If you're like me, you spend a large amount of time sourcing and creating graphics and illustrations for your kidmin programs, newsletters, announcement slides and more.
Children's Ministry Deals have come to your aid with a professional set of free graphics ready to download and use in any of your presentation programs and formats.

You'll find Game Time, Lesson Time and Memory Verse graphics, Christmas, Easter, Birthday, Locked-In, Discussion Questions, Bible Trivia images and so much more. In fact, 35 images are available for your immediate download and  use!

While you're there, you may also like to check out some of the other resources from Children's Ministry Deals- printables, curriculum, games, resources, videos. While some of the materials are available for purchase, there are also a lot of freebies. And... they're downloadable which is wonderful when postage & handling costs often preclude the purchase and use of quality kidmin curriculum and resources.

You'll find the link for the free graphicshere...

Pinterest provides beautiful and  inspirational ideas for volunteer 'thank you' gifts. Recently, I noticed an idea to use permanent markers to write inspirational messages on a mug. It was a great concept, especially as it is relatively inexpensive and the kids could be involved in personalising and perhaps even signing the mug. I decided to use the quote, 'Teachers touch eternity, one heart at a time.' The markers were easy to use and I added a couple to extra hearts with the text- easy!

However, I found that the lettering washed off in the dishwasher. 

So, I researched a little more and found a helpful article that listed a number of helpful hints to add some permanency to the design: 
1. Use an inexpensive mug. Apparently, the better quality mugs also have a better glaze that prevents the lettering adhering well.
2. Ensure you have cleaned the outside of the mug thoroughly. It was suggested that rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth be used to clean the mug.
3. Bake the finished mug for longer and at a higher temperature than most instructions suggest.

I followed these instructions carefully... and the design still washed off. So... my suggestions?
It's certainly a great idea for a gift and if you still would like to create them, keep a couple of things in mind. First, you can buy ceramic pens that are a little expensive but easy to use and will not wash off. Check with your local art and craft store (as I did) for these pens. There are also ceramic paints that could be used, too, which will look attractive but perhaps will not be as easy to use for quotes and text. My second suggestion is to create your designed mug with permanent markers but pot a little plant in the mug rather than use it as a regular coffee cup. I planted some little 'heartsease' in the mug which combined nicely with my quote.

Father's Day, in Australia, isn't celebrated until September. But for those overseas, you may like to consider some of these great Father's Day clips. It's a lot of fun working through the many available but difficult to choose one to use for your special Father's Day event. (At least I have a bit more time to decide which we will use later this year.)

This selection is from worshiphousemedia but sermonspice has a great selection, too, that you might like to consider. I've included a link for each so you can easily find the clip. Just click on the image. 

The first in the selection, 'Fathers, You are Vital', could be used at any time to highlight the crucial role of men in our families. It is really an animated infographic style of clip. Everyday Heroes is short and would probably be best used to introduce a segment within your program or as a link.

The Real Story of Father's Day is, just as it says, a well crafted story of the first father's day and how it came about. Of course, Courageous follows on from the Courageous movie and materials and incorporates images and scenes from the movie along with inspirational quotes from the movie. Yes.. some of these clips will make you laugh or pull on the heart strings but they all have a wonderful message- taken from different perspectives, they provide churches and families with the opportunity to acknowledge and thank Dads for their impact on the lives of those they love.

What movie clips have you found and used for Father's Day? Please share them with us....

'If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God.' D.L.Moody
Although most adults believe that children are important and that it's crucial to teach and nurture children, only a small percentage of adults are actively engaged in kids' lives. Highlight the importance of children and family ministry with this short slideshow. I've included quotes and information, not just about children, but also about the privilege of teaching and ministering to children and their families.

Use the slideshow as an introduction to your volunteer orientation or to commence a leader training session, reminding and encouraging them in their roles. You may also find it helpful to use with your whole church family as an overview of your children and family ministry.


You can view the slideshow below as an MP4, for those using iPad or smartphone, or use the link to slideshare.net to view the slideshow online. You can download the slideshow here or from slideshare.net
                                               http://www.slideshare.net/AnneJohnson6/ministry-memo

Over one million books are published each year. Latest statistics report YouTube users are currently uploading 100 hours of video every minute. The average email user will send and receive over 115 emails each day.

