Children’s ministry curriculum rarely explores the Judges of Israel deeply—the rescuers during the settlement years of God’s people in the Promised Land which made it the perfect choice of study this Lenten season. By this time, Joshua, Moses’ faithful wingman, had passed away, and the Israelites had yet to fully claim the land God had promised through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Yet, they were called to live as a distinct people under the reign of the One True God, surrounded by tribes that worshiped many gods—El, Baal, Asherah, Anat, Mot, Dagon, Chemosh, and Molech—whose temples and festivals filled the high places and green groves of Canaan. As Dr. Sandra Richter puts it, “It’s hard to swim upstream against the cultural tide.”

I’m now in the third week of Dr. Richter’s study on Deborah, and I’m already in tears. Not just tearing up—but actually calling a colleague to ask, “Have you seen the Week 3 video? What in the world?! We’ve been living this!”

Deborah, along with many others, was called by God, led by the Holy Spirit, to judge and rescue His unruly children through wisdom and military might, during one of the most corrupt and chaotic times in Israel’s history. Time and again, the Israelites fell into a cycle: obedience to God, then disobedience and idol worship, followed by foreign oppression, repentance, a desperate cry for deliverance, and then a judge sent by God to rescue them. Victory would come, peace would last for a time, but then—just like clockwork—the people would forget. Judges 3:7, 12 sums it up: “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord their God and…”

How could they forget so quickly? How can we forget so quickly? How can I forget so quickly?

Dr. Richter puts it plainly: “Mission drift is only a matter of time without ongoing effort and accountability.” By the time of the Judges, the third generation of Israelites—the grandchildren of those who had been delivered from slavery—had no personal memory of God’s mighty acts. They had no expectation of His good work in their lives. They drifted. They compromised. They blended in with their neighbors. They stopped taking risks, stopped standing out, and saw little difference between right and wrong. “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” Judges 17:6; 21:25.

The kingdom of God was no longer their first allegiance. Their faith was no longer their own. By the end of the book of Judges, God’s people were more evil than the Canaanites. She calls this the phenomenon of the third generation.

But here’s the good news: Over the past sixteen months, the church I serve has moved from experiencing this third-generation drift back to the passion and contagious fire of the first generation, thanks to a team of brave, Holy Spirit led, integrity-solid disruptors. The first generation experiences God’s power firsthand as a community. They take risks. They show up. They dare stand up. They protect God’s mission for the church over their own comfort and self-interests.

Think of Martin Luther, who dared to challenge corruption in the Catholic Church over indulgences, or John Wesley, who shook up the Anglican Church by calling people to a personal, experiential faith forming classes, bands, and societies. We honor them as heroes now—but in their time, they were unlikely, scarred, yet faithful disruptors and revivalists; dare I say, rescuers.

Just as Israel needed leaders—even unlikely ones—today’s church needs them too. We need disruptors, visionaries, and heroes who are willing to put the kingdom of God first, stake their lives on the gospel, not get sucked into the drama of ‘us’, and unapologetically put the Great Commission back at the center of the table.

How will you set your table? Which seat will you take? What will be at the center of the table?

“Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel.” Judges 5:7

We rented a bus from a family-owned business for our Ambassador Day Away. With the bus available until Monday, we saw an opportunity to surprise our youth (6th-12th graders) with a Mystery Bus Adventure after church! Their only clue? Jesus’ charge in Luke 12:35: “Be dressed and ready for service.”

Our journey began with bowling, arcade games, and a pizza lunch right after worship. Then, the real adventure kicked in—we traveled to two senior saints’ homes nearby. Despite the light rain, our students and chaperones joyfully got to work, refreshing flower beds, spreading pine straw, and delivering beautiful Kimberly ferns. Their hands were busy, but their hearts were even busier, serving with love.

Before heading back, our final senior saint graciously offered snacks, fueling us for one last stop at the church. There, we prepared sweet treats for an upcoming Walk to Emmaus event—because even when plans shift, there’s always a way to serve!

The evening wrapped up with an interactive How to Pray Lab, led by one of our pastors. Through scripture and hands-on practice, students prayed out loud with different partners, including their leaders and other adults. Even after a long day and soaked clothes, they stood confidently in prayer, encouraging one another and the children in the room. I even had the blessing of praying with a child about something happening the very next day—and later, I got to share with her and her mom how God answered that prayer!

What did we learn? Our students serve—rain or shine. They treasure time together and were blessed to meet some of the senior saints for the first time. Though we had one more stop planned, God had something even better in store. And in the end, there was no mystery about it—the Holy Spirit used an afternoon and a rental bus to pour out blessings on our church family, leaving wet clothes (and pine straw) scattered in His wake!

