer Thank You Cards

Volunteers bring energy and heart to your ministry. They give of themselves freely and intentionally—so it’s important to say THANK YOU as often as you can. Download these 5 cards and give all the warm fuzzies away!

Download your thank you cards

Free Cards

Volunteer Thank You Cards

Volunteers bring energy and heart to your ministry. They give of themselves freely and intentionally—so it’s important to say THANK YOU as often as you can. Download these 5 cards and give all the warm fuzzies away!

Download your thank you cards

Free Cards

Volunteer Thank You Cards

Volunteers bring energy and heart to your ministry. They give of themselves freely and intentionally—so it’s important to say THANK YOU as often as you can. Download these 5 cards and give all the warm fuzzies away!

Download your thank you cards

Free Cards

What do you want your children to know about God? And even more importantly, how do you want to help children know God? If you want a curriculum with Jesus at the center of every lesson, Gospel Light is one you must consider!

Gospel Light curriculum is built to guide children to a deeper understanding of who Jesus is through relational connection, Bible teaching, and a central focus on the gospel. It emphasizes a relational experience of evangelism and discipleship—learning who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him.

Gospel Light Points Children to Jesus

Making Meaning through Play

For young children, the way they make meaning is through play. We see this when children explore the world with their imaginations. An example of this is when we see children pretend to play house.

Have you ever seen a child play church before? Seeing a child pretend to be the pastor of the congregation and teach the Word of God to those around them is holy. While they may think they are pretending, we are witnessing evangelism. We are witnessing how they may share Jesus with others.

Isn’t that beautiful? Because play is the language of young children, it is one of the primary ways to engage them in learning. Within Gospel Light, the youngest children always begin with play. This is done through art, dramatic play, games, and blocks.

And play is something that should never stop. As kids grow, the ways they play change, but the focus doesn’t vanish. Gospel Light suggests different types of play for every age group, whether that is through a small group activity, art experience, or game. There are always active options to help engage all children.

Building Blocks to Biblical Literacy

Helping children know God and who He is starts with the Bible. This is the foundation of faith that helps us to know God’s story, which reveals to us who God is and what He has done.

While focusing on the Bible is quite common in curriculum, how the Bible is utilized and taught varies. If we want to help kids see God’s story and see their place in it, they need to read and explore it. They need to experience stories over and over again.

If a child starts from the very beginning with Gospel Light, by the time she finishes sixth grade she will have explored the entire Bible four times. The scope and sequence of Gospel Light is built to help kids grow in Biblical literacy. Imagine the children in your ministry knowing the whole story of Scripture, being able to make connections between the Old and New Testaments, and learning more about Jesus. Gospel Light supports the Biblical literacy journey.

Each age level builds on how kids will explore and engage the Bible through three main steps.

• Preschool–Kindergarten: Play to Learn, Listen to Learn, Talk to Learn
  
• Grades 1–4: Get Thinking, Get God’s Word, Get Talking
  
• Grades 5–6: Discovery, Study, Application

Not only does this developmentally appropriate, three-step approach provide consistency, it makes it easy for teachers to prepare. Additionally, worship songs are included for all age levels to help your kids engage with God and reinforce what they are learning about Him.

Personal Connection to Jesus

Within every lesson of Gospel Light, whether it is through the Bible story teaching or an activity, children are introduced to Jesus. Children are shown the connections of the story they are exploring and how it relates to Jesus.

For example, when teaching on Jesus having compassion for the widow and healing her son in Luke 7, Gospel Light focuses on what this healing meant and what it shows us about Jesus.

“When Jesus raised the young man from the dead, the people thought Jesus was a prophet—a messenger from God. They praised God because He had come to help His people. While the people didn’t understand who Jesus really was, they were right about one very important thing: God HAD come to help His people. Jesus IS the one true God, and He came to help all people, including you and me.”

Every quarter of Gospel Light curriculum includes a how-to for guiding a child toward Jesus. This all starts with being living examples of God’s love to each child we encounter and showing children who Jesus is through what we say and do. Gospel Light continually supports leaders and families in how to create opportunities to talk with children about receiving Jesus Christ as Savior. What a gift!

What Is Your Next Step?

As you explore what your children need most, don’t forget the power of the gospel to changes lives. Share the gospel and guide kids to a deeper understanding of Jesus. What will you do next?

Gospel Light

Because the Gospel Changes Lives

With our easy-prep lessons, teachers can focus on building relationships with kids and pointing them to Jesus as they explore God’s Word.

Learn more

More Related to Gospel Light

• Gospel Light Children’s Curriculum: Ignite the Fire
• Evangelism with Kids: Sharing the Good News of Jesus
• Why Every Sunday School Teacher Needs to Know Henrietta Mears
• Know How to Play? You’re Absolutely Qualified to Teach
• How to Lead Hybrid Sunday School with Gospel Light Curriculum

In contrast, what happens when the steps for a recipe are laid out in a simple, easy-to-follow way? Maybe you traded in finding random recipes on sites called things like Karen’s Kozy Kafe (yes, with all the Ks) for a tried-and-true cookbook that is beautiful and tested and ensures your meals come out with near perfection each time.

You can see it makes all the difference. Not only for one day but for days upon days and maybe even years to come.

Now imagine you could find similar ingredients to this final scenario in a children’s curriculum. Most of us want something that makes a difference in our children’s faith, not just for one day but for every day. We want something that takes the key moments in our weekly gatherings and teaches students how to build their faith on their own for years to come.

This is what Bible-in-Life can do. Bible-in-Life Children’s Curriculum is a comprehensive and flexible solution that not only imparts the knowledge of the Bible but also instills the values and biblical principles that can guide young hearts throughout their lives.

Let’s look at several ways Bible-in-Life does this.

Life Application

Step-by-Step Lessons

Preparation with Bible-in-Life is easy. Each lesson equips the leader with a devotional and commentary on the passage. Then it moves into a four-step lesson path for classroom teaching.

• Step 1: Introductory activities and discussion based on the lesson theme or passage
• Step 2: Opening the Bible and hearing the passage
• Step 3: Activities that help the students review what they just heard
• Step 4: Responding to God’s Word with prompts that help them connect the Bible to everyday life

Each lesson also offers the teacher helpful tips so that they are ready with extra options and answers to discussion questions.

Helpful In-Class Resources

Every age level has appealing student resources and colorful visuals to help enhance the lessons. These items span across all steps in creative ways and their use is clearly explained for the Teacher’s Guide and also on each resource.

There are posters, student books, Bible story pictures and figures, and more. These items are available already printed or as digital materials.

Take Home Resources

Bible-in-Life also offers at-home study and devotional resources for students. This further supports the idea of an everyday relationship with God through His Word. These resources are an excellent way to encourage daily engagement with Scripture that foster a deeper understanding and connection with God.

Among these materials are items for families to use with children as well. Families are a key part of connecting God’s Word to everyday life, and Bible-in-Life keeps equipping them in mind as well.

Age Appropriate

Bible-in-Life resources are for toddlers through high school. No child is too young to connect Biblical wisdom to their life! Each age level provides age-appropriate resources and activities so kids can understand what is being taught and how to use the Bible on their own.

Further, for older age levels, Bible-in-Life provides Real Life Downloaded. It addresses current, cutting-edge topics and avoids pat answers to move students into relying on their relationship with the God who made them. Fresh content is available for every lesson.

The Bible Matters

To some children the Bible can seem like an interesting history book or something that simply tells them what to do. Bible-in-Life intentionally shows kids how Scripture connects to life and that what it teaches us about God makes a difference.

For example, an Elementary lesson about Jesus at the wedding in Cana showcases the title “Everyday with Jesus.”

Step 1 begins with kids looking over items that represent their daily lives such as a toothbrush, a shoe, and a snack and then asks, What kinds of everyday problems have bothered you? Do you think Jesus cares about the little things you go through each day?

Step 2 covers what problems came up at the wedding in Cana, how the master needs help, and why Jesus did the miracle that day. Then the kids practice saying the Memory Verse: “The people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing” (Luke 13:17).

Step 3 invites the children to use their Bible Discoveries book to read stories about answered prayer. There is also a poster to help children consider the everyday lives of people in the Bible.

Step 4 discusses when children will talk to Jesus in the coming week and ponder how they can remember to talk with Him when problems come up. The children have a time of prayer together and then are reminded Jesus loves them before they are dismissed.

Children are sent home with student pages featuring study pages and activities along with items they made in Step 3.

