Kids Ministry and Leadership Podcast

This Episode Andy has a conversation with Larry Cramer (see bio below) about ‘The Power of 4’ which is 4 people we must have in our lives as leaders. Larry Cramer serves as the Lead Kids Pastor at Christ’s Church of the Valley (CCV) in Arizona, where he oversees children’s ministry across multiple campuses. A former police officer, Larry brings a unique blend of discipline, leadership, and compassion to his ministry role. He is known for creating engaging, Christ-centered environments that inspire kids to take meaningful steps in their faith. Under his guidance, CCV has developed custom curriculum and ministry models that prioritize fun, developmental relevance, and deep spiritual formation. Larry is married and the proud dad of two daughters, and his passion is to see children connect with Jesus, build lasting relationships, and grow within a vibrant church community.

This Episode Andy has a conversation with Andrae Jones (see bio below) about being Intentional in Leadership. Andrae Jones- One Community Church, TexasAndrae Jones serves as the NextGen Pastor at One Community Church in Plano, Texas, where he leads ministries for kids, students, and young adults, while equipping parents to be the best they can be. He is passionate about creating engaging weekend experiences and has contributed to the church's Climb Network, providing resources and training for church leaders.

In this episode Life.Church Children's Pastor Justin Edge sits down with Andy and discusses Leadership and in particular Accountability and Vulnerability. We often avoid both of these through fear but the result of avoidance is worse.

Kim Botto has just launched a new book called "Boundless Hope for Every Child" where Kim draws on more than thirty years of professional and volunteer experience, as well as her personal experience as an adoptive mom and an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, to provide tools for responding positively to kids and teens with difficult behaviors. It all starts with a simple change in perspective: consciously approaching disruptive behaviors with curiosity and understanding, rather than judgment.This Podcast unpacks some key concepts from her book. PURCHASE "Boundless Hope for Every Child"- https://www.amazon.com.au/Boundless-Hope-Every-Child-Misunderstood/dp/B0DY6DD4DY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=S8YVSP2Q7S1S&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EE-fSKXq2GsZD34R14SSyohmH3o4Z_zsR_pb_1w2p0bcrkf115VFQQWdqxyyAsINyzIJKIdHK4Aym-vUZXn-0eMIRuHQxXt4Ai34hci4xzCckRvpd5s9SOcxJKcJcOZwWWvqzTrQ7O52LJSLjan8rGn6XBYGdnnAu0mkHccKYXc.7DXWVjHbYQVYU-Q4JSZetIxZuMR8616PwQAknerBFNU&dib_tag=se&keywords=boundless+hope+for+every+child&qid=1741661780&sprefix=%2Caps%2C233&sr=8-1

Welcome to the Kids Ministry and Leadership Podcast. This month we are looking at unlocking your voice and how it is an expression of your essential self and an expression of your why. Understanding your why is fundamental to effective communication. It gives your voice purpose and direction, ensuring that what you say truly connects with your audience. Show notes for this ep will be below.Check us out!WebsiteInstagram 1. Find Your WhyYour why is the bedrock of all your communication. It goes beyond what you do or how you do it—it’s the driving force behind your life and your message. Before you communicate with others, you must first answer for yourself: "Why am I doing this?" The clearer you are on your purpose, the more aligned your words and actions will be. This alignment creates an internal compass, giving your communication both clarity and impact.2. Speak from the HeartAuthenticity is the key to effective communication. People are drawn to those who communicate from their true selves, but this requires significant internal work. Before you can speak authentically, you need to focus on understanding and aligning with your essential self—the person God created you to be—rather than your social self, which is how you act to fit in socially. Speaking from the heart means being vulnerable, real, and willing to reveal who you are beneath the surface.3. Understand How People ListenTo communicate effectively, you must understand how people listen. A nodding head doesn’t necessarily mean someone understands or agrees with what you’re saying. People hear with their conscious mind, but they listen and respond from their subconscious. Our subconscious makes up about 80% of our thinking, while only 20% is conscious. When we communicate, we often focus on what people hear, but real impact happens when we speak to what they are listening to internally.4. Find Your Life MessageYour life message is the unique truth or conviction that drives you. It goes beyond any specific topic, sermon, or lesson—it’s the core message that underpins everything you communicate. Discovering your life message requires self-reflection. Ask yourself: What bothers you? What are you unreasonable about? These questions help uncover the deep passions and burdens that shape your perspective.5. The Art of CaptureLearning to capture moments, ideas, and experiences is a vital skill for any communicator. The best communicators are not just great speakers—they are great observers. They notice things that others might miss and store them for future use. Capture is about gathering insights, ideas, and moments, often unexpectedly, that help you develop your message over time.6. Find Your Vocal FingerprintYour voice is more than just the sound you make—it’s an expression of your identity. Every communicator has a unique voice, a vocal fingerprint given by God, and it’s essential to find yours if you want to communicate effectively. Your voice reflects who you are at your core, and it needs to be heard. However, many people struggle to find their true voice because they are influenced by external pressures or expectations.7. The Power of TransformationTrue communication isn’t just about sharing information—it’s about transformation. Real change happens when we speak to the subconscious mind and challenge people to think differently. Transformational thinking begins with internal reflection and takes time to grow. You can’t expect to create lasting change with one message, but you can plant seeds of transformation that grow over time.