“There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.” 1 Corinthians 12:5

When God called Abram to leave Ur, He was inviting him into a new adventure of faith. In a fun twist, we realized that “UR” could also stand for “Usual Routine”—and last Saturday, our 3rd-5th graders stepped out of their UR to grow closer to each other, serve others, and shine as ambassadors of Jesus in our community. After all, community is in our name!

Here’s a look at our incredible day:

9:30 AM – Arrival & Ambassador Training
We kicked off the day by preparing special gifts for the North Georgia Walk to Emmaus. Training included Bible study to complete an acrostic for the word AMBASSADOR.

11:00 AM – Prayer Labyrinth & Scripture Recitation
The kids first ran through the labyrinth for fun—then walked it again, slowing down each time, as they recited a memorized verse.

11:30 AM – Lunch & Life Skills
A brown-bag picnic near a work site where trustees were making repairs. Bonus lesson: greeting adults and engaging in conversation is an important life skill!

12:00-2:00 PM – Serving & Fishing at Senior Saints’ Property
After cleaning up pine cones and sticks from a long driveway, we had some hands-on fun—digging for worms and fishing! Each child baited their own hook and spent time casting, reeling, and reflecting on 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” This sparked great discussions on why Jesus called fishermen to follow Him.

2:00-4:00 PM – Sidewalk Messages of Faith
At the neighborhood of a beloved Bible teacher, we left mini “Jesus-es” and covered driveways with Christian symbols and words of encouragement in chalk. We also delivered a plant to a Senior Saint.

4:00-5:00 PM – Spreading Joy (and Racing Ducks!)
A special stop at the Church Council Chairperson’s home to deliver another plant, say thank you, and—of course—race rubber ducks down their koi pond waterfall! Swings and laughter made this visit extra sweet.

4:30 PM – Ice Cream Break at QuickTrip
A well-earned treat! Ice cream cones for everyone—except for one child who had given up sweets for Lent. No worries—a bag of beef jerky did the trick! The children could choose whatever flavor cone they wanted but it would look like a vanilla cone.

5:30 PM – Disciples Training
Back at church, our amazing wingwoman for the day led an engaging session. Training included Bible study to complete an acrostic for DISCIPLES and GOSPEL.

6:00 PM – The Great GOLDEN NUGGET Hunt!
A spray-painted golden rock, hidden by our senior pastor, sent the kids racing across campus. Since Jesus never sent out disciples alone, they searched in teams of two. The best part? The nugget wasn’t found on Saturday, so the kids eagerly came back early Sunday—and stayed late after church—determined to keep looking. They have until next year! I have no idea where it is and thoroughly enjoy watching the Ambassadors running up to the senior pastor for conversations and begging for hints.

6:30 PM – Dismissal & Pick-Up
Parents lingered and chatted while the kids, full of stories and smiles, wrapped up an unforgettable day.

Faith that sticks involves learning, practicing, serving, making friends, and having real conversations. Saturday was a huge win for our Ambassadors—and we can’t wait for the next adventure!

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

Lent is a season of remembering—from wearing ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday to Jesus’ words at the Last Supper, “Do this in remembrance of me,” to the triumphant Easter morning declaration, “He is risen!” and the joyful response, “He is risen indeed!” But how else can we live out this season of remembrance with purpose?

Join a Small Group Study

Go beyond Sunday worship and commit to gathering in community in a small group. It won’t always be convenient—but we make time for what matters! Even if a study’s topic isn’t your first pick, if the schedule works, you’re more likely to stick with it. My church is launching a new adult Sunday school class (starting with a Meet & Greet this Sunday!) and a men’s small group on Wednesday nights after Ash Wednesday through April. Unable to take another night out during the week, I’m part of a zoom small group on Monday mornings with other family ministry leaders during Lent studying together Sandra Richter’s Deborah: Unlikely Heroes and the Book of Judges. We started yesterday.

Grow in Faith as a Family

If you have kids or youth at home, take on the practice of reading Scripture together differently. Read a chapter aloud, then talk about it! My church is providing a Family Faith Builder’s 40-Day Bible Reading Plan along with a mini Jesus for The Final Road Trip devotional to guide daily readings.

Sing Through the Psalms

This Lent, my church is journeying through Soundtrack: A 40-Day Playlist through the Psalms. Reading three Psalms a day—morning, midday, and evening—will take you through all 150! Plus, our fantastic Family Ministry Intern has curated a Spotify playlist featuring music inspired by several focused psalms.