Bringing It All Together

What is the result when we mix all of these things together? A life that connects everyday moments to Biblical wisdom. There is no better place to go than to God and His Word. He is the One who changes our lives no matter what age, young or old.

Isn’t that the thing we would want to pass down? When kids learn how to read God’s Word for themselves and apply it to whatever situation they are facing each day, they are led to a faith that stays with them for a lifetime.

Now that sounds like a pretty good recipe to me.

Bible In Life

Connecting everyday situations to God’s word

With our 4-step lessons, teachers can focus on engaging kids, youth, and adults to discover God’s Word and bring it to life.

Learn more

More Articles Featuring Bible-in-Life

• The Transformative Power of Bible-in-Life Children’s Curriculum in Today’s Church
• Why Choose Digital Curriculum from David C Cook?
• Why Your Children’s Curriculum Needs the Gospel, Not Morals
• The Top Children’s Curriculum from David C Cook
• How to Make Sure Your Bible Lessons Make a Difference in Kids’ Lives
• Why Life Application Matters in Your Children’s Ministry Curriculum
• How to Lead Hybrid Sunday School with Bible-in-Life and Echoes Curriculum

Wonder Ink takes kids on a journey through curiosity, belief, faith, and identity. It helps them discover their identity as a child of God. It helps kids internalize four main truths: I am known by God, loved by Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit, and I am a child of God, so my life can tell of His wonder.

Wonder Ink lessons are Bible-centered and fully customizable. The lessons encourage big questions. They leave space for kids to connect with God to build faith beyond just Sunday.

Hands-On: Building Identity in Christ

With Wonder Ink, kids don’t just hear stories from the Bible, they actively engage with God’s Word and experience God’s presence through worship response. Kids are encouraged to be curious and explore Bible truths through hands-on activities and STEM experiments. The Bible stories are taught through weekly creative Bible story videos, reading straight from the Bible, and interactive live Bible story teachings.

This curriculum uses a 3-year unified scope and sequence for all ages. This allows kids to explore major stories from the Bible with a balance of Old and New Testament stories each year. Lessons, grouped into 4–8-week series, connect kids to God’s truths.

Families with kids of all ages from toddler through preteens can connect and learn together as they experience the same Bible stories in age-appropriate ways. Wonder Ink resources parents with weekly at-home devotionals and Bible story videos for their kids. Additionally, they are encouraged as spiritual leaders in their kids’ lives and are invited to grow in their faith together.

Wonder Ink

Faith begins with wonder

With ready-to-go lessons, Wonder Ink is a customizable digital curriculum and toolkit for creatively engaging kids and families in God’s Word—connecting the classroom on Sunday to their homes during the week.

Learn more

Wonder Ink also includes special holiday series that connect the Old and New Testament to help give kids a big-picture view of the Bible as God’s big story. When kids know God’s big story, they can know their part in it and discover their identity as a child of God.

After the Waiting for Jesus Christmas series, which included stories from Isaiah’s prophecies about the Messiah and their fulfillment with Jesus’ birth, an 8-year-old boy exclaimed during a Christmas Eve sermon about Jesus’ birth, “Isaiah knew that was going to happen! I knew it! It’s all true—yay Jesus!” He made the connection and was able to truly celebrate and worship the long-awaited Savior.

Kids are invited into God’s big story to know Him more.

Created in God’s Image

God’s big story doesn’t start with the Fall—it starts with Creation. People were created in God’s image to reflect Him and have a relationship with Him. We have the privilege of helping kids discover their forever identity in Christ. We get to help them live with confidence as they claim their inheritance as image-bearing children of God, sharing His wonder with the world. Identity is what we believe about ourselves, our worth, and our purpose.

It’s a joy when kids discover their identity is found in God’s big story. It’s found where Jesus is Lord, and the Holy Spirit is present. And as we teach this, we leave room for their big questions, while leaving no doubt about who God is or who they are in Him.

Each week in the Wonder Ink lessons, kids declare out loud truths about who God is and who they are in Him. This is an important time in the children’s ministry service. When kids speak truths aloud repeatedly, those truths become rooted in their hearts and can grow.

As followers of Jesus, our identity is rooted in Christ. We are all beloved children of God. We are known by God and loved by Jesus, and we are invited to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Connection to God and One Another

Wonder Ink inspires a genuine connection with faith. It fosters a sense of wonder and curiosity that extends far beyond the Sunday school classroom. When children discover they are known by God, loved by Jesus, and led by the Holy Spirit, their view of who they are shifts.

After a few months of using Wonder Ink curriculum, my 4-year-old daughter prayed “Holy Spirit, thank You for living inside of me. I hope You stay.”

She knows the Holy Spirit was in her and she lives out that truth each day. That truth—that she is a child of God and filled with His Spirit—guides her each day as she navigates her world and develops her worldview and identity.

She will grow up with a foundation of Christ as her Savior. She’ll have a faith that is big enough for her curiosity and questions. But she’ll have no doubt about the wonder of who God is and who she is as His child. Wonder is where it all begins. Ink is God’s truth inked upon our hearts. Faith begins with wonder.

And then there’s the task of making sure everyone feels like they belong—especially kids with specialized needs. That’s where an inclusive, thoughtful curriculum like HeartShaper comes in. HeartShaper helps create a space where God’s love reaches every heart.

When I was a children’s pastor, I saw firsthand the beauty of creating a welcoming environment for all children. One of the kids I worked with was a boy named Noah who had Down syndrome. Noah didn’t talk much, but he loved to help.

One Sunday as we were completing our HeartShaper activities, Noah quietly started handing out crayons and supplies to the other kids, his face lighting up with each smile and “thank you” he received. It was a beautiful moment. His classmates saw Noah as an important part of our group, someone who brought joy and kindness to our time together.

And Noah? He knew just how much he was loved and valued.

HeartShaper

Instilling God’s Word in every child’s heart

With our easy-to-follow lessons, teachers can focus on kids’ unique needs while helping them hide God’s Word in their hearts.

Learn more

Everyone Is Welcomed and Loved in God’s Kingdom

Then there was Sarah, a young adult with special needs who volunteered with us each Sunday. Sarah had a heart for serving and was one of the most faithful, compassionate people I’ve ever met. She would greet every child with a big smile and an encouraging word, helping them feel welcome from the moment they stepped in.

Sarah’s love for God was so evident in her patient, kind, and joyful spirit. Each week, she would joyfully give each child their Weekly Bible Reader pamphlet as their parents checked them out. She was more than a volunteer; Sarah was a powerful example of God’s love in action. Children looked up to her, and our classroom was better because of her presence.

Stories like Noah’s and Sarah’s show why inclusive ministry is so important. Our classrooms are richer when they reflect God’s Kingdom—a Kingdom where every single one of us belongs. Children with special needs aren’t just “included” in ministry—they complete it.

They bring kindness, joy, and such unique perspectives that every child benefits. And, honestly, we’re better for having them with us.

The beautiful thing about HeartShaper is that it’s built to help make this possible. It’s designed to bring every child into the experience, using a mix of sensory, hands-on activities that reach kids with different learning styles.

Here are a few quick tips drawn from HeartShaper’s flexible approach to help make every child feel valued and involved:

1. Engage the Senses:
   Try to make each lesson hands on. Use sensory elements that help kids interact with the story. For example, if you’re teaching about Jesus by the sea, you might use sand or water. Or bring in soft fabrics for moments of comfort and rest. Simple sensory tools can make God’s Word come alive, especially for kids who connect more through touch or sound.
   
2. Set Consistent Routines:
   Routines help children with specialized needs feel secure and engaged. HeartShaper encourages routines, like starting each class with a prayer, singing a familiar song, or repeating phrases such as, “God loves you.” These repeated phrases and actions help all kids remember God’s truth in a way that sticks, while also helping them feel secure and included.
   
3. Encourage Connection:
   Group activities, even simple ones, allow children to connect with each other. HeartShaper includes activities that get children working together, whether it’s building something or acting out a story. And these moments help build bonds between kids of different abilities. Working together, they discover each other’s strengths and learn to appreciate what everyone brings to the table.
   
4. Focus on God’s Love for Each Child:
   At the end of the day, kids need to know that they are deeply loved by God. HeartShaper helps reinforce this by giving you ways to affirm each child’s identity as beloved children of God. Every story, activity, and prayer points back to this truth: God made you, God loves you, and you matter.

