Welcome to Grow
CDM’s mission is to strengthen the Church through connections. Through articles, podcasts, and resources we want to help connect you with people and tools that will help you in ministry.
Ministry to children can often feel lonely, but we hope this site will be a place that will encourage you and equip you for a lifetime of investing in the next generation. You are part of God’s covenant community and your investment in the little ones really does matter to God.
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GROW Virtual Conference – August 19-20, 2022
Theme: The Good Shepherd
Gather a group of teachers and volunteers at your church to participate in a
Livestream and recorded weekend of training.
On Earth As It Is In Heaven
On Earth as It Is in Heaven- Facing change is inevitable, but when we are not prepared, change can be wearisome and challenging. Now that I am in the post-diaper-changing and minivan era, I find myself wanting more predictability and comfort. Daily tasks such as driving, laundry, and grocery shopping, become “work” as I deal with the effects of my aging mind [...]
Thriving in Transition
Thriving in Transition- I will be the first to admit I have not always thrived in transition. Whether it’s settling into a new church as Children’s Ministry Director or going through changes in your church, transitions are hard. I have learned a few things over the years to help stay healthy in transitions. I am still learning to do these things well, [...]
Reflection and Planning
Reflection and Planning- As servants in children’s ministry, we can sometimes get fixated on detail after detail. How many supplies do we need to buy? What room will be big enough? Where will all the volunteers come from? These are very important questions, but sometimes it’s where we go first, and we miss out on the beauty of the garden because we [...]
Advent While Suffering
Advent While Suffering- With God’s help, we remember. Advent is a special time for individual families and for our covenant church families as well. The decorations, the music, the lights, the nativity scenes all invoke a true thrill in the air. But seasons of joy are often accompanied by seasons of affliction and loss. Difficult times financially, long-suffering in cancer, and impending [...]
Now the Light of Life Has Come!
Now the Light of Life Has Come!— “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). To live in December is to know the yearning for a spring sun and the light that it brings. The long, dark days can dampen even the cheeriest of hearts. It is believed that for this reason the early Church [...]
How to Encourage Parents to Fear Not When You Are Not a Parent Yourself
How to Encourage Parents to Fear Not When You Are Not a Parent Yourself— Being a Children’s Ministry Director can be very rewarding. It can also be challenging. No surprises there, right? But add to that another layer, such as being single, not having children of your own, or being younger than most of the parents you serve and the challenge quotient [...]
Be Present
Be Present— He repeatedly screamed at the top of his lungs, “Shut the _ _ _ _ up!!”, spitting in my face, as I did my best to hold this terrified 4-year-old stranger. His relentless violence toward me left me clueless of what to do, so I simply held him and prayed. He and his 3-year-old brother had just moved into our [...]
Fear Not Suffering
Fear Not Suffering— Oh, the bliss of being engaged to be married. As a young Christian, I remember being surrounded by godly women who were already parents to a couple of children. They loved Jesus and their spouses and would jokingly but seriously say, “Marriage will really sanctify you. You will see your need for Jesus and your own sin even more [...]
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