Create a StoryWalk for Children

We’re setting up The Easter Fix as a StoryWalk on yard signs throughout our church campus, bringing the resurrection story to life for children and families. On Easter Sunday, every family will receive their own copy to take home! And on Palm Sunday, our youth will get Is Easter Unbelievable? Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the Resurrection Story. Full images of many resources are free at TheGoodBook.com—check them out!

Watch and Reflect Together

Engage in meaningful conversations through film! The Chosen (Season 1, Episode 3 is my personal favorite) is now free on Prime Video. The Passion of the Christ is a powerful choice for high school students and adults. And in my family, it’s a tradition to watch The Ten Commandments—the classic with Charlton Heston—sometime in the last two weeks of Lent. That parting of the Red Sea scene never gets old!

Make a plan. Put it on the calendar. Guard that time fiercely. Let’s prepare for more than bunnies and candy and spring dresses – let’s make this season of deep faith and meaningful connection. My prayer is that this Lent will be filled with intentionality, renewal, and maybe even a new friend-in-the-Lord along the way.

“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19

Interns and seasonal staff are a wonderful gift to the local church! I am grateful for the opportunity to come alongside them, helping us all grow in both ministry skills and character so we can face challenges and celebrations together for God’s glory. As a new church that values strong relationships, I’m reminded that coaching for success beyond Sundays is the true goal.

I’ve had the privilege of supervising part-time staff who lead the nursery team of lay servants, a children’s ministry intern who directed day camps and special events, and a summer youth intern who designed our first fall confirmation cohort. Every six months, we step into team self-evaluations: late September due in early October & late March due in early April is my typical routine.

I ask each one to answer these questions:

What can I, or the church, do to help you grow in ministry skills and development? This tells me what support they need to take their skills and discipleship to the next level.

What contributions or achievements have you made during this time? This helps me celebrate their impact and successes, including things I may not have recognized.

Do you have skills that aren’t fully used in your role? The church is a perfect place to use both spiritual gifts and practical training for God’s glory.

How would you improve the department? This shows me what’s on their hearts and taking up space in their heads as a priority. My attention to these details tells our team, “I hear you!”

What 1-3 goals do you hope to achieve by the end of the summer/year? Whether church-related or not, this helps me see how I can pour into each one. During a follow-up face-to-face I can ask the hard questions of what they are learning, how are they practicing their holy habits, and how can I help?

Are there resources that could help you thrive in your ministry? I want to make sure they have what they need to serve well.

To invest further in the team, I invite each person to take the Working Genius assessment early on. This $25 investment in each team member further equips her/him to best serve the team and tells me how to best set her/him up for success. For example, a team member whose working genius is Galvanizing/Enablement thrives when given clear tasks and structure, while someone strong in Discernment/Invention may need more coaching for brainstorming sessions. By using tools like a shared Google Doc for tracking weekly and seasonal tasks, we create an environment where each team member can flourish.

Building an effective and joyful team requires care and attention. Self-evaluations help set the stage for success, encouraging us all to grow in God-fidence and faith in following the Holy Spirit in all we do on Sundays and beyond.

“These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.” Titus 2:15

The Oikos Principle is a simple yet effective way to be intentional about loving people to Jesus. By embracing holy habits like prayer, witnessing, and everyday interactions, disciples who make disciples can share the love of Christ in a natural and relational way with people we already have a relationship with.

Oikos is a Greek word meaning “household” or “inner circle of extended family.” But in our daily lives, our oikos will include more than just relatives—it’s the circle of people we regularly interact with, such as neighbors, coworkers, classmates, teammates, coaches, grandkids, and even service providers like hairdressers, doctors, nail tech, barista, and landscapers. These are the people God has supernaturally placed in our lives, not as ‘projects’, but as future brothers and sisters in Christ.

A practical way to start is by making a prayer list of 8-15 people by name in your oikos. If you have kids or a spouse, put them on the list! Other family members, friends, or acquaintances who are part of your everyday life belong there, too. Our prayers are the fuel, simple yet powerful:

• Lord, may [NAME] come to faith in Jesus.
• Lord, though [NAME] believes in You, I pray they grow in their faith and hunger for Your Word.
• Lord, may the decisions [NAME] makes honor and glorify You.
• Lord, let my interactions with [NAME] draw them closer to You.
• Lord, may [NAME] sense Your presence and encouragement.

When we pray consistently, God grows a boldness in us to talk about Jesus and reflect His love in our everyday lives. We become more caring, ask better questions, build trust, and make deeper connections. The Holy Spirit nudges us to reach out more often, to pray for and with our oikos, and to share helpful resources that speak to their challenges. Over time, we find ourselves being more generous, courageous, and attentive to the needs of those around us. We become more like the Jesus in the process.