Inclusion in Ministry

Noah and Sarah are just two of the many people who are teaching me about the beauty of inclusion in ministry. HeartShaper isn’t just another curriculum—it’s a tool that helps you shape young hearts to know God’s love and to see each other as He does.

It’s a curriculum that embraces every child’s worth and reminds them that they each have a place in God’s family. When we include every child, we’re getting a glimpse of God’s Kingdom—a place where all His children are learning, growing, and showing God’s love to one another.

In children’s ministry, we’re blessed with the chance to shape young hearts and show each child that they are a cherished part of God’s family. When we show up fully, with open hearts and arms, God works through us to instill His Word into each child—and that’s something that will last for a lifetime.

Discover More about HeartShaper Children’s Curriculum

• A Heartfelt Approach to Inclusivity: HeartShaper Children’s Curriculum
• How to Make Your Bible Lessons More Inclusive for All Abilities
• Inclusion in Children’s Ministry: The Importance of Welcoming Kids of All Abilities
• How to Lead Hybrid Sunday School with HeartShaper Curriculum
• The Top Children’s Curriculum from David C Cook
• Why Choose Digital Curriculum from David C Cook?
• Why Your Children’s Curriculum Needs the Gospel, Not Morals
• Visit our website for a free sample!

No matter the situation you most relate to, David C Cook offers digital solutions so that you can access your curriculum wherever you are, whenever you need it!

Digital Children’s Ministry Curriculum

Experience the difference David C Cook’s top-selling Sunday school and children’s church curriculum can make in your ministry with our easy-to-use digital delivery options. With Scripture-based, gospel-centered curriculum lines, you can trust the materials are true to God’s Word.

Plus, whether you prefer instant PDF downloads or fully customizable lessons through our online portal, you’ll get immediate access—no shipping fees, storage issues, or quarterly sorting required.

Save both time and money while joining countless ministry leaders who are simplifying their teaching resources with David C Cook’s digital curriculum.

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist

Need help evaluating curriculum? Grab this downloadable list and follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.

Download your Curriculum Checklist

Free Guide

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist

Need help evaluating curriculum? Grab this downloadable list and follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.

Download your Curriculum Checklist

Free Guide

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist

Need help evaluating curriculum? Grab this downloadable list and follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.

Download Your Curriculum Checklist

Free Guide

Children’s Curriculum Via Online Platform

Get fully resourced, fully editable curriculum through our online platform with Wonder Ink! Get access to lessons for early childhood age levels and elementary students in one place.

Wonder Ink

Help kids grasp the fullness of their identity in God’s Big Story as they explore four core truths:

• God Knows Me
• Jesus Loves Me
• The Holy Spirit Leads Me
• I Am a Child of God

Developed by children’s ministry experts and discipleship leaders, Wonder Ink is a trusted resource for your children’s church or Sunday school program. It empowers the local church to inspire kids in their faith, support parents at home, and equip volunteers in ministry.

Children’s Ministry Curriculum Via Digital Download

Explore the variety of digital curriculum options available as downloadable zipped PDFs.

Bible-in-Life

Bring God’s Word into everyday life with Bible-in-Life. This curriculum helps kids recognize God’s truth in the world around them while guiding them to build a lifelong faith.

Bible-in-Life equips kids to both form and live out their faith in everyday moments. With a range of age-appropriate activities designed to support Bible learning, it offers flexible options for different learning styles and class sizes.

HeartShaper

Instill God’s Word in every child’s heart with HeartShaper. Designed with special needs friendly activities, this curriculum helps you disciple every child in God’s kingdom.

HeartShaper offers teacher-friendly lessons that reach the heart of every child. From toddlers to sixth grade, it guides kids through the Bible five times, helping them discover God’s story and their place in it.

Gospel Light

Point kids to Jesus and build lasting relationships using Gospel Light. Focus on evangelism and discipleship as you nurture children and preteens.

Gospel Light highlights Jesus in every Bible lesson, making a lasting impact on the faith development of both kids and volunteers. From Baby Beginnings through Grade 6, Gospel Light takes children through the Bible five times, helping them explore God’s Word in a meaningful way.

Echoes

Share the power of God’s Word and celebrate African American heritage with Echoes. With relatable lessons and teacher-friendly resources, this curriculum helps you disciple children through adults. Plus, the Sunday School Superintendent’s Manual ensures a cohesive, thematic approach for all ages!

Echoes offers flexible options for churches of all sizes, guiding today’s generations to deepen their understanding of God’s Word. With age-appropriate content designed to build Bible knowledge and nurture lifelong spiritual development, Echoes also highlights meaningful connections to the African American experience.

We can’t behave ourselves into heaven. Salvation is only attainable through the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As a young mom, I was trying my best to be exactly who my kids needed. I was trying to work hard within myself to show them who Jesus is in everyday moments. But in all reality, I was exhausted, unsure, and still trying to figure life out for myself.

I had grown up in the pews of the church, sat in Sunday school classes, had a great family, went to Christian college, attended conferences through my work at a Christian publisher, and married a PK (pastor’s kid). If anyone should know how to share their faith, I should. Instead, what kept coming out was a bunch of dos and don’ts: Behavior Modification 101.

If I really wanted to help my children know Jesus, it was going to come down to a matter of the heart. It was going to begin with understanding who God is—His character and His holiness. And in order to understand who God is, I would have to sit with Him in His Word. I would need to carve out space to know Him and be known by Him.

And when I got to know Him more and be loved by Him, I realized how easy it became to follow. There was no more guessing, perfectionism, or anxiety over tomorrow. There was rest in following Him.

The Very Good News

That’s what the good news of the Gospel does for us. It allows us to see God for who He is, recognize ourselves for who we are, become cleansed by Him, and then respond in going where He leads us. There isn’t a self-help book or morals guide to good behavior that leads to this. There is only heart change.

We read this in Isaiah 6, when the prophet sees the throne room of the Lord. He recognizes God as Holy, recognizes himself as filth, is in turn cleansed, and then responds in worship saying send me.

That’s the story of Scripture! Our good and holy God is drawing imperfect people to Himself over and over again.

And that’s what we need to show our kids. That within ourselves, it’s hard. We can try and try and try to be good, but we can’t do it without the love of God and the gift of the Holy Spirit living in us. But the very good news is that when we choose Jesus, we receive His Spirit.

So, our churches on Sundays can’t be so focused on behavior modification that we forget to sit in awe of the King who was and is and is forevermore. We can’t get so caught up in teaching cooperation, joy, and compassion that we forget to engage the gift that is God Himself. And we can’t focus so much on getting our kids to sit down and be quiet that we teach them that God hasn’t made them to be curious and creative and fun.

You see, there is a peace and rest that comes from knowing we can only go so far alone. That being known, loved, and led by God means that we get to trust Him to guide us and change us. It’s His work.

Behavior Doesn’t Change Hearts

The curriculum we choose for our children’s ministries must do more than teach good values and behavior. Because as much as we like good behavior, that doesn’t get to the heart. And focusing on behavior actually puts more pressure on our children to ‘try and fix themselves.’ It sets them up to fail and then feel the weight that comes from not being able to live up to the expectations on their lives.

You see, when children can recognize the very good news of Jesus, and when they are taught about how amazing He is (and His Big Story), they can see how God works in and through them—the good and the bad. And as we sit with Jesus together, we begin to look like Him more and more, and as we look more like Him, we display Him in our actions.

That’s true behavior change, because of heart change.

Now, I’m not telling you to embrace chaos in your ministry by letting kids run wild. But what I am telling you is to remind them that you get it. It’s hard to be good, kind, and loving all the time. That sometimes it’s hard to show gentleness and self-control. But the good news is that when we sit with Jesus and know Him more, He helps us do these things that please Him. Because of the Holy Spirit, we can look more and more like Him every day.

Don’t Move from the Center

Over time, teaching methods change. Today there are videos, music, games, and more that we can use to reinforce lessons as kids spend time with God. But we can’t move from the center.

The message must stay the same—we don’t get to change it to be more relevant, approachable, ‘acceptable,’ or cool. God created, man sinned (and sinned again and again), God sent Jesus to rescue man, Jesus lived, Jesus died, Jesus rose again, Jesus ascended into heaven, God sent His followers the gift of the Holy Spirit, and one day He is coming back for His Bride, the Church. Those who believe, follow, and know Jesus have the promise of eternal life with Him. He is the only way to heaven.

You see, God’s Word is the authority, our emotions are not.

