Grow Blog
CDM’s Children’s Ministry with Purpose Grow Blog connects you with people and resources to disciple the children in your church. Read as we write about children’s ministry opportunities and challenges, connecting with leadership, how to cast vision, and many more important topics.
Messy Reminders of God’s Faithfulness
Messy Reminders of God's Faithfulness— “Look at this mess.” That thought often crosses my mind at the conclusion of the benediction as I survey the floor and pews around me. On any given Sunday you may find ripped up bulletins, paper-airplane care cards, books, drawings, markers, the occasional spilled water, and maybe even pen marks on the pew Several families, including mine, sit in this section [...]
Join Us For Grow Virtual
Join us for Grow Virtual— I love people! Relationships with others help me thrive. If you know me, you may be surprised to learn that I am an introvert because relationships are so richly rewarding for me and always worth my time. This is where I confess that the virtual conference is hard for me. Sitting behind a computer in preparation and in front of a [...]
Inviting Children Into Prayer
Inviting Children Into Prayer Prayer. One word that encompasses many opportunities for those who are in Christ. It’s an action, a command, our part in a relationship with our Savior, and a calling we, both as parents and as adults within the covenant family, are responsible to bring our children into. Where do we even begin? We recount the events from Mark 10:13-16. Chances are that [...]
Praying With Children
Praying With Children — Praying with children in our homes and in our churches is a special gift. It can be joyful and even funny at times. About a year ago, a mom told me about her and her husband’s experience praying with their children. This particular family is from Brazil and they regularly pray around their dinner table in Portuguese. One evening, as they bowed [...]
Teach Us To Pray
Teach Us To Pray- Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 This verse introduces the Lord’s Prayer. We learn it. We teach it to our children. But do we pray it for them and with them? When we don’t know how to [...]
Why Prayer Matters
Why Prayer Matters— As the mother of a three-year-old and two-year-old, life is full, busy, and fast-paced. Each day I’m trying to keep up with the needs of young children, of being a pastor’s wife, of staying on top of a part-time job and other responsibilities that pull me in many different directions. At the end of last year, I noticed I was feeling more anxious [...]
Making the Most of Summer
Making the Most of Summer— Spring has sprung, which means summer is around the corner. Soon, the busy hustle and bustle of the school year will make way for a more relaxed pace—more free squares on the calendar and fewer demands from school and extra-curricular activities. This “extra” time allows for more opportunities to intentionally connect with our children and families, helping them know Jesus, make [...]
His Invitation
His Invitation— The advertisement for mentors had been taped to the front of my planner for three weeks. I was a junior at the University of Alabama when I pulled into the group home parking lot. If I am honest, I left twice before ever climbing out of my car. Literally, I parked, sat, and said, “Nah, God, I have a wedding to plan, a job [...]