Welcome to the Kids Ministry and Leadership Podcast. This month we are delving deep into Navigating a Seismic Generational Shift looks like and how the world today is undergoing profound shifts, and with each new generation, the landscape of ministry is changing rapidly. Show notes for this ep will be below.Check us out!WebsiteInstagramGeneration Alpha, children born between 2010 and 2024, are growing up in an age of technology, secularism, and increasing global connectivity. For church leaders, this "seismic generational shift" presents both challenges and opportunities. ………………………………………1. Understanding the Emerging Generation AlphaBefore diving into specific strategies, it is essential to first understand who Generation Alpha is. This group is vastly different from previous generations, shaped by technologies that were only imagined just a decade ago. Scripture: Psalm 78:6 - "So that the next generation would know, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children."………………………………………2. The Secularization Challenge and the Christian ResponseSecularism is nothing new, but it has accelerated at a staggering pace among younger generations, particularly in the West. Scripture: Romans 1:20 - "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."………………………………………3. Family as the Core of Faith FormationAt the heart of faith formation lies the family. However, modern families are under pressure, and many parents feel ill-equipped to disciple their children. Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children."………………………………………4. Navigating Technology with a Biblical WorldviewTechnology is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it provides unprecedented opportunities for connection, learning, and creativity. Scripture: Psalm 145:4 - "One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts."………………………………………5. Cultivating a Biblical Identity Amidst Secular InfluenceIn a world where secular ideologies increasingly dominate the cultural landscape, Generation Alpha is growing up with conflicting messages about identity, truth, and purpose. Scripture: Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."………………………………………ConclusionAs we face this seismic generational shift, church leaders must approach ministry with wisdom, flexibility, and deep reliance on biblical truth. Closing Scripture: Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Welcome to the Kids Ministry and Leadership Podcast. This month we are delving into what is Intentional and Effective Discipleship in your church. Show notes for this ep will be below.Check us out!WebsiteInstagramKey Point 1: Intentional Discipleship Begins with RelationshipDiscipleship is more than a curriculum or program; it's about walking alongside kids and youth in a way that mirrors how Jesus engaged His disciples.Scripture:"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." — 1 Corinthians 11:1"Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together." — Hebrews 10:24-25Leadership Quote:"Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence." — Sheryl Sandberg………………………………………Key Point 2: Teach the Whole Counsel of GodMany young people today are growing up in a culture that offers fragmented or distorted views of truth. For discipleship to be effective, it’s essential that kids and youth are taught the entire narrative of the Bible, helping them understand God’s redemptive story from beginning to end. Scripture:"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." — 2 Timothy 3:16"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom." — Colossians 3:16Leadership Quote:"Teaching is not about answering questions but about raising questions – opening doors for them in places they could not imagine." — Yawar Baig………………………………………Key Point 3: Empower the Next Generation to Grow and LeadDiscipleship is not about creating passive followers but about raising up the next generation of leaders. Kids and youth have tremendous potential, and when they are empowered to take ownership of their faith, they become active participants in God’s mission. Scripture:"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." — 2 Timothy 2:2"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." — Ephesians 2:10Leadership Quote:"The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. They are the one who gets the people to do the greatest things." — Ronald Reagan………………………………………Key Point 4: Consistency and Accountability are KeyIn a world filled with distractions, consistency is often the missing ingredient in discipleship. Effective discipleship requires regular engagement, follow-up, and accountability. Scripture:"Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." — Proverbs 27:17"As for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." — 2 Chronicles 15:7Leadership Quote:"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." — James Clear………………………………………Key Point 5: Discipleship is a Lifelong JourneyTrue discipleship goes beyond short-term programs or seasonal engagement; it’s a lifelong process of growing into the likeness of Christ. Scripture:"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." — Philippians 1:6"Not that I have already o

