Choosing a Curriculum: Don’t Go It Alone!
Choosing a curriculum can be tough! If you’re in any children’s ministry groups on social media, chances are you see this question often: What curriculum do you use? People want…
Ali Thompson
- Ali is a Managing Editor for Group, working on exciting children’s ministry curriculum including DIG IN, BE BOLD, and FaithWeaver NOW. She holds a B.A. from Wheaton College in Christian Formation and Ministry, with a minor in Bible and Theology. Ali lives in Maine with her dogs Peanut and Biscuit, and she loves serving in children’s ministry at her church.
Posts by Ali
Holy Week Craft Ideas: 7 Awesome Palm Print Crafts for Palm Sunday
Holy Week is coming soon, and you may be looking for Holy Week craft ideas to help your kids learn about Jesus’ final week before his crucifixion and resurrection. These…
15 Do’s and Don’ts of Mental Health Care in Children’s Ministry
Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression are on the rise in children, and it’s important that our children’s ministries are safe places for kids with challenges. To find…
5 Surprising Ways to Drive Away a Volunteer
You’ve likely read the tried-and-true volunteer recruiting secrets. And all the ways to make your volunteers feel appreciated. So why is it you’re still losing volunteers? Sometimes losing your leaders…
Top 20 Supply Closet Organization Tips for Children’s Ministry
Whether the school year is coming up or spring is here, you may have some cleaning goals for your children’s ministry supply closet. But where do you begin? Perhaps your…
5 Steps to Handling Burnout—Plus How to Avoid It
Ministry can mean long hours. And it’s not just the workload that can be overwhelming; sometimes the emotional toll it takes can feel even greater. That means at times, it’s…
Volunteer Myth-Busters: 7 Things You Thought You Knew About Volunteers
When’s the last time you talked to a fellow children’s ministry director who said, “I’m all set with volunteers! My roster is full, with eager back-ups for emergency substitutes. My…
Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for Children’s Ministry Leaders
The new year is upon us and it’s time to start making New Year’s resolutions. Maybe you’re planning to exercise more, eat healthier foods, or learn a new skill. Whatever…
Puzzles With a Purpose: From Time Filler to Teaching Tool
Using puzzles and activity pages in children’s ministry is nothing new. Many of us grew up doing Bible word searches and dutifully filling in the blanks. But Group has historically…
Top 20 Kidmin Supplies to Put on Your Christmas Wish List
Maintaining your children’s ministry supplies costs money, but these days your budget may be tighter than ever. So why not use Christmas as a chance to collect donations? You may…
Worship Wonders: Teaching Kids to Worship in Children’s Church
When we think of worship, we often think of singing praise songs to God. And the book of Psalms shows us that music can certainly be an act of worship!…
Children’s Church: How Is It Different Than Sunday School?
There are two terms that often come up regarding children’s ministry programming: Sunday school and children’s church. But what are they? How do they differ? Well, that’s a complicated question…
Halloween Devotional: What’s So Bad About Ouija Boards and Magic?
This free Halloween devotional will help your preteens think more deeply about Halloween and supernatural forces. Halloween is around the corner, and that can stir up some thoughts about the…
5 Red Flags for Curriculum
There are so many curriculum options out there. How do you choose? While your church likely has specific needs for your ministry context, there are universal features that can make…
Elementary Object Lesson: God or Science?
Science Points to God! It seems like now more than ever, our world pits God against science and vice versa. People often weaponize science, using it to attempt to disprove…
Family Faith Adventures: 7 Ways to Take Faith on the Road This Summer
Family Adventure 1: Keep a Sheep Challenge families to grab a cotton ball or (clean) crumpled tissue and make it the family pet sheep for the week. They’ll give it…
Bold Bible Truths: How to Anchor Preteens in the Truth
A faith foundation begins with understanding the truths about who God is and what the Bible teaches. These truths are especially important for preteens to understand as they launch into…
Love Is a Fruit of the Spirit: Free Elementary Valentine’s Day Bible Lesson
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and what better time to learn about love—a fruit of the Spirit? In this free Bible lesson about receiving and sharing God’s love,…
5 Festive Last-Minute Christmas Games (No Supplies Needed!)
Christmas is a beautiful time to reflect on the birth of our Savior. But let’s face it: Sometimes things can be hectic and unpredictable—especially in ministry. You need some easy-to-use…
Prayers for the New Year: 31 Daily Prayers for Children’s Ministry
For this new year, resolve to take on these daily prayers for your children’s ministry. What better time to get into a new rhythm of prayer than when you’re ringing…
Family Adventures: How Listening to a Podcast Can Grow Faith in Families
Family ministry is something most children’s ministry leaders feel like they should be doing—or doing more. According to a 2021 Barna study, 90 percent of children’s ministry leaders said that…
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