Be careful not to veer from the truth simply because it makes you uncomfortable. Don’t veer from the center simply because it causes you to wrestle with what you desire within yourself. God’s truth is the truth, and we can’t sidestep it.

Do we tell the truth in love? Yes. Should we be as wise as serpents, gentle as doves? Yes.

But don’t compromise the truth of the Gospel to feel better. We can’t work our way into Heaven. We simply must know Jesus and have relationship with Him. He works out the rest.

Take the Pressure Off

So, I encourage you to take the pressure off. Take it off yourself and off your kids. Sit with Jesus, lean into His Word, honor Him in worship, and take each moment as it comes. Trust in the Holy Spirit to guide you and your children.

Being well behaved is not bad. But we can’t behave ourselves into heaven. Salvation is only attainable through the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We can teach our children behaviors, but we have to always get to the root for it to last. It begins at the heart and moves outward.

Choose a curriculum that centers on God’s Word and His Gospel and stays rooted there. And remember that, as we follow Jesus, our lives will speak of His great wonder.

Be with Him, and then go out with the fruit that He alone can give.

Trusted Children’s Ministry Curriculum Resources from David C Cook

As you look for curriculum rooted in Scripture, David C Cook has trusted resources doing just that.

Digital Options

Looking for something exclusively online? Check out Wonder Ink!

Wonder Ink

Faith begins with wonder

With ready-to-go lessons, Wonder Ink is a customizable digital curriculum and toolkit for creatively engaging kids and families in God’s Word—connecting the classroom on Sunday to their homes during the week.

Learn more

Wonder Ink

Empower kids to understand the fullness of who they are in God’s Big Story as they discover 4 core truths:

• God Knows Me
• Jesus Loves Me
• The Holy Spirit Leads Me
• I am a Child of God

Created by children’s ministry practitioners and discipleship thought leaders, Wonder Ink Bible curriculum for kids is a trusted solution for your children’s church or Sunday school program. It helps the local church inspire children in faith, walk alongside parents at home, and equip volunteers in ministry.

Plus, Wonder Ink’s theological guideposts make sure every lesson points children to God—with a focus on God’s Big Story, the hope of the gospel of Jesus, sharing the people of Scripture as real people (not characters or superheroes), exploring biblical language in the context of Scripture, and pointing kids to their identity as image bearers.

Wonder Ink features the NIrV^® Bible translation but makes it easy to change to the translation your church prefers. Try for free at WonderInk.org.

Printed and Downloadable Options

These curriculum options come with both printed and downloadable options.

Bible In Life

Connecting everyday situations to God’s word

With our 4-step lessons, teachers can focus on engaging kids, youth, and adults to discover God’s Word and bring it to life.

Learn more

Bible-in-Life Kids

Connect everyday situations to God’s Word with Bible-in-Life. The lessons help your kids see God’s truth all around them as you disciple this generation with lifelong faith.

Bible-in-Life helps kids form faith and express their faith in everyday life moments. With a variety of age-appropriate activities to support Bible learning, there are built-in options for multiple learning styles and class sizes.

With the flexible materials, you can build a ministry program that works for your volunteers, your budget, and your church.

Bible-in-Life features the popular NIV^® translation for all ages. Try for free at BibleinLife.com.

HeartShaper

Instilling God’s Word in every child’s heart

With our easy-to-follow lessons, teachers can focus on kids’ unique needs while helping them hide God’s Word in their hearts.

Learn more

HeartShaper Children’s Curriculum

Help kids discover God through His Word with HeartShaper. With Special Needs Friendly activities, inclusive ministry is central as you disciple every child in God’s kingdom work.

HeartShaper provides teacher-friendly lessons to reach the heart of every child. From toddler years through grade six, HeartShaper takes kids on a journey through the Bible five times to discover God’s story and how they fit into it. Plus, HeartShaper makes it easy to include every child in each step of the lesson—no matter their ability.

With HeartShaper’s well-crafted program, training tools, and free extras, your team is equipped to teach Bible skills and help kids grow in their walk with God.

HeartShaper features the ICB^® for early childhood age levels and NIV^® for early elementary through preteen. KJV option included. Try for free at HeartShaper.com.

Gospel Light

Because the Gospel Changes Lives

With our easy-prep lessons, teachers can focus on building relationships with kids and pointing them to Jesus as they explore God’s Word.

Learn more

Gospel Light

Point kids to Jesus and build strong relationships with Gospel Light. Emphasize evangelism and discipleship as you teach children and preteens in their formative years.

Gospel Light points to Jesus in every Bible lesson and has a big impact on the faith formation of kids and volunteers alike! From Baby Beginnings through Grade 6, Gospel Light guides children to explore the Bible five times.

Through an engaging approach to Bible storytelling and relationships, you can build a ministry program that inspires volunteers to share the gospel and guides kids to a deep understanding of Jesus and what a relationship with Him offers.

Gospel Light features the popular NIV^® translation for all ages. Try for free at GospelLight.com.

Echoes​

Celebrating African American Heritage and Faith

With our 4-step lessons, teachers can focus on engaging kids, youth, and adults to discover God’s Word while celebrating African American heritage and faith.

Learn more

Echoes Children’s Curriculum

Share God’s resounding Word and celebrate African American heritage with Echoes. Relatable lessons and teacher-friendly options help you disciple children through adults. Plus, the Sunday School Superintendent’s Manual connects all ages thematically!

Echoes provides teacher-friendly options for churches of all sizes, helping today’s generations come to know God’s Word. Motivate students to study more and more with inspiring, relevant, and soul-searching materials. Plus, Echoes provides options for every age level to develop Bible knowledge and foster lifelong spiritual growth—all while making meaningful connections to the African American experience.

With flexible materials, you can build a ministry program that works for your volunteers, your budget, and your church.

Echoes features the popular NIV^® translation for all ages and has a KJV option for adult lessons. Try for free at EchoesCurriculum.com.

13 Free Printable Coloring Sheets

Coloring Pages for Kids: Who God Says They Are

Download these coloring sheets from our friends at Wonder Ink to fill children with the good news of who Jesus says they are. They are known by God, loved by Jesus, and led by the Holy Spirit. And when they follow Him, they are His kids!

God’s Way Is Best Bible Coloring Pages

God is good and holy and righteous. His ways are higher and better than anything we could imagine. He is before all and above all. And that means that sometimes He takes things that we think and flips them upside down! Reenforce God’s ways being better with these fun coloring pages from Wonder Ink.

The Action Bible Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered with a download featuring 5 coloring pages from The Action Bible Coloring Book.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

The Action Bible Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered with a download featuring 5 coloring pages from The Action Bible Coloring Book.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

The Action Bible Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered with a download featuring 5 coloring pages from The Action Bible Coloring Book.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

More Free Printable Coloring Sheets

26 Free Preschool Coloring Pages for Your Children’s Ministry from Wonder Ink

Check out these fun coloring pages featured by Wonder Ink children’s ministry curriculum. Whether you need something for Sunday school, children’s church, or midweek—these coloring pages teach preschool children who Jesus is and who they are in Him! Choose from free printable coloring sheets for Christmas, Easter, and anytime of the year.

52 FREE Bible Story Coloring Sheets for Kids from Ministry Spark

When you need Bible coloring pages, you don’t want to go hunting through a stack of old books. We’ve got you covered with 52 Bible coloring pages—plus a kid-friendly retelling of each story—to take you through the whole year.

We hope you enjoy these free printable coloring sheets! You can download them one-by-one below or as a set in a single PDF file by clicking here.

Security and safety may not be fun, but having set policies and procedures is fundamental to a growing kids’ ministry. Why? As we know, kids’ ministry is usually the first place a family experiences your church and a child connects with God and His people.

And on top of that, I cannot overstate the importance of having a plan for kids’ ministry security practices. By prioritizing safety, we protect our kids and safeguard the integrity and reputation of our ministry.

You see, classroom safety and security is not just about preventing harm; it’s about creating an environment where children feel safe, supported, and free to learn and grow.

“Let everything be done in a fitting and proper manner that is organized and well-planned.”

1 Corinthians 14:40

Security Practices: Ways to Protect Children

Volunteer Ratios

Establish clear guidelines for how many adult volunteers should be in each classroom. The minimum should be two. From there, look at your state ratios and then go under them so you have more adult volunteers than technically required.

Why do I personally go under state ratios?