Welcome to the Kids Ministry and Leadership Podcast. This month we are looking at 7 Leadership Quotes that have inspired me recently and how they can help you in your day to day.Show notes for this ep will be below.Check us out!WebsiteInstagram 1. In a room of charisma, be a voice of wisdomKey Point: Charisma often draws attention, but wisdom sustains influence.Scripture:Proverbs 3:13-18:Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.James 1:5: If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.………………………………………2. God doesn’t give me my miracle to make my present more comfortable but to make my future possibleKey Point: Miracles serve a greater purpose beyond immediate comfort.Scripture:John 9:3: "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.……………………………………3. No authenticity without credibility, but no credibility without accountabilityKey Point: Accountability forms the foundation for both credibility and authenticity.Scripture:Proverbs 27:17: As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.Hebrews 13:17: Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.………………………………………4. The frustration of doing nothing will overcome the fear of failureKey Point: Fear of inaction becomes greater than fear of failure over time.=Scripture:Matthew 25:25-26: (The Parable of the Talents) "So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground... ‘You wicked, lazy servant!"2 Timothy 1:7: For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.………………………………………5. PRESSURE built the PACE that caused PARTIAL ATTENTIONKey Point: Pressure can create a pace that compromises focus.Scripture:Matthew 11:28: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Psalm 46:10: Be still, and know that I am God.………………………………………6. What you do know about God has to be greater than what you don’t know about the futureKey Point: Faith in God’s character should outweigh fear of the unknown.Scripture:Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Isaiah 41:10: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.………………………………………7. Success is succeeding the intentionKey Point: True success is about fulfilling the original purpose.Scripture:Matthew 25:23: Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!Colossians 3:23: Whatever you do, work at it with al

Welcome to the Kids Ministry and Leadership Podcast. This month we are delving deep into what an Outcome Based Ministry looks like and how it can bring tangible outcomes. Show notes for this ep will be below.Check us out!WebsiteInstagramThe OneHope framework consists of five crucial steps: Discover, Design, Do, Document, and Dream. Matthew 7:16.1. DiscoverEffective ministry begins with having a crystal-clear understanding of reality. We need to put on the hat of a learner and start asking questions. Proverbs 4:7We must use various methods such as formal or informal inquiries, collecting qualitative or quantitative information, or consulting primary or secondary sources. Proverbs 18:172. DesignNext, we move to Design. This step envisions what a church or ministry worker should do and what Kingdom change should happen.It is our chance to solve the issues identified in the Discover phase. Proverbs 29:18We need to put on our thinking hats together with a good team, bringing key partners and influencers to the table. Our aim is to design solutions that lead to action. As we plan, we remember Proverbs 16:3.For example, based on our earlier discovery, we could design a mentorship program for at-risk youth, with specific goals for academic improvement, character development, and spiritual growth. Good design always leads to action.3. DoThe third step is Do, which means implementing the designed program effectively and efficiently. James 1:22This is our chance to try our solutions: to execute our plans and allow real members of our ministry groups to interact with our designs, programs, and products.The Church exists to make disciples and elevate the Gospel. We must not be afraid to try new ideas and new ways of doing things, as Psalm 96:1.In our example, we would implement the mentorship program with weekly sessions, incorporating tutoring, life skills workshops, and spiritual guidance. Matthew 28:194. DocumentThe fourth step is Document. Documenting is crucial for evaluating fruitfulness.We want to keep track of our progress to evaluate where we have succeeded and where we have opportunities to improve. Habakkuk 2:2We need to collect data on participation, engagement, and progress towards goals. Peter Drucker once said, 'What gets measured, gets done.'If transformation is our pursuit, we should look to document and measure indicators that show evidence of transformation.For instance, we might document improvements in the youths' academic performance and collect personal testimonies of life changes. Matthew 7:16 I love the quote “It doesn’t take a leader to start something but rather a leader to STOP something”. This all comes about as we document and see if what we thought was the solution actually is working.5. DreamFinally, we come to Dream. Dreaming is looking to the future.After assessing our progress in the Document stage, dreaming allows us to imagine more solutions and more ways to impact lives.Jeremiah 29:11We need to identify what needs to change or be dropped in our ministry approach and shape the future through continuous improvement. Ephesians 3:20.For example, based on the success of our mentorship program, we could dream of expanding it to additional communities and incorporating new elements such as career counselling and family support."By following these steps, we ensure our ministry efforts are purposeful, impactful, and continually evolving to meet the needs of those we serve.Consider these questions:How are you pursuing outcomes? In what areas is your ministry bearing fruit? What transformations are you measuring?

