3 Practical Ways to Strengthen Your Ministry Toolbox
Children’s ministry leaders are always building—building programs, building relationships, and most importantly, building a foundation of faith in the lives of kids. Like any builder, you need the right tools in your hands, and at the KidMin Leadership Gathering 2025, we’ll be exploring some of those tools. Until then, here are three practical ways to strengthen your ministry toolbox this week:
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Audit Your Ministry Toolbox
Before you can grow, you need to assess where you are. Take some time this week to list the tools, systems, and resources you’re currently using. These might include curriculum, scheduling apps, volunteer communication methods, lesson prep strategies, or worship planning tools. Ask yourself:
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What’s working really well?
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What feels outdated or clunky?
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What are you doing just because “it’s always been that way”?
This kind of intentional evaluation helps you recognize what to keep, what to fix, and what to toss. Don’t be afraid to let go of something that no longer fits your ministry’s size, style, or goals. Just like any good builder, knowing when to upgrade or replace your tools is key to efficiency and growth.
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Focus on One Tool at a Time
In the fast-paced world of kidmin, it’s tempting to try to improve everything at once—but that can leave you overwhelmed and burned out. Instead, pick one area of your ministry to focus on for the next month.
Maybe you want to get better at leading your team. Start reading a leadership book, listening to a podcast, or setting up one-on-one check-ins with your volunteers.
Want to improve your teaching? Spend time rewriting your lesson prep process or experiment with adding more interactive elements to your weekly lessons.
Need to sharpen your tech tools? Choose one new app, platform, or tool to learn and implement slowly.
By zeroing in on one tool at a time, you give yourself space to learn, adapt, and grow without trying to overhaul your entire ministry overnight.
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Build With Others
No one builds something great alone. Find ways to connect with other kidmin leaders, whether that’s in your community, online, or at conferences like the KidMin Leadership Gathering. Ask questions, share resources, and celebrate wins together.
Better yet, start your own informal “tool talk” group—gather with two or three local leaders once a month to share what’s working and offer support. Sometimes, the best upgrades to your ministry toolbox come from a simple coffee conversation with someone who’s been where you are.
These tips are a great starting point, but there’s something powerful about stepping away from your day-to-day to refocus and refuel. If you want to explore all 3 of these steps more deeply with other local children’s ministry leaders, join us at the KidMin Leadership Gathering 2025!
At this one-day training event, you’ll gain even more practical tools, learn from experienced leaders, and connect with others who get it. Come prepared to fill your toolbox and leave ready to build a stronger, more effective children’s ministry! Learn more and save your seat at the table here!
Joy Canupp from Simply Joy – Joy is a leadership coach, speaker, and ministry mentor who helps leaders clarify their purpose, simplify their strategy, and lead with confidence. With years of experience in church leadership, Joy brings wisdom and grace to the conversation about self-leadership. Her session will challenge and inspire you to care for the leader God created you to be—so you can lead others well, too.
Brittany Nelson from Deeper KidMin – As the founder of Deeper KidMin, Brittany equips children’s ministry leaders with downloadable resources made FOR KidMin Leaders BY KidMin Leaders. Her session (shared virtually) offers a practical look and a guided discussion about the tools every ministry leader should have in their toolbox. Covering both physical and digital tools, Brittany’s session helps you work smarter, not harder, and learn from leaders like you.
Vanessa Myers from Family Faith Builders – Vanessa is a children’s ministry veteran and author who is passionate about helping kids know and love God’s Word. Her practical session will equip you with fun, meaningful ways to teach the Bible so it sticks. You’ll walk away with fresh ideas, renewed confidence, and ready-to-use tools for Sunday mornings.
