The Simple Kids Ministry Podcast is your go-to for simple, practical solutions for kids ministry leaders. We sit down with experts in the kids ministry space to share helpful, actionable insights you can use right away.
Awana’s president and CEO Matt Markins joins Jeremy to talk about how a 70-year-old ministry reinvented itself without abandoning its roots. Matt shares how asking “what actually makes this work?” led Awana to its theory of change (belong, believe, become) and why discipleship should start with the gospel, not just good character. He also gets candid about the rocky first launch of Brite curriculum, what it taught him about hiring for values, and the four cultural values that shape Awana’s team: pray, hustle, craft, and love. Plus: why Bible literacy is likely the next big shift in children’s ministry, and what the changing “ocean” of the American church could mean for the years ahead.
QUICK LINKS:
Matt Markins: X (https://x.com/Markins) + Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/matt_markins/) + Books (https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01IKL6CTI/allbooks?_encoding=UTF8&ref_=aufs_ap_ahdr_dsk_ab&pd_rd_w=QDyWF&content-id=amzn1.sym.7e190e19-9f6f-4df8-807a-5a7608594741&pf_rd_p=7e190e19-9f6f-4df8-807a-5a7608594741&pf_rd_r=139-5079832-5315006&pd_rd_wg=HbIj5&pd_rd_r=22a4e2d2-247f-489b-933f-cda9288b6bc1&ccs_id=d1c0df57-1966-4b31-976c-40709d9db843)
Child Discipleship (https://childdiscipleship.com/)
Awana (https://www.awana.org/)
Simple Kids Ministry: Website (https://simplekidsministry.com/) + Social (https://www.instagram.com/simplekidsministry)
30 Jun 2026
Katie Cummins: Social Media, AI, and Camp vs. VBS
What if your social media, your curriculum prep, and even your summer programming strategy could all work smarter — not harder?
In this conversation, Katie Cummins, NextGen Director at Church of Hope in Ocala, Florida, pulls back the curtain on how she approaches three areas every kids ministry leader navigates: social media, AI, and summer programming. Katie shares how she uses her ministry's social platforms to equip and inspire parents rather than just push announcements, and why AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT have become a genuine part of her weekly workflow — from content calendars to curriculum prep.
She also makes a compelling case for why her church ditched VBS in favor of overnight camp, and what it looks like when that investment pays off with real discipleship moments.
QUICK LINKS:
Simple Kids Ministry (https://simplekidsministry.com/)
Sunday Shot List (https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yl692c0p218t9ty6mh9u1/Sunday-Shot-List.pdf?rlkey=hsbycmkh44tr7tc7rqtp9xdvd&st=ed8jtgvw&dl=0)
Top Kids Ministries to Follow on Social:
Hope in Ocala Kids (https://www.instagram.com/hopeinocalakids/ )
River Valley Kids (https://www.instagram.com/rivervalley_kids/)
Highlands Kids (https://www.instagram.com/highlandskids/ )
Grove Kids (https://www.instagram.com/thegrovecckids/ )
TBCO Kids (https://www.instagram.com/tbcokids/ )
Radiant Kids (https://www.instagram.com/weareradiantkids/ )
Zion Kids (https://www.instagram.com/zionsckids/)
Eleven22 Kids (https://www.instagram.com/eleven22kids/ )
23 Jun 2026
Jana Magruder: What the Research Says About Kids and Faith
What actually produces lasting faith in kids? LifeWay has been researching that question for over a decade — and the answer keeps coming back to the Bible. Jana Magruder, Director of Kids Ministry Publishing at LifeWay, joins the podcast to talk about what that research found, what it means for the local church, and how it shapes everything her team builds.
Jeremy and Jana dig into the origin stories behind The Gospel Project, Explore the Bible, and LifeWay's newest curriculum Hi-Fi — including the three-year research process that shaped it and why belonging and identity are at its core. Jana also breaks down LifeWay's "Big Picture Questions," a catechism hiding in plain sight, and why theological grounding for kids matters more than ever.
QUICK LINKS:
Flip the Script (https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/flip-the-script-P005842461)
Nothing Less (https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/nothing-less-P005799608)
Hi-Fi curriculum (https://myhyfi.com/)
Explore the Bible curriculum (https://explorethebible.lifeway.com/)
The Gospel Project curriculum (https://gospelproject.lifeway.com/kids/)
Levels of Biblical Literacy (https://www.lifeway.com/en/special-emphasis/levels-of-biblical-learning)
"Big Picture Questions" resource (https://www.lifeway.com/en/special-emphasis/big-picture-questions-and-answers)
Instagram: @janamag
Podcast: Kids Ministry Calling (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kids-ministry-calling-with-jana-magruder/id1026997147)
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