Welcome to the Kids Ministry and Leadership Podcast. This month we are exploring True Potential in your leaders and how to understand and nurture it. Show notes for this ep will be below.Check us out!WebsiteInstagramThe potential you see in other people isn’t real. It is the projection of what you would do in their position.You see quite often we say “I can see potential in that person” but what we are actually doing is putting ourselves in their shoes with our skillset and not really unlocking THEIR POTENTIALOur goal is to understand how to see beyond our own projections and truly recognise and nurture the God-given potential in others. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6,  Ephesians 2:10Understanding ProjectionProjection occurs when we impose our own values, desires, preferences and potential onto others. Romans 12:3 Henry Kissinger sad - The task of the leader is to get their people from where they are to where they have not been.'Dangers of ProjectionSamuel 16:7. Projecting our expectations onto others can lead to misguidance, frustration, and missed opportunities. This passage in Samuel shows how people look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’ We must seek to understand the true essence of individuals rather than judging based on our own perceptions."Jesus as a ModelJesus exemplified the model of recognising and nurturing individual potential. In John 13:13-17, He washes His disciples’ feet, demonstrating servant leadership. Mark 10:45 - Jesus saw the unique roles and potential in each of His disciples and nurtured them accordingly."Ralph Nader: 'The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.’Recognising True PotentialTo recognise true potential, we must seek God’s wisdom and practice active listening. James 1:5 encourages us to ask God for wisdom. Proverbs 20:5When I think of this I am reminded of something I read that says - “The best leaders are those most interested in surrounding themselves with assistants and associates smarter than they are. They are frank in admitting this and are willing to pay for such talents.'1 Thessalonians 5:11Practical StepsHere are some practical steps to help recognise and nurture potential. Personal Reflection: Begin by acknowledging our own biases. Psalm 139:23-24. When a leader forces conformity through preference you kill intimacy between you and the leader as resentment grows and then intimacy with you and God also dies because you care more about performing to the preference than living out authenticallyOne-on-One Meetings isa other practical step - Spend time understanding individual goals. Spiritual Gifts Assessments are also super useful: Utilise tools to identify spiritual gifts so you know who is on your team. Mentorship and Coaching then bring this out: To sum that up I would say “A good leader leads the people from above them. A great leader leads the people from within them.'Building a Supportive CommunityA supportive community is vital for nurturing potential also. Romans 12:4-8 &1 Thessalonians 5:11 Case Study: Barnabas and Paul Barnabas provides a powerful example of recognising and nurturing potential. In Acts 11:25-26, we see Barnabas seeking out Saul (later Paul) and bringing him to Antioch, where they taught together for a year. Barnabas saw Paul’s potential and played a crucial role in his development. This story teaches us the importance of identifying and nurturing potential in others, leading to significant impacts for the Kingdom."John Maxwell the known Leadership expert says- A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.'Hebrews 10:24 & Philippians 2:3-4.