• We believe in small groups. Teaching God’s Word is important, and we believe it is done best in small groups.
• We are not all professionals, and we do not require our volunteers to be professionals or early educators. We cannot do what early educators do, so we cannot use the same ratios they do.
• Teens are not adults. We love having teenagers serving on our teams, but we must remember that teens are not adults and do not count toward the adult total in the ratio.

Bathroom Policies

Develop strict bathroom policies, such as requiring two unrelated adults to accompany young children to the restroom.

You may need a diaper-changing policy. Some churches do not change diapers, and some do. Before you decide whether or not you need a policy in place, discuss it with your staff, insurance company, and some faithful parents.

Close the Doors

I get it. Having to close a room feels like the worst thing. Some senior leadership may say this is not even allowed. However, if your ratios are out of whack and the number of children in the space violates the fire code, then make it stop.

Close the room.

It would be best if you made it clear to your senior leadership that you will close rooms, so you don’t endanger the children you serve.

One Way

Of course, you want to have many exits, but as a security practice for entry and parent pick-up, you should only have one. Make all parents funnel through one entrance.

I was known for having “bouncers” at our primary drop-off and pick-up point. We limited parent pick up to one person. The only way you got through the bouncers was if you had the pick-up ticket. If you did not, you had to return to the front desk for a reprint.

Parents said this system made them feel very safe, and teachers noted that they did not feel overwhelmed by multiple family members coming to pick up.

Never Alone

No adult should ever be alone with a child. This includes an adult being alone with a teen team member. Some churches call this the “Rule of 3.”

• 2 adults and 1 child
• 1 adult and 2 children

Here’s an example on how to follow the Rule of 3: if one adult and one teen reported to a room to volunteer, I would ask the adult to stand in the doorway, visible from the hall, until more children or adults arrived.

Emergency Procedures

Regularly communicate about emergency procedures, including fire, lockdown, and evacuation drills, so volunteers know how to respond calmly and quickly in a crisis.

Have a paper roster and a sign-in sheet printed for each class. This paper seems so old school, but in an emergency when the computers do not work, or you need a prompt response, the lead teacher will always know who is in their class.

Surveillance Cameras

A key security practice is to install cameras to strategically monitor activity and deter potential threats.

Make sure you have a list of those approved to review the footage and that it is never reviewed alone. Two people always. Keep a log where you can note the date and time you are viewing, who is viewing, why you are viewing, and what the outcome was.

Write It Down

Ensure you have a blank incident report in every room and that every room leader knows how and when to use them.

We always immediately get the parent for:

• Anything neck up
• Anything bleeding or open skin
• Anything swollen
• Anything broken or bruised
• If the child asks for their parent

My rule for when to fill out an incident form—

• If the child is hurt. Ouch is enough!

Ways to Protect Your Ministry

‘Make Them Wait’ Security Practice

The best practice is to have a standard waiting period to serve. Some churches have one month, and some have six months. Whatever the waiting period is, enforce it consistently.

If someone wants to join your team for the wrong reasons, they will likely not remain if you make it difficult.

Call References

Call at least two non-related references.

Background Checks

Conduct thorough background checks on all volunteers and staff to ensure they are suited to working with children.

Documentation

Keep detailed records of incidents, training sessions, and security measures to legally protect you and the ministry.

Insurance

Ensure that your ministry has comprehensive liability insurance to protect against potential claims. Be diligent to follow their requirements and any of their suggested best practices.

Practical Implementation Ideas

Implementing these security measures can seem daunting but breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process smoother.

Security Practices: Start with an Assessment

Conduct a security assessment to identify potential vulnerabilities and prioritize actions. Do not rely on your eyes alone. Ask volunteers, security team members, and even local police to walk through and give you a list of weak areas.

Develop a Plan

Create a detailed security plan outlining procedures, responsibilities, and needed resources. Each item on your plan should include a point of contact, the deadline to implement a new procedure, and a date to review.

Communicate and Train

Clearly communicate the plan to all staff and volunteers, put it in writing (in a handbook), and provide regular training sessions.

Evaluate and Adjust

Regularly review and update the security plan based on feedback and changing best practices.

Encouragement for Leaders

Safety is felt upon arrival, seen in the building, heard in the hallways, and read throughout policies. It is a hard thing to do, but it’s the thing you must do first. Safety comes before growth, safety comes before the curriculum, and safety comes before everything else! And when your space is safe, it makes growth, teaching, and volunteer recruitment easier.

Safety builds trust. Trust is the foundation of a good children’s ministry program. Build trust through safe practices, and your ministry will stand secure on that foundation for years.

There’s nothing quite like a gospel-focused community and building together in the body of Christ. And that’s exactly what these ministry events will center you on as you go and tell the good news of Jesus to children.

Children’s Ministry In-Person Events

INCM Children’s Pastors’ Conference

On their website, INCM describes Children’s Pastors’ Conference as “a world-class event that is uniquely designed for your thriving as a children’s ministry leader!”

With high-quality training, meaningful community, resources, and training, children’s leaders attend this conference at the beginning of each year. This event is in Orlando, Florida, near Disney World!

Learn more at childrenspastorsconference.com.

The KidzMatter Conference

On the event page, KidzMatter describes their event as “the leading event for children’s ministry leaders and their teams.”

Held each fall, the KidzMatter Conference invites you home. Attend breakouts and keynotes, meet ministry partners, and connect with other leaders. This event is in the Midwest once a year.

Learn more at thekidzmatterconference.com.

D6 Conference

With two locations, one in the northwest and one in the southeast, the D6 conference is for family ministry leaders and their teams.

D6 is all about the family. They “equip churches, leaders, families, and family ministries to live out the principles of Deuteronomy 6, where faith is integrated into everyday life.”

Learn more at d6family.com/d6conference.

Denominational Children’s Ministry Events

If your church is part of a denomination, we’d encourage you to check out their websites for information on any events they host. Go and connect with other leaders within your denomination!

Ministry Spark Webinars: Online Events

With Ministry Spark webinars, you’ll gain encouragement and empowerment through community with children’s ministry leaders like you. Ministry Spark hosts free webinars multiple times each year to help you in ministry to volunteers, families, and kids. These free events are recorded and can be watched anytime too!

See what’s coming and watch the recordings at MinistrySpark.com/webinars.

How to Guard Yourself from Ministry Burnout

There are moments in every leader’s journey that defines whether they move forward or give up. Things happen, life gets hard, and opportunities come and go. Download this guide to be encouraged in your leadership walk with the Lord!

Download your ministry burnout guide

Free Guide

How to Guard Yourself from Ministry Burnout

There are moments in every leader’s journey that defines whether they move forward or give up. Things happen, life gets hard, and opportunities come and go. Download this guide to be encouraged in your leadership walk with the Lord!

Download your ministry burnout guide

Free Guide

How to Guard Yourself from Ministry Burnout

There are moments in every leader’s journey that defines whether they move forward or give up. Things happen, life gets hard, and opportunities come and go. Download this guide to be encouraged in your leadership walk with the Lord!

Download your ministry burnout guide

Free Guide

What does it even practically look like in ministry, and how can ministry leaders approach marketing in a healthy way?

Marketing Is Ministry

First, it’s important to recognize that your church or ministry does some sort of marketing already, whether you realize it or not. The term marketing may carry a negative connotation as visions of commercials and advertisements cloud your head, but marketing itself is a natural (and vital) aspect of any church that desires growth and life transformation.

Do you have a church sign on your property, post about events on social media, or send out mailers to the community? Do you have t-shirts with your church name or logo on them or an email list that allows you to communicate with your congregants via email newsletters?

All of these are forms of marketing.

Driving Growth

According to Forbes, marketing is “the practice of creating and capturing customer demand to drive enterprise growth.” There are a lot of business-y words in there that may feel strange to use in a ministry setting. But broken down, this definition means that marketing is all about effectively communicating with your community to draw them into a relationship with you by offering a solution to a significant problem or need.

In the church, this is the need for a Savior and a community in which to grow in relationship with God and other believers. So, the role of marketing in the church is to effectively communicate the gospel in such a way that people are naturally drawn into your church community because they want to connect with God and others.

In a church setting, marketing is being “witnesses … to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) and sharing the good news of Jesus with those inside and outside the church building.

A church that thinks intentionally about its marketing will be more effective at drawing people into the kingdom of God. Marketing your church or ministry can lead to overall growth, greater community engagement, and increased impact.

How to Get Heard and Supported by Your Church Leadership

So, you want to be heard. You have a ministry vision you want to implement. You are considered a leader in your church…but you don’t always feel that way when you’re around other senior leaders. (Heavy sigh.) Hear this clearly: You can get heard. (And ministry leader, Keith Ferrin, is going to help you.)

