Tag: children’s ministry

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children's ministry cartoons church cartoons

A Senior Pastor’s Moat

Sometimes, it’s difficult to get access to a leader. We may need to have crucial conversations, but a leader may need solitude to get important work done. That idea inspired me to draw this “A senior pastor’s moat” cartoon.

A senior Pastor's moat cartoon: a man yells, "Doris! It's Bob, the Children's Pastor. I have an appointment with Pastor Kenneth!"
Copyright ©2017 Kidzmatter | Kevin Spear

No matter where you go, it can be difficult to get access to leaders. Sometimes, it is because leaders get interrupted continually. Other times, it can be because of personalities that clash. Then there are times it may be because there was a great sale on moats and alligators. It can be for a host of reasons.  

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teaching

The worst advice I’ve ever heard about teaching in church

Cartoon of a boy talking to a guy dressed in a while outfit.

Over the years, I’ve searched for all kinds of advice on how to teach effectively. But the worst advice I’ve ever heard about teaching in church has actually been the most helpful for me.

Have you ever found it hard to get the attention of a room full of kids? It can be a loud place. However, if you have the class on a Sunday morning, it can also be a quiet place that would make a crypt sound like an ideal place for a party.

How do you keep the kids engaged, whether the kids are rowdy, or just waking up after a rowdy weekend night? One piece of advice I have heard over the years was actually the worst thing I could have tried. What is it?

Be formal, show little emotion and take yourself very seriously. Don’t be a clown! This is church, after all!

Did I hear those exact words? Not exactly. But it was something I believed. for some time. When I first got into children’s ministry. I tried it for a while with disastrous results!

This just doesn’t work for me. And I would dare say it won’t work for anyone who is teaching elementary-age kids.

Cartoon of a boy and a teacher. The student says, "You're goofy, Mr. Schmeltzer! I like that in a teacher."
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children's ministry CHOG News Christianity Community Mother's Day Newsletters

Baby Dedication and Mother’s Day

This year, I got to write an article about baby and child dedication in my church tradition. Tomorrow, in many churches, there will be a connection between baby dedication and Mother’s Day.

Baby Dedication and the Heart of a Mother via CHOGNews.org
Baby Dedication and the Heart of a Mother
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children's ministry cartoons

Gross Volunteering Cartoon

Sometimes, volunteer workers encounter disgusting situations. I thought about what that would look like if a boy volunteer was hoping for such a situation, but he had no luck. That led to this gross volunteering cartoon.

Gross volunteering cartoon: A boy says, "Our group is cleaning this park. Anything disgusting in this area?"

This cartoon reminds me of two times I volunteered and encountered something gross.

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children's ministry cartoons

Spiritual Discipline for Kids Cartoon

I have worked with kids at church for some time. My goal has been to pass along some of the joys and insights I have learned along the way. That can be challenging when children are excited and very active. So this led to this spiritual discipline for kids cartoon.

Spiritual discipline for kids cartoon. A teacher says, "It can be challenging to teach spiritual discipline to a child who once stuck gum drops up his nose."

Morning and Evening Kids

There is a big difference between a Sunday morning and an evening group of kids. On Sunday morning, most children are subdued. They may be just waking up. Perhaps the cereal hasn’t kicked in or they were doing activities the night before.

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