We often feel overwhelmed by the amount of information that is so readily available. 
How then can we effectively highlight quality books and resources for our ministry team and parents and families within our church and encourage them to take note and read.

You might like to check out Shelfari from Amazon.
Anyone can create a free account and set up bookshelves that can be easily shared with others via email, your church or kidmin website or through social media. You can also join other reading groups and see what others are reading.

Try setting up book shelves for different subject content or groups- perhaps kidmin books, leadership books, books for families, devotion material and more.
As you add books to your shelves, you can provide a rating plus a description and review of the book. Others can easily obtain the book from Amazon by clicking on the resource for more information and to purchase. It would also work well for any reading group, small group or even a tutoring group. 
Check it outhere...

Research today tells us that, "Even from birth, children who have an involved father are more likely to be emotionally secure, be confident to explore their surroundings, and, as they grow older, have better social connections."-(Psychology Today
 And, having been urged for years to take a more hands-on role within families, many fathers have done just that with more than ever men becoming stay-at-home dads.

Here are some great quotes to encourage and highlight the high calling of fathers in families today:

A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty.  ~Author Unknown


Any man can be a father.  It takes someone special to be a dad.  ~Author Unknown

The greatest gift I ever had
Came from God; I call him Dad!
~Author Unknown

My daddy, he was somewhere between God and John Wayne.  ~Hank Williams, Jr.

Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.  ~Bill Cosby

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.  ~Clarence Budington Kelland


Use the powerpoint slide below, (choose the file version you need) add your own information and use to promote your upcoming Father's Day events.

A ministry newsletter or bulletin for your volunteers is a great way to maintain good communication, to encourage and inspire your team. Excitement and enthusiasm is catching and this is a great way to share the excitement of what's happening in your kids' ministry, while making sure that everyone is on the same page. Now, you can prepare and produce a monthly newsletter in less than no time at all.

Purchase a subscription for Group's 'Be Awesome' newsletter and most of your work is done. Each month you'll be sent a link to download the 4-page newsletter as a Word file. Add your relevant information, upcoming events and an inspirational devotion or article and it's done.

Then print off copies for your team or email the newsletter directly to them.
If you need some ideas for inspirational content or training to include in your newsletters, take a look at 'Training on the Go,' or '2-Minute Encouragers for Teachers'.

Father's Day is celebrated on different dates throughout the world- and not until September, in Australia. But, for those of you who are preparing now for this upcoming event on your kidmin calendar, here are a few craft ideas to get you started.Just click on the images below to find a link for more information and printables. There is one downloadable that you'll have to purchase but it's only $1 and well worth the saving of your time and energy to have it already prepared.

Research now tells us what we already knew- fathers play an important role in the lives of children and families. 'Men are the single greatest untapped resource in the lives of children. We currently live in the best of times and the worst of times for fatherhood. We live in the best of times because fathers who are engaged in their child's life spend more time than fathers of any previous generation. We live in the worst of times because millions of children continue to miss the regular presence of Dad.' (Yale Child Centre Study)


Highlight the importance of fathers with your children's ministry as you celebrate Father's Day, this year.

The dictionary defines creative as: cre·a·tive 1. having the quality or power of creating. 2. resulting from originality of thought, expression, etc.; imaginative: creative writing. 3. originative; productive (usually fol. by of). 4. Facetious. using or creating exaggerated or skewed data, information, etc.: creative bookkeeping.

Creative Bible Study blog is a Christian blog and site dedicated to getting believers excited about God's Word and all it holds. The site provides information for children, preschoolers, youth, object lessons, prayer, Bible lessons, devotions and more..

It's helpful and encouraging to share creative ideas, information and resources (one of the reasons that Pinterest has become so popular, so quickly) and this is just one website and blog that does just that. And, since we're on the subject, Creative Bible Study's Pinterest boards are well worth taking a look.. see here.

'Today is your day to be creative as you let the truth of God's Word impact your life and the lives of those around you.' Creative Bible Study