Download your free guide

Free Guide

How to Get Heard and Supported by Your Church Leadership​

So, you want to be heard. You have a ministry vision you want to implement. You are considered a leader in your church…but you don’t always feel that way when you’re around other senior leaders. (Heavy sigh.) Hear this clearly: You can get heard. (And ministry leader, Keith Ferrin, is going to help you.)

Download your free guide

Free Guide

How to Get Heard and Supported by Your Church Leadership​

So, you want to be heard. You have a ministry vision you want to implement. You are considered a leader in your church…but you don’t always feel that way when you’re around other senior leaders. (Heavy sigh.) Hear this clearly: You can get heard. (And ministry leader, Keith Ferrin, is going to help you.)

Download your free guide

Free Guide

Where Do I start?

Recognize what marketing tools and strategies you already have in place. Remember that email list? What about the church sign out front? What other ways are you already communicating with your congregation and with your community?

After you make your list, categorize who those marketing efforts are reaching. Consider dividing each marketing effort into one of two categories: congregation and community.

The marketing efforts that reach your church members and people who are already familiar with your church (and who have visited at least once or twice) fall into the congregation category. Those in your community who may know about your church but have never stepped inside—the people who drive by your church on their way to work or people who don’t even know you exist at all—fall into the community category.

Next, choose a marketing approach that will best meet the needs of the target audience you are trying to reach. Sharing something with your congregation will require a different approach than sharing something with your community. Both have their place and value.

Some marketing efforts may reach both categories, but taking note of how many of your efforts go toward each one can help you evaluate efforts moving forward.

Consider all the avenues available for reaching those audiences.

Some Examples of Marketing Your Ministry

Some forms of church marketing may include (but are not limited to):

Sponsorships or Collaborations with Local Businesses

Whether you ask a local business to sponsor or donate something to one of your events or your church sponsors a community event, find ways to get out into the community.

My previous church has hosted a booth and the family zone/kids’ area at our town’s local Fall Fest every year which draws in close to 50,000 people in 2 days.

Social Media Engagement

Use social media platforms to share about your church, not only posting about events and invitations, but also by offering encouraging and educational content too. You may also consider utilizing Facebook ads.

My church used paid Facebook ads to promote a drive-through nativity event one Christmas season. We had over 1,500 people from all over our community check “Going” on the Facebook event. On the night of the event, over 750 cars, each full of families, drove through our campus.

Educational Events

Hosting educational events like seminars and workshops about relevant topics can help you connect with new families and introduce them to your church.

When my church hosted a seminar on suicide prevention and care, the event yielded excellent results and new connections within the community.

Online Presence

Your website is a major marketing tool for your church. For many visitors, it will be the first impression they have, even before walking through your doors. Include a “plan your visit” or “first-time guests” page on your website that details all the common questions a new visitor may have and that invites them to connect with someone in person.

Also take a look at the reviews on Google and other online ratings for your church. How can you encourage church members to leave reviews about your church that encourage and invite potential guests to attend?

Personal Connections

Utilize email newsletters, personalized letters, or phone calls to connect with members individually. Look into sending postcards to your community inviting them to Christmas Eve or Easter at your church.

A Word of Caution in Marketing Your Ministry

Marketing may get a bad rap in the ministry world because it tends to draw us into a consumerism culture that always wants more and will do whatever it takes to get it. There’s a reason for that.

When given too much power or emphasis, marketing can have a negative influence on your leadership and ministry.

Stay hyper-focused on the message. Everything you share and post should align closely with your vision and goals of the church. Run marketing ideas and promotions through several people from a variety of ages and stages to ensure communication reaches everyone.

Be authentic in your messaging. Avoid exaggeration or misrepresentation of your ministry’s offerings or experiences.

Be careful of overemphasizing numerical growth. While growth is a positive indicator, it’s essential to avoid an unhealthy focus on numerical success. Quality of spiritual experiences and depth of connections should be valued and included in marketing strategy just as much as (if not more than) the number of people reached.

Guard against elevating a person or even the church itself over the gospel. Avoid using marketing to elevate individual leaders or the ministry itself above the message or mission of the gospel.

Final Encouragement

Marketing your ministry requires a delicate balance between visibility and humility, growth and authenticity.

By staying humble, regularly evaluating marketing strategies, and celebrating the impact of marketing efforts, leaders can effectively communicate in ways that draw people into their community and, ultimately, the kingdom of God.

When done with sincerity and integrity, marketing becomes a powerful tool for reaching and serving those in need.

More Articles from Brittany!

• Why Should I Embrace Digital Learning in My Ministry?
• Setting Up a Solid Administrative System to Support Your Ministry
• Is Digital Curriculum the Way Forward?
• Why Life Application Matters in Your Children’s Ministry Curriculum
• What Does It Mean to Be a Servant Leader?

What is the main thing? The gospel of Jesus Christ, plain and simple!

There is so much that goes into children’s ministry. This article is meant to help you continue to strengthen yourself and your ministry. The list in this article includes many things to help make a great children’s ministry leader, along with helpful articles, resources, and webinars to equip you as you dive in.

This list is not exhaustive, but it is highly important to do these 7 things!

7 Things that Make a Great Children’s Ministry Leader

1. Love God in Word and Action

Sometimes we get so caught up in the ‘do’ of our work that we let our relationship with God slip. It’s imperative that we keep Him central in our lives. We don’t want to labor in vain!

• READ: Ministry Leader, God Was Made for This—Trust Him
• WATCH: Encouragement for Children’s Ministry Leaders: You Were Made for This
• WATCH: The Importance of Caring for Your Soul in the Midst of Everything Else

2. Love Your Family and Prioritize Them

This one, just like the last, is easy to lose sight of in the middle of all we have to do in ministry! But prioritizing and loving our own families is key to serving in ministry and setting the example of what it means to follow Jesus.

Be sure in the middle of the busy to keep them a priority!

• READ: Keeping Marriage Fresh in Ministry
• READ: Marriage in the Midst of Ministry
• READ: 5 Things Your Pastor Would Want You to Know about His Kids
• WATCH: Becoming a Spiritually Healthy Family

3. Lead with Vision

What makes a great children’s ministry leader? Setting a vision and leading with it daily. Make sure it’s in your conversations, your trainings, your lessons, and all that goes into your ministry. See the big picture and express it constantly!

• READ: How to Set a Vision for Your Children’s Ministry
• READ: What Scripture Says About Children’s Ministry
• DOWNLOAD: Building for Ministry Now

4. Partner with Parents in Discipleship

Walk alongside parents and equip them to be disciple makers. As we understand that primary spiritual formation happens in the home, it’s key to equip parents for ministry at home! While this sounds like a lot, we don’t have to overcomplicate it!

• READ: Faith Formation: Helping Parents Walk with Kids
• WATCH: Our Role in the Faith Formation of Kids: Parents and Families
• DOWNLOAD: 7 Ways to Encourage Today’s Parents as Spiritual Influencers at Home

5. Grow Yourself and Other Leaders

Don’t feel like you have to lead all on your own. What makes a great children’s ministry leader is when you grow other leaders and allow them to shine with the gifts that God has given them! You can’t lead alone. Relationships are key in ministry!

• READ: Leading Together Within Your Greater Community
• READ: Always Choose Relationships Over Programs
• WATCH: Finding a Community of Ministry Support

6. Delegate Responsibilities

Share ministry with your team and your volunteers. Stay out front by entrusting the work to your team! You do what only you can and allow them to do what only they can!

• READ: Our Leadership Skills Grow as We Learn to Shepherd
• READ: 11 Children’s Ministry Job Descriptions for Your Ministry
• DOWNLOAD: A Comprehensive Guide to Leading Your Volunteers through Ministry Now

7. Great Children’s Ministry Leaders Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

What is the main thing? The gospel of Jesus Christ, plain and simple! Engaging children is critical, yes—the fun, the lessons, the atmosphere! But without the main thing, it’s simply fluff.

Make sure to keep it central in all you do. Jesus is for you. And He is for the kids, families, and volunteers in your ministry. They need to know that!