Krista Bontrager, known as Theology Mom, explored the Oikos Principle in a 2024 series of podcasts on evangelism through relationships already in place. This principle was pioneered by Rev. Tom Mercer of High Desert Church in California, offering a practical way for everyday believers to share Jesus as Christ commanded in the Great Commission. You don’t have to be Billy Graham to make an impact—you just need to be intentional about loving those in your oikos to Jesus.

In 2018, I was challenged by Dave Ferguson’s Hero Maker to focus on reproducing leaders in the church. Then in 2021, Dave and Jon Ferguson introduced the B.L.E.S.S. model—Five Everyday Ways to Love Your Neighbor and Change the World. Our pastors have taught this B.L.E.S.S. approach twice in the past year because having a plan, and modeling that plan, to reach neighbors and nations helps us live out our mission to make disciples of Jesus.

So, what’s your plan for sharing Jesus with your oikos? Whether it’s through B.L.E.S.S. or the Oikos Principle, I’d love to chat and encourage you on this journey!

“Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.” Psalm 66:16

A plus-one is more than just a guest’s companion at an event—it’s a partner, a teammate, and a co-laborer. In ministry, while I may be the invited guest to a meeting or gathering, I always pray for a plus-one to invite alongside me.

As a collaborator and verbal processor, having a plus-one brings so many benefits:

• Clarity & Understanding – Someone to process what we just heard, ensuring I grasp what was truly taught. (I admit, sometimes I hear things that were never actually said!)
• Follow-Through & Action – A partner to help implement the best next step rather than letting inspiration fade or me trying to invent a new wheel.
• Shared Passion & Purpose – A teammate who will carry the vision forward—whether launching a new initiative, improving ministry security, sharing in teaching responsibilities, or rolling out new systems to best unify and maintain a healthy culture.
• Continuity & Coverage – If I’m unable to attend due to sickness or emergency, my plus-one ensures our team still has a seat and voice at the table.
• Discipleship & Development – Someone I can invest in, mentor, and grow alongside as we pursue a common mission. This is my chance to intentionally disciple another and grow into a deeper friendship-in-the-Lord.
• Fresh Perspectives – A newer team member can bring fresh eyes, innovative ideas, and renewed excitement to familiar tasks.

This past Saturday, our first- and second-level church leaders gathered for a leadership retreat—an incredible time of scripture, table-life, Holy Spirit-led discussions, and foundational system-building for our work together in unity and love to make disciples who make disciples sharing Jesus with neighbors and nations helping one another grow in the image of Christ Jesus.

Since Family Ministry has such a significant influence on church culture, I intentionally invited a plus-one. I looked to those who recently joined our church—new members eager to serve. I also considered those stepping into serving in Family Ministry —bringing fresh perspectives. And I jumped at the chance to make a new ministry friend, introducing her to others and sharing the morning together.

We laughed, we prayed, we learned, and (mostly) completed our assignments—ha! The next day, after worship, we were still giggling in the aisle over a Holy Spirit-inspired idea that has us energized and ready to take action. We’re excited to serve, dream, and see where God leads this ambitious vision.

The next time you’re the invited guest at the ministry table of teaching, training, celebrating, and designing, prayerfully consider bringing a second (Grease!), a wingman/wingwoman (Top Gun!), a second chair (Band/Orchestra!), or a Titus (Paul!). Jesus never sent His disciples out one at a time, but rather in twos and threes up to seventy.

“Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.” Galatians 2:1

Adolescence is like riding a wild roller coaster, full of twists and turns—physical, mental, emotional, and social changes all swirling together with a sprinkle of spiritual curiosity and a dash of hormones! It’s a time when questions pop up like popcorn, but the answers often seem a little fuzzy and tangled. So how can the local church help these young adventurers tackle some fundamental identity questions? Enter “Who Am I?”—a fantastic faith milestone for 5th and 6th graders!

The resources I curated to design a 4.5 hour retreat, 2 hours on Friday evening and 2.5  hours on Saturday morning, included:
“Understanding Me: Who Am I?” by Janine McNally
Psalm 139, NIV translation
“Who Am I?: Solving the Identity Puzzle” by Martyn Iles
“Enjoying God My Creator” by Kids Enjoying Jesus (some resources are free right now!)

To kick things off, the students decorated blank journals, sketched themselves on the first page, and jotted down three things that make them unique. I prepared a PowerPoint presentation combining elements from “Understanding Me: Who Am I?” and the free goodies from “Enjoying God My Creator,” sprinkled with teachings from “Who Am I?: Solving the Identity Puzzle,” and a few uplifting modern worship songs inspired by Psalm 139. Throughout our time, we scribed three verses at a time and read aloud often Psalm 139, dissecting the vocabulary and ideas that sparked our amazement of God’s care, preparation, attention, and love for His creation of people.

