Author: Jesse

Family Night Idea for Your Church: “Family Connect”

May 3, 2012

On a Sunday morning when I was the Children’s Pastor at our church, two dads of kids in our children’s ministry bumped into each other in the foyer. Now, before I go on, let me say that at the time we were a medium sized church (about 450 people), so not everybody knew everybody else.…
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The Secret to Balancing Anything on Your Face

May 2, 2012

Well, almost anything. I would not recommend trying to balance cows, babies, or running jackhammers on your face. But most anything else will work here. Go ahead, pick the item closet to you and try to balance it on your face. Difficult? Let me help…. Rule Number 1: Start Simple, Go Large You would think that…
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How to Effectively Communicate with Children

May 1, 2012

Notice I did not say, “How to Effectively Communicate to Children.” My wife often gives me a hard time (justifiably) for having monologues with myself and calling them conversations with her. She (again, understandably) wants a two-way conversation. Kids are no different. This includes one-on-one conversation as well as communicating with large groups of children.…
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29,220 Days

April 30, 2012

That’s how many days old you are if you are 80 years old. In 1992, my great-grandmother turned 80. At that time, I was a 12-year old math and numbers nerd. I also had a really corny sense of humor, as you’re about to see. A few days ago, I got a mysterious letter in…
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Never Giving Up in Ministry

April 26, 2012

Ministry can often lead to burn out. I’ve had my times of wanting to throw in the towel. Yet when I stop and remember that this is what God wired me for and that He is my strength, I press on. Enjoy a light-hearted video I made about never giving up…
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Children’s Ministry Stunt Lesson: The Human Table

April 26, 2012

This human stunt is a crowd favorite – and anyone can do it. Its called “The Human Table”. You could also call it “The Levitating People” or come up with your own name. It’s called a “stunt” lesson rather than an object lesson because you need 4 adults about the same size as one another…
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The 5 Most Inspirational Kids in the Bible

April 25, 2012

The Bible is full of children. Some are named and some are not. I’ve written a camp curriculum that highlights various kids in the Bible and what we can learn from their lives. Here are my favorite 5. What are your favorite kids in the Bible? 5. David (1 Samuel 17) – The Bible talks…
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Top 10 Christian Songs for Little Kids

April 24, 2012

I just got this e-mail from a friend of mine this morning. He and his wife are the parents of twin 3-year-old boys: I thought of you yesterday because I was tryin to think of other religious songs to sing for my kids. The only one I really know is “Jesus loves me this I…
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How to Juggle

April 23, 2012

Juggling is not as difficult as you would think. I learned how to juggle 3 beanbags when I was 11 years old. It took me about 2 weeks of working on it for 10-20 minutes each night to get comfortable with it. I’ve seen elementary-aged children successfully learn how to juggle in under an hour.…
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Why Environment Matters in Children’s Ministry

April 17, 2012

Our church meets in an old theater in downtown Richmond, VA. The lighting and ambiance of the lobby and foyer area is perfect for a Saturday night concert (dim lights). So on a Sunday morning, a parent once tipped me off to the lighting scheme and suggested we turn the lights up so the kids…
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The One Tool That Every Children’s Pastor Should Have in Their Belt

March 21, 2012

You might think that the indispensable tool in ministry is the Bible. It is certainly indispensable. But I would argue that the Bible is more than a tool. It is a foundation, a weapon, and God’s very Word to us. I see tools as skills that we learn along the way that aid in reaching…
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4 Reasons Why You Should Go to a Summer Camp

February 28, 2012

The coming of Spring means summer is fast approaching. Now is the time to plan ahead (if you haven’t already) for bringing the kids in your family ministry to a summer camp. Here are 4 things I think you should know about Christian summer camps: 1. Camp is Often THE Highlight of a Kid’s Year…
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New Website on the Way

February 17, 2012

Thanks to my friends who know way more about websites and web design, I’m going to have a brand new website up and running very soon (at www.JesseJoyner.com). I’m switching from iWeb to WordPress, which I’m sure to some people is an obvious choice. But I have been using iWeb for so long that I…
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What Door-to-Door Sales Taught Me About Children’s Ministry

January 20, 2012

I have a confession to make: I used to be that guy who would knock on your door hawking educational books for your kids. Please don’t judge me. It was a reputable company with quality products and top-notch training. I would check in with local police and town halls and get any necessary permits. In…
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Why I Love Trader Joe’s

January 12, 2012

Disclaimer: Trader Joe’s did NOT pay me to say these things. I usually hate grocery shopping. For me, it is one of the most boring activities on the planet. But not when I’m at Trader Joe’s. Here’s why I love this little neighborhood grocery store (which is actually a national chain that does a great…
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How to Run a Marathon While Juggling

November 25, 2011

I just completed my first marathon – and I juggled the entire distance. Here are a few tips for those of you considering this feat: 1. Read www.justyouraveragejoggler.com – This guy, Perry Romanowski, is a star joggler – and he keeps a consistent and informative blog on joggling (running and juggling at the same time).…
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Juggler

November 11, 2011

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My Peeps

November 10, 2011

Years ago, I sensed a call from God to shepherd his people. At the time, I had no idea He was talking about children! But that’s what ministry has been for me for the last ten years. And though I travel a lot with my juggling show, I still get to shepherd one flock of…
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Ten Ways to Recruit Volunteers for Children’s Church Ministry

October 19, 2011

This is my article that was recently published at www.cmbuzz.com Ten Ways to Recruit Volunteers This is in descending order, from least effective to most effective, with examples given for each…. 10. Mass Message Sent Via Social Media Please, please, please volunteer to watch our kids during church! #desperatekidminpastors #signupnow @everybodywithapulse @evenmyneighborsdog 9. Last-Minute New…
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What Kindergarten Cop Taught Me About Teaching

September 18, 2011

I usually “oversee” the morning Children’s ministry at my church. When I have all my volunteer teachers lined up, then I can float and make sure everything is doing fine in all the classes and offer my assistance where needed. This morning, one of my PreSchool teachers called in sick, so I filled in her…
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Goal-Setting Hebrews Style

September 15, 2011

“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:40). Wow – talk about legacy. I plan such measly goals in my life, thinking that I should take life…
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Celebrity Cartoon Match: Spongebob vs. Caillou

September 14, 2011

Caillou wins! At least, that is, in a recent study of 60 kids done by researchers at the University of Virginia for the journal Pediatrics. The study found that kids who watched 9 minutes of Caillou as opposed to Spongebob did better on mental tests immediately following the TV viewing. The kids who were assigned…
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Reading Right Now

September 6, 2011

Here’s what I’m working on – I’m digging this thing up! http://www.amazon.com/Five-Miles-Away-World-Apart/dp/019983685X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315337439&sr=8-1
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What to Read While in NYC

August 28, 2011

I wish I had a good “what to read” list for every city I visit. While looking for the Fodor’s guide to New York City at the library before our trip this past weekend, I stumbled upon Here is New York by E.B. White. I checked out both, along with an archaeology book and Stephen…
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Puppets, Parties, and BINGO

August 21, 2011

I usually “work” on Sundays. That means I am responsible for leading the Children’s Ministry at Commonwealth Chapel or traveling and presenting my program at another church or event. This morning, I was at Commonwealth Chapel. We got to welcome a brand new lead pastor into our family this morning, Brandon Samuel. He has been…
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