• READ: God Is Personal: Why Story Matters in Children’s Ministry
• READ: Jesus in Our Midst: The Importance of Sharing a Personal God with Kids
• READ: Simple Language for Explaining the Gospel: Very Good News
• READ: Simple Language for Explaining the Gospel: Redefining Need
• READ: Bringing the Bible to Life in Your Children’s Ministry
• WATCH: The Importance of Sharing a Personal God in Children’s Ministry

Making an Impact in Your Children’s Ministry

Why Your Curriculum Matters and How to Choose the Right One
This guide was created to help you dive into some of the topics facing your ministries today and lead into why your curriculum matters and how to choose the right one depending on your needs.

Download Your Guide

Free Guide

How to Guard Yourself from Ministry Burnout

There are moments in every leader’s journey that defines whether they move forward or give up. Things happen, life gets hard, and opportunities come and go. Download this guide to be encouraged in your leadership walk with the Lord!

Download your ministry burnout guide

Free Guide

How to Guard Yourself from Ministry Burnout

There are moments in every leader’s journey that defines whether they move forward or give up. Things happen, life gets hard, and opportunities come and go. Download this guide to be encouraged in your leadership walk with the Lord!

Download your ministry burnout guide

Free Guide

E-VAL-U-ATE: To judge or determine the significance, worth, or quality of.

Evaluating your children’s ministry is one of those things that can be tedious, time consuming, and certainly not very glamorous, but so necessary to the success of your ministry.

And the reality is that the evaluation of your ministry is happening constantly, whether you have an active and intentional evaluation system in place or not.

Who evaluates children’s ministries?

Children

Did you realize that the kids in your ministry evaluate what’s happening every week? And many times, they choose, whether subconsciously or not, to engage or check out based on what’s taking place.

Children notice how they are treated, what they are learning, if they are having fun, and how excited they feel to be part of the group. All of these things are important to their engagement.

Parents

Parents are also evaluating your children’s ministry, whether they share that with you or not. The majority of parents are concerned with how their children are treated, what their children are learning, and how they themselves are connected with when they engage with the ministry. And today, safety is highly important. Many parents may be thinking through scenarios that you may not be.

Many parents pay close attention to their children’s emotions when talking about the children’s ministry and many care deeply about the spiritual formation taking place, even if they don’t share that with us.

So, make sure you are communicating with parents regularly. From the physical to the spiritual, these parents care deeply about the well-being of their children.

Visiting Families

Whether we like it or not, visitors begin evaluating our ministries as soon as they hit the parking lot. So, it’s really important that—from the welcome team to the classroom leader—everyone is on the same page in welcoming new families.

And, on top of that, it’s important that our facilities are clean and our check-in process is smooth.

Volunteers and Staff

Even if they are quiet about it, our volunteers and staff members are evaluating our leadership and our ministries. They evaluate everything from vision, to communication, to serving standards, to personal experiences, and more.

It’s important we’re creating a culture that is one of teamwork. And it’s important that we have standards to measure up against. Does your ministry have a handbook?

Evaluate Your Children’s Ministry

So, as we’ve seen, evaluation is happening all the time. And we didn’t mention your leadership! This is one reason why being active and intentional about evaluating your children’s ministry is critical. The other reason is that we cannot improve if we don’t understand our current condition.

When do we evaluate? 

Always! It’s important to pay attention as you walk around while ministry is taking place. As you speak with parents, leaders, and children, pay attention to the things they are saying (and maybe not saying or saying with body language). And it’s important to have time with your team to evaluate at regular intervals, whether after services and big events, or whether monthly, quarterly, or annually.

What do we evaluate? 

Everything!

Here are some areas that you might want to start with:

• Leadership
• Vision
• Mission and Goals
• Staff Recruiting and Assimilation
• Staff Training and Nurturing
• Weekly Programming
• Family and Parent Partnerships
• Administrations
• Curriculum and Resources
• Outreach and Special Events
• Facilities and Safety
• Spiritual Formation

How do we evaluate our children’s ministries? 

It’s important to evaluate your ministry in multiple ways. Here are some ideas for you as you move forward:

• Personal Observation
• Surveys
• Response Cards
• Informal Conversations
• Formal Interviews and Meetings
• Focus Groups
• Feedback from Leaders and Volunteers
• Incognito Inspectors (Someone Unknown to Your Ministry) with Debriefs

There are so many ways to check in on the health of your ministry. Get creative with how you collect feedback.

The most important thing about evaluation is that you make it a priority!

Hosting lots of visitors comes with high ministry expectations—not to mention lots of pressure! But it’s also really exciting.

So how can you prepare your heart for Easter? Are there things you can do to get your ministry ready and alleviate some of the pressure? Yes!

5 Things Your Ministry Can Do to Prepare for Easter

1. Advance Planning for Easter

Hopefully, you’re already well into your Easter planning. If not, get on it!

Not only is there a lot to do, but it is one of the most important weekends of the year. It’s the day we celebrate our risen Savior! And it’s a special day when many people come to church, so plan on doing what you do with excellence.

Get all your bases covered. Be ready to invest in your visitors, manage any crises, and present the gospel clearly.

2. Communicate and Delegate

Children’s ministry should never be a one-person show. There’s just no way to do it all and do it all well!

So don’t try and ‘do’ Easter on your own—no matter what size ministry you are leading. Create a plan with your team of staff and volunteers.

Next, communicate the plan and delegate responsibilities. Then communicate it again and again and again. We promise, you really can’t over-communicate.

Finally, if you’ve equipped people to lead, trust them to lead. And if not, this is a great opportunity to begin equipping.

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

3. Put Forward Your Best as You Prepare

The old saying “You only get one chance to make a good first impression” is true.

Easter is often the first, and many times only, opportunity you will have to make a positive impression. Be sure to maximize it! In this, make sure you are being real, genuine, and true to the heart of your ministry.

But don’t go so over the top that when visitors return, it looks and feels like a completely different church.

4. Keep Jesus Central

Amidst all of our creativity, we can sometimes lose the message of Easter. Make sure that the gospel of Jesus is clear and concise, and that kids have opportunity to respond.

We know this, but it never hurts to remind ourselves: the Gospel is for kids. And this may be the first time they’ve heard it.

5. Worship: Prepare Your Heart for Easter

Easter is for you too. It’s for all of us!

One of the reasons to do things right the rest of the week is so you can take the opportunity to worship on Sunday. Easter, of all weekends, should afford you the opportunity. Take full advantage of the opportunity and celebrate the meaning of Easter.

And as you worship, be sure to facilitate time for your leaders and volunteers to worship as well.

More Articles for Easter

• Webinar: Beholding Our Creator as We Prepare for Easter
• 16 Easter Crafts and Games for Your Children’s Ministry
• Exploring the Wonder of God Through Creative Activities at Eastertime
• 13 Easter-Friendly Articles for Ministry Now
• 12 Free Easter Resources to Celebrate Jesus
• 40 Stories about Jesus That Will Be Your New Easter Tradition
• 49 Brilliant Easter Games, Crafts, and Activities for Sunday School
• Dream with Me and Create an Easter Event Celebrating New Life
• Starting Easter at the Exodus: Freedom Is Always God’s Way

Christ walking out of the grave, defeating sin and death, is worthy of our celebration! A fantastic way to teach, learn, and celebrate together as a kids’ ministry, is through crafts and activities.

Kids learn through so many avenues, by listening, creating, and even sharing what they are learning.

Ideas for Children’s Ministry Easter Activities

Easter Eggs

Easter eggs are a staple in this Resurrection holiday, for their symbolism of new life.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

This Striped Paper Easter Eggs craft is a simple way to create eggs!

Not only does this craft only require paper and glue, but it’s also completely customizable. Start with pre-cut easter eggs and then have your kids rip, cut, and glue strips (or any other shape) to the egg. Easy!

Paper Plate Craft

This Paper Plate Easter Craft Scene glorifies the work Christ did on the cross. Begin by cutting paper plates in half, decorating the half with tissue paper or markers. Staple or glue a paper cross behind the paper plate to make it look like the cross on the hill.

Trace children’s hands on yellow paper, cut them out, and attach them behind the cross to emulate a sunrise behind the cross!

Risen Banner

While this free printable requires some scissor work and twine, the He Is Risen DIY Banner is fun to embellish and bring home to hang up! This banner could easily become a household staple in Easter decorating for many of your children’s ministry families.

Mini Easter Gardens

Using mini flower pots, dirt, and some grass seeds, this Mini Easter Garden grows grass around a cross. Children get to watch the grass grow around the cross, reminding them of how true life is found in Christ.

Sending home care instructions with the small plant is ideal. This children’s ministry Easter activity is sure to be a hit.