We tackled the myths surrounding truth, discussed the changes they’re experiencing, and explored how Christians have cherished human life for centuries. We recognized that we all stumble and fall, yet our Creator has already mapped out our identities. The conversations were nothing short of incredible, and our guiding mantra became: “We cannot know who we are until we accept whose we are.”

But the milestone isn’t just about the info—it’s about reconnecting! As these students grow up and engage in various age-level milestones, they get the chance to rekindle friendships with their church friends. By 5th and 6th grade, their social circles revolve around sports, dance, teams, and academics, but these moments at their home church allow them to grow in Biblical wisdom while sharing sticky faith-formation experiences. This not only deepens their relationship with their Savior but also strengthens their bonds with one another.

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24

One of the sweetest parts of my week happens at the end of Sunday School. After we’ve played, studied, laughed, responded, and prayed together, we wrap things up with three simple but meaningful steps:

1. Everyone gets a fruit snack to take.
2. Each child receives a take-home resource—something from Homepoint or our Sunday morning curriculum, Brite.
3. Finally, every child receives a special hand blessing.

Years ago, Rev. Lauren Clawson introduced me to the idea of a hand blessing, and I instantly knew it was something I wanted to share with my students. It’s a beautiful way to offer a personal and individual blessing, connecting with four of the five senses—smell, touch, sight, and hearing—all in just a few seconds.

Lauren’s original idea used scented chapstick (with the label peeled off!), so with essential oils being so popular these days, it’s easy to create custom “anointing oils.” I usually go with citrus or orange for contentment and lavender for calm and peace.

Here’s how it works: when it’s time for dismissal, I meet each child at the door. I take their hand, draw the shape of a cross with the roll-on oil on the back of it, look into their eyes, and speak a blessing over them:

• “Anna, may the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and give you peace.”
• “Griffin, trust in the Lord always, and He will direct your paths.”
• “Isabella, Jesus loves you—this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

In January, we started using a new blessing inspired by Luke 2: “Cora, may you grow like Jesus, in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man.”

For kids who prefer not to be touched with oil, I give them an “air blessing,” tracing the cross in the air in front of them.

One of my favorite moments is seeing them sniff the back of their hands during worship or share their blessing with a parent by rubbing hands together in the hallway. When they start repeating the blessings back to me? That’s when I know we’ve created a lasting faith memory—one they’ll carry with them for years to come.

“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” Psalm 141:2

I love movies! There’s nothing like a good one to hit “reset” on my brain when it’s running in fifty directions. One of my all-time favorites? The original 1984 Karate Kid.

Here’s the gist: Daniel, the new kid, wants to learn karate. Enter Mr. Miyagi, his quirky and wise mentor. But instead of sparring lessons, Mr. Miyagi puts Daniel to work—painting fences, waxing cars, sanding floors. Over and over, Daniel follows these repetitive motions, confused and frustrated. “What does this have to do with karate?” he wonders.

The magic happens when Daniel faces opposition. Wax on; wax off. Sand the floor; side to side. Paint the fence. Don’t forget to breathe. Without realizing it, all those seemingly unrelated tasks trained his body. His muscle memory kicks in, and he’s ready—defense solid, movements instinctive.

And that’s what ministry with children and families can be like! We’re building faith muscle memory, truth muscle memory, and spiritual muscle memory so they’re equipped to defend and live out their faith. And our training centers on one historic, life-changing event: the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of the one true God, creator and savior of the world.

How do we build these faith “muscles”? Here are three solid, foundational tools:

1. The Lord’s Prayer – This teaches us how to communicate directly with God. Whether it’s a simple, heartfelt “HELP!” or the words of a prayer shared by Christians for centuries, it’s a powerful reminder that our God hears us.
2. The Apostle’s Creed – This answers, “What do we believe?” It’s a backbone for our faith, keeping us rooted in the essentials while uniting us with the global Body of Christ.
3. The Ten Commandments – These guide us in how to live out our faith, shaping our relationships with God and each other. Written by God’s own hand, they set His people apart.

Yes, there are tons of Sunday school curriculums with fun videos, creative themes, and hands-on activities. But imagine if we consistently showered kids and youth with Jesus while weaving in these three timeless teachings? We’d be equipping them with the essentials of our faith, shared by millions over the past 2,000+ years.

That’s the kind of muscle memory worth building!

“Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” Psalm 144:1