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

Crosses on Egg Cartons

If scooping dirt in your classroom isn’t your jam—fret not! There are other ways to do this craft: for instance, this Crosses on Calvary craft uses the same concept but with egg cartons and plastic easter grass. No care instructions necessary.

Christ Is Risen Craft

He is not here, Christ has Risen from The Grave craft! This activity is fun to make and fun to play with. Begin by cutting a slot for a popsicle stick, with Jesus clip art attached, into the bottom of a paper cup. Draw an empty tomb on the front of the cup.

Push the popsicle stick up, with decorated clip art, to make it appear He is rising from the grave. He is risen indeed!

Coloring Pages

What beats a classic coloring sheet? These Easter Storybook Coloring Pages are ready to print and color. Now the question is, crayons or colored pencils?

Paper Plate Cross

By utilizing paper plates and some brads, this Paper Plate Cross Reveal opens an Easter egg to reveal a cross—the reason why we celebrate Easter! Glue a cross on top of a sunburst (a great opportunity to trace and cut out the children’s hands) to the first plate.

Decorate the second plate on top with an egg design. Cut the egg plate down the middle and fasten each half to the cross plate. Your kids can decorate and personalize each facet of this project to celebrate what Christ did on the cross as a fun children’s ministry Easter activity!

Tulip Craft

Tulips are considered a symbol of resurrection, hence their popularity at easter. This Fork-Stamped Tulip Craft uses paint and plastic forks to create an abundance of the flowers.

As a fun idea, print a verse like 1 Peter 1:3 on card stock before painting the tulips: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Bible Verse Craft

Another fun spin on the easter egg is this Bible Verse Easter Egg Craft. After cutting out an egg shape and decorating it with chosen materials, cut the egg in half in a zig-zag pattern. Attach a printed-out Bible verse to the backside of both egg halves. Voila!

An Easter egg with the meaning of Easter inside! (free printables are found through the link!)

Story Wheel

Interactive and ready to color, this Easter Spinning Story Wheel with free printable, succinctly communicates the Easter story. Two pieces of printed-and-cut-out-cardstock fastened with a brad, show the crosses, the tomb, and risen Jesus!

Coffee Filter Crafts

After Jesus met Mary outside of the tomb, she went to tell others about the resurrection! Encourage your kids to share the good news of the resurrection with this Coffee Filter Easter Sunrise Card craft. After decorating the front, a Bible verse and message of the good news of Easter—“He is Risen!”—fill the inside.

And here’s another children’s ministry Easter activity using coffee filters! These Coffee Filter Butterflies only need the coffee filters, washable markers, some water (in a spray bottle for faster drying), and pipe cleaners! Butterflies leave their cocoons in a beautiful transformation, reminiscent of how Christ left the tomb, transforming humanity forever!

Easter Crosses Craft

What happens when you put painters’ tape, your paint of choice, and cardstock (or small canvases!) together? This Easter Cross Resist Art!

Arranging the tape in the shape of a cross lets little artists be creative with their colors, while keeping the focus on the cross. Be sure to paint over or alongside the tape for a bold reveal.

More Ideas

Need more ideas? Check out this additional article for more Easter activity ideas!

No matter which projects your kids’ ministry works on this Easter, if the truth and joy of the resurrection of Jesus is shared, everything else is truly a bonus! Your work in teaching the gospel to young hearts is tender, holy work.

I pray that you feel divine encouragement and a peace that surpasses understanding while you serve your ministry this Easter season. Thank you for loving Jesus and His children in this way!

We are each made in God’s image and this is a beautiful time to celebrate just that! This month is important, even if your church doesn’t regularly celebrate. Why?

1. God Calls Us to Unity
2. God Calls Us to Love
3. God Calls Us to Redemption

Here are some ideas for celebrating Black History—this month and beyond.

How to Make Black History Month Part of Your Children’s Ministry

Celebrate Black History Month in your kids’ ministry as a way to tell the story of God’s redemptive power!

Read More

Incorporate These 30 Free Coloring Pages to Celebrate Black Faith Leaders

These stories and coloring pages will help you celebrate some amazing heroes of faith!

Get the Coloring Pages

Learn More About Black History and Faith: Why and How It Matters to Kids

Black children need to understand that they are part of God’s Story—made in His image. Discover why history and community matter in faith.

Read More

How to Celebrate People of Color in Your Sunday Lessons

Recognize the importance of choosing a curriculum that celebrates biblical and cultural heritage.

Read More

30 Free Coloring Pages to Celebrate Black Faith Leaders

Download these awesome coloring pages and biographies to celebrate these black heroes of faith. Read their individual stories as kids color—great for at home, in classrooms, and within activity packets for families!

Download your coloring pages

30 Free Coloring Pages to Celebrate Black Faith Leaders

Download these awesome coloring pages and biographies to celebrate these black heroes of faith. Read their individual stories as kids color—great for at home, in classrooms, and within activity packets for families!

Download your coloring pages

30 Free Coloring Pages to Celebrate Black Faith Leaders

Download these awesome coloring pages and biographies to celebrate these black heroes of faith. Read their individual stories as kids color—great for at home, in classrooms, and within activity packets for families!

Download your coloring pages

More Articles for Learning and Healing

• How to Overcome Racial Issues in Children’s Ministry
• 10 Posts on Racial Injustice that You Need to Engage
• Racial Injustice and Reconciliation: An Interview
• From OutReach Magazine: 7 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month at Your Church
• From Christianity Today: Black History Month: 20 Stories Christians Should Know

You see, Sunday school curriculum isn’t only about keeping children engaged. It’s about igniting the fire of faith that will blaze brightly for a lifetime. And, certainly, it’s a tool to help us introduce children to Jesus.

Gospel Light gives leaders and children the opportunity to build deep connections with Jesus at the center. 

Gospel Light Children’s Curriculum: Learn the Basics

Relationships: 

First, Gospel Light is passionate about creating profound mentorship bonds between teachers, parents, and children. In a world of disconnection, personal relationships are key to understanding the message of Jesus.

Every Lesson Points to Jesus: 

This children’s curriculum ensures that every lesson leads children to a personal encounter with Jesus. Further, we don’t want them to only know about Him; we want them to know His love in their lives every week.

That’s why every lesson points to Jesus!

Simple as ABC Lesson Plans:

With simplified lesson planning, lift the burden of late-night curriculum crunching. The straightforward lesson plans for each age group allow teachers to create engaging, meaningful lessons. Above all, these lessons give you space to focus on what matters—connecting with the kids in your care.

With Gospel Light, if you can play, you can teach.

Gospel Light

Because the Gospel Changes Lives

With our easy-prep lessons, teachers can focus on building relationships with kids and pointing them to Jesus as they explore God’s Word.

Learn more

Teacher Training & Leader Empowerment:

Comprehensive teacher training resources are provided for all age groups. These resources help you and your team become confident, impactful mentors. This isn’t about following a script—it’s about being equipped to guide children effectively.

Evangelism Made Accessible:

The teacher guides include step-by-step articles on leading a child to Christ, empowering you to be part of their faith journey.

Inviting Parents In:

For elementary age groups, this children’s curriculum includes bonus resources that you can share with parents. We believe in a strong partnership between the church and families, fostering unity and shared purpose.

A Strong Biblical Foundation: 

The scope and sequence will take children through the Bible five times by 6th grade. This helps lay a rock-solid biblical foundation for a lifetime of faith.

Singing His Praises: 

Reproducible worship song CDs are offered for all age levels, bringing the power of music to your lessons. Music is a powerful tool for worship, adding another layer to children’s classroom experience.

If your mission is to raise children who not only know Jesus, but are driven to share His message, Gospel Light Children’s Curriculum may be for you. It seamlessly merges discipleship, evangelism, and an unwavering focus on Jesus. It enables children to not only meet their Savior, but to know His presence in their lives.

Supporting Features: Gospel Light Children’s Curriculum

In addition to the core benefits, Gospel Light offers a symphony of supporting features. These include age-appropriate activities and captivating visuals. It’s flexible enough to accommodate various church sizes and settings, providing a great backdrop for your unique ministry.

Building a Firm Foundation

In a world where our children are bombarded by noise, we need to offer them a firm spiritual foundation. With Gospel Light Children’s Curriculum, you’re not just selecting lesson plans, you’re sowing the seeds of a spiritually powerful future for the next generation. 

Make that heartfelt decision to choose Gospel Light, and then witness the transformative power of Christ in the hearts and minds of the children in your care. Inspire